Imprinter apparatus for use on packaging machines or the like

Claim 1

An imprinter apparatus for use in timed relation on a packaging machine for printing a legend on a web or the like moved along a path of travel, comprising: one carrier plate having an upper marginal edge along which a web or the like to be imprinted will pass, said carrier plate comprising a single integral thin element extending vertically and including on one side a pair of reels journaled on spaced, mutually-parallel axes of rotation transverse to the sides of said carrier plate, one of said reels comprising a supply reel and the other comprising a take-up reel; a ribbon, having a transferable medium, disposed on said supply reel and extending to said take-up reel; said thin element including on the same side as said reels substantially coplanar spaced guide means, intermediate said reels, having said ribbon guidingly disposed thereon and defining a plane through which the said ribbon passes immediately beneath the upper margin of said thin plate for movement in parallel relation to the web; a first printing member on said side of said carrier plate and having a printing means immediately beneath said plane through which said ribbon is guided; first support rail means extending transversely of said carrier plate and including means supporting the same as a unit thereon, means removably securing said carrier plate on said first support rail means; a second support rail means parallel to the first mentioned support rail means and overlying the same, at least one second printing member comprising a unit separate from said carrier plate, means removably supporting said second printing member on said second rail means in opposition to said first printing member and defining therebetween a printing position through which said ribbon passes and a path of travel through which the web being printed upon passes; first power means in operative engagement with at least one of said printing members for urging it toward the other for juxtaposed engagement with said ribbon and effecting an imprintment on the web in the path of travel; and second power means on said single carrier plate the other side, opposite said one side, and operatively connected to one of said reels for rotating the same in step-by-step movement.