Dual-side engraving system
AssigneeThe Hillman Group, Inc.
InventorsJames Francis Huss, Bryan Keith Solace
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An engraving system operable to engrave user-loaded items is provided. The engraving system may have a housing, an engraver located within the housing, and a carrier configured to receive from a user a cartridge holding then item to be engraved and to position the cartridge relative to the engraver. The carrier may be configured to engrave the item via windows in the cartridge, and to flip the cartridge relative to the engraver for engraving on multiple sides of the item.
Claims41
An engraving system operable to engrave a user-loaded item, the engraving system comprising:
- a housing;
- an engraver located within the housing;
- and
- a carrier configured to receive from a user a cartridge holding the item to be engraved and to position the cartridge relative to the engraver,
- wherein:
- the carrier includes at least two windows on opposing sides of the carrier to provide the engraver access to opposing sides of the item;
- the engraver is configured to engrave the item via windows in the cartridge;
- and
- the carrier is configured to flip the cartridge relative to the engraver for engraving on multiple sides of the item.
An engraving system operable to engrave a user-loaded item, the engraving system comprising:
- a housing;
- an engraver located within the housing;
- a base support movable in a direction from an opening in the housing towards the engraver;
- a carrier rotatably connected to the base support and configured to receive from a user the item to be engraved and to position the item relative to the engraver;
- at least one bearing located under the base support to support movement of the base support;
- and
- at least one roller located under the carrier to support the carrier during engraving operations.
An engraving system operable to engrave a user-loaded item, the engraving system comprising:
- a housing;
- an engraver located within the housing;
- a carrier configured to receive from a user a cartridge holding the item to be engraved and to position the cartridge relative to the engraver;
- and
- a reader situated to read coded indicia corresponding to the item as the carrier moves the item from an opening of the housing towards the engraver.
An engraving system operable to engrave a user-loaded item, the engraving system comprising:
- a housing;
- an engraver located within the housing;
- a base support movable in a direction from an opening in the housing towards the engraver;
- a carrier configured to receive from a user a cartridge holding the item to be engraved, to position the cartridge relative to the engraver for engraving of the item via windows in the cartridge, and to flip the cartridge relative to the engraver for engraving on multiple sides of the item;
- at least one bearing located under the base support to support movement of the base support;
- at least one roller located to support the carrier during engraving operations;
- and
- a reader situated to read coded indicia associated with the item as the carrier moves the item from an opening of the housing towards the engraver.
A method of engraving an item, comprising:
- receiving from a user a cartridge containing the item to be engraved;
- positioning the cartridge relative to an engraver;
- reading from the cartridge coded indicia corresponding to characteristics of the item as the cartridge is positioned relative to the engraver;
- and
- flipping the cartridge relative to the engraver for engraving on multiple sides of the item via windows in the cartridge.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.