Printing device for portable label printing machine

Claim 1

A printing device for a labeling machine, or the like, comprising: a first array of wheels arranged side-by-side on a first common axis; a frame for supporting said first array of wheels; said wheels of said first array each having an engageable periphery; a second array of type wheels arranged side by side on a second common axis, and all said type wheels also being supported on said frame; each said type wheel being provided with a respective set of imprintable types; each said type wheel having a periphery that is engageable with said periphery of a wheel of said first array such that rotation of a said wheel of said first array rotates the respective said type wheel; each said set of types being attached to a respective said type wheel to be moved to place a different said type at a print position by means of rotation of the corresponding said type wheel; all said wheels of said first array having a respective central opening therethrough, and each said central opening having a respective first cross-section and being defined by a respective profiled surface having a respective first profile; said central openings being on said common axis; all said first profiled surfaces being identically shaped and sized; an indexing shaft extending into said frame and adapted and shaped to pass through and be slidable through all said central openings; a pinion on said shaft; said pinion having a second cross-section that is smaller than all said respective first cross-sections; said pinion having a second profile that is adapted to engage any of said respective first profiled surfaces at a first rotative orientation of said pinion and to be completely disengaged from that said first profiled surface at a different, second rotative orientation of said pinion, and such that at said second orientation of said pinion, there is a clearance space between said pinion and said first profiled surface of a said wheel in which said pinion is then located; wheel rotative position establishing means for establishing discrete rotative positions for every said wheel of said first array such that at every established discrete position of every said wheel of said first array, all said profiled surfaces are identically aligned, whereby said pinion at its said second orientation may freely pass through all said wheel central openings with clearance space; said frame comprising a side frame extending axially the width of said first array of wheels, said side frame having a blind hole therein defined by a side wall and extending axially of said wheels; said first array of wheels all sitting in and being guided for rotation by said side wall of said blind hole; said blind hole side wall and said periphery of all said first array wheels being respectively profiled such that said first array wheels are supported by their said peripheries in said blind hole for rotation around their said axis; an opening in said blind hole side wall for enabling engagement between each said first array wheel and its respective said type wheel.