INTERCHANGEABLE INKER HAVING ENCLOSED TRANSMISSION

摘要

Continuous motion apparatus for decorating cylindrical articles includes a plurality of removable and replaceable inker subassemblies (35) each of which includes an inker section and a transmission section through which the inker section is mechanically connected to the main drive (93) for the apparatus. Each inker subassembly (35) applies a controlled film of ink to an individual associated printing cylinder (32) that remains mounted to the main frame (31) of the apparatus when its associated inker subassembly (35) is dismounted from the main frame (31). The transmission section is a sealed unit that utilizes a liquid lubricant. Mounting stability is obtained by utilizing four mounting points (101, 102) where each inker unit (35) engages the main frame. A readily releasable securing clamp (98a, 99a, 107) is provided at each mounting point, and a sliding collar (92) constitutes a readily disengageable coupling through which the input of the transmission section is driven by the main drive (93).