U.S. patent number 3,584,571 [Application Number 04/663,399] was granted by the patent office on 1971-06-15 for character generation marking device.
This patent grant is currently assigned to The Pannier Corporation. Invention is credited to Ronald H. Schmoll.
United States Patent |
3,584,571 |
Schmoll |
June 15, 1971 |
CHARACTER GENERATION MARKING DEVICE
Abstract
A method of and apparatus for character generation marking
wherein a plurality of liquid spray nozzles, each adapted to spray
a line segment on the object to be marked, are cooperatively
arranged with respect to one another to spray a segmented character
on the object when they are selectively actuated. An electrical
character selection circuit is provided to selectively actuate the
desired combination of nozzles to generate the corresponding
segmented character.
Inventors: |
Schmoll; Ronald H. (Broadview
Heights, OH) |
Assignee: |
The Pannier Corporation
(N/A)
|
Family
ID: |
24661639 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/663,399 |
Filed: |
August 25, 1967 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
347/54; 101/114;
101/366; 118/315; 347/21; 347/12; 347/83 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B41J
2/01 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B41J
2/01 (20060101); B41f 003/02 (); G01d 015/18 () |
Field of
Search: |
;101/1,426,93R,93C,114,109,350,365,366 ;197/1 ;346/75,74,76
;118/315,313,314 ;117/37,38 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Penn; William B.
Claims
I claim:
1. A character generation marking device comprising a plurality of
liquid spray nozzles each adapted to spray a line segment on an
object to be marked, mounting means supporting said nozzles in a
predetermined arrangement to permit the sprayed line segments from
a combination of said nozzles to produce a desired character,
marking fluid supply means connected with said nozzles to supply
marking fluid thereto for spraying said line segments, and valve
means to selectively actuate desired combinations of said nozzles,
said valve means including a separate solenoid for each of said
nozzles to independently actuate the same, a closed loop series
electric circuit including a power source and a switch and a
character selection network consisting of a parallel connection of
subnetworks equal in number to the number of said solenoids and
each including a series connection of one of said solenoids and a
switch, said switch consisting of a semiconductor controlled
rectifier with associated circuit means to switch said rectifier on
for a predetermined period.
2. A character generation marking device comprising a plurality of
liquid spray nozzles each adapted to spray a line segment on an
object to be marked, mounting means supporting said nozzles in a
predetermined arrangement to permit the sprayed line segments from
a combination of said nozzles to produce a desired character,
marking fluid supply means connected with said nozzles to supply
marking fluid thereto for spraying said line segments, and valve
means to selectively actuate desired combinations of said nozzles,
said valve means including a separate solenoid for each of said
nozzles to independently actuate the same, a closed loop series
electric circuit including a power source and a switch and a
character selection network consisting of a parallel connection of
subnetworks equal in number to the number of said solenoids and
each including a series connection of one of said solenoids and a
switch, said subnetwork switches consisting of ganged rotary
switches each having a number of switch positions equal to the
number of characters to be generated, said switch positions of each
of said rotary switches being selectively connected with its
respective solenoid to successively generate a different character
with each ganged switch position.
3. A character generation marking device comprising a plurality of
liquid spray nozzles each adapted to spray a line segment on an
object to be marked, mounting means supporting said nozzles in a
predetermined arrangement to permit the sprayed line segments from
a combination of said nozzles to produce a desired character,
marking fluid supply means connected with said nozzles to supply
marking fluid thereto for spraying said line segments, and valve
means to selectively actuate desired combinations of said nozzles,
said valve means including a separate solenoid for each of said
nozzles to independently actuate the same, a closed loop series
electric circuit including a power source and a switch and a
character selection network consisting of a parallel connection of
subnetworks equal in number to the number of said solenoids and
each including a series connection of one of said solenoids and a
switch, electromagnets respectively connected to independently
operate each of said subnetwork switches, each of said
electromagnets having one terminal end connected to one terminal of
a power source, a plurality of character selection switches equal
in number to the different characters to be generated and each
having one end connected to the other terminal of said power
source, each other end of each of said switches being connected to
an independent selection of the other terminal ends of said
electromagnets to generate the segmented character corresponding to
each of said character selection switches.
4. A character generation marking device comprising a plurality of
liquid spray distributors each having a spray nozzle adapted to
spray a line segment on an object to be marked, mounting means
supporting said nozzles in cooperative arrangement with respect to
one another to spray a segmented character master matrix on said
object when simultaneously activated, fluid supply means connected
with said distributors to supply marking fluid thereto,
electromagnetic valve means operably coupled with said distributors
to independently actuate the same, and electrical circuit means
connected with said valve means to actuate a predetermined
selection of said distributors, said fluid supply means comprising
a closed loop fluid series circuit including a marking fluid source
and a pump to provide a continuously recirculating marking fluid
feed to said distributors.
5. The character generation marking device of claim 4 characterized
in that said distributors are connected to parallel with one
another in said closed loop series circuit.
6. The character generation marking device of claim 4 wherein said
closed loop series circuit also includes a filter.
7. A character generation marking device comprising a plurality of
liquid spray distributors each having a spray nozzle adapted to
spray a line segment on an object to be marked, mounting means
supporting said nozzles in cooperative arrangement with respect to
one another to spray a segmented character master matrix on said
object when simultaneously activated, fluid supply means connected
with said distributors to supply marking fluid thereto,
electromagnetic valve means operably coupled with said distributors
to independently actuate the same, and electrical circuit means
connected with said valve means to actuate a predetermined
selection of said distributors, said distributors comprising
pneumatically operated spray guns, said valve means including a
pneumatic pressure source operably connected with each of said guns
and a solenoid operated pneumatic valve for each of said guns and
connected intermediate each of said guns and said pneumatic source
for independent actuation of said guns.
8. A character generation marking device comprising a plurality of
liquid spray distributors each having a spray nozzle adapted to
spray a line segment on an object to be marked, mounting means
supporting said nozzles in cooperative arrangement with respect to
one another to spray a segmented character master matrix on said
object when simultaneously activated, fluid supply means connected
with said distributors to supply marking fluid thereto,
electromagnetic valve means operably coupled with said distributors
to independently actuate the same, and electrical circuit means
connected with said valve means to actuate a predetermined
selection of said distributors, said electromagnetic valve means
including a separate solenoid for each of said distributors, said
circuit means comprising a closed loop series circuit including a
power source and a switch and a character selection network
consisting of a parallel connection of subnetworks equal in number
to the number of said solenoids and each including a series
connection of one of said solenoids and a switch, said switch
comprising a semiconductor controlled rectifier with associated
circuit means to switch said rectifier on for a predetermined
interval.
9. A character generation marking device comprising a plurality of
liquid spray distributors each having a spray nozzle adapted to
spray a line segment on an object to be marked, mounting means
supporting said nozzles in cooperative arrangement with respect to
one another to spray a segmented character master matrix on said
object when simultaneously activated, fluid supply means connected
with said distributors to supply marking fluid thereto,
electromagnetic valve means operably coupled with said distributors
to independently actuate the same, and electrical circuit means
connected with said valve means to actuate a predetermined
selection of said distributors, said electromagnetic valve means
including a separate solenoid for each of said distributors, said
circuit means comprising a closed loop series circuit including a
power source and a switch and a character selection network
consisting of a parallel connection of subnetworks equal in number
to the number of said solenoids and each including a series
connection of one of said solenoids and a switch, characterized in
that said subnetwork switches are ganged rotary switches each
having a number of switch positions equal to the number of
characters to be generated, said switch positions of each of said
rotary switches being selectively connected with its respective
solenoid to successively generate a different character with each
ganged switch position.
10. A character generation marking device comprising a plurality of
liquid spray distributors each having a spray nozzle adapted to
spray a line segment on an object to be marked, mounting means
supporting said nozzles in cooperative arrangement with respect to
one another to spray a segmented character master matrix on said
object when simultaneously activated, fluid supply means connected
with said distributors to supply marking fluid thereto,
electromagnetic valve means operably coupled with said distributors
to independently actuate the same, and electrical circuit means
connected with said valve means to actuate a predetermined
selection of said distributors, said electromagnetic valve means
including a separate solenoid for each of said distributors, said
circuit means comprising a closed loop series circuit including a
power source and a switch and a character selection network
consisting of a parallel connection of subnetworks equal in number
to the number of said solenoids and each including a series
connection of one of said solenoids and a switch, characterized in
that said subnetwork switches are operated by corresponding
electromagnets, each of said electromagnets having one terminal end
connected to one terminal of a power source, a plurality of
character selection switches equal in number to the different
characters to be generated and each having one end connected to the
other terminal of said power source, each other end of each of said
switches being connected to an independent selection of the other
terminal ends of said electromagnets to generate the segmented
character corresponding to each of said character selection
switches.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to the art of marking and more
specifically to character generation for the marking of objects
such as steel plate and the like.
In the present day practice of marking articles such as steel
plate, for identification and the like, a hand stencil operation is
employed which requires a precut stencil and hand painting. This is
a relatively slow process which involves considerable time and
expense.
In an attempt to reduce this required time, a circular stencil for
the generation of each identification digit has been employed.
However, this process merely increases the speed with which the
operator may substitute one hand stencil for another in forming the
identification mark. The operator is still required, however, to
hand paint or spray the character on the object.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The character generation marking as taught by the present invention
provides a selection or plurality of liquid spray nozzles each
adapted to spray a line segment on an object to be marked. The
nozzles are disposed in a predetermined arrangement to permit the
sprayed line segments from a selected combination of the nozzles to
produce any desired character. Marking fluid is supplied to each of
the nozzles which are selectively actuated to employ their
respective line segments in combination to generate a desired
character.
The nozzles are preferably and selectively actuated by an electric
valve means such as a series of independent electromagnetically
operated valves or switches which are in turn selectively energized
by a character selection circuit. For example, the nozzles may be
each a part of independent liquid spray guns or distributors which
are independently operated by corresponding solenoids which are
selectively energized by a character selection network.
The nozzles may be arranged such that their respective sprayed line
segments will form or produce a segmented character master matrix
if all the nozzles are simultaneously actuated. For example, if
digits are the desired characters to be generated, a square or
right angle figure or digit eight may be employed as the character
master matrix since all the other digits, namely, zero through
nine, may be produced or originated from the segmented square
figure eight by employing only those sprayed line segments of the
square figure eight necessary to generate the desired square or
right angle digit.
The character size and resolution may be varied according to the
distance that the nozzles are placed from the work and by the type
of nozzle employed.
The marking fluid supply to the distributors or nozzles is
preferably a continuously recirculating fluid supply. Such a fluid
supply may comprise a closed loop fluid series circuit including a
marking fluid source, such as an ink reservoir, a pump and the
spray distributors themselves. Thus a continuously recirculating
marking fluid feed is provided to the distributors or spray guns.
This prevents coagulating or settling of the particles and
hardening of the ink in the supply lines. The ink supply lines to
the different distributors may be connected in parallel with one
another requiring a single source of ink and one pump. The ink is
preferably filtered to remove particles or small coagulations found
in the continuously flowing ink supply lines.
The distributors may be pneumatically operated spray guns which are
individually valved or shut on or off by solenoid operated
pneumatic valves. A character selection circuit is connected with
the solenoid operated valves to preselect the desired combination
of distributors or spray guns to be activated. When the desired
character selection has been made a spray switch is depressed to
energize the corresponding solenoids.
The character selection circuit or circuit means preferably
comprises a closed loop series circuit including a power source and
a switch and a character selection network. The character selection
network consists of a parallel connection of subnetworks which are
equal in number to the number of the solenoids employed to activate
the spray guns which would be one solenoid for each distributor
employed. Each subnetwork includes a series connection of one of
the solenoids and a switch. Thus a character may be selected by
closing a predetermined selection of the switches. When the main
switch or spray switch is depressed only the preselected solenoids
will be activated and in turn their corresponding spray guns which
will generate the desired segmented character.
The spray switch may be a semiconductor controlled rectifier such
as a silicon controlled rectifier with associated circuit means to
switch the rectifier on and off for a timed interval.
The switches provided in the aforementioned subnetwork may be
ganged rotary switches which have a number of switch positions each
which are equal to the number of the characters to be generated or
characters which may be generated from the master matrix. The
switch positions found about each individual rotary switch are
selectively connected or not connected with the solenoid in its
subnetwork to successively generate a different character with each
ganged switch position.
This circuit means requires manual operation in selecting the
desired character; however, the circuit may be readily adapted to
accommodate automatic character selection. This is accomplished by
operating each of the subnetwork switches by corresponding
electromagnets. Each of the electromagnets have one terminal end
connected to one terminal of a power source such as a DC power
supply. A plurality of character selection switches which are equal
in number to the different characters which may be generated from
the character master matrix, are provided with one end connected to
the other terminal of the power source or supply. The other
terminal end or connection of each of the switches are each
connected to an independent selection of the open ends of the
electromagnets to generate the desired segmented character
corresponding to the character selection switch which is
selectively depressed. Thus the character selection switch may be
automatically selected and depressed by a computer tape reader for
example.
Other objects and advantages appear hereinafter in the following
description and claims.
The accompanying drawings show, for the purpose of exemplification
without limiting the invention or the claims thereto, certain
practical embodiments illustrating the principles of this invention
wherein:
FIG. 1 is a plan view of the ink distributors with their nozzles
placed in a predetermined master matrix character arrangement.
FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation of the distributor arrangement
shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a pictorial plan view illustrating a segmented character
master matrix which may be employed in the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the ink distributor system
illustrating an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the character selection circuit
which may be employed as one embodiment of the present
invention.
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the character selection circuit
illustrating another embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the distributors or
spray guns 1 are consecutively designated as guns A, B, C, D, E, F,
and G. Each of the guns 1 are pneumatically operated and provided
with air inlets 2 which are connected to a pneumatic pressure
source.
The distributors 1 are slidably mounted on mounting rods 3 in order
that the arrangement of the distributors may be changed as
desired.
The mounting rods 3 are grouped in pairs 4, 5 and 6. Each of these
mounting rod pairs may be slidably mounted to a frame such that
they may be slid apart from one another, or left and right as
appears in FIG. 1, to permit even more versatility in the
arrangement of the distributors 1 to make up a desired character
master matrix.
Locking screws or bolts 7 are provided on each distributor 1 and
extend therethrough to one of the mounting rods 3 to lock each of
the spray generators in position.
Each generator 1 has an ink inlet 10 and an ink outlet 11 to
provide continuous circulation of the marking fluid through the
distributors.
A nozzle 12 is provided for each spray gun along with nozzle
extensions 13 which permit the nozzles 12 to be grouped or arranged
in closer proximity than do the bulkier spray generators alone to
obtain touching line segments as sprayed by the nozzles.
The nozzle extensions 13 are coupled to the spray generators 1
through couplings 14. Couplings 14 are swivel couplings which
permit extensions 13 and nozzles 12 to be properly positioned. Each
of the nuts provided on the couplings 14 are then tightened to
maintain the nozzles 12 in position.
Similar couplings 15 are provided on each of the nozzles 12 to
permit individual positioning of the nozzles such that the sprayed
line segments adjoin one another to form the desired character
master matrix on the material to be marked which is designated
16.
The mounting rods 3 are mounted to a frame positioned over the work
16. This frame may be stationary if the work 16 is to be moved
under the spray generators for marking or the frame may be a driven
carriage which moves over the work 16 when the latter is
stationary.
The nozzles 12 spray the marking fluid in a fan shaped pattern as
indicated at 17 to provide a relatively thin line segment on the
material 16. This is illustrated by the spray segmented character
shown in FIG. 3.
The embodiments illustrated are set up for digital generation;
however, additional spray generators 1 may be added to the system
or taken away as required to provide a nozzle arrangement which
will generate any desired segmented character.
The digit master matrix shown in FIG. 3 is the numeral 8, from
which the numerals 0 through 9 may be composed or derived. Each of
the segments making up the FIG. 8 are alphabetically designated in
correspondence with their respective or corresponding spray
generator 1.
The desired character or digit may be generated by selecting the
proper combination of the generators 1 to be activated. For
example, to form the digit 0, the spray generators A, B, C, D and F
would be simultaneously activated. The digit 1 would be generated
by activating spray generators A and B. Thus any segmented digit
may be generated by activating its corresponding selection of spray
generators 1.
The schematic diagram of FIG. 4 illustrates the piping connections
for the marking fluid supply and the pneumatic pressure supplied to
the generators 1. The inlets 10 and outlets 11 of the spray
generators are connected in parallel by means of the inlet manifold
18 and outlet manifold 20. The inlet 21 of manifold 18 is connected
to filter 22 which is in turn connected to outlet 26 of pump
23.
The filter 22 serves to remove coagulations or particles from the
circulating marking fluid or ink. The outlet 24 of outlet manifold
20 is connected with hose or the like to the pump inlet 25.
The housing 27 contains the pump 23 and a marking fluid reservoir
to continuously supply marking fluid to the system.
This piping arrangement permits the marking fluid or ink to be
continuously recirculated through the generators 1 thus preventing
the ink from hardening in the pipes. The pump 23 is preferably of
the reciprocating piston type.
The pneumatic inlet connections 2 on each of the generators 1 are
connected respectively to the solenoid operated valves 28. The
solenoids operating the valves 28 are respectively designated A, B,
C, D, E, F, and G in correspondence with their respective spray
generators A through G. Thus the generators 1 are selectively
activated by activating a corresponding selection of solenoids A
through G.
The inlets of valves 28 are connected to a common high pressure
pneumatic source of approximately 100 pounds per square inch. When
valves 28 are in their open position, as determined by the
energization of their respective solenoids, the piping circuit from
the respective inlet 2 of the spray generator 1 to the pneumatic
source 30 is completed. When valves 28 are in their closed or off
position the pneumatic inlets 2 are open to the exterior atmosphere
to immediately exhaust the pneumatic pressure within the spray guns
1 upon deenergization of the solenoids A through G. Otherwise, the
distributors 1 would continue to distribute the marking fluid for a
short period after the valves 28 are closed.
The solenoids A through G which operate the valves 28 are
independently and selectively energized by means of a character
selection circuit such as shown in the schematic diagram of FIG.
5.
The circuit of FIG. 5 consists primarily of a closed loop series
circuit consisting of the DC power supply 30, the character
selection network 31 and the switch 32 which in this instance is a
semiconductor or silicon control rectifier with its associated
circuitry to switch the same on and off for timed intervals.
However, a simple switch will serve the same purpose but will not
provide the accurate and short timing given by the silicon
controlled rectifier and its associated circuitry.
The character selection circuit 31 consists of a parallel
connection of subnetworks, all of which are conductive loads. Each
subnetwork is a series circuit of one of the solenoids A through G,
one of the resistors R.sub.1 and one of the rotary digit selector
switches S.sub.A through S.sub.G. Rotary switches S.sub.A through
S.sub.G are ganged, 10-position switches. Each rotary switch
S.sub.A through S.sub.G has its respective 10 positions, which are
indicated by the digits 0 through 9 successively, selectively
connected or left unconnected to its respective resistor R.sub.1
and solenoid S.sub.A through S.sub.G. Thus each ganged switch
position 0 through 9 will generate its respective character or
digit when switch 32 is closed.
For example, when the ganged digit selector switch is positioned at
the 0 digit position as indicated in FIG. 5, rotary switch S.sub.A
is closed, S.sub.B is closed, S.sub.C is closed, S.sub.D is closed,
S.sub.E is closed, S.sub.F is closed, but S.sub.G remains open.
Thus by referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 it can be readily seen that the
segment G of the master matrix will be omitted when switch 32 is
closed as solenoid G and spray distributor G will not be
activated.
The SCR or switch 32 is turned on by applying a small positive
voltage spike to the gate G of the SCR. Resistors R.sub.2 and
R.sub.3 act as a voltage divider which supplies a small positive
voltage to capacitor C.sub.1 through the back contact of spray
switch 33 when it is in its closed position as shown in FIG. 5.
Thus capacitor C.sub.1 acquires a small positive charge which is
released to the gate G of SCR 32 when switch 33 is depressed to
close its front contacts.
When SCR 32 conducts, capacitor C.sub.2 acquires a positive charge
through resistor R.sub.4 and the normally closed or back contact
CR.sub.1A of relay CR.sub.1. Relay CR.sub.1 is activated from the
power supply 30 through the variable resistor or potentiometer
R.sub.5, blocking diode D.sub.1 and on through SCR 32 to the ground
terminal of power supply 30.
The time within which relay CR.sub.1 will open after SCR 32 begins
conduction is dependent upon the setting of the potentiometer
R.sub.5 by which the spray time may be varied from 10 milliseconds
to infinity.
After the time delay relay CR.sub.1 pulls in, the positive side of
charged capacitor C.sub.2 is referenced to ground and the cathode C
of SCR 32 through the now closed but normally open front contact
CR.sub.1B of CR.sub.1. Thus the cathode C of SCR 32 is driven
positive by the discharge of C.sub.2 with respect to its anode A
causing SCR 32 to turn off and in turn causing spray distributors 1
to stop.
Diode D.sub.2 is provided in the circuit parallel with the
inductive loads of said subnetworks consisting of the solenoids A
through G to protect the associated circuit elements from the back
or counter electromotive force produced by the inductive loads.
The circuit shown in FIG. 6 is substantially identical to that
shown in FIG. 5 with the exception that the character selection
switches S.sub.A through S.sub.G are electromagnetically operated
by means of relays CR.sub.A through CR.sub.G which are selectively
energized by the digit selector switches S.sub.0 through
S.sub.9.
For example, if one desires to generate the character figure eight,
switch S.sub.8 is closed simultaneously activating all of the
relays CR.sub.A through CR.sub.G which are connected in parallel
with one another. As another example, if the digit one is to be
generated, switch S.sub.1 is closed thereby energizing relays
CR.sub.A and CR.sub.B alone. Referring again to FIG. 3, it is
readily determined that segments A and B of the master matrix would
be generated thereby producing a segmented digit one.
Wherein the character selection circuit of FIG. 5 must be manually
operated, the character selection circuit of FIG. 6 is adapted to
automatic computer operation. The switches S.sub.0 through S.sub.9
may be independently and selectively actuated by a computer tape
read out machine to generate the digit or character corresponding
to the selected switch.
* * * * *