Patent ID: 7396170

Claim:
A device for printing at least one object moving at a supply speed in a feed direction comprising: (a) a thermal print head; (b) means for supplying the at least one object to be printed to the thermal print head; (c) a first drive for moving the thermal print head parallel to or counter to the feed direction of the at least one object to be printed; (d) a second drive for moving the thermal print head onto the at least one object to be printed and away from the at least one object; and (e) a control system for controlling the first drive and the second drive; said first drive being controlled by the control system such that during movement of the thermal print head parallel to the feed direction of the at least one object the thermal print head has a speed less than or equal to the supply speed of the at least one object being moved; and said second drive being controlled by the control system such that during movement of the thermal print head counter to the feed direction of the at least one object the thermal print head is moved at a distance away from the at least one object.