Numbering device for typographic numbering having a releasable indexing mechanism

There is described a numbering device (1) for carrying out numbering in sheetfed or web-fed numbering presses, the numbering device (1) comprising a casing and a numbering unit (6) with rotatable numbering wheels (7) carrying alpha-numerical symbols thereon, which numbering wheels (7) are disposed next to each other and rotate about a common rotation axis, the numbering device further comprising electro-mechanical actuation means for setting the position of the numbering wheels (7). The electro-mechanical actuation means are disposed in an inner space of the casing of the numbering device (1) and are mechanically autonomous, the electro-mechanical actuation means comprising a plurality of independent driving means (15, 18-23; 23*) for actuating a corresponding plurality of said numbering wheels (7). The numbering device further comprises an electric motor (15) driving the associated numbering wheel through a gear-wheel assembly (16, 19-23; 23*). The gearwheel assembly (16, 19-23; 23*) comprises a driving pinion (23; 23*) meshing with a toothed wheel (16) disposed on a side of the associated numbering wheel (7), an axial position of the driving pinion (23; 23*) along its shaft (22) being adjustable.