Number printing apparatus

A numbering and imprinting machine comprising:

• a first-number printing device including
• a first-number impression cylinder that holds and transports a sheet,
• a first-number cylinder that is arranged to be movable to come into contact with and separate from the first-number impression cylinder and performs first-number printing on a sheet held on the first-number impression cylinder, and
• a first ink feeding device for feeding ink to the first-number cylinder;
• a second-number printing device including
• a second-number impression cylinder that is arranged downstream of the first-number printing device in a sheet transport direction and holds and transports a sheet from the first-number printing device,
• a second-number cylinder that is arranged to be movable to come into contact with and separate from the second-number impression cylinder and performs second-number printing on a sheet held on the second-number impression cylinder, and
• a second ink feeding device for feeding ink to the second-number cylinder;
• a first-number-cylinder contacting-separating-movement device for causing the first-number cylinder to move to come into contact with and separate from the first-number impression cylinder;
• a second-number-cylinder contacting-separating-movement device for causing the second-number cylinder to move to come into contact with and separate from the second-number impression cylinder;
• a first-number imaging device that is arranged downstream of a position of contact between the first-number impression cylinder and the first-number cylinder in a direction of rotation of the first-number impression cylinder, for imaging a first number printed on a sheet held on the first-number impression cylinder;
• a second-number imaging device that is arranged downstream of a position of contact between the second-number impression cylinder and the second-number cylinder in a direction of rotation of the second-number impression cylinder, for imaging a second number printed on a sheet held on the second-number impression cylinder;
• a number inspecting device for determining whether or not the first number and the second number printed on a sheet are satisfactory based on image signals from the first-number imaging device and the second-number imaging device;
• and
• a controlling device for controlling the first-number-cylinder contacting-separating-movement device and the second-number-cylinder contacting-separating-movement device based on a dissatisfactory signal from the number inspecting device to cause the first-number cylinder and the second-number cylinder to make separating movements.