US1979640A - Marking, printing, and embossing machine - Google Patents

Description

0v. 6, 1934. E. ROBERTS, JR

MARKING, PRINTING, AND EMBOSSING MACHINE Filed July 27, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet l NOV. 6, 1934. E, T JR 1379,6 10

MARKING, PRINTING, AND EMBOSSING MACHINE Filed July 27, 1953 4 sheets sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORN Y Nov, 6, 1934.

E. ROBERTS, JR 1,979,640 MARKING, PRINTING, AND EMBOSSING MACHI'NE' Filed July 27, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 3 INVENTOR 1 film/Ki Wil i/l BY I AM: ATTORN Nov,6,1934. E. ROBERTS, JR

, MARKING, PRINTING, AND EMBOSSING MACHINE Filed July 27, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 A K 49 .F I c Q] I M HH 6 lllllllll 5 5 I I I I I l 0 0 4 ll illfllll QflHHHHH 5 i l I I 6 ll 7 F. 7 m flHHHHH K 19 M m i a i a I I I I I B II. I I i I I I l I I m l l I l l I l l I Bill l I I I I a I I a M I H a a I I I l 432|l23456-789l0ll INVENTOR Eda (171i Patented Nov. 6, 1934 MARKING, rnm'rnie, AND nmossine MACHINE Edward Roberts, 312, Hohokus, N. 3., assignor to Roberts, Cusliman & Company, New York, N. Y, a corporation of New York Application July 27, 1933, Serial No. 682,491

24 Claims.

This invention relates to printing or stamping machines, and more particularly to machines of that type which are employed for the purpose of stamping or printing letters, initials or names in a selected color upon bill-folds, wallets, hand bags and other articles of merchandise of leather or other materials.

It is the primary object and purpose of the present invention to provide a machine for the above purpose embodying a vertically movable support and a housing positioned above the said support, together with selectively adjustable type carrying wheels or discs within said housing, the type characters on said discs projecting through a bottom opening of the housing, and means for vertically moving said article support to forcibly engage the article thereon against the type faces of the stationary discs.

It is another important object of the invention to provide said type carrying wheels or discs with means whereby interchangeable type may be employed, and easily, quickly and rigidly connected with the disc or detached therefrom and replaced by new type.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved heating means for the type carrying discs in the form of electrical resistance units yieldably mounted in spaced apart relation within the housing, whereby wheels or discs of different thicknesses and carrying type of different widths may be mounted within said housing and properly associated with said heating units. Also, by providing the yieldably mounted heating units, any warpage of the disc which may occur will be permitted, while the series of discs will be yieldably forced into closely contacting relation and centrally positioned within the enclosing case or housing.

Another detail feature of my invention is to provide simple and easily operated means for releasably locking the type carrying discs against relative rotation, after they have been adjusted to position the selected type characters on the respective discs in proper alignment.

A further object of the invention is to provide the electrical heating means for the type wheels or discs with a simple form of automatic thermostatic control device also positioned within the case or housing for the purpose of preventing over heating of the type wheels.

It is further a general object of my invention to provide a machine as above characterized, the parts of which are comparatively simple in form and construction, compactly arranged and durable and eflicient in operation, so that the maintenance cost of machines of this type will be reduced to a minimum.

With the above and other objects in view,-

Figure l is a side elevation'partly in section of a printing or stamping machine embodying a preferred form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a detail view on an enlarged scale of the means for actuating the foot rail for the pigmented tape;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevation partly in section of the housing with the cover plate removed, showing the electrical connections with one of the heating units;

Fig. '7 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on the line 7'7 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is an inner side elevation partly in section of the housing cover and parts connected therewith;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged horizontal view taken on the line 99 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the line 10-10 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary side elevation of one of the type wheels or discs with parts thereof shown in section and broken away; 80

Fig. 12 a fragmentary edge view of the type carrying discs;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 13-.-13 of Fig. 11; and

Figs. 14 and 15 are detail sectional views taken on the lines 1414 and 15-15 respectively of Fig. 11;

Fig. 16 is a part sectional View of a modified form of the device shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 17 is a section taken on line 1717 of Fig. 16; and

Fig. 18 is a plan view of the gauge used to properly space the article to be stamped.-

In the drawings, for purposes of illustration, 1 have shown a machine base 5 of suitable form in plan, having a standard or pedestal 6 at the rear end thereof, the upper end of said standard being forwardly curved and integrally formed with the housing indicated at-7. This housing is preferably of general circular shape and is open at one side thereof, said housing being further provided with the bottom opening indicated at 8 for a purpose which will presently appear. The cylindrical Wall of this housing above the axial center thereof is provided with the sight opening indicated at 9.

The, open side of the housing 7,is adapted to be closed by the cover plate 10 detachably secured to the cylindrical wall of the housing by the screws or bolts 11. This cover plate and the opposite side wall of the housing at their centers are formed with suitable bearing means to receive the rotatable shaft 12. Upon the shaft 12, one or more type wheels or discs indicated at 13 are mounted with a snug frictional fit. In the present instance, I have shown three such type wheels, although it will be understood that a greater number may be employed. In order to releasably connect two of these type wheels with the shaft 12 for rotation with the latter, I provide said shaft with frictional ball clutches shown at 14 of conventional type, the clutch balls being urged outwardly into frictional engagement with the wheels by suitable springs. The other type wheel at one side of the series may be rigidly pinned or keyed to the shaft 12, as shown at 15; see Figs. 11 and 13.

Each of the type wheels has an outer annular marginal portion 16 of reduced thickness; said marginal portion of the wheel being provided with spaced radially disposed recesses 1'7 therein which open on the outer edge of the wheel. These recesses receive the rectangular shanks 18 of type bars which are formed with the enlarged heads 19 on one of their ends, having the type characters 20 in relief thereon. Upon the peripheral faces of the reduced marginal portion 16 of the wheel between the recesses 17 therein, the guide type members 21 are adapted to be seated, said type members having base portions of the same thickness as the part 16 of the wheel, and provided with shoulders 22 at the opposite ends thereof which are engaged under the opposed ends of the heads 19 on the adjacent printing type members. The guide type 21 are formed on their end faces with the type characters 23 which are positioned between the heads 19 and inwardly with respect to the printing type characters 20. When any one of these guide type characters 23 is visible through the sight opening 9, the corresponding type character 20 is disposed in printing position at the center of the bottom opening 8 of the housing or casing.

The shank portion 18 of each of the printing type bars is provided on opposite sides thereof intermediate of its ends with the short studs 24. An annular metal plate 25 is disposed on one side of the marginal portion 16 of the type wheel and securely riveted to the same between the recesses 17 therein as indicated at 26. This plate has spaced openings 27 therein to receive the studs 24 on one side of the printing type members. A similar plate 28 is then engaged on the opposite side of the marginal portion 16 of the printing wheel and is provided with spaced openings 29 to receive the studs 24 projecting from the opposite side faces of the type members. This latter plate 28 is detachably secured to the wheel by the screws indicated at 30. It will thus be apparent that when this plate is applied and secured in place, both the printing and guide type members 18 and 21 respectively are fixedly locked against movement relative to each other or with respect to the wheel or disc. At the same time, by merely removing the side plate 28, the printing type characters can be detached or removed from connection with the wheel and replaced by new type members.

While any desired inking device may be used for inking thefaces of type characters 20 in printing upon paper, cloth or other materials, when the machine is used in connection with a pigmented tape for printing in gold or other colors on leather and similar materials, it is necessary to heat the several wheels or discs 13 and the type characters thereon. Preferably, these wheels are formed of brass instead of die cast metal as is usually the case, in order to minimize warping. For the purpose of suitably heating said discs or type wheels, I have shown the annular electrical resistance units 31 in contact with the opposite sides of the group or series of wheels. The adjusting screws 32 have a threaded connection at their inner ends with the internally threaded stems or hubs 33 attached to each of the resistance units. The wall of the cover plate 10 and the opposite side wall of the housing 7 are formed with hollow bosses providing internal seats for the outer ends of springs 35, the other ends of which bear against the respective resistance units and yieldingly urge the same inwardly against the disc, forcing the said discs together in frictional contact and centrally positioning the same within the housing 7. The adjusting screws 32 are freely movable in the lateral movement of the resistance units through openings in the end walls of the projections or bosses on the housing wall and cover plate.

Current is supplied to the resistance units 31 by the wires 36 from the wall plug extending upwardly through the hollow standard or pedestal 6 and into the rear side of the casing, said wires being attached to the rear wall of the casing by a suitable clamping device 3'7. One of these wires is connected to one end of the resistance wire of one of the units 31 mounted at the inner side of the housing as indicated at 38, while the other end of the resistance is connected by wire 39 to contact 40 mounted in an insulating block fixed to the cylindrical wall of the housing. The other of said Wires 36 is connected to a similar contact 41 mounted in said insulating block. Each of the contacts 40 and .41 includes a pin 42 which is yieldingly urged outwardly with resmct to the fixed tubular section of the contact by the spring 43, as clearly seen in Fig. 7 of the drawings, said outward movement of the pin being limited by the head or flange 44 on the inner end of said pin.

The cover plate 10 which carries or supports the other resistance unit 31, is provided on the inner side thereof and at its outer edge with the circuit closing contact members 45 adapted to engage the yieldable pins 42 of the contacts 40 and 41 respectively, when the cover is applied to the open side of the housing. One of these contacts 45 is connected by wire 46 with one end of the resistance wire of unit 31 on the cover plate, the other end of the resistance wire being connected by wire 47 with an automatic temperature control thermostat of any desired type indicated at 48, the other of said contacts 45 being also connected with said thermostat by wire 49. Thus the temperature of the type carrying discs or wheels may be accurately controlled and excessive heating and warping of said discs prevented.

The thermostatic control device 48 is mounted in a suitable holder 50 movable into and out of a hollow boss or projection 51 on the wall of the cover plate, and yieldingly urged inwardly against the group of printing wheels or discs by the The shaft 12 at one end has an extension 12a of reduced diameter to which the operating knob 53 of insulating material is rigidly fixed, and whereby the several type carrying wheels or discs 13 maybe selectively adjusted relative to each other. For the purpose of locking each wheel after adjustment to position the proper guide type character 23, in registration with the sight opening 9, and then finally locking all of the type discs or wheels in the group against relative rotation, I provide the device shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. Thus each of the type discs or wheels 13 is provided in inwardly spaced relation from the several type members on the periphery of the wheel with the circular series of openings 54 therethrough, the centers of said openings being disposed in radial alignment with the centers of the guide type members 21. These openings at one side face of each wheel or disc have their walls flared or tapered as indicated at 55 to receive and guide the convex end 57 of a rod or pin 56. The side wall of the housing '7 is likewise provided with an opening 58 having the fiared guide wall 59 at one end thereof to receive said end of the pin 56. The cover plate 10 is formed with the guide bearing 66 for the pin 56 and a key 61 of suitable form extends transversely across the bore of this bearing and cooperates with the flattened surface 62 on the pin 56 to prevent turning movement of said pin, and also constituting a stop coacting with the shoulder 63 at one end of the surface 62 to limit the outward movement of the pin 56 through the cover plate. -In the position of this pin, as illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings, where its end is engaged in the opening 58 of the housing wall, the three type wheels or discs are locked against relative rotation. In adjusting the wheels to align the proper guide type characters 23 with the sight opening 9, the pin 56 is withdrawn to the left through the cover plate from the openings in the series of discs or wheels. The shaft 12 is then rotated by means of knob 53 until the proper type character on the left hand wheel in the group is seen through the opening 9. The pin 56 is then pushed inwardly for a limited distance and enters one of the openings in this disc. Continued rotation of the shaft 12 will then rotate'the other two discs while the left-hand disc remains stationary, and when the proper type character 23 on a central disc is in alignment with the type character on the left-hand disc in registration with opening 9, the pin 56 is pushed inwardly a further distance and enters one of the openings 54 in this central disc. Further rotation of the shaft 12 then rotates only the right-hand disc in the series until the desired character 23 thereon is aligned with those previously disposed in registration with opening 9. The pin 56 is then pressed inwardly to'its full extent and until its end is positioned in opening 58. Thus,'this pin is disposed through one of the openings 54 of each of the discs and thereby securely locks said discs in their adjusted positions against any relative rotation, assuring accurate alignment of the selected printed type characters 20 at the bottom opening 8 of the housing or casing.

' Between the group of type wheels and the side wall of the housing '7, a washer 64 is interposed, and when it is desired to' use type wheels of greater thickness or a greater number of said wheels, this washer may be removed from shaft 12 and a relatively thin washer plate substituted therefor. It will be seen that this change in'the number or thickness of the type wheels, or the changing of the printingtype members carried by said wheels, may be easily and quickly made, simply by the removal of the face plate or cover 10 from the open side of the housing which carries or supports one of the heating units 31, together with the thermostatic control device 48 and the circuit closing contacts 45. Thus free access is afforded to the interior of the housing.

Below theadjustable type wheels in suitably spaced relation from the housing '7, an arm 65 projects forwardly from standard or pedestal 6, and is provided with a suitable guide 66 for the vertically movable bar 67 of rectangular form in cross section. Upon the upper end of this bar, the article supporting plate 68 is suitably secured. The bar 6'? at its lower end is provided with an obliquely inclined face 67' with which the cam arm 69 fixed to a rock shaft '70 coacts, said rock shaft being journalled in suitable bearings 71 on the base 5. One or more springs indicated at 72 act to move the bar 67 and plate 68 downwardly and yieldingly hold the lower end face 67' of said bar in bearing contact upon the cam surface of arm 69. This arm carries an adjustable stop screw 73 which, by contact with the upper surface of base 5, limits the rocking movement of shaft in one direction and determines the normal position of the article supporting plate 68 with respect to the type wheels.' Any suitable means may be provided for clamping the article to be stamped or printed upon on the upper surface of the plate 68. To one end of the rock shaft 70 projecting laterally from the base 5, a suitable operating lever '74 is rigidly fixed at its lower end; see Fig. 1.

In the illustrated embodiment of the machine, I have shown a suitable casing or housing '75 attached to the side wall of the housing 7 for the type wheels, and which receives and supports a spool of paper tape indicated at 76 impregnated with a color pigment. This pigmented tape is drawn from the spool downwardly under and in contact with the rods '77 projecting forwardly from opposite sides of the standard or pedestal 6 between the article supporting plate 68 and the lower open side of housing 7. Preferably, these rods or arms at one of their ends are pivotally mounted on the standard 6 as at '78 and yieldingly held against upward pivotal movement by springs 79 in contact with studs 80 fixed to the standard 6, so that said rods normally extend in parallel relation to the surface of the plate 68. One of these rods is provided with longitudinally spaced guide pins 81 at its other end between which the pigmented tape 76 is drawn upwardly and over a roller 82, having a longitudinally serrated surface 83. This roller is fixed to one end of a shaft 84 journalled in suitable bearings carried by the cover plate 10 of the type wheel housing, said shaft at its other end having a ratchet 85 fixed thereon with which the pivoted spring held pawl 86 mounted on the plate 87, loosely journalled on Y the shaft 84, coacts. The upper end of a link 88 is pivotally connected as at 89 to the plate 8'7, the lower end of said link being provided with a longitudinal slot 90 of predetermined length therein. In this slot, a pin 91 on the end of a bar 92 pivotally mounted at one of their ends, as at 94. 5

These arms are connected by longitudinally spaced guide rods 95 and 96 respectively, over which the tape 76 is engaged. Closely adjacent to the rod 95, the roller 97, having a longitudinally serratedsurface, is journalled between the said Jii arms and is held in cooperative relation with the serrated surface 83 of roller 82 by springs 98, which act to urge the arms 93 downwardly and thus yieldingly grip the pigmentedpaper tape between said serrated surfaces and the rollers 82 and 9'7, whereby positive feed of the paper tape from the spool and across the lower open side of housing 7 is assured in each operation of the machine.

Having now described the several mechanical features of my invention, its operation will be understood as follows:

Assuming that the several type carrying wheels 13 have been properly adjusted until the desired guide or index type 23 appear in the sight opening 9 of the housing 7, while the corresponding printing type characters 20 are thereby centrally positioned with respect to the open bottom of the housing and in projecting relation therefrom, and that the bill-fold, hand bag or other material has been secured in the proper position on plate 68, the lever '74 is then moved forwardly as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1. This operation causes the cam face of arm 69 to act against the lower end of bar 67 and forcibly lift the plate 68 and the article thereon. The article is thus first brought into contact with the underside of the section of the pigmented tape '76 which extends across the open bottom of the housing and beneath the type characters 20, and by the continued upward movement of said supporting plate and the article, the tape is forcibly pressed against the relief type characters 20, and owing to the heating of these type characters by the units 31 to the proper predetermined temperature, the color pigment from the tape is transferred by each type character and impressed or embedded in the surface of the article. The tape is held taut by the arms or rods- '77 until engaged by the article, and thereafter by the further upward movement of plate 68, said arms or rods are forced upwardly from their normal positions against the action of spring '79.

After the impression has been made, upon the release of lever 74, the springs 72 contract and move the plate 68 and bar 67 downwardly to normal position. In the upward movement of this plate, pin 91 moves in the slot 90 of link 88 and upon engagement with the upper end of said slot, moves the link upwardly and rocks the plate 87 on shaft 84, pawl 86 riding idly over the teeth or ratchet 85. Therefore, it will be understood that in the return or downward movement of plate 68, to normal position, the pin 91 will .bear against the lower end of the slot 90 and positively pull the link 88 downwardly, thus rocking plate 87 in the opposite direction and by the coaction of pawl 86 with ratchet 85, rotating the feed roller 97. The tape being gripped between the serrated surface of this roller and roller 82, will thus be positively fed or moved across the lower open side of the housing 7 for the required predetermined length thereof, so as to thereby position a new section of the tape for engagement by the type characters 20 in the succeeding operation of the machine. When a greater number of the type wheels are to be used, or wheels of greater thickness, another link 88 is substituted, having a shorter slot 90 so that there willbe a correspondingly greater feeding movement of the tape '76 in each operation of the machine. I

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that by means of a machine of this character, wherein the supporting plate 68 and the article are moved to printing position, while the type wheels remain relatively stationary, a great variety of articles maybe printed or stamped,

it beingmerely necessary to change the article support 68 and substitute another therefor for the accommodation of the particular article.

By the provision of the yieldably mounted heating units, type of any desired width may be employed, and it is also possible to construct the machine so that it may be provided with a sufficient number of. the type wheels to print the full name. It is further to be noted. that the guide or index type 23 are of such construction that they can be used with various printing type matrices, cast or formed upon the special type bars 18 as above described.

The mode of operation described enables the operator to take off the side plate on the machine and put other wheels on, or to take the wheels apart and put in new type, with the use of single or muliplicity of wheels. The index type is so designed as to enable it to be used with any raised or working type. Any matrices carried by the American type founders of type 36 points high or 24 points wide or less may be cast on this special body. The wheels being made of brass, will not warp. The warping is an objection to die cast metal for the entire wheel of other styles of machine. The heater plates being arranged on a spring, force the wheels to the center of the machine, and also allow any warpage, or growing if the same should take place, which however is not expected to take place in the embodiment described. The automatic stop is of simple construction and if wheels be made. wider than shown in the drawings of this embodiment, the stop could be taken out by removing the brass pin, and a new one put in, which would take care of the wider wheels. Also, the washer in the shaft can be taken out and a narrower one could be inserted. The rod on the tape feed could be taken off and'one with a smaller hole put on to feed more tape to accommodate these wider wheels. In structures heretofore used it has been necessary to change or build a new monogrammer to accommodate a certain article, when the head has moved back; this objection is avoided by having the head that holds the type wheel stationary. With the improved device it is pos sible to simply put another base on to accommodate any article. Likewise with the centering name plate when removed by unscrewing four screws, another name plate with other lines drawn can be used. The regular lines show the position for a three letter monogram, the dotted lines show the location of a two letter monogram,

as shown in the drawings. Also, a machine as described, can be built equally well with 18 thin wheels for stamping full names. Finally, the thermostatic control on the embodiment described, lends certain advantages to the same, as elsewhere pointed out.

In respect to the thermostatic control, this enables use of certain manufactured metallic or pigment tape that will release at a given temperature, for; instance 244 F., and the pulling of the handle can be timed the same on an article whether differently colored tapes are used or just one color. It is not necessary with the use of a thermostatic control to try a few practice impressions to gauge the heat of the machine with relationship to the proper release of the tape. The outside temperature of a department store varies from 85 to 68 R, which in turn would affect the heated die or letters. The thermostatic control controls the type within two degrees, whereas the rheostat will vary 14 to 15 degrees. The control is adapted to the tape or pigment in a 7 article supporting plate as 68 may be charactermanner as to be synchronized therewith so that better stamping can be done by an amateur or beginner. The thermostatic control means combined with the type of a working, printing and embossing machine, thus gives unexpected advantages and results not heretofore known.

In Figure 18, I show how the surface of an istically marked in order conveniently and with dispatch to center a wallet or other rectangular article for receiving either a three-letter or a two-letter monogram; and also for receiving either a three-letter or a two-letter corner monogram. The markings on the face of the plate are illustrated as consisting of equi-spaced full lines 99 alternating with broken lines 100, all of said lines being parallel, with the broken lines indicating the half distances between the full lines. Associated with the full lines in both right .and left directions from the indicated zero symbol are successive numerals, both the right and left sides of the illustrated chart reading from the zero symbol to the numeral fourteen.

To center the three-letter monogram, the article is placed between two corresponding right and left full lines, as by way of example, depending on the size of the article, between seven seven, or between nine nine, or between twelve twelve. Assuming the article to be of a size to come between seven seven, its

opposite edges being parallel with the full lines tered. for a three-letter monogram. For a twoletter monogram, it is only necessary, as,will be appreciated, to move the article, after being centered as above described, to the left one-half space as indicated by the broken lines. In the present instance, as a convenience, the full zero line and the first broken line to the left thereof, have extensions 102 and 103, respectively.

For the three and two-letter corner monograms, the chart is provided with the full angle line 104 and broken angle line 105, respectively, the apex 106 of the angle line 104 being intersected by the plane of extension 102 while the apex 107 of the broken angle line 105 is intersected by the plane of extension 103. The article is placed with two edges parallel to and meeting the opposite sides of the angle line 104 when it is to receive the three-letter corner monogram, while for the twoletter corner monogram it is moved to a position in which its two sides correspond with the two sides of the broken angle line 107.

A modified form of structure to take the place of that shown and described in connection with Fig. 4 is shown in Figs. 16 and 1'7. Here the rod 56 has the hand button 56a at one side of the cover plate 10. Upon this is secured by screws 110, a step shaped member 111, having three steps 112, 113, and 114. As the rod 56 is turned bythe button 56a, and pressed inwardly, the pin 115 is I then caused to ride on the steps, and as it does ly eflicient in service. The several cooperating elements are very compactly arranged so that the machine will occupy little space and is comparatively of light Weight. Of course, it will be undertherein as may be fairly embodied within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim: 1. In a printing .or stamping machine, a base,

at least one rotatable printing Wheelhaving peripherally projecting type characters mounted on a stationary axis above said base, a fixed guide between the base and-said printing wheel, a work support and a bar fixed at its upper end thereto vertically movable in said guide, spring means yieldingly urging the work support downwardly to a normal position with respect to the printing wheel, and manually operable cam means mounted on the basecoacting withthe lower end of said bar to move said support upwardly and dispose the work thereon in impression-receiving relation to said printing wheel. 2. In a printing or stamping machine, a base, at least one rotatable printing wheel having peripherally projecting type characters mounted on a stationary axis above said base, a vertically movable work support between said base and the printing wheel, means for feeding a pigmented tape between the printing wheel and said work support, manually operable means for moving the work support upwardly to engage the Work thereon with the tape and move the latter into impression-receiving relation to the printing wheel, and actuating means for said tape feeding means connected with the work support and operated thereby in the movement of said support in one direction. 3. In a printing or stamping machine, a base, a pedestal thereon having a housing at its upper end, the .lower side of said housing being open, adjustable printing means including type characters mounted on a stationary axis within the housing and operable to position selected type characters in printing position at the open sidemove the latter upwardly and engage the article thereon under pressure with the selected type characters of said printing means.

4. In a printingor stamping machine, a housing, printing means therein comprising a rotatable wheel provided with peripherally projecting type characters, electric'al heating units within the housing .at opposite sides of said printing means, and means for mounting said heating units upon the respective side walls of the housing for lateral yielding movement relative to eachother, whereby type carrying" wheels of various thicknesses may be positioned between said heat:- ing units.

5. In a printing or stamping machine, a housing, printing means mounted therein comprising a plurality of rotatable wheels having peripherally projecting type characters, means for independently adjusting said wheels relative to each other, to dispose selected type characters thereon in aligned printing position, and electrical'heating units supported upon opposite side walls of the housing for lateral yielding movement engaging opposite sides of the group of type wheels and acting to axially position said wheels between the housing walls.

6. In a printing or stampingmachine, a housing, printing means therein comprising a plurality of printing wheels having peripherally projecting type characters thereon, a single means supporting said wheels for independent rotative adjustment, .and manually operable for independently adjusting said printing wheels, and

, adjustable means supported by the housing walls and successively penetrating said wheels at points between their centers and the bases of the type characters to releasably lock the adjusted wheels against relative rotation to retain the selected type characters thereon in aligned printing position. I

7. In a printing or stamping machine, a housing open on one side and at the bottom thereof, printing means adjustable within said housing to position selected type characters in projecting relation to the bottom opening of the housing, heating means mounted within the housing and yieldably engaging said printing means, and a cover plate for the open side of the housing detachably secured thereto and carrying a part of said heating means removable as a unit with said plate to afford access to said printing means.

8. In a printing or stamping machine, a housing, open on one side and at the bottom thereof, printing means adjustable within said housing to position selected type characters in projecting relation to the bottom opening of the housing, a cover plate for the open side of said housing, heating means mounted within the housing and yieldably engaging said printing means, a thermostatic control device for said heating means, circuit closing means for said heating means, and parts of said heating means, circuit closing means and said thermostatic device being carried by said cover plate for removal as a unit therewith from the housing, whereby access is afforded to said printing means.

9. In a printing or stamping machine, a plurality of rotatable disks each carrying type members disposed upon its periphery, means for selectively disposing said types into varying combinations, thermostatically controlled means for heating the type, and a thermostat resiliently pressed against one of the rotatable disks adjacent the types thereon whereby the electric current carried by the heating means is accurately controlled by the temperature of the types.

10. In a printing or stamping machine, a housing, a plurality of rotatable disks having types arranged around their periphery, an annular heating element disposed on each side of the plurality of disks, a thermostatic control means in contact with an outer one of said disks, resilient means supported by said housing and pressing against said heating means and thermostatic control means, whereby theyare each pressed against said disks and hold them in slidable contact.

11. In a printing and stamping machine, a housing containing rotatable printing disks and electrically heated elements to heat said disks, a recess in one cover of the housing, a thermostatic control element to control the current flowing through the heating elements mounted in said recess and projecting therefrom, and resilient means mounted in said recess to press the\thermostatic control element into contact with one of said disks.

12. In a printing and stamping machine, a housing, rotatable printing disks mounted within said housing, and resilient pressure means mounted in said housing to press said disks into contact with each other.

13. A printing or stamping machine, comprising a housing, a shaft rotatably secured through said housing, a controlling element mounted on one end of said shaft outside the'housing, rotatable type carrying disks mounted within the housing upon said shaft, a key secured in the shaft, a key way in an outer one of said disks, a frictional ball clutch arranged in the shaft under each of the remaining disks whereby they may be rotated to selectively place type in desired order, and means, mounted in the housing, to successively penetrate the disks and hold them in position.

14. In a printing and stamping machine, a housing having two parallel sides, a shaft passing through said parallel sides, a plurality of printing wheels rotatably mounted on said shaft and having a circular series of openings therethrough, said parallel sides of the housing each having a boss with an opening in each aligned with the said openings in the printing wheels, a rod, having an operating knob on one end outside the housing, slidably secured in one of the bosses and adapted to be passed through the openings in the wheels and in the other side of the housing, whereby the wheels may be locked in adjusted position.

15. The structure described in claim 14 in which the rod carries a, stop pin outside the housing, and wherein the operating rod, and 1 the adjacent boss on the outside of the housing is arranged in steps corresponding in number to the number of printing wheels, and in thickness to the thickness of the individual wheels, the stop pin being at such a distance from the I inner end of the rod as to enable it to pass through the plurality of printing wheels.

16. In a printing or stamping machine, a housing, printing means therein comprising a plurality of printing wheels having peripherically 1 projecting type characters thereon, means supporting said wheels for independent rotative adjustment, adjustable means mounted in the housing and operating on the said wheels at points inwardly removed from the type characters to releasably lock the adjusted wheels against rotation.

1'7. In a printing or stamping machine, a housing, printing means therein comprising a plurality of printing wheels having peripherically 3 projecting type characters thereon, means supporting said wheels for independent rotative adjustment, unitary operable means for independently adjusting said printing Wheels, adjustable means mounted in the housing and operating on 3 said Wheels at points inwardly removed from the type characters to releasably lock the adjusted wheels against rotation. V

18. In a printing or stamping 'machine, a work-support, a disc, types disposed upon the j periphery of'said disc, means for supporting a pigment carrying tape between said work-support and said type, the said tape being maintained at a fixed distance from said work-support and resiliently maintained spaced apart from i said type when the machine is at rest in its nonprinting position, means for heating said disc and type to a predetermined temperature, a thermostat to control said temperature and means whereby an operative movement between the work-support and the type brings the tape first into contact with the work upon the support and then with the type.

19. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the said rotatable printing discs are provided with type members detachably mounted upon the perimeter thereof in eircumferentially spaced apart relation and wherein index members are interposed between said printing type members having parts cooperating with the latter. a

20. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the said rotatable printing discs are provided with radial recesses in their outer edges, annular plates secured to opposite sides of the disc over said recesses and printing type members having parts removably engaged in said recesses.

21. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the said rotatable printing discs are provided with annular plates permanently fixed to their outer edges, other annular plates detachably secured to the opposite sides of the discs in opposed relation to the first mentioned plates; said annular plates being adapted to retain between them type members in detachably assembled relation.

22. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the said rotatable printing discs are provided with annular plates permanently fixed to their outer edges, other annular plates detachably secured to the opposite sides of the discs in opposed relation to the first mentioned plates, printing type members detachably mounted and held between said annular plates and guide type members interposed between said printing type members, said guide type members being also detachable, and maintained in position by said annular discs.

23. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the said rotatable printing discs are of brass, whereby warpage upon heating is substantially eliminated.

24. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said work support is characterized by having markings thereon indicative of various positions for effectively centering different articles which are to be selectively stamped by the machine.

EDWARD ROBERTS, JR.

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