Typewrites with single spring to provide letterspacing and printing

Claim 2

In an imprinting device: base means; support means on the base means for holding an item to be imprinted; shiftable means mounted on said base means including carriage means shiftable relative to said base means along a path of travel juxtaposed with said support means, and imprinting means shiftable relative to said carriage means and shiftable with the carriage means relative to said base means; advancing means operably coupled with said carriage means for continuously urging the same in one direction of shiFting along said path of travel; releasable means for releasably holding the carriage means against movement in said one direction relative to the base means; drive means on the carriage means interconnecting the advancing means and the releasable means and operably coupled with the base means, said driVe means being actuatable when the releasable means is released to cause the advancing means to move the carriage means relative to the base means; operating means for operably coupling the drive means with the imprinting means for shifting the imprinting means toward the support means when the drive means are actuated; and control means on the base means operably coupled with said releasable means and said operating means for simultaneously releasing said releasable means and effecting operable coupling of said drive means with said imprinting means, whereby said advancing means will concurrently cause said carriage means to travel in said one direction relative to the base means and said operating means to shift said imprinting means toward said support means, said releasable means being shiftably mounted on said carriage means and including spacing means rotatably mounted on said carriage means and operably coupled with the drive means for rotational movement simultaneous with the shifting of said carriage means along said path and stop means shiftably mounted on said carriage means and operably coupled with said control means for moveMent toward and away from a position wherein said stop means engages said spacing means for holding the latter against rotation thereby releasably holding said carriage means against shifting movement along said path; said spacing means being provided with catch means engageable with said stop means for holding the corresponding means against rotation in one direction corresponding to the shifting of said carriage in said one direction alonG said path, said catch means being shiftable to permit free rotation of the spacing means in the opposite direction corresponding to the shifting of said carriage means in the opposite direction along said path, said spacing means being provided with coupling means thereon for operably coupling said spacinG means with said operating means for shifting the latteR in response to rotation of said spacing means in said one direction whereby said Imprinting means is shifted toward said support means, said spacing means including a disc having a central axis of rotation, said coupling means including a laterally projecting pin offset from the axis of rotation of said spacing means and slidably receivable within an elongated slot provided in said operating means for reciprocating the latter back and forth from said spacing means as the spacing means is rotated.

Claim 3

In an imprinting device: base means; support means on the base means for holding an item to be Imprinted; shiftable means mounted on said base meanS includinG carriage means shiftable relative to said base means along a path of travel juxtaposed with said suPport means, and imprinting means shiftable relative to said carriage means and shiftable with the carriage means relative to said base means; advancing means operably coupled with said carriage means for continuously urging the same in one direction of shifting along said path of travel; releasable means for releasably holding the carriage means against movement in said one direction relative to the base means; drive means on the carriage means interconnecting the advancing means and the releasable means and operably coupled with the base means, said drive means being actuatable when the releasable means is released to cause the advancing means tO move the carriage means relative to the base means; operating means for operably coupling the drive means with the imprinting means for shifting the imprinting means toward the support means when the drive means are actuated; and control means on the base means operably coupled with said releasable means and said operating means for simultaneously releasing said releasable means and effecting operable coupling of said drive means with said imprinting means, whereby said advancing means will concurrently cause said carriage means to travel in said one direction relative to the base means and said operating means to shift said imprinting means toward said support means, said releasable means being shiftably mounted on said carriage means and including spacing means rotatably mounted on said carriage means and operably coupled with the drive means for rotational movement simultaneously with the said shifting of said carriage means along said path and stop means rockably mounted on said carriage means and operably coupled with said control means for movement toward and away form a position wherein said stop mean engages said spacing means for holding the latter against rotation, thereby releasably holding said carriage means against shifting movement along said path, said stop means being provided with a pair of opposed stop members disposed on opposite sides of said spacing means for alternately engaging and holding the latter as said stop means is swung from a first position to a second position.

Claim 4

In an imprinting device: base means; support means on the base means for holding an item to be Imprinted; shiftable means mounted on said base meanS includinG carriage means shiftable relative to said base means along a path of travel juxtaposed with said suPport means, and imprinting means shiftable relative to said carriage means and shiftable with the carriage means relative to said base means; advancing means operably coupled with said carriage means for continuously urging the same in one direction of shifting along said path of travel; releasable means for releasably holding the carriage means against movement in said one direction relative to the base means; drive means on the carriage means interconnecting the advancing means and the releasable means and operably coupled with the base means, said drive means being actuatable when the releasable means is released to cause the advancing means tO move the carriage means relative to the base means; operating means for operably coupling the drive means with the imprinting means for shifting the imprinting means toward the support means when the drive means are actuated; and control means on the base means operably coupled with said releasable means and said operating means for simultaneously releasing said releasable means and effecting operable coupling of said drive means with said imprinting means, whereby said advancing means will concurrently cause said carriage means to travel in said one direction relative to the base means and said operating means to shift said imprinting means toward said support means, said releasable means being shiftably mounted on said carriage means and including spacing means rotatably mounted on said carriage means and operably coupled with the drive means for rotational movement simultaneously with the said shifting of said carriage means along said path and stop means rockably mounted on said carriage means and operably coupled with said control means for movement toward and away form a position wherein said stop mean engages said spacing means for holding the latter against rotation, thereby releasably holding said carriage means against shifting movement along said path, said stop means being provided with a pair of opposed stop members disposed on opposite sides of said spacing means for alternately engaging and holding the latter as said stop means is swung from a first position to a second position.

Claim 5

The invention of claim 2, wherein said stop means is provided with an elongated spacing sensor pivotally connected at one end thereof to said stop means and operably coupled at the other end thereof to said control means for shifting movement of said spacing sensor relative to the base means when actuated by said control means whereby said stop means is swung between said first and second positions.

Claim 6

The invention of claim 3, wherein said control means includes shiftable linkage means pivotally mounted on said base means for swinging movement relative to the base means when actuated, and spacing bar means swingably mounted on said base means and extending along the length of said path of travel in juxtaposition therewith, one side of said bar means being in engagement with and carried by said shiftable linkage means for swinging movement of the bar means when said shiftable linkage means is swung, the opposite side of said bar means being slidably engaged by said spacing sensor for shifting said sensor and swinging said stop means at any position of said carriage means along the path of travel When said shiftable linkage means is shifted.

Claim 7

The invention of claim 2, wherein said stop means includes a generally U-shaped element disposed in partial circumscribing relationship with said spacing means and having a pair of opposed, inturned tabs extending inwardly toward said spacing means and toward each other in substantial alignment therebetween with one of said tabs being laterally offset relative to said other tab.

Claim 8

The invention of claim 5, wherein said spacing means includes a disc provided with catch means engageable with the tabs on said element for holding the spacing means against rotation in one direction corresponding to the shifting of the carriage means in said one direction along the path, said catch means being shiftable to permit free rotation of the spacing means in the opposite direction corresponding to the shifting of said carriage means in the opposite direction along said path.

Claim 9

In an imprinting device: base means; support means on the base means for holding an item to be imprinted; shiftable means mounted on said base means including carriage means shiftable relative to said base means along a path of travel juxtaposed with said support means, and imprinting means shiftable relative to said carriage means and shiftable with the carriage means relative to said base means; advancing means operably coupled with said carriage means for continuously urging the same in one direction of shifting along said path of travel; releasable means for releasably holding the carriage means against movement in said one direction relative to the base means; drive means on the carriage means interconnecting the advancing means and the releasable means and operably coupled with the base means, said drive means being actuatable when the releasable means is released to cause the advancing means to move the carriage means relative to the base means; operating means for operably coupling the drive means with the imprinting means for shifting the imprinting means toward the support means when the drive means are actuated; and control means on the base means operably coupled with said releasable means and said operating means for simultaneously releasing said releasable means and effecting operable coupling of said drive means with said imprinting means whereby said advancing means will concurrently cause said carriage means to travel in said one direction relative to the base means and said operating means to shift said imprinting means toward said support means. said drive means being shiftably mounted on said carriage means for movement relative to the latter during shifting of said carriage means along said path, said releasable means including a spacing means rotatably mounted on said carriage means, said drive means including gear means rotatably mounted on said carriage means and operably coupled with said base means and said spacing means for rotating the latter during the shifting of said carriage means along said path, said gear means including an elongated drive shaft rotatably mounted on the carriage means, said shaft being provided with a laterally extending annular drive gear adjacent one end thereof operably engaging a rack on said base means extending parallel to and along the length of said path of travel for rotating said shaft as the carriage means shifts along said path and a ring gear on the other end thereof mounted transversely of the longitudinal axis of the shaft and operably engaging a pinion gear secured to said spacing means for translating the rotation of said shaft into rotation of said spacing means.

Claim 10

In an imprinting device: base means; support means on the base means for holding an item to be imprinted; shiftable means mounted on said base means including carriage means shiftable relative to said base means along a path of travel juxtaposed with said support means, and imprinting means shiftable relative to said carriage means and shiftable with the carriage means relative to said base means; advancing means operably coupled with said carriage means for continuously urging the same in one direction of shifting along said path of travel; releasable means for releasably holding the carriage means against movement in said one direction relative to the base means; drive means on the carriage means interconnecting the advancing means and the releasable means and operably coupled with the base means, said drive means being actuatable when the releasable means is released to cause the advancing means to move the carriage means relative to the base means; operating means for operably coupling the drive means with the imprinting means for shifting the imprinting means toward the support means when the drive means are actuated; and control means on the base means operably coupled with said releasable means and said operating means for simultaneously releasing said releasable means and effecting operable coupling of said drive means with said imprinting means whereby said advancing means will concurrently cause said carriage means to travel in said one direction relative to the base means and said operating means to shift said imprinting means toward said support means. said drive means being shiftably mounted on said carriage means for movement relative to the latter during shifting of said carriage means along said path, said releasable means including a spacing means rotatably mounted on said carriage means, said drive means including gear means rotatably mounted on said carriage means and operably coupled with said base means and said spacing means for rotating the latter during the shifting of said carriage means along said path, said gear means including an elongated drive shaft rotatably mounted on the carriage means, said shaft being provided with a laterally extending annular drive gear adjacent one end thereof operably engaging a rack on said base means extending parallel to and along the length of said path of travel for rotating said shaft as the carriage means shifts along said path and a ring gear on the other end thereof mounted transversely of the longitudinal axis of the shaft and operably engaging a pinion gear secured to said spacing means for translating the rotation of said shaft into rotation of said spacing means.

Claim 11

In an imprinting device: base means; support means on the base means for holding an item to be imprinted; shiftable means mounted on said base means including carriage means shiftable relative to said base means along a path of travel juxtaposed with said support means, and imprinting means shiftable relative to said carriage means and shiftablE with the carriage means relative to said base means; advancing means operably coupled with said carriage means for continuously urging the same in one direction of shifting along said path of travel; releasable means for releasably holding the carriage means against movement in said one direction relative to the base means; drive means on the carriage means interconnecting the advancing means and the releasable means and operably coupled with the base means, said drive means being actuatable when the releasable means is released to cause the advancing means to move the carriage means relative to the base means; operating means for operably coupling the drive means with the imprinting means for shifting the imprinting means toward the support means when the drive means are actuated; and control means on the base means operably coupled with said releasable means and said operating means for simultaneously releasing said releasable means and effecting operable coupling of said drive means with said imprinting means, whereby said advancing means will concurrently cause said carriage means to travel in said one direction relative to the base means and said operating means to shift said imprinting means toward said support means, said drive means being shiftably mounted on said carriage means for movement relative to the latter during shifting of said carriage means along said path, said releasable means being coupled with said drive means for shifting movement of the releasable means relative to the carriage means simultaneously with the said shifting of said carriage means, said operating means being carried by the carriage means and engageable with said releasable means for translating the shifting of the latter into a shifting movement of said imprinting means toward and away from said support means, said imprinting means being swingably mounted on said base means for swinging movement about a horizontal axis toward said support means, said operating means including an elongated, swingable crank component securely attached to said imprinting means and extending laterally therefrom and an elongated, shiftable linking component, pivotally coupled adjacent one end thereof with said crank opponent and operably engageable adjacent the other end thereof with said releasable means for reciprocable movement of said linking component along its longitudinal axis whereby said crank component is swung about the pivotal axis of said imprinting means and said imprinting means is swung toward and away from said support means as said carriage means is shifted in the one direction along said path.

Claim 12

In an imprinting device: base means; support means on the base means for holding an item to be imprinted; shiftable means mounted on said base means including carriage means shiftable relative to said base means along a path of travel juxtaposed with said support means, and imprinting means shiftable relative to said carriage means and shiftablE with the carriage means relative to said base means; advancing means operably coupled with said carriage means for continuously urging the same in one direction of shifting along said path of travel; releasable means for releasably holding the carriage means against movement in said one direction relative to the base means; drive means on the carriage means interconnecting the advancing means and the releasable means and operably coupled with the base means, said drive means being actuatable when the releasable means is released to cause the advancing means to move the carriage means relative to the base means; operating means for operably coupling the drive means with the imprinting means for shifting the imprinting means toward the support means when the drive means are actuated; and control means on the base means operably coupled with said releasable means and said operating means for simultaneously releasing said releasable means and effecting operable coupling of said drive means with said imprinting means, whereby said advancing means will concurrently cause said carriage means to travel in said one direction relative to the base means and said operating means to shift said imprinting means toward said support means, said drive means being shiftably mounted on said carriage means for movement relative to the latter during shifting of said carriage means along said path, said releasable means being coupled with said drive means for shifting movement of the releasable means relative to the carriage means simultaneously with the said shifting of said carriage means, said operating means being carried by the carriage means and engageable with said releasable means for translating the shifting of the latter into a shifting movement of said imprinting means toward and away from said support means, said imprinting means being swingably mounted on said base means for swinging movement about a horizontal axis toward said support means, said operating means including an elongated, swingable crank component securely attached to said imprinting means and extending laterally therefrom and an elongated, shiftable linking component, pivotally coupled adjacent one end thereof with said crank opponent and operably engageable adjacent the other end thereof with said releasable means for reciprocable movement of said linking component along its longitudinal axis whereby said crank component is swung about the pivotal axis of said imprinting means and said imprinting means is swung toward and away from said support means as said carriage means is shifted in the one direction along said path.

Claim 13

The invention of claim 8, wherein said advancing means includes a coil spring carried by said carriage means and operably coupled to said drive means for shifting the latter and said releasable means during shifting of the carriage in said one direction along said path, thereby reciprocating said linking component along its longitudinal axis and shifting said imprinting means toward and away from the support means.

Claim 14

The invention of claim 8, wherein said linking component is provided with an operating sensor rigidly secured thereto and operably coupled with said control means for swinging said linking component about the pivotal coupling between said linking and crank components toward said releasable means from a first position remote from said releasable means to a second position wherein said linking component operably engages said releasable means.

Claim 15

The invention of claim 10, wherein said releasable means includes a rotatable spacing means, said linking component being provided with a transversely extending slot means slidably receiving a laterally projecting pin means provided on said spacing means when said linking component is shifted to said second position for operably engaging said linking component with said releasable means.

Claim 16

The invention of claim 10, wherein said control means includes shiftable linkage means piVotally mounted on said base means for swinging movement relative to the base means when actuated, and operating bar means swingably mounted on said base means and extending along the length of said path of travel in juxtaposition to said path of travel, one side of said operating bar means being in engagement with and carried by said shiftable linkage means for swinging movement of the operating bar means when said shiftable linkage means is swung, the opposite side of said operating bar means being slidably engaged by said operating sensor for shifting said sensor and swinging said linking component at any position of said carriage means along the path of travel when said shiftable linkage means is swung.

Claim 17

The invention of claim 10, wherein guide means are provided on said carriage means for securing said linking component in said second position during rotation of said spacing means.

Claim 18

The invention of claim 13, wherein said guide means include hook means on said linking component extending upwardly therefrom and received within a generally L-shaped slot having a first, horizontal portion and a second, downwardly slanting portion, said hook means being shifted along said second portion as said linking component is shifted to said second position, and shifted along said first portion and supported thereby during said reciprocable movement of the linking component.

Claim 19

In an imprinting device: base means; support means on the base means for holding an item to be imprinted; shiftable means mounted on said base means including carriage means shiftable relative to said base means along a path of travel juxtaposed with said support means, and imprinting means shiftable relative to said carriage means and shiftable with the carriage means relative to said base means; advancing means operably coupled with said carriage means for continuously urging the same in one direction of shifting along said path of travel; releasable means for releasably holding the carriage means against movement in said one direction relative to the base means; drive means on the carriage means interconnecting the advancing means and the releasable means and operably coupled with the base means, said drive means being actuatable when the releasable means is released to cause the advancing means to move the carriage means relative to the base means; operating means for operably coupling the drive means with the imprinting means for shifting the imprinting means toward the support means when the drive means are actuated; and control means on the base means operably coupled with said releasable means and said operating means for simultaneously releasing said releasable means and effecting operably coupling of said drive means with said imprinting means, whereby said advancing means will concurrently cause said carriage means to travel in said one direction relative to the base means and said operating means to shift said imprinting means toward said support means, said imprinting means being shiftably mounted on the base means for shifting movement toward the support means while being shifted with said carriage means in said direction along said path, said imprinting means including platform means slidably mounted on said base means for swinging movement toward said support means while shifting with said carriage means along said path, said drive means being shiftably mounted on said carriage means for movement relative to the latter during shifting of said carriage means along said path, said operating means including an elongated, swingable crank component securely attached to said platform means and extending laterally therefrom and an elongated, shiftable linking component pivotally coupled adjacent one end thereof with said crank component and operably engageable with said releasable means for reciprocable movement of said linking component along is longitudinal axis and swinging movement of said crank component about the pivotal axis Of said platform means when the drive means is shifted whereby said platform means is swung toward said support means.

Claim 20

In an imprinting device: base means; support means on the base means for holding an item to be imprinted; shiftable means mounted on said base means including carriage means shiftable relative to said base means along a path of travel juxtaposed with said support means, and imprinting means shiftable relative to said carriage means and shiftable with the carriage means relative to said base means; advancing means operably coupled with said carriage means for continuously urging the same in one direction of shifting along said path of travel; releasable means for releasably holding the carriage means against movement in said one direction relative to the base means; drive means on the carriage means interconnecting the advancing means and the releasable means and operably coupled with the base means, said drive means being actuatable when the releasable means is released to cause the advancing means to move the carriage means relative to the base means; operating means for operably coupling the drive means with the imprinting means for shifting the imprinting means toward the support means when the drive means are actuated; and control means on the base means operably coupled with said releasable means and said operating means for simultaneously releasing said releasable means and effecting operably coupling of said drive means with said imprinting means, whereby said advancing means will concurrently cause said carriage means to travel in said one direction relative to the base means and said operating means to shift said imprinting means toward said support means, said imprinting means being shiftably mounted on the base means for shifting movement toward the support means while being shifted with said carriage means in said direction along said path, said imprinting means including platform means slidably mounted on said base means for swinging movement toward said support means while shifting with said carriage means along said path, said drive means being shiftably mounted on said carriage means for movement relative to the latter during shifting of said carriage means along said path, said operating means including an elongated, swingable crank component securely attached to said platform means and extending laterally therefrom and an elongated, shiftable linking component pivotally coupled adjacent one end thereof with said crank component and operably engageable with said releasable means for reciprocable movement of said linking component along is longitudinal axis and swinging movement of said crank component about the pivotal axis Of said platform means when the drive means is shifted whereby said platform means is swung toward said support means.

Claim 21

The invention of claim 15, wherein said advancing means includes a coil spring carried by said carriage means and operably coupled with said drive means for shifting the latter, whereby said linking component is reciprocated along its longitudinal axis.

Claim 22

In an imprinting device: base means; support means horizontally mounted on the base means for holding an item to be imprinted; shiftable means mounted on said base means including carriage means shiftable relative to said base means along a path of travel horizontally disposed in juxtaposition with said support means, and imprinting means shiftable relative to said carriage means and shiftable with the carriage means relative to said base means; advancing means operably coupled with said carriage means for continuously urging the same in one direction of shifting along said path of travel; releasable means for releasably holding the carriage means against movement in said one direction relative to the base means; drive means on the carriage means interconnecting the advancing means and the releasable means and operably coupled with the base means, said drive means being actuatable when the releasable means is released to cause the advancing means to move the carriage means relative to the base means; operating means for operably coupling the drive means with the imprinting means for shifting the imprinting means toward the support means when the drive means are actuated; and control means on the base means operably coupled with said releasable means and said operating means for simultaneously releasing said releasable means and effecting operable coupling of said drive means with said imprinting means, whereby said advancing means will concurrently cause said carriage means to travel in said one direction relative to the base means and said operating means to shift said imprinting means toward said support means, said imprinting means being shiftably mounted on the base means for shifting movement toward the support means while being shifted with said carriage means in said direction along said path, said imprinting means being provided with a plurality of character imprinting elements thereon adapted to engage said item and to imprint a plurality of characters on said item, said imprinting means including: platform means shiftably mounted on said base means adjacent an extremity of the platform means proximal said support means for movement toward and away from said support means about an axis of rotation parallel with said path of travel while shifting in said one direction along said path with said carriage means; head means rotatably mounted on said platform means for rotation about a vertical axis and having an outer arcuate surface generally facing said support means and concentric with the axis of rotation of said head means, said imprinting elements being horizontally spaced on said arcuate outer surface; spin means operably coupled with said head means and said carriage means for rotating the head means as said platform means and said head means shift relative to said carriage means toward and away from said support means, and spin selection means on the carriage means operably engageable with said head means and said control means for holding the head means against rotation at a predetermined position wherein one of said elements is disposed in an imprinting position whereby said one element is adapted to engage said item, said spin means including a shaft means rotatably mounted on said platform means having an annular gear means transversely on one end of the drive shaft complementally engaging an arcuate gear track on said carriage means extending in the direction of swinging of said shaft means as the latter swings with said platform means toward said support means for rotating said shaft means durIng said swinging of the latter and said platform means and a bevel gear means on the other end of the shaft means comple-mentally engaging a second bevel gear means on said head means for rotating the latter about its vertical axis as said shaft means is rotated, said spin means being provided with yieldable means for permitting rotation of said annular gear means on the arcuate gear track while said head means is held against rotation by the spin selection means thereby allowing said platform and head means to swing toward said support means unimpeded by said spin selector means.

Claim 23

In an imprinting device: base means; support means horizontally mounted on the base means for holding an item to be imprinted; shiftable means mounted on said base means including carriage means shiftable relative to said base means along a path of travel horizontally disposed in juxtaposition with said support means, and imprinting means shiftable relative to said carriage means and shiftable with the carriage means relative to said base means; advancing means operably coupled with said carriage means for continuously urging the same in one direction of shifting along said path of travel; releasable means for releasably holding the carriage means against movement in said one direction relative to the base means; drive means on the carriage means interconnecting the advancing means and the releasable means and operably coupled with the base means, said drive means being actuatable when the releasable means is released to cause the advancing means to move the carriage means relative to the base means; operating means for operably coupling the drive means with the imprinting means for shifting the imprinting means toward the support means when the drive means are actuated; and control means on the base means operably coupled with said releasable means and said operating means for simultaneously releasing said releasable means and effecting operable coupling of said drive means with said imprinting means, whereby said advancing means will concurrently cause said carriage means to travel in said one direction relative to the base means and said operating means to shift said imprinting means toward said support means, said imprinting means being shiftably mounted on the base means for shifting movement toward the support means while being shifted with said carriage means in said direction along said path, said imprinting means being provided with a plurality of character imprinting elements thereon adapted to engage said item and to imprint a plurality of characters on said item, said imprinting means including: platform means shiftably mounted on said base means adjacent an extremity of the platform means proximal said support means for movement toward and away from said support means about an axis of rotation parallel with said path of travel while shifting in said one direction along said path with said carriage means; head means rotatably mounted on said platform means for rotation about a vertical axis and having an outer arcuate surface generally facing said support means and concentric with the axis of rotation of said head means, said imprinting elements being horizontally spaced on said arcuate outer surface; spin means operably coupled with said head means and said carriage means for rotating the head means as said platform means and said head means shift relative to said carriage means toward and away from said support means, and spin selection means on the carriage means operably engageable with said head means and said control means for holding the head means against rotation at a predetermined position wherein one of said elements is disposed in an imprinting position whereby said one element is adapted to engage said item, said spin means including a shaft means rotatably mounted on said platform means having an annular gear means transversely on one end of the drive shaft complementally engaging an arcuate gear track on said carriage means extending in the direction of swinging of said shaft means as the latter swings with said platform means toward said support means for rotating said shaft means durIng said swinging of the latter and said platform means and a bevel gear means on the other end of the shaft means comple-mentally engaging a second bevel gear means on said head means for rotating the latter about its vertical axis as said shaft means is rotated, said spin means being provided with yieldable means for permitting rotation of said annular gear means on the arcuate gear track while said head means is held against rotation by the spin selection means thereby allowing said platform and head means to swing toward said support means unimpeded by said spin selector means.

Claim 24

In an imprinting device: base means; support means horizontally mounted on the base means for holding an item to be imprinted; shiftable means mounted on said base means including carriage means shiftable relative to said base means along a path of travel horizontally disposed in juxtaposition with said support means, and imprinting means shiftable relative to said carriage means and shiftable with the carriage means relative to said base means; advancing means operably coupled with said carriage means for continuously urging the same in one direction of shifting along said path of travel; releasable means for releasably holding the carriage means against movement in said one direction relative to the base means; drive means on the carriage means interconnecting the advancing means and the releasable means and operably coupled with the base means, said drive means being actuatable when the releasable means is released to cause the advancing means to move the carriage means relative to the base means; operating means for operably coupling the drive means with the imprinting means for shifting the imprinting means toward the support means when the drive means are actuated; and control means on the base means operably coupled with said releasable means and said operating means for simultaneously releasing said releasable means and effecting operable coupling of said drive means with said imprinting means, whereby said advancing means will concurrently cause said carriage means to travel in said done direction relative to the base means and said operating means to shift said imprinting means toward said support means, said imprinting means being shiftably mounted on the base means for shifting movement toward the support means while being shifted with said carriage means in said direction along said path, said imprinting means being provided with a plurality of character imprinting elements thereon adapted to engage said item and to imprint a plurality of characters on said item, said imprinting means including: platform means shiftably mounted on said base means for movement toward said support means while shifting in said one direction along said path with said carriage means; head means rotatably mounted on said platform means for rotation about a vertical axis and having an outer arcuate surface generally facing said support means concentric with the axis of rotation of said head means, said imprinting elements being horizontally spaced on said arcuate outer surface; spin means operably coupled with said head means and said carriage means for rotating the head means as said platform means and said head means shift relative in said carriage means toward and away from said support means; and spin selection means on the carriage means operably engageable with said head means and said control means for holding the head means against rotation at a predetermined position wherein one of said elements is disposed in an imprinting position whereby said one element is adapted to engage said item, said spin selection means including sector wheel means on said head means, a spin sensor shiftably mounted on said operating means for movement to a predetermined position wherein the sensor engages said sector wheel means for holding said head means against rotation, and shiftable intermediate means operably coupled wiTh said platform means and responsive to the swinging movement of the latter for shifting said spin sensor into said sector wheel means when actuated by said control means.

Claim 25

In an imprinting device: base means; support means horizontally mounted on the base means for holding an item to be imprinted; shiftable means mounted on said base means including carriage means shiftable relative to said base means along a path of travel horizontally disposed in juxtaposition with said support means, and imprinting means shiftable relative to said carriage means and shiftable with the carriage means relative to said base means; advancing means operably coupled with said carriage means for continuously urging the same in one direction of shifting along said path of travel; releasable means for releasably holding the carriage means against movement in said one direction relative to the base means; drive means on the carriage means interconnecting the advancing means and the releasable means and operably coupled with the base means, said drive means being actuatable when the releasable means is released to cause the advancing means to move the carriage means relative to the base means; operating means for operably coupling the drive means with the imprinting means for shifting the imprinting means toward the support means when the drive means are actuated; and control means on the base means operably coupled with said releasable means and said operating means for simultaneously releasing said releasable means and effecting operable coupling of said drive means with said imprinting means, whereby said advancing means will concurrently cause said carriage means to travel in said done direction relative to the base means and said operating means to shift said imprinting means toward said support means, said imprinting means being shiftably mounted on the base means for shifting movement toward the support means while being shifted with said carriage means in said direction along said path, said imprinting means being provided with a plurality of character imprinting elements thereon adapted to engage said item and to imprint a plurality of characters on said item, said imprinting means including: platform means shiftably mounted on said base means for movement toward said support means while shifting in said one direction along said path with said carriage means; head means rotatably mounted on said platform means for rotation about a vertical axis and having an outer arcuate surface generally facing said support means concentric with the axis of rotation of said head means, said imprinting elements being horizontally spaced on said arcuate outer surface; spin means operably coupled with said head means and said carriage means for rotating the head means as said platform means and said head means shift relative in said carriage means toward and away from said support means; and spin selection means on the carriage means operably engageable with said head means and said control means for holding the head means against rotation at a predetermined position wherein one of said elements is disposed in an imprinting position whereby said one element is adapted to engage said item, said spin selection means including sector wheel means on said head means, a spin sensor shiftably mounted on said operating means for movement to a predetermined position wherein the sensor engages said sector wheel means for holding said head means against rotation, and shiftable intermediate means operably coupled wiTh said platform means and responsive to the swinging movement of the latter for shifting said spin sensor into said sector wheel means when actuated by said control means.

Claim 26

The invention of claim 18, wherein said intermediate means includes a horizontal rod means pivotally mounted on said base means between said carriage means and said support means extending generally parallel to and juxtaposed with the latter, said rod means being operably coupled with the platform means for rotation of the rod means during the swinging of said platform means and said head means toward said support means, and elongated generally U-shaped bracket means yieldably connected to said rod means and juxtaposed therewith for swinging movement of said bracket means about the rod means as the latter rotates during swinging of the platform and head means, said bracket means being engageable on one side thereof with said control means at a predetermined position along said swinging movement for holding said bracket means against further swinging movement in a direction corresponding to the swinging of said head and platform means toward said support means.

Claim 27

The invention of claim 19, wherein said spin sensor includes an elongated rod pivotally mounted between its ends on said operating means and having one end thereof adjacent to and spaced from said sector wheel means with the other end thereof engaging said bracket means on the opposite side thereof for swinging said one end of the spin sensor relative to said platform means into said sector wheel means when said bracket means engages the control means and is held thereby as said platform and head means swing toward the support means; said sector wheel means beings securely attached to said head means perpendicularly of said axis of rotation of the latter adjacent said platform means and having radially outwardly extending gear teeth, one for each element position in said row of imprinting elements on the head means.

Claim 28

The invention of claim 19, wherein said bracket means is tapered in width from one end to the other thereby permitting said bracket means to swing through selectable distances before engaging said control means and said head means to rotate to selectable positions, wherein varying elements may be disposed in said imprinting position, the amount of rotation of said head means and swinging of said bracket means while said head and platform means swing toward said support means being in direct correspondence to the position of engagement of said control means along the length of said bracket means.

Claim 29

The invention of claim 19, wherein said control means includes shiftable linkage means pivotally mounted on said base means for swinging movement relative to the base means when actuated, and a stop piece pivotally mounted on said shiftable linkage means and extending laterally therefrom having a first surface for engaging said bracket means and holding the latter against swinging in a direction corresponding to the swinging of said platform means and said head means toward the support means when said shiftable linkage means is shifted, and an arcuate, second surface opposed to said first surface for yieldably engaging said bracket during swinging of the latter in the opposite direction when said shiftable linkage is shifted.

Claim 30

In an imprinting device: base means; support means horizontally mounted on the base means for holding an item to be imprinted; shiftable means mounted on said base means including carriage means shiftable relative to said base means along a path of travel horizontally disposed in juxtaposition with said support means, and imprinting means shiftable relative to said carriage means and shiftable with the carriage means relative to said base means; advancing means operably coupled with said carriage means for continuously urging the same in one direction of shifting along said path of travel; releasable means for releasably holding the carriage means againsT movement in said one direction relative to the base means; drive means on the carriage means interconnecting the advancing means and the releasable means and operably coupled with the base means, said drive means being actuatable when the releasable means is released to cause the advancing means to move the carriage means relative to the base means; operating means for operably coupling the drive means with the imprinting means for shifting the imprinting means toward the support means when the drive means are actuated; and control means on the base means operably coupled with said releasable means and said operating means for simultaneously releasing said releasable means and effecting operably coupling of said drive means with said imprinting means, whereby said advancing means will concurrently cause said carriage means to travel in said one direction relative to the base means and said operating means to shift said imprinting means toward said support means, said imprinting means being shiftably mounted on the base means for shifting movement toward the support means while being shifted with said carriage means in said direction along said path, said imprinting means being provided with a plurality of character imprinting elements thereon adapted to engage said item and to imprint a plurality of characters on said item, said imprinting means including: platform means shiftably mounted on said base means for movement toward said support means while shifting in said one direction along said path; head means shiftably mounted on said platform means and having an arcuate outer surface generally facing said support means with a generally vertical extending axis of curvature, said imprinting elements being spaced vertically along said arcuate outer surface; elevation means operably coupled with said head means and said platform means for reciprocating said head means toward and away from said platform means in a direction generally parallel with the axis of curvature of said arcuate surface as said platform means and said head means shift toward and away from said support means; and elevation selection means on the carriage means for holding said head means against said shifting movement relative to the platform means at a predetermined position spaced from said platform means wherein one of said elements is disposed in a position to engage and imprint said item, said platform means being swingable mounted on said base means for swinging movement toward and away from said support means about an axis of rotation parallel with said path of travel, said elevation means including an elongated link pivotally mounted on said carriage means and extending generally toward said support means for vertical swinging movement relative to said carriage means, said link being yieldably coupled with said platform means at a point on said link intermediate its pivotal point of connection with said carriage means and one end of the link adjacent said support means for swinging said link relative to said carriage means as said platform means and said head means are swung toward the support means, said one end of the link being operably coupled with said head means for shifting the latter toward and away from said platform means as said link is swung relative to the carriage means during swinging movement of said platform means and said head means.

Claim 31

In an imprinting device: base means; support means horizontally mounted on the base means for holding an item to be imprinted; shiftable means mounted on said base means including carriage means shiftable relative to said base means along a path of travel horizontally disposed in juxtaposition with said support means, and imprinting means shiftable relative to said carriage means and shiftable with the carriage means relative to said base means; advancing means operably coupled with said carriage means for continuously urging the same in one direction of shifting along said path of travel; releasable means for releasably holding the carriage means againsT movement in said one direction relative to the base means; drive means on the carriage means interconnecting the advancing means and the releasable means and operably coupled with the base means, said drive means being actuatable when the releasable means is released to cause the advancing means to move the carriage means relative to the base means; operating means for operably coupling the drive means with the imprinting means for shifting the imprinting means toward the support means when the drive means are actuated; and control means on the base means operably coupled with said releasable means and said operating means for simultaneously releasing said releasable means and effecting operably coupling of said drive means with said imprinting means, whereby said advancing means will concurrently cause said carriage means to travel in said one direction relative to the base means and said operating means to shift said imprinting means toward said support means, said imprinting means being shiftably mounted on the base means for shifting movement toward the support means while being shifted with said carriage means in said direction along said path, said imprinting means being provided with a plurality of character imprinting elements thereon adapted to engage said item and to imprint a plurality of characters on said item, said imprinting means including: platform means shiftably mounted on said base means for movement toward said support means while shifting in said one direction along said path; head means shiftably mounted on said platform means and having an arcuate outer surface generally facing said support means with a generally vertical extending axis of curvature, said imprinting elements being spaced vertically along said arcuate outer surface; elevation means operably coupled with said head means and said platform means for reciprocating said head means toward and away from said platform means in a direction generally parallel with the axis of curvature of said arcuate surface as said platform means and said head means shift toward and away from said support means; and elevation selection means on the carriage means for holding said head means against said shifting movement relative to the platform means at a predetermined position spaced from said platform means wherein one of said elements is disposed in a position to engage and imprint said item, said platform means being swingable mounted on said base means for swinging movement toward and away from said support means about an axis of rotation parallel with said path of travel, said elevation means including an elongated link pivotally mounted on said carriage means and extending generally toward said support means for vertical swinging movement relative to said carriage means, said link being yieldably coupled with said platform means at a point on said link intermediate its pivotal point of connection with said carriage means and one end of the link adjacent said support means for swinging said link relative to said carriage means as said platform means and said head means are swung toward the support means, said one end of the link being operably coupled with said head means for shifting the latter toward and away from said platform means as said link is swung relative to the carriage means during swinging movement of said platform means and said head means.

Claim 32

The invention of claim 23, wherein said head means is provided with an elongated slot therein adjacent said link and extending perpendicularly of the axis of curvature of said arcuate outer surface thereof slidably receiving pin means perpendicularly disposed on said one end of the link for operably coupling said link with said head means.

Claim 33

In an imprinting device: base means; support means horizontally mounted on the base means for holding an item to be imprinted; shiftable means mounted on said base means including carriage means shiftable relative to Said base means along a path of travel horizontally disposed in juxtaposition with said support means, and imprinting means shiftable relative to said carriage means and shiftable with the carriage means relative to said base means; advancing means operably coupled with said carriage means for continuously urging the same in one direction of shifting along said path of travel; releasable means for releasably holding the carriage means against movement in said one direction relative to the base means; drive means on the carriage means interconnecting the advancing means and the releasable means and operably coupled with the base means, said drive means being actuatable when the releasable means is released to cause the advancing means to move the carriage means relative to the base means; operating means for operably coupling the drive means with the imprinting means for shifting the imprinting means toward the support means when the drive means are actuated; and control means on the base means operably coupled with said releasable means and said operating means for simultaneously releasing said releasable means and effecting operable coupling of said drive means with said imprinting means, whereby said advancing means will concurrently cause said carriage means to travel in said one direction relative to the base means and said operating means to shift said imprinting means toward said support means, said imprinting means being shiftably mounted on the base means for shifting movement toward the support means while being shifted with said carriage means in said direction along said path, said imprinting means being provided with a plurality of character imprinting elements thereon adapted to engage said item and to imprint a plurality of characters on said item, said imprinting means including: platform means shiftably mounted on said base means for movement toward said support means while shifting in said one direction along said path; head means shiftably mounted on said platform means and having an arcuate outer surface generally facing said support means with a generally vertically extending axis of curvature, said imprinting elements being spaced vertically along said arcuate outer surface; elevation means operably coupled with said head means and said platform means for reciprocating said head means toward and away from said platform means in a direction generally parallel with the axis of curvature of said arcuate surface as said platform means and said head means shift toward and away from said support means; and elevation selection means on the carriage means for holding said head means against said shifting movement relative to the platform means at a pre-determined position spaced from said platform means wherein one of said elements is disposed in a position to engage and imprint said item, said elevation selection means including a stop mechanism pivotally mounted on said framework and operably coupled with said head means for swinging said mechanism in one direction relative to the carriage means as said head means is shifted away from said platform and an elongated elevation sensor shiftably mounted on said carriage means and operably engageably with said control means for shifting said sensor into engagement with said mechanism when the latter has swung to a predetermined position along its swinging movement corresponding to a predetermined elevation of said head means from said platform means whereby sad mechanism is held against further swinging movement, said head means is held against further shifting movement from the platform means, and a selected element on said head means is disposed in said imprinting position.

Claim 34

In an imprinting device: base means; support means horizontally mounted on the base means for holding an item to be imprinted; shiftable means mounted on said base means including carriage means shiftable relative to Said base means along a path of travel horizontally disposed in juxtaposition with said support means, and imprinting means shiftable relative to said carriage means and shiftable with the carriage means relative to said base means; advancing means operably coupled with said carriage means for continuously urging the same in one direction of shifting along said path of travel; releasable means for releasably holding the carriage means against movement in said one direction relative to the base means; drive means on the carriage means interconnecting the advancing means and the releasable means and operably coupled with the base means, said drive means being actuatable when the releasable means is released to cause the advancing means to move the carriage means relative to the base means; operating means for operably coupling the drive means with the imprinting means for shifting the imprinting means toward the support means when the drive means are actuated; and control means on the base means operably coupled with said releasable means and said operating means for simultaneously releasing said releasable means and effecting operable coupling of said drive means with said imprinting means, whereby said advancing means will concurrently cause said carriage means to travel in said one direction relative to the base means and said operating means to shift said imprinting means toward said support means, said imprinting means being shiftably mounted on the base means for shifting movement toward the support means while being shifted with said carriage means in said direction along said path, said imprinting means being provided with a plurality of character imprinting elements thereon adapted to engage said item and to imprint a plurality of characters on said item, said imprinting means including: platform means shiftably mounted on said base means for movement toward said support means while shifting in said one direction along said path; head means shiftably mounted on said platform means and having an arcuate outer surface generally facing said support means with a generally vertically extending axis of curvature, said imprinting elements being spaced vertically along said arcuate outer surface; elevation means operably coupled with said head means and said platform means for reciprocating said head means toward and away from said platform means in a direction generally parallel with the axis of curvature of said arcuate surface as said platform means and said head means shift toward and away from said support means; and elevation selection means on the carriage means for holding said head means against said shifting movement relative to the platform means at a pre-determined position spaced from said platform means wherein one of said elements is disposed in a position to engage and imprint said item, said elevation selection means including a stop mechanism pivotally mounted on said framework and operably coupled with said head means for swinging said mechanism in one direction relative to the carriage means as said head means is shifted away from said platform and an elongated elevation sensor shiftably mounted on said carriage means and operably engageably with said control means for shifting said sensor into engagement with said mechanism when the latter has swung to a predetermined position along its swinging movement corresponding to a predetermined elevation of said head means from said platform means whereby sad mechanism is held against further swinging movement, said head means is held against further shifting movement from the platform means, and a selected element on said head means is disposed in said imprinting position.

Claim 35

The invention of claim 25, wherein said platform means is swingably mounted on said base means for swinging movement toward and away from said support means about an axis of rotation parallel with said path of travel; said elevation means including an elongated link pivotaLly mounted intermediate its ends on said carriage means and operably coupled adjacent one end thereof with said head means for vertical swinging movement relative to the carriage means as said head means is shifted away from said platform means, the other end of said link being in engagement with a horizontal surface on said stop mechanism for swinging the latter in said one direction relative to the carriage means as said link is swung relative to the carriage means during the shifting of said head means away from the platform means.

Claim 36

The invention of claim 25, wherein said mechanism is provided with a plurality of notches spaced along an extremity of said member presenting a plurality of spaced stop surfaces for engaging the elevation sensor at varying positions along the swinging movement of said mechanism, said elevation sensor being elongated and provided with a tab at one end thereof adjacent said stop mechanism and extending laterally from said sensor toward the stop mechanism for engaging said stop surfaces, the other end of said elevation sensor being engageable with said control means for shifting said sensor when actuated to selectable positions, wherein said tab may engage one of said stop surfaces corresponding to a predetermined position along said swinging movement of said member.

Claim 37

The invention of claim 27, wherein said control means includes shiftable linkage means pivotally mounted on said base means for swinging movement relative to the base means when actuated, and elevation bar means swingably mounted on said base means and extending along the length of said path of travel in juxtaposition therewith, one side of said elevation bar means being in engagement with and carried by said shiftable linkage means for swinging movement of the elevation bar means when said shiftable linkage means is swung, the opposite side of said bar means being slidably engaged by said spacing sensor for shifting said sensor into engagement with selected stop surfaces in said mechanism at any position of said carriage means along the path of travel when said shiftable linkage means is shifted.

Claim 38

The invention of claim 28, wherein said control means includes upper case actuation means; said elevation bar means including an elongated central portion rotatably mounted on said elevation bar means and having a substantially greater transverse dimension in one direction than in another direction perpendicular thereto for shifting said elevation sensor to engage a second successive stop surface independently of the swinging of said shiftable linkage means when said central portion is rotated by said upper case actuation means.

Claim 39

The invention of claim 28, wherein a plurality of control means are provided, said shiftable linkage means of at least one of said control means being provided with recess means therein for receiving said elevation bar means when said shiftable linkage means is swung, thereby preventing said shiftable linkage means from shifting said elevation sensor as said shiftable linkage means is swung.

Claim 40

In an imprinting device: base means, support means horizontally mounted on the base means for holding an item to be imprinted; shiftable means mounted on said base means including carriage means shiftable relative to said base means along a path of travel horizontally disposed in juxtaposition with said support means, and imprinting means shiftable relative to said carriage means and shiftable with the carriage means relative to said base means; advancing means operably coupled with said carriage means for continuously urging the same in one direction of shifting along said path of travel; releasable means for releasably holding the carriage means against movement in said one direction relative to the base means; drive means on the carriage means interconnecting the advancing means and the releasable means and operably coupled with the base means, said drive means being actuatable when the releasable means iS released to cause the advancing means to move the carriage means relative to the base means; operating means for operably coupling the drive means with the imprinting means for shifting the imprinting means toward the support means when the drive means are actuated; and control means on the base means operably coupled with said releasable means and said operating means for simultaneously releasing said releasable means and effecting operable coupling of said drive means with said imprinting means, whereby said advancing means will concurrently cause said carriage means to travel in said one direction relative to the base means and said operating means to shift said imprinting means toward said support means, said imprinting means being shiftably mounted on the base means for shifting movement toward the support means while being shifted with said carriage means in said direction along said path, said imprinting means being provided with a plurality of character imprinting elements thereon adapted to engage said item and to imprint a plurality of characters on said item, said imprinting means including: platform means shiftably mounted on said base means for movement toward said support means while shifting in said one direction along said path; head means shiftably mounted on said platform means and having an arcuate outer surface generally facing said support means with a generally vertically extending axis of curvature, said imprinting elements being spaced vertically along said arcuate outer surface; elevation means operably coupled with said head means and said platform means for reciprocating said head means toward and away from said platform means in a direction generally parallel with the axis of curvature of said arcuate surface as said platform means and said head means shift toward and away from said support means; and elevation selection means on the carriage means for holding said head means against said shifting movement relative to the platform means at a predetermined position spaced from said platform means wherein one of said elements is disposed in a position to engage and imprint said item, said drive means being shiftably mounted on said carriage means for movement relative to the latter during shifting of said carriage means along said path, said operating means being operably engageable with said actuating means for shifting the platform means toward the support means when the drive means is shifted, said advancing means including a coil spring carried by said carriage means and operably coupled with said drive means for shifting the latter whereby said platform means is shifted toward said support means while shifting with said carriage means in said one direction along said path of travel, said head means including a cylindrical-shape body having a generally vertical axis of curvature with imprinting means being disposed in spaced, horizontal and vertical rows around the exterior surface of said body, said body being operably coupled with said elevation means and provided with a key-shaped opening means longitudinally therethrough complementally receiving an upstanding post means rotatably mounted on said platform means and operably coupled with said spin means and said spin selection means for rotating said body with the post means while said body shifts longitudinally of the post means, said platform means being pivotally mounted on said base means adjacent an extremity of the platform means proximal to said support means for swinging movement toward and away from said support means about an axis of rotation parallel with said path of travel, said drive means including gear means rotatably mounted on said carriage means and operably coupled with a rack on said base means for shifting said carriage means in said one direction along said path as said gear means is rotated, said advancing means including a coil spring carried by the carriage means and operably coupled with said Gear means for rotating the latter, said releasable means including a spacing means rotatably mounted on said carriage means and operably coupled with said gear means for rotation with the latter when said releasable means is released, said operating means including an elongated crank component securely attached to said platform mean, and an elongated linking component pivotally attached at one end thereof to said crank component and operably engageable with said spacing means for reciprocable movement of said linking component along its longitudinal axis as said spacing means is rotated whereby said platform means and said head means are swung toward and away from said support means during the shifting of said carriage means in said one direction along said path.

Claim 41

In an imprinting device: base means, support means horizontally mounted on the base means for holding an item to be imprinted; shiftable means mounted on said base means including carriage means shiftable relative to said base means along a path of travel horizontally disposed in juxtaposition with said support means, and imprinting means shiftable relative to said carriage means and shiftable with the carriage means relative to said base means; advancing means operably coupled with said carriage means for continuously urging the same in one direction of shifting along said path of travel; releasable means for releasably holding the carriage means against movement in said one direction relative to the base means; drive means on the carriage means interconnecting the advancing means and the releasable means and operably coupled with the base means, said drive means being actuatable when the releasable means iS released to cause the advancing means to move the carriage means relative to the base means; operating means for operably coupling the drive means with the imprinting means for shifting the imprinting means toward the support means when the drive means are actuated; and control means on the base means operably coupled with said releasable means and said operating means for simultaneously releasing said releasable means and effecting operable coupling of said drive means with said imprinting means, whereby said advancing means will concurrently cause said carriage means to travel in said one direction relative to the base means and said operating means to shift said imprinting means toward said support means, said imprinting means being shiftably mounted on the base means for shifting movement toward the support means while being shifted with said carriage means in said direction along said path, said imprinting means being provided with a plurality of character imprinting elements thereon adapted to engage said item and to imprint a plurality of characters on said item, said imprinting means including: platform means shiftably mounted on said base means for movement toward said support means while shifting in said one direction along said path; head means shiftably mounted on said platform means and having an arcuate outer surface generally facing said support means with a generally vertically extending axis of curvature, said imprinting elements being spaced vertically along said arcuate outer surface; elevation means operably coupled with said head means and said platform means for reciprocating said head means toward and away from said platform means in a direction generally parallel with the axis of curvature of said arcuate surface as said platform means and said head means shift toward and away from said support means; and elevation selection means on the carriage means for holding said head means against said shifting movement relative to the platform means at a predetermined position spaced from said platform means wherein one of said elements is disposed in a position to engage and imprint said item, said drive means being shiftably mounted on said carriage means for movement relative to the latter during shifting of said carriage means along said path, said operating means being operably engageable with said actuating means for shifting the platform means toward the support means when the drive means is shifted, said advancing means including a coil spring carried by said carriage means and operably coupled with said drive means for shifting the latter whereby said platform means is shifted toward said support means while shifting with said carriage means in said one direction along said path of travel, said head means including a cylindrical-shape body having a generally vertical axis of curvature with imprinting means being disposed in spaced, horizontal and vertical rows around the exterior surface of said body, said body being operably coupled with said elevation means and provided with a key-shaped opening means longitudinally therethrough complementally receiving an upstanding post means rotatably mounted on said platform means and operably coupled with said spin means and said spin selection means for rotating said body with the post means while said body shifts longitudinally of the post means, said platform means being pivotally mounted on said base means adjacent an extremity of the platform means proximal to said support means for swinging movement toward and away from said support means about an axis of rotation parallel with said path of travel, said drive means including gear means rotatably mounted on said carriage means and operably coupled with a rack on said base means for shifting said carriage means in said one direction along said path as said gear means is rotated, said advancing means including a coil spring carried by the carriage means and operably coupled with said Gear means for rotating the latter, said releasable means including a spacing means rotatably mounted on said carriage means and operably coupled with said gear means for rotation with the latter when said releasable means is released, said operating means including an elongated crank component securely attached to said platform mean, and an elongated linking component pivotally attached at one end thereof to said crank component and operably engageable with said spacing means for reciprocable movement of said linking component along its longitudinal axis as said spacing means is rotated whereby said platform means and said head means are swung toward and away from said support means during the shifting of said carriage means in said one direction along said path.

Claim 42

In an imprinting device: support means said holding an item to be printed; carriage means reciprocably shiftable along a path of travel juxtaposed with said support means; imprinting means shiftable relative to said carriage means to perform a printing operation upon said item and shiftable with said carriage means relative to said support means for letterspacing purposes; and advancing means for said carriage means and said imprinting means operably coupled therewith for shifting said carriage means in a letterspaced direction along said path and shifting said imprinting means relative to said carriage means and said support means to perform a printing operation, said advancing means consisting of a single spring, said advancing means being coupled with said carriage means for receiving and storing energy in said advancing means during shifting of the carriage means in a return direction opposite to that of said letterspacing direction, said advancing means being selectively and repeatedly actuatable to release said stored energy for the simultaneous shifting, during traverse of each space of a line of print, of said carriage means in said advancing direction and said imprinting means relative to said carriage means and said support means to imprint a line of print, a character at a time, on said item as said carriage means and said imprinting means advance in said letterspacing direction along said path of travel.

Claim 43

In an imprinting device: support means said holding an item to be printed; carriage means reciprocably shiftable along a path of travel juxtaposed with said support means; imprinting means shiftable relative to said carriage means to perform a printing operation upon said item and shiftable with said carriage means relative to said support means for letterspacing purposes; and advancing means for said carriage means and said imprinting means operably coupled therewith for shifting said carriage means in a letterspaced direction along said path and shifting said imprinting means relative to said carriage means and said support means to perform a printing operation, said advancing means consisting of a single spring, said advancing means being coupled with said carriage means for receiving and storing energy in said advancing means during shifting of the carriage means in a return direction opposite to that of said letterspacing direction, said advancing means being selectively and repeatedly actuatable to release said stored energy for the simultaneous shifting, during traverse of each space of a line of print, of said carriage means in said advancing direction and said imprinting means relative to said carriage means and said support means to imprint a line of print, a character at a time, on said item as said carriage means and said imprinting means advance in said letterspacing direction along said path of travel.

Claim 44

The invention of claim 32, wherein is provided selectively operable means coupled with said carriage means for shifting said carriage means in said return direction.

Claim 45

In an imprinting device: support means for holding an item to be printed; carriage means reciprocably shiftable along a path of travel juxtaposed with said support means; imprinting means shiftable relative to said carriage means to print upon said item and shiftable with said carriage means relative to said support means for letterspacing purposes; advancing means common to said carriage means and said imprinting means and operably coupled therewith for shifting said carriage means in an advancing direction along said path and shifting said imprinting means relative to said carriage means and said support means to print upon said item during traverse of said carriage along said path; said advancing means consisting of a single resilient member which stores energy during carriage return motion; and shiftable control means operable when actuated for causing said advancing means to effect said shifting of said carriage means and said imprinting means, said shifting of said carriage means and said imprinting means occurring concurrently to imprint a line of print upon said item, a character at a time.

Claim 46

In an imprinting device: support means for holding an item to be printed; carriage means reciprocably shiftable along a path of travel juxtaposed with said support means; imprinting means shiftable relative to said carriage means to print upon said item and shiftable with said carriage means relative to said support means for letterspacing purposes; advancing means common to said carriage means and said imprinting means and operably coupled therewith for shifting said carriage means in an advancing direction along said path and shifting said imprinting means relative to said carriage means and said support means to print upon said item during traverse of said carriage along said path; said advancing means consisting of a single resilient member which stores energy during carriage return motion; and shiftable control means operable when actuated for causing said advancing means to effect said shifting of said carriage means and said imprinting means, said shifting of said carriage means and said imprinting means occurring concurrently to imprint a line of print upon said item, a character at a time.

Claim 47

The invention of claim 34, wherein said advancing means provides a constant bias in said advancing direction upon the carriage means.

Claim 48

The invention of claim 34, wherein there is provided releasable carriage spacing means engageable and releasable by said control means, said spacing means being operably interconnected with said advancing means to cause the latter to be actuated upon the release of the spacing means by said control means.

Claim 49

The invenTion of claim 36, wherein said carriage means is operably coupled with said spacing means, said imprinting means is operably coupled with said spacing means upon operation of said control means, and said advancing means is drivingly coupled with said spacing means, whereby said carriage means and said imprinting means are simultaneously shifted by said advancing means when said spacing means is released by said control means.

Claim 50

The invention of claim 34, wherein said imprinting means includes an imprinting head selectively rotatable in coordination with and in response to said actuation of the advancing means and simultaneously with said shifting of said carriage means and said imprinting means.

Claim 51

The invention of claim 38, wherein said imprinting head is selectively movable relative to said carriage means along a linear, additional path of travel in coordination with and in response to said actuation of the advancing means and simultaneously with said shifting of said carriage means and said imprinting means.