Patent US3738260A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3738260A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Article controlled bottom marking apparatus
Assignee: GOTTSCHO A Inc
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Filing: 1971-07-02
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Granted: 1973-06-12
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Expires: 1991-07-02
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for imprinting on the bottom surface of a plurality of objects carried along a path wherein said objects are carried along a portion of said path by a pair of spaced moving belt means positioned in said path. The objects are detected by sensing means selectively displaceable along said path which produce a detection signal when an object to be imprinted passes thereby. Print means positioned below and intermediate the pair of moving belt means is adpated for actuation in response to said detection signal to effect imprinting on said object bottom surface.
Inventors
- 👤 M Navi
- 👤 M Levy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 20:07
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B61/00; B65B61/26; B41; B41F; B41F17/00; B41F17/08; B41F17/14; B41F17/16; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S101/00; Y10S101/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
215 words
An apparatus for imprinting on the bottom surface of a plurality of objects carried along a path at a printing station on said path, comprising a pair of spaced moving belt means in said path for carrying said objects along a portion of said path in advance of, through and past said printing station; sensing means in said portion of said path for producing a detection signal when each object to be imprinted passes thereby; printing means including a rotatable die wheel positioned below and intermediate said pair of moving belt means and rotatably mounted flexographic inking means mounted below said pair of moving belt means; drive means for continuously driving said moving belt means and said inking means; means for selectively coupling said die wheel to said drive means in response to said detection signal for the incremental advance of said die wheel to effect imprinting on the bottom surface of the detected object, said die wheel being positioned when at rest to be out of engagement with said inking means and being positioned for first engaging said inking means for receiving ink therefrom, and then engaging said bottom surface for imprinting; and means for selectively displacing said sensing means along said portion of said path for positioning said imprinting on said bottom surface.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
215 words
An apparatus for imprinting on the bottom surface of a plurality of objects carried along a path at a printing station on said path, comprising a pair of spaced moving belt means in said path for carrying said objects along a portion of said path in advance of, through and past said printing station; sensing means in said portion of said path for producing a detection signal when each object to be imprinted passes thereby; printing means including a rotatable die wheel positioned below and intermediate said pair of moving belt means and rotatably mounted flexographic inking means mounted below said pair of moving belt means; drive means for continuously driving said moving belt means and said inking means; means for selectively coupling said die wheel to said drive means in response to said detection signal for the incremental advance of said die wheel to effect imprinting on the bottom surface of the detected object, said die wheel being positioned when at rest to be out of engagement with said inking means and being positioned for first engaging said inking means for receiving ink therefrom, and then engaging said bottom surface for imprinting; and means for selectively displacing said sensing means along said portion of said path for positioning said imprinting on said bottom surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, including means for coordinately laterally displacing said pair of moving belt means relative to said path for selectively adjusting the spacing therebetween.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, including means for separately displacing each of said pair of moving belt means normally to said path toward and away from said print means for selectively adjusting the height above said print means at which said objects are engaged by said pair of moving belt means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
121 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, including a frame, said moving belt lateral displacement means including a pair of spaced lead screws extending laterally relative to said path and mounted on said frame for rotation relative thereto; means coupling said lead screws for the coordinate rotation thereof; two pairs of blocks each of said blocks having a threaded aperture for receiving one of said lead screws, each of said pair of moving belt means being mounted on a pair of said block means, each of said lead screws extending through the threaded aperture of one block of each of said pairs of blocks, whereby the rotation of one of said lead screws coordinately laterally displaces said pair of spaced belt means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
131 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein each of said blocks is formed with a further threaded aperture extending normally to the first threaded aperture therethrough; said apparatus including two pair of further lead screws, one of said further lead screws being received in each of said further threaded apertures, means for coordinately rotating each of said pair of further lead screws; and means for mounting each of said pair of moving belt means on one of said pair of further lead screws while permitting the free rotation of said further lead screws relative thereto, whereby each of said moving belt means may be separately displaced normally to said path toward aNd away from said print means by the rotation of one of the pair of further lead screws associated therewith.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ends of said pair of spaced moving belt means projects longitudinally along said path from said apparatus to define the outer extent of said apparatus along said path.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said moving belt means engage each of said objects and carry said objects along said portion of said path so that said objects engage only the printing means and moving belt means of said apparatus.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, including means for selectively laterally displacing said print means relative to said path for the positioning of said imprinting relative to said object bottom surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, including means for resiliently and pivotably mounting said print means so that said print means is normally biased toward said object bottom surface and is pivotably displaceable thereby in response to regions of irregular elevation of said bottom surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
An apparatus according to claim 9, including a print drive shaft operatively coupled to said print means for providing driving force thereto, and operatively coupled to said drive means for being driven thereby, said drive shaft being positioned on the axis of pivoting of said print means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
58 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said selective coupling means includes a continuously rotating print driving means operatively coupled to said drive means; and clutch means for selectively coupling said rotatable die wheel to said print driving means in response to said detection signal for incrementally advancing said die wheel to effect imprinting on the detected object.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
55 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said die wheel is formed with a pair of opposed radially extending arms, and die means mounted on the ends of each of said arms, said clutch means being adapted to permit an incremental rotation of said die means of about 180* in response to each detection signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said clutch means is solenoid actuated.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said inking means includes an inkwell, an ink roller extending into said inkwell for receiving ink therefrom; and a metering roll engaging said ink roll for receiving ink therefrom, said die wheel engaging said metering roll befor engaging said object bottom surface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, including flexible cable means for operatively connected said drive means and each of said moving belt means and print means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sensing means include a light source positioned on one side of said path and a light sensitive means in facing relation to said source on the opposite side of said path.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
53 words
An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein each of said light source and light sensitive means are mounted in a longitudinal slot in one of said pair of moving belt means, and including means for selectively clamping each of said light sensitive means and light source in aligned positions in their respective slots.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to claim 17, including scale means positioned adjacent each of said slots for permitting the coordinate positioning of said light sensitive means and light source.
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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) | 1976-06-11 | 1976-12-11 | 1977-06-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-11 | 1980-12-11 | 1981-06-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-11 | 1984-12-11 | 1985-06-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |