U.S. patent number 3,757,919 [Application Number 05/182,961] was granted by the patent office on 1973-09-11 for embossing tool tape cut-off mechanism.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Dymo Industries, Inc.. Invention is credited to Dane Harald Pedersen.
United States Patent |
3,757,919 |
Pedersen |
September 11, 1973 |
EMBOSSING TOOL TAPE CUT-OFF MECHANISM
Abstract
A cut-off mechanism incorporated in an embossing tool for
applying indicia on a strip of tape-like material and effecting
cut-off of the embossed strip to form a label, which mechanism
facilitates a relatively simple, low-cost design of the overall
tool. The mechanism features a strip cut-off knife and vertically
opposed depressible anvil which are carried by a rotatable
embossing die wheel mounted upon the tool body. The knife and anvil
are selectively positionable upon rotation of the die wheel to
locations upwardly and downwardly disposed relative to a central
opening of a transverse tape guide channel formed in a bridge
member secured to the body so as to be on opposite sides of a tape
fed through the channel. An underlying spring loaded depressible
handle pivotally secured to the forward end of the body is provided
with an upstanding embossing stud which is aligned with the bridge
opening upon depression of the handle and urges the anvil upwardly
through the opening towards the knife to cut-off the tape in the
channel disposed therebetween. As a principal feature, the bridge
member includes a very narrow transversely extending ledge at one
longitudinal end of the channel opening to support the tape during
embossing and cut-off operations effected by the embossing stud
urging dies or the anvil upwardly through the opening. In addition,
the opposite ends of the anvil are closely inwardly spaced from the
opposite ends of the knife such that the anvil clears the ledge
during traversal of the opening. The tape is thereby cut in a
central transverse region closely spaced inwardly from the opposite
side edges thereof such that the very narrow uncut regions adjacent
the side edges still permit severance of the tape upon pulling of
same apart.
Inventors: |
Pedersen; Dane Harald
(Berkeley, CA) |
Assignee: |
Dymo Industries, Inc. (Alameda,
CA)
|
Family
ID: |
22670807 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/182,961 |
Filed: |
September 23, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
400/134.5;
400/621; 400/613 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B41J
3/39 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B41J
3/39 (20060101); B41J 3/00 (20060101); B41j
001/30 () |
Field of
Search: |
;197/6.7 ;101/18 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Burr; Edgar S.
Claims
I claim:
1. In an embossing tool having a body, a depressible actuating
handle disposed subjacent said body and pivotally secured to the
forward end thereof, and an embossing die wheel rotatably mounted
on said body having an upper disk member formed at its lower face
with a plurality of circumferentially spaced female dies and a
coaxially spaced lower disk member defined by a plurality of
circumferentially spaced radial upwardly depressible leaves
carrying male dies complementary to said female dies, said die
wheel being adapted to receive a strip of tape between said disks
at an embossing position of said body with the set of dies
selectively rotatably disposed at said embossing position being
actuatable responsive to depression of said handle and upwardly
urged movement of the leaf carrying the male die of said set by an
embossing stud projecting upwardly from said handle, the
combination comprising a bridge member secured to said body and
extending between said upper and lower disk members of said die
wheel, said bridge member having a channel for guiding said tape
through said body, said channel having an opening at said embossing
position for upward movement of the male die of the selected die
set therethrough, a downwardly facing radially extending cut-off
knife secured to said upper disk member at one end of the die
positions thereof, and an anvil carried by the leaf of said lower
disk member opposed to said knife for cut-off engagement therewith
upon upwardly urged movement of said anvil by said stud when said
knife and anvil are selectively positioned at said embossing
position by rotation of said die wheel, said anvil opposite ends
being inwardly spaced from the corresponding opposite ends of said
knife and the opposite edges of said tape by amounts relatively
small with respect to the transverse width of said tape and the
length of said knife, so that when said tape is engaged between
said anvil and said knife, said tape is centrally transversely cut
between points closely inwardly transversely spaced from the
opposite side edges thereof and very narrow uncut portions remain
at said side edges between said points and said opposite edges
respectively, said channel having a very narrow tape support ledge
extending along one edge of said opening longitudinally of said
channel, said knife having an upper shank portion with opposite
faces bevelled toward the knife major axis at one acute angle, and
having a lower tip portion with opposite faces bevelled toward said
knife major axis at a larger acute angle.
2. The combination of claim 1, further defined by said one acute
angle being of 7.degree. and said larger acute angle being of
15.degree..
3. The combination of claim 2, further defined by said ledge having
a width in a range of from about one thirty-second inch to about
three sixty-fourth inch, and the opposite ends of said anvil being
inwardly spaced from the opposite ends of said knife by amounts of
the order of the width of said ledge.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various embossing tools are known for selectively embossing indicia
upon a strip of tape-like material and cutting off the embossed
strip to provide a label. Typically, such a tool has included a
body having a depressible underlying spring loaded handle pivotally
secured to the forward end thereof, the handle having an upstanding
pawl and embossing stud for upward movement into the body upon
depression of the handle. The body is formed with a guide channel
for guiding embossing tape therethrough to an embossing position,
and a feed wheel is carried by the body with its periphery in the
guide channel to incrementally feed the tape therethrough
responsive to actuation of an associated ratchet wheel by the pawl
upon depression of the handle. An embossing die wheel is rotatably
mounted on the body, and such wheel has opposed sets of male and
female indicia dies with one die set being rigid and the other die
set being provided as depressible resilient radial leaves upwardly
movable into embossing engagement with the first die set of the
wheel. Upon rotation of the die wheel, opposed pairs of the dies of
the male and female sets are selectively disposed in alignment with
an opening of the tape guide channel on vertically opposed sides
thereof, which opening is disposed at the embossing position of the
body and is traversable by the embossing stud upon depression of
the handle. Consequently, the pair of dies selectively positioned
at the embossing position are disposed on opposite sides of a tape
fed through the guide channel, and upon depression the embossing
stud engages the depressible die to engage the tape between the die
pair and effect an embossing operation. The opening at the
embossing position is typically provided with a pair of opposed
side lengths to facilitate adequate support of the tape during the
embossing operation. In addition, the body has been heretofore
provided with a separate tape cut-off position, such cut-off
position typically including a transverse slot through the channel
into which a cut-off blade can be urged by mechanism associated
with the handle or a separate cut-off handle. Because of the
narrowness of the slot, good support of the tape is afforded in the
channel during the cut-off operation. It would of course be
advantageous from the standpoints of simplicity and economy of
design if the cut-off mechanism could be incorporated in the die
wheel and the cut-off operation be performed at the embossing
position of the body. However, problems are posed in this respect
in providing adequate support of the tape during the embossing and
cut-off operations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a cut-off mechanism for embossing
tools, and is more particularly directed to an improved cut-off
mechanism which is so arranged that the cut-off knife and anvil of
the mechanism may be readily incorporated in the die wheel of the
tool to effect cut-off at the embossing position thereof while
adequate support of the tape is provided during the embossing and
cut-off operations.
A general object of the present invention is to provide a tape
embossing tool having a cut-off knife incorporated in the die wheel
thereof whereby tape cut-off is accomplished at the tape embossing
position of the tool.
Another object of the invention is the provision of an embossing
tool of the class described having a transverse bridge member
defining a tape guide channel with a central opening for traversal
by a die and cut-off actuating member, the bridge member having a
very narrow ledge along one transversely extending side of the
opening for support of the tape during the embossing and cut-off
operations of the tool effected by the actuating member.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a tape cut-off
mechanism of the class outlined hereinbefore wherein the opposite
ends of the anvil are spaced inwardly from the opposite ends of the
cut-off knife in order to clear the support ledge of the bridge
opening upon upward depression of the anvil such that the tape is
centrally transversely severed to points very closely spaced to the
opposite side edges thereof, the very narrow uncut side portions of
the tape still permitting severance of the tape at the cut line
upon pulling of the leading end of the tape therefrom.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embossing tool embodying a
cut-off mechanism in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of the blade and anvil portion
of the cut-off mechanism depicting same in unactuated position
relative to a strip of tape-like material to be cut.
FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but depicting the blade and
anvil in actuated cut-off position relative to the tape.
FIG. 4 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of a preferred form of
the cut-off blade of the mechanism.
FIG. 5 is a plan view of a bridge member of the cut-off
mechanism.
FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken at line 6--6 of FIG. 5.
FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken at a diametric plane through an
embossing die wheel of the tool further depicting the blade and
anvil portion of the cut-off mechanism in unactuated position.
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 7, but
depicting the blade and anvil in actuated position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to FIG. 1 in detail, there is shown a tape embossing
tool 11 which includes a body 12 having an underlying spring loaded
actuating handle 13 pivotally secured to the forward end thereof.
Mounted upon the body 12, there is provided a selectively rotatable
embossing die wheel 14 having a relatively rigid upper disk member
16 formed at its lower face with a plurality of circumferentially
spaced indicia female dies 17 (see FIG. 7). The die wheel is
further provided with a lower disk member 18 defined by a plurality
of circumferentially spaced radial upwardly depressible leafs 19
which carry male dies 21 complementary to the female dies 17. The
male dies are thus engageable with the female dies upon upward
depression of the leafs 19. The upper and lower disk members 16 and
18 define a slot therebetween which is traversed by a transverse
bridge member 22 (see FIG. 5) secured to the body such that
rotatably selectable complementary female and male dies 17 and 21
straddle the bridge on the opposite sides thereof when the selected
dies are rotated into an embossing position, as generally indicated
at 23. More particularly, the bridge member is formed with a tape
guide channel 24 longitudinally thereof whereby the guide channel
extends transversely of the body to receive a strip of tape 26 from
a cartridge 27 laterally secured to the body 12 and transversely
guide the tape therethrough to the embossing position 23 whereat
the selected complementary female and male dies are on opposite
sides of the bridge member 22. Incremental feed of the tape 26
through channel 24 is accomplished in a generally conventional
manner by means of a feed wheel 28 (see FIG. 5) having a peripheral
portion extending into the channel and having an associated ratchet
wheel (not shown) actuatable by means of a pawl (not shown) carried
by handle 13 upon depression thereof. In addition, bridge member 22
is provided with an opening 29 centrally of guide channel 24 at the
embossing position 23 such that the selected dies 17 and 21 are
directly disposed on opposite sides of the tape 26 at the opening.
An embossing operation is then effected by upward depression of the
selected male die towards the complementary female die to thereby
engage the tape therebetween, which operation is effected by means
of an embossing stud (not shown) carried by handle 13 to upwardly
engage the selected depressible male die upon depression of the
handle and urge the male die upwardly through the channel opening
29 into embossing engagement with the tape.
Aside from the previously described embossing operation, it is also
necessary that the embossing tool 11 include provision for cutting
off the embossed tape in order to provide a tape label. Heretofore
the general practice has been to provide a tape cut-off position
separate from the embossing position and spaced therefrom in the
direction of tape feed through the guide channel. At the separate
cut-off position it has been the usual practice to provide a
cut-off knife selectively engageable with an anvil through a slot
formed in the tape guide channel upon actuation of the handle in a
selected position thereof, or actuation of a separate cut-off
handle. The slot, of course, provides adequate support of the tape
during the cut-off operation. However, the separate cut-off
position and associated cut-off mechanism actuating means lend
considerably to the complexity and expense of the overall embossing
tool.
In accordance with the particularly salient aspects of the present
invention a cut-off mechanism is provided which is arranged for
actuation at the embossing position 23 of tool 11 by the embossing
stud upon actuation of the handle 13, thereby resulting in a
relatively simple and inexpensive arrangement. More particularly,
the rigid upper disk member 16 of die wheel 14 is provided with a
downwardly facing radially extending cut-off knife 31 at one of the
selectable die positions thereof. When the wheel is rotated to
position the knife at the embossing position 23, such knife is
disposed transversely of the guide channel 24 in overlying relation
to opening 29. The lower disk member 18 of the die wheel is
provided with a leaf 19' formed with an anvil 32 in opposition to
the knife 31. At the embossing position 23, the anvil is thus
disposed subjacent channel opening 29 such that the tape 26 is
interposed between the knife and anvil thereat as best shown in
FIG. 2. When the handle 13 is depressed, the embossing stud
depresses the anvil upwardly through the channel opening to engage
the tape between the anvil and knife, as best shown in FIG. 3, and
thereby transversely cut off the tape.
The knife 31 is preferably of a double bevelled configuration as
shown in FIG. 4. In this regard, the shank portion of the knife
which is embedded in the disk member 16 is best bevelled at an
angle of the order of 7.degree. while the tip portion of the shank
is bevelled from the shank at an angle of the order of
15.degree..
It will be appreciated that it is necessary to provide adequate
support of the tape 26 at the channel opening 29 during the
embossing and cut-off operations. Accordingly, as an important
feature of the present invention the forward edge of the opening is
formed with a very narrow support ledge 33 as shown in FIGS. 5 and
6. The ledge width is preferably in a range from about one
thirty-second inch to about three sixty-fourth inch. In order to
clear the ledge while still effecting a clean cut-off action with
knife 31, the opposite ends of the anvil 32 are inwardly spaced
from the opposite ends of the knife and the edges of the tape by a
very small amount of the order of the width of ledge 33, as best
shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. Thus, when the tape is engaged between the
anvil and knife as shown in FIG. 8, the tape is centrally
transversely cut to points closely inwardly spaced from the
opposite side edges thereof and very narrow uncut portions 34
remain at the side edges of the order of the width of the support
ledge 33. By virtue of the minuteness of the uncut side portions of
the tape, complete severance is still readily effected upon pulling
the leading end of the tape away from the trailing end thereof.
* * * * *