US3779164A

US3779164A - Stamping device

Info

Publication number: US3779164A
Application number: US00139784A
Authority: US
Inventors: J Study
Original assignee: CARCO Inc
Current assignee: CARCO Inc
Priority date: 1971-05-03
Filing date: 1971-05-03
Publication date: 1973-12-18
Anticipated expiration: 1990-12-18

Abstract

A stamping device for providing ink to a stamp die supported by a frame movable between a first position wherein the stamp die is in contact with an ink pad through an opening in an envelope that otherwise completely encloses the ink pad, and a second position wherein the frame is shifted downwardly to disengage the stamp die from the ink pad. The frame is attached to the stamping device in such a manner that downward movement of the stamp die away from the ink pad results in the movable frame being rotated 180* to move the stamp die into a position for further downward movement toward a stamping operation. Tensioning means are provided for urging a sealing member, carried by the movable frame and circumscribing the stamp die, into engagement with the outer surface of the envelope to provide a seal around the envelope opening, thereby preventing a premature drying of the ink carried by the ink pad.

Description

0 United States Patent 1 1 1111 3,779,164

Study Dec. 18, 1973 1 STAMPING DEVICE Primary ExaminerRobert E. Pulfrey [75] Inventor: Jon A. Study, Grosse Pointe Woods, Asslsmm ExammerTR Suter Mich. Attorney-Hauke, GlffOl'd and Patalrdrs [73] Assignee: Carco, lnc., Detroit, Mich.

[57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed: May 3, 1971 A stamping device for providing ink to a stamp die [21] Appl. No.: 139,784 supported by a frame movable between a first position wherein the stamp die is in contact with an ink pad [52 US. Cl. ..101/334, 101/333 through an p g in an envelope that Otherwise [51] Int. Cl B4lk 1/54 Completely encloses the ink P and a second p [58] Field of Search 101/334, 104, 105, tion wherein the frame is shifted downwardly t9 disen- 101/333, 371 368 405 406 gage the stamp die from the ink pad. The frame is attached to the stamping device in such a manner that [56] References Cit d downward movement of the stamp die away from the UNITED STATES PATENTS ink pad results in the movable frame being rotated 3 599 566 8/197] Fish low-33 180 to move the stamp die into a position for further 3215 073 11/1965 Roni's' 'ijIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 101/133 dowrlwald movement l a stamplllg l:245:624 11/1917 Scotford 101/105 Terslonmg means are Pmvded for rgmg a Sealmg 2,829,594 4 1958 Goc 101/334 x member, Carried by mctvable frame and Circum- 2,252,649 8/1941 Smallman 101/333 scribing the Stamp into engagement with the Outer l,4()l,436 12/1921 Pannier 101/105 surface of the envelope to provide a seal around the 2,079,080 5/1937 Melind lO1/104X envelope opening, thereby preventing a premature 2,312,727 3/1943 Nisenson.... l0l/l04 X drying of the ink carried by the p d 859,3l0 7/1907 Matthews 101/334 1 Claim, 6 Drawing Figures PAIENIEU um 18 I975 FIG FIG-l FIG-6 INVENTOR JON A. STUDY STAMPING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to stamping devices and, in particular, to hand stamping devices of the type having a stamp die which is brought into engagement with an ink pad after each use of the device.

II. Description of the Prior Art Stamping devices and, in particular, hand stamping devices are commonly employed to apply an ink mark to an article to be marked, such as merchandise, paper and other items where price, date or other indicia is to be provided. Although present day commercially available hand stamping devices have proved to be extremely satisfactory, they are deficient in the sense that they must be constantly refilled due to the evaporation and/or premature drying of ink in the pad. In most applications, the refilling of the pad does not represent a substantial problem as the rate of evaporation of the ink from the ink pad is normally slow enough to enable the user to complete use of the stamping device for at least one work day without the necessity of refilling the ink pad. The problem of ink evaporation and/or drying is severly compounded when certain industrial-type inks are used to provide a mark on an article and, in particular, when the article has a non-porous surface, such as a metal part or the like. In order to mark such non-porous metal parts, a very quick-drying ink must be used, and heretofore such industrial-type marking inks precluded the use of a conventional hand stamping machine as the ink in the ink pad would dry within a few minutes after the liquid ink had been applied to the ink pad.

One suggested method for correcting or eliminating the problem of rapid evaporation and/or premature drying of ink has been the provision of an ink storage reservoir within the handle of the hand stamping device with means for selectively dispensing the ink from the storage reservoir to the ink pad to make up for ink which has evaporated and especially after a period of non-use. However, this is not an entirely satisfactory solution to the problem in that itdoes not prevent evaporation or premature drying of the ink, but merely re plenishes ink to the ink pad as needed. Thus, such prior art devices do not correct the problem, but merely compensate for it in a manner which necessitates additional mechanical elements for the hand stamping machine with a corresponding increase in the cost of manufacturing the machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, comprises a stamping device having an ink pad and a stamp die adapted to engage the ink pad such that the stamp die is inked after each time the stamp device is actuated. The stamp die is sup ported by a frame movable between a first, normal position wherein the stamp die is in contact with the ink pad for the application of the ink to the stamp die and a second, operative position wherein the stamp die is moved out of contact with the ink pad and toward the stamping position. The ink pad is enclosed in a fluid tight envelope having an opening which permits entry of the stamp die for contact with the ink pad when the frame is in the first position. The frame carries a sealing member which engages the outer surface of the envelope for providing a seal to prevent the premature drying and/or evaporation of the ink within the ink pad when the stamping device is not being used and the stamp die is in the first position.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a stamping device having means for preventing the premature drying and/or evaporation of the ink therefrom.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a stamping device which will overcome the aforementioned disadvantages and defects of present day stamping devices, in addition to being relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and which is reliable and relatively trouble free.

Other objects, advantages, and applications of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art of stamping devices when the accompanying description of one example of the best mode contemplated for practicing the invention is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The description herein makes reference to the ac companying drawing wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a partially sectioned front elevational view of a stamping device constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the stamping device illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of the stamping device taken generally on line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross'sectional view of the stamping device taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the stamping device illustrated in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the stamping device taken along line 66 of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawing and, in particular, to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is illustrated one example of the present invention in the form of a hand stamping device 10, comprising a U-shaped upper support frame 12 that is movable up and down with respect to a lower U-shaped support frame 14. The

opposite legs

16 and 18 of the lower support frame 14 are provided with aligned

elongated slots

20 and 22, respectively, through which a connecting pin 24 extends. The extending opposite ends of the connecting pin 24 are fixed to the lower ends of the

legs

26 and 28 of the upper support frame 12 and function to guide the upper support frame 12 as it is reciprocated upwardly and downwardly with respect to the lower support frame 14. The connecting pin 24 rotatably supports a movable carrier member 30 having upper side walls 32 forming a rectangular recess 34 in which a resilient mounting block 36 is attached. The mounting block 36 provides a convenient means for the mounting of a stamp die 38. When the stamp die 38 is mounted on the mounting block 36, the ink applying surface 39 of the stamp die 38 extends slightly above the upper edges 40 of the walls 32 for a purpose which will be described hereinafter.

The upper support frame 12 mounts a tubular handle 41 having a bore 43 which telescopically engages a guide member 42 carried at the upper surface of the base portion of the lower U-shaped support frame 14. The guide member 42 has a pair of frusto-conically shaped portions 44 forming a shoulder 45 that is adapted to be engaged by a locking member 46 when the upper support frame 12 is in a down position with respect to the lower support frame 114. A spring 47, disposed within the handle, has one end bearing against a portion of the guide member 42, while the other end of the spring 47 bears against the blind end of the handle bore 43 and provides a means for normally maintaining the upper support frame 12 in an elevated position with respect to the lower support frame 14 in a well known manner. The lower extremities of the lower

support frame legs

16 and 18 are connected by a pair of spaced pins 48 and provide rigidity and strength to the stamping device 10.

The bottom surface of the base of the lower support frame 14 has a rectangularly shaped recess 50 in which an ink pad assembly 52 is secured. The ink pad assembly 52 comprises an absorbant ink pad 54 for containing ink. The pad 54 is rectangular in shape and is preferably formed of a single piece of felt material. The ink pad 54 is enclosed by a non-porous material 56 such as plastic or the like which completely surrounds and seals the ink pad 54 with the exception of an aperture or opening 58 which faces the slot formed between the downwardly extending

legs

16 and 18 of the lower support frame and which is so sized as to accommodate the entry of the ink applying face 39 of the stamp die 38 when the upper support frame 12 is in the elevated position as shown in FIGS. 1-4. When the upper support frame 12 is in the elevated position, the stamp die 38 is engaged with the ink pad 54 for the application ofink to the stamp die face 39, while at the same time the upper edges 40 of the carrier walls 32 contact the outer surface of the plastic enclosure material 56 at a position circumscribing both the stamp die face 39 and the opening 58. The tensioning bias of the coil spring 47 within the handle 41 exerts a force of sufficient magnitude so as to urge the upper edges 40 of the carrier member walls 32 into a tight sealing engagement with the engaged portion of the plastic closure material 56 providing an effective seal for preventing the admittance of air into the ink pad, and as can best be seen in FIGS. 34 actually comprises the ink pad, and thus preventing the premature drying of the ink by retarding the evaporation of the ink.

In actual use, the seal has been effective to prevent the premature drying out of the ink from the pad 54 for a period in excess of three months of non-use of the stamping device 10, whereas the same ink when applied to a conventional stamping pad not having the sealing means provided by the engagement of the carrier member walls 32 with plastic material 56 will normally dry within a matter of hours.

Refer now to FIGS. 3 and 4 for a brief description of the operation of the carrier member 30 to cause an application of ink to the stamp die 38 and for a marking of an article by means of a stamp die. At one extremity of the carrier member 30 there is formed a pair of downwardly projecting wings 60 which are provided with cam grooves 62, as shown in FIG. 3. The wings 60 lie adjacent to the inner-face of the lower support leg 18 and are adapted to cooperate with pins 64 carried by the leg 18 so as to invert the carriage member 30 as the handle 41 is depressed in a well known manner to thereby rotate the carrier 180 for placing the stamp die face in position for a stamping operation.

As shown in phantom in FIGS. 3 and 4, at the opposite extremity of the carrier member 30 there is formed a downwardly projecting flange 66 (FIG. 41) which is slidably disposed within a slot 68 formed on the innerface of the lower support frame leg 16. The engagement of the flange 66 with the slot 68 guides the carrier member 30 in its up and down movement, while the wings 60 and pins 64 impart the rotating motion to the carrier member 30. The inner-face of the leg 16 has an enlarged slotted section 70 opening to the slot 68 and which permits the flange 66 to rotate and reengage the narrower portion of a slot 68 to guide the carrier member 30 in its further downward movement toward the article to be marked.

It can thus be seen that when the stamping device is not in use the coil spring 47 within the handle 41 biases the carrier member 30 upwardly such that the upper edges 40 of the walls 32 sealingly engage the outer surface of the plastic enclosure material 56 to prevent the admittance of the air into the ink pad, thereby preventing the premature drying and/or evaporation of the ink within the ink pad 54.

It should be further noted that the principles of the present invention are applicable to other typesof inking machines other than herein disclosed and that the invention also has equal application to inking machines other than the hand-operated type.

While there is described herein only one preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is to be understood that minor changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A stamping device comprising a compressible ink pad and a holder for holding said ink pad,

a carrier member and a stamp die carried by said carrier member,

means normally urging said stamp die upwardly toward a first position in which said stamp die is in engagement with said ink pad,

a handle for grasping said stamping device and for imparting movement to said stamping device to urge said stamp die downwardly toward a second position away from said ink pad and into engagement with an article to be marked,

a fluid impervious envelope enclosing said stamp pad except for an opening positioned to permit said stamp die to register with said stamp pad through said opening, when said stamp die is in said first position,

said envelope being disposed intermediate said ink pad and said holder and being of a plastic material, said carrier member having walls formed around said stamp die and extending upwardly from said carrier member a distance slightly below the upper edges of said stamp die to engage and plastically deform said envelope into said compressible ink pad to form a seal completely enclosing said opening when said stamp die is in said first position in engagement with said ink pad to prevent evaporation of ink from said ink pad.

* i k w UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 779, 164 Dated December 1973 Inventor(s) Jon Study It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 2, line 53, after "slots 20", insert (FIG. 4)

line 58, after "frame 14'', delete "The" and insert Referring now to FIGS 3 & 4, the.

Column 3, line 29, after "58", insert (FIG. 5)

line 60, delete "to cause" and insert which causes--;

line 61, delete "for".

Signed and sealed this 9th day of April 19714..

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD ILFLETCHERJR. C. MARSHALL DAMN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM PC2-1050 (10-69) USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 w us. GOVERNMENT PRINTING orncz: I559 mass-3343, 1

Claims

1. A stamping device comprising a compressible ink pad and a holder for holding said ink pad, a carrier member and a stamp die carried by said carrier member, means normally urging said stamp die upwardly toward a first position in which said stamp die is in engagement with said ink pad, a handle for grasping said stamping device and for imparting movement to said stamping device to urge said stamp die downwardly toward a second position away from said ink pad and into engagement with an article to be marked, a fluid impervious envelope enclosing said stamp pad except for an opening positioned to permit said stamp die to register with said stamp pad through said opening, when said stamp die is in said first position, said envelope being disposed intermediate said ink pad and said holder and being of a plastic material, said carrier member having walls formed around said stamp die and extending upwardly from said carrier member a distance slightly below the upper edges of said stamp die to engage and plastically deform said envelope into said compressible ink pad to form a seal completely enclosing said opening when said stamp die is in said first position in engagement with said ink pad to prevent evaporation of ink from said ink pad.