US3710753A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Processing apparatus for objects
Assignee: MANDREL IND INC US
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Filing: 1970-01-19
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Granted: 1973-01-16
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Expires: 1990-01-19
Abstract
Abstract Cylindrical cans each with one closed and one open end are metered one-by-one between a rotating driving wheel and a guide concentric thereto, each having a resilient rim that grasps each can by the closed end and rotates it in contact with a rotating printing wheel so as to imprint a band of ink completely around the can; and the can is then discharged downwardly onto a ramp guide on which it rolls in the direction of spin, away from and out of the apparatus. The ramp guide includes levers activated by the can to inhibit metering of the cans into the apparatus if there is a stoppage and backing up of the can flow; and to meter a predetermined amount of ink to the printing wheel on passage of each can, so that just the right amount of ink is printed on, regardless of the rate of flow of the cans.
Inventors
- 👤 T Birchall
- 👤 J Powell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 19:42
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41F; B41F17/00; B41F17/08; B41F17/14; B41F17/20; B41F17/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
232 words
A processing apparatus for objects, such as cans each having at least one closed end presenting an exterior beaded rim, comprising: a processing station including an inked printing wheel for printing a circumferential marking band upon each object, and means for feeding said objects to said processing station; means including a wheel and a fixed guide concentric thereto for non-slip driving of each of said objects in spinning rotation past said processing station so as to prevent more than one portion of each object to said processing station; said driving wheel and guide being mounted on the same axis with said printing wheel but axially displaced therefrom so as to engage opposite sides of each object and rotate each object for at least one full rotation in contact with said printing wheel while driving said object past said printing wheel; said feeding means including a plurality of guide members arranged to guide said cans to and between said driving wheel and guide with said beaded rim portion in the plane thereof, so that said cans are not substantially deformed when engaged by said driving wheel and guide; said driving wheel and guide being each provided with a resilient frictional rim portion so as to grippingly engage and drive said beaded rim portion of each can therebetween; and means for receiving said objects from said driving means for removal from said processing station.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
232 words
A processing apparatus for objects, such as cans each having at least one closed end presenting an exterior beaded rim, comprising: a processing station including an inked printing wheel for printing a circumferential marking band upon each object, and means for feeding said objects to said processing station; means including a wheel and a fixed guide concentric thereto for non-slip driving of each of said objects in spinning rotation past said processing station so as to prevent more than one portion of each object to said processing station; said driving wheel and guide being mounted on the same axis with said printing wheel but axially displaced therefrom so as to engage opposite sides of each object and rotate each object for at least one full rotation in contact with said printing wheel while driving said object past said printing wheel; said feeding means including a plurality of guide members arranged to guide said cans to and between said driving wheel and guide with said beaded rim portion in the plane thereof, so that said cans are not substantially deformed when engaged by said driving wheel and guide; said driving wheel and guide being each provided with a resilient frictional rim portion so as to grippingly engage and drive said beaded rim portion of each can therebetween; and means for receiving said objects from said driving means for removal from said processing station.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A processing apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein a second resilient-rimmed guide is mounted on the same axis with said driving wheel but in a plane adjacent the end of said can opposite said beaded closed end thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
A processing apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein: said driving wheel is also provided with a bevelled flange portion extending radially beyond said resilient rim portion thereof and axially adjacent thereto so as to receive and guide a closed end of each can with said beaded rim portion thereof in the plane of said driving wheel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
A processing apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein: at least said printing wheel is provided with a resilient printing rim portion having elongated axial slots formed therein, each slot lying in a chordal plane of said printing wheel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
70 words
A processing apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein: said resilient printing rim portion of said printing wheel is formed with a body portion and a circumferential printing flange of predetermined axial thickness corresponding with the width of printing mark desired, said body portion containing said slots and being of substantially greater axial thickness than said printing flange so as to inhibit axial deflection of said printing rim under pressure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
136 words
A processing apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said objects are right-circular-cylindrical cans, and wherein: said apparatus is arranged with the axis of said drive wheel in a horizontal plane and with said feeding means disposed to feed said cans to said drive wheel from above, while said receiving means is disposed below said drive wheel to receive said cans as they pass downwardly from said drive wheel; and said receiving means includes ramp guide means for conducting said cans in axially rolling motion downwardly and laterally beneath said drive wheel and out of said apparatus; the lateral direction of said ramp guide means being selected so that the natural direction of roll of said cans thereon is the same as the direction of spin that is imparted to said cans by said drive wheel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
A processing apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein: said feeding means is provided with metering means coupled to said printing wheel drive shaft for metering one can to said drive wheel upon each revolution of said printing wheel through a predetermined angle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
108 words
A processing apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein: said ramp guide means includes a pivoting guide member counterweighted toward an upper position and responsive to the weight of a can thereon to pivot toward a lower position; said pivoting guide member being coupled to said metering means to inhibit the operation of said metering means when said pivoting guide member is in said lower position thereof; whereby upon a stoppage and accumulation of cans moving out of said apparatus, at least one of said cans eventually comes to rest on said pivoting guide member and stops the flow of cans into said apparatus from said feeding means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
80 words
A processing apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said objects are right-circular-cylindrical cans, and wherein said apparatus also includes: ink supply means for said inked printing wheel; and means responsive to the passage of each can through said apparatus to meter a predetermined amount of ink from said ink supply means to said printing wheel; whereby the mark is printed on each can with just the right amount of ink, regardless of the rate of flow of said cans.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
74 words
A processing apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein: said ink metering means includes a pivoting lever mounted for engagement by each can as said can is driven between and from said drive wheel and guide; and said ink supply means includes an ink reservoir and a pump means coupled to said lever for pumping actuation thereby to pump said predetermined amount of ink to said printing wheel upon the passage of each can.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
117 words
A processing apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein said pump means includes: a conduit extending in an upstream to downstream direction from near the bottom of said ink reservoir and toward said printing wheel, a section of said conduit being formed of compressible resilient tubing; a hollow right-circular-cylindrical anvil member positioned adjacent said resilient section of said conduit, with said resilient section coiled in at least one 360* loop therein; and a rotating pinching element coupled to said lever through a one-way clutch for pinching said resilient section solidly against said anvil element and for incremental rotation upon each actuation of said lever so as to squeeze the ink therein in said upstream to downstream direction.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
A processing apparatus as recited in claim 11 and also including: a felt ink wheel positioned in tangential engagement with said printing wheel and at the downstream end of said conduit, for receiving ink therefrom and smoothly applying it to said printing wheel.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-01-16 | 1976-07-17 | 1977-01-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-16 | 1980-07-17 | 1981-01-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-16 | 1984-07-17 | 1985-01-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |