Signmaking machine using character forming tool for overlapping impacts and web scoring
AssigneeBrady USA, Inc.
InventorsGeorge F. Jambor, Gary J. Wirth
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A microprocessor controlled signmaking machine (1) including a reciprocating plunger (210) that impacts adhesive sheet material (46, 46a-d) to form a sign (48) including one or more characters separable from the sheet material (46, 46a-d) that can be adhered to the surface of an object.
Claims30
A signmaking machine for forming characters from adhesive sheet material, the signmaking machine comprising:
- a character forming mechanism,
- a tool holder supporting the character forming mechanism,
- means for moving the tool holder in an X-Y plane,
- means for advancing sheet material through the machine,
- input means for designating characters to be formed in the adhesive sheet material,
- memory means for storing instructions for controlling operation of the signmaking machine, and
- microprocessor means responsive to the instructions in the memory means and responsive to the input means and interfaced to control the means for moving the tool holder and the character forming mechanism,
- wherein the character forming mechanism comprises a plunger and means for reciprocally driving the plunger to generate impacts on the adhesive sheet material;
- wherein the instructions stored in the memory means includes instructions for controlling the means for moving the tool holder in the X-Y plane and the means for reciprocally driving the plunger to generate overlapping impacts along the adhesive sheet material, wherein the overlapping impacts form continuous cut edges separating the designated characters from the sheet material;
- and
- wherein the character forming mechanism is limited to a single element with a rounded end portion that impacts the adhesive sheet material to form the continuous cut edges of the characters.
A signmaking machine for forming characters from adhesive sheet material, the signmaking machine comprising:
- a character forming mechanism,
- a tool holder supporting the character forming mechanism,
- means for moving the tool holder in an X-Y plane,
- means for advancing sheet material through the machine,
- input means for designating characters to be formed in the adhesive sheet material,
- memory means for storing instructions for controlling operation of the signmaking machine, and
- microprocessor means responsive to the instructions in the memory means and responsive to the input means and interfaced to control the means for moving the tool holder and the character forming mechanism,
- wherein the character forming mechanism comprises a plunger and means for reciprocally driving the plunger to impact the adhesive sheet material to form designated characters;
- wherein the machine includes a frame and a carriage supported on the frame, and the tool holder is mounted on the carriage;
- wherein an anvil is supported on the carriage, the adhesive sheet material extends across the anvil, and the character forming mechanism impacts the adhesive sheet material along the anvil during character formation;
- and
- wherein the means for moving the tool holder comprises first motor means and first drive means for moving the carriage including the anvil back and forth along the frame and the sheet material.
A signmaking machine for forming characters from adhesive sheet material, the signmaking machine comprising:
- a character forming mechanism,
- a tool holder supporting the character forming mechanism,
- means for moving the tool holder in an X-Y plane,
- means for advancing sheet material through the machine,
- input means for designating characters to be formed in the adhesive sheet material,
- memory means for storing instructions for controlling operation of the signmaking machine, and
- microprocessor means responsive to the instructions in the memory means and responsive to the input means and interfaced to control the means for moving the tool holder and the character forming mechanism,
- wherein the character forming mechanism comprises a plunger and means for reciprocally driving the plunger to impact the adhesive sheet material to form designated characters;
- wherein the machine includes a frame and a carriage supported on the frame, and the tool holder is mounted on the carriage;
- and
- further comprising first motor means and first drive means for moving the carriage back and forth in a longitudinal direction along the frame, while the sheet remains stationary and for moving the sheet material longitudinally along the frame while the carriage remains stationary in the longitudinal direction;
- and
- further comprising second motor means and second drive means for moving the tool holder back and forth in a transverse direction across the frame and the sheet material.
A signmaking machine for forming characters from adhesive sheet material, the signmaking machine comprising:
- a character forming mechanism,
- a tool holder supporting the character forming mechanism,
- means for moving the tool holder in an X-Y plane,
- means for advancing sheet material through the machine,
- input means for designating characters to be formed in the adhesive sheet material,
- memory means for storing instructions for controlling operation of the signmaking machine, and
- microprocessor means responsive to the instructions in the memory means and responsive to the input means and interfaced to control the means for moving the tool holder and the character forming mechanism,
- wherein the character forming mechanism comprises a plunger and means for reciprocally driving the plunger to impact the adhesive sheet material to form designated characters;
- wherein the machine includes a frame and a carriage supported on the frame, and the tool holder is mounted on the carriage;
- and
- further comprising first motor means and first drive means for moving the carriage back and forth in a longitudinal direction along the frame, and for moving the sheet material longitudinally along the frame;
- and
- the machine includes selectable means having (i) a first position halting actuation of the means for advancing sheet material and enabling the carriage to move and (ii) a second position enabling actuation of the means for advancing sheet material and disenabling the carriage from moving in the longitudinal direction;
- and
- the instructions stored in the memory means includes instructions for forming the designated characters and instructions for actuation of the means for advancing sheet material subsequent to formation of one or more characters in the sheet material.
A signmaking machine for producing a sign from a web of adhesive sheet material, which machine is of the type including operating elements comprising a character forming mechanism, (b) a tool holder supporting the character forming mechanism, (c) means for transporting the tool holder along an X-axis, (d) means for transporting the tool holder along a Y-axis, (e) means for advancing sheet material through the machine, (f) input means for designating characters to be formed in the adhesive sheet material, (g) memory means storing a program of instructions for reading the designated characters and instructions for controlling the means for transporting the tool holder and the means for advancing adhesive sheet material, and (h) microprocessor means responsive to the program of instructions in the memory means and interfaced to control operating elements (a)-(f), characterized in that:
- the character forming mechanism comprises a plunger and means for reciprocally driving the plunger to impact the adhesive sheet material;
- and
- the program of instructions stored in the memory means includes (1) a first set of instructions for controlling the means for transporting the tool holder along the X-axis and the means for transporting the tool holder along the Y-axis to move the plunger to form overlapping impacts along the adhesive sheet material defining the designated characters, (2) a second set of instructions for controlling the means for advancing the web of adhesive sheet material alternately with execution of the first set of instructions, and (3) a third set of instructions for controlling the means for transporting the tool holder along the Y-axis to form a pair of spaced parallel tear lines orientated transversely across the web of adhesive sheet material, the tear lines each including a plurality of spaced segments, with the segments of one tear line spanning spaces between segments of the other tear lines along which a completed sign is separable from the web of adhesive sheet material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.