Rotary marking device

A marking device of the character described for use in a multi-spindle screw machine, the device having a body, said body having a forward end and a rearward end, a slot in the forward end of the body, a shaft mounted in the slot, a marking wheel mounted on the shaft, a pinion with gear teeth thereon on one end of the shaft, a cavity in the body, a rack slidable mounted in said cavity, the rack having teeth thereon in engagement with the gear teeth on the pinion, one end of the rack extending outwardly of the rear part of the body, the other end of the rack having biasing means biasing the rack toward the rear of the body, the rack having a latch engaging means thereon, a latch means, said latch means having a part biased inwardly toward the rack and having an engaging portion for engagement with the latch engaging means of the rack, the latch having an engaging position holding the rack in forward biased position and a release position for disengagement from the rack, means associated with the biasing means for adjusting the biasing force of the biasing means, whereby when the rack is moved to its forward position the rack teeth rotates the pinion and thereby the printing wheel in one direction to its starting position and said latch engages said rack, holding said rack in said forward position, the force of said biasing means being increased and biasing said rack toward its rearward position, means to move said latch to its release position, whereby the biasing means forces the rack to its rearward position and initiates the rotation of the marking wheel in its marking direction.