Apparatus for producing characters on a product

A marking head assembly for use with a marking apparatus which applies at least one predetermined character to at least one predetermined surface of at least one predetermined article to be marked, said marking head assembly comprising:

• (a) a body portion having a predetermined configuration;
• (b) an aperture formed through said body portion along a predetermined axis;
• (c) an ink cartridge assembly disposed within said aperture formed in said body portion of said marking head assembly;
• (d) a heating means carried by said body portion for heating said ink cartridge assembly to a temperature which is at least sufficient to melt ink contained within said ink cartridge assembly;
• (e) a heat control means connected to said heating means for controlling said temperature;
• (f) a locking means secured to said body portion and engageable with said ink cartridge assembly for locking said ink cartridge assembly in position and preventing longitudinal movement of said ink cartridge assemble within said body portion of said marking head assembly;
• (g) a cap assembly engageable with said body portion adjacent a first end of said ink cartridge assembly for supplying a predetermined volume of pneumatic pressure to said ink cartridge assembly;
• and
• (h) a marking tip assembly carried by a second end of said ink cartridge assembly.