Apparatus for repetitive imprinting at uniform increments on a continuously moving web

A printing apparatus for webs continuously moving along a first path comprising printing means positioned on one side of the path;

• back-up means on the other side of said path facing said printing means;
• means for cyclically displacing said printing means along a second path having a first portion extending substantially along said first path and a second portion spaced from said first path, said printing means engaging said web against said back-up means while in said first portion of said second path to effect printing, said means for displacing said printing means including a first displacing means for displacing the printing means toward and away from said web and a second displacing means for displacing the printing means substantially parallel to said first path, said first displacing means being operatively coupled to said second displacing means for the coordinate operation thereof, said second displacing means including a wheel continuously rotating about its axis, a displaceable pivot means mounted on said wheel at a location radially spaced from said wheel axis, a fixed pivot means positioned intermediate said wheel axis and said printing means, and means coupling said displaceable pivot means and said printing means, said coupling means being pivotally mounted on said printing means and formed with a slot means for receiving said displaceable and fixed pivot means to permit pivotable and lateral displacement of said coupling means relative to said displaceable and fixed print means, said coupling means pivoting about said fixed pivot means in response to the rotatable displacement of said displaceable pivot means on said wheel to reciprocally displace said printing means in a direction substantially parallel to said first path, said means for displacing said printing means including means for selectively adjusting the velocity of said printing means so that said printing means and web are moving at substantially the same velocity while said printing means is traversing said first portion of said second path and printing is effected;
• and means for displacing said back-up means with said web and printing means when said printing means engages said web thereagainst.