Patent ID: 7347141

Claim:
A printing machine for printing indicia on a plurality of pellets, the machine comprising: a support structure; a drum carried on said support structure and rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis, said drum having a peripheral sidewall defining an inner portion, said sidewall having an inner surface proximate said axis, said inner surface defining a plurality of receptacles arranged in a plurality of rows extending axially of said drum, each of said plurality of rows comprising more than one of said plurality of receptacles, each of said plurality of receptacles being dimensioned to receive a respective one of said plurality of pellets; a bracing wall cooperating with said drum to define a pellet hopper configured to receive said plurality of pellets in bulk form and to feed pellets to said plurality of receptacles of said drum, said pellet hopper being defined internal to said drum proximate a lower portion of said drum; a drive system operable to rotate said drum relative to said support structure; and a printing device fixed relative to said support structure in position to print indicia on each of said plurality of pellets while positioned within respective ones of said plurality of receptacles as said drum rotates relative to said support structure.