DATING SYSTEM FOR MOLDS

Abstract

The dating system for molds comprises at least one date stamp (12) connected to a knob (4) through a connection cable (1), wherein the date stamp (12) comprises an engraving formed only by numbers and/or letters and a position indicator. Furthermore, said knob (4) is mounted on a control block (2) comprising a reading engraving (3) located around said knob (4), in correspondence with the engraving of said date stamp (12). This makes it possible to manufacture date stamps with the information, without relief, since the simple contrast of the areas of the date stamp polished with high gloss and the nuanced numbers or letters, offer a visual contrast that allows clearly identifying the information that the date stamp must transmit.

Claims

1. Dating system for molds, comprising at least one date stamp (12) connected to a knob (4) through a connection cable (1), characterized in that the date stamp (12) comprises an engraving formed only by numbers and/or letters and a position indicator.

2. Dating system for molds according to claim 1, wherein said knob (4) is mounted on a control block (2) comprising a reading engraving (3) located around said knob (4), in correspondence with the engraving of said date stamp (12).

3. Dating system for molds according to claim 1, wherein said knob (4) is formed at one end of an axis (5), said axis (5) being rotatable only in one direction.

4. Dating system for molds according to claim 3, wherein said axis (5) is mounted on the control block (2) by at least one single direction bearing (6).

5. Dating system for molds according to claim 3, wherein said axis (5) comprises a plurality of radial grooves (8), for housing a ball (9) pressed by a spring (10).

6. Dating system for molds according to claim 3, wherein said axis (5) is mounted on the control block (2) also by means of a second single direction bearing (7).

7. Dating system for molds according to claim 4, wherein a centering axis (11) is mounted at the end furthest from the knob (4) of said control block (2).

8. Dating system for molds according to claim 7, wherein said centering axis (11) comprises a screw (13) transverse to said connection cable (1).

9. Dating system for molds according to claim 1, wherein said date stamp (12) comprises an adjusting nut (14).

10. Dating system for molds according to claim 3, wherein said axis (5) is driven by a motor (17).

11. Dating system for molds according to claim 10, wherein said motor (17) is connected to an electronic board (18), which is configured for driving the motor (17) to rotate the axis (5) by a preset amount of degrees.

12. Dating system for molds according to claim 10, wherein the output of the motor (17) comprises a motor gear (16) meshing with a gear (15) mounted on the axis (5).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] For better understanding of what has been disclosed, some drawings in which, schematically and only by way of a non-limiting example, a practical case of embodiment is shown.

[0037] FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a first embodiment of the dating system for molds according to the present invention; and

[0038] FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of a second embodiment of the dating system for molds according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0039] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the dating system for molds according to the present invention, called the manual model.

[0040] It should be noted that the dating system according to the present invention comprises as many date stamps as necessary, for example, a date stamp for the year, a date stamp for the month and a date stamp for the day. For the sake of simplicity, a date stamp for the month has been shown in the figures.

[0041] In the first place, as it is intended to be able to manufacture date stamps for molds with “engravings” of minimal relief, it is necessary to be able to position the date stamp with maximum precision in the nailing that is carried out to fix it to the mold by means of holes. As the precision of the holes in the mold is important, the dating system comprises a date stamp 12 provided with an adjustment nut 14 in its lower part so that it can be disassembled and duly rectified so that the total height of the date stamp 12 is exactly the same as the depth of the drilled holes.

[0042] In this way, it is achieved that the final surface of the date stamps 12 stuck in the mold are completely aligned with the surface of the mold. This detail acquires great relevance in all molds that must work in “clean rooms”, since any relief or misalignment between these surfaces can become infectious areas in products for food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic sectors.

[0043] Each date stamp requires a connection mechanism to be positioned, so a control block 2 will house as many connection mechanisms inside it, as date stamps needed, this block will be engraved on the outside so that it coincides with each of the knobs, the reading engravings corresponding to each of the date stamps that each mold incorporates.

[0044] Each control block 2 comprises a knob 4, which is preferably knurled to be able to generate a properly controlled rotation. This knob 4 is connected via a thread to an axis 5 with a through hole.

[0045] On its exterior, the axis 5 incorporates a single direction bearing 6 that facilitates its unidirectional rotation. This same axis 5 comprises a larger diameter area, which inside it incorporates a second bearing 7 with the same single direction of rotation, and a series of radial grooves 8 have been machined on the outside of this diameter to accommodate a ball 9, which, pressed by a spring 10, fixes each of these grooves 8 in a completely controlled manner. Each axis 5 contains as many grooves 8 as positions are necessary to indicate the indications that each date stamp requires.

[0046] A centered axis 11 within this second bearing 7 contains at one end an area of greater diameter with a hole of a certain depth, to house a connection cable 1, which connects the date stamp 12 with the knob 4.

[0047] At this end of greater diameter, a screw 13 housed perpendicular to axis 11 will be housed in order to tighten and fix the connection cable 1.

[0048] At the other end of this axis 11 a groove is machined to accommodate a screwdriver with which it will allow us to rotate the cable that is connected to the date stamp 12 from outside the mold, in order to be able to adjust the engraving of the date stamp 12 with great precision with its equivalent with the reading engravings 3 of the control block 2.

[0049] In its most usual version, the control block 2 usually has a month date stamp and a year date stamp, so in this case the control block 2 will only consist of two connection mechanisms, one with twelve grooves equivalent to those of 12 months of the year, while the other could host 10 grooves for a period equivalent to 10 years.

[0050] This date stamp system allows to carry out all the changes to the information of the different date stamps without tools and from outside the mold, with the savings that this represents, since, for the changes of information, it is not necessary to stop production.

[0051] To connect the set so that both the date stamp 12 of the mold and the knob 4 coincide with the same number, it is as follows:

[0052] Once the date stamp 12 has been installed in its housing and the control block 2 on the outside of the mold, the length of the connection cable 1 must be cut to achieve the appropriate length for each installation, and it will be fixed with the screw 13 housed in the direction perpendicular to the axis 11 that has the groove for the screwdriver.

[0053] Next, by means of the knob 4 we will rotate the connection mechanism in the only direction of rotation that the system allows, so that any of the grooves 8 machined in the outer diameter of the housing of the second single rotation bearing 7, is positioned with the ball 9 pressed with a spring 10, we will take note of the number that is blocked and with this data with the screwdriver we will rotate the axis 11 that houses the connection cable 1 in the only direction that the system allows, until we equalize the number of the date stamp 12 with the number of the reading engraving 3.

[0054] From this moment on, any position reflected in the control block 2 will coincide in a fixed way with the corresponding date stamp 12.

[0055] When putting the mold on the machine for a new manufacture, we must set the current date through the knobs.

[0056] All changes to the information of the different date stamps can be verified from outside the mold, and all changes related to the manufacturing dates can be made from the outside.

[0057] FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the dating system for molds according to the present invention, also called the automatic model.

[0058] For the sake of simplicity, the common elements are not described again. In addition, the same numerical references are used for their identification.

[0059] The connection mechanism has the same operating concept as the manual system, but adding a motor 17 that meshes with the through-hole axis 5 by means of gears 15, 16 which, when the motor 17 rotates, causes the axis 5 to rotate in a programmed way, and through the connection cable, rotate the cylinder of smaller diameter that is engraved with the arrow that indicates the position of each number engraved circularly on the cylinder of larger diameter of the date stamp 12.

[0060] Thus, the rotation that in the manual model was operated by hand passes in this way to perform the same function, but in a programmed way, through the algorithm of the Gregorian calendar, and programmed through an electronic program, which manages to transmit an electrical signal every 24 hours coinciding with the end of the day.

[0061] The molds that include the day, month, and year in their information, those that are considered to be controlled traceability.

[0062] Taking as a starting point this electrical signal to be used as coordinator of all the rotary movements of each motor 17, for this end we differentiate three channels of this signal, one for the day motor, another for the month motor, and another for the year motor.

[0063] In the case of the day motor 17, an electronic board 18 must have the calendar programmed in such a way that each day date stamp that contains 31 consecutive numbers and that are equivalent to the maximum days it has each month, at 12 o'clock at the day that ends, it emits the appropriate signal so that the motor 17 of this date stamp recognizes that it has to carry out the rotation to numerically indicate the new day.

[0064] This routine is repeated annually 7 times, which are equivalent to the months: January, March. May, July, August, October, and December, but not in February, April, June, September, and November.

[0065] For these cases, it is necessary to make an alteration in the electronic program so that in the month of February of the conventional year at 12 o'clock at night on the 28th, the motor 15 receives the signal to skip the days 29, 30 and 31, at so that, in the marking of the date stamp, the indicator arrow points to the number 1 as the first day of March.

[0066] In leap years, the program will be altered at 12 o'clock at night on the 29th, and motor 17 will receive the signal to skip days 30 and 31 so that on the marking of the date stamp the indicator arrow points to 1 as the first day of March.

[0067] In the months of April, June, September, and November, it will be on the 30th at 12 o'clock at night, when the motor will receive the signal to skip the 31st, so that, on the date stamp, the indicator arrow points to the day 1 of the following month.

[0068] The same program of the days will also serve as the basis for the months, whose date stamp always has 12 consecutive numbers, in this case the incidence will only be to take advantage of the day's signal, since, in this case, the date stamp that contains only the 12 numbers of the months, you do not have to skip any number to indicate the change of month.

[0069] In the case of years, it will only be taken as a reference on December 31 at 12 at night, since the years are always correlative to the numbers engraved on the date stamp.

[0070] To start up the mold, it proceeds as with the manual system, that is, we must mark the current date through the knobs 4, also the coincidence of number of the date stamp 12 with that of the knob 4, they are set in the same way, simply in the automatic system, we must connect the computer system through a connector cable 19 so that it can send all the pertinent information to the mold.

[0071] Although reference has been made to specific embodiments of the invention, it is apparent to a person skilled in the art that the described dating system for molds is susceptible of numerous variations and modifications, and that all the details mentioned can be replaced by other technically equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection defined by the appended claims.