Drop-in print station for multi-color printing press

In a printing apparatus, the improvement comprising:

• a pair of laterally spaced apart sidewalls, each having an upright slot disposed in transversely aligned relationship with the corresponding slot of the other sidewall;
• an anvil roller spanning said sidewalls and supported adjacent the bottom of said slots;
• a plurality of die cutting rolls adapted for supporting reception within said slots to span the sidewalls and cooperate with the anvil roller in performing die cutting functions;
• a print station interchangeable with said die cutting rolls and including a subframe and a plate roller and inker assembly supported by said subframe,
• said subframe having laterally outwardly projecting support structures configured to be complementally received within said slots to position the plate roller in spanning relationship to the sidewallls and in operating relationship with the anvil roller for performing printing functions;
• and
• means for selectively, releasably retaining either said die cutting rolls or the print station within said slots to permit selective interchangeability of the die cutting rolls and the print station, said anvil roller being adapted to operate as an impression roller when said print station is retained within said slots and as an anvil roller when said die cutting rolls are retained in said slots.

A drop-in print station for use with a printing press having a pair of upright sidewalls provided with a pair of transversely aligned, upright and upwardly opening support slots, said press further having a transverse base roll located adjacent the bottom of said slots and a drive gear at one end of the base roll, said drop-in print station comprising:

• a subframe adapted to be inserted between said sidewalls of the press when the station is installed;
• rigid locating structure projecting laterally outwardly from opposite sides of said subframe in disposition for complemental reception within said slots when the station is installed between the sidewalls;
• means for detachably securing said locating structure within said slots when the station is installed on the press;
• a plate roll supported by said subframe in disposition for cooperating with said base roll to perform a printing function when the station is installed on the press;
• and
• an inker assembly carried by said subframe in position for transferring ink to said plate roller to perform said printing function when the station is installed on the press.