Patent ID: 7153048

Claim:
A machine ( 1 ) for printing images on articles, comprising a support structure ( 4 , 11 ) having: a thermal-transfer device ( 14 ) having a movable active surface ( 36 a ; 136 a ) in a position operatively facing the path of the articles; supply and guide means ( 5 – 10 ) suitable for advancing a flexible ribbon (N) in steps along a predetermined route which extends partly between the active surface ( 36 a ; 136 a ) of the thermal-transfer device ( 14 ) and the path of the articles, the flexible ribbon (N) carrying, at predetermined intervals, on the face which is intended to face the articles, images formed with a thermally transferable ink, and drive means ( 22 ) suitable for bringing about a substantially vertical movement of the active surface ( 36 a ; 136 a ) of the thermal-transfer device ( 14 ) towards the ribbon (N) and an article so as to press and heat the ribbon against an article in order to bring about the transfer of an image carried by the ribbon (N); the machine ( 1 ) being characterized in that the supply and guide means comprise: a first pair of aligned, movable guide rollers (R 1 ) which are disposed on the route of the ribbon (N), upstream and downstream of the thermal-transfer device ( 14 ), respectively, with their respective axes lying substantially in a common, first plane, and which can include between them a portion of the ribbon (N) containing an image, in front of the active surface ( 36 a ; 136 a ) of the thermal-transfer device ( 14 ), the rollers (R 1 ) being operatively movable away from and towards the path of the articles along a predetermined axis which is arranged at an angle to the plane that contains the axes of the rollers (R 1 ); a second pair of movable guide rollers (R 2 ), which are disposed upstream and downstream of the first pair of rollers (R 1 ), are aligned and parallel with one another and with the rollers of the first pair (R 1 ) and lie in a common, second plane which is substantially parallel to the first plane, the second pair of rollers (R 2 ) being operatively movable away from and towards the path of the articles along the predetermined axis; and a third pair of stationary and aligned guide rollers (R 3 ), which are disposed upstream and downstream of the second pair of rollers (R 2 ) and are parallel with one another and with the rollers of the first and second pairs (R 2 , R 2 ); the arrangement of the pairs of rollers (R 1 , R 2 , R 3 ) being such that the portions of the ribbon (N) which are included between the first and second pairs of rollers (R 1 , R 2 ) and the portions which are included between the second and third pairs of rollers (R 2 , R 3 ) are substantially parallel with one another; there being associated with the first and with the second pair of guide rollers (R 1 , R 2 ) movement means ( 70 ; 170 ) such that a movement of the second pair of rollers (R 2 ) along the predetermined axis is substantially equal to half of the corresponding movement of the first pair of rollers (R 1 ).