Abstract: A system for tinting contact lenses includes a transfer-pad printer adapted to pick up a pattern from an inked printing block and transfer the pattern to a soaked contact lens. A plurality of lens mounts, each adapted to fixedly hold a soaked lens in a defined position on a convexly curved top surface of the lens mount, are provided with reference means on their respective top surfaces to facilitate accurate placing of a soaked lens in the defined position on each lens mount prior to the pattern transfer from the transfer pad to the lens. The radius of curvature of the convexly curved top surface of each lens mount is slightly smaller than the radius of curvature of the base curve of a soaked lens placed on the lens mount to facilitate shrinking-on of the back surface of the soaked lens onto the top surface of the lens mount.

Abstract: A method for tinting contact lenses which comprises the following steps: providing contact lenses, at least one transfer-pad printer, including a suitable ink of the desired tint, and at least one printing block carrying an iris pattern, attaching the contact lenses to lens mounts, aligning the mounted lens with the pad of the transfer-pad printer, inking the printing block, causing the pad to pick up the iris pattern from the inked block, and causing the pad to make contact with the mounted lens, thereby transferring the iris pattern as picked up from the block to the mounted contact lens. A system for tinting contact lenses is also provided.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for belt transfer printing of nonflat surfaces of porous articles wherein the printing of the article by a first region of the belt is carried out substantially simultaneously with the inking of a second region of the belt. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus comprises an endless belt with a screen printing device disposed along a first run of the belt and a vacuum workpiece support box disposed along a second run of the belt with an opposed sealing frame. A workpiece is loaded in the vacuum box, a vacuum is created through the workpiece to draw a pattern carrying region into printing contact with the workpiece surface while another pattern is being inked onto a second region of the belt. The workpiece is replaced with a second workpiece and the second region of the belt is advanced into registration with the second workpiece.

Abstract: A programmable printing system for product marking applications is described in which a printing member is carried by an articulated mechanical arm, such as a robot arm. Due to the enhanced maneuverability and reach of the articulated arm, printing can be carried out on surfaces which would not be accessible to conventional types of conveyor-mounted product marking devices. The articulated arm is controlled by a programmable control means which can be reprogrammed as needed in order to print on objects having different sizes, shapes and orientations, or to print at more than one location on the same object. The apparatus finds particular utility in connection with pad transfer printing, including multicolor pad transfer printing, but is also applicable to other printing methods.

Abstract: In a printing mechanism for producing an impression on a surface of material to be printed lying in a printing plane, a first element is provided which is mounted on the machine frame so as to be rotatable about a first axis of rotation and is driven in a clock-timed manner and which comprises at least one print transfer surface on at least one surface area. In addition, a second element is provided which is mounted on the machine frame so as to be rotatable about a second axis of rotation extending parallel to the first and is likewise driven in a clock-timed manner and which comprises at least one printing plate constantly provided with printing ink on at least one surface area facing the first element. The two elements are movable relative to one other between an operative position, in which the print transfer surface bears against a printing plate, and a rest position, in which the print transfer surface is at a distance from the printing plate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a multi-purpose transfer printing apparatus comprising a stand, a main body and an upper portion to form a U-shaped frame. The stand is provided at the front with a conveyor and at the rear with an ink container seat, the upper portion being furnished with a front suspension arm which can be moved horizontally and vertically by a gas pneumatic cylinder and a rear suspension arm which can only be moved horizontally by a pneumatic cylinder. A plurality of ink containers each having a L-shaped member are arranged to dovetail into the ink container seat, and a plurality of silicon rubber heads respectively corresponding to the ink containers are arranged to dovetail into the front suspension arm. A plurality of blade seats respectively corresponding to the ink containers are arranged to dovetail into the rear suspension arm.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for high-speed tampon printing with tampons, printing blocks, and workpiece holders for the workpieces to be printed, where the workpieces are placed and held in the workpiece holders and where the tampons alternately receive printing images from the inked printing blocks and transfer them to the workpieces.

Abstract: Apparatus for marking continuously moving objects, wherein the marking device is caused to move during the marking process. The marking device may comprise a die guided to enable its movement with the object to a determined displacement, or, alternatively, the die may be externally controlled to move, through a given displacement, at the speed of the object.

Abstract: A dabber printing machine for printing of workpieces with printing ink wherein a dabber-holder is fastened from below to a first and second vertical carriage (6, 6'). The dabber-holders run parallel to one another. In each case, in one extreme position of the horizontal carriage (7), with which both vertical carriages (6, 6') are connected, the vertical carriages (6, 6') are pressed downward by two levers (14) of a pair of gear units (12). In the other extreme position, such are pressed downward by the levers (14) of the other pair of gear units (12). Thus, the dabber-holders with the dabbers jointly and simultaneously make vertical and horizontal movements in the form of an inverted U. A step of operation of the transfer element from printing station to printing station optically occurs upon every or every other horizontal movement. Thus, indexing of the workpieces to be printed is simplified and the efficiency of the printing machine is doubled.

Abstract: A stamping machine comprises at least one imprinting station of the gilding press type, wherein two shells mounted movably relative to one another are intended to mutually enclose at least the portion to be imprinted of the article to be imprinted, so as to apply to this latter a foil suitable for the impression desired. Both the shells are mounted movably relative to the machine frame in synchronism and opposed to one another, said shells being subject to the same control means which acts on one of them by way of transmission means suitable for reversal of movement. The machine is particularly applicable to the imprinting of articles with a neck, such as bottles.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for applying permanent indicia, such as numbers representing calendar dates, on surface portions of plastic containers, such as containers for holding milk. The apparatus includes a heated die and an inked web mounted on a support plate in positions to cause the indicia-forming elements on the die to engage and force a portion of the web into intimate contact with a flat surface portion of a container. The die effectively brands the container and the ink on the web portion is transferred into the branded portion of the container to render the branded portion readily observable. The containers are moved incrementally past the die and web portion by a conveyor. A container holding device is mounted in a fixed location on the opposite side of the conveyor aligned with the die so that each container is held against lateral movement as the die forces the web portion into contact with the surface of the container to be branded.

Abstract: A printing apparatus is disclosed wherein rocking motion of a movably mounted inking roll assembly is controlled by a cam and follower arrangement coupled to the drive system for a pivoting printing member. The cam and follower arrangement allows coordinated movement of the printing member and inking roll assembly to be obtained in a simple manner and without employing separate drive means for rocking the inking roll assembly. The cam contour is advantageously chosen so that the inking roll is moved gradually toward and then away from the pivot axis of the printing member as the line of contact between the printing element and the inking roll progresses from the leading edge of the printing element to the trailing edge. Such movement of the inking roll maintains uniform tangential contact between the inking roll and the entire surface of a flat printing element as the latter is moved in an arcuate path by the printing member.

Abstract: Apparatus for marking livestock and other articles includes a pivoted support structure for a marking head. The support structure contacts the animal and adjusts the marking head position appropriately for marking the animal. An electrical switch detects the presence of the livestock within the support structure, formed as a hood for contacting the animal to be marked, and activates a number of solenoids, in a predetermined sequence, for marking the animal. The marking control circuitry includes solenoids for inking the marking head and for reinking the inking pad. A control is provided for adjusting the number of times an animal is to be marked in a pass through the apparatus.

Abstract: An industrial robot having an arm formed as a hollow joint-free tube which is oval in cross section and made from a material that will provide structural rigidity to enable the arm to support a work tool and provide controlled bending thereof when the hollow interior of the tube is subjected to a variation in pressure.

Abstract: An article marking apparatus of the reciprocable impact type wherein an imprinting head is driven from a rest condition sealably engaged with an inking cartridge assembly through a 90.degree. rotation to impact upon the surface of a passing article whereby to imprint indicia information thereon represented by printing type font carried by said imprinting head. The imprinting head is pivotally coupled to a pneumatic drive device by a linkage assembly including a drive link. The imprinting head mounts a shaft having freely rotatable bushings at its opposite ends. Opposite cam slots are provided formed in the housing for receipt of the bushings for guilding the imprinting head along a predetermined path for translating said head through an imprinting stroke and return while the head is rotated at constant angular rotational accelleration. The peak of the rate of angular rotation of the head occurs midway in the stroke with the head assuming a motion to the terminus.

Abstract: An offset marking system includes a marking wheel depending from an indexing motor adjacent to a window in a tube that carries components to be marked. A print wheel is rotatably mounted in a bearing. The indexing motor and bearing are slidably mounted on supports between a spring and a motor-operated cam. A rotating ink roller conveys ink from an ink reservoir to the print wheel. As an alternative to the motor-operated cams, a solenoid-operated level pivoted about an axis in the plane of the print wheel and marking wheel selectively moves the print wheel and marking wheel apart and together by acting on the bearing and indexing motor.

Abstract: A data printer prints alphanumeric information on photographic slide mounts. Data printer includes a platform and a pair of parallel guide rails which define a slide track along which slide mounts are advanced. The platform has a printing aperture through which a print head prints alphanumeric characters onto a bottom surface of the slide mount positioned at the printing station. A pair of generally parallel conveyor belts are positioned above the platform and extend along the slide track so that a slide mount at the print station is held between the lower runs of the belt and the platform. An eject motor is actuated when the final slide mount of a customer order has been printed. The eject motor drives the conveyor belt and drives the slide mount out of the printing station and into a slide mount collecting basket. An adjustable platen is also positioned above the slide track over the printing aperture to limit upward deflection of the slide mount during printing on the bottom surfaces of the slide mount.

Abstract: A ribbon dater which has, improved structure: (a) to quickly reverse the direction of movement of the ribbon so that the same can be re-run thru the printer; (b) to quickly reverse the direction of movement of the ribbon and at the same time provide for a different half of the ribbon to effect the printing; (c) to initiate the printing operation; and (d) to increase printing efficiency but that the type, the ribbon and the part to be printed are all held fixed and printing effected by a movable striker.

Abstract: A marking apparatus is for marking at least one plastics encapsulated semiconductor device with marking-obstructive substances thereon. The marking apparatus comprises a conveying mechanism for conveying the semiconductor device, a pretreatment mechanism for removing the marking-obstructive substances on the semiconductor device conveyed thereto by the conveying mechanism, a stamping mechanism for stamping a mark on the semiconductor device removed of the marking-obstructive substances by the pretreatment mechanism and transferred thereto by the conveying mechanism, and a fixing mechanism for fixing the mark stamped on the semiconductor device transferred thereto by the conveying mechanism.

Abstract: A data printing apparatus for printing alphanumeric information on photographic slide mounts includes a slide track along which the photographic slide mounts are advanced. When the slide mount is positioned at a printing station along the slide track, a movable print head prints alphanumeric characters on the slide mount. The print head is carried on a carriage, which in turn is movable on a carriage track. The carriage track is aligned in a plane parallel to a plane defined by the slide track and runs in a generally transverse direction to the slide track, so that the print head moves transversely to the longitudinal direction of the slide track as a carriage drive moves the carriage on the carriage track.

Abstract: An automatic cassette stacking apparatus has first and second three-sided chutes connected to a stacker chute. A cassette to be stacked is moved through the first three-sided chute and can be stamped with a date. The cassette then moves through the second three-sided chute where it is selectively oriented. The cassette from the second chute is then placed on the bottom of a stack of cassettes in the stack chute.

Abstract: An article marking apparatus of the reciprocable impact type wherein an imprinting head is driven from a rest condition in sealed engagement with an inking cartridge through a ninety degree rotation to impact upon the surface of a passing article whereby to imprint indicia information thereon by means of printing type carried by said imprinting head. The imprinting head is an integral part of a carrier or shuttle device pivotally coupled to a pneumatic drive device by a folding linkage including a drive link supplemented by an idler coupled between the shuttle and the carrier. A guide member is provided in intercepting relation to the shuttle to maintain the shuttle along a preferred path toward a straight line vertical orientation aligned with a window through which the imprint is effected. The inking cartridge is removably mounted within said marking apparatus to intercept the imprinting head carried by said shuttle.

Abstract: A principal object of the invention is to provide an improved marking apparatus capable of clearly marking desired information at the same relative location on a succession of rapidly-moving, heat-sensitive articles. Prior art marking devices employing heated printing heads presented problems when employed to mark in this manner. These problems became accute where the printing extended over any significant distance in the direction of travel.The apparatus, shown generally as 10 in FIG. 1 is of the type comprising an electrically-heated marking head 12, a backup means 14 positioned opposite the marking head, and means 16 for reciprocating the marking head between a withdrawn position and a marking position adjacent to said backup means. A specific improvement according to the invention is the imparting elliptical motion of the printing head which enables contact times sufficient for clear marking at linear rates of greater than 1500 inches per minute.

Abstract: An apparatus for stamping indicia on workpieces moving in a path, in a combination which comprises a rail extending along but spaced from the path of workpieces movement, and a stamping unit which is movable along this rail to and from a rest position adjacent an end portion of the rail, and which includes a housing having a lower part which is movable transversely to the workpiece movement path. Cam and follower means are provided for biasing the lower part against a workpiece moving in the path, and an inking box adjacent the end portion of the rail is so positioned so as to be in tight engagement with the housing of the stamping unit when the unit is in its rest position, so as to be protected against ink evaporation and entry of contaminants.

Abstract: An alignment apparatus is provided for a serigraphic printing machine to align the objects to be printed on with the printing panels assuring alignment of the different colors applied at the several printing stations. The objects to be printed on are carried by supports which have a centering plate thereon and are pivoted around a pin opposite the centering plate. Each printing station is provided with a centering pin in registration with the printing panel at each station. Each centering pin is engaged into a slot of the centering plate to align the support and the object with the printing panel when printing is to occur. All of the centering pins are fixed along a rotatable rod adjacent the printing stations which is rotated by a hydraulic piston to engage the centering pins into their respective centering plate slots.

Abstract: An improved machine for automatically applying transfers such as tax stamps to multiple packages contained in a carton is disclosed. The machine comprises a conveyor for advancing a carton through an opening station, where it is opened to expose the packages therein, through a stamping station, where tax stamps in the form of heat or water transfers or ink printing are applied to each of the packages by a movable platen, and through a closing station where the carton is closed and resealed. The machine is adjustable to accommodate a variety of carton and package sizes and to apply the transfers to a selected part of each package in the carton accurately, while using stock transfer sheets on which the transfers are mounted with a predetermined spacing that does not necessarily correspond to the spacing of packages within the carton.

Abstract: A high speed unit printer comprising an intermittently rotating ink disc having a substantially horizontal surface on which a supply of ink is deposited. A collecting blade continuously directs the ink into a narrow stream near the periphery of the disc. An adjustable metering blade continuously spreads the ink stream from the collecting blade into a band of uniform thickness. An inking pad and a transfer pad are mounted on a common slide assembly which reciprocates to transfer ink from the disc to an adjacent plate or type, and an image from the plate or type to the article to be printed. The slide assembly is mounted on a pivotally mounted slide arm assembly which is raised during reciprocating movement of the slide assembly by a rotating cam.

Abstract: A stamping device especially for heavy products such as rolled goods which, when being transported, are stamped on a roller train equipped with a guiding device. The guiding device comprises a feeler device and an aligning device connected to the feeler device, a stamping head being connected to the aligning device.

Abstract: A multicolor printing apparatus for automatically screen printing cut piece textile goods and finished garments in diverse colors having a plurality of printing machines, each printing machine operatively positioned at a station about a turntable which is rotated by an indexer to successively present each platen on the turntable at each station. After being indexed at a particular station the turntable is locked into a registered position for the duration of the printing cycle, after which the locking bar is disengaged allowing the indexer to rotate the turntable and the platens to the next station.

Abstract: Apparatus for filling, capping and dating thin-walled plastic milk bottles. The date is embossed into the caps just before they are applied to the filled bottles while they are retained in indexed position by a special ratchet-pawl arrangement. The caps are screwed on by a rotating chuck having jaws that engage only a portion of the periphery of the cap. There is a lost-motion connection between the chuck and its spindle.

Abstract: A pivotally mounted starwheel is selectively positioned to sequentially engage a series of containers such as beer cans freely mounted on a moving conveyor bed. The starwheel rotates in response to a predetermined number of containers operatively applying pressure thereto and rotates an inter-connected supporting wheel providing a series of radially and circumferentially spaced printing units which sequentially engage an inking wheel and the containers for applying a mark thereto. The inking wheel is coupled through a transmission and drive wheel to the supporting wheel and rotates in synchronism with the starwheel. The ink source includes plural ink retainers inter-connected by a gravity feed and cooperates with a pair of ink transfer wheels. Each of the printing units is cam operated and includes a pair of oppositely biased pistons which compensate for variances in container height.

Abstract: An improved bag closure imprinter is substituted for the various styles of printing devices heretofore associated with the closure applying system of the Kwik Log Bag Closing Machine, (No. 1081) shown basically in U.S. Pat. No. 3,163,972, issued Jan. 5, 1965.The new cold tape ink bag closure imprinter is fixed on top of the tower-like frame of the bag closing system and becomes an integral part of the bag closing machine. Although having its own drive motor and clutch, the printer is individually cycled successively at a given point in each cycle of the closing system so as to fully coordinate both departments of the machine.

Abstract: Printing apparatus especially useful for printing on the generally horizontal upper surface of the upper uninflated bag of a stack of generally flat, uninflated bags, while an inflated bag is positioned thereabove at the top of the stack for subsequently receiving a product therein.It includes a print head having a print face, preferably horizontally positioned, and print head carrier means for moving the print head from an inoperative position to a remote printing position along a curved path, its motion being initially away from the inoperative position, preferably in a generally horizontal direction, and finally toward the printing position in a generally perpendicular, preferably vertical, direction to the upper surface of the upper, uninflated bag for printing its upper surface.There may be included bag deflecting means for deflecting the inflated bag from the printing position to expose at least a portion of the upper surface of the upper, uninflated bag for printing thereon.

Abstract: A method and device for imprinting indicia on a product bag in cooperation with a product bagging machine in which the imprinting operation does not hinder or interfere with an accelerated packaging operation, including the steps of first continuously moving products to be bagged along a conveying surface in a spaced and generally aligned end-to-end relationship, second inflating a product bag by an air jet in order to receive the product, third prior to filling the inflated bag shifting it laterally into contact with a printer head of an imprinter device which is disposed off to the side of the moving stream of aligned and spaced products, and fourth imprinting the inflated bag during the interval of time that the space between adjacent moving products is adjoining the imprinter device.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for applying ultraviolet light reactive ink to several surfaces of egg cartons, and for rapidly drying the ink thereon by ultraviolet light so that the cartons can be immediately stacked and without subjecting the articles to heat damage during drying. A conveyor moves the unfolded egg cartons along a predetermined path at a selected predetermined rate of speed. Printing means apply ink to the cartons. Heat-emitting ultraviolet lamps dry the ink. Fluid motors move the lamps between a position close to the cartons and a position away from the cartons. A control responsive to the rate of speed of carton movement maintains the lamps in the close position to dry the ink when the cartons move at the predetermined rate of speed and move the lamps away from the cartons to continue the ink drying but to prevent heat damage when carton speed decreases. In one embodiment, a single drying unit is located downstream of several printing stations.

Abstract: A rotatable anvil is capable of being rotated from a rest position to engage the interior of each empty box moved on a conveyor in sequence adjacent a blank area on a selected side panel of the empty box adjacent a leading side panel perpendicular to the selected side panel to place the anvil and the empty boxes in a printing position. A printer is disposed at the printing position and adjacent the exterior of the empty boxes moved into the printing position. A control arrangement is provided to control the rotation of the anvil from the rest position to the printing position and back to the rest position and to actuate the printer when the anvil is in the printing position to print the unit price, date, total price and the like in the blank area of the empty boxes moved into the printing position.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing a hollow article from a mandrel is disclosed. The apparatus features an engaging member for contacting the hollow article and an assembly for bringing the engaging member from close proximity to the article into contact with the article and for applying a force through the engaging member to the article so as to remove it from the mandrel. The assembly includes a pivoted rod and a slidable collar mounted thereon, the collar being attached to the engaging member. Motion of the collar up and down the rod is achieved by a reciprocating power cylinder which communicates with the slidable collar by means of a slotted arm. The slotted arm is movably connected to the collar by means of a pin mounted on the collar. Not only does the follower pin slide within the slot of the arm, it also is slidable within a track defined in a plate which is adjacent to the rod.

Abstract: A marking device comprises a base affixable to a frame of a continuous processing machine, said base having paired guides thereon and slide blocks slidable on said guides and means including an air operated solenoid valved plunger carried by the guides, and self-contained self-inked printing head mounted on the end of the plunger to print on products passing through the processing machine. The position of the slides and the printing head is adjustable so that the contact pressure of the printing head against the article to be imprinted may be adjusted to provide proper printing contact between the printing head and the object to be printed.

Abstract: A depository for receiving, imprinting and storing deposited articles of varying thickness including a housing having a slot in the front thereof through which articles of variable thickness are inserted, a vault also located within the housing into which articles inserted through the housing slot are ultimately transferred for storage, and a movable tube for temporarily storing an article inserted therein through the housing slot while the same is imprinted with a date of deposit or the like and thereafter transferring the imprinted article to the vault.

Abstract: An apparatus for cold branding of vulcanized tires wherein an endless conveyor is suspended from a support frame having a plurality of stations located along the closed path of the conveyor. A plurality of branding machines are mounted on the conveyor for movement therewith along the endless path of the conveyor. The conveyor means and branding machines are moved intermittently along the closed path stopping at the stations for a predetermined time interval to provide unloading and loading of tires therefrom with the cold branding being done during the movement of the tires between the stations. Heating is provided to the branding machines for heating the branding heads for branding the sidewalls of a tire carried by the branding machines.