Heat imprinting machine with separate work piece support

Abstract

A carrier sleeve ( 32 ) surrounds a post ( 14 ) that extends upwardly from a base ( 12 ). A lower platen ( 18 ) is mounted on the base ( 12 ). A horizontal support arm ( 16 ) is mounted on the upper portion of the post ( 14 ) An upper platens ( 20 ) is mounted on the support arm ( 16 ) above the lower platen ( 18 ). A work piece support ( 26 ) is mounted on the post ( 14 ) between the upper and lower platens ( 18, 20 ). The work piece support ( 26 ) is connected to the carrier sleeve ( 32 ) and is movable up and down along the post ( 14 ). A spring ( 36 ) is positioned below the carrier sleeve ( 32 ) between the carrier sleeve ( 32 ) and a portion of the base ( 12 ). In a relaxed condition, the spring ( 36 ) holds the work piece support ( 26 ) in a position that is vertically between the upper and lower platens ( 18, 20 ) when the upper platen ( 20 is raised. The upper platen ( 20 ) is movable downwardly into contact with the work piece support ( 26 ). After contact is made, the upper platen ( 20 ) is movable further downwardly so as to move the work piece support ( 26 ) downwardly into contact with the lower platen ( 18 ). There is a detachable connection ( 42, 54 ) between the carrier sleeve ( 32 ) and the adjacent end of the work piece support ( 26 ) enabling the work piece support ( 26 ) to be quickly attached and detached to the carrier sleeve ( 32 ).

1 . A heat imprinting machine, comprising: 
 a frame including a base, a support post extending upwardly from the base, and a horizontal support arm connected to the post and spaced above the base;    a lower platen connected to said frame below the support arm;    an upper platen connected to the support arm for movement toward and away from the lower platen; and    a work piece support comprising:    a carrier sleeve surrounding the post and movable up and down on the post;    a spring below the carrier, between the carrier and a spring support on the frame; and    a work piece supporting board positioned between the upper and lower platens, said board having an end portion connected to the carrier sleeve;    whereby the upper platen is movable downwardly against the work piece holder and causes the work piece holder to be moved downwardly against the spring and towards the lower platen.    
   
   
       2 . The machine of  claim 1 , comprising a detachable connection between said end portion of the work piece support and said carrier sleeve.  
   
   
       3 . The machine of  claim 2 , wherein the detachable connection comprises first and second connector components, one on the sleeve and the other on the work piece support, said first connector component comprising a horizontal connector pin and a support below the connector pin, and said second component comprising a tongue having an upwardly directed recess and a lower surface, wherein the tongue is insertable between the connector pin and the support surface into a position in which the connector pin is located in the recess and the surface on the bottom of the tongue is on the support surface.  
   
   
       4 . The machine of  claim 3 , wherein said connector further includes a locator pin on one said components and a socket in the other of said components, wherein the locator pin is received within the socket when the tongue is on the support surface and the connector pin is in the recess.  
   
   
       5 . The machine of  claim 4 , wherein the connector pin and the support surface are a part of the connector component that is on the sleeve.  
   
   
       6 . The machine of  claim 5 , wherein the socket is in the connector component that is on the sleeve and the locator pin is on the connector component that is on the work piece support.  
   
   
       7 . The machine of  claim 5 , wherein the socket tapers inwardly and the locator pin has a substantially complementary taper.  
   
   
       8 . The machine of  claim 5 , comprising an internally threaded axial opening in the locator pin and an externally threaded leveling screw within said opening, said socket having a bottom and said leveling screw having a head that makes contact with the bottom of the socket when the locator pin is in the socket.  
   
   
       9 . The machine of  claim 3 , comprising at least one key slot formed in one of the connector components and a complementary key formed on the other connector component, said key and key slot extending perpendicular to the connector pin and the recess.  
   
   
       10 . The machine of  claim 9 , comprising two key slots and two keys.  
   
   
       11 . The machine of  claim 10 , wherein the key slots are formed in the support below the connector pin and the keys are formed on the bottom of the tongue.  
   
   
       12 . The machine of  claim 11 , wherein said connector further includes a locator pin on one of said components and a socket in the other said components, wherein the locator pin is received within the socket when the tongue is on the support surface and the connector pin is in the recess.  
   
   
       13 . The machine of  claim 9 , wherein the connector pin and the support surface are a part of the connector component that is on the sleeve.  
   
   
       14 . The machine of  claim 9 , wherein the socket is in the connector component that is on the sleeve and the locator pin is on the connector component that is on the work piece support.  
   
   
       15 . A heat imprinting machine, comprising: 
 a frame including a base, a support post extending upwardly from the base, and a horizontal support arm connected to the post and spaced above the base;    a lower platen connected to said frame below the support arm;    an upper platen connected to the support arm for movement towards and away from the lower platen; and    a work piece support comprising:    a carrier mounted on the post for up and down movement;    a work piece supporting board positioned between the upper and lower platens, said board having an end portion connected to the carrier; and    whereby the upper platen is movable downwardly against the work piece holder for causing the work piece holder to move downwardly towards the lower platen.    
   
   
       16 . The machine of  claim 15 , comprising a spring positioned to bias the work piece supporting board upwardly, whereby movement of the upper platen downwardly against the work piece holder causes the work piece holder to overcome the spring force, allowing it to move towards the lower platen.  
   
   
       17 . The machine of  claim 15 , comprising a detachable connection between said end portion of the work piece support and the carrier.