Method and apparatus for simultaneously forming a plurality of characters on the surface of an object

Apparatus for simultaneously marking a preselected array of characters on an object comprising,

• a housing,
• a marking device for imprinting a preselected array of characters on an object, said marking device having a longitudinal axis,
• support means for movably supporting said marking device within said housing to move said marking device incrementally along a pair of intersecting axes adjacent to said object to be marked,
• said marking device having a plurality of marking elements positioned in spaced relation to form a linear array for simultaneously marking the object with a preselected number of characters at preselected positions in a linear array where the number of marking elements on said marking device is less than the maximum number of characters to be marked in the linear array,
• said array of marking elements being positioned to extend on a preselected axis spaced apart a distance greater than the distance between characters in the linear array, said preselected axis of said marking elements being positioned parallel to said longitudinal axis of said marking device,
• first means for linearly moving said support means in a direction parallel to said longitudinal axis of said marking device along a preselected first axis for marking, said preselected axis of said marking elements being aligned with said preselected first axis for marking,
• said first means for moving said marking device including control means drivingly connected to said marking device for incrementally moving said marking elements to selected positions along said first axis for marking more characters in a linear array on the object than the number of said marking elements on said marking device,
• actuating means positioned on said marking device for selectively actuating said marking elements to strike the object and simultaneously mark said object with portions of each of said preselected array of characters on said first axis for marking, said actuating means provided for each of said marking elements and movable therewith,
• second means for moving said marking device and marking elements on said support means relative to the object to be marked to a second axis for marking, said first and second axes for marking being parallel, and
• said first means for moving said marking device and said actuating means actuates said marking elements on said second axis for simultaneously marking the object with other portions of each of the characters of said preselected array of characters.