US3585931A

US3585931A - Label imprinting apparatus with a plurality of interchangeable separate self-contained inking modules

Info

Publication number: US3585931A
Application number: US808739A
Authority: US
Inventors: John A West; William R Eppes
Original assignee: Idento Equipment Co
Current assignee: Idento Equipment Co
Priority date: 1969-03-20
Filing date: 1969-03-20
Publication date: 1971-06-22
Anticipated expiration: 1988-06-22
Also published as: DE2012904A1; GB1302951A; FR2063836A5; CH511716A; NL7003826A

Abstract

The combination of a label imprinting apparatus for successively printing serially arranged labels and the like connected together into a web of indeterminate length and a plurality of separate inking modules for selective, alternative, interchangeable use with the imprinting apparatus to supply a desired type of ink thereto. Each of the inking modules is characterized by being completely self-contained to provide ease in assembling, disassembling and interchanging in the imprinting apparatus.

Description

United States Patent John A. West;

William R. Eppes, both of Charlotte, N.C. 808,739

Mar. 20, 1969 June 22, 1971 ldento Equipment Company Charlotte, N.C.

Inventors Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee LABEL Ill/[PRINTING APPARATUS WITH A PLURALITY OF INTERCHANGEABLE SEPARATE SELF-CONTAINED INKING MODULE 2 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 101/228, 101/349 Int. Cl B411 13/04, 1341f 31/30 Field oiSearch 101/349, 350, 351, 352, 227, 228

References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 3/1930 Ramdor 101/228 1,911,048 5/1933 Adsit et al 101/209 X 2,046,742 7/1936 Helsel 101/227 X 2,999,456 9/1961 Lanegan. 101/228 3,065,691 11/1962 Sohn 101/227 3,223,028 12/1965 Brigham 101/351 X 3,229,631 l/l966 Peterson... 101/228 3,238,869 3/1966 West et al.. 101/228 3,259,060 7/1966 Martin 101/247 Primary Examiner-William B. Penn Assistant Examiner-J. Reed Fisher Attorney-Pariott, Bell, Seltzer, Park & Gibson ABSTRACT: The combination of a label imprinting apparatus for successively printing serially arranged labels and the like connected together into a web of indeterminate length and a plurality of separate inking modules for selective, alternative, interchangeable use with the imprinting apparatus to supply a desired type of ink thereto. Each of the inking modules is characterized by being completely self-contained to provide ease in assembling, disassembling and interchanging in the imprinting apparatus.

PATENTEBJUNZBISYI 3.585.931

SHEET 1 [1F 4 INVENTORS: J H N A.\VE5T WILLIAM KEFPE BYW6dMu%MMi/m ATTORNEYS PATENTEDJUHZZIQH 3585.931

SHEET 2 OF 4 INVENTOR JOHN AWEST WILLIAM R. EPPES ATTORNEYS PATEN EuJumsn 8,585,931

' saw u or 4 I INVENTORS: JOHN AWEST WILLIAM K. EPPE fiwfiffieilJifqWmdM ATTORNEYS terchangeable, separate, self-contained inking modules which may be used alternatively in the label imprinting apparatus for supplying a desired type of ink thereto.

Label imprinting apparatus, to which the present invention is specifically directed, are designed to print continuous webs of labels in which the labels themselves are serially arranged and either interconnected into a web of indeterminate length from which web each label is disconnected when use thereof is desired, or labels having pressure sensitive or other types of adhesive on one side thereof and which are removably mounted on a continuous backing web which serves to connect the labels together in spaces serial arrangement in a web of indeterminate length. This type of label imprinting apparatus of necessity requires a specific arrangement of a printing cylinder and an inking system along with a feeding means for intermittently feeding the web of labels to the printing cylinder in timed relation to the rotation thereof for successive printing of the labels and for positioning and registering successive labels in the web in proper position for the printing thereof and, thereby, distinguishes this label imprinting apparatus from other types of more conventional printing apparatus, such as lithographic, offset and other printing systems.

An improved label imprinting apparatus including the above described necessary arrangement of structure is disclosed and claimed in US. Pat. No. 3,238,869, issued Mar. 8, 1966, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention. However, this improved label imprinting apparatus and other known label imprinting apparatus for the printing of serially arranged labels in webs of indeterminate length have heretofore been limited in the use of different colors and types of ink when the printing desired on a particular label is different from that used on labels previously printed. In other words, when it is desired to change from the printing of one type of label to another type of label where a different type or color of ink is desired, it has heretofore been necessary to stop operation of the imprinting apparatus for a prolonged period of time in order to dismantle the same for removing the ink supply roll containing a supply of ink therein and replacing the same with a different ink supply roll containing the new type or color of ink desired and to manualiy clean the ink transfer roll and the ink spreading roll so as to accommodate the new type or color of ink being utilized.

This procedure has necessarily been laborious, time consuming and uneconomical in the operation of the imprinting apparatus. No means has heretofore been satisfactorily provided in this type of label imprinting apparatus for easily and quickly changing the type or color of ink utilized therein. While other printing apparatus or systems have attempted to provide means for easily and quickly changing the type or color of ink utilized therein, these other types of-printing apparatus are so radically different from the arrangement of the present label imprinting apparatus that the same procedures could not be utilized herein.

Additionally, previous label imprinting apparatus of this type had no provisions for inking roll storage. Since the inking rolls contained their own ink supply and required individual replacement in the apparatus when the color or type of ink was changed, a problem of what to do and how to store an inking roll which would secrete ink when it contacted another surface was presented.

Accordingly, it is the object of the present invention to provide an imprinting apparatus for serially arranged labels in web form with a means whereby the type or color of ink may be quickly and easily changed therein and which does not require laborious interchanging of parts, prolonged periods of shutdown of the apparatus, cleaning, etc., and which provides a satisfactory storage means for the inking rolls prior to use in the apparatus.

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide an imprinting apparatus for successively printing serially arranged labels and the like connected together into a web of indeterminate length with a plurality of separate inking modules for selective, alternative, interchangeable use to supply a desired type of ink to the imprinting apparatus and in which each of the inking modules is characterized by being completely self-contained to provide ease in assembling, disassembling and interchanging thereof in the printing apparatus and in storage of inking rolls.

It has been found by this invention that the above objects may be accomplished by providing the following combination of apparatus.

A serially arranged label imprinting apparatus including a main housing, a driven rotatable printing cylinder carried by the housing for printing labels presented thereto, and feeding means carried by the housing for intermittently feeding the web of labels to the printing cylinder in timed relation to the rotation thereof for successive printing of the labels and for positioning and registering successive labels in the web in proper position for the printing thereof.

A plurality of separate inking modules, each of which comprises a module housing including means for registering with the main housing and for removably securing the module housing to the main housing over the printing cylinder, a rotatable ink transfer roll carried by the module housing and being positioned for operative association with the printing cylinder when the inking module is mounted in the imprinting apparatus for supplying ink to the printing cylinder, a rotatable inking roll carried by the module housing and having a supply of ink contained therein and frictionally engaging the ink transfer roll for rotation therewith to deposit a film of ink thereon, a rotatable and reciprocating ink spreading roll carried by the module housing and frictionally engaging the ink transfer roll for rotation therewith and for spreading the ink therealong, and drive means carried by the module housing and operatively connected to the ink transfer roll and the ink spreading roll for rotating the ink transfer roll and for reciprocating the ink spreading roll in timed relationship to the rotation of the printing cylinder.

The apparatus further preferably comprises drive means carried by the main housing for rotating the printing cylinder and including means registering with the inking module drive means when the inking module is assembled in the imprinting apparatus to drive the inking module drive means for rotating the ink transfer roll and reciprocating the ink spreading roll in timed relationship to the rotation of the printing cylinder and which is easily disengaged from the module drive means when the inking module is removed from the imprinting apparatus.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the imprinting apparatus of this invention with an inking module attached therein and illustrating a second inking module which may be interchanged with the inking module assembled therein;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view taken from the left-hand side of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the imprinting apparatus of FIG. 1 with the inking module removed therefrom and with parts broken away to illustrate the drive to the printing cylinder thereof;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged schematic side elevational view of the imprinting apparatus and inking module of FIG. 1 illustrating the relative positions of the printing cylinder, backup roll, ink transfer roll, inking roll, ink spreading roll, and label feeding means including portions of the main housing and module housing in dotted lines;

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are enlarged sectional details taken substantially along the lines 5-5, 6-6 and 77 of FIGS. 1, 3 and 9, respectively, showing portions of the means for removably securing the inking module to the imprinting apparatus;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view in exploded form taken generally along the line 8-8 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view in exploded form taken substantially along the line 9-9 of FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 a label imprinting apparatus, generally indicated at 10, and a plurality of inking modules utilized therewith, generally indicated at 12.

The imprinting apparatus 10 includes a main housing, broadly indicated at 11, which includes a front wall 13, rear wall 14, sidewalls and 16, top supporting surface or wall 17 and a pair of vertically extending, spaced-

apart plates

18 and 19 secured to and extending upwardly from the top supporting wall 17 at generally one end of the main housing 11, as may be clearly seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. These wall members are all interconnected and secured together to form an integral main housing 11 of a generally rectangular configuration.

The imprinting apparatus 10 further comprises a printing cylinder 20 mounted for rotation on a shaft 21 journaled at its opposite ends in suitable bearings (not shown) on

upstanding plates

18 and 19 of the main housing 11. The printing cylinder 20 is adapted to receive suitable printing type or indicia, indicated schematically at 22 in FIG. 4, removably mounted in longitudinally extending slots 23 on the periphery or outer surface of the printing cylinder 20. The printing'cylinder 20 and the indicia 22 thereon cooperate with a backup roll 25, of any suitable material such as rubber, mounted for rotation on a shaft 26 joumaled in suitable bearings (not shown) in the main housing 11 and positioned directly below the printing cylinder 20 for reception and printing of a web W of labels L therebetween, as shown schematically in FIG. 4. The backup roll 25 includes an adjustment mechanism which is more fully described in the above U.S. Pat. No. 3,283,869 and reference to which may be had for a full understanding thereof.

For driving the printing cylinder 20 and the backup roll 25, there is provided a suitable electric motor 30, as shown in FIG. 3, which includes a right angle gear reduction drive and clutch unit 31 which rotates shaft 32 mounted by any suitable bearings on

upstanding plates

18 and 19. The shaft 32 includes on one end thereof a circular gear 33 which meshes with an idler gear 34 mounted on a stub shaft carried in a suitable bearing on upstanding plate 19. The idler gear 34 in turn meshes with a gear 36 secured to the shaft 21 carrying the printing cylinder 20. The gear 36 also meshes with a gear 37 (FIG. 8) carried on the end of shaft 26 carrying the backup roll 25. Thus, as the motor 30 is operated to rotate shaft 32 through right angle gear reduction drive and clutch unit 31, the gear 33 will be rotated to rotate idler gear 34 which in turn rotates gear 36 and thus the printing cylinder 20 through the shaft 21 and rotates the gear 37 to rotate shaft 26 and thus the backup roll 25. As may be seen schematically in FIG. 4, the printing indicia 22 is so located on the printing cylinder 20 that for each rotation of the printing cylinder 20 one or more labels L on the continuous web W may be printed.

For intermittently feeding the web W of labels L to the printing cylinder 20 in timed relation to the rotation thereof for successive printing of the labels and for positioning and registering successive labels in the web in proper position for the printing thereof, there is provided the following apparatus. A main feeding means comprising cooperating upper and lower cams and 41, respectively (FIG. 4), are mounted on

shafts

32 and 42, respectively, for rotation therewith. These cams 40 and 41 have portions 400 and 41a of their periphery or outer surface protruding outwardly beyond the remainder thereof which cooperate with each other to intermittently feed the labels forwardly in timed relation to the rotation of the printing cylinder 20. Lower feed cam 41 is aligned with a suitable opening in top plate or wall 17 so that the portion 41a thereof penetrates therethrough.

Feed earns 40 and 41 feed the labels L on the web W between the printing cylinder 20 and the backup roll 25 at the same time that the printing type or indicia 22 on the printing cylinder 20 is passing in contact with the backup roll 25, which is also partially disposed in a suitable opening in top plate or wall 17, so that the labels are moving at the same linear speed as the surface speed of the printing cylinder 20 as the same are printed. Adjustment means 45, as more fully described in the above U.S. Pat. No. 3,238,869, is provided for adjusting the feed cams 40 and 41 relative to each other and locking them in adjusted position so that the range of feed of the feed cams may be varied up to the circumference of the protruding portions 40a and 41a.

For rotating or driving the feed cams 40 and 41, the abovedescribed motor 30 and right angle gear reduction drive and clutch unit 31 rotate shaft 32 and gear 33. The upper feed cam 40 is mounted for rotation on shaft 32 and thus is driven thereby. The gear 33 engages with a gear 46, as shown in FIG. 8, which is secured to shaft 42 and thus rotates shaft 42 and lower feed cam 41.

An auxiliary feed means is also provided for the labels L being imprinted for assuring proper positioning of each successive label for feeding to the printing cylinder 20 by feed cams 40 and 41 and for proper registration of the printing type or indicia 22 with the portions of the labels on which the printed copy is desired. This auxiliary feeding means comprises an elongate horizontally extending arm 50 mounted for horizontal reciprocating movement at its forward end around shaft 32 by an elongate horizontally extending slot 51 and at its rear end on a shaft 52 by a similar horizontally extending elongate slot (not shown) so that the arm 50 may reciprocate back and forth in a generally horizontal path of movement.

Secured to the arm 50 between the ends thereof is a C- shaped clamp member 55 which carries on its lower end thereof feeding fingers 56. The feeding fingers 56 reciprocate with the arm 50 to engage the rearmost edge of the labels L carried by the web W to correctly position each successive label L for feeding by the feed cams 40 and 41 for correct registration of the labels relative to the printing cylinder 20 to ensure correct position of the copy or printing indicia on the labels. The clamp member 55 may be quickly and easily adjusted longitudinally of the arm 50 by a suitable threaded bolt, as shown in FIG. 4.

For reciprocating the arm 50 and thus feeding fingers 56, the forward end of the arm 50 carries a cam follower 57 which is adapted to be contacted by a rotating eccentric cam 58 carried on the shaft 32, as shown in FIG. 4, so that as the cam 58 is rotated the cam follower 57 and the arm 50 will be moved or reciprocated in a generally horizontal path of motion. For further details of the operation and function of both the main and auxiliary feeding means and the adjustments thereof, reference may be had to the above-noted U.S. Pat. No. 3,238,869.

For presenting the web W of labels L to the above-described main and auxiliary feeding means for printing thereof by the printing cylinder 20, there is provided any suitable roll supply means, generally indicated in the drawings at 60, and carried by the main housing 11 of the imprinting apparatus 10 at the rear-end thereof. For further details of a construction for this supply means 60, reference may be had to the above-noted U.S. Pat. No. 3,238,869.

Each of inking modules 112 for alternative use with the above-described imprinting apparatus 10 generally comprises a module housing, generally indicated at 70, and which comprises front plates 71, a rear plate 72, a top plate 73, and

side plates

74 and 75. These plates are all interconnected and secured together in any suitable manner to form an integral module housing 70 of a generally rectangular construction. Some of these plates may be removable for obtaining access to the interior of the module housing.

Each of the inking modules 12 further comprises an ink transfer or form roll of suitable rubberlike material rotatably mounted on a shaft 81 carried in suitable bearings in

side plates

74 and 75 of the module housing 70 in the lower portion thereof for supplying ink to the printing cylinder 20 and the printing indicia 22 thereon.

An inking roller 85 is suitably mounted for rotation on a shaft 86 carried by suitable means on the

side plates

74 and 75 of the module housing. The inking roll 85 is of the type which contains a supply of liquid ink therein and is in frictional contact with the ink transfer roll 80 for rotation therewith and for depositing a supply of ink on the outer surface thereof.

There is further provided a rotatable and reciprocating ink spreading roll 88 suitably mounted on a shaft 89 and preferably of a metal construction, such as polished steel. The shaft 89 is joumaled adjacent its opposite ends in suitable bearings in

side plates

74 and 75 of the module housing 70 for rotating and reciprocating movement relative thereto. The ink spreading roll 88 rests on and is in frictional engagement with the ink transfer roll 80 to be rotated thereby for the spreading of ink along the surface thereof supplied thereto by the inking roll 85, The reciprocating movement of the ink spreading roll 88 will spread a film of ink along the entire outside surface of the ink transfer roll 80.

For rotating the ink transfer roll 80 and thus the inking roll 85 and the ink spreading roll 88, the shaft 81 carrying the ink transfer .roll 80 includes a circular gear 91 adjacent one end thereof which is adapted to be driven by the imprinting apparatus drive means, as described below. Thus, as the gear 91 is rotated, the shaft 81 and the ink transfer roll 80 will be rotated. The ink transfer roll 80 is in frictional engatement with the inking roll 85 and the ink spreading roll 88 to thus rotate these rolls therewith.

For reciprocating the ink spreading roll 88 for spreading a film of ink over the ink transfer roll 80, the shaft 89 carrying the ink spreading roll 88 includes, on the outer end thereof and on the other side of side plate 75, a collar member 100 which has an annular groove extending therearound, as indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 9. Mounted in the annular groove on the collar member 100 is a follower 101 which is mounted on one end of an actuating lever 102. Actuating lever 102 is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends by a bolt means 103 carried by a suitable boss extending from the side plate 75. A second follower 104 is mounted on the other end of actuating lever 102 and is received in a spiral groove (indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 9) on a cam member 105 carried for rotation by a shaft 106 mounted in a suitable bearing in the side plate 75 The shaft 106 is rotated by a gear 107 carried thereon and which meshes with a gear 108 mounted on a shaft 109 extending through a suitable bearing in side plate 75 for rotation. The other end of shaft 109 includes a gear 110 on the other side of side plate 75. The gear 110 is adapted to be driven by the imprinting apparatus drive means, as will be described below, for rotating shaft 109, gear 108, gear 107, shaft 106, and cam 105. As the cam 105 is rotated, the follower 104 will be moved longitudinally of the shaft 106 to pivot the actuating arm 102 about the bolt 103. This pivoting of the arm 102 will reciprocate the follower 101 and thus the collar 100 to longitudinally reciprocate the shaft 89 and thus the ink spreading roll 88.

Various tensioning and adjustment means are provided for the rolls in the inking module. These adjustment and tensioning means do not form any part of this invention and are fully described in the above-noted US. Pat. No. 3,238,869 and reference may be had to that patent for a full disclosure thereof.

For securing the inking modules 12 in position in the imprinting apparatus so that the ink transfer roll 80 is positioned for operative association with the printing cylinder for supplying ink thereto and to the printing indicia 22 thereof, as schematically shown in FIG. 4, the bottom surface of

side plates

74 and 75 of the module housing 70 are configured to register with the upper surface of

upstanding plates

18 and 19 of the main housing of the imprinting apparatus, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 8 and 9. In FIGS. 8 and 9, the inking module 12 is shown exploded or spaced from the imprinting apparatus 10, but the registration of the respective portions of the housing may be clearly seen therein.

For removably holding the inking module 12 in position on the inking apparatus 10, there is provided, on the upstanding plate 18 of the main housing 11, a boss 111 extending inwardly thereof and containing a threaded aperture 111a for the reception of a threaded bolt 112 slidably passing through a boss 113 secured to the side plate 74 of the module housing 70, as shown clearly in FIG. 6. The upstanding plate 18 of the main housing 11 also includes a pair of

bosses

115 and 116 extending outwardly therefrom and carrying upstanding pin members 117 and 118, respectively, which are adapted to be received in suitable apertures in protruding

bosses

119 and 120 on side plate 74 of module housing 70. Also, the upstanding plate 19 of the main housing 11 carries a boss 122 protruding outwardly therefrom and which includes a threaded aperture 122a for receiving a threaded bolt 123 slidably carried through a boss 124 protruding outwardly and secured to the side plate 75 of the module housing 70. Thus, when an inking module 12 is slipped into place with the

side plates

74 and 75 registering with the

upstanding plates

18 and 19 of the main housing 11, the pins 117 and 118 will be received in the

bosses

119 and 120 and the

bolts

112 and 123 may be rotated into engagement withing the threaded apertures 111a and 122a of the bosses 111 and 122 to secure the module housing 70 to the main housing 11.

When the inking module 12 is positioned, as described above, in the imprinting apparatus 10, the

gears

91 and 110 in the inking module 12, which drive ink transfer roll 80, inking roll 85 and ink spreading roll 88 and reciprocate ink spreading roll 88, will engage and be driven by

gears

36 and 33, respectively, as may be seen in FIG. 8. It is noted that FIG. 8 is an exploded view but the engagement of these gears when the inking module is positioned on the imprinting apparatus may be clearly seen. Thus, the rotation and reciprocation of the rolls contained in the inking module are controlled by and correlated in timed relationship to the label feeding means and the imprinting cylinder of the imprinting apparatus.

By this invention, there has been provided an imprinting apparatus including a plurality of separate inking modules for selective, alternative, interchangeable use of supply a desired type or color of ink to the printing cylinder and in which each of the inking modules is characterized by being completely self-contained to provide ease in assembling, disassembling and interchanging in the imprinting apparatus. The drives for the rolls contained in each inking module are engageable with the drives for the feeding means and printing cylinder of the imprinting apparatus which are also interengaged and driven by a single motor so that the label feeding, printing and ink supplying may be all correlated in timed relationship for the proper printing of labels in the apparatus.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

What we claim is:

1. In combination with an imprinting apparatus for successively printing serially arranged labels and the like connected together into a web of indeterminate length and including a generally rectangular main housing having a pair of upstanding spaced-apart plates including a threaded aperture in each and being secured to the upper surface thereof, a rotatable printing cylinder carried by said upstanding plates for printing labels presented thereto, feeding means carried by said housing for intermittently feeding the web of labels to said printing cylinder in timed relation to the rotation thereof for successive printing of the labels and for positioning and registering successive labels in proper position for the printing thereof, and drive means carried by said main housing and including a single motor means, a gear means operatively connected to said printing cylinder and a separate gear means operatively connected to said feeding means and said printing cylinder gear means and being driven by said motor means to rotate said printing cylinder and drive said feeding means in timed relationship for the proper printing of the serially arranged labels; the improvement of a plurality of separate inking modules for selective, alternative, interchangeable use to supply a desired type of ink to said printing cylinder, each of said inking modules being characterized by being completely self-contained to provide ease in assembling, disassembling and interchanging thereof in said imprinting apparatus, each of said inking modules comprising:

a. a module housing including a top wall, front and rear walls and sidewalls connected together in modular form, said sidewalls registering with said upstanding plates of said main housing and carrying threaded bolt means for reception by said apertures in said upstanding plates to removably secure each of said inking modules to said imprinting apparatus and to allow easy disassembly and interchanging of said inking modules from said imprinting apparatus,

b. a rotatable ink transfer roll carried by said module housing and being positioned for operative association with said printing cylinder when said inking module is mounted in said imprinting apparatus for supplying ink to said printing cylinder,

c. a rotatable inking roll carried by said module housing and having a supply of ink contained therein and frictionally engaging said ink transfer roll for rotation therewith to deposit a film of ink thereon,

d. a rotatable and reciprocating ink spreading roll carried by said module housing and frictionally engaging said ink transfer roll for rotation therewith and for spreading the ink therealong, and

c. drive means carried by said module housing for rotating said ink transfer roll and reciprocating said ink spreading roll and including a gear means operatively connected to said ink transfer roll and which meshes with said printing cylinder drive gear when said inking module is assembled in said imprinting apparatus for driving said ink transfer roll in timed relation to the rotation of said printing cylinder, and gear means operatively associated with said ink spreading roll and engaging said gear means for driving said label feeding means when said inking module is assembled in said imprinting apparatus for reciprocating said ink spreading roll in timed relationship to the drive of said feeding means and the rotation of said printing cylinder, said module drive means being easily disengaged from said printing cylinder and feeding means drive means when said inking module is removed from said imprinting apparatus.

2. In combination with an imprinting apparatus for successively printing serially arranged labels and the like connected together into a web of indeterminate length and including a generally rectangular main housing having a pair of upstanding sidewalls, a rotatable printing cylinder carried by said sidewalls for printing labels presented thereto, feeding means carried by said housing for intermittently feeding the web of labels to said printing cylinder in timed relation to the rotation thereof for successive printing of the labels and for positioning and registering successive labels in proper position for the printing thereof, and drive means carried by said main housing and including motor means, gear means operatively connected to said printing cylinder and separate gear means operatively connected to said feeding means and said printing cylinder gear means and being driven by said motor means to rotate said printing cylinder and drive said feeding means in timed relationship for the proper printing of the serially arranged labels; the improvement of a plurality of separate inking modules for selective, alternative, interchangeable use to supply a desired type of ink to said printing cylinder, each of said inking modules being characterized by being completely self-contained to provide ease in assembling, disassembling and interchanging thereof in said imprinting apparatus, each of said inking modules comprising:

a. a module housing including a top wall, front and rear walls and sidewalls connected together in modular form, said sidewalls registering with said sidewalls of said main housing,

b. fastening means carried by said main and module housings for removably securing each of said inking modules to said imprinting apparatus and to allow easy disassembly and interchanging of said inking modules from said imprinting apparatus,

c. positioning and registering means carried by said main and module housings for positioning and registering said module housing on said main housing, said positioning and registering means being separate from said fastening means and comprising cooperating pins and brackets having openings therein for receipt of the pins,

. a rotatable ink transfer roll carried by said module housing and being positioned for operative association with said printing cylinder when said inking module is mounted in said imprinting apparatus for supplying ink to said printing cylinder,

e. a rotatable inking roll carried by said module housing and having a supply of ink contained therein and frictionally engaging said ink transfer roll for rotation therewith to deposit a film of ink thereon,

f. a rotatable and reciprocating ink spreading roll carried by said module housing and frictionally engaging said ink transfer roll for rotation therewith and for spreading the ink therealong, and

g. drive means carried by said module housing for rotating said ink transfer roll and reciprocating said ink spreading roll and including gear means operatively connected to said ink transfer roll and which meshes with said printing cylinder drive gear means when said inking module is assembled on said main housing for driving said ink transfer roll in timed relation to the rotation of said printing cylinder, and gear means operatively associated with said ink spreading roll and engaging said gear means for driving said label feeding means when said inking module is assembled on said main housing for reciprocating said ink spreading roll in timed relationship to the drive of said feeding means and the rotation of said printing cylinder, said module drive means being easily disengaged from said printing cylinder and feeding means drive means when said inking module is removed from said imprinting apparatus.

Claims

1. In combination with an imprinting apparatus for successively printing serially arranged labels and the like connected together into a web of indeterminate length and including a generally rectangular main housing having a pair of upstanding spaced-apart plates including a threaded aperture in each and being secured to the upper surface thereof, a rotatable printing cylinder carried by said upstanding plates for printing labels presented thereto, feeding means carried by said housing for intermittently feeding the web of labels to said printing cylinder in timed relation to the rotation thereof for successive printing of the labels and for positioning and registering successive labels in proper position for the printing thereof, and drive means carried by said main housing and including a single motor means, a gear means operatively connected to said printing cylinder and a separate gear means operatively connected to said feeding means and said printing cylinder gear means and being driven by said motor means to rotate said printing cylinder and drive said feeding means in timed relationship for the proper printing of the serially arranged labels; the improvement of a plurality of separate inking modules for selective, alternative, interchangeable use to supply a desired type of ink to said printing cylinder, each of said inking modules being characterized by being completely self-contained to provide ease in assembling, disassembling and interchanging thereof in said imprinting apparatus, each of said inking modules comprising: a. a module housing including a top wall, front and rear walls and sidewalls connected together in modular form, said sidewalls registering with said upstanding plates of said main housing and carrying threaded bolt means for reception by said apertures in said upstanding plates to removably secure each of said inking modules to said imprinting apparatus and to allow easy disassembly and interchanging of said inking modules from said imprinting apparatus, b. a rotatable ink transfer roll carried by said module housing and being positioned for operative association with said printing cylinder when said inking module is mounted in said imprinting apparatus for supplying ink to said printing cyliNder, c. a rotatable inking roll carried by said module housing and having a supply of ink contained therein and frictionally engaging said ink transfer roll for rotation therewith to deposit a film of ink thereon, d. a rotatable and reciprocating ink spreading roll carried by said module housing and frictionally engaging said ink transfer roll for rotation therewith and for spreading the ink therealong, and e. drive means carried by said module housing for rotating said ink transfer roll and reciprocating said ink spreading roll and including a gear means operatively connected to said ink transfer roll and which meshes with said printing cylinder drive gear when said inking module is assembled in said imprinting apparatus for driving said ink transfer roll in timed relation to the rotation of said printing cylinder, and gear means operatively associated with said ink spreading roll and engaging said gear means for driving said label feeding means when said inking module is assembled in said imprinting apparatus for reciprocating said ink spreading roll in timed relationship to the drive of said feeding means and the rotation of said printing cylinder, said module drive means being easily disengaged from said printing cylinder and feeding means drive means when said inking module is removed from said imprinting apparatus.

2. In combination with an imprinting apparatus for successively printing serially arranged labels and the like connected together into a web of indeterminate length and including a generally rectangular main housing having a pair of upstanding sidewalls, a rotatable printing cylinder carried by said sidewalls for printing labels presented thereto, feeding means carried by said housing for intermittently feeding the web of labels to said printing cylinder in timed relation to the rotation thereof for successive printing of the labels and for positioning and registering successive labels in proper position for the printing thereof, and drive means carried by said main housing and including motor means, gear means operatively connected to said printing cylinder and separate gear means operatively connected to said feeding means and said printing cylinder gear means and being driven by said motor means to rotate said printing cylinder and drive said feeding means in timed relationship for the proper printing of the serially arranged labels; the improvement of a plurality of separate inking modules for selective, alternative, interchangeable use to supply a desired type of ink to said printing cylinder, each of said inking modules being characterized by being completely self-contained to provide ease in assembling, disassembling and interchanging thereof in said imprinting apparatus, each of said inking modules comprising: a. a module housing including a top wall, front and rear walls and sidewalls connected together in modular form, said sidewalls registering with said sidewalls of said main housing, b. fastening means carried by said main and module housings for removably securing each of said inking modules to said imprinting apparatus and to allow easy disassembly and interchanging of said inking modules from said imprinting apparatus, c. positioning and registering means carried by said main and module housings for positioning and registering said module housing on said main housing, said positioning and registering means being separate from said fastening means and comprising cooperating pins and brackets having openings therein for receipt of the pins, d. a rotatable ink transfer roll carried by said module housing and being positioned for operative association with said printing cylinder when said inking module is mounted in said imprinting apparatus for supplying ink to said printing cylinder, e. a rotatable inking roll carried by said module housing and having a supply of ink contained therein and frictionally engaging said ink transfer roll for rotation therewith to deposit a film of ink thereon, f. a roTatable and reciprocating ink spreading roll carried by said module housing and frictionally engaging said ink transfer roll for rotation therewith and for spreading the ink therealong, and g. drive means carried by said module housing for rotating said ink transfer roll and reciprocating said ink spreading roll and including gear means operatively connected to said ink transfer roll and which meshes with said printing cylinder drive gear means when said inking module is assembled on said main housing for driving said ink transfer roll in timed relation to the rotation of said printing cylinder, and gear means operatively associated with said ink spreading roll and engaging said gear means for driving said label feeding means when said inking module is assembled on said main housing for reciprocating said ink spreading roll in timed relationship to the drive of said feeding means and the rotation of said printing cylinder, said module drive means being easily disengaged from said printing cylinder and feeding means drive means when said inking module is removed from said imprinting apparatus.