Automatic badge making machine

A machine for making badges from badge parts, said machine comprising:

• a ram movable away from a rest position on a working stroke;
• badge part forming die means mounted on said ram;
• a drive motor;
• a motor output shaft rotationally driven by said motor;
• drive coupling means interconnecting said output shaft and said ram for moving said ram in response to rotation of said output shaft;
• a control circuit connected between a power source and said motor for controlling the application of power to said motor;
• switch means in said control circuit for operating said motor alternatively in forward and reverse directions;
• load detecting means responsive to the load at said badge part forming die means;
• and
• means connected between said detecting means and said switch means for reversing the direction of operation of said motor in response to a predetermined detected load.

A machine for making badges from badge parts comprising:

• a housing;
• a work area defined by said housing accessible to a user of the machine;
• a badge part forming die set in said work area;
• motor drive means for forcing said die set together from a rest position in which said die set is parted;
• a track defined by said housing;
• a cover slidable in said track between a first position in which said work area is covered and a second position in which said work area is exposed;
• a control circuit for applying power to said motor drive means;
• and
• a switch in said track connected to said control circuit and engageable by said cover in said first position and spaced from said cover in said second position for disabling said control circuit when said cove is in said second position.

An automatic badge maker comprising:

• first and second relatively movable dies;
• drive means for relatively moving said first die in an operating cycle comprising a plurality of successive strokes toward and away from said second die to form a badge between facing surfaces of said dies, said drive means including electric motor means;
• safety cover means movable between an open position for permitting access to a work area around said dies and a closed position for enclosing said work area during an operating cycle to prevent injury to persons and/or objects in said work area;
• and
• safety means for preventing operation of said drive means whenever said safety cover means is in said open position, said safety means including a switch for supplying power for energizing said electric motor means and a guide track for guiding said cover means between said open and said closed position, said switch being positioned in said guide track for activating engagement when said cover means is in said closed position to permit said motor means to be energized and, said safety cover means being operable to permit opening of said switch when said cover means is in said open position.