858,879. Printing machines. GOTTSCHO Inc., A. Dec. 29, 1958, No. 41899/58. Class 100(2) A machine for printing on a surface of an article carried e.g. on a conveyer, along a path extending past the machine comprises a die wheel 38 having at least one marking element 88 on a portion of the periphery thereof, a continuously rotated inking roller 62 which contacts the marking element 88 as the die wheel is rotated, means for supplying ink to the surface of the inking roller, and means which effects intermittent rotation of the die wheel and which angularly positions the die wheel so that the marking element 88 is spaced from both the surface of the inking roller and from the path of the surface to be printed during the period between the successive rotations of the die wheel. Rotary machines; inking apparatus. The framework of the machine comprises a top plate 24, a side plate 22, a back plate 36 and a bracket 26 mounted on the plate 24 and parallel to the plate 22. A mounting plate 12 is secured to a supporting structure and arms 14, 16 extending from the ends thereof carry bearings 18 in which is journalled the main drive shaft 20 of the machine; the plate 22 and the bracket 26 are pivoted on the bearings 18 carried by the arms 16, 14 respectively. The machine frame is biased towards rotation in a clockwise direction, Fig. 5, by a spring 34, such rotation being prevented by the abutment of a pin 30 carried by the plate 22 against an adjustable bolt 32 carried by a downwardly depending part of the arm 16. An ink reservoir 44 is pivoted on lugs 52 on the back plate 36, its angle of inclination being adjusted by a stop bolt 56. A fountain roller 60 is carried on a shaft 58 rotatable in the sides of the reservoir 44 and is engaged by the inking roller 62 which is rotatably mounted on a shaft 64 carried by the side plate 22. A shaft 80, also carried by the side plate 22 has a reduced portion 80a upon which is rotatably mounted a cylindrical sleeve 82 having an eccentric bore through which the portion 80a passes. An arbor 84 carrying the die wheel 38 is rotatable on the sleeve 82, rotation of the sleeve 82 about the shaft 80 causing adjustment of the position of the die wheel in relation. to the inking roller 62. Rotation of the sleeve 82 is effected by means of a tube 96 rotatable on the outer end of the shaft portion 80a and having fingers 94 which engage slots in the sleeve. Driving, stopping and starting arrangements. The shaft 20 is continuously rotated by an electric motor 224 and through a gear wheel 70, Fig. 10, drives a gear wheel 72 freely mounted on the shaft 64. The gear 72 meshes with a gear 74 mounted on the shaft 58 whereby the fountain roller 60 is rotated. Another gear 76 on the shaft 58 meshes with a gear 78 secured to the inking roller 62 whereby the latter is rotated. The gear 72 also meshes with a gear 100 freely mounted on the shaft 80. A series of friction clutch discs 102 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 80 adjacent to the gear 100, alternate discs having notches in their peripheries which are slidably engaged by pins 104 projecting from the gear 100. A sleeve 106 is rotatable on the shaft 80 and a yoke ring 108 is axially slidable on but non-rotatable in relation to the sleeve 106 at the end adjacent to the friction clutch discs 102. At the other end the sleeve 106 carries a ratchet wheel 114; the ratchet wheel is engaged by a pawl 120, Fig. 9, mounted on a disc 116 carried by the arbor 84. When a projecting flange on the face of the yoke ring 108 is pressed into engagement with the friction discs 102 rotation of the gear 100 is transmitted to the die wheel 38 through the discs 102, sleeve 106 and pawl 120. A yoke member 124 is pivoted at its upper end to a bracket depending from a plate 130 mounted on the top plate 24. The forked lower end 132 of the yoke member 124 carries rollers 134 which engage between end flanges on the yoke ring 108 but which do not prevent rotation of the ring. The yoke member is oscillated to move the ring 108 into and out of engagement with the discs 102 by means of a cam 136 and a cam follower roller 140 carried by the yoke member. The cam 136 is pivotally mounted in a holder 138, being biased into engagement with the roller 140 by a spring 150, and the holder 138 is vertically slidable in guides 146 mounted on a bracket 148 c'epending from the plate 130. The upper end of the holder 138 passes through a hole 160 in the plate 130 and is normally urged downwards by a leaf spring 162. When the yoke member 124 hangs freely as in Fig. 2, the cam 136 being in its lowermost position, the gear 100 is driven but does not rotate the die wheel 38 and a roller 182 mounted on the lower end of the cam holder 138 engages in a notch 186, Fig. 9, in the periphery of the disc 116 thereby locking the die wheel 38 in the Fig. 1 position wherein none of the three marking elements 88 engages the inking roller 62. As an article to be printed is carried by a conveyer in the direction of the arrow 188 towards the die wheel it engages. and closes a micro-switch 192 which energises a solenoid 166. The solenoid 166, acting through a rocking lever 172 and a spring 178 secured to an eye bolt in the upper end of the cam holder 138, raises the cam 136 thus causing the yoke member 124 to swing to the left, Fig. 2, and couple the die wheel with the gear 100 for rotation therewith. After initiating rotation of the die wheel the solenoid 166 is de-energised and the friction clutch is kept engaged by the engagement of the roller 182 with the unnotched part of the periphery of the disc 116. When the roller 182 descends into the next notch 186 the friction clutch is disengaged until the next actuation of the microswitch 192. The disc 116 has a number of notches 186 corresponding to the number of marking elements 88. If the articles to be printed are travelling at a greater speed than the peripheral speed of the die wheel, the latter may be rotated at a greater speed than the gear 100 through frictional contact with the articles, the pawl 120 slipping idly over the ratchet wheel 114 to allow this. If the articles are travelling at a slower speed than the peripheral speed of the die wheel the latter may be slowed down relatively to the gear 100, the friction clutch slipping to allow this. Instead of being actuated by the articles to be printed the micro-switch 192 may be actuated by a cam on a timing shaft. The machine may be used for printing upon a continuous web of material.