INKPAD HOLDER AND DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE SAME
The invention relates to an inkpad holder (4) for arrangement in an insertion compartment (3) of a self-inking stamp (1), said inkpad holder (4) having a bottom (15) and walls (16, 17) projecting therefrom which delimit a receiving space for receiving an inkpad (5). At least one wall (16) of the inkpad holder (4) has a retaining web (14) protruding into the receiving space in order to retain the inkpad (5), the retaining web (14) extending over the entire length of the wall (16, 17). The invention further relates to a device (18) and a method for producing such an inkpad holder (4).
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The invention relates to an inkpad holder for arrangement in an insertion compartment of a self-inking stamp, having a bottom and walls projecting therefrom which delimit a receiving space for receiving an inkpad, at least one wall of the inkpad holder comprising a retaining web protruding into the receiving space in order to retain the inkpad.
Furthermore, the invention relates to a device for injection moulding such an inkpad holder, having an injection mould tool comprising a first and a second tool part, which injection mould tool encloses a mould cavity in a closing position, the first and second tool parts being movably supported relative to one another in an opening or closing direction.
Finally, the invention relates to a method for producing such an inkpad holder in an injection moulding process.
A self-inking stamp in which an inkpad holder is inserted like a drawer in an insertion compartment of the stamp housing is known e.g. from EP 1 603 755 B1. Upon completion of the stamping ink in the inkpad, the inkpad container can be removed from the insertion compartment and replaced by a new inkpad container or the original inkpad container with refilled inkpad. For this purpose, the insertion compartment comprises a freely accessible insertion opening on at least one side. In this prior art, the inkpad is glued into the inkpad holder. As a disadvantage, when producing the inkpad in a punching operation this may result in the formation of threads in the corners. When inserting into the stamp, the threads impregnated with ink may soil the insertion compartment. In addition, this technique has the disadvantage that bulging of the inkpad insert, especially on the longitudinal sides, complicates handling of the inkpad holder or leads to contaminations on the stamp or on the part of a user.
In addition, from AT 411 976 B a self-inking stamp has been known, in which a replaceable inkpad container comprises inwardly protruding ledge projections on the bottom side.
However, for manufacturing reasons, it was necessary in such inkpad containers that the ledge projections extend along the inkpad container only in portions. Therefore, this could not solve the problem that the inkpad can lead to contamination of the stamp due to bulging and the formation of threads on the corner zones.
In addition, handling the inkpad holder called for the user's skill in order to avoid any contaminations during replacement operations.
Accordingly, it is the object of the present invention to obviate or reduce the disadvantages of the prior art. Therefore, an inkpad holder of the above given type is to be provided, by which the inkpad is reliably held in the intended position within the receiving space. In addition, a simplified method and a device for the manufacture of such an inkpad holder shall be indicated. For solving this object the inkpad holder of the above given kind is characterized in that the retaining web extends over the entire length of the wall.
This design has the advantage that the retaining web extends into the corner zones of the inkpad holder. Thus, it may be ensured in a reliable manner that any formation of threads or any bulging of the inkpad does not lead to any protrusion of the inkpad on the upper side of the inkpad holder.
To fix the inkpad within the inkpad holder, it is favourable if the retaining web is provided on an edge portion of the wall, the edge portion facing away from the bottom. During assembly, the inkpad is pressed below the retaining web projecting to the inside on the upper edge portion of the wall, the inkpad being fixed thereby in the receiving space.
When the retaining web is arranged to be essentially perpendicular to the wall, the inkpad holder can advantageously have the same overall height as conventional embodiments without any retaining web. In addition, this may ensure a safer hold of the inkpad in the receiving space.
To reliably prevent that when in use the inkpad will come loose of the intended position and project over the access opening of the inkpad holder or the inkpad even come off the inkpad holder, it is of advantage if the wall is provided with the retaining web on a longitudinal side of the inkpad holder. In this embodiment, the inkpad holder therefore comprises longitudinal sides and narrow sides, the retaining web being provided on one of the longitudinal sides. For the arrangement in the insertion compartments of commercially available self-inking stamps, the inkpad holder preferably comprises an essentially rectangular bottom, on the longitudinal or transverse edges of which the walls are angled. Adapting the retaining web on a longitudinal side of the inkpad holder ensures that the inkpad is sufficiently pressed toward the bottom of the inkpad holder in order to hold the inkpad in the intended position.
The fixation of the inkpad in the inkpad holder may further be reinforced if at least two walls comprise retaining webs preferably on the longitudinal sides. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the inkpad holder only comprises retaining webs on the two longitudinal sides but not on the narrow sides. On the other hand, it may also be provided that the inkpad holder comprises retaining webs on both the longitudinal and the narrow sides.
For one thing, to ensure sufficient retention of the inkpad in the inkpad holder in the assembled state, and for the other, to not excessively complicate assembly of the inkpad by pressing it in the receiving space, it is advantageous if the retaining web is 0.8 to 2.5 mm, in particular 0.9 to 1.3 mm, preferably substantially 1 mm in width. In this context, the width relates to the extension of the retaining web away from the pertinent wall of the inkpad holder.
For manufacturing reasons, it is preferred that the retaining web be integral with the wall.
It is also convenient in this embodiment if the bottom, the walls and the at least one retaining web are designed integrally, in particular as injection moulding part.
Moreover, the object of the invention is obtained by a device of the above mentioned kind, in which the injection mould tool comprises at least one slide part extending over the entire length of the mould cavity, which slide part is movably arranged between an injection position engaging behind the retaining web of the inkpad holder and a separating position releasing the retaining web in a direction deviating from the opening or closing direction of the tool parts.
Therefore, for injection moulding the inkpad holder first the injection mould tool is arranged in the closing position, in which the shape of the inkpad holder is formed by the mould cavity. By injecting a starting material in plasticized condition the inkpad holder is formed in the mould cavity. In injection moulding, the slide part is arranged in the injection position, in which the slide part is arranged in portions below an area of the mould cavity forming the retaining web. The slide part is preferably arranged in the injection position such that the slide part leaves an area of the mould cavity blank, the area being essentially U-shaped in cross-section, to form the wall with the retaining web and the edge portion of the bottom. By transferring the slide part transverse to the closing or opening direction of the injection mould tool and away from the wall of the inkpad holder, which comprises the retaining web, to the separating position the slide part can be detached from the engagement with the retaining web, so that upon termination of the injection moulding process the injection mould tool can be opened in an opening direction to remove the finished inkpad holder from the injection mould tool. The slide part is movable at least over the width of the retaining web in order to be transferred into the separating position, a safety distance exceeding the width of the retaining web being preferably covered in order to reliably prevent the injection mould tool from being blocked by the slide part when separating the tool parts in the opening direction.
It is particularly preferable if at least one ejector for removing the inkpad holder from the mould cavity is provided on one of the tool parts, the at least one slide part being different from the ejector. Accordingly, separate components are provided as slide part and ejector, so that movement of the slide part for the release of the retaining web of the inkpad holder can be effected independently of removing the inkpad holder from the mould cavity. Said embodiment has the advantage of that the inkpad holder is present in the mould cavity in a fixed manner, if the at least one slide part is moved away from the longitudinal side of the mould cavity for the demoulding process. Thus, it is prevented that he inkpad holder sticks to one of the slide parts and is carried along by this slide part. In known injection mould tools, this could be prevented only in that the corner zones of the inkpad holder are kept clear by the retaining webs and thus contribute to the centering of the inkpad holder. In contrast, in the present application, first the retaining web is released by means of actuating the slide part, next the mould cavity is opened, and finally the inkpad holder is removed from the mould cavity by means of actuating the ejector. For forming a retaining web which is arranged essentially perpendicularly to the wall it is favourable if the slide part is movably arranged in a manner essentially perpendicular to the opening or closing direction of the tool parts. Upon completion of the injection process, first of all the slide part is moved essentially perpendicularly to the opening direction until the slide part is released from engagement with the retaining web, before the injection mould tool can be opened by a relative movement between the tool parts.
For forming two retaining webs on opposite sides of the inkpad holder it is advantageous if two slide parts are movably arranged in opposite directions.
Accordingly, upon completion of the injection process the two slide parts are movable in opposite directions for releasing the retaining webs, with the movement of the one slide part preferably being coupled to that of the other slide part.
According to an especially preferred embodiment it is provided that the first tool part and the second tool part are jointly slidable between the injection position and the separating position by a predetermined distance in the opening or closing direction, the injection mould tool comprising corresponding guide means, by which the joint shifting of the tool parts in the opening or closing direction can be converted into the movement of the slide part between the injection position and separating position. Accordingly, shifting the tool parts along the predetermined distance in the opening direction is coupled to the movement of the slide part into the separating position.
To move the slide part in accordance with the joint shift of the tool parts along the predetermined distance into the separating position, it is advantages if the guide means comprise guide surfaces arranged diagonally to the opening or closing direction, in particular at an angle between 6° and 20°. The inclination of the guide surfaces can determine the translation between the shift of the tool parts and the movement of the slide part.
In this connection, it is advantageous if the one guide surface is provided on the slide part and the other guide surface is preferably formed on the front end of an injection nozzle. The front end of the injection nozzle preferably converges in a conical manner. In the transfer between the injection position and the separating position the guide surfaces of the slide part and the injection nozzle slide alongside each other.
It is provided in a preferred embodiment that the guide means comprise a spring or traction force element causing the slide part to be moved into the separating position. In particular, spring elements or core pullers may be provided to shift the slide part into the separating position.
According to a preferred embodiment, the injection mould tool comprises a stop for limiting the shift of the first tool part in the opening direction, in which context the second tool part for separating the tool parts is movable relative to the first tool part which has been shifted into the stop position. Accordingly, the injection mould tool can be moved from the closing position for injection moulding of the inkpad holder in the opening direction via the stop position of the first tool part, which corresponds to the separating or releasing position of the slide part, into the open position for the removal of the inkpad holder. Advantageously, demoulding can be achieved thereby in a single movement process.
To carry the first tool part along over the predetermined distance in the direction of the open position, if the second tool part is being shifted into the open position, it is preferably provided that the first tool part is connected to a spring element, which biases the first tool part in the direction of the stop position corresponding to the separating position. Having reached the stop position of the first tool part, the second tool part can be shifted into the open position, with the first tool part being stationary.
For opening the injection mould tool it is favourable that the second tool part is connected to a drive, in particular a hydraulic drive.
Finally, the object on which the present invention is based is obtained by a method in which the retaining web is engaged behind in an injection position by a slide part extending over the entire length of the wall, which slide part is then shifted to a separating position releasing the retaining web.
As regards the advantages and technical effects of such a method, reference is made to the above statements.
Hereinafter, the invention will be described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments shown in the drawings, but not limited thereto, in which:
For actuating the self-inking stamp 1 an actuating arm 8 is provided, which is placed on the housing 2 like a hood in the shown example. The actuating arm 8 comprises legs (not shown) on the narrow sides, which are inserted in suitable guides on the narrow side walls of the housing 2 and guided therein in a slidable manner. A spring 11 acts between the actuating arm 8 and the housing 2, which holds the actuating arm 8 in its upper position shown and thus the stamp unit 6 in the inking position. The shift of the actuating arm 8 into its lower end or actuating position is transmitted via a turning mechanism 12 in a manner known per se, which mechanism causes the stamp unit 6 to be swivelled from the shown inking position and into a printing position provided for printing a printing surface as well as at the same time a descending movement. In the printing position, the stamp plate 7 projects with the stamp types through a bottom aperture 13 of the housing 2, so that a printing can be made on a printing surface. For example the turning mechanism 12 comprises a curve control or slot guidance known in the prior art, so as to turn the stamp unit 6 into the printing position by 180° upon actuation of the actuating arm 8. These or similar turning mechanisms are well known in the prior art, so that no further explanation is needed.
According to
In addition, an inkpad holder 4 according to
From
The embodiment according to
The manufacture of the inkpad holder 4 illustrated in
As may be further seen from
As shown in
Further, as can be seen from
To limit the shift of the first tool part 20 to the distance x, the injection mould tool 19 further comprises a stop 35, so that the second tool part 21 can be moved on by itself in the direction of the open position (
Finally, the ejectors 29—cf. FIG. 8—can be actuated to remove the inkpad holder 4 from the injection mould tool 19.
It becomes clear from the above example that the inkpad holder 4 according to
Claims
1-20. (canceled)
21: A device (18) for injection moulding of an inkpad holder (4), wherein the inkpad holder (4) has a bottom (15) and walls (16, 17) projecting therefrom which delimit a receiving space for receiving an inkpad (5), at least one wall (16) of the inkpad holder (4) comprising a retaining web (14) protruding into the receiving space and extending over the entire length of the wall (16, 17) in order to retain the inkpad (5), having an injection mould tool (19) comprising a first (20) and a second tool part (21), the injection mould tool enclosing a mould cavity (22) in a closing position, the first (20) and the second tool part (21) being movably mounted relative to one another in an opening or closing direction (28), wherein the injection mould tool (19) comprises at least one slide part (31) extending over the entire length of the mould cavity (22), which slide part (31) is movably arranged between an injection position engaging behind the retaining web (14) of the inkpad holder (4) and a separating position releasing the retaining web (14) in a direction (28′) deviating from the opening or closing direction (28) of the tool parts (20, 21), wherein at least one ejector (29) is arranged on one of the tool parts (20, 21) for removing the inkpad holder (4) from the mould cavity (22), the at least one slide part (31) being different from the ejector (29), so that the inkpad holder is present in the mould cavity (22) in a fixed manner, if the at least one slide part (31) is moved away from the longitudinal side of the mould cavity (22) for the demoulding process.
22: The device (18) according to claim 21, wherein the slide part (31) is movably arranged essentially perpendicularly to the opening or closing direction (28) of the tool parts (20, 21) to form a retaining web (14) which is arranged essentially perpendicularly to the wall.
23. The device (18) according to claim 21, wherein two slide parts (31) are movably arranged on opposite sides of the inkpad holder (4) in opposite directions (28′) to form two retaining webs (14).
24: The device (18) according to claim 21, wherein the first tool part (20) and the second tool part (21) are jointly slidable between the injection position and the separating position by a preset distance (x) in an opening or closing direction (28), the injection mould tool (19) comprising guide means (32) by which the joint movement of the tool parts (20, 21) in the opening or closing direction (28) can be converted into the movement of the slide part (31) between the injection position and the separating position.
25: The device (18) according to claim 24, wherein the guide means (32) comprise guide surfaces (33, 34) which are arranged transversely to the opening or closing direction, in particular at an angle of 6° to 20°.
26: The device (18) according to claim 24, wherein the one guide surface (33) is provided on the slide part (31), with the other guide surface (34) preferably being formed on the front end of an injection nozzle (23).
27: The device (18) according to claim 23, wherein the guide means (32) comprise a spring or traction force element which causes the slide part (31) to move into the separating position.
28: The device (18) according to claim 23, wherein the injection moulding tool (19) comprises a stop for limiting the movement of the first tool part (20) in the opening direction (28), the second tool part (21) being movable for separating the tool parts (20, 21) relative to the first tool part moved into the stop position.
29: The device (18) according to claim 28, wherein the first tool part (20) is connected to a spring means biasing the first tool part (20) toward the stop position corresponding to the separating position.
30: The device (18) according to claim 21, wherein the second tool part (21) is connected to a drive, in particular a hydraulic drive.
31: A method for producing an inkpad holder (4) with a bottom (15) and walls (16, 17) projecting therefrom which delimit a receiving space for receiving an inkpad (5), at least one wall (16) of the inkpad holder (4) comprising a retaining web (14) protruding into the receiving space and extending over the entire length of the wall (16, 17) in order to retain the inkpad (5), in an injection moulding operation with an injection mould tool (19) comprising a first (20) and a second tool part (21), the injection mould tool enclosing a mould cavity (22) in a closing position, wherein the retaining web (14) in an injection position is engaged behind by a slide part (31) extending over the entire length of the wall (16), which slide part (31) subsequently will be moved into a separating position releasing the retaining web (14), wherein at least one ejector (29) is actuated on one of the tool parts (20, 21) for removing the inkpad holder (4) from the mould cavity (22), the at least one slide part (31) being different from the ejector (29), so that the inkpad holder is present in the mould cavity (22) in a fixed manner, if the at least one slide part (31) is moved away from the longitudinal side of the mould cavity (22) for the demoulding process.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 22, 2014
Publication Date: Mar 17, 2016
Applicant: COLOP STEMPELERZEUGUNG SKOPEK GMBH. & CO. KG (Wels)
Inventor: Ernst FABER (Wels)
Application Number: 14/786,015