Patent Application
20130206026
Handheld stamps have been used for years to imprint words and images onto paper and have become the mainstay of many greeting card creators. Generally, stamping comprises of three-step process: first, the application of ink via an ink pad or roller to the stamp. Second, the positioning of the stamp in the general area chosen by creator and third, pressing the inked stamp firmly onto paper or specific medium.
The transfer process generally provides an acceptable image with relatively modest applied pressure. However, several problems are encountered as complexity or size of the transfer image and location of the stamp onto the paper surface. Amongst these problems are ink coverage that may be less-than-complete, resulting in a stamped image that is also incomplete or with varied ink density. Mainly, this issue is attributed to ink pad distribution inconsistencies caused by ink roller unevenness (pressure or ink coverage), or a creator's own inability to judge the ink coverage of the stamp.
Furthermore, manually applied pressure to the stamp may be uneven across the total area of a stamp-paper interface, thus resulting in the stamped image density that varies according to local pressure applied. For example, the left side of a stamp image may be lighter than the right side if creator applied more pressure to the right side of the stamp, hence, manually applying proper pressure evenly across a large stamp, often requiring much practice or trial-and-error, thereby requiring large quantities of ink and supplies.
In addition, the stamp itself may be uneven across its inking surface, thus the density of applied ink may be proportional to the relative height of the stamp surface to paper. For example, an uneven stamp can print an uneven image (with regard to image density). Said problem is exacerbated by the use of large stamps, wherein tight in-plane tolerances must be met over proportionally large area.
Also, by manually positioning the stamp via measuring the location on the card or print medium using a ruler or other measuring device and marking its location within an area that the image is desired, this is very time consuming.
Another problem appears when a repetitive operation is required and thus consistency in the image produced. Namely, were a greeting card creator must reproduce numerous amount of identical cards, with the same image, same density, and at the same location on the card or print medium. The present solution to repetitive operation is as follows; the greeting card creator must plot on each card or print medium, the location of the image by measuring its location each and every time the image is required. Again, greeting card creator must address aforementioned problems, which often require much practice or trial-and-error, thereby resulting in the use of large quantities of ink and supplies.
The aforementioned problems are alleviated, at least in part, by the use of a manually operated printing press wherein a stamp is inked then subsequently placed in a vise-like apparatus that applies heavy pressure to the stamp-paper interface. This method is, of course, hundreds of years old, and the fundamental practice remains unchanged.
While said printing method works well for professional stamper, many stamping hobbyists cannot afford the often-bulky and precision-made printing press. Although inexpensive versions of printing presses are commercially available, many of these products are prone to image quality issues that are evident with manual stamping methods; i.e., if ink distribution is uneven across a stamp, the resulting stamped image will also be uneven. This problem is compounded by the use of large or complex stamps.
Some greeting card creators have used a simple fold-over method for manually printing small quantities of greeting cards. This method begins by folding a blank greeting card in half, then applying ink to the stamp, roughly aligning the edges of the paper with the edges of the inked stamp, and finally, subsequently uses fingertips pressure to transfer the inked image to the greeting card front cover. Although this manual method can ameliorate the problems of uneven stamp surface and provide, with practice, a more-consistent image, it does not eliminate them. Several problems still remain. The first lies within the re-inking of a stamp—if required to correct a spotty image—is not practical (paper and stamp would likely be misaligned on second printing). The second is the precise positioning of the stamp in which the stamped image needs to be roughly the size of the greeting card. For example, centering a small image on a large card can be rather difficult. Lastly, the method is still get-it-right-the-first-time technique, in which inadequate pressure may result in the rejection of the finished product.
In accordance with one embodiment, the traditional manual methods require much practice, and large printing presses are expensive. Many stamping hobbyist simply avoid large and complex stamps. Present embodiment solves the aforementioned stamp problems, by the printing apparatus as shown in
Referring to the perspective view
To facilitate accurate positioning of the sheet of paper stock, imprinted on the upper hard smooth surface of the bed 10 are appropriate grid lines 11. Said grid lines 11, commencing at four centimeter from bed 10 edge with interval of one-millimeter and parallel to vertical T-slot 16 and horizontal T-slot 18. Numerical graduation index are imprinted on bed 10 surface, reading horizontally left to right and vertically top to bottom.
Referring to
Referring to
At the center of each slider 13 a threaded slider thumbscrew 12 extends downwardly through appropriate opening in the under side of the slider 13 as illustrated in
Referring to
Again, referring to
The inked impression is made by a conventional stamp, which is available commercially, and comes in different sizes and images, is being illustration in
Referring to
Once downward force on plunger cap 26 is reversed, plunger spring, (not shown) which sits on guide pin 27 inside said plunger 25 and upper portion of plunger spring is in contact with plunger cap 26 again inside said plunger 25, provides pressure that will return plunger 25 upwards to its neutral state and the gauge spring 31 between rotator 28 and upper plate 34 will push rotator 28 and upper plate 34 apart. The reference ring 33 will remain in its position as the gauge sleeve 32 is no longer making contact with it and resting on upper plate 34. Reference ring 37 will indicate on the indicator 29, the amount of pressure that was applied.
The rotator 28 can execute a three hundred sixty degree rotation, horizontal to surface of said bed 10. This allows the stamp 43 to be positioned at the user's desired angle, relative to both sliders 13.
Securing users desired angles by means of turning plunger cap 26 clockwise, drawing up tension rod, (not shown), which will drawing rotator 28 into plunger 25 securing rotator 28 in the predetermined alignment. The tension rod passes through plunger spring, (not shown), and will not interfere with plunger 25 vertical movements. The tension rod is threaded at both ends. One end of the tension rod is threaded into plunger cap 26 and allowed to turn. The other end is threaded into rotator 28 and is secured from movement.
Referring to
Referring to
While various materials are suitable for making said bed 10, plastic composition has the desired characteristics of strength, rigidity, lightweight, workability, allowing for smooth, hard exterior surface, at a low construction cost. The said bed 10 preferably length and width dimension are larger than the corresponding dimension of a sheet of stock paper to be imprinted by the user of the apparatus. Bed size of approximately twenty-five centimeter by thirty-eight centimeter provides an adequately large bed surface, while at the same time presenting length and width dimensions which are sufficiently small to allow the apparatus to be stored in a small space when not in use. Said plunger 25, said guide 23, and said support shaft 22 are preferably made of lightweight aluminum or some other lightweight material that provides straight and ease of manufacture. Slider 13, inner finger 37, and outer finger 38 preferably made from lightweight material.
From the foregoing it will be observed that I have provided a stamping apparatus of extremely simple construction which is small, compact, and light-weight, and so arranged as to permit the apparatus to be manufactured at low cost. It will be noted that the stamp 43 may be interchanged with different stamps of different sizes and images, easily by merely releasing the lever 36, spread the inner finger 37 and outer finger 38 outwards. Attention is directed particularly to the arrangement of vertical T-slot 16, horizontal T-slot 18 and the mechanism used for adjustable slider 13 to bed 10, as these features provide maximum flexibility in securing the arrangement that permit the apparatus to be used with various sizes and types of paper stock or other printable stock. Hence, making the inked impression virtually in any location on the selected printable stock that can fit on bed 10.
The user places paper stock on bed 10 under lower plate 35. Once desired positioning of said paper stock is located, the user adjusts slider 13 in horizontal T-slot 18 and adjusts horizontal ruler 17 to extend and contact paper stock edge. The user then adjusts slider 13 in vertical T-slot 16 and adjusts vertical ruler 15 to extend and contact paper stock edge, hence, orienting paper stock parallel to bed 10 outer edges. This action secured the paper stock from moving on said bed 10.
The user select appropriate designed stamp 43, said stamp 43 is then held between inner finger 37 and outer finger 38 under lower plate 35. The user then applies pressure to the outside of said inner finger 37 and outer finger 38, sandwiching said stamp 43, then by means of rotating lever 36 this firmly securing stamp 43 in desired position.
The user selects the desired orientation of said stamp 43 to said printable stock by means of rotating the rotator 28. Then by turning means of plunger cap 26, securing rotator 28 to plunger 25, hence orienting said stamp 43 to printable stock.
Said stamp 43, will be understood that ink is applied of appropriate quantity to the stamp 43 image, as applied via an ink pad by two methods. One method is to place the ink pad directly under the stamp 43 on bed 10 surface without moving or disturbing any settings of the sliders and rulers, then applying downward force on plunger cap 26 to make contact of the stamp 43 with ink pad. The second method is by placing ink pad on the turning radius of support shaft 22. Referring to
In both inking method, referring to
For stamp image transfer, the user then exerts downward force on plunger cap 26 causing plunger 25 to travel downwards through guide 23, until gauge sleeve 32 comes in contact with the reference ring 33. At this point the downward forced is ceased and stamp image is transferred to the sheet of printing stock. The user slowly reverses the downward force, which slowly allows the plunger 25 to rise to its neutral state. This operation can be repeated with a new sheet of paper stock without re adjusting sliders and rulers for repetitive stamping.
While in the foregoing a preference has been expressed for certain types of materials and for certain sizes and dimensions, it will be understood that other materials and other sizes and dimensions may be used without departing from the spirit of this embodiment. Accordingly, the reader will see that I have provided at least one embodiment of the stamp press that provides a more reliable, lightweight, yet economical device that can be used by persons of almost any age. While I have shown and described in the forgoing preferred embodiment of my invention, the same is not to be limited to the details illustrated and described, except as defined in the appended claims.
