Machine for printing labels

Claim 1

A printing machine for reproducing information embossed on a flexible printing plate, the machine comprising a pivotally mounted printing head including a printing block on which is formed on arcuate support surface having a leading and a trailing edge and holding means for releasably securing the printing plate on, to conform with, said arcuate support surface, said holding means including a saddle member mounted on the printing block and carrying a pair of lip members extending one along said leading edge and one along said trailing edge, the saddle member being movable relative to the block between a rest position in which the lip members are resiliently biased into engagement with the support surface and a displaced position in which the lip members are spaced from the support surface whereby the printing plate can be inserted and removed from between the support surface and the lip members, the machine further comprising a segmented impression cylinder the transverse section through which includes an increased-diameter printing portion having an arcuate extent corresponding substantially with that of the support surface, a printing ribbon passing between the head and the impression cylinder, and a plurality of labels, rotation of the impression cylinder causing the increased diameter portion thereof to traverse the arcuate extent of the support surface and thereby feed the labels consecutively between said impression cylinder and the pivoting head and imprint on said labels, by means of said ribbon, the information on the printing plate, spacer means between the head and the impression cylinder ensuring that only the outwardly-projecting embossed portion of the printing plate is reproduced.