Type segment for printing roll

Abstract

A flexible type segment formed of elastomeric material and in an initially flat condition, and adapted for mounting on the cylindrical surface of a printing roll that engages the surface of an object to be marked, and prints indicia thereon. The segment has an elongated base with generally flat, parallel top and bottom surfaces and a raised panel print face formed on the top surface. The print face defines indicia to be inked and thereafter to apply an ink imprint to the respective surface to be marked. A plurality of recesses are formed in the bottom surface of the base, the recesses extending into the material a major portion of the depth of the base. The recesses reduce the section of the base so that flexing of the segment when it is mounted on the roll and force variations between the print face and the surface to be marked produce a minimum of distortion of the print face.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A flexible type segment formed of elastomeric material in an initially flat condition, and adapted for mounting on the cylindrical surface of a printing roll that rolls about its axis against the surface of an object to be marked and prints indicia thereon, comprising: an elongated base having generally flat, parallel top and bottom surfaces and being mounted on said roll with its bottom surface conforming to the cylindrical surface of the roll and extending longitudinally in a circumferential direction around the roll;   a raised print face formed on the top surface of said base and defining indicia to be inked and thereafter to apply an ink imprint to said surface of said object;   means forming a plurality of cylindrical recesses in said bottom surface of said base, said recesses extending through a major portion of the depth of said base, and being arranged in staggered rows wherein all lateral cross sections through said base parallel to the roll axis intersect at least one of said recesses, the area of the bottom surface of the base defined by the recesses being sufficient to accommodate substantial resilient flexure of the base in a direction normal to the surface of the roll;   whereby, when said type segment is flexed to conform to said cylindrical surface of said roll, distortion occurs primarily in the lower portion of said base to minimize distortion in said print face and when said print face is pressed by said printing roll against the surface of said object, irregularities in surface form will produce a minimum of force variation and thus a minimum of print distortion.   
     
     
       2. A type segment as defined in claim 1, wherein said recesses define at least 50% of the area of said bottom surface of said base. 
     
     
       3. A type segment as defined in claim 1, wherein said recesses define between 50 and 70% of the area of said bottom surface of said base. .Iadd.4. A type segment, comprising an elongated flexible base having a pair of generally flat top and bottom surfaces, said top surface defining indicia comprising: a bar code strip comprising a plurality of raised, parallel members positioned substantially across the width of said top surface and having predetermined individual widths and spacings therebetween;   said bottom surface having means for reducing distortion of said individual widths of said members and spacings therebetween when said bottom surface of said type segment is pressed into lengthwise, conforming contact with a cylindrical surface of a printing roll; and   said reducing means comprising a plurality of recesses extending into said base a major portion of the depth thereof and extending substantially   
     
     
        along the entire length of said indicia. .Iaddend. .Iadd.5.  A type segment as defined in claim 4, wherein said plurality of recesses form a row which extends in the lengthwise direction of said base. .Iaddend. .Iadd.6. A type segment as defined in claim 4, wherein said recesses are arranged such that substantially all lateral cross sections through said base perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of said base intersect at least one of said recesses. .Iaddend. .Iadd.7. A type segment as defined in claim 4, wherein said recesses comprise at least about 50% of said bottom surface of said base. .Iaddend. .Iadd.8. A type segment as defined in claim 7, wherein said recesses comprise from about 50% to 70% of the area of said bottom surface of said base. .Iaddend. .Iadd.9. A type segment as defined in claim 4, wherein said plurality of recesses form a plurality of parallel rows which extend in the lengthwise direction of said base. .Iaddend. .Iadd.10. A type segment as defined in claim 9, wherein the recesses in each of said rows are staggered relative to recesses in adjacent rows. .Iaddend. .Iadd.11. A type segment as defined in claim 4, wherein said recesses are cylindrical in shape. .Iaddend. .Iadd.12. A type segment as defined in claim 4, wherein said recesses extend into said base approximately 90% of the total depth thereof. 
     
     
        .Iaddend. .Iadd.13.  A flexible type segment formed of elastomeric material in an initially flat condition, and adapted for mounting on the cylindrical surface of a printing roll that rotates about its central axis against the surface of an object to be marked comprising: an elongated base having generally flat, parallel top and bottom surfaces, mountable on said roll with said bottom surface conforming to the cylindrical surface of the roll and extending longitudinally in a circumferential direction around the roll;   a raised print face formed on said top surface of said base and defining inkable indicia, including a bar code strip comprising a plurality of substantially parallel members having predetermined widths and spacings therebetween, said print face configured for applying an ink imprint of said parallel members to the surface of the object to be marked; and   said bottom surface of said base having a plurality of recesses therein, said recesses extending through a major portion of the depth of said base, and being arranged in a pattern wherein substantially all lateral cross sections through said base parallel to the lengthwise direction of said base intersect at least one of said recesses, the size and arrangement of said recesses being sufficient to accomodate substantially resilient flexure of said base in a direction normal to the surface of the printing roll and sufficient to reduce distortion of said widths and spacings between said members when said type segment is flexed to conform to the cylindrical surface of the printing roll. .Iaddend.