Shield for engraving machines

Safety apparatus for an engraving machine, the machine having a vertically reciprocating ram and stationary bed and frame portions, the ram interfacing with the bed at the vertically lowermost position of the ram in a work area of the engraving machine, such interfacing of the ram with the bed being operable to effectuate the engraving of a desired work product placed in the work area by the machine operator, the safety apparatus comprising:

• a. faceplate means operable to travel vertically between a lowermost position and an uppermost position, the faceplate means when in the lowermost position comprising means for preventing a hand of the machine operator from entering the work area when the ram is moving vertically downward toward the work area;
• and
• b. plunger means adapted to be fixedly attached to the ram and having protrusion means releasably engaged with the faceplate means, for moving the faceplate means vertically upward away from the work area in unison with the vertical upward movement of the ram and to a predetermined distance with the protrusion means attached to the faceplate means until the protrusion means disengages from the faceplate means, at which time of disengagement the faceplate means moves vertically downward to its lowermost position to cover the work area, the vertical downward movement of the faceplate means being independent of any vertical movement of the ram.