Embossing drive mechanism for an automatic embossing system

A drive mechanism for selectively actuating one of a plurality of associated pairs of first and second embossing elements, said plurality of associated pairs of first and second embossing elements carried by first and second embossing element carriers, said apparatus for embossing a document positioned between the selected one of the plurality of associated pairs of first and second embossing elements, comprising:

• a cam;
• means for driving said cam in constant rotation;
• first and second bail arms mounted for pivotal movement in a plane transverse to said first and second embossing element carriers;
• first and second cam followers, mounted on said first and second bail arms, respectively, and biased in rolling contact with said cam and driven by rotation of said cam for in turn driving said first and second bail arms in complementary oscillatory movement;
• first interposer means adjustably mounted on said first bail arm and selectively actuable to be disposed between said first bail arm and the selected first embossing element;
• and
• second interposer means adjustably mounted on said second bail arm and selectively actuable to be disposed between said second bail arm and the selected second embossing element;
• said first and second interposer means driving the selected pair of first and second embossing elements into and out of engagement with the document for embossing the document in response to the complementary oscillatory movement of said first and second bail arms, said first and second interposer means being adjustable relative to said first and second bail arms, respectively, to achieve a desired embossing height on the document.

A drive mechanism for selectively actuating one of a plurality of die elements carried by a die wheel and one of a plurality of punch elements carried by a punch wheel to emboss a document positioned between the selected punch and die elements, comprising:

• a cam;
• means for driving said cam in constant rotation;
• a first bail arm mounted for pivotal movement in a plane transverse to the die wheel;
• a second bail arm mounted for pivotal movement in a plane transverse to the punch wheel;
• first and second cam followers, mounted on said first and second bail arms, respectively, said first and second cam followers biased in rolling contact with said cam and driven by rotation of said cam for in turn driving said first and second bail arms in complementary oscillatory movement;
• first interposer means adjustably mounted on said first bail arm and selectively actuable to be disposed between said first bail arm and the selected die element;
• second interposer means adjustably mounted on said second bail arm and selectively actuable to be disposed between said second bail arm and the selected punch element;
• said first and second interposer means driving the selected die and punch elements, respectively, into and out of engagement with the document for embossing the document in response to the complementary oscillatory movement of said first and second bail arms, said first and second interposer means being adjustable relative to said first and second bail arms, respectively, to achieve a desired embossing height on the document.