US3945479A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electric nameplate marker
Assignee: GEO T SCHMIDT Inc A CORP OF
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Filing: 1974-07-12
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Granted: 1976-03-23
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Expires: 1994-07-12
Abstract
Abstract Marking dial in an electrically actuated nameplate marker is indexed by a ratchet gear means having two adjacent rows of gear teeth which are out of phase relative to each other. A solenoid-actuated detent plate is adapted to engage a gear tooth in one of the two rows of gear teeth in response to a signal from a rotary switch means, thereby positioning the marking dial so as to imprint a desired character. The rotary switch means is operably connected to an alphanumeric keyboard which completes a circuit to solenoids which actuate the detent plate.
Inventors
- 👤 Ralph T. Wuetig
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 19:50
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J19/00; B41J19/18; B41J19/34; B41J19/40; B41J3/00; B41J3/38
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
350 words
In an electrically actuated nameplate marker having a frame, a marking ram means slidably mounted in said frame for substantially vertical travel, indexing shaft means comprising a rigid shaft portion journaled in said frame and a flexible shaft portion connected at one end to said rigid shaft portion and journaled in said marking ram means, a rotary marking dial fixedly mounted on the distal end of said flexible shaft portion, ratchet gear means fixedly mounted on said rigid shaft portion, rotary switch means mounted on the distal end of said rigid shaft portion, detent means mounted on said frame for engagement with said ratchet gear means, solenoid means linked to said detent means for shifting said detent means in engagement with said ratchet gear means and operably connected to said rotary switch means for energization by said switch means, keyboard means operably connected to said rotary switch means for actuating said switch means, table means for supporting a workpiece to be marked below said marking ram means, and electric motor means driving said marking ram means and said indexing shaft means, an improved marking dial indexing assembly which comprises: a pair of substantially parallel rows of equally spaced gear teeth on said ratchet gear means disposed so that one row of gear teeth is out of phase relative to the other row of gear teeth by about one-half the distance between consecutive gear teeth in each row, a single detent plate means situated substantially normal to the plane of rotation of said rows of gear teeth for selective engagement with a gear tooth in one of said rows and provided with a marginal notch receiving both of said rows, and a pair of opposed solenoid means individually linked to said detent plate means for shifting said detent plate into sliding engagement with a gear tooth of one of said parallel rows in response to a signal from said rotary switch means, said gear teeth having a tooth form providing substantially line contact with said single detent plate means when said detent plate is shifted into engagement with said gear tooth.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
350 words
In an electrically actuated nameplate marker having a frame, a marking ram means slidably mounted in said frame for substantially vertical travel, indexing shaft means comprising a rigid shaft portion journaled in said frame and a flexible shaft portion connected at one end to said rigid shaft portion and journaled in said marking ram means, a rotary marking dial fixedly mounted on the distal end of said flexible shaft portion, ratchet gear means fixedly mounted on said rigid shaft portion, rotary switch means mounted on the distal end of said rigid shaft portion, detent means mounted on said frame for engagement with said ratchet gear means, solenoid means linked to said detent means for shifting said detent means in engagement with said ratchet gear means and operably connected to said rotary switch means for energization by said switch means, keyboard means operably connected to said rotary switch means for actuating said switch means, table means for supporting a workpiece to be marked below said marking ram means, and electric motor means driving said marking ram means and said indexing shaft means, an improved marking dial indexing assembly which comprises: a pair of substantially parallel rows of equally spaced gear teeth on said ratchet gear means disposed so that one row of gear teeth is out of phase relative to the other row of gear teeth by about one-half the distance between consecutive gear teeth in each row, a single detent plate means situated substantially normal to the plane of rotation of said rows of gear teeth for selective engagement with a gear tooth in one of said rows and provided with a marginal notch receiving both of said rows, and a pair of opposed solenoid means individually linked to said detent plate means for shifting said detent plate into sliding engagement with a gear tooth of one of said parallel rows in response to a signal from said rotary switch means, said gear teeth having a tooth form providing substantially line contact with said single detent plate means when said detent plate is shifted into engagement with said gear tooth.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The improvement in accordance with claim 1 wherein said detent plate means is slidably mounted on a support block.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The improvement in accordance with claim 1 wherein said detent plate means is further provided with a longitudinal guide flange, wherein said support block is provided with a longitudinally extending groove therein, and wherein said guide flange is slidably received within said groove.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The improvement in accordance with claim 3 wherein each of said solenoid means is connected to said guide flange at opposite ends thereof by means of a clevis pin.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The improvement in accordance with claim 3 wherein a cover plate substantially coextensive with said detent plate means is mounted on said support block.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
114 words
The improvement in accordance with claim 1 wherein said rotary switch means is mounted on the distal end of said rigid shaft portion by means of an adjustable mounting which comprises a switch mounting bracket secured to said frame; rotary switch arm means secured to the distal end of said rigid shaft portion; rotary switch cover plate means bearing wiper contacts in sliding contact with said arm means and having a plurality of arcuate slots near the periphery of the cover plate means; and retaining screw means in said switch mounting bracket, each of said screw means extending through one of said arcuate slots and holding said cover plate means against said mounting bracket.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
70 words
The improvement in accordance with claim 1 wherein said marking ram means is additionally provided with manual actuating means for aligning a surface to be marked with said marking dial, said manual actuating means comprising a central hub on said marking dial, and a transverse lever means pivotally mounted on said frame above said hub for engagement with said hub when said lever means is urged downwardly in contact therewith.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-03-23 | 1979-09-22 | 1980-03-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-03-23 | 1983-09-22 | 1984-03-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-03-23 | 1987-09-22 | 1988-03-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |