Abstract: A process for printing an image on the surface of an article. The process provides a thixotropic thermal curable ink in a recess of a printing plate which is a facsimile of the image to be printed on the article. The ink is adapted to adhere to the printing plate upon contact therewith. The ink is adapted to conform to the facsimile of the image formed in the recess of said printing plate upon application stress to the ink.

Abstract: A machine for marking idicia on small articles of manufacture by means of a laser. Strips of articles in the form of small relatively flat rectangular plate like members are held together in side by side relation in a common plane in plate like frames. The strips are stacked in magazines. The machine has an indexing turret with eight magazine supporting stations, a diametrically disposed conveyor. The full magazines of unmarked parts are loaded onto the machine at one station at the front of the machine by an operator. The full magazines of unmarked parts are then indexed to an unloading station where the lead frames are automatically unloaded from the magazine onto the conveyor where they are transferred past a laser marking station to an unloading station. The laser marker marks an indicia onto each article and the conveyor moves the lead frames to the loading station, where the stacks are reloaded onto an empty magazine.

Abstract: A machine for marking articles of manufacture such as electronic components is disclosed. The machine has a plate like frame disclosed generally in a vertical plane. The articles to be marked are supported on a backing strip and a cover strip is attached to the backing strip. The strip assembly is wound on a feed roll supported on the machine and as the strip assembly unwinds from the feed roll the backing strip and components are separated from the cover strip by two spaced rolls. The cover strip then passes around another idler roll to the take-up roll. The backing strip and components pass under a dancer roll and then under a laser where they are marked, then under another dancer roll back to the cover strip where the backing strip and cover strip are joined and re-rolled on a take-up roll.

Abstract: Applicant has provided a hopper feed mechanism used to feed articles into other process equipment. The operator feeds the articles into the hopper. Upon actuation, a shuttle blade conveys an article out of the hopper and under a feedwheel. The shuttle blade is movably supported to the fixed frame of the mechanism, and is powered by an air cylinder. The feedwheel is lifted as the article is propeled under the feedwheel and is lowered to feed the article into other process equipment.

Abstract: A strip stacker for stacking in parallel planes, plate like strips of electronic components. The machine has a trap door onto which the plate like strips are placed in succession. Each time a strip is placed on the trap door its position is sensed by an electronic eye which actuates a motor to swing the trap door down allowing the strip to fall down a slide with its lower edge into a tray. A compacter bar is slideably supported in the tray and two locating pins project into the tray to hold the strips already stacked in position as the compacter bar retracts. Each time a strip falls from the trap door the compacter bar is retracted, the pins retract, and the compacter bar extends forcing the strip against the end until the fallen strip is in position behind the locating pins and pushing the tray down the slides. The locating pins extend holding the last strip against its predecessors. When the tray is full it will be at its lower extreme position and will be removed.

Abstract: The system disclosed herein is a high speed method and apparatus for presenting parts to a laser beam for marking the parts. The apparatus is capable of feeding at adjustable rates, various sizes and configuration of parts in strip form such as electronic component, a die cut strip or on lead frames.