Patent ID: 8371222

Claim:
A method of stamping boards using a printer comprising: a support constructed and arranged such that a length of the support mounts over a width of a conveyor for conveying boards transversely to be stamped; a drive shaft rotatably mounted to the support, the drive shaft disposed in generally the direction of the length of the support; a plurality of arms movably connected to the drive shaft; a plurality of lift mechanisms constructed and arranged for lifting and lowering the arms; a plurality of wheels rotatably mounted to the arms, the wheels having a plurality of stamps located around an outer surface of the wheels, and the wheels rotatably driven by rotation of the shaft; a drive mechanism constructed and arranged for rotating the drive shaft; a wheel position device constructed and arranged for determining a location of the stamps on the wheels; and an ink supply mechanism constructed and arranged for applying ink to the stamps, the method comprising: conveying a board on a conveyor under the printer so that the length of the board is substantially aligned with a length of the printer; determining a desired stamp to be applied to the board; rotating the shaft to rotate the wheels to a starting location for applying the desired stamp; dropping the wheels down onto the board being conveyed for a time period sufficient for the wheels to rotate and apply the desired stamp to the board; and lifting the wheels off of the board when the desired stamp is applied to the board and before an undesired stamp is applied.