Abstract: An apparatus for printing on golf tees or other conical objects. The apparatus includes a singler from which the objects are discharged one-by-one. From the singler, the objects are deposited onto a rack. In some versions of the invention, the singler vibrates. The rack is mechanically separate from the singler so that the vibrations of the singler are not transmitted to the rack. A conveyor adjacent the rack individually picks up each object. More particularly, the object is held between a pair of opposed entraining pins on the conveyor. As the object moves horizontally along the conveyor, it is passed underneath a printer that prints on the object.

Abstract: A tire, for example, is nipped by a pair of bead portion support members and filled with an internal pressure. Logo marks printed on a transfer film are positioned in front of the tire at a transfer position at which the logo marks are to be transferred or printed to the tire. The transfer film is pressed by thermal plates onto the side portions of the tire so that the logo marks are transferred onto the side portions thereof. In short, the present invention provides a printing device and a printing method capable of effectively printing clear indications on the side portions of a toroidal-shaped body such as a tire.

Abstract: A printing aid includes a printing position-determining member 22 for determining a position of a material to be printed 30 on a printing position of a printer device, and a placement member for material to be printed 21 for placing the material to be printed at a portion corresponding to the printing position determined by the printing position-determining member. This makes it possible to print on various types of materials to be printed with the printer device.

Abstract: An apparatus for printing on dimensionally stable individual articles has a conveyor for conveying the articles, along which printing stations and other treatment stations are arranged. CDs are fed in a magazine in the form of a stack to a separating station, individually separated, and then each fitted into a respective receiver of the conveyor. The printed articles are removed in a removal station from the respective receivers and fed to a magazine in a collecting station. A conveyor belt conveys the magazines both through the separating stations and also through the collecting station, the conveyor belt conveying the empty magazines from the separating station into the collecting station. At least one stepwise circulating transfer arrangement forms a second conveyor path along which are arranged the separating station, the respective receivers disposed in the receiving station for the printed article, and the collecting station.

Abstract: A card printing and encoder apparatus for printing information on a card to provide identification of a person, and includes two encoding stations, one to encode a smart card chip embedded in the card, and the other station to encode a magnetic strip on the card. Card support and drive rollers support the card, and the card is bent out of its plane to contact the smart card encoding station contacts. A magnetic head for encoding a magnetic strip is held under a resilient force against an opposite side of the card from the smart card encoding station. The loading of the print head against a rotatable print platen is controlled in synchronism with card drive and support rollers so that the card drive and support rollers release and the card is driven only by the rotatable print platen during the printing operation.

Abstract: A printing apparatus is provided for precisely applying identifying indicia to wires connected with connectors without causing any displacement of position and orientation. The printing apparatus is provided with a palette 1 which is moved while being guided by slide rails 6, a wire receiving portion 2 on which wires 21 drawn from a connector 20 are placed, a wire correcting device 3, and a holder 4. The wire 21 fed to a marking section is pressed from above and is straightened in its longitudinal direction by the correcting device 3. The holder 4 holds the straightened wire 21 in the center of the marking section. In this state, printing is applied to the wire 21 by a laser marker 5.

Abstract: A new apparatus and methods for automatically unloading or removing an article from a printing machine, and preferably transferring the same to a suitable drying surface is disclosed. The disclosed apparatus includes a support frame, an extendable gripping means attached to the support frame for engaging the article, and a conventional controller for controlling operation of the extendable gripping means. Additionally, at least one platen attached to the printing machine in a manner allowing the extendable gripping means to vertically extend from the support frame to an area of the platen(s) is also disclosed. To permit gripping of the articles, the platen are notched at the area corresponding to the extendable gripping means.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically marking paper, board or cellulose web rolls at a slitter for the purpose of identifying the rolls during later finishing steps. Such finishing operations include, e.g., roll transport, rewinding, sheeting or other finishing steps and roll packaging. The roll identification code is also used for material management related to customer rolls. The roll identification information of a roll set leaving the slitter, that is, the sequence of rolls exiting from the slitter as a group is transmitted for the use of the roll marking equipment and the customer rolls are moved away from the slitter area only via the roll marking equipment and new rolls are prevented from entering the slitter area in any other form except as a new roll set. As a result, the correct identification data for each roll set is continuously available to the marking equipment.

Abstract: A printing machine includes an endless conveyor carrying a plurality of spaced object supports, at least one screenprinting station vertically aligned with the path of movement of the object supports and at least one digital inkjet printing station adapted to operate on demand. Applications include printing compact discs.

Abstract: In the marking apparatus in which the marking tool is vibrated by piezoelectric body vibrator and characters are engraved onto the objective material, the detection means detects the amplitude of piezoelectric body vibrator as the DC signal, and the drive control means adjusts the frequency of the drive signal so that the level of the DC signal detected by detection means is within a predetermined range, and drives piezoelectric body vibrator, and by appropriately adjusting the frequency to drive piezoelectric body vibrator, drives piezoelectric body vibrator with a predetermined amplitude. Accordingly, because the amplitude of piezoelectric body vibrator can be kept within a constant range, the stable resonance can be conducted. Further, the resonance can be conducted without being influenced by the resonance frequency of the tool.

Abstract: A printer is capable of stably feeding even a thin recording medium to a printing section and obtaining good print quality similar to that obtainable in the case of a thick recording medium. The printer comprises a first supply path for supplying a first recording medium, a second supply path for supplying a second recording medium thicker than the first recording medium, a printing section for printing on a recording medium supplied from the first supply path or the second supply path, and a delivery section for delivering the recording medium printed in the printing section. A guide spring member which is movable up and down is projected upstream of the printing section and in a meeting portion of the first supply path and the second supply path. This guide spring member serves to support a top surface of the first recording medium at a predetermined height.

Abstract: A document feeder is formed of a transfer path for allowing a document to pass therethrough, a transferring device situated along the transfer path for transferring the document along the transfer path, a stamping device situated near the transfer path for impressing a mark on a surface of the document transferred by the transferring device, and a setting device connected to the stamping device for setting a density of the mark on the document impressed by the stamping device so that the mark impressed on the document becomes substantially constant in the density when it is used. A driving device is connected to the transfer device for controlling a transferring speed of the document by the transferring device in accordance with density information set by the setting device. Therefore, even if ink itself in the stamping device is consumed, impressed mark can be identified by a user by controlling the density of the impressed mark.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting and processing a plurality of articles includes a transport loop including a plurality of carrier bars and a plurality of pockets formed between adjacent ones of the carrier bars. The articles are laterally, longitudinally and rotationally positioned within the pockets at a predetermined position, and at least a first processing station at a first position along the transport loop performs a first operation on the articles while within the pocket in the predetermined position. The articles may be pharmaceutical tablets or capsules and the first processing station may be a drill that drills a series of holes on the pharmaceuticals to create a mechanical time-release mechanism. A second processing station coordinated with the first processing station may perform a second operation on the articles. The first and second processing stations may be first and second printers that print first and second component images in registration with another to form a composite image.

Abstract: A pad printing system for applying high quality multicolor images to curved objects is provided. The pad printing system includes a substantially flat release substrate having an ink receiving surface and a digital printer having a plurality of print heads. The print heads of the digital printer are arranged to discharge ink in a plurality of colors onto the ink receiving surface of the release media substrate. The print heads and release substrate are movable relative to each other such that the discharge of ink from the print heads prints a multicolor ink image on the ink receiving surface of the release substrate. The pad printing system further includes a deformable ink transfer pad which is movable into pressure contact with the release substrate for receiving a multicolor ink image therefrom and movable into pressure contact with a curved object to be printed for transferring a multicolor ink image from the transfer pad to the curved object.

Abstract: A printing machine includes a printing table for printing groups of objects presented in an entry support and an exit support, a transfer system disposed between the printing table and a loading system, on the one hand, and an offloading system, on the other hand. The transfer system transfers the objects one by one. The loading and offloading systems include holding arrangements which take up simultaneously and move a group of objects between the entry support or the exit support and the intermediate supports. The intermediate supports support the group of objects disposed with a predetermined spacing. Spacing modification arrangements modify the spacing of the group of objects from an entry spacing to the predetermined spacing or from the predetermined spacing to an exit spacing. The transfer system transfers the objects between the printing table and the intermediate supports.

Abstract: A thermal printer for printing onto circular objects includes a housing that mounts a platen and a carrier for the circular object, and a separate removable and latchable carriage carrying the printhead and positionable on the housing to retain the printhead in a fixed location. The carrier for the circular object is driven relative to the printhead while printing takes place. The platen, carrier and circular object are urged against the printhead as the carrier moves. An actuator is used for moving the platen and carrier with a variable force to vary the force of the circular object against the printhead so that the force is increased when the length of the line of printing increases to span the circular object.

Abstract: A system uses a disk dispenser to dispense memory storage disks including CD's and the like to the printer. The system includes a housing, a disk dispenser and a printer. The disk dispenser can be affixed to the housing, or mounted on a turntable. The disk dispenser includes an upper guide and a lower guide attached to the upper guide. The upper and lower guides are formed with axially offset openings. The lower guide has a rim for supporting a disk. A plate mounts between the lower guide and the upper guide. The plate has an arced edge for contacting a disk. The plate slides, causing the arced edge of the plate to dispense the disk through the opening in the lower guide to the printer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a transport mechanism, and method, for transporting plastic cards, such as credit cards, identification cards, and the like, past a printing apparatus within a printer. The transport mechanism includes a lifting and rotating station for displacing the card from a first level to a second level, as well as rotating the card. The second level is located above the top of the printing apparatus. A card translating station is disposed at the second level, generally above the printing apparatus, and has a receiving end disposed adjacent the lifting and rotating station for receiving the card therefrom, as well as an output end. The translating station includes means for moving the card from the receiving end to the output end thereof along a direction that is generally perpendicular to the direction of movement of the lifting and rotating station.

Abstract: In an apparatus and method of decorating articles which are transported on article carriers through a treatment station along a transport path which is linear at least over a portion of its extent, the article carriers are transported through the linear portion of the transport path by a screw having a screw flight adapted to engage with a respective article carrier required to move along the linear portion of the transport path. Rotation of the screw advances the respective article carrier along the linear transport path portion. The screw preferably rotates at a constant speed so that changes in the speed of movement of the article carrier along the linear portion of the transport path are implemented by variations in the screw flight pitch over the length of the screw.

Abstract: Ink decoration applied to bottles during a dwell period at decoration stations of an intermittent motion decorating machine is cured during a dwell period while the bottles dwell at curing stations, each downstream of a decorating station. A bottle rotator at each curing station is joined by a tie rod to drive a bottle rotator at a decorating station. An alternative embodiment provides separate drive motors for a decorating and a curing station and control of the motors is provided by the same control signal to rotate bottles during a dwell period. Restraint rails and rotators at all decoration and curing stations prevent loss of an established orientation between each bottle and each decoration screen at each decorating station. The established orientation can be established by an indexer at the bottle receiving end of the decorating machine.

Abstract: The traveling motion imparted to bottles in an intermittent motion decorating machine is provided by a pair of workpiece feed cams rotatably supported in a side-by-side relation to rotate about spaced horizontal axes lying in a common horizontal plane, the workpiece feed cams have feed cam tracks extending along the decorator between loading and unloading stations for receiving cam followers of each of plurality of bottle carriers. The feed cam track defining a workpiece dwell period at each decorating station and workpiece advancement periods between each workpiece dwell period. A pair of carrier return cams is rotatably supported in a side-by-side relation to rotate about spaced horizontal axes lying in a common horizontal plane. The carrier return cams have carrier cam tracks extending along the decorator for returning bottle carriers received from the unloading station for delivery to the loading station.

Abstract: An ink-jet printing technique for printing on flat or seamed or irregular surfaced fabric sections or on seamed or irregular continuous rolls of fabric, for example as caused by hems or collars. The position of an ink-jet printing head is automatically adjusted to compensate for such surface irregularities within the fabric. Ultra-fine filtration during production of aqueous-based inks provides ink-jet printed patterns having desirable color clarity and permanence.

Abstract: A mail processing machine including a base, a mail item feed station and a station for storing said items after processing in the base, said base including a printhead adapted to print postage imprints on mail items from a magazine of the feed station and conveyor rollers for transporting said items along a transport path of said base to a magazine of the storage station, control means, display means and processing means being additionally provided for controlling said machine, and the transport path of the base of the machine is inclined at a particular angle to the horizontal, in the range a few degrees, preferably 10.degree., to a few tens of degrees, preferably 30.degree..

Abstract: An apparatus for stamping skins including a plurality of stamping units of thermal transfer type, positioned side by side trasverse to a direction of advancement of the skin. Each stamping unit is provided with at least one skin presence sensor which enables the corresponding stamping unit to operate, and further includes a skin advancement sensing element.

Abstract: A conveyor system for conveying pellet shaped articles includes an endless conveyor made up of a plurality of carrier bars each having a surface defining a plurality of pockets. The pockets of one of the carrier bars may be staggered with respect to the adjacent pockets of an adjacent carrier bar, or the pockets of one carrier bar can be interlaced in overlapping relationship with the pockets of an adjacent carrier bar. In addition, the carrier bars may have adjacent scalloped edges that mate to form a substantially continuous conveying surface.

Abstract: A pad printing apparatus is provided with a sealed ink cup for the printing of long images having a length greater than the diameter of the ink cup. The ink cup is caused to move lengthwise of the image and the movement of the image transfer pad is in a direction perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the image.

Abstract: A system for the flexographic printing of compact discs is provided in which the transport member for the compact discs travels in an oval-shaped path. The transport member is made up of individual segments connected together so that each end can be pivoted on a vertical axis. These individual segments are provided with top and bottom rollers that are engaged by a sprocket drive. A support member for a compact disc tooling fixture is attached to each of the individual segments. The flexographic print heads are caused to move at the same rate as the transport member for the compact discs by rack segments that are provided on each of the individual segments of the transport member and which mesh with a toothed gear on the print heads. The flexographic print heads can be moved laterally and radially to provide registration of the decoration to be printed on the compact disc supported by a particular tooling fixture for the compact disc.

Abstract: A printing machine comprises a printing station at which two shells are adapted to enclose the object to be printed, the shells being subject to a drive mechanism which acts directly on one of them, whereas it acts on the other through the intermediary of at least two movement reverser columns. The machine further comprises a conveyor equipped with at least one object-carrier support and which is mobile in order to move the support between the shells of the printing station. The conveyor is a turntable rotating about one of the movement reverser columns. Applications include the printing of synthetic material bottles.

Abstract: Electronic components are held in first holding portions distributed along a peripheral edge portion of a first rotor, which in turn is intermittently rotated to provide the electronic components with markings. Then, ink providing the markings is cured on a supply track extending from the first rotor toward a second rotor. The electronic components held by the second rotor are successively supplied into cavities of a receiving tape along intermittent rotation of the second rotor. An apparatus for providing the markings comprises a printing plate having printing surfaces, a platen for supporting the electronic components, and a back support, elastically displaceably holding the platen, which can approach to and separate from the printing surfaces.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying and verifying a printed mark on the periphery of generally cylindrically-shaped objects as they travel on a path. The apparatus comprises at least a first conveyor mounted for movement on a first side of the path. The first conveyor is located to engage the objects to translate the objects at a known translational velocity along the path. A transport assembly is mounted for cyclic movement back and forth along a transport assembly path parallel to the path of the objects at least part of the cyclic movement being approximately at the known translational velocity of the objects. A mark applicator is mounted on the transport assembly and is located in a position to apply a mark on each object as the object is translated by the first conveyor. A sensor is mounted on the transport assembly. The sensor is located in a position to read the applied mark on each object as the object is translated by the belt. The sensor generates a signal representative of the mark.

Abstract: A screen printing apparatus transfers an image onto a substrate. A feed mechanism is provided for moving the substrate along a fixed linear path. Vacuum is provided through the feed mechanism for holding the substrate in at least one position along the fixed linear path. A printing head transfers the image onto the substrate while the substrate is held in a first position by the vacuum. A curing station is provided for fixing the image transferred to the substrate while it is passing through the curing station, or while it is being held in a second position by the vacuum applied through the feed mechanism.

Abstract: A pad printing apparatus is provided with a sealed ink cup for the printing of long images having a length greater than the diameter of the ink cup. The ink cup is caused to move lengthwise of the image and the movement of the image transfer pad is in a direction perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the image.

Abstract: Bottles are decorated while advanced by intermittent motion to each of a plurality of decorating stations where a squeegee presses a decorating screen into line contact with a surface of the bottle which has a speed the same as the speed of which the decorating screen is advanced along the printing station. The bottles are decorated at a higher through put rate by initiating linear movement of the screen before the bottle arrives at the decorating station and continuing linear movement of the screen after the bottle moves from the decorating station. The degree of overlap allows the printing cycle to consume a major part of a machine cycle while the bottle indexing cycle consumes a minor part of the machine cycle. The bottles are received in a vertical orientation and intermittently re-orientated horizontally for entrance to the decorating machine.

Abstract: The described machine comprises a cassette infeed conveyor; stamper means for stamping incoming cassettes with an identifying code; first collection means for receiving cassettes as they are removed from the infeed conveyor; and transfer means for transferring cassettes from the first collection means to a second transfer means for accumulating a plurality of rows of loaded cassettes.

Abstract: Stamping dies and method for stamping parts using multiple stamping stations with different bottom markers in successive dies that mark the part being produced at selected stations with different markings related to one another, which cumulatively provide an observable completed set of marks on a part such as one finally stamped to readily show whether or not the stamping has been properly executed and to identify any stamping station or stations that is not stamping to specification.

Abstract: Stamping dies and method for stamping parts using multiple stamping stations with different bottom markers in successive dies that mark the part being produced at selected stations with different markings related to one another, which cumulatively provide an observable completed set of marks on a part such as one finally stamped to readily show whether or not the stamping has been properly executed and to identify any stamping station or stations that is not stamping to specification.

Abstract: A card printing apparatus for printing a graphic design on the surface of a card comprising a card stage adapted to mount a card on its upper surface. The upper surface of the card stage has two planes separated by about the card thickness. The card stage is fed along a straight linear path toward a card stock. When the card stage has reached a certain point along the path, a card is withdrawn from the card stock means so that the card is mounted onto the card stage. A thermal print head prints the graphic design on the surface of the card mounted on the card stage, and an ejector means responsive to the feeding of the card stage ejects the card mounted on the card stage to a card collection zone.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a screen printer (200) selectively applies solder paste to multiple types of printed circuit boards. The screen printer (200) includes mobile placement equipment (210), which receives and transports the boards, and application equipment, which includes first and second stencils (225), frames for holding the stencils (225) in fixed positions, and an applicator (415) for applying solder paste to a board through either the first or second stencil (225). A controller (215) determines the type of a board received by the mobile placement equipment (210), then, when the board is of a first type, directs the mobile placement equipment (210) to a location aligned with the first stencil. When the board is of a second type, the mobile placement equipment (210) is directed to a location aligned with the second stencil.

Abstract: Provided is a method and apparatus for grasping, lifting, removing, and dropping a finish-printed product, for example, a T-shirt from a screen table which serves as a platform for the screen-printing process. The apparatus employs a gripping device which grips portions of a T-shirt that hang over opposite edges of the screen table. Once the T-shirt is gripped, it is lifted vertically from the printing platform, moved horizontally away from the printing platform, and then dropped, preferably, upon a conveyor dryer assembly.

Abstract: An automatic printing apparatus is used to print indentifying words on a packing case that is carried on a conveyer belt unit and includes a sensor, a lower support unit, a lengthwise-position adjustment device, an upper support unit, a height adjustment device, a feeding hydraulic cylinder, a printer support unit, a contact switch, a printing hydraulic cylinder and a printer member. The printer member is carried on the printer support unit. The printer support unit is carried on the upper support unit. The upper support unit is carried on the lower support unit. The lengthwise-position adjustment device can be actuated to adjust the position of the lower support unit along the length of the conveyer belt unit. The height adjustment device can be actuated to adjust the vertical position of the upper support unit relative to the lower support unit.

Abstract: A marking apparatus for providing desired marks such as characters, symbols, graphics, etc. on surfaces of contact lenses in a standardized manner. The marking apparatus includes a main shaft rotatable about an axis and a screen support mounted on the main shaft so as to be rotated therewith. The screen support has a plurality of marking holes provided at equal intervals around a circumference thereof and a screen is stretched across the support. The screen includes patterns associated with the desired mark which are provided in correspondence with the marking holes. A bracket is mounted on the main shaft under the screen support so as to be rotated with the main shaft. A plurality of supporters are supported by the bracket and function to individually support lens beds on which the lenses are respectively disposed.

Abstract: An inkcup and drive mechanism for a printing machine wherein the inkcup comprises a hollow body for containing a supply of ink and having an open end outlined by a wiping edge, a biasing spring for urging the wiping edge into contact with a surface of a printing plate, and a holder for supporting the biasing spring and engaging the printing plate so that the assembly of hollow body, biasing spring and holder is movable along the printing plate to place the open end of the hollow body into and out of registry with the image for inking the same and so that the biasing spring is entirely within the inkcup and applies force only to the hollow body and to the holder. The printing plate is removable from the machine so that the inkcup is easily manually removable from the machine in a sealed and contained condition.

Abstract: The inventive apparatus provides for the automated marking, inspecting and handling of a variety of singulated integrated circuit devices. The apparatus includes a computerized high speed vision system with operator touchscreen interface control of a novel series of electrical and mechanical operations to automatically receive integrated circuit devices from a suitable bulk input supply and sequentially inspect, align, mark, inspect, accept or reject, cure and discharge into a suitable bulk output supply, a high volume of properly marked integrated circuit devices, packaged and ready for shipment.

Abstract: Objects (11) for example canned goods are carried by a conveyor (1) towards a support device which is formed by spaced runs of two drive belts (2, 3). The objects (11) are deflected off the conveyor (1) by an oblique section (7) of the run of one belt (2) and are gripped between the runs (12, 14) of the two belts (2, 3). When the belts (2, 3) are driven the objects (11) are transported over a printing head (5) which applies matter to the underside. The objects (11) are directed back onto the conveyor (1) by a deflector rail (6) and a further oblique section (8) of the one belt (2).

Abstract: Apparatus for applying printed matter onto objects (10) has a conveyor (11) on which objects (36) are carried under one or more printing heads (16). The conveyor (11) is formed by multiple rotatable conveyor bodies (12) and is driven by a drive roller (18). The printing head (16) is also connected to the drive roller (18) by way of a linkage (14) which permits driving of the printing heads in a reciprocating manner. An accelerator device (13) is also drivably connected to the drive roller (18) and acts to rotate the conveyor bodies (12) which form the conveyor. In use, objects (36) on the conveyor (11) are rotated by the rotation of the conveyor bodies (12) under the action of the accelerator device (13), the rate of this rotation being matched to the rate of reciprocation of the printing heads (16) whereby a stationary surface on the object (36) is presented for printing.

Abstract: A marking device and method using a plate holder with a printing plate attached, an X-Y-Z driver which moves the plate holder in the X, Y and Z directions, a camera installed downstream of the printing position on a work piece feeding line so that the camera photographs the character width and position of the character printed on the work piece, and a computer which calculates the difference between the width of the printed character and predetermined standard character width and/or the discrepancy in the printed character position. The computer further alters, for the next work piece, the amount of imprinting movement of the printing plate into the work piece and/or the printed character position by controlling the X-Y-Z driver based upon the data representing the difference in the printed character width and/or the data representing the discrepancy in the printed character position.

Abstract: An application device for marking wires and cables. The application device includes a foil storage for a printing foil ribbon and a protective foil ribbon. The device also has a printer for imprinting the printing foil ribbon. The printing foil ribbon and the protective foil ribbon which is pressed against the printing foil ribbon after the printing foil ribbon has been imprinted are cut to a marked length in a foil and cutting receiving member and, after the wire to be marked has been sheated with the ribbon to form a closed sleeve, the printing foil ribbon and the protective foil ribbon are welded together.This makes possible a subsequent marking of wire without having to disconnect already connected wires. The marking is protected against ambient influences by the protective foil and can be made at the location where the wire is installed.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing luminescent screens (2) for, e.g., color picture tubes is described. It uses a printing apparatus with heated printing blocks (3) and tampons (4). The printing inks (D) consist of a mixture of a hot-melt adhesive and the respective luminescent materials. The printing inks are printed from the printing blocks directly on the inside of the faceplate (1) of the color picture tube. It is also possible to first print a black matrix (M) of a ceramic glass color.

Abstract: A plastic article such as key tops of a key board needs wear resistant printing. This is attained in a styrene-based resin body suitable for such an article including key tops, by a process for permeation printing, comprising the steps of printing an article with an ink comprising a medium having a solubility parameter of 8.5 to 11.5 (cal/cc).sup.1/2 and then covering the printed surface of the article to permeate the ink into the article. Further, a system suitable for permeation printing a plastic article is provided which comprises a transfer-type printing device and a body heating and covering device, the body heating and covering device comprising a covering body which is heated and covers the printed surface of the plastic article to cause ink to permeate into the plastic article.

Abstract: A marking machine for automatically marking cartons passing on an intermittently moving conveyor includes a printing head cyclically moved by a pneumatic cylinder into engagement with the cartons. The motion of the printing head is controlled by guide elements extending from the printing head cooperating with slots in adjacent side plates. The printing head passes durng its cyclical movement across an ink roll disposed above the side plates. A backer plate drops behind the carton surface to be marked just before the printing stroke of the print head. The movement of the backer plate is provided by the guide elements extending from the printing head. The type face on the printing head can be oriented to face upwardly for marking the side of the cover of an egg carton or be oriented to face downwardly for marking a separator in a filler flat.