Patent US4497248A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4497248A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Thermal engraving presses
Assignee: Contemporary Inc
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Filing: 1983-12-12
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Granted: 1985-02-05
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Expires: 2003-12-12
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to a thermal engraving press for hot stamping, especially--although not exclusively--a plastic material which simulates engraved metal. A hot die and a movable platen are horizontally displaced from each other to support a work piece in a position opposing the die. The position of the work piece may be adjusted in three dimensions relative to the die. The hot stamping foil also provides a guard which prevents the operator from accidently touching the hot die. A feature of the inventive press is that it has an extremely low cost and is practically foolproof.
Inventors
- 👤 James C. Kanzelberger
- 👤 William J. Deau
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 12:35
CPC Classifications
C; C14; C14B; C14B1/00; C14B1/44; C14B1/56; B; B41; B41F; B41F19/00; B41F19/02; B41F19/06; B44; B44B; B44B5/00; B44B5/0052; B44B5/02; B44B5/028; F; F16; F16P; F16P1/00; F16P1/02; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S101/00; Y10S101/31
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
248 words
A thermal engraving press comprising a stationary frame, heater means supported at a fixed location on said frame, a hot die heated by said heater means at a fixed location also on said frame, platen means mounted on said frame for horizontal displacement along said frame toward or away from said fixed locations of said hot die and heater means, means for precisely adjusting the length of a non-yielding horizontal excursion of said platen along said frame, said platen supporting a work piece in a vertical position opposing said die which is easily visible when said platen is in an open position away from said hot die, precision adjustment means associated with said platen for two dimensionally adjusting the position of said work piece relative to said die in a substantially vertical plane on said platen, means for horizontally moving said platen means over said excursion along said frame toward and away from said die, the completion of the displacement of said platen over the non-yielding excursion pressing said work piece to a closed position against said hot die at the fixed location on said frame, said excursion preserving the precise adjustment of said non-yielding horizontal displacement along the entire length thereof and especially at the closed position where said platen means confronts and presses the work piece against the die at the end of said excursion along said frame, whereby the position of said work piece may be precisely adjusted in three dimensions relative to said die.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
248 words
A thermal engraving press comprising a stationary frame, heater means supported at a fixed location on said frame, a hot die heated by said heater means at a fixed location also on said frame, platen means mounted on said frame for horizontal displacement along said frame toward or away from said fixed locations of said hot die and heater means, means for precisely adjusting the length of a non-yielding horizontal excursion of said platen along said frame, said platen supporting a work piece in a vertical position opposing said die which is easily visible when said platen is in an open position away from said hot die, precision adjustment means associated with said platen for two dimensionally adjusting the position of said work piece relative to said die in a substantially vertical plane on said platen, means for horizontally moving said platen means over said excursion along said frame toward and away from said die, the completion of the displacement of said platen over the non-yielding excursion pressing said work piece to a closed position against said hot die at the fixed location on said frame, said excursion preserving the precise adjustment of said non-yielding horizontal displacement along the entire length thereof and especially at the closed position where said platen means confronts and presses the work piece against the die at the end of said excursion along said frame, whereby the position of said work piece may be precisely adjusted in three dimensions relative to said die.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The press of claim 1 and means for supporting hot stamping foil at a position which is between the die and the work piece.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The press of claim 1 and means for supporting hot stamping foil having at least two colors of ink at positions which are between the die and the work piece.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
68 words
The press of claim 2 or 3 wherein said hot stamping foil is mounted on a moving platform which is spring biased to move to a normal position which is displaced away from said hot die, and means responsive to the excursion of said platen for moving said platform to a position for transferring ink from said foil to said work piece under the heat of said die.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
The press of claim 1 wherein said platen means comprises a supporting platen having a vertically floating platen mounted thereon, and wherein said precision adjustment means includes a pair of spaced parallel feed screws mounted on said supporting platen for independently adjusting the positions of opposite ends of said floating platen within said vertical plane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The press of claim 5 and means for individually adjusting the parallel feed screws.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The press of claim 5 and means for simultaneously adjusting both of the parallel feed screws.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The press of claim 1 wherein said means for moving said platen comprises link means including a threaded screw, means for rotating said threaded screw to adjust the length of said link and means for locking said threaded screw in said adjusted position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
242 words
A horizontal press comprising a base having a horizontal guideway formed longitudinally thereon, means for heating and supporting a die at a fixed and unmovable position near one end of said guideway, slide means having an excursion length adjustment means, said slide means being mounted on said guideway to move with a controllably fixed stroke between an open position at one end of the controllably fixed stroke which is away from said heated die and a precisely closed position at the other end of the controllably fixed stroke which is adjacent said fixed die, platen means supported on said slide means for holding a work piece in a position opposed to said heated die, means for three dimensionally adjusting the position of said work piece relative to said die when said slide means is at the closed position end of said fixed stroke, said excursion adjustment means comprising a shaft threaded into a tube for controllably making said fixed stroke adjustment to complete one dimension of said three dimensional adjustments responsive to a turning of said shaft relative to said tube, whereby said adjustment of the other end position of said fixed stroke occurs by the lengthening or shortening of said shaft and tube as said shaft advances or returns on said threads responsive to said turning thereof, and means for positioning hot stamping foil between said heated die and said work piece when said slide means is in said closed position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
242 words
A horizontal press comprising a base having a horizontal guideway formed longitudinally thereon, means for heating and supporting a die at a fixed and unmovable position near one end of said guideway, slide means having an excursion length adjustment means, said slide means being mounted on said guideway to move with a controllably fixed stroke between an open position at one end of the controllably fixed stroke which is away from said heated die and a precisely closed position at the other end of the controllably fixed stroke which is adjacent said fixed die, platen means supported on said slide means for holding a work piece in a position opposed to said heated die, means for three dimensionally adjusting the position of said work piece relative to said die when said slide means is at the closed position end of said fixed stroke, said excursion adjustment means comprising a shaft threaded into a tube for controllably making said fixed stroke adjustment to complete one dimension of said three dimensional adjustments responsive to a turning of said shaft relative to said tube, whereby said adjustment of the other end position of said fixed stroke occurs by the lengthening or shortening of said shaft and tube as said shaft advances or returns on said threads responsive to said turning thereof, and means for positioning hot stamping foil between said heated die and said work piece when said slide means is in said closed position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
72 words
The press of claim 9 wherein said platen means comprises a supporting platen having a vertically floating platen with a guide mounted thereon, a pair of feed screws on said supporting platen for adjusting the position of said floating platen in one of said three dimensions, and a third feed screw associated with said floating platen for adjusting said guide on said floating platen in a second adjustment of said three dimensions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
The press of claim 10 and a control toggle linkage for moving said slide over an excursion between said open and closed positions, and means for adjusting said excursion thereby completing a third adjustment of said three dimensions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The press of claim 11 wherein said toggle linkage includes a threaded jack screw, a pivoting link for sliding said jack screw and a manually controlled handle for sliding said jack screw.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
The press of any one of the claims 9-12 and a platform movable along a path parallel to said guideway, a plurality of upstanding posts on said platform for supporting said hot stamping foil, and means for moving said platform responsive to movement of said slide means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-02-05 | 1988-08-06 | 1989-02-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-02-05 | 1992-08-06 | 1993-02-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-02-05 | 1996-08-06 | 1997-02-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |