Can decorating apparatus

• US 4,741,266 A
• Filed: 10/08/1986
• Issued: 05/03/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Stolle Machinery Company LLC (Toyo Seikan Group Holdings, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Adolph Coors Company (Molson Coors Beverage Co.)
• Inventors: O'Hair, Roscoe W., Rose, Chet L., Stirbis, James S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crowder, Clifford D.
• Application Number:
  US06/916,604
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 101/40, 101/39, 101/38 A, 101/217, 101/218, 101/177, 101/247, 101/248, 101/352, 101/351, 101/350, 101/216, 29/428, 29/469
• US Class Current: 101/40
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 17/22 by rolling contact
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49904 Assembling a subassembly, then assembling with a second subassembly

Abstract

A decorator apparatus and methods for applying an ink image to cylindrical can body members comprising multiple station ink supply and transfer apparatus for transferring ink from an ink fountain to a blanket wheel through a plate cylinder with ink image registration adjustment apparatus and axial and circumferential tightness control apparatus operatively associated with each plate cylinder and each ink supply and transfer apparatus.

Claims

1. A decorator apparatus for applying a decorative ink image to the cylindrical outer surface of a one piece aluminum or steel can body or the like comprising:

a rotatable mandrel wheel means for supporting can body members on circumferentially spaced mandrel members;

infeed means for loading undecorated can body members onto the mandrel members;

a rotatable inking blanket wheel means having a plurality of circumferentially spaced blanket segment means thereon for applying ink images to the can body members;

a plurality of circumferentially spaced plate cylinder means for transferring ink images to said blanket segment means;

a plurality of circumferentially spaced ink fountain means for holding a supply of ink for each of said plate cylinder means;

an ink transfer system associated with each ink fountain means including a plurality of ink transfer roll means associated with each ink fountain means for transferring ink from each fountain means to an associated plate cylinder means and then to the blanket segment means;

a transfer wheel means for receiving decorated can body members from the mandrel wheel means;

a can carrying means for receiving decorated can body members from the transfer wheel means and transferring the decorated can body members away from the decorator apparatus;

a main base frame means for supporting the decorator apparatus and a vertically extending rigid frame plate means for supporting said plate cylinder means and said ink fountain means and said ink transfer system in juxtaposition to said blanket wheel means;

a plurality of circumferentially spaced plate cylinder mounting openings extending through said frame plate means in radially outwardly spaced relationship to said blanket wheel means;

a plurality of circumferentially spaced ink transfer system mounting openings extending through said frame plate means in generally radiallly outwardly spaced relationship to said plate cylinder openings;

a motor means and a main drive means operatively associated with the various wheel means for causing synchronous rotation thereof and including a bull gear means for driving said blanket wheel means;

each of said plate cylinder means being constructed as a separate sub-assembly and being separately and removably mounted in one of said plate cylinder mounting openings on said frame plate means and each plate cylinder means having a separate drive gear means for being directly driven by said bull gear means;

each ink transfer system being constructed as a separate sub-assembly and having separate roll drive gear means for operating said ink transfer roll means separately from said plate cylinder means and said plate cylinder drive gear means and being separately and removably mounted in one of said ink transfer system mounting openings; and

ink transfer system drive means separate from said plate cylinder drive gear means for operating said roll drive gear means separately from said plate cylinder means and said plate cylinder drive gear means.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 and wherein:

each of said plate cylinder means is separately custom fitted and aligned on said frame plate means during assembly at the factory; and

all of said plate cylinder means are driven directly by said main bull gear means and are mechanically separate from and independent of the associated ink transfer system.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 and wherein:

each plate cylinder means has an independent alignment and adjustment system which enables highly accurate alignment and adjustment both during assembly and during operation of the machine.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1 and wherein:

all of said ink transfer systems are of identical design and construction so as to be interchangeable at the various inking stations on the decorator.

5. The invention as defined in claim 4 and wherein:

all of said ink transfer roll means of each ink transfer system are separately driven by a roll drive system means separate from said plate cylinder means to substantially prevent vibration of the ink transfer roll system from being transmitted to said plate cylinder means.

6. The invention as defined in claim 5 and wherein:

each ink transfer system has an independent separate alignment and adjustment system which enables highly accurate alignment and adjustment during operation of the decorator.

7. The invention as defined in claim 5 and wherein said roll drive system means comprises a timing belt and pulley means.

8. The invention as defined in claim 7 and wherein said timing belt and pulley means comprises:

a first timing belt and pulley means for operation by the main drive shaft means;

a second timing belt and pulley means operated by said first timing belt and pulley means and for operating a first group of said ink transfer systems; and

a third timing belt and pulley means operated by said first timing belt and pulley means for operating a second group of said ink transfer systems.

9. The invention as defined in claim 4 and further comprising:

ink supply fountain mounting means for enabling each ink fountain means to be individually adjusted to a substantial horizontal position comprising selectively adjustable pivotal support bracket means mounted on fountain roll shaft hub means in said side plate means.

10. The invention as defined in claims 1, 2 or 6 and wherein:

said ink transfer system for transferring ink from said fountain ink supply means to said plate cylinder means comprising;

a pair of form roll means for transferring ink to said plate cylinder means at two peripherally spaced locations;

a pair of form roll engaging vibrator roll means including a first form roll engaging vibrator roll means for engaging and transferring ink to a first one of said pair of form roll means and a second form roll engaging vibrator roll means for engaging and transferring ink to a second one of said pair of form roll means;

a first intermediate distributing roll means engaging said first form roll engaging vibrator roll means for transferring ink thereto;

a second intermediate distributing roll means for engaging said first form roll engaging vibrator means and receiving ink therefrom and for engaging said second form roll engaging vibrator means and transferring ink thereto from said first form roll engaging vibrator roll means; and

a third intermediate vibrator roll means for engaging said first intermediate distributing roll means and transferring ink thereto.

11. The invention as defined in claim 10 and further comprising:

a third intermediate distributor roll means for engaging said third intermediate vibrator roll means and transferring ink thereto;

a fountain supply means for holding a supply of ink;

a fountain roll means for receiving ink from said fountain supply means; and

an oscillatory ductor roll means pivotally movable between a position of engagement with said fountain roll means for receiving ink therefrom and a position of engagement with said distributor roll means for transferring ink thereto.

12. The invention as defined in claim 10 and further comprising:

pressure adjusting means associated with each of said form roll means for adjusting the contact pressure between each form roll means and said plate cylinder means.

13. The invention as defined in claim 12 and wherein said pressure adjusting means comprising:

eccentric axially spaced shaft bearing means mounted eccentrically to a form roll shaft means whereby selective rotation of said form roll shaft means causes said form roll means to move toward and away from said associated vibrator roll means while maintaining parallelism therebetween; and

selectively operable manual adjustment means connected to the form roll shaft means to selectively cause rotation thereof.

14. The invention as defined in claim 10 and further comprising:

a pair of pivotal bracket means mounted on opposite end portions of each form roll engaging vibrator roll means;

a form roll shaft means for each form roll means having opposite end portions rotatably supported by one end portion of said pivotal bracket means and supporting each form roll means in ink transfer contact with said plate cylinder means and with the associated vibrator roll means; and

selectively adjustable stop means associated with one other end portion of each of said pivotal bracket means for selectively adjusting and maintaining parallelism of said form roll means relative to said plate cylinder means and for selectively adjusting and maintaining ink contact transfer pressure between said form roll means and said plate cylinder means.

15. The invention as defined in claim 14 and wherein said selectively adjustable stop means comprising:

a pair of abutment plate members mounted on the other end portions of each of said bracket members and having inclined abutment surfaces;

an adjustment shaft member mounted adjacent and in parallel relationship to said vibrator roll means and having a first portion located adjacent one of said bracket means and a second portion located adjacent said other one of said bracket means;

a pair of conical cam devices eccentrically mounted on said adjustment shaft portions in abutting engagement with said inclined abutment surfaces at 180°

offset locations;

selectively operable parallelism control means for selectively causing rotation of said shaft means and said cam devices relative to said abutment plate members to selectively vary the contact positions and effect and maintain parallelism of said roll form means relative to said plate cylinder means by unequal pivotal displacement of said pivotal bracket means; and

selectively operable pressure control means for selectively causing axial displacement of said shaft means and said cam devices relative to said abutment plate means to selectively adjust the contact pressure between said form roll means and said plate cylinder means by equal pivotal displacement of said bracket means while maintaining parallelism.

16. The invention as defined in claim 15 and wherein said adjustment control means comprises:

threaded nut means fixedly mounted on said shaft member;

threaded sleeve means rotatably engageable with said threaded nut means and being rotatable relative to said shaft means and said nut means for causing axial displacement of said shaft means;

a first handle means connected to said threaded sleeve means for causing selective rotation of said sleeve means to cause axial displacement of said shaft means and said cam devices to adjust and maintain contact pressure;

a second handle means connected to said shaft means for causing selective rotation of said shaft means to change the eccentric relationship of said cam devices relative to said stop plate means to adjust and maintain parallelism; and

locking means associated with said threaded sleeve means for selectively separately locking and unlocking said handle means.

17. The invention as defined in claim 16 and wherein said locking means comprising:

a sleeve member having a radially outwardly extending flange portion and being fixed to said shaft member for rotation therewith;

a ring member mounted on said sleeve member and having a radially inwardly extending flange portion adjacent said radially outwardly extending flange portion and being selectively rotatable relative thereto;

an arcuate offset side surface on said ring member located opposite an arcuate slot;

a locking segment member mounted in said arcuate slot for selective abutting engagement with said sleeve member;

an end plate member mounted adjacent said ring member and said locking segment member;

a first locking bolt means for selectively causing axial abutting locking engagement between said end plate member and said ring member; and

a second locking bolt means for selectively causing axial abutting locking engagement between said locking segment member and said sleeve member.

18. The invention as defined in claim 10 and further comprising:

each of said intermediate roll means having a non-rotatable roll shaft member with axially spaced end portions for rotatably supporting an intermediate roll member relative to adjacent roll means;

intermediate roll shaft axially spaced mounting means for rotatably supporting and maintaining parallelism of each intermediate roll means;

alignment and parallelism maintaining means associated with said mounting means for precision location and alignment of said intermediate roll means relative to adjacent roll means; and

pressure adjustment means associated with each mounting means for adjusting and maintaining contact pressure between said intermediate roll means and adjacent roll means.

19. The invention as defined in claim 18 and wherein said mounting means each comprising:

a block member fixedly mounted on a frame side wall;

a slot in each block member having precision machined opposite parallel side surfaces and an end surface;

a shaft member for supporting said intermediate roll means and having opposite end portions with precision machined opposite flat side surfaces and an end surface and a slot located between said flat surfaces;

said alignment and parallelism maintaining means being provided by each of said end portions of said shaft member being mounted in said slot in said block member with said opposite side surfaces of said block member slidably abuttingly engaging said opposite flat side surfaces of said shaft end portions and said end surface of said shaft portions being located closely adjacent said end surface of said slot in said block member;

a plate member fixedly mounted on said block member on a side of said slot located opposite the adjacent roll means and having an adjustment threaded bolt with an end portion extending into said mounting slot and into abutting engagement with said shaft slot and providing said pressure adjustment means to enable selective lateral adjustment of said shaft end portion to selectively adjust and maintain pressure of said intermediate roll means relative to adjacent roll means.

20. The invention as defined in claim 1, 2 or 6 and wherein:

said plate cylinder means and said ink transfer system being mounted on one side of said rigid frame plate means;

said plate cylinder drive means and said roll system gear drive means being mounted on the opposite side of said frame plate means;

lubricating means for said plate cylinder drive means and said roll system drive means mounted on the opposite side of said rigid frame plate means; and

sealing means associated with said gear drive means and said rigid frame plate means for preventing flow of lubricant to said ink transfer system.

21. The invention as defined in claim 1 and wherein each of said plate cylinder means comprising:

an outer hub member having a central bore and axially spaced end surfaces on opposite sides of said frame plate means and a counterbore in each end of said hub member and being fixedly mounted in one of said mounting openings in said frame plate means in approximate parallel alignment with said blanket wheel means;

a pair of flanged bearing sleeve means having a central precision machined bore and being mounted in each counterbore in said hub member in coaxial relationship and defining a first central axis of rotation;

an inner hub member having precision machined cylindrical axially spaced outer peripheral end surface portions rotatably and axially slidably coaxially mounted in and supported by said central precision machined bore of each of said flange bearing sleeve members and having a central eccentric bore with precision machined axially spaced coaxial bore end portions defining a second central axis of rotation which is eccentric to said first axis of rotation;

precision bearing means mounted in said coaxial bore end portions;

a precision machined main shaft member having a central axis of rotation and a central shaft portion rotatably and axially slidably mounted in said inner hub member by said bearing means in coaxial relationship with said central eccentric bore and having one end portion located adjacent said blanket wheel means and one other end portion located asjacent said bull gear means;

end plate means fastened to said end portions of said inner hub member for holding said bearing means in said bore end portions;

a plate cylinder means mounted on said one end portion of said main shaft member in ink transfer relationship with said blanket wheel means;

23. The invention as defined in claim 21 and wherein said eccentric adjustment means comprising:

a first abutment flange means fixedly mounted on a front end portion of said inner hub member and extending radially outwardly therefrom;

an abutment plate means fixed to said plate frame means adjacent said cylinder assembly and engaging said first abutment flange means to hold said inner hub member in a selected circumferentially displaced position relative to said outer hub member;

a second abutment flange means fixedly mounted on a rear end portion of said inner hub member and extending radially outwardly therefrom; and

a resilient stop means fixedly mounted on said frame plate means for engaging said second abutment flange means and holding said inner hub member in a selected circumferentially displaced location relative to said outer hub member.

25. The invention as defined in claim 23 and wherein said axial tightening means comprising:

a sleeve member axially slidably mounted on said shaft member adjacent and in abutting engagement with said bearing means at said other end of said inner hub member;

a ring member having circumferentially spaced compression spring devices axially slidably mounted on said shaft member adjacent and in abutting engagement with said sleeve member; and

a threaded collar member threadably mounted on said shaft member adjacent and in abutting engagement with said ring member.

28. The invention as defined in claim 25 and wherein said axial tightening means further comprising:

a pair of threaded sleeve members mounted in opposite ends of said bore in said slide block member and being rotatable therein and having a central threaded bore for engaging said threaded shaft portion and having a flange portion with arcuate bolt slots;

bolt means extending through said bolt slots into said slide block member for fixedly non-rotatably holding said sleeve members on said block member in a tightened condition while enabling opposite rotation of said sleeve members relative to said block member and said shaft member in a loosened condition to cause tight engagement of the threads on the sleeve members with the threads on the shaft member.

31. The invention as defined in claim 28 and wherein said circumferential stop means comprising:

a pair of roller members mounted on said drive gear member and abuttingly engaging opposite side surfaces of said key member.

34. The invention as defined in claim 21 or 22 and wherein said height registration means comprising:

an abutment plate means fixed to a rear end portion of said inner hub member and extending radially outwardly therefrom for transmitting axial force to said inner hub member and for restricting axial movement of said inner hub member;

a rotatable adjustment shaft means mounted in said plate frame means adjacent to and in parallel relationship with said plate cylinder assembly and having one end portion located adjacent said plate cylinder member and one other threaded end portion located adjacent said gear means for rotation relative to said inner hub member;

fixed guide shaft means mounted in said plate frame means adjacent to and in parallel relationship with said adjustment shaft means;

an axially displaceable slide block means having a threaded bore mounted on said threaded end portion of said rotatable adjustment shaft means for axial displacement relative to said inner hub member caused by rotation of said adjustment shaft means and having guide bore means for receiving said guide shaft means and causing axial displacement of said slide block means during rotation of said adjustment shaft means; and

a pair of axially spaced roller means mounted on said slide block means and located on opposite sides of and in abutting engagement with opposite side surfaces of said abutment plate means for transmitting force thereto to cause axial movement of said inner hub member during rotation of said adjustment shaft means and for holding said inner hub member in a selected axial location;

manually operable control means on said one end of said adjustment shaft means for selective rotation thereof; and

locking means associated with said control means for locking said control means and said adjustment shaft means in a selected position.

37. The invention as defined in claim 34 and wherein said roller means comprising:

an eccentric sleeve means for supporting one of said roller means; and

roller location adjustment means associated with said eccentric sleeve means for causing said roller means to tightly engage said abutment plate means.

22. gear means mounted on said other end portion of said main shaft member in driving engagement with said bull gear means;

eccentric adjustment means associated with said inner hub member for selectively causing rotation of said inner hub member relative to said sleeve means and changing the location of said central axis of rotation of said main shaft member relative to said blanket wheel means to selectively move said plate cylinder member toward and away from said blanket wheel means while maintaining parallelism therebetween and effecting adjustment of contact pressure between said plate cylinder member and said blanket wheel means;

image height registration adjustment means associated with said inner hub member for selectively causing axial displacement of said inner hub member and said main shaft member relative to said sleeve means and selectively changing the axial location of said plate cylinder member relative to said blanket wheel means while maintaining parallelism therebetween and effecting height registration of the ink image; and

image circumferential registration adjustment means associated with said gear means for selectively causing rotation of said shaft member and said plate cylinder member relative to said blanket wheel means and selectively changing the circumferential location of said plate cylinder member relative to said blanket wheel means while maintaining parallelism therebetween and effecting circumferential registration of the ink image.

24. The invention as defined in claim 22 and further comprising:

axial tightening means for providing and maintaining axial abutting engagement between all axially adjacent transverse surfaces.

26. The invention as defined in claim 24 and wherein said axial tightening means further comprising:

29. The invention as defined in claim 22 and said bull gear means having helical teeth and said drive gear means comprising:

an inner hub member rotatably and axially displaceably mounted on an end portion of said shaft member;

a drive gear member mounted on said inner hub member and having helical gear teeth;

an anti-back lash gear member mounted on said ring gear member and having helical teeth;

keyway slot means extending through said drive gear member and said anti-back lash gear member;

key means fixedly mounted on said hub member and slidably mounted in said keyway slot means for transmitting non-slip rotating force from said drive gear member to said hub member while enabling selective axial adjustment movement of said drive gear member relative to said hub member;

a friction drive member mounted on said one end of said shaft member adjacent said hub member and being frictionally driveably engaged therewith and rotated thereby;

a second key means for driveably connecting said friction drive member to said hub member; and

end plate means abutting said friction drive means and being fixedly connected to said one end of said shaft member for holding said gear means on said shaft means.

32. The invention as defined in claim 29 and wherein said circumferential stop means further comprising:

an adjustable plate means on said gear member for mounting said roller members to change the location of the rotational axis and maintain tight abutting engagement of said roller members with said key means.

35. The invention as defined in claim 32 and wherein said roller means comprises:

an eccentric sleeve means for supporting one of said roller means; and

roller location adjustment means associated with said eccentric sleeve means for causing said roller means to tightly engage said abutment plate means.

36. The invention as defined in claim 32 and wherein said circumferential registration means comprising:

an abutment plate means fixed to a rear end portion of said drive gear means and extending radially outwardly therefrom for transmitting axial force to said drive gear means and for restricting axial movement of said gear means;

a rotatable adjustment shaft means mounted in said plate frame means adjacent to and in parallel relationship with said plate cylinder assembly and having one end portion located adjacent said plate cylinder member and one other threaded end portion located adjacent said gear means for rotation relative to said inner hub member;

fixed guide shaft means mounted in said plate frame means adjacent to and in parallel relationship with said adjustment shaft means;

an axially displaceable slide block means having a threaded bore mounted on said threaded end portion of said rotatable adjustment shaft means for axial displacement relative to said gear means caused by rotation of said adjustment shaft means and having guide bore means for receiving said guide shaft means and causing axial displacement of said slide block means during rotation of said adjustment shaft means; and

a pair of axially spaced roller means mounted on said slide block means and located on opposite sides of and in abutting engagement with opposite side surfaces of said abutment plate means for transmitting force thereto to cause axial movement of said gear means relative to said bull gear means during rotation of said adjustment shaft means and for holding said gear means in a selected axial location;

manually operable control means on said one end of said adjustment shaft means for selective rotation thereof; and

locking means associated with said control means for locking said control means and said adjustment shaft means in a selected position.

38. The invention as defined in claim 22 and wherein said first abutment flange means is located 180°

opposite said second abutment flange means for exerting axially and circumferentially offset oppositely directed forces on said inner hub member to prevent lateral displacement.

41. The invention as defined in claim 38 and wherein said eccentric adjustment means comprising:

a first abutment flange means fixedly mounted on a front end portion of said inner hub member and extending radially outwardly therefrom;

an abutment plate means fixed to said plate frame means adjacent said cylinder assembly and engaging said first abutment flange means to hold said inner hub member in a selected circumferentially displaced position relative to said outer hub member;

a second abutment flange means fixedly mounted on a rear end portion of said inner hub member and extending radially outwardly therefrom; and

a resilient stop means fixedly mounted on said frame plate means for engaging said second abutment flange means and holding said inner hub member in a selected circumferentially displaced location relative to said outer hub member.

42. The invention as defined in claims 38 or 39 and wherein said height registration means comprising:

an abutment plate means fixed to a rear end portion of said inner hub member and extending radially outwardly therefrom for transmitting axial force to said inner hub member and for restricting axial movement of said inner hub member;

a rotatable adjustment shaft means mounted in said plate frame means adjacent to and in parallel relationship with said plate cylinder assembly and having one end portion location adjacent said plate cylinder member and one other threaded end portion located adjacent said gear means for rotation relative to said inner hub member;

fixed guide shaft means mounted in said plate frame means adjacent to and in parallel relationship with said adjustment shaft means;

an axially displaceable slide block means having a threaded bore mounted on said threaded end portion of said rotatable adjustment shaft means for axial displacement relative to said inner hub member caused by rotation of said adjustment shaft means and having guide bore means for receiving said guide shaft means and causing axial displacement of said slide block means during rotation of said adjustment shaft means; and

a pair of axially spaced roller means mounted on said slide block means and located on opposite sides of and in abutting engagement with opposite side surfaces of said abutment plate means for transmitting force thereto to cause axial movement of said inner hub member during rotation of said adjustment shaft means and for holding said inner hub member in a selected axial location;

manually operable control means on said one end of said adjustment shaft means for selective rotation thereof; and

locking means associated with said control means for locking said control means and said adjustment shaft means in a selected position.

44. The invention as defined in claim 38 or 39 and wherein said circumferential registration means comprising:

an abutment plate means fixed to a rear end portion of said drive gear means and extending radially outwardly therefrom for transmitting axial force to said drive gear means and for restricting axial movement of said gear means;

a rotatable adjustment shaft means mounted in said plate frame means adjacent to and in parallel relationship with said plate cylinder assembly and having one end portion located adjacent said plate cylinder member and one other threaded end portion located adjacent said gear means for rotation relative to said inner hub member;

fixed guide shaft means mounted in said plate frame means adjacent to and in parallel relationship with said adjustment shaft means;

an axially displaceable slide block means having a threaded bore mounted on said threaded end portion of said rotatable adjustment shaft means for axial displacement relative to said gear means caused by rotation of said adjustment shaft means and having guide bore means for receiving said guide shaft means and causing axial displacement of said slide block means during rotation of said adjustment shaft means; and

a pair of axially spaced roller means mounted on said slide block means and located on opposite sides of and in abutting engagement with opposite side surfaces of said abutment plate means for transmitting force thereto to cause axial movement of said gear means relative to said bull gear means during rotation of said adjustment shaft means and for holding said gear means in a selected axial location;

manually operable control means on said one end of said adjustment shaft means for selective rotation thereof; and

locking means associated with said control means for locking said control means and said adjustment shaft means in a selected position.

45. The invention as defined in claim 42 and wherein said roller means comprising:

an eccentric sleeve means for supporting one of said roller means; and

roller location adjustment means associated with said eccentric sleeve means for causing said roller means to tightly engage said abutment plate means.

46. The invention as defined in claim 38 or 39 and further comprising:

axial tightening means for providing and maintaining axial abutting engagement between all axially adjacent transverse surfaces.

47. The invention as defined in claim 44 and wherein said axial tightening means comprising:

a sleeve member axially slidably mounted on said shaft member adjacent and in abutting engagement with said bearing means at said other end of said inner hub member;

a ring member having circumferentially spaced compression spring devices axially slidably mounted on said shaft member adjacent and in abutting engagement with said sleeve member; and

a threaded collar member threadably mounted on said shaft member adjacent and in abutting engagement with said ring member.

48. The invention as defined in claim 45 and wherein said axial tightening means further comprising:

a sleeve member mounted between and abutting said axially spaced bearing means for transmitting axial force and maintaining the axial spacing therebetween.

49. The invention as defined in claim 46 and wherein said axial tightening means further comprising:

a pair of threaded sleeve members mounted in opposite ends of asid bore in said slide block member and being rotatable therein and having a central threaded bore for engaging said threaded shaft portion and having a flange portion with arcuate bolt slots; and

bolt means extending through said bolt slots into said slide block member for fixedly non-rotatably holding said sleeve members on said block member in a tightened condition while enabling opposite rotation of said sleeve members relative to said block member and said shaft member in a loosened condition to cause tight engagement of the threads on the sleeve members with the threads on the shaft member.

50. The invention as defined in claim 38 and said bull gear means having helical teeth and said drive gear means comprising:

an inner hub member rotatably and axially displaceably mounted on an end portion of said shaft member;

a drive gear member mounted on said inner hub member and having helical gear teeth;

an anti-back lash gear member mounted on said ring gear member and having helical teeth;

keyway slot means extending through said drive gear member and said anti-back lash gear member;

key means fixedly mounted on said hub member and slidably mounted in said keyway slot means for transmitting non-slip rotating force from said drive gear member to said hub member while enabling selective axial adjustment movement of said drive gear member relative to said hub member;

a friction drive member mounted on said one end of said shaft member adjacent said hub member and being frictionally driveably engaged therewith and rotated thereby;

a second key means for driveably connecting said friction drive member to said hub member; and

end plate means abutting said friction drive means and being fixedly connected to said one end of said shaft member for holding said gear means on said shaft means.

51. The invention as defined in claim 48 and further comprising:

adjustable circumferential stop means associated with said drive gear key means for preventing relative circumferential displacement of said drive gear member relative to said hub member.

52. The invention as defined in claim 49 and wherein said circumferential stop means comprising:

a pair of roller members mounted on said drive gear member and abuttingly engaging opposite side surfaces of said key member.

53. The invention as defined in claim 50 and wherein said circumferential stop means further comprising:

an adjustable plate means on said gear member for mounting said roller members to change the location of the rotational axis and maintain tight abutting engagement of said roller members with said key means.

54. The invention as defined in claim 51 and wherein said adjustable plate means comprising:

a plate member supporting said roller members and having axially spaced arcuate bolt slots; and

bolt members extending through said arcuate bolt slots into said drive gear member to fixedly hold said plate member on said drive gear member in a tightened condition and to allow pivotal movement of said plate member in a loosened condition to position said roller members in tight abutting engagement with said key means.

56. The invention as defined in claim 53 and wherein said adjustment control means comprises:

threaded nut means fixedly mounted on said shaft member;

threaded sleeve means rotatably engageable with said threaded nut means and being rotatable relative to said shaft means and said nut means for causing axial displacement of said shaft means;

a first handle means connected to said threaded sleeve means for causing selective rotation of said sleeve means to cause axial displacement of said shaft means and said cam devices to adjust and maintain contact pressure;

a second handle means connected to said shaft means for causing selective rotation of said shaft means to change the eccentric relationship of said cam devices relative to said stop plate means to adjust and maintain parallelism; and

locking means associated with said threaded sleeve means for selectively separately locking and unlocking said handle means.

57. The invention as defined in claim 54 and wherein said locking means comprising:

a sleeve member having a radially outwardly extending flange portion and being fixed to said shaft member for rotation therewith;

a ring member mounted on said sleeve member and having a radially inwardly extending flange portion adjacent said radially outwardly extending flange portion and being selectively rotatable relative thereto;

an arcuate offset side surface on said ring member located opposite an arcuate slot;

a locking segment member mounted in said arcuate slot for selective abutting engagement with said sleeve member;

an end plate member mounted adjacent said ring member and said locking segment member;

a first locking bolt means for selectively causing axial abutting locking engagement between said end plate member and said ring member; and

a second locking bolt means for selectively causing axial abutting locking engagement between said locking segment member and said sleeve member.

60. The invention as defined in claim 57 and wherein said eccentric adjustment means comprising:

a first abutment flange means fixedly mounted on a front end portion of said inner support means and extending radially outwardly therefrom;

an abutment plate means fixed to said plate frame means adjacent said cylinder assembly and engaging said first abutment flange means to hold said inner support means in a selected circumferentially displaced position relative to said outer support means;

a second abutment flange means fixedly mounted on a rear end portion of said inner support means and extending radially outwardly therefrom; and

a resilient stop means fixedly mounted on said frame plate means for engaging said second abutment flange means and holding said inner support means in a selected circumferentially displaced location relative to said outer support means.

61. The invention as defined in claim 57 or 58 and wherein said height registration means comprising:

an abutment plate means fixed to a rear end portion of said inner support means and extending radially outwardly therefrom for transmitting axial force to said inner support means and for restricting axial movement of said inner support means;

a rotatable adjustment shaft means mounted in said plate frame means adjacent to and in parallel relationship with said plate cylinder assembly and having one end portion located adjacent said plate cylinder member and one other threaded end portion located adjacent said driven gear means for rotation relative to said inner support means;

fixed guide shaft means mounted in said plate frame means adjacent to and in parallel relationship with said adjustment shaft means;

an axially displaceable slide block means having a threaded bore mounted on said threaded end portion of said rotatable adjustment shaft means for axial displacement relative to said inner support means caused by rotation of said adjustment shaft means and having guide bore means for receiving said guide shaft means and causing axial displacement of said slide block means during rotation of said adjustment shaft means; and

a pair of axially spaced roller means mounted on said slide block means and located on opposite sides of and in abutting engagement with opposite side surfaces of said abutment plate means for transmitting force thereto to cause axial movement of said inner support means during rotation of said adjustment shaft means and for holding said inner support means in a selected axial location;

manually operable control means on said one end of said adjustment shaft means for selective rotation thereof; and

locking means associated with said control means for locking said control means and said adjustment shaft means in a selected position.

63. The invention as defined in claim 57 or 58 and wherein said circumferential registration means comprising:

an abutment plate means fixed to a rear end portion of said driven gear means and extending radially outwardly therefrom for transmitting axial force to said driven gear means and for restricting axial movement of said driven gear means;

a rotatable adjustment shaft means mounted in said plate frame means adjacent to and in parallel relationship with said plate cylinder assembly and having one and portion located adjacent said plate cylinder member and one other threaded end portion located adjacent said driven gear means for rotation relative to said inner support means;

fixed guide shaft means mounted in said plate frame means adjacent to and in parallel relationship with said adjustment shaft means;

an axially displaceable slide block means having a threaded bore mounted on said threaded end portion of said rotatable adjustment shaft means for axial displacement relative to said driven gear means caused by rotation of said adjustment shaft means and having guide bore means for receiving said guide shaft means and causing axial displacement of said slide block means during rotation of said adjustment shaft means; and

a pair of axially spaced roller means mounted on said slide block means and located on opposite sides of and in abutting engagement with opposite side surfaces of said abutment plate means for transmitting force thereto to cause axial movement of said driven gear means relative to said drive gear means during rotation of said adjustment shaft means and for holding said driven gear means in a selected axial location;

manually operable control means on said one end of said adjustment shaft means for selective rotation thereof; and

locking means associated with said control means for locking said control means and said adjustment shaft means in a selected position.

64. The invention as defined in claim 61 and wherein said roller means comprising:

an eccentric sleeve means for supporting one of said roller means; and

roller location adjustment means associated with said eccentric sleeve means for causing said roller means to tightly engage said abutment plate means.

65. The invention as defined in claim 57 and further comprising:

axial tightening means for providing and maintaining axial abutting engagement between all axially adjacent transverse surfaces.

66. The invention as defined in claim 63 and wherein said axial tightening means comprising:

a sleeve member axially slidably mounted on said shaft member adjacent and in abutting engagement with said bearing means at said other end of said inner support means;

a ring member having circumferentially spaced compression spring devices axially slidably mounted on said shaft member adjacent and in abutting engagement with said sleeve member; and

a threaded collar member threadably mounted on said shaft member adjacent and in abutting engagement with said ring member.

67. The invention as defined in claim 63 and wherein said axial tightening means further comprising:

a sleeve member mounted between and abutting said axially spaced bearing means for transmitting axial force and maintaining the axial spacing therebetween.

68. The invention as defined in claim 65 and wherein said axial tightening means further comprising:

a pair of threaded sleeve members mounted in opposite ends of said bore in said slide block member and being rotatable therein and having a central threaded bore for engaging said threaded shaft portion and having a flange portion with arcuate bolt slots;

bolt means extending through said bolt slots into said slide block member for fixedly non-rotatably holding said sleeve members on said block member in a tightened condition while enabling opposite rotation of said sleeve members relative to said block member and said shaft member in a loosened condition to cause tight engagement of the threads on the sleeve members with the threads on the shaft member.

69. The invention as defined in claim 57 and said drive gear means having helical teeth and said driven gear means comprising:

an inner hub member rotatably and axially displaceably mounted on an end portion of said shaft member;

a drive gear member mounted on said inner hub member and having helical gear teeth;

an anti-back lash gear member mounted on said ring gear member and having helical teeth;

keyway slot means extending through said drive gear member and said anti-back lash gear member;

key means fixedly mounted on said hub member and slidably mounted in said keyway slot means for transmitting non-slip rotating force from said drive gear member to said hub member while enabling selective axial adjustment movement of said drive gear member relative to said hub member;

a friction drive member mounted on said one end of said shaft member adjacent said hub member and being frictionally driveably engaged therewith and rotated thereby;

a second key means for driveably connecting said friction drive member to said hub member; and

end plate means abutting said friction drive means and being fixedly connected to said one end of said shaft member for holding said gear means on said shaft means.

70. The invention as defined in claim 67 and further comprising:

adjustable circumferential stop means associated with said drive gear key means for preventing relative circumferential displacement of said drive gear member relative to said hub member.

71. The invention as defined in claim 68 and wherein said circumferential stop means comprising:

a pair of roller members mounted on said drive gear member and abuttingly engaging opposite side surfaces of said key member.

72. The invention as defined in claim 69 and wherein said circumferential stop means further comprising:

an adjustable plate means on said gear member for mounting said roller members to change the location of the rotational axis and maintain tight abutting engagement of said roller members with said key means.

73. The invention as defined in claim 70 and wherein said adjustable plate means comprising:

a plate member supporting said roller members and having axially spaced arcuate bolt slots; and

bolt members extending through said arcuate bolt slots into said drive gear member to fixedly hold said plate member on said drive gear member in a tightened condition and to allow pivotal movement of said plate member in a loosened condition to position said roller members in tight abutting engagement with said key means.

27. a sleeve member mounted between and abutting said axially spaced bearing means for transmitting axial force and maintaining the axial spacing therebetween.

30. The invention as defined in claim 27 and further comprising:

adjustable circumferential stop means associated with said drive gear key means for preventing relative circumferential displacement of said drive gear member relative to said hub member.

33. The invention as defined in claim 30 and wherein said adjustable plate means comprising:

a plate member supporting said roller members and having axially spaced arcuate bolt slots; and

bolt members extending through said arcuate bolt slots into said drive gear member to fixedly hold said plate member on said drive gear member in a tightened condition and to allow pivotal movement of said plate member in a loosened condition to position said roller members in tight abutting engagement with said key means.

39. A method of assembly and adjustment of a plurality of plate cylinder means and associated ink transfer roll means and ink supply fountain means on a vertical support plate frame means adjacent a blanket wheel means of a can decorator machine comprising:

machining plate cylinder mounting bores and ink station slots in the vertical support plate frame means;

fixedly mounting plate cylinder support hub members having central plate cylinder assembly mounting bores in each of the plate cylinder mounting bores;

accurately precision machining the end surfaces and the mounting bores of the plate cylinder support hub members to provide parallel aligned end surface and axially spaced mounting bore portions and parallel adjustment control mounting bores located in precise radially, outwardly spaced relationship to the axially spaced mounting bore portions;

loosely inserting a plate cylinder assembly including a plate cylinder member and axially spaced precisely accurately machined support sleeve members in said axially spaced mounting bore portions with the axially spaced support sleeve members loosely located in the axially spaced mounting bore portion;

individually adjusting the position of each plate cylinder member relative to the blanket wheel means to obtain a position of approximate alignment therewith;

individually fastening each of the axially spaced support sleeve members of each of the plate cylinder assemblies to each of the plate cylinder support hub members in the position of approximate alignment;

mounting separate plate cylinder precision alignment adjustment means in each of the adjustment control mounting bores associated with each plate cylinder assembly and connecting each plate cylinder precision alignment adjustment means with each associated plate cylinder assembly;

separately adjusting end plate cylinder assembly by use of the plate cylinder precision alignment adjustment means to obtain separate precision alignment of each plate cylinder relative to the blanket wheel means;

separately mounting each of the associated ink transfer roll means and ink supply fountain means on a separate ink system support frame means;

separately mounting each ink system support frame means on the vertical support plate frame means in the ink supply system slots with a form roll in juxtaposition to each of the plate cylinders; and

adjusting the position for each form roll relative to each associated plate cylinder until the axis of each form roll is substantially parallel to the axis of the associated plate cylinder.

40. A decorator apparatus for applying a decorative ink image to the cylindrical outer surface of a one piece aluminum or steel can body or the like comprising:

a rotatable mandrel wheel means for supporting can body members on circumferentially spaced mandrel members;

infeed means for loading undecorated can body members onto the mandrel members;

a rotatable inking blanket wheel means having a plurality of circumferentially spaced blanket segment means thereon for applying ink images to the can body members;

a plurality of circumferentially spaced plate cylinder means for transferring ink images to said blanket segment means;

a plurality of circumferentially spaced ink fountain means for holding a supply of ink for each of said plate cylinder means;

an ink transfer system associated with each ink fountain means including a plurality of ink transfer roll means associated with each ink fountain means for transferring ink from each fountain means to an associated plate cylinder means and then to the blanket segment means;

a transfer wheel means for receiving decorated can body members from the mandrel wheel means;

a can carrying means for receiving decorated can body members from the transfer wheel means and transferring the decorated can body members away from the decorator apparatus;

a main base frame means for supporting the decorator apparatus and a vertically extending rigid frame plate means for supporting said plate cylinder means and said ink fountain means and said ink transfer system in juxtaposition to said blanket wheel means;

a motor means and a main drive means operatively associated with the various wheel means for causing synchronous rotation thereof and including a bull gear means for driving said blanket wheel means;

each of said plate cylinder means being constructed and mounted as a separate sub-assembly on said frame plate means and comprising;

an outer hub member having a central bore and axially spaced end surfaces on opposite sides of said plate frame means and a counterbore in each end of said hub member and being fixedly mounted in said plate frame means in approximate parallel alignment with said blanket wheel means;

a counterbore in each end of said hub member;

a pair of flanged bearing sleeve means having a central precision machined bore and being mounted in each counterbore in said hub member in coaxial relationship and defining a first central axis of rotation;

an inner hub member having precision machined cylindrical axially spaced outer peripheral end surface portions rotatably and axially slidably coaxially mounted in and supported by said central precision machined bore of each of said flange bearing sleeve members and having a central eccentric bore with precision machined axially spaced coaxial bore end portions defining a second central axis of rotation which is eccentric to said first axis of rotation;

precision bearing means mounted in said coaxial bore end portions;

a precision machined main shaft member having a central axis of rotation and a central shaft portion rotatably and axially slidably mounted in said inner hub member by said bearing means in coaxial relationship with said central eccentric bore and having one end portion located adjacent said blanket wheel means and one other end portion located adjacent said bull gear means;

end plate means fastened to said end portions of said inner hub member for holding said bearing means in said bore end portions;

a plate cylinder means mounted on said one end portion of said main shaft member in ink transfer relationship with said blanket wheel means;

gear means mounted on said other end portion of said main shaft member in driving engagement with said bull gear means;

eccentric adjustment means associated with said inner hub member for selectively causing rotation of said inner hub member relative to said sleeve means and changing the location of said central axis of rotation of said main shaft member relative to said blanket wheel means to selectively move said plate cylinder member toward and away from said blanket wheel means while maintaining parallelism therebetween and effecting adjustment of contact pressure between said plate cylinder member and said blanket wheel means;

image height registration adjustment means associated with said inner hub member for selectively causing axial displacement of said inner hub member and said main shaft member relative to said sleeve means and selectively changing the axial location of said plate cylinder member relative to said blanket wheel means while maintaining parallelism therebetween and effecting height registration of the ink image; and

image circumferential registration adjustment means associated with said gear means for selectively causing rotation of said shaft member and said plate cylinder member relative to said blanket wheel means and selectively changing the circumferential location of said plate cylinder member relative to said blanket wheel means while maintaining parallelism therebetween and effecting circumferential registration of the ink image.

43. The invention as defined in claim 40 and wherein said roller means comprises:

an eccentric sleeve means for supporting one of said roller means; and

roller location adjustment means associated with said eccentric sleeve means for causing said roller means to tightly engage said abutment plate means.

55. A decorator apparatus for applying a decorative ink image to the cylindrical outer surface of a one piece aluminum or steel can body or the like comprising:

a rotatable mandrel wheel means for supporting can body members on circumferentially spaced mandrel members;

infeed means for loading undecorated can body members onto the mandrel members;

a rotatable inking blanket wheel means having a plurality of circumferentially spaced blanket segment means thereon for applying ink images to the can body membes;

a plurality of circumferentially spaced plate cylinder means for transferring ink images to said blanket segment means;

a plurality of circumferentialy spaced ink fountain means for holding a supply of ink for each of said plate cylinder means;

an ink transfer system associated with each ink fountain means including a plurality of ink transfer roll means associated with each ink fountain means for transferring ink from each fountain means to an associated plate cylinder means and then to the blanket segment means;

a transfer wheel means for receiving decorated can body members from the mandrel wheel means;

a can carrying means for receiving decorated can body members from the transfer wheel means and transferring the decorated can body members away from the decorator apparatus;

a main base frame means for supporting the decorator apparatus and a vertically extending rigid frame plate means for supporting said plate cylinder means and said ink fountain means and said ink transfer system in juxtaposition to said blanket wheel means;

a motor means and a main drive means operatively associated with the various wheel means for causing synchronous rotation thereof;

said ink transfer system for transferring ink from said fountain ink supply means to said plate cylinder means comprising;

a pair of form roll means for transferring ink to said plate cylinder means at two peripherally spaced locations;

a pair of form roll engaging vibrator roll means including a first form roll engaging vibrator roll means for engaging and transferring ink to a first one of said pair of form roll means and a second form roll engaging vibrator roll means for engaging and transferring ink to a second one of said pair of form roll means;

a first intermediate distributing roll means engaging said first form roll engaging vibrator roll means for transferring ink thereto;

a second intermediate distributing roll means for engaging said first form roll engaging vibrator means and receiving ink therefrom and for engaging said second form roll engaging vibrator means and transferring ink thereto from said first form roll engaging vibrator roll means; and

a third intermediate vibrator roll means for engaging said first intermediate distributing roll means and transferring ink thereto;

a pair of pivotal bracket means mounted on opposite end portions of each form roll engaging vibrator roll means;

a form roll shaft means for each form roll means having opposite end portions rotatably supported by one end portion of said pivotal bracket means and supporting each form roll means in ink transfer contact with said plate cylinder means and with the associated vibrator roll means;

selectively adjustable stop means associated with one other end portion of each of said pivotal bracket means for selectively adjusting and maintaining parallelism of said form roll means relative to said plate cylinder means and for selectively adjusting and maintaining ink contact transfer pressure between said form roll means and said plate cylinder means;

said selectively adjustable stop means comprising;

a pair of abutment plate members mounted on the other end portions of each of said bracket members and having inclined abutment surfaces;

an adjustment shaft member mounted adjacent and in parallel relationship to asid vibrator roll means and having a first portion located adjacent one of said bracket means and a second portion located adjacent said other one of said bracket means;

a pair of conical cam devices eccentrically mounted on said adjustment shaft portions in abutting engagement with said inclined abutment surfaces at 180°

offset locations;

selectively operable parallelism control means for selectively causing rotation of said shaft means and said cam devices relative to said abutment plate members to selectively vary the contact positions and effect and maintain parallelism of said roll form means relative to said plate cylinder means by unequal pivotal displacement of said pivotal bracket means; and

selectively operable pressure control means for selectively causing axial displacement of said shaft means and said cam devices relative to said abutment plate means to selectively adjust the contact pressure between said form roll means and said plate cylinder means by equal pivotal displacement of said bracket means while maintaining parallelism.

58. A decorator apparatus for applying a decorative ink image to the cylindrical outer surface of a one piece aluminum or steel can body or the like comprising:

a rotatable mandrel wheel means for supporting can body members on circumferentially spaced mandrel members;

infeed means for loading undecorated can body members onto the mandrel members;

a rotatable inking blanket wheel means having a plurality of circumferentially spaced blanket segment means thereon for applying ink images to the can body members;

a plurality of circumferentially spaced plate cylinder means for transferring ink images to said blanket segment means;

a plurality of circumferentially spaced ink fountain means for holding a supply of ink for each of said plate cylinder means;

an ink transfer system associated with each ink fountain means including a plurality of ink transfer roll means associated with each ink fountain means for transferring ink from each fountain means to an associated plate cylinder means then to the blanket segment means;

a transfer wheel means for receiving decorated can body members from the mandrel wheel means;

a can carrying means for receiving decorated can body members from the transfer wheel means and transferring the decorated can body members away from the decorator apparatus;

a main base frame means for supporting the decorator apparatus and a vertically extending rigid frame plate means for supporting said plate cylinder means and said ink fountain means and said ink transfer system in juxtaposition to said blanket wheel means;

a motor means and a main drive means operatively associated with the various wheel means for causing synchronous rotation thereof;

said ink transfer system for transferring ink from said fountain ink supply means to said plate cylinder means comprising;

a pair of form roll means for transferring ink to said plate cylinder means at two peripherally spaced locations;

a pair of form roll engaging vibrator roll means including a first form roll engaging vibrator roll means for engaging and transferring ink to a first one of said pair of form roll means and a second form roll engaging vibrator roll means for engaging and transferring ink to a second one of said pair of form roll means;

a first intermediate distributing roll means engaging said first form roll engaging vibrator roll means for transferring ink thereto;

a second intermediate distribution roll means for engaging said first form roll engaging vibrator means and receiving ink therefrom and for engaging said second form roll engaging vibrator means and trasnferring ink thereto from said first form roll engaging vibrator roll means;

a third intermediate vibrator roll means for engaging said first intermediate distributing roll means and transferring ink thereto;

each of said intermediate roll means having a non-rotatable roll shaft member with axially spaced end portions for rotatably supporting an intermediate roll member relative to adjacent roll means;

intermediate roll shaft axially spaced mounting means for rotatably supporting and maintaining parallelism of each intermediate roll means;

alignment and parallelism maintaining means associated with said mounting means for precision location and alignment of said intermediate roll means relative to adjacent roll means; and

pressure adjustment means associated with each mounting means for adjusting and maintaining contact pressure between said intermediate roll means and adjacent roll means;

said mounting means each comprising;

a block member fixedly mounted on a frame side wall;

a slot in each block member having precision machined opposite parallel side surfaces and an end surface;

a shaft member for supporting said intermediate roll means and having opposite end portions with precision machined opposite flat side surfaces and an end surface and a slot located between said flat surfaces;

said alignment and parallelism maintaining means being provided by each of said end portions of said shaft member being mounted in said slot in said block member with said opposite side surfaces of said block member slidably abuttingly engaging said opposite flat side surfaces of said shaft end portions and said end surface of said shaft portions being located closely adjacent said end surface of said slot in said block member; and

a plate member fixedly mounted on said block member on a side of said slot located opposite the adjacent roll means having an adjustment threaded bolt with an end portion extending into said mounting slot and into abutting engagement with said shaft slot and providing said pressure adjustment means to enable selective lateral adjustment of said shaft end portion to selectively adjust and maintain pressure of said intermediate roll means relative to adjacent roll means.

59. A decorator apparatus for applying a decorative ink image to the cylindrical outer surface of a one piece aluminum or steel can body or the like comprising:

a rotatable mandrel wheel means for supporting can body members on circumferentially spaced mandrel members;

infeed means for loading undecorated can body members onto the mandrel members;

a rotatable inking blanket wheel means having a plurality of circumferentially spaced blanket segment means thereon for applying ink images to the can body members;

a plurality of circumferentially spaced plate cylinder means for transferring ink images to said blanket segment means;

a plurality of circumferentially spaced ink fountain means for holding a supply of ink for each of said plate cylinder means;

an ink transfer system associated with each ink fountain means including a plurality of ink transfer roll means associated with each ink fountain means for transferring ink from each fountain means to an associated plate cylinder means and then to the blanket segment means;

a transfer wheel means for receiving decorated can body members from the mandrel wheel means;

a can carrying means for receiving decorated can body members from the transfer wheel means and transferring the decorated can body members away from the decorator apparatus;

a main base frame means for supporting the decorator apparatus and a vertically extending rigid frame plate means for supporting said plate cylinder means and said ink fountain means and said ink transfer system in juxtaposition to said blanket wheel means;

a motor means and a main drive means operatively associated with the various wheel means for causing synchronous rotation thereof;

outer support means having central bore means and being mounted on said frame plate means for supporting said plate cylinder means and defining a first central axis of rotation;

an inner support means axially slidably coaxially mounted in and supported by said central bore means of said outer support means and having central eccentric bore means defining a second central axis of rotation which is eccentric to said first axis of rotation;

bearing means mounted in said central eccentric bore means in said inner support means;

main shaft means having a central axis of rotation and a central shaft portion rotatably and axially slidably mounted in said inner support means by said bearing means in coaxial relatonship with said central eccentric bore means and having one end portion located adjacent said blanket wheel means and one other end portion located adjacent said drive gear means;

a plate cylinder means mounted on said one end portion of said main shaft means in ink transfer relationship with said blanket wheel means;

driven gear means mounted on said other end portion of said main shaft means in driving engagement with said drive gear means;

eccentric adjustment means associated with said inner support means for selectively causing rotation of said inner support means relative to said outer support means and changing the location of said central axis of rotation of said main shaft member relative to said blanket wheel means to selectively move said plate cylinder member toward and away from said blanket wheel means while maintaining parallelism therebetween and effecting adjustment of contact pressure between said plate cylinder member and said blanket wheel means;

image height registration adjustment means associated with said inner support means for selectively causing axial displacement of said inner support means and said main shaft member relative to said outer support means and selectively changing the axial location of said plate cylinder member relative to said blanket wheel means while maintaining parallism therebetween and effecting height registration of the ink image; and

image circumferential registration adjustment means associated with said driven gear means for selectively causing rotation of said shaft member and said plate cylinder member relative to said blanket wheel means and selectively changing the circumferential location of said plate cylinder member relative to said blanket wheel means while maintaining parallelism therebetween and effecting circumferential registration of the ink image.

62. The invention as defined in claim 59 and wherein said roller means comprises:

an eccentric sleeve means for supporting one of said roller means; and

roller location adjustment means associated with said eccentric sleeve means for causing said roller means to tightly engage said abutment plate means.