Code-marking mechanism

Claim 1

A marking mechanism adapted to sequentially mark a plurality of items comprising: a. a conveyor means adapted to convey commodity items therealong for marking purposes and having a drive member, b. a marking means connected to said conveyor means through a support assembly and having an actuator mechanism secured to said support assembly operably connected to said drive member through a drive assembly, c. said actuator mechanism including a support bracket connected to said support assembly, and a stamping assembly connected to said support bracket, d. said stamping assembly including a marking assembly secured to a support shaft operably connected to said drive assembly, a U-shaped support bracket connected through a lift plate and a nut member to said support assembly to provide for the vertical adjustment thereof, and an applicator roller mounted upon a shaft secured to said support bracket having the outer surface of said roller member engagable with said marking elements, e. said marking assembly having a main body with marking elements at outer ends thereof for marking the items, f. said drive assembly having a plurality of sprocket members connected to said drive member through a chain member, each rotatably mounted on said support assembly, said drive assembly connected to said drive member and said marking means to provide rotation of said marking assembly proportionate to the movement of said conveyor means for proper timing and marking of the items regardless of speed utilized, g. said lift plate contacting an under surface of said support bracket to control vertical movement of said marking means on rotation of said nut member, and h. said support shaft rotatably mounted in said support assembly having a sprocket member secured to an outer end operably engaged with said chain member thereby providing rotation of said marking assembly proportionate to the movement of said conveyor means.