A method of printing indicia on labels mounted in spaced relation on a carrier strip and then dispensing the printed labels onto a member is disclosed.

The offset printer is intended for printing annular codes of colors on small solids of revolution like contact pins or necks of ampoules. A plurality of axially shifted devices for distributing the color, each one comprising a color disc are assigned to the inking cylinder. The color discs enter into a color chamber and come out from this chamber free from play between axial limitations which act as strippers. The color discs are joined with their drive in a slightly loose manner so that they can fully adapt themselves to the position of the axial limitations. This permits to print fully clean, small rings of colors on small solids of revolution.

A wheel (15) is freely mounted on the shaft (2) of a printing head and is in contact at its periphery with a film which is to be printed. A tachymeter (10) is provided which detects the speed of rotation of the wheel (15) and transmits a corresponding signal to apparatus (26) for controlling the speed of rotation of the motor (8).

A machine for printing letters, numbers, symbols and the like on banding or other flexible material of extended length includes a drive wheel and a printing wheel, as well as pressure rollers for pressing the banding against the two wheels. The drive wheel is driven by the banding as the banding is drawn through the machine, and the printing wheel is connected to the drive wheel through a belt such that the two wheels have the same peripheral velocity. Thus, the printing wheel, which has raised characters around its periphery, rotates as the banding passes over it. The raised characters of the printing wheel further pass over the periphery of an ink transfer wheel, all but a small segment of which is contained within a sealed case of an inking unit. The surface of the ink transfer wheel is pitted, and where that wheel emerges from the case, seals are provided to form a vapor barrier which isolates the interior of the case from the surrounding atmosphere. Within the case an ink pick-up wheel lifts ink from a reservoir at the bottom of the case to the ink transfer wheel, from which the ink is transferred to the raised characters on the printing wheel and thence to the banding. The belt further drives the ink pick-up wheel and the ink transfer wheel. A release mechanism is provided which, when operated, withdraws the pressure rollers from the drive and printing wheels, moves the ink transfer wheel away from the printing wheel, and creates slack in the belt.

A printing apparatus includes a print roller, a platen roller and an ink roller mounted between a pair of upright supports secured to a support surface. The platen roller is resiliently biased against the print roller, and is preferably supported independently of the upright supports by a spring-biased lever and cam assembly. The printing apparatus is especially constructed for printing accordian arrays of cards, having delicate masking material thereon, and includes a feed tray with a feed stop and a take-up tray with a take-up stop each located at a position within a defined ratio with respect to the length of a single card in the array. The platen roller is preferably biased within a selected range to prevent damage to the masking material. A drive mechanism rotates the print roller which, in turn, drives the platen roller either by direct pressure or through gears.