Patent ID: 7270410

Claim:
A programmable marking device for printing indicia on print media by movement of a printing mechanism with respect to the media while said print media is substantially stationary, said printing mechanism including a printing means for printing said indicia, storage means for storing in an electronic form information for printing said indicia, means for reading information from said storage means, means for writing information to said storage means, and processor means for processing said information and for controlling said printing means to print said indicia as said printing means is moved with respect to said print media; the device further including a base housing and an upper housing moveable with respect to each other between a rest position and an end position, the device being configured such that relative movement from the rest position to the end position causes movement of the printing means in a printing movement from a start position to a finish position relative to a substrate upon which the device is being used; the device further including moving means for generating the printing movement, the moving means including an arm pivotally connected to a fixed point of said upper housing at one end and pivotally connected at the other end to said printing means, and further including a resilient means atttached to said printing means for returning said printing means to said rest position after said end position has been reached.