Patent ID: 7766155

Claim:
A printing machine comprising a frame, a transfer device for transferring an article in said printing machine and a drive and retention assembly comprising a socket adapted to receive the bottom of the article, the transfer device being carried by the frame, and the transfer device comprising: a support structure; a manipulator arm carried by the support structure and hinged relative to the support structure about a pivot axis; a clamp for gripping the article carried by the manipulator arm and hinged relative to the manipulator arm about a tilt axis that is angularly offset relative to the pivot axis; and drive means adapted to drive both the manipulator arm and the gripper clamp in rotation during an intermediate rotation stage, wherein the drive means comprises synchronization means for inhibiting tilting of the gripper clamp relative to the manipulator arm about the tilt axis, temporarily as a function of the position of the manipulator arm during at least one terminal rotation stage before and/or after the intermediate rotation stage, and wherein the support structure of the transfer device is mounted to move relative to the frame, and the drive means is adapted to move the support structure relative to the frame in a direction parallel to the pivot axis during a stage of movement in translation, in order to insert the bottom of the article into the socket of the retention and drive assembly.