Interchangeable inker having enclosed transmission

Apparatus for decorating cylindrical articles, said apparatus including:

• a main frame, a blanket wheel rotatably mounted on said main frame, a plurality of plate cylinders rotatably mounted on said main frame and disposed adjacent the periphery of said blanket wheel whereby printing plates mounted on said plate cylinders engage the periphery of said blanket wheel as the latter rotates in timed relationship with rotation of said plate cylinders, and a plurality of inker subassemblies removably mounted on said main frame to apply controlled amounts of ink to printing plates mounted on said plate cylinders, there being an individual one of said inker subassemblies associated with each of said plate cylinders, and said plate cylinders remaining mounted on the main frame upon dismounting of the subassemblies from the main frame;
• each of said subassemblies comprising first and second sections disposed in side by side relationship;
• said first section including a fountain for holding ga supply of ink and first means for removing ink from said fountain, forming ink removed from said fountain into a thin film and applying the latter to a printing plate on the plate cylinder that is associated with the subassembly in question, said first means including a train of cylinders;
• said second section including a transmission for positively driving a first cylinder of said train of cylinders, a liquid-type lubricant for lubricating said transmission, said transmission having an input and an output with the latter being operatively connected to said first cylinder, a housing for confining said lubricant and wherein said transmission is disposed;
• drive means mounted on said main frame, and an individual second means associated with each of said subassemblies, said second means being disposed externally of the housings and providing disengageable couplings for independently connecting each of said inputs to said drive means;
• each of said subassemblies including first, second and third parallel plates with said second plate being disposed between said first and said third plates;
• said first section being disposed between said first and said second plates;
• said second section being disposed between said second and said third plates;
• said output including an output shaft that extends through said second plate and toward said first plate;
• said input including an input shaft for coupling to said drive means, said input shaft extending through said third plate and away from said second plate.