Apparatus for processing and printing items

A printing apparatus comprising;

• an apparatus housing;
• a transport device that transports items through said apparatus housing in a transport direction x of a Cartesian coordinate system;
• a printer in said housing comprising a single 1-inch ink jet print head that produces an imprint on respective items proceeding passed said printer on said transport device in said transport direction, said printer comprising a print carriage in which said 1-inch ink jet print head is exchangeably held so as to be accessible, for exchanging thereof, via a non-secure access opening in said apparatus housing, said print carriage being movable in a y-direction of said Cartesian coordinate system and counter thereto;
• said print carriage, and said single 1-inch ink jet print head held therein, being displaceable in a vertical direction z of said Cartesian coordinate system, and counter thereto, by a movement mechanism in order to vertically raise and lower said single 1-inch ink jet print head;
• and
• said movement mechanism comprising a motorized movement train for motorized movement of said single 1-inch ink jet print head in said vertical direction and a manual displacement train for manual displacement of said single 1-inch ink jet print head in said vertical direction.