Abstract: In an apparatus for imprinting a material web including a transport arrangement for moving the material web through the apparatus along stations for applying coloring agents to the material web and fixing the coloring agent applied to the web, and a web buffer arranged in the web transport direction of the material web ahead of the first imprinting station for accommodating a section of the material web moved back out of the station area upon shutdown of the apparatus, at least one clamping structure (11a, 11b) is provided for fixing the material web (3) during the movement of the material web back out of the station area.