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.