US3604350A

US3604350A - Flexographic presses with interrupter and cylinder register mechanisms

Info

Publication number: US3604350A
Application number: US818647A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lawrence Rosenstadt
Original assignee: LEE MACHINERY CORP
Current assignee: LEE MACHINERY CORP
Priority date: 1969-04-23
Filing date: 1969-04-23
Publication date: 1971-09-14
Anticipated expiration: 1988-09-14

Abstract

A flexographic press having a plurality of printing stations with each station having an associated impression cylinder, a printing plate cylinder mounted for individual movement back and forth relative to its impression cylinder, and an ink fountain roller mounted for individual movement back and forth relative to its printing plate cylinder, and means for correcting the web registration between stations.

Description

United States Patent Inventor Lawrence Rosenstadt Rye. N.Y.

Appl. No. 818,647

Filed Apr. 23, 1969 Patented Sept. 14, 1971 Assignee Lee Machinery Corporation New York, NY.

FLEXOGRAPl-HC PRESSFB WITH INTERRUPTER AND CYLINDER REGISTER MECHANISMS Primary Examiner-.1. Reed Fisher Attorney-Ward. McElhannon, Brooks and Fitzpatrick ABSTRACT: A flexographic press having a plurality of printing stations with each station having an associated impression cylinder. a printing plate cylinder mounted for individual movement back and forth relative to its impression cylinder. and an ink fountain roller mounted for individual movement back and forth relative to its printing plate cylinder, and means for correcting the web registration between stations.

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SHEET 3 [IF 4 l N VEN TOR A M/260 66 Pas6Wq07 FLEXOGRAPHIC PRESSES WITH INTERRUPTER AND CYLINDER REGISTER MECHANISMS This invention relates to printing presses and more particularly to flexographic presses.

The type of printing known as flexography or aniline print- ,ing is a specialized form of relief printing used for printing on such materials as cellophane, polyethylene, or the like. This type of printing is generally characterized by the use of flexible rubber plates carried by the printing cylinders of web-fed rotary presses. Generally, the plates are inked by a single inking roller and the material to be printed is fed between the press plate cylinder and its associated impression cylinder.

It is usual for this type of flexographic press to print multiple colors with a plate cylinder, and a coacting impression cylinder associated with each particular color to be printed. Precise registration of the web between successive printing stations in a press of this nature is critical. Prior art means for controlling this registration is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,233,539 dated Feb. 8, 1966. The present invention concerns improvements upon the features of such apparatus.

conventionally, flexographic presses of the class described include means for laterally moving the printing plate cylinder with respect to the impression cylinder as well as means for laterally moving the ink plate roller with respect to the printing plate cylinder. Prior art means for effecting such movements are disclosed in aforementioned Pat. No. 3,233,539. This invention is directed to improvements upon the features of the apparatus of the prior art.

Briefly my invention contemplates the provision of a flexographic press having a plurality of printing stations with each station having an ink fountain roller, a printing plate cylinder and a related impression cylinder. It will be understood that more than one printing plate cylinder may be associated with each impression cylinder and in the flexographic printing press illustrated, two such printing plate cylinders are normally associated with each impression cylinder. In each station, means are provided for mounting the printing plate cylinders for individual movement back and forth relative to its impression cylinder and means are provided for mounting each of the ink fountain rollers for individual movement back and forth relative to its printing plate cylinder. In addition, means are provided for correcting the web registration between statrons.

In one form of my invention the means for mounting the printing plate cylinder include a printing plate cylinder shaft carrying the printing plate cylinder and a printing plate cylinder frame having upward extensions for carrying the printing plate cylinder. The press is provided with a crossarm having a keyway therein for slidably receiving the printing plate cylinder frame thereon. In addition, means are incorporated for providing course adjustments as well as vemier adjustments of the printing plate cylinder frame with respect to the impression cylinder, thereby insuring effective and rapid adjustment of the printing plate cylinder.

In another form of my invention, I provide means for mounting an ink fountain roller including an ink fountain roller shaft which carries the roller and which, in turn, is mounted on an ink fountain carriage. The printing cylinder frame is provided with a keyway for slidably receiving the carriage. Means are incorporated for providing course adjustments and vemier adjustments of the ink fountain carriages with respect to the printing cylinder frame, thereby insuring effective and rapid adjustment of the ink fountain roller.

In still another form of my invention, 1 provide means for adjusting the rotational position of the printing plate cylinder with respect to the impression cylinder to correct the web registration between stations, which include a pair of mating helical gears, one of said gears being in direct drive relationship with respect to the printing plate cylinder and the other of said helical gears being in direct drive relationship with respect to the impression cylinder. Means are incorporated for adjusting the relative position between the pair of helical gears to provide partial rotational movement of the printing plate cylinder with respect to the impression cylinder.

There has been outlined rather broadly the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the prior art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter which will form the subject of the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception on which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as the basis for the design of other structures for carrying out the several purposes of the invention. It is important, therefore, that this disclosure be regarded as including such equivalent constructions as do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.

One embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description, and is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, wherein:

FIG. I is a detailed side elevation, partly in section, of a flexographic press constructed according to the concept of my invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view showing the gear means for effecting registration of the web between successive printing stations in the press;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevation, taken along the line indicated at 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the flexographic press showing the means for effecting movement of the printing plate cylinder with respect to the impression cylinder and movement of the ink fountain roller with respect to the printing plate cylinder;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken along the line indicated at 5-5 in FIG. 4, and showing details of the means for moving the printing plate cylinder with respect to the impression cylinder;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged vertical section view taken along the line indicated at 6-6 in FIG. 4, and showing details of the means for moving the ink plate roller with respect to the printing plate cylinder; and

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line indicated at 7-7 in FIG. 6.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, as shown in FIG. 1, a four-color flexographic press embodies a main frame F carrying a supply roll R rotatably mounted on a shaft 12. It will be understood that supply roll R can also be rotatably mounted on a separate unwinding stand with equal facility. Web material is fed from the supply roll around the idler roll 14 and then around draw roll 16, preferably fabricated from rubber or other similar material. From the draw roll 16, the web passes an upper impression cylinder 18 and a first printing plate cylinder 20 at a first printing station, indicated generally at I. Next, the web is fed between a lower impression cylinder 22 and a second printing plate cylinder 24 at a second printing station indicated generally at 11, and then the web is fed over a bottom roller 26. Thereafter, the web passes between the lower impression cylinder 22 and a third plate printing plate cylinder 28 at a third printing station indicated generally at III. and then the web passes between the upper impression cylinder 18 and a fourth printing plate cylinder 30 at a fourth printing station indicated generally at IV. Thence, the web is led around idler roller 32 and through a heated drying tunnel to a rewind roll (not shown). In normal operation, the web passes successively through the printing stations I, II, III and IV, and at each printing station a separate color is imprinted thereon by

printing plate cylinders

20, 24, 28 and 30, respectively. Frequently, heating means (not shown) are interposed between successively printing stations to hasten the drying and setting of the ink. The web W is drawn from the roll R by the coaction of the impression cylinder 18 and the draw roll 16 which are driven by any suitable source, known in the art. In addition, suitable draw rollers (not shown) on the rewind side of the press may assist in pulling web W through the press.

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, the printing cylinder 20 is mounted on a printing plate cylinder shaft 34 which is supported at each end by upward extensions 36 of printing plate cylinder frame 38. This frame, in turn, is slidably mounted in suitable keyways 40 formed in crossarms 42 of the press frame F. An engraved ink roller 44 associated with the printing plate cylinder 20 is mounted on an ink roller shaft 46 which is carried at each end by an ink system carriage 48. An ink fountain roller 50, mounted on ink fountain roller shaft 52 is also carried at each end by the ink carriage 48. The carriage 48 is slidably mounted in a suitable keyway 54 formed in the printing cylinder frame 38.

On each side of the press, the plate cylinder frame 38 is arranged for controlled travel along the crossarm 42 by a coarse adjusting means and by a fine or vernier adjusting means. Referring in particular to FIG. 4, the fine or vernier adjusting means for the plate cylinder frame comprises a frame adjusting shaft 62 mounted in a bore 64 in the plate cylinder frame 38 for longitudinal motion. This shaft may be locked in any desired longitudinal position by means of a releasable locking screw 66, the locking screw being provided with a handle 68 to simplify its manual manipulation. The other end of the shaft 62 is threaded, as at 70, and a hand manipulatable frame adjusting nut 72 is mounted thereon. This nut is provided with a circumferential groove 74 for receiving a bracket 76 fixedly mounted on the crossarm 42, so that rotation of the nut 72 causes the shaft 62 to move longitudinally with respect to the crossarm 42, thereby causing the plate cylinder frame 38 to move longitudinally with respect to the crossarm 42, providing a fine or vernier adjustment of the plate cylinder frame.

As best seen in FIG. 5, the coarse adjusting means for the travel of the cylinder frame 38 along the crossarm 42 comprises a gear shaft 55 mounted on the crossarm 42, as at 53. A knob 56 is mounted on one end of the gear shaft for purposes of manual manipulation by the operator, and a pair of gears 58, one on each side of the machine, is mounted on the shaft. An elongated rack 60 is mounted on the crossarm 42 on each side of the machine, and the gear shaft is arranged for transverse motion with respect to the press so that when the shaft is moved to the right as viewed in FIG. 5, the gears 58 are in their disengaged positions with respect to racks 60 and when the shaft is moved to the left as viewed in FIG. 5, the gears 58 engage the racks 60. It will be appreciated that when the gear 58 are in their engaged positions, and the releasable lock screws 66 (FIG. 4) are in their released positions, manipulation of the knob 56 in one direction will cause forward motion of the plate cylinder frame 38 with respect to the crossarm 42 and manipulation of the knob in the opposite direction will cause backward motion of the plate cylinder frame with respect to the crossarm. Normally, in operation, after the coarse adjustment has been completed, the lock screws 66 are moved to their locked positions; and then the nuts 72 of the vernier adjusting means are manipulated to complete the fine adjustment of the plate cylinder frame with respect to the crossarm.

On each side of the press, the ink fountain carriage 48 is arranged for controlled travel along the printing cylinder frame 38 by a coarse adjusting means and by a fine or vernier adjusting means. As best seen in FIG. 4, the fine or vernier adjusting means for the ink fountain carriage 48 comprises a carriage adjusting shaft 78 mounted in a bore 80 in the ink fountain carriage for longitudinal motion. This shaft may be locked in any desirable longitudinal position by means of a releasable locking screw 82, the locking screw 82 being provided with a handle 84 to simplify its manual manipulation. The other end of the carriage adjusting shaft 78 is threaded, as at 86, and a hand manipulatable carriage adjusting nut 88 is mounted thereon. This nut is provided with a circumferential groove 90 for receiving a bracket 92 fixedly mounted on the printing cylinder frame 38 so that rotation of the carriage adjusting nut 88 causes the shaft 78 to move longitudinally with respect to the printing cylinder frame 38, thereby causing the ink fountain carriage 48 to move longitudinally with respect to the prigiting cylinder frame 38, providing a fine or vernier adjustment of the ink fountain carriage.

As best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the coarse adjusting means comprises a pair of gears 94, one on each side of the machine, mounted on the gear shaft 55. An elongated rack 96 is mounted on the ink carriage 48 on each side of the machine and the shaft 55 is arranged for transverse motion with respect to the press so that when the shaft is moved to the left, as viewed in FIG. 5, the gears 94 are in their disengaged positions with respect to the racks 96, and when the shaft is moved to the right as viewed in FIG. 5, the gears 94 engage the racks 96. It will be appreciated that when the gears 94 are in their engaged positions, and the releasable lock screws 82 are in their released positions, manipulation of the knob 88 in one direction will cause forward motion of the ink fountain carriage 48 with respect to the plate cylinder frame 38 and manipulation of the knob in the other direction will cause backward motion of the carriage 48 with respect to the frame 38. Normally, in operation, after the coarse adjustment has been completed, the lock screws 82 are moved to their locked positions, and then the nuts 88 of the vernier adjusting means are manipulated to complete the final adjustment of the ink fountain carriage 48 with respect to the plate cylinder frame 38.

As the web W travels between printing stations I, I], ill and IV, the speed thereof may vary slightly or the components may not be exactly lined up, thereby resulting in successive printing images of the web that do not register one with the others. Means are provided for correcting the web registration between stations which are incorporated with the main driving mechanism of the press. As best seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, power is supplied to the press from any suitable source through a main shaft 98 mounted for rotation on the frame F. This shaft carries the impression cylinder 18. Also, mounted on the shaft 98 is a helical gear 100. In addition, mounted for rotation on the frame F is a pair of

shafts

102, 104 which also carry

helical gears

106 and 108, respectively. Both of these gears are mounted and arranged in mating relationship with gear 100. In addition, mounted on

shafts

102 and 104 are

gears

110 and 112, respectively. Gear 110 drives a gear 114 which is mounted for rotation on shaft 116 carried by bracket 1 18 mounted on the frame F. A gear 120 driven by gear 1 14 is mounted on the shaft 34 which also carriage the printing plate cylinder 20. On the other side of the machine, in printing station I, the gear 112 drives gear 122 which is mounted on shaft 124 carried by bracket 126 mounted on the frame F. A gear 128 which is mounted on the shaft 130, carries the printing plate cylinder 30. Accordingly, in operation, rotation of the main drive shaft 98 causes rotation of the impression cylinder 18 as well as of the printing plate cylinders 20 and 30.

Shafts

102 and 104 have

hand knob

132 and 134, respectively, fixedly attached thereto. It will be understood that manual rotation of knob 132 will cause longitudinal motion of shaft 102 which, in turn, causes rotation of gear 1 10 relative to gear 100 due to the helical design of gear 106. In this manner, the impression cylinder 118 will remain rotationally fixed while the printing plate cylinder 20 rotates slightly, thereby correcting any registration misalignment. In like manner, manual manipulation of knob 134 serves to cause slight rotation of gear 112 and hence printing plate cylinder 30 with respect to gear 100 and impression cylinder 18.

It will be appreciated that the

printing plate cylinders

24 and 28 are arranged and driven with respect to the impression cylinder 22 to provide for the same registration adjustment just described in connection with the printing plate cylinders 20 and 30 with respect to the impression cylinder 18.

It will thus be seen that the present invention does indeed provide a new and improved flexographic press which is superior in simplicity, economy, and efficiency as compared to prior art such devices.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention is herein disclosed for purposes of explanation, various modifications thereof, after study of this specification, will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent 1. In a flexographic press having a plurality of printing stations with each station having an ink fountain roller, a printing plate cylinder and a related impression cylinder, the combination in each station comprising means mounting said printing plate cylinders including a printing plate cylinder shaft, said printing plate cylinder being mounted on said printing plate cylinder shaft, a printing plate cylinder frame having upward extensions, said printing plate cylinder shaft being mounted on said extensions, a press frame having a crossarm, said crossarm having a printing plate cylinder frame keyway, said printing plate cylinder frame being slidably mounted on said cylinder frame keyway, a gear shaft, means for manually rotating said gear shaft, a gear mounted on said gear shaft, an elongated rack mounted on said crossarm, said gear shaft being arranged for transverse motion with respect to said press to engage and disengage said gear with respect to said rack, said gear shaft, gear, and rack being arranged to position plate cylinder frame with respect to said crossarm when said gear is in engagement with said rack and said gear shaft is manipulated, a frame adjusting shaft, said plate cylinder frame having a bore for receiving said frame adjusting shaft in sliding motion, a releasable locking screw for locking said frame adjusting shaft in said bore in a preselected position, the other end of said frame adjusting shaft having a threaded portion, a manipulatable frame adjusting nut mounted on said threaded portion, said frame adjusting nut having a circumferential groove, a bracket fixedly mounted on the crossarm and receivable in said circumferential groove to prevent longitudinal movement of said frame adjusting nut by allowing rotational movement, said frame adjusting nut and said frame adjusting screw being arranged to move said plate cylinder frame with respect to said crossarm when said locking screw is in its locked position and said frame adjusting nut is rotated.

2. in a flexographic press having a plurality of printing stations with each station having an ink fountain roller, a printing plate cylinder and a related impression cylinder, the combination in each station comprising means mounting each of said printing plate cylinders for individual movement back and forth relative to its impression cylinder, means mounting each of said ink fountain rollers for individual movement back and forth relative to its printing plate cylinder, said means mounting in said printing plate cylinder including coarse adjusting means and vernier adjusting means, said means mounting said printing plate cylinder including a printing plate cylinder shaft, said printing plate cylinder being mounted on said printing plate cylinder shaft, a printing plate cylinder frame having upward extensions, said printing plate cylinder shaft being mounted on said extensions, a press frame having a crossarm, said crossarm having a printing plate cylinder frame keyway, said printing plate cylinder frame being slidably mounted on said cylinder frame keyway, said coarse adjusting means for adjusting the position of said plate cylinder with respect to said impression cylinder comprising a gear shaft, means for rotating said gear shaft, a gear mounted on said gear shaft, an elongated rack mounted on said crossarm, said gear shaft being arranged for transverse motion with respect to said rack, said gear shaft, gear, and rack being arranged to position said plate cylinder frame with respect to said crossarm when said gear is in engagement with said rack and said gear shaft is manipulated.

3. A flexographic press according to claim 2 wherein said vernier adjusting means for adjusting said plate cylinder with respect to said impression cylinder comprises a frame adjusting shaft, said plate cylinder frame having a bore for receiving said frame adjusting shaft in sliding motion, a releasable locking screw for locking said frame adjusting shaft in said bore in a preselected position, the other end of said frame adjusting shaft having a threaded portion, a manipulatable frame adjusting nut mounted on said threaded portion, said frame adjusting nut having a circumferential groove, a bracket fixedly mounted on said crossarm and receivable in said circumferential groove to preventdongitudinal movement of said frame adjusting nut but allowing rotational movement, said frame adjusting nut and said frame adjusting screw being arranged to move said plate cylinder frame with respect to said crossarm when said locking screw is in its locked position and said frame adjusting nut is rotated.

4. A flexographic press according to claim 2 including means for adjusting the rotational position of the printing plate cylinder with respect to the impression cylinder to correct the web registration between stations comprising a pair of mating helical gears, means mounting one of said gears in direct drive relationship with respect to said printing plate cylinder and means mounting the other of said gears in direct drive relationship with respect to said impression cylinder, means for adjusting the relative position between said pair of helical gears to provide partial rotational movement of said printing plate cylinder with respect to said impression cylinder.

5. in a flexographic press having a plurality of printing stations with each station having an ink fountain roller, a printing plate cylinder and a related impression cylinder, the combination in each station comprising means mounting each of said printing plate cylinders for individual movement back and forth relative to its impression cylinder, means mounting each of said ink fountain rollers for individual movement back and forth relative to its printing plate cylinder, said means mounting said ink fountain roller including coarse adjusting means and vemier adjusting means, means mounting said ink fountain roller including an ink fountain roller shaft, said ink fountain roller being mounted on said ink fountain roller shaft, an ink fountain carriage, said ink fountain roller shaft being mounted on said ink fountain carriage, a printing cylinder frame for carrying said printing plate cylinder and having a keyway for slidably receiving said carriage, means for adjusting the position of said ink fountain roller with respect to said printing plate cylinder comprising a gear shaft mounted on said printing plate cylinder frame, means for rotating said gear shaft, a gear mounted on said gear shaft, an elongated rack mounted on said ink fountain carriage, said gear shaft being arranged for transverse motion with respect to said rack, said gear shaft, gear and rack being arranged to position said ink fountain carriage with respect to said printing plate cylinder frame when said gear is in engagement with said rack and said gear shaft is manipulated.

6. A flexographic press according to claim 5 wherein said vemier adjusting means for adjusting said ink fountain roller with respect to said plate cylinder comprises a carriage adjusting shaft, said ink fountain carriage having a bore for receiving said carriage adjusting shaft in sliding motion, a releasable locking screw for locking in said carriage adjusting shaft in said bore in a preselected position, the other end of said carriage adjusting shaft having a threaded portion, said carriage adjusting nut having a circumferential groove, a bracket fixedly mounted on the plate cylinder frame and receivable in said circumferential groove to prevent longitudinal movement of said carriage adjusting nut but allowing rotational movement, said carriage adjusting nut and said carriage adjusting screw being arranged to move said ink fountain carriage with respect to said plate cylinder frame when said locking screw is in its locked position and said carriage adjusting nut is rotated.

7. A flexographic press according to claim 5 including means for adjusting the rotational position of said printing plate cylinder with respect to said impression cylinder to correct the web registration between stations comprising a main shaft mounted for rotation on a frame of said press, said impression cylinder being mounted on said main shaft, a first helical gear mounted on said main shaft, a second shaft mounted on said frame, a second helical gear mounted on said second shaft, a spur gear mounted on said second shaft, a printing plate cylinder shaft carrying said printing plate cylinder, a spur gear mounted on said printing plate cylinder shaft, gear means interconnecting said spur gear on said second shaft with the spur gear mounted on said printing plate rotational movement of the printing plate cylinder with respect to the impression cylinder responsive to rotational and axial manipulation of the second shaft 8. ln a flexographic press having a plurality of printing stations with each station having an ink fountain roller, a printing plate cylinder and a related impression cylinder, the combination in each station comprising an ink fountain roller shaft, said ink fountain roller being mounted on said ink fountain roller shaft, an ink fountain carriage, said ink fountain roller shaft being mounted on said ink fountain carriage, a printing cylinder frame for carrying said printing plate cylinder and having a keyway for slidably receiving said carriage, a gear shaft rotatably carried by said printing plate cylinder frame. a gear mounted on said gear shaft, an elongated rack mounted on said ink fountain carriage, means movabiy mounting said gear shaft on said printing plate cylinder frame for selective relative movement of said gear into and out of operative engagement with said rack means and for manipulating said gear shaft when said gear is in operative engagement with said rack to selectively position said ink fountain carriage with respect to said printing plate cylinder frame.

Claims

1. In a flexographic press having a plurality of printing stations with each station having an ink fountain roller, a printing plate cylinder and a related impression cylinder, the combination in each station comprising means mounting said printing plate cylinders including a printing plate cylinder shaft, said printing plate cylinder being mounted on said printing plate cylinder shaft, a printing plate cylinder frame having upward extensions, said printing plate cylinder shaft being mounted on said extensions, a press frame having a crossarm, said crossarm having a printing plate cylinder frame keyway, said printing plate cylinder frame being slidably mounted on said cylinder frame keyway, a gear shaft, means for manually rotating said gear shaft, a gear mounted on said gear shaft, an elongated rack mounted on said crossarm, said gear shaft being arranged for transverse motion with respect to said press to engage and disengage said gear with respect to said rack, said gear shaft, gear, and rack being arranged to position plate cylinder frame with respect to said crossarm when said gear is in engagement with said rack and said gear shaft is manipulated, a frame adjusting shaft, said plate cylinder frame having a bore for receiving said frame adjusting shaft in sliding motion, a releasable locking screw for locking said frame adjusting shaft in said bore in a preselected position, the other end of said frame adjusting shaft having a threaded portion, a manipulatable frame adjusting nut mounted on said threaded portion, said frame adjusting nut having a circumferential Groove, a bracket fixedly mounted on the crossarm and receivable in said circumferential groove to prevent longitudinal movement of said frame adjusting nut by allowing rotational movement, said frame adjusting nut and said frame adjusting screw being arranged to move said plate cylinder frame with respect to said crossarm when said locking screw is in its locked position and said frame adjusting nut is rotated.

3. A flexographic press according to claim 2 wherein said vernier adjusting means for adjusting said plate cylinder with respect to said impression cylinder comprises a frame adjusting shaft, said plate cylinder frame having a bore for receiving said frame adjusting shaft in sliding motion, a releasable locking screw for locking said frame adjusting shaft in said bore in a preselected position, the other end of said frame adjusting shaft having a threaded portion, a manipulatable frame adjusting nut mounted on said threaded portion, said frame adjusting nut having a circumferential groove, a bracket fixedly mounted on said crossarm and receivable in said circumferential groove to prevent longitudinal movement of said frame adjusting nut but allowing rotational movement, said frame adjusting nut and said frame adjusting screw being arranged to move said plate cylinder frame with respect to said crossarm when said locking screw is in its locked position and said frame adjusting nut is rotated.

5. In a flexographic press having a plurality of printing stations with each station having an ink fountain roller, a printing plate cylinder and a related impression cylinder, the combination in each station comprising means mounting each of said printing plate cylinders for individual movement bacK and forth relative to its impression cylinder, means mounting each of said ink fountain rollers for individual movement back and forth relative to its printing plate cylinder, said means mounting said ink fountain roller including coarse adjusting means and vernier adjusting means, means mounting said ink fountain roller including an ink fountain roller shaft, said ink fountain roller being mounted on said ink fountain roller shaft, an ink fountain carriage, said ink fountain roller shaft being mounted on said ink fountain carriage, a printing cylinder frame for carrying said printing plate cylinder and having a keyway for slidably receiving said carriage, means for adjusting the position of said ink fountain roller with respect to said printing plate cylinder comprising a gear shaft mounted on said printing plate cylinder frame, means for rotating said gear shaft, a gear mounted on said gear shaft, an elongated rack mounted on said ink fountain carriage, said gear shaft being arranged for transverse motion with respect to said rack, said gear shaft, gear and rack being arranged to position said ink fountain carriage with respect to said printing plate cylinder frame when said gear is in engagement with said rack and said gear shaft is manipulated.

6. A flexographic press according to claim 5 wherein said vernier adjusting means for adjusting said ink fountain roller with respect to said plate cylinder comprises a carriage adjusting shaft, said ink fountain carriage having a bore for receiving said carriage adjusting shaft in sliding motion, a releasable locking screw for locking in said carriage adjusting shaft in said bore in a preselected position, the other end of said carriage adjusting shaft having a threaded portion, said carriage adjusting nut having a circumferential groove, a bracket fixedly mounted on the plate cylinder frame and receivable in said circumferential groove to prevent longitudinal movement of said carriage adjusting nut but allowing rotational movement, said carriage adjusting nut and said carriage adjusting screw being arranged to move said ink fountain carriage with respect to said plate cylinder frame when said locking screw is in its locked position and said carriage adjusting nut is rotated.

7. A flexographic press according to claim 5 including means for adjusting the rotational position of said printing plate cylinder with respect to said impression cylinder to correct the web registration between stations comprising a main shaft mounted for rotation on a frame of said press, said impression cylinder being mounted on said main shaft, a first helical gear mounted on said main shaft, a second shaft mounted on said frame, a second helical gear mounted on said second shaft, a spur gear mounted on said second shaft, a printing plate cylinder shaft carrying said printing plate cylinder, a spur gear mounted on said printing plate cylinder shaft, gear means interconnecting said spur gear on said second shaft with the spur gear mounted on said printing plate cylinder shaft in driving relationship, said helical gears being constructed and arranged with respect to each other to cause rotational movement of the printing plate cylinder with respect to the impression cylinder responsive to rotational and axial manipulation of the second shaft.

8. In a flexographic press having a plurality of printing stations with each station having an ink fountain roller, a printing plate cylinder and a related impression cylinder, the combination in each station comprising an ink fountain roller shaft, said ink fountain roller being mounted on said ink fountain roller shaft, an ink fountain carriage, said ink fountain roller shaft being mounted on said ink fountain carriage, a printing cylinder frame for carrying said printing plate cylinder and having a keyway for slidably receiving said carriage, a gear shaft rotatably carried by said printing plate cylinder frame, a gear mounted on said gear shaft, an elongated rack mounted on said ink fountain carriage, meAns movably mounting said gear shaft on said printing plate cylinder frame for selective relative movement of said gear into and out of operative engagement with said rack means and for manipulating said gear shaft when said gear is in operative engagement with said rack to selectively position said ink fountain carriage with respect to said printing plate cylinder frame.