US3339694A - Embossing arrangement with resilient deformable plug used as a die member - Google Patents

Description

D. TRAVAGLIO 3,339,694 EMBOSSING ARRANGEMENT WITH RESILIENT DEFORMABLE PLUG USED AS A DIE MEMBER Original Filed Jan 21. 1965 Sept. 5, 1967 'i 'ljgl/llm /Nl ENTOR DAL/W 7kAvAeL/o ATTO NEYS United States Patent 8 Claims. (Cl. 1976.7)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A tool for embossing indicia on a strip of embossable material having a plurality of female dies and an element of resilient deformable material which can be moved into selective female dies to constitute a male die element.

The present invention relates generally to label making machines which function by embossing letters, numbers, or other characters in a length of relatively soft plastic tape, or the like, and is more particularly directed to an improved embossing arrangement therefor. This application is a continuation of my application Ser. No. 426,948, filed Jan. 21, 1965, entitled, Embossing Arrangement.

Embossing devices are well known which are arranged such that a strip of plastic tape or the like is fed past embossing die means which may be actuated to emboss a character in the tape. Typically the die means of these devices are provided as a plurality of different indicia complementary maleand female die sets formed at circumferentially spaced positions of a character selector disk of plastic, or the like. One die of each set is formed in an underface of a relatively rigid backing portion of the disk while the other die of the set is formed in a facing surface of one of a plurality of flexible split leaf sections which project radially outward from a hub portion of the disk. The disk is rotatable to selectively position the different indicia die sets at an embossing station of the device whereat the strip of tape is received between the complementary dies. Actuation of a handle, or equivalent means, then effects movement of a plunger, or equivalent actuating member, into engagement with the flexible leaf section positioned at the embossing station to close the complementary dies upon the tape therebetween and emboss a character in the tape. Release of the handle then disengages the plunger from the leaf section to permit opening of the dies and release of the tape. Release of the handle also typically serves to advance the strip and place same in position for receiving the next embossment.

It will be appreciated that conventional die embossing arrangements of the type outlined above are disadvantageous and limited in certain respects. Aside from the complexity of the basic design of the disk, various other complexities accrue from the requirement that the tape pass between the leafs and backing portion of the disk, and the fact that the hub portion of the disk obstructs passage of the tape diametrically through the disk. In other words, the tape must pass through the disk along a path offset from a diameter thereof. Consequently, the dies must be oriented at a predetermined angle, other than perpendicular, to radii of the disk in order that the characters embossed in the tape be oriented perpendicular to the axis thereof. Moreover, conventional die embossing arrangements of the above variety are not particularly conducive to having a large capacity of different indicia die sets. It

will be appreciated that the disk structure becomes ex-' tremely complex where it is attempted to provide varied groups of die sets on opposite faces of the disk such that same may be reversibly positioned in the embosslng de- 3,339,694 Patented Sept. 5, 1967 vice to present the respective groups of die sets to the tape at the embossing station. Similarly, the complexity of the disk structure is materially increased where it is attempted to provide groups of die sets respectively at different radii of the disk.

It is therefore an 'object of the present invention to provide an improved embossing arrangement of relatively simple design for employment in embossing tools, and the like.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an embossing arrangement of the class described which permits tape to pass diametrically of an indicia carrying selector disk of the arrangement.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an embossing arrangement of the class described which facilitates the incorporation of an extremely large quanmade by the said drawing and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective of one type of embossing tool embodying the improved embossing arrangement of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation view with portions broken away of the embossing tool, illustrating in particular the improved embossing arrangement in unactuated position.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the embossing arrangement in actuated embossing position.

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3, but depicting the arrangement in an actuated tape cut-off position.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary plan view of an indicia die carrying selector disk of the embossing arrangement.

The embossing arrangement of the present invention is illustrated in the drawing in association with a particular hand operated embossing tool of but one of many types of tool in which the arrangement may be employed. It will also be appreciated that the invention is likewise applicable to embossing tools other than the hand operated variety.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2, a hand operated embossing tool of generally conventional design is indicated at 11, which however embodies the improved embossing arrangement of the present invention. Inasmuch as the basic rudiments of the tool 11 are well known and have no direct bearing on the present invention, the tool is only briefly described hereinafter. Basically, the tool 11 includes an elongated body member 12 and a handle member 13 pivotally attached thereto and resiliently retained in an unactuated position by means of a spring 14 acting therebetween. A strip 15 of plastic tape or other embossable material is provided, for example, in a magazine 16 and is led longitudinally of the body member 12 as by means of a guide slot in a fiat upper wall por ber 12. In this regard, with the cover open, the disk is placed with the axle bushing extending through a central aperture 24 of the disk. A retaining pin 26 is inserted in force fit engagement with the bushing to retain the disk thereon. The disk may be rotated to selectively position the different indicia dies thereby carried at an embossing station adjacent the forward end of the slot 19. The disk is lettered with characters, as indicated at 27, in such a manner that when the various indicia dies are positioned at the embossing station, the corresponding characters are viewed through a selector window 28 extending through the cover 18. Embossment of the tape by a die thus selectively positioned at the embossing station is then effected in response to movement of the handle member 13 against the loading of spring 14 towards the body member 12. The handle member is also operatively associated with feed means (not shown) arranged to advance the tape longitudinally of the body upon spring loaded return of the handle to unactuated position. Embossment of the tape by the above noted movement of the handle member is generally facilitated by an actuating member which is movable with the handle member. The actuating member moves upwardly through an opening in the Wall portion 17 into die actuating association with the die at the embossing station to thereby effect an embossment in the tape.

As noted previously, the die carrying selector disk conventionally employed in an embossing tool such as the tool 11 has included a backing portion and flexible split leaf sections projecting radially outward from a hub portion of the disk and spaced from the backing portion. Sets of male and female dies are provided on the facing surfaces of the backing portion and split leaf sections adjacent the disk circumference. The tape passes between the backing portion and leaf sections and when the dies of any given set are closed upon the tape by urging the corresponding leaf section into engagement with the backing portion, the tape is embossed. The die actuating member of the tool is then typically provided as a rigid plunger or button which is movable upwardly by the handle member 13 into engagement with the leaf section of the disk positioned at the embossing station to thereby close the associated die set upon the tape. The conventional embossing arrangement just described is variously limited and disadvantageous in the respects previously noted. To overcome such limitations and disadvantages, the tool 11 is provided with an improved relatively simple embossing arrangement in accordance with the present invention, which is described below.

In accordance with the present invention an embossing arrangement is provided which in broad respects includes means defining female dies in the form of desired indicia and an actuating element of resilient deformable material. The resilient deformable actuating element is movable to urge a strip of tape, or the like, into engagement with one of the female dies. Portions of the tape are thus urged into the female die by the actuating element which is resiliently deformed to provide a male die comple- I ment. The indicia of the female die is thereby embossed on the tape. When the actuating element is disengaged from the die, the element is resiliently restored to its original form. In this manner the actuating element functions as a male die complement to each of the varied indicia dies. A material simplification in the embossing arrangement is thus readily apparent in that only one die and the deformable actuating element are required to emboss each indicia, rather than a die set and an actuating element.

Considering now the embossing arrangement in greater detail as to the manner in which same is incorporated in the tool 11, it is to be noted that a plurality of different indicia female dies 29 are formed in the selector disk 23 at circumferentially spaced positions adjacent the disk periphery. Preferably, the disk is of hard plastic and the dies are oriented perpendicular to the disk radii. The

characters 27 are provided on the opposite face of the disk from that in which the female dies 29 are formed. In the present instance the readable lettered characters 27 corresponding to the die indicia 29 of the respective dies are disposed radially inward therefrom and are oriented in alignment with the disk radii, e.g., the lettered character corresponding to the letter I would lie on a radius of the disk while the die indicia of such character would lie perpendicular to the radius. In other words, as here illustrated, the die indicia are oriented in a manner as to emboss letters on the tape in a normal upright position and readable from left to right when the tape is placed horizontally with the end carrying the first embossed letter being the left end. Thus, the embossing station of the tool 11 is positioned longitudinally forward of the selector window 28, the die corresponding to a given character viewed through the window being positioned immediately forward of the window. It is particularly important to note that the tape in being guided longitudinally of the wall portion 17 to the embossing station passes diametrically of the disk 23.

The die actuating means of the embossing arrangement as employed in the tool 11 includes an actuating lever 31 which is coupled to the handle member 13 and is pivotally movable therewith. The lever 31 includes a fiat upper surface portion 32 which moves through the opening in the upper wall portion 17 of the body into substantially flush relation to the upper surface thereof when the handle member is moved towards the body member to actuated position. A plug or button 33 of resilient deformable material, such as urethane rubber, is secured to the surface portion 32 of level 31. Thus, when the handle member is actuated, the button engages the tape with the female die 29 at the embossing station and is resiliently deformed to a male die complement to emboss the tape therebetween, as illustrated in FIGURE 3.

To facilitate cut-off of embossed ta-pe copy from the remainder of the strip 15, a cut-off die 34 is carried by the selector disk 23 at one of the selectable indicia positions thereof. The die 34 includes a pair of knife blades 36 having sharpened edges projecting slightly from the face of the disk. It will be appreciated that the resilient deformable button 33 would normally be cut and mutilated in engaging the tape with the knife blades 36 of the cut-off die 34. To obviate this problem, the cut-off die 34 in the present instance is positioned at a lesser radius of the disk 23 than the dies 29. In addition, a recess 37 is formed in the disk at the same radius as the dies 29 and radially opposite the cut-off die. Thus, when the cutoff die is positioned at the embossing station and the handle member 13 is actuated, the flat upper surface portion 32 of lever 31 engages the tape with the knife blades 36 while the button 33 is received in the recess 37, as indicated in FIGURE 4.

It will be appreciated that although the embossing arrangement of the present invention has been hereinbefore described with reference to the provision of a single group of dies on a selector disk, the arrangement is particularly conducive to the provision of multiple groups of dies on a single disk to thereby materially increase the quantity of characters that are embossable therewith. In this regard, a group of dies may be readily provided on each of the opposite faces of the disk. Upon removal of the disk from an embossing device and replacement therein in reversed position, a different group of dies are selectively positionable at the embossing station. Moreover, a plurality of groups of dies may be readily provided at different radii of the disk on one or both faces thereof.

. Thus, where an embossing device is provided with means rial to an embossing station of said body member, the improvement comprising a selector disk mounted for rotation relative to said body, said disk having a plurality of circumferentially spaced different indicia female dies formed in a face thereof and respectively positionable at said embossing station upon rotation of said disk, a resilient deformable element dis-posed at said embossing station, an actuating member coupled to said element for responsive movement of the latter into engagement with said disk at the position of a die at said embossing station, one of said dies comprising an enlarged recess for freely receiving said deformable element, and a cut-off die in radial alignment with said enlarged recess and radially spaced therefrom to effect a transverse cutting of the strip.

2. An embossing tool comprising an elongated body member having a flat upper wall portion and means for guiding a strip of embossable material longitudinally of said wall portion to an opening at a forward end thereof, a cover overlying said body member and adapted for movement between an open position displaced from said upper wall portion and a closed position longitudinally bridging said wall portion and defining a transverse disk receiving slot therewith, a character selector disk disposed in said transverse slot and journalled for rotation on said cover, said disk having a plurality of circumferentially spaced different indicia female dies formed therein selectively positionable over said opening in response to disk rotation, an actuating handle member pivotally connected to said body member and normally spring loaded to an unactuated position relatively spaced from said body member, said handle member movable towards said body member to an actuated position, an actuating lever coupled to said handle member for pivotal movement therewith, said lever having a fiat upper surface portion movable through said opening into substantially flush relation to the upper surface of said upper wall portion of said body member when said handle member is in actuated position, a button of resilient deformable material secured to said flat upper surface portion of said lever at a position of enlargement with a die positioned in overlying relation to said opening, a cut-off die mounted on said disk at a different radius than that of said female dies, said disk having a recess at the radius of said female dies and radially opposite said cut-off die for receiving said button when said cut-off die is radially aligned with said opening.

3. An embossing tool comprising an elongated body member having a flat upper wall portion and means for guiding a strip of embossable material longitudinally of said wall portion to an opening at a forward end thereof, a cover overlying said body member and adapted for movement between an open position displaced from said upper wall portion and a closed position longitudinally bridging said wall portion and defining a transverse disk receiving slot therewith, a character selector disk disposed in said transverse slot and journalled for rotation on said cover, said disk having a plurality of circumferentially spaced diflferent indicia female dies formed therein selectively positionable over said opening in response to disk rotation, an actuating handle member pivotally connected to said body member and normally spring loaded to an unactuated position relatively spaced from said body member, said handle member movable towards said body member to an actuated position, an actuating lever coupled to said handle member for pivotal movement therewith, said lever having a flat upper surface portion movable through said opening into substantially flush relation to the upper surface of said upper'wall portion of said body member when said handle member is in actuated position, and a button of resilient deformable material secured to said fiat upper surface portion of said lever at a position of engagement with a die positioned in overlying relation to said opening.

4. In an embossing tool having a body provided with guide means for guiding a strip of embossable material to an embossing station of said body, a selector disk, means mounting said disk for rotation relative to said body, said disk having a plurality of circumferentially spaced different indicia female dies formed in a surface thereof with such dies being selectively positioned at said embossing station upon rotation of said disk, an actuating member carried on said body, a resilient deformable plug element mounted on said actuating member adjacent said embossing station, said plug element being normally disposed in spaced relation to said disk surface and movable towards said surface and into selective female dies positioned at said embossing station upon actuation of said member, and said element being resiliently deformed to constitute a male die complement to the selective female dies upon said member actuation.

5. An embossing tool as set forth in claim 4 in which said body has a portion overlying the other surface of said disk at said embossing station, and said actuating member having a surface portion movable towards said first mentioned disk surface with said plug element extending beyond said surface portion.

6. An embossing tool as set forth in claim 4 in which said actuating member is pivotally connected to said body for movement from and towards said disk surface.

7. A tool as set forth in claim 6 in which said actuating member has a surface portion in confronting relation to said disk surface, and in which said plug element extends beyond said surface portion and towards said disk surface.

'8. An embossing tool comprising a body having guide means for guiding a strip of embossable material to an embossing station on said body, means on said body defining a disk receiving slot, a character selector disk disposed in said slot and journalled for rotation on said body, said disk having a plurality of circumferentially spaced different indicia female dies formed in a flat surface thereof selectively positionable at said embossing station in response to disk rotation, an actuating member pivotally carried by said body and normally urged to an unactuated position in spaced relation to said disk surface and movable to an actuated position, a button of resilient deformable material carried by said actuating member adjacent said embossing station whereby movement of said actuating member to said actuated position will move said button into a die at said station, and said button being resiliently deformable to selectively constitute a male die complement for each of the female dies.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 366,755 7/ 1887 Baker 101-23 632,136 8/1899 Moore 197-6-.7 750,432 1/ 1904 Casler et a1. 197--6.7 775,354 11/1904 Roovers et al 1976.7 781,620 1/ 1905 Roovers et a1 198-6'.7 900,622 /10/ 1908 Wait 101-23 1,060,387 4/1913 Wait 10123 3,083,807 4/1963 Travaglio 1976.7 3,129,800 4/ 1964 Bogeous 197-6.7 3,155,215 -11/1964 Avery 1976 .7

ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner.

E. S. BURR, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. IN AN EMBOSSING DEVICE HAVING A BODY MEMBER HAVING GUIDE MEANS FOR GUIDING A STRIP OF EMBOSSABLE MATERIAL TO AN EMBOSSING STATION OF SAID BODY MEMBER, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING A SELECTOR DISK MOUNTED FOR ROTATION RELATIVE TO SAID BODY, SAID DISK HAVING A PLURALITY OF CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED DIFFERENT INDICIA FEMALE DIES FORMED IN A FACE THEREOF AND RESPECTIVELY POSITIONABLE AT SAID EMBOSSING STATION UPON ROTATION OF SAID DISK, A RESILIENT DEFORMABLE ELEMENT DISPOSED AT SAID EMBOSSING STATION, AN ACTUATING MEMBER COUPLED TO SAID ELEMENT FOR RESPONSIVE MOVEMENT OF THE LATTER INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID DISK AT THE POSITION OF A DIE AT SAID EMBOSSING STATION, ONE OF SAID DIES COMPRISING AN ENLARGED RECESS FOR FREELY RECEIVING SAID DEFORMABLE ELEMENT, AND A CUT-OFF DIE IN RADIAL ALIGNMENT WITH SAID ENLARGE RECESS AND RADIALLY SPACED THEREFROM TO EFFECT A TRANSVERSE CUTTING OF THE STRIP.

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