Computer controlled apparatus for imparting a design onto the surface of a candle
OwnerRichard A. Rosselliinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method are disclosed for automatically stamping designs onto candles under computer control. For a given stamped mark, a turret selects the tool with a specific die is to be stamped. The turret orients the tool angle about the axis defined by the tool's travel line during stamping by use of a planetary gear system. A rotatable chuck mounted on a movable bed selects the location on the candle surface to receive the die. A linear solenoid plunges the selected and oriented tool onto the candle. This process is repeated until all marks in a desired design are completed. The planetary gear system is designed so that all tool orientations are controlled by one motor, and tool anti-rotation during travel is controlled by the face length of a sun gear.
Claims6
A computer controlled apparatus for stamping a design into a work piece's surface comprising:
- (a) stepper motor driven turret means for:
- (i) selecting a working tool having a die and a vertical axis from a plurality of tools, said working tool being placed in an operating position and having a line of travel normal to the work piece surface;
- (ii) orienting the working tool die about said vertical axis;
- (iii) maintaining the orientation of the working tool die during stamping travel;
- and
- (iv) controlling the orientation of the other tools in the turret;
- wherein the orientation of the working tool and the other tools are controlled with one stepper motor;
- (b) movable support means for holding the work piece which is capable of positioning the work piece in relation to the operating position of the working tool;
- whereby a selected position on the surface of the work piece is positioned along the line of travel of the working tool;
- (c) plunger means for striking said working tool into the work piece thereby stamping the die of the working tool into the surface of the work piece;
- (d) computer means for:
- (i) selecting the working tool;
- (ii) orienting the die of the working tool;
- (iii) positioning the work piece in relation to the working tool;
- and
- (iv) controlling and actuating the plunger means to stamp the die onto the work piece;
- and
- (e) computer means for controlling and repeating steps (a) to (d) until the design is stamped into the surface of the work piece.
A process for stamping a predetermined ornamental design into the surface of a candle comprising;
- (a) selecting and angularly orientating a working tool from a plurality of tools, each tool having a die thereon;
- (b) selecting a location on said candle to receive the stamp of the working tool die, the candle being mounted on a motorized rotational chuck mounted on a motorized linear platform;
- (c) stamping said die of said working tool into the candle positioned to receive said die;
- (d) controlling, by computer means, the selection of the working tool, the angular orientation of the working tool, the linear and angular position of the candle in relation to the working tool and the stamping of the die of the working tool into the candle;
- and
- (e) repeating steps (a) to (d) until a predetermined ornamental design has been stamped into the surface of the candle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.