US3091318A

US3091318A - Cutting and punching attachment for embossing tool

Info

Publication number: US3091318A
Application number: US72781A
Authority: US
Inventors: Victor B Carboni
Original assignee: Dymo Industries Inc
Current assignee: Dymo Industries Inc
Priority date: 1960-11-30
Filing date: 1960-11-30
Publication date: 1963-05-28
Anticipated expiration: 1980-05-28

Description

M y 1963 v. B. CARBON! 3,091,318

CUTTING AND PUNCHING ATTACHMENT FOR EMBOSSING TOOL Filed Nov. 30, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 46 l 44 47 m g @4 /08 7 5/ J 24 68 I /02 57 5a 5a I {74 U 93 ii I {6.9

1 k t 72 /0/ 4a 97 55 4.9 96 48 7/ 97 55 INVENTOR 99 .96 my 95 Ma TOR 5. ARao/v/ BY 5.=:.E. jww

May 28, 1963 v. is. CARBONI CUTTING AND PUNCHING ATTACHMENT FOR EMBOSSING TOOL Filed NOV. 30, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.5.

INVENTOR. V/c TOR 5 CARBO/V/ ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,091,318 CUTTING AND PUNCHING ATTACHlVIENT FOR EMBOSSING TOOL Victor B. Carboni, an Francisco, Calif., assignor to Dymo Industries, Inc., Berkeley, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Nov. 30, 1960, Ser. No. 72,781 6 Claims. (Cl. 1976.7)

The present invention relates to combination cutting and punching devices in general, and is particularly directed to an attachment of this type for employment with a tape embossing tool whereby embossed copy may be cut from the remainder of the tape and selectively punched to provide a finished embossed label.

Various embossing machines have been developed for selectively embossing characters on a strip of tape to there-by provide printed copy for purposes of labeling and the like. For a detailed description of one such embossing machine, reference may be had to U.S. Patent 2,275,- 670. Although the printed copy may be cut from the remainder of the tape with an auxiliary cutting implement such as a knife or the like to form a label, it is of greater advantage that means be incorporated in the machine to accomplish the cutting manipulation in a more direct and related manner to the functions of the machine. Not only does compactness result from incorporation of a cutting attachment in the embossing machine, but in addition uniformity in the resulting label configuration and positioning of the printed copy thereon may be readily attained. Furthermore, it is often desirable that the embossed labels be punched adjacent their opposite ends to facilitate their attachment to articles by means of nails or the like. Rather than forming the punched holes in a separate operation apart from the embossing machine, it is of course advantageous that the punching operation be incorporated in the cutting attachment as a selective function to occur simultaneously with the label cutting operation.

It is, therefore, among the objects of my invention to provide a combination cutting and punching attachment for use with a tape embossing machine.

It is another object of the invention to provide a cutting and punching attachment of the class described wherein the cutting function is selectively accomplisha-ble in conjunction with or to the exclusion of the punching function whereby substantial flexibility is provided in the finished labels that may be formed.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a cut-off attachment for a tape embossing machine which cuts rounded corners on the cut-off label, the corners at the opposite ends of the label being of opposite convex curvature.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of an embossing machine cut-cit attachment in which the tape may be readily programmed to predetermined positions relative to the embossed characters and locations of the cutting and punching dies to center the embossed copy on the finished labels.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a cut-off and punching attachment of the class described in which the functions are rapidly accomplished by a thumb stroke.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a device of the character described which is provided with a readily removable trap for receiving the slugs punched from the tape.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawings and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of an embossing machine having a cut-off and punching attachment in accogliance with the present invention incorporated there- Wl FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the attachment in operative connection with the embossing machine;

FZGURE 3 is a cross-sectional View taken at line 33 of FIGURE 2 and with the cut-off attachment in unactuated condition;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken at line 4-4 of FIGURE 2 and with the cutoff attachment in unactuated condition;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 but with the cut-off attachment in condition and actuated to accomplish the punching function simultaneously with the cut-off function;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken at line 66 of FIGURE 5 and illustrating particularly the cut-off and punching of the tape upon actuation of the attachment, and the configuration of the resulting label; and

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURES 3 and 5 but with the cut-off attachment conditioned to accomplish the cut-off function exclusive of the punching function.

Referring to the drawings, particularly FIGURES 1 and 2 thereof, there is illustrated an embossing machine 11 of the type disclosed by the previously referenced Patent No. 2,275,670. Briefly, the embossing machine includes a main body member 12 which carries a magazine .13 at one end arranged to receive a roll of tape. The tape is fed from the magazine through the body member and a thumb wheel 14 operatively connected thereto is adapted to feed the tape forward upon turning of the wheel. A lettered selector dial 16 is also carried upon the body member, the dial being operatively connected to an embossing unit 17 in such a manner that the various characters of the embossing unit are selectively located in embossing position in response to movement of the dial to positions wherein the corresponding characters are viewed through a selection window 18. In addition, an operating handle 19 is carried on the body member in operative connection with the embossing unit. The handle is arranged such that upon squeezing thereof, the character die of the embossing unit selected by movement of the dial to a position wherein the corresponding character appears in the window 18 is urged into embossing engagement with the tape extending through the main body. The handle is further arranged such that upon its release, the tape is advanced through the body a predetermined amount to provide uniform spacing between successive characters embossed on the tape. Provision is also made in the handle mechanism for advancement of the tape without embossment to provide spacing between words in response to partial depression of the handle.

Hence the embossing machine '11 facilitates the printing of preselected embossed copy on a strip of tape or the like in a highly expedious manner. The thumb wheel 14 may then be manipulated to advance the tape to a position wherein the embossed copy is entirely beyond the end of the machine and the copy cut off to provide a label. It should be noted that the leading character of the copy may be spaced a predetermined distance from the leading end of the label by advancing the tape prior to initiation of the embossing operations to a predeter mined start position in alignment with a guide mark 21 adjacent a tape observation Window 22 provided in the main body 12. However, the spacing of the trailing character of the embossed copy from the trailing end of the label is determined by the position at which one cuts the copy from the remainder of the tape. In order to center the embossed copy in the label, it is necessary to cut the tape at a distance from the trailing character measured to correspond to the inward spacing of the leading character from the leading end of the tape. In the absence of auxiliary apparatus for this purpose, centering of the copy istediously accomplished manually. Moreover, if the label requires holes, they must be formed by a separate punching operation.

In accordance with the present invention the foregoing difficulties are obviated by means of a combination cutoff and punching attachment 23 which is adapted for attachment in the manner of a head to the end of the embossing machine 11 or equivalent device. The attachment is arranged to receive the end 24 of the tape fed from the embossing machine, and to cut-off the tape with preferably a rounded corner at a predetermined distance from the trailing character of the embossed copy while cutting a rounded corner of opposite curvature at the resulting leading end of the tape extending from the embossing machine after severance. In other words the attachment is arranged to cut the trailing end of one label and leading end of a subsequent label in one operation. Such operation is facilitated by thumb depression of an operating handle 25. Moreover, the attachment is arranged to accomplish the cutting function selectively with or without the simultaneous punching of holes at predetermined distances from the rounded cut-off corners. The function selection is simply accomplished by means of a selector tab 26 which is slidable within a slot 27 provided in the handle between hole and no hole positions a indicated at 28 and 29 respectively. With the foregoing arrangement it will be appreciated that subsequent to the cutting-off of tape with or without the punching of a hole at a fixed distance from the resulting rounded leading end of tape, the tape may be retracted into the embossing machine 11 as by manipulation of the thumb wheel 14. With the rounded leading end positioned at the guide mark 21 adjacent the tape observation window 22, the embossing operations may be commenced in the usual manner of operating the machine 11. The leading end of the tape with embossed copy thereon may then be advanced into the attachment 23 by manipulation of the thumb wheel to a position wherein the end of the tape protrudes from the attachment. With the attachment 23 appropriately dimensioned, a predetermined spacing of the trailing character of the embossed copy from the end of the attachment may be readily made to correlate the position of the tape in the attachment to the predetermined spacing of the leading character from the leading end of the tape. With the tape so correlatively positioned depression of the handle 25 effects tape cut-off in the form of a rounded trailing edge of opposite curvature to the leading edge and spaced from the trailing character by a distance equal to the spacing of the leading character from the leading edge. The cut-off function is accomplished with or without the punching function depending upon the position of the selector tab 26 in the slot 27. In addition a rounded corner is simultaneously effected at the leading end of the tape remaining after cut-d, thereby preparing the leading end of the tape for the next label. Thereafter, the tape may be retracted into the embossing machine and another label prepared in the manner just described.

Considering now the attachment 23 as to preferred structure, it is to be noted that the operating handle 25 includes a head portion 31 of generally inverted rectangular box configuration, open at its bottom and trail ing end while having a rearwardly extending arm portion 32 with outwardly turned lug 33. More specifically, the head portion includes a top wall 34 having marginal front and side walls '36 and 37, 38 depending therefrom. The arm portion 32 is then provided as an integral extension of one side wall 37 and the lug 33 defines a bearing surface for receiving the heel of the thumb or the like. The slot 27 for receiving the selector tab 26 is provided centrally of the top wall 34 and extends longitudinally thereof, the hole and no hole indicia 28, 29 being appropriately imprinted on the top wall adjacent opposite ends of the slot.

The operating handle 24 is pivotally connected at its forward end to the top portion of a body member 39 which is arranged for attachment to the head end of embossing machine 11. The body portion is preferably of solid rectangular configuration with a pair of transversely spaced upwardly projecting cars 41 at the forward end of its upper surface. The pivotal connection of the operating handle is then facilitated by pin connection of the

opposite side walls

37, 38 thereof to the respective ears. In order to limit pivotal movement of the handle to a predetermined downward excursion a stop post 42 is provided at the rear of the upper surface of the body in a position to engage the top wall 34 of the handle adjacent the side walls 3'7 thereof from which the arm portion 32 extends. As to the attachment of the body member to the embossing machine, same may be accomplished in any appropriate manner commensurate with the design of the particular embossing machine. However, in the instant embodiment outwardly projecting lugs 43 are provided at the rear surface of the body to engage corresponding slots 44 in the leading end of embossing machine 11. In addition the underside of the body member is longitudinally slotted as indicated at 46 (see FiGURE 4). The slot defines a tape guide channel 47 with the upper surface of a female die member 48 secured to the underside of the body. In this connection a chair spring 49 or equivalent means is provided to extend the guide channel 47 to the outlet end of the tape channel of the embossing machine. More specifically, the chair spring includes a C-bracket portion 50, the upper part of which engages the upper surface of the die member in the region of the guide channel and the lower part of which is secured as by means of fasteners 55 to the under surface of the die member at its end adjacent to the embossing machine. A tongue portion 51 of the spring then projects from the bracket portion to engage the tape channel of the embossing machine. In this manner, the chair spring provides interim support for tape conveyed from the machine channel into the attachment channel 47.

In order to facilitate the cut-off and selective punching functions of the attachment 23 upon depression of the operating handle 24, it is particularly important to note that the body member serves to mount a male cut-off die 52 and a pair of male punch dies 53, 54, longitudinally spaced on opposite sides thereof, in operable positions relative to the handle. The dies are reciprocatively mounted in the body member and adapted for downward movement upon depression of the handle from normal positions retracted from the tape channel 47 (see FIG- URE 3) to actuated positions wherein the dies extend vertically through the channel into engagement with conformed female cut-off and punch die

apertures

56 and 57, 58 in the underlying female die member 48 (see FIGURES 5 and 7). The male dies hence pass through tape extended through the channel 47 upon actuation.

To the foregoing ends the body member is provided with a transversely elongated slot 59 that extends centrally through the member and opens into the channel defining slot 46 opposite the cut-01f die aperture 56. In addition vertically extending

cylindrical passages

61, 62 are longitudinally spaced on opposite sides of slot 59, such passages communicating with end recesses 63, 64 formed in the opposite ends of the body member and opening into the slot 46 opposite the punch die

apertures

57, 53. The male cut-off die 52 is slidably disposed in the slot 59 and appropriately spring loaded for retention in unactuated position retracted from the tape channel 47. To this end a pair of guide posts 66, 67 are secured to the underside of the die member 52 inwardly adjacent its opposite side walls, the posts depending from the die into

spring wells

68, 69 in the female die member and being aligned with central

exteriorly extending apertures

71, 72 in the bases thereof. Helical springs 73, 74 are disposed in the Wells and secured to the posts with the springs having sufiicient tension to support the die member in unactuated position fully retracted in the slot 59 (see FIGURE 4). Similarly, the male punch dies 53, 54 are slidably disposed in the

passages

61, 62 and are spring loaded for retention in unactuated positions fully retracted in the passages. More specifically, cone springs 76, 77 are disposed in the end recesses 63, 64 of the body member with their upper ends engaged by

snap rings

78, 79 rigidly secured to the punch dies. Hence the springs support the dies in unactuated retracted positions retracted from the tape channel.

With regard to the manner in which the male die members are operatively associated with the handle 25 such that upon depression of the handle the dies are urged to their actuated positions to accomplish the cutoff and punching functions of the attachment, it is of importance to note that the die members are of sufiicient vertical lengths to project above the upper surface of the body member. The projecting ends of the die members are then selectively engaged by the top wall 34 of the handle 25 through a selector mechanism 81 that includes, and is controlled by the selector tab 26 of previous mention. The selector mechanism is arranged such that upon downward pivotal movement of the handle, the latter, through the medium of the former, engages the upper end of the male cut-off die, exclusively or simultaneously with engagement of the upper ends of the punch dies, depending upon the setting of the tab 26, to thereby urge the selected dies downwardly into engagement with the female dies.

Considering now the unique selector mechanism 81 in detail, it is to be noted that same includes a plate 82 and a selector slide 83 having an upwardly turned lug at one end defining the tab 26.- The plate and slide are secured in stacked relationship atop the male cut-off die 52, the slide underlying the plate and both members projecting longitudinally on opposite sides of the die with the tab projecting upwardly through the slot 27 in the handle 25. More explicitly, the plate is provided with a central aperture 84 and the slide with a central longitudinally extending slot 86, the aperture and slot being traversed by a headed fastener 87 threadably engaging a tapped bore 83 in the top surface of the die. A countersink 89 encircles the tapped bore and contains a helical spring 91 through which the fastener 87 extends. The slide is hence urged by the spring into intimate engagement with the plate, however, the slide may be slightly depressed against the loading of the spring to be then longitudinally movable within the limits of the slot 86 and the slot 27.

It is of importance to note that the head of the fastener 87 engages the top wall of the handle 25 and supports, same in an upwardly inclined position (see FIGURE 3) relative to its point of pivotal connection when the die 52 is in unactuated position. Hence upon depression of the handle, the cut-off die, and plate and slide of the selector mechanism secured thereto are urged downwardly against the spring loading of the die. It is further important to note that the slide slot 86 is appropriately positioned and of such a length that when the slide is at its forward extreme of travel which corresponds to the tab being at the hole position of slot 27, the forward portion of the slide ahead of the slot 86 overlies the projecting end of punch die 53 whereas the rearward portion behind the slot overlies the end of punch die 54. The arrangement of the slot 86 in the slide is also such that When the slide is at its rearward extreme of travel, corresponding to the tab being at the no-hole position of slot 27, the forward end of the slide is displaced from the punch die 53 and the slot 86 overlies the punch die 54. The width of the slot 86 is made greater than the diameter of the punch dies as are a pair of

slots

92, 93 provided in end portions of plate 82 that overlie the dies. It will thus be appreciated that when the slide is in its forward hole position and the handle is depressed to urge the cut-oflt die 52 downwardly, the solid forward and rearward portions of the slide respectively engage the punch dies 53, 54 to urge same downwardly in unison with the cut-off die as depicted in FIGURE 5. When the slide is in its rearward no-hole position, depression of the handle urges the cut-off die and selector mechanism downwardly in the same manner as just described. However, the punch die 53 extends unengaged beyond the end of the slide through slot 92 while the punch die 54 extends unengaged through

slots

86 and 93 as depicted in FIGURE 7. Accordingly only the cut-off die is actuated.

Actuation of the cut-off die 52, of course, effects severance of the tape 24 Within the channel while actuation of the punch dies 53, 54 effects the formation of holes in the tape oppositely spaced from the point of severance as shown in FIGURE 6. Although the face of the cutoff die may be rectangular to thus form straight edges at the point of severance, it is preferable that the edges have rounded corners so as to be appealing to the eye in the finished label. Accordingly, the cut-off die 52 is preferably provided with a double-concave cutting face 94 as best shown in FIGURE 6. The oppositely curved sides of the cutting face hence simultaneously produce rounded edges of opposite curvature at the trailing end of tape disposed forwardly of the die and leading end of tape disposed rearwardly thereof. Hence the double-concave die face simultaneously cuts the trailing edge of a finished label and prepares the leading end of the remaining tape for a subsequent label. In addition to the foregoing it will be appreciated that the cut-off die may be appropriately longitudinally displaced from the outlet end of the tape channel 47 to correlate the position of the cut-off trailing end relative to the trailing character of embossed copy to the position of the cut-off leading end relative to the leading character of the copy. Inasmuch as the leading end relationship is determined by the distance of the tape start guide mark 21 provided adjacent the observation window 22 of the embossing machine from the operable embossing position of a selected character die, the cut-off die of the attachment 23 is hence preferably displaced a correlated distance from the end of the tape channel in order to center the embossed copy in the resulting label. For example, where the operative position of a selected character die is displaced three character spaces from the start mark 21, the distance between the cut-off die and outlet end of the tape channel might also be dimensionally selected to correspond to three character spaces. T 0 center the embossed copy in the resulting label it would then be only necessary to advance the tape through the cut-off attachment to a position wherein the trailing character is just outside and flush with the end of the tape channel prior to depressing the operating handle 25 to eifect cut-off. Alternatively with the same three character space leading end relationship determined by the embossing machine, the cut-off die might be dimensionally positioned only two character spaces from the end of the tape channel. With this arrangement the tape would be positioned with the trailing character disposed as in the preceding example and then advanced one space by appropriate operation of the actuating handle of the embossing machine. Depression of the operating handle of the cut-off attachment then effects cut-off of the tape with the embossed copy centered in the resulting label three character spaces in from its opposite ends.

In order that the slugs of tape urged into the die apertures of the female die member 48 upon actuation of the male die members into engagement therewith may be collected for convenient disposal, a removable trap 96 is provided as an important adjunct of the cut-off attachment. The trap is arranged for removable disposition at the underside of the female die member in communication with a recess 97 formed therein and into which the

female die apertures

56, 57, 58 open. More specifically, the trap 96 is provided as an open topped rectangular receptacle having opposed marginal side walls 98, 99 adapted to engage the side faces of the female die member, a shorter front wall lti l adapted to engage a transversely extending undercut 102 in the bottom region of the front face of the die member, and an even shorter rear wall 103 adapted to abut against the rear end of the bottom wall of the die member. In addition, the side walls 98, 99 of the trap are provided with inwardly projecting detents 104-, 1.136 positioned to engage longitudinally extending

grooves

107, 108 defined between undercuts formed in the lower side edges of the body member and the top of the female die member. The trap may hence be slid longitudinally rearward over the female die member with the detents engaging the grooves to secure the trap in operable position to catch the slugs expelled from the female die apertures. Conversely the trap may be conveniently removed for purposes of emptying the slugs by sliding the trap longitudinally forward from the female die member.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus of the character described comprising a head member having a guide channel therethrough for the passage of tape, a cut-off die mounted for reciprocation in said head member normal to said channel between an unactuated position retracted from the channel and an actuated position extending therethrough, said cut-off die having its distal end relative to said channel exteriorly projecting from said head member, a pair of punch dies mounted in said head member on longitudinally opposite sides of said cut-oif'die for reciprocation normal to said channel between unactuated and actuated positions respectively retracted from the channel and extending therethrough, said punch dies having their distal ends relative to said channel exteriorly projecting from said head member, an actuating handle pivotally mounted upon said head member and engaging the projecting end of said cut-off die to move same between actuated and unactu ated positions in response to pivotal movement of the handle toward and away from the head member, and a selector mechanism secured to said cut-off die and having a bridging element selectively engageable with and dis engageable from the projecting ends of said punch dies.

2. Apparatus of the character described comprising a body member having a horizontal longitudinally extending slot in its lower surface, a transverse cut-off die mounted in said body member for vertical reciprocation across said slot and having its upper end projecting from the upper surface of the body member, a pair of punch dies mounted in said body member on opposite longitudinal sides of said cut-off die in equally spaced relation thereto for vertical reciprocation across said slot and having their upper ends projecting from the upper surface of the body member, a female die member secured to the lower surface of said body member and defining with said slot a guide channel for the passage of tape, said female die member having cut-off die and punch die apertures for engagement with said cut-off and punch dies, said apertures opening at the lower surface of said female die member, spring loading means connected to said cutoff and punch dies to retain same in normal unactuated positions retracted from said slot, an operating handle pivotally end secured to the upper surface of said body member and engaging the projecting end of said cut-off die with the cut-off die in its unactuated position supporting the handle in a position upwardly inclined from its pivoted end whereby upon movement of the handle downwardly towards said body member the cut-off die is moved from its unactuated position across said channel and into engagement with said cut-off die aperture, and a horizontally disposed selector slide secured to the projecting end of said cut-off die and selectively slidable longitudinally thereof between positions of overlying engagement and disengagement with the projecting ends of said punch dies.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, further defined by a slug trap removably secured at the lower surface of said female die member in communication with the bottom openings of said die apertures.

4. In a body provided with a tape embossing machine having a tape supply member, a handle pivotally connected to said body, embossing dies adjacent the forward end of said body and actuatable upon movement of said handle towards said body, and tape feed means for longitudinally advancing the tape upon each embossing operation; the combination therewith of a cutting and punching head member mounted at the forward end of said body, said head member having a longitudinal channel therein for receiving tape as it advances through said machine, a cut-off die mounted in said head member for reciprocation in a plane normal to said channel and having unactuated and actuated positions respectively retracted from said channel and extending therethrough, a hole punch die adjacent said cut-off die mounted in said head member for reciprocation in a plane normal to said channel and having an unactuated and actuated position respectively retracted from said channel and extending therethrough, and a manually operable actuating handle carried by said head member and operatively coupled to said dies for moving same between said unactuated and actuated positions.

5. Apparatus'as set forth in claim 4 including a pair of said hole punch dies respectively mounted in said head member on longitudinally opposite sides of said cut-off die for reciprocation normal to said channel between un actuated and actuated positions retracted from said channel and extending therethrough, and a selector mechanism selectively connecting said punch dies to said actuating mechanism for movement in unison with said cut-off die and disconnecting the punch dies from the actuating mechanism.

6. In a tape embossing machine having a body and tape embossing dies, means for actuating said dies and longitudinally advancing said tape upon each embossing operation; the combination therewith of a cutting and punching mechanism on said body forwardly of said embossing dies, said mechanism including:

a longitudinal channel therein for receiving tape as it advances through said machine,

a cut-off die for reciprocation on a plane normal to said channel and having unactuated and actuated positions respectively retracted from said channel and extending therethrough,

a hole punch die adjacent said cut-off die for reciprocation in a plane normal to said channel and having unactuated and actuated positions respectively retracted from said channel and extending therethrough,

and manually operable die actuating means operatively coupled to said cut-off die and to said hole punch die for moving same between said unactuated and actuated positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 723,302 Pierce Mar. 24, 1903 1,981,199 Ryan Nov. 20, 193 r 2,111,057 Swanson Mar. 15, 1938 2,275,670 Zipf Mar. 10, 1942 2,415,526 Payne Feb. 11, 1947 2,979,179 Anglim et al Apr. 11, 196 1

Claims

6. IN A TAPE EMBOSSING MACHINE HAVING A BODY AND TAPE EMBOSSING DIES, MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID DIES AND LONGITUDINALLY ADVANCING SAID TAPE UPON EACH EMBOSSING OPERATION; THE COMBINATION THEREWITH OF A CUTTING AND PUNCHING MECHANISM ON SAID BODY FORWARDLY OF SAID EMBOSSING DIES, SAID MECHANISM INCLUDING: A LONGITUDINAL CHANNEL THEREIN FOR RECEIVING TAPE AS IT ADVANCES THROUGH SAID MACHINE, A CUT-OFF DIE FOR RECIPROCATION ON A PLANE NORMAL TO SAID CHANNEL AND HAVING UNACTUATED AND ACTUATED POSITIONS RESPECTIVAELY RETRACTED FROM SAID CHANNEL AND EXTENDING THERETHROUGH, A HOLE PUNCH DIE ADJACENT SAID CUT-OFF DIE FOR RECIPROCATION IN A PLANE NORMAL TO SAID CHANNEL AND HAVING UNACTUATED AND ACTUATED POSITIONS RESPECTIVELY RETRACTED FROM SAID CHANNEL AND EXTENDING THERETHROUGH, AND MANUALLY OPERABLE DIE ACTUATING MEANS OPERATIVE LY COUPLED TO SAID CUT-OFF DIE AND TO SAID HOLE PUNCH DIE FOR MOVING SAME BETWEEN SAID UNACTUATED AND ACTUATED POSITIONS.