Portable printer for preformed cartons

Claim 1

A printer for use in printing information on a preformed carton comprising, in combination: a. a base support framework; b. a shaped platen support means mounted on said support framework for supporting a preformed carton in a position for receiving printed information; c. a printing means mounted on said framework for movement from a retracted position to a pressure printing position against said platen and including information to be printed; d. means provided on said printer for inking the surface of said printing means when in said retracted position; e. cyclical power means including rotatable crank means operatively associated with said printing means and information for moving the same from said retracted position to said pressure printing position against said platen, whereby information contained on Said printing means will be transferred to a carton supported on said shaped platen; f. yieldable connecting means mounted for rotation by said power means for allowing pressure yielding of said printing means in response to contacting said inking means or a carton in a printing position on said platen; said yieldable connecting means comprising: 1. a connecting link to said printing means, 2. a slidable block pivotally connected to said link, 3. a center rod for slidably mounting said block, 4. a compression spring disposed around said center rod to impart yieldable movement to said block, 5. a U-shaped member fixed to one end of said crank means, said center rod being centrally located between the legs of said U, the cross bar of said U serving as one stop for said block and the end of the crank means acting with said spring serving as the other stop; and, g. counter balance means associated with said yieldable connecting means, said counter balance being located at the end of said crank opposite said connecting means.