Abstract: A printing apparatus employs a rotatable cam having an enclosed cam slot for controlling the rocking motion of an inking roll without the need for a cam follower spring. The apparatus also includes an articulated printing member support assembly which executes a complex curvilinear movement under the control of a fixed cam slot without the use of linear bearings. Complementary cam profiles are used on both cam surfaces in order to maintain tangency between the inking roll and printing element during inking. A yieldable connecting link is used to prevent excessive printing pressures from being applied, and a movable filler plate closes off a slot in a front cover of the printing apparatus through which a portion of the movable printing member protrudes.

Abstract: A printing or marking apparatus comprises a movable marking member having at least one marking device thereon, and a stationary heating structure having at least one heating element for maintaining the marking device at an elevated temperature. At least a portion of the stationary heating structure can be exchanged, removed or modified in order to vary the amount of heat applied to the marking device. In a preferred embodiment, the removable portion comprises a tubular heat pipe which extends into a hollow marking roll, and the heat pipe may be provided in different sizes or in segments which can be added or removed as desired. The disclosed apparatus is of particular utility in connection with ink compositions of the type which are solid at normal room temperatures, and which are rendered liquid or flowable at elevated temperatures.