Abstract: A label marker for a confined area, such as between a stack of labels to be imprinted, and ink pad, and a closely disposed conveyor for articles to which the labels are to be affixed, has a print head which reciprocates between and ink pad and the exposed label in the stack of labels. The print head is mounted at the end of a shaft, above which is disposed a combination rotator and reciprocator for causing the shaft and the print head to execute a combined rotary and reciprocating motion between the ink pad and the label stack. In a sequence beginning with the print head disposed against the ink pad, the combination reciprocator and rotator causes the ink pad to move linearly away from the ink pad, execute a rotation of 180.degree., and again execute a linear motion toward the exposed label for imprinting thereon. After imprinting, a print head moves linearly away from the now-imprinted label, executes a 180.degree. rotation in the opposite direction, and again moves linearly toward the ink pad for re-inking.

Abstract: A hot ink imprinter and method wherein a print head carrying marking type face is swingingly supported by a rocker arm for cyclical swinging, in one phase of which type face carried by the head effects imprinting of a workpiece, and in a second phase of which the type face is caused in the swinging of the head to roll in ink pickup relation on a rotary applicator inking roll. A pulley and timing belt arrangement may be provided for controlling swinging of the print head during rocking of the rocker arm. Another arrangement for controlling the print head swinging comprises a telescopic link mechanism.

Abstract: A print head has a print roller carrying one or more type holders thereon for imprinting a work piece movable between the print roller and a support roller, and has dual hot ink rollers carried on an ink roller support member which is movable so as to simultaneously engage one of the ink rollers with the printer roller for inking the type thereon and to move the other ink roller to a position away from the printer roller permitting replacement of the ink roller without stopping the printing operation. The support member carrying the dual ink rollers may be manually movable or may be movable by a hydraulically actuated rack and pinion or by an air cylinder. The printer roller may be equipped with a counter for providing a signal after a specified number of revolutions indicating a change of inking rollers is necessary. In the automatic embodiments, the counter may be connected to a control unit for automatically moving the support member to engage a fresh inking roller.

Abstract: A hot ink imprinter and method wherein a print head carrying a marking type face is swingingly supported by shafts extended through a pivotable mounting block for cyclical swinging, in one phase of which type face carried by the head effects imprinting of a workpiece, and in a second phase of which the type face is caused in the swinging of the head to roll in ink pickup relation on a rotary applicator inking roll. An air cylinder actuator may be provided for controlling swinging of the print head during pivoting and reciprocating movement of the shafts and a cam track engaged by a cam follower on the print head may be used to guide the print head in a defined path.

Abstract: An intermittent motion imprinter of the type having a reciprocal marker head suspended from a shaft, an opposed anvil, tape supply and take-up reels, a tape advance mechanism and a reciprocal shuttle driving the head and tape advance mechanism, has a common holder for the head shaft and shuttle with intersecting closed periphery slots respectively receiving and guiding the shuttle and the head shaft. The holder is a two-piece split block defining, when assembled, a transverse slot for the shuttle and an upright slot for the head shaft. A cam follower on the head shaft projects into an inclined slot of the shuttle so that, as the shuttle is reciprocated, the shaft is raised and lowered. A second cam follower is also driven by the shuttle to actuate the tape advance mechanism. In one form, the second cam follower is directly attached to the shuttle. In another form, the second cam follower rides in a second shuttle slot.

Abstract: An exchangeable print head hot ink roll marker providing for adjustment of an inking roll and a backing roller relative to print heads of different diameters. Additionally there are provided a novel arrangement for releasably securing the print head to its driving shaft, an improved arrangement for adjusting the backing roll relative to the print head, novel type holder arrangements, and novel type holder latching or magnetic retaining structures.

Abstract: A marking machine of the type having a powered rotary marking head provided with heated raised indicia brought sequentially and repeatedly into contact with a pigment source and a linearly moving workpiece to be imprinted by the indicia. The device is provided with a rotary drive train which may be geared to the workpiece drive and is equipped with adjustment mechanisms within the train providing for both rotary angle adjustment of the head with respect to the drive input and rotational speed adjustment varying the rate of rotation during each rotation of the head to adjust to different spacing between imprints while maintaining proper imprint speed.

Abstract: A multicolor imprinter employs a plurality of heat transferable tape of different colors wound upon one another in continuous convolutions on a supply reel which has its axis of rotation parallel to the direction of travel of the tapes through a marking zone. A guide structure is provided between the supply reel and the marking zone to turn the tapes so that they are parallel and coplanar as they traverse the marking zone. A separate takeup reel is provided for each tape and has an axis of rotation perpendicular to the direction of tape travel.

Abstract: An intermittent motion imprinter particularly adapted for use with quick change cassette carried transfer tape to imprint spaced indicia by means of a reciprocating print head, the indicia being printed on a film strip, strip of labels, or product container passing the print head. Movement of the print head and advancement of the transfer tape is by means of a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder driving a reciprocating shuttle. The print head has a centrally aligned axially extending shaft with a diametical slot therethrough. The shuttle passes through the slot and engages a cam roller affixed to the shaft within the slot, the cam contacting walls of a camming surface of the shuttle. The print head shaft is radially restrained in a bearing member and the shuttle is restrained against movement transverse to the reciprocal movement direction. The shuttle terminates in a projecting portion which engages a one-way drive for advancing the transfer tape.

Abstract: A continuous motion ribbon imprinter moves with and marks a moving web on a packaging machine and has an easily set control adjusting step-by-step advance of the ribbon across the type block to accommodate wide variations in the size of the printed indicia so as to always present just enough length of fresh ribbon to cover the type for the next imprint. A frame mounting the type block and ribbon reels swings in either a clockwise or counterclockwise orbital path having a dwell stroke on the moving web, and a lift stroke spacing the ribbon from the web. The ribbon remains stationary on the type block during the dwell stroke and is advanced across the type block on the lift stroke. A single input shaft drives the frame through its orbital path and also drives the mechanism for unwinding the fresh ribbon from one reel and winding the spent ribbon on a second reel.

Abstract: A method and device for imprinting indicia on a product bag in cooperation with a product bagging machine in which the imprinting operation does not hinder or interfere with an accelerated packaging operation, including the steps of first continuously moving products to be bagged along a conveying surface in a spaced and generally aligned end-to-end relationship, second inflating a product bag by an air jet in order to receive the product, third prior to filling the inflated bag shifting it laterally into contact with a printer head of an imprinter device which is disposed off to the side of the moving stream of aligned and spaced products, and fourth imprinting the inflated bag during the interval of time that the space between adjacent moving products is adjoining the imprinter device.