Can decorator having plate cylinder locking mechanism

A can decorator comprising:

• a plate cylinder shaft;
• a plate cylinder structured to be installed on the plate cylinder shaft;
• and
• a plate cylinder locking and unlocking mechanism structured to selectively lock the plate cylinder to the plate cylinder shaft such that the plate cylinder shaft and plate cylinder rotate in conjunction and to selectively unlock the plate cylinder from the plate cylinder shaft such that the plate cylinder shaft and plate cylinder do not rotate in conjunction and the plate cylinder is permitted to be removed from the plate cylinder shaft,
• wherein the plate cylinder locking and unlocking mechanism uses at least one of pneumatic, magnetic, and mechanical power to selectively lock and unlock the plate cylinder, wherein the plate cylinder locking and unlocking mechanism includes a hollow chamber extending along an interior length of the plate cylinder shaft, a vacuum seal disposed at an end of the hollow chamber, and a mechanical locking pin,
• wherein the hollow chamber is structured such that applying a vacuum to the hollow chamber pulls the plate cylinder toward the plate cylinder shaft and causes the plate cylinder to interact with the mechanical locking pin to lock the plate cylinder, and
• wherein the hollow chamber is structured such that removing the vacuum from the hollow chamber causes the plate cylinder to release from the mechanical locking pin to unlock the plate cylinder.

A can decorator comprising:

• a plurality of inker stations each having a corresponding plate cylinder and plate cylinder shaft;
• a plate cylinder locking and unlocking mechanism structured to, for at least one of the inker stations, selectively lock the plate cylinder to the plate cylinder shaft such that the plate cylinder shaft and plate cylinder rotate in conjunction and to selectively unlock the plate cylinder from the plate cylinder shaft such that the plate cylinder shaft and plate cylinder do not rotate in conjunction and the plate cylinder is permitted to be removed from the plate cylinder shaft, wherein the plate cylinder locking and unlocking mechanism uses at least one of pneumatic, magnetic, and mechanical power to selectively lock and unlock the plate cylinder;
• a blanket wheel;
• a plate cylinder gear;
• a clutch structured to selectively engage the plate cylinder gear such that a corresponding plate cylinder shaft and plate cylinder rotates in conjunction with the plate cylinder gear, and to selectively disengage the plate cylinder gear such that the corresponding plate cylinder shaft and plate cylinder does not rotate in conjunction with the plate cylinder gear;
• and
• a bull gear structured to interact with the plate cylinder gear to cause rotation of the plate cylinder gear.