초록 ▼

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 us

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.

대표청구항 ▼

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

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.