Rotary device for self-inking stamp

Description

1 / 13 Rotary device for self-inking stamp.

[0001] The invention relates to a hinge device for a self-inking stamp and a method for using the same. The hinge device comprises a housing and a drive piece, the drive piece being connected to the housing and movable relative to the housing. The drive piece is configured to support and hold a rotation axis for an inking tool. The hinge device comprises a retaining device configured to prevent the drive piece from being released from the housing when the rotation axis is removed from the drive piece. The hinge device does not comprise an inking tool, nor an ink pad, nor a rotation axis and therefore does not constitute a complete stamp in itself. The support and holding of the rotation axis can be ensured, for example, by corresponding shaft bearings in the drive piece.The drive element is often in the form of a bar, for example, as a drive support.

[0002] Such articulation devices have the advantage of allowing the individualization of stamps as late as possible: a generic articulation device without a printing tool (e.g., a plate holder or a typesetting unit) can be manufactured, supplied, and stored in comparatively large quantities; thus, all possibilities for individualization remain open, and individualization can be carried out close to the end user and immediately before acceptance, or by the end user himself, who receives the printing tool separately and connects it to the articulation device. As a result, for example, a standardized articulation device can be manufactured and kept in stock regardless of international differences (e.g., different date formats for typesetting units in Europe or America). Petition 870250085781, dated 09 / 23 / 2025, page 7 / 40 2 / 13 of the North).

[0003] Another advantage of these articulation devices is the possibility of replacing the printing tool. The printing tool is generally subject to aging effects due to the material and therefore has a limited lifespan, for example, 10 to 15 years. To ensure a predefined minimum lifespan when supplying a self-inking stamp with an articulation device and a printing tool, it may be necessary to renew the printing tool in advance, i.e., replace it with a newer printing tool. This renewal can be carried out, for example, for inventory checks at regular intervals, such as once a year. First, a rotation axis is removed from the self-inking stamp to then replace the printing tool.However, when the rotation axis is removed, the drive part can easily detach from the housing, causing the articulation device to disintegrate into its individual parts. In particular, a stamping spring between the drive part and the housing, responsible for repositioning the drive part after a print, can cause such a detachment.

[0004] Known articulation devices already allow such exchange and attempt to neutralize the problem described above, however, they are associated with several disadvantages.

[0005] Document EP 3 489 023 B1 presents several variants of self-inking stamps and their respective articulation devices. To prevent the drive piece from simply being pulled out of a receiving channel in the housing, a guide system comprising a guide and a guide pin is provided. The guide pin is designed to be elastically resilient and can be deformed or yield when the articulation device is mounted so that it fits into the guide. The guide is delimited by two stops. This ensures that Petition 870250085781, dated 09 / 23 / 2025, p. 8 / 40 3 / 13 The drive element cannot simply be pulled out of the guide channel. The guide pin described in the prior art can – as expressly described for the assembly – also yield in the other direction. The release of the drive element from the housing is therefore hindered by the fact that the guide pin generates a certain resistance, but does not reliably prevent it.

[0006] In an alternative variant, also described in document EP 3 489 023 B1, the release of the drive part from the housing can be actively locked by the user when the rotation axis is removed by engaging a latch. The latch can fix the self-inking stamp in different positions, for example, in a pressed transport position or in a position for changing the ink pad, and is therefore naturally designed to be released automatically so as not to impede the use of the stamp. A disadvantage of this variant is that the active engagement of the latch can be forgotten. Another disadvantage is that the latch can easily release unintentionally (more or less on its own due to slight vibrations during handling) and then the drive part jumps out of the housing due to the pre-tension of the stamp spring.

[0007] In the case of self-inking stamps in which the rotation axis cannot be removed, a retaining device may be provided for another purpose, for example, for changing an ink pad. These different types of retaining devices are otherwise designed as a manually operated latch since, otherwise, they would impede the self-inking function of the stamp in normal operation. Examples of these different types of retaining devices are shown in documents WO 2023 / 019285 A1 and WO 2010 / 085828 A2.

[0008] One objective of the invention is to eliminate or at least mitigate Petition 870250085781, dated 09 / 23 / 2025, p. 9 / 40 4 / 13 the disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, the aim is to increase the reliability of the drive element's retention in the housing when the rotating shaft is removed.

[0009] This objective is achieved, according to the invention, in a joint device of the type mentioned above, in which the retaining device is configured as a latch, the latch being self-locking. The retaining device corresponds to a locking safety device.

[0010] Compared with the pin known in the prior art, a latch has the advantage of not being able to be released unintentionally and movement in the locking direction beyond the latch is reliably blocked or limited. In particular, the latch limits the range of motion of the drive part relative to the housing. For example, a latch can reliably prevent the release of the drive part regardless of the spring force of the stamp spring, any impulse when releasing the drive part from a pressed-down position, friction on the pin surface (which can be reduced by contamination), manufacturing variations, or subsequent material changes (e.g., changes in dimensions, elasticity, and surface area) over time.The failure of the latch solely by applying force in the locking direction (i.e., in the direction of movement, parallel to which the drive part is displaceable relative to the housing) is therefore impossible, or at least impossible without destruction. The retaining device can be specially designed to retain the drive part in a retaining position. The drive part can be fixed in other positions, for example, in the transport position or in the position for changing the ink pad, by other means. Since the latch is self-locking, its function does not need to be actively actuated and activated. The latch presented in this document is therefore... Petition 870250085781, dated 09 / 23 / 2025, page 10 / 40 5 / 13 safer than the known self-releasing latch, whose activation can be ignored (e.g., not triggered), can be defective (e.g., not triggered sufficiently) or can fail (e.g., released by vibration).

[0011] The retaining device comprises, for example, a stop and a retaining element supported against the stop in a retaining position, the retaining element being designed as a self-locking latch element. The latch element blocks or locks movement beyond the stop. The locking effect is achieved by a positive engagement between the retaining element and the stop.

[0012] In particular, in the retaining position, the latch element may absorb the spring force of a stamp spring, the stamp spring being located between the housing and the drive piece and being configured to reposition the self-inking stamp from a printing position to an inking position. That is, the stamp spring may still be compressed, at least partially, in the retaining position. The spring force then pre-tensions the latch element against the stop.The locking element can be configured, in particular sized, to reliably absorb at least this force. The inking position is that position of the self-inking stamp in which an impression surface of the printing tool is pressed against an ink pad in the stamp housing for inking the printing tool – this is the eponymous self-inking.

[0013] The drive element is optionally further from the printing position in the holding position than in the inking position. In other words, the holding position is located above the inking position. Thus, the drive element can only reach the holding position when the rotation axis is removed and / or when the ink pad is absent. Otherwise, or Petition 870250085781, dated 09 / 23 / 2025, page 11 / 40 6 / 13 That is, when the self-inking stamp is ready for operation, the drive piece is locked in the inking position, cannot be moved out of the housing, and cannot reach the holding position. Thus, it is possible to prevent the lock from hindering the use of the self-inking stamp and, in particular, its self-inking.

[0014] The locking element may optionally be mounted in a movable manner, in particular with a spring mounted transversely to the locking direction. A movable locking element allows for the intentional manual release of the locking element if the drive part needs to be released from the housing. In this case, the locking element can be moved to a release position by user actuation and thus released from the stop, for example, by being moved transversely to a direction of movement of the drive part.

[0015] The locking element may comprise a locking surface that abuts the stop in a holding position and a rear side opposite the locking surface, wherein an outer edge of the rear side may comprise a chamfer. During the assembly of the articulation device, when the drive piece is joined to the housing, the locking element may be guided slidingly along the chamfer to the release position. This facilitates assembly, since the locking element does not need to be specifically moved to the release position. As soon as the drive piece reaches a holding position, the locking element returns from the release position to its rest position by virtue of its self-locking characteristic, in which it assumes its locking function and can no longer be guided back over the stop without actively releasing the lock.

[0016] In an exemplary embodiment of the articulation device described, the stop is formed in the housing, in particular on Petition 870250085781, dated 09 / 23 / 2025, page 12 / 40 7 / 13 an inner side of the housing, and the locking element is connected to the drive piece. The locking element can therefore be located on an outer side of the drive piece. This advantageously allows the actuation of a movable locking element in the outside-to-inside direction, i.e., from outside the self-inking stamp.

[0017] In this exemplary embodiment, a bearing receptacle may optionally be located on the drive part of the rotation axis in a direction parallel to the drive direction, between the locking element and one printing side of the housing. As a result of this positioning of the bearing receptacle relative to the locking element, the configuration described above of the retention position relative to the inking position can be achieved, with the associated advantages.

[0018] The locking element may, for example, be made substantially of a synthetic material and preferably supported on a metal support in the locking direction. The locking element may, for example, be made in a single piece with a synthetic material component in the actuating part. By virtue of the shape and dimensions of the locking element, the desired mobility and suspension can be achieved by those skilled in the art.

[0019] The invention also relates to a self-inking stamp having a hinge device according to one of the variants described above having an impression tool housed therein and a rotation axis extending through the hinge device and the impression tool. As part of a composite self-inking stamp and, for example, ready for use, the hinge device also presents the aforementioned advantages as soon as a change of the impression tool is carried out on the self-inking stamp. Petition 870250085781, dated 09 / 23 / 2025, p. 13 / 40 8 / 13 tinted and, for example, the rotation axis is removed for that purpose.

[0020] Finally, the invention also relates to a method for disassembling a hinge device according to one of the variants described above in which, in the context of this method, the latch is released by a force applied transversely to the drive direction and, when the latch is released, the drive part is released from the housing parallel to the drive direction. In the prior art, the release of a latch with a force applied transversely to the drive direction was not foreseen, since any resistance provided instead of a latch can be overcome by a correspondingly increased force parallel to the drive direction or a possible self-releasing latch can be overcome by dispensing with the latch actuation.

[0021] The invention is explained in more detail below, based on preferred, non-limiting, exemplary embodiments, with reference to the drawings. The drawings show in detail: Figure 1 shows a vertical section of a self-inking stamp with a hinge device, an impression tool and a rotation axis, in the inking position; Figure 2 shows a vertical section of the articulation device according to Figure 1 with the axis of rotation removed and without the printing tool in the retaining position; Figure 3 shows an enlarged view of detail III from Figure 1; Figure 4 shows an enlarged view of detail IV from Figure 2; Figure 5 shows a schematic view of the drive piece of the articulation device according to Figures 1 and 2; Petition 870250085781, dated 09 / 23 / 2025, page 14 / 40 9 / 13 Figure 6 shows an exploded view of the drive component in Figure 5; Figure 7 shows a front cutaway view of the self-inking stamp of Figure 1 in the printing position; and Figure 8 shows a front cutaway view according to Figure 7, with the fastening elements open and one axis of rotation partially removed.

[0022] Figure 1 shows a self-inking stamp 1 with a hinge device 2. The hinge device 2 comprises a housing 3 and a drive piece 4. The drive piece 4 is connected to the housing 3 and is movable relative to the housing 3. The drive piece 4 is configured to support and hold a rotation axis 5 for an impression tool 6. The rotation axis 5 is accommodated and mounted at its two ends in a support receptacle 7 of the drive piece 4. The impression tool 6 is penetrated by the rotation axis 5 and is rotated around its longitudinal axis. That is, the rotation axis 5 extends through the hinge device 2 and the impression tool 6. An ink pad holder 8 with an ink pad 9 is accommodated in the housing 3.In the inking position shown in Figure 1, an impression relief of the printing tool 6 is pressed onto the ink pad 9 and thus moistened with stamp ink. For this purpose, the drive piece 4 is pre-tensioned by means of a stamp spring 10 between the housing 3 and the drive piece 4 in the opposite direction to the drive direction 11 (upwards in Figure 1). The stamp spring 10 is configured to reposition the self-inking stamp 1 from an impression position (not shown) to an inking position. In the inking position shown in Figure 1, there is no risk of the drive piece 4 being released from the housing 3, since the axis of rotation... Petition 870250085781, dated 09 / 23 / 2025, page 15 / 40 10 / 13 passes through the drive part and housing 3 and therefore connects them, and since the spring force of the stamp spring 10 is diverted from the drive part 4 by means of the rotation axis 5, the printing tool 6, the ink pad 9 and the ink pad holder 8 back to the housing 3. To drive the self-inking stamp 1, it is placed with one printing side 12 on a material to be printed and then, exerting force on the drive part 4 in the direction of the drive direction 11, the drive part 4 is moved together with the printing tool 6 in the direction of the printing side 12 against the spring force of the stamp spring 10, where the printing tool 6 is rotated and finally the colored printing relief is pressed against the material (corresponds to the printing position). Throughout the process, the self-inking stamp 1 can be kept on the handle 13 of the drive part 4.

[0023] If the printing tool 6 is replaced by such a stamp, the rotation axis 5 can be removed laterally. For this purpose, openings 14 and 15 can be provided and accessible in at least one side wall of the housing 3, or the covers 16 and 17 of these openings 14 and 15 can be temporarily opened. Subsequently, the rotation axis 5 can be pushed or pulled out of the support receptacles 7 of the drive part 4 in the direction of its longitudinal axis. As a result, the rotation axis 5 is also removed from the printing tool 6, so that the printing tool 6 is subsequently released from the housing 3. This state, with the rotation axis removed and without the printing tool, is shown in Figure 2. To mount another printing tool, it must be reinserted into the housing 3 and then the rotation axis 5 inserted through the housing and the drive part 4 and the new printing tool. Petition 870250085781, dated 09 / 23 / 2025, page 16 / 40 11 / 13

[0024] Figure 2 shows a retention position of the articulation device 2. In this case, the release of the drive piece 4 from the housing 3 is blocked and therefore locked by a retention device 19 incorporated as two latches 18. The retention device 19 is self-locking.

[0025] The structure and configuration of the retaining device in the retaining position are shown enlarged in Figure 4. For comparison, the same detail in the inking position is also shown enlarged in Figure 3. The retaining device comprises a stop 20 and a retaining element 21 supported against the stop 20 in the retaining position. The retaining element 21 is designed as a self-locking latch element 22. In the retaining position (Figures 2 and 4), the latch element 22 absorbs the spring force of a stamp spring 10. The latch element 22 can be moved transversely to the locking direction and is mounted on a spring.

[0026] In the exemplary embodiment shown, the locking element is located in a thin, curved tab 23. The tab 23 first extends into a recess in the drive piece 4, opposite to the drive direction 11, and then is bent outwards at 90°, so that the locking element 22 engages at a right angle under the stop 20. The locking element 22 is connected to the drive piece 4 by means of the tab 23. The tab 23 is substantially made of a synthetic material and can be deformed by virtue of its thickness and material and can, in principle, be bent further in the direction of its curvature or bent straighter against the curvature. However, the lower part of the tab 23 rests on a support 24. The support 24 prevents bending of the tab 23 in the actuation direction. The support 24 is the lower edge of an opening 25 in a metal structure 26 that is part of the actuation piece 4, as shown in more detail in Figures 5. Petition 870250085781, dated 09 / 23 / 2025, page 17 / 40 12 / 13 and 6. Support 24 is therefore made of metal.

[0027] The stop 20 is formed in the housing 3, more precisely on an inner side 27 of the housing 3. The drive piece 4 may comprise two legs 28, each of which is received and guided in a channel 29 provided for this purpose in the housing 3. The retaining device may be formed from a stop 20 on an inner wall in each of the two channels 29 and corresponding retaining elements 21 in each of the two legs 28. Each leg 28 comprises its own metal structure 26. The metal structures 26 may be manufactured as sheet metal parts and fitted into a synthetic material core 30 of the drive piece 4 during assembly (see Figure 6).

[0028] During the assembly of the articulation device 2, the legs 28 of the drive piece 4 are inserted into the channels 29 of the housing 3. In order that the retaining element 21 does not block this process, a chamfer 33 is provided on the outer edge on a rear side 32 opposite the locking surface 31 of the locking elements 22. When inserted, this chamfer 33 can slide out of a corresponding chamfer 34 at the entrance of the channel 29 and lift / push the corresponding locking element 22 away from the support 24 to a release position. The raised locking element 22 slides along the inner side 35 of the channel 29 until it engages under the stop 20. To release the drive piece 4 from the housing 3, the locking element can be lifted manually, for example with a pointed object, and at the same time pulled over the stop 20, after which it is held in the channel by the inner side 35. This process must be repeated for both legs 28.

[0029] As can be seen by comparing Figures 1 and 3, which show the inking position, and Figures 2 and 4, which show the retention position, the actuating part 4 is Petition 870250085781, dated 09 / 23 / 2025, page 18 / 40 13 / 13 further from the printing position in the holding position than in the inking position. That is, in the holding position, the drive piece is higher up than in the inking position. To obtain this relative configuration of the two positions, bearing receptacles 7 are provided in the drive piece 4 for the rotation axis 5 in a direction parallel to the drive direction 11, between the locking element 22 and a printing side 12 of the housing 3.

[0030] Figures 7 and 8 illustrate the removal of the rotation axis 5 from the articulation device 2 in the printing position. In this case, a movable fastening element 36 formed by the cover 16 is displaced on at least one side of the housing 3 from a fastening position covering the rotation axis 5 (see Figure 7) to a release position, freeing access to the rotation axis 5 (see Figure 8). As a result, the opening 14 is temporarily opened and released. Subsequently, the rotation axis 5 can slide out of the bearing receptacles 7 through the opening 14 parallel to its longitudinal extension direction. Once the rotation axis 5 is completely removed from the drive part 4 and the housing 3, the printing tool 6 will no longer be attached to the housing 3 and can be removed from the articulation device 2.If cable 13 is then released, the drive piece 4 moves under the action of the stamp spring 10 to the holding position shown and described in relation to Figure 2. Petition 870250085781, dated 09 / 23 / 2025, page 19 / 40

Claims

1 / 2 CLAIMS 1. Self-inking stamp (1) having a hinge device (2) with an impression tool (6) housed therein and with a rotation axis (5) extending through the hinge device (2) and the impression tool (6), the hinge device (2) comprising a housing (3) and a drive piece (4), the drive piece (4) being connected to the housing (3) and movable relative to the housing (3), wherein the drive piece (4) is configured to support and hold the rotation axis (5) for the impression tool (6), wherein the rotation axis (5) is removable from the self-inking stamp, wherein the hinge device (2) comprises a retaining device (19) configured to prevent the release of the drive piece (4) from the housing (3) when the rotation axis (5) is removed from the drive piece (4), characterized in that the retaining device (19) is configured as a lock,the lock being of self-locking type, for which the retaining device (19) comprises a stop (20) and a retaining element (21) supported on the stop (20) in a retaining position, the retaining element (21) being configured as a self-locking locking element (22) which is transversely mounted movably in a locking direction and spring-mounted, being located in a rest position in the retaining position, wherein the locking element (22) is designed to absorb the spring force of a stamp spring (10) in the retaining position, wherein the stamp spring (10) is located between the housing (3) and the drive piece (4) and is configured to reposition the self-inking stamp (1) from a printing position to an inking position.

2. Self-inking stamp (1), according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuating part (4) is further from the printing position in the holding position than in the inking position.

3. Self-inking stamp (1), according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the stop (20) is formed in the housing (3) and in that the locking element (22) is connected to the actuating part (4).

4. Self-inking stamp (1), according to claim 3, characterized in that the stop (20) is formed on an inner side (35) of the housing (3).

5. Self-inking stamp (1), according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that a support receptacle (7) on the drive part (4) for the rotation axis (5) is located in a direction parallel to the drive direction (11) between the locking element (22) and a printing side (12) of the housing (3).

6. Self-inking stamp (1), according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the locking element (22) is made substantially of a synthetic material.

7. Self-inking stamp (1), according to claim 6, characterized in that the locking element (22) is supported on a metal support (24) in the locking direction.

8. Method for disassembling a self-inking stamp (1), according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the latch is released by a force applied transversely to the drive direction (11) and, when the latch is released, the drive piece (4) is released from the housing (3) parallel to the drive direction (11). Petition 870250085781, dated 23 / 09 / 2025, page 40 / 40

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