Portable manually operable printing proofer

A portable proofing apparatus adapted for manual portability from one location to another for producing sample test printings of inks and coatings, the proofing apparatus comprising:

• a table defining an elongated printing surface for supporting a printable substrate in stationary disposition along the printing surface for receiving a test printing,
• a carriage supported on the table for reciprocal movement of the carriage in a defined path longitudinally along the printing surface and along the printable substrate thereon, and
• a proofer assembly removably mounted to the carriage and comprising a pair of frame elements rotatably supporting a transfer roller and each defining a receiving slot for rotatably supporting an anilox roller adjacent the transfer roller, each receiving slot having an open entrance end for selective insertion and removal of the anilox roller into and from the respective frame element through the open entrance end of the receiving slot into and out of a printing disposition relative to the transfer roller without fasteners or tools,
• each receiving slot being oriented relative to the transfer roller for peripheral contact between the anilox roller and the transfer roller causing deflection of the transfer roller away from the receiving slot during insertion and removal of the anilox roller into and out of the receiving slot and for retaining the anilox roller against unintended removal from the receiving slot when fully received within the receiving slot.

A portable proofing apparatus adapted for manual portability from one location to another for producing sample test printings of inks and coatings, the proofing apparatus comprising:

• a table defining an elongated printing surface for supporting a printable substrate in stationary disposition along the printing surface for receiving a test printing,
• a carriage supported on the table for reciprocal movement of the carriage in a defined path longitudinally along the printing surface and along the printable substrate thereon, and
• a proofer assembly removably mounted to the carriage and comprising a frame with opposing spaced-apart frame elements, an anilox roller rotatably supported between the frame elements for applying a printing material, a doctor blade affixed to a support bar, a mounting seat on each frame element for receiving opposite ends of the support bar, and a positioning element on each frame element for abutment with the support bar for locating the doctor blade in tangential relation to the anilox roller for metering the printing material,
• each end of the support bar for the doctor blade and the positioning element on each frame element comprising respectively attractive magnetic elements for urging the doctor blade into, and retaining the doctor blade in, an operational position relative to the anilox roller.

A portable proofing assembly adapted for manual portability from one location to another comprising:

• a frame with opposing spaced-apart frame elements,
• an anilox roller rotatably supported between the frame elements for applying a printing material,
• a doctor blade affixed to a support bar,
• a mounting seat on each frame element for receiving opposite ends of the support bar, and
• a positioning element on each frame element for abutment with the support bar for locating the doctor blade in tangential relation to the anilox roller for metering the printing material,
• each end of the support bar for the doctor blade and the positioning element on each frame element comprising respectively attractive magnetic elements for urging the doctor blade into, and retaining the doctor blade in, an operational position relative to the anilox roller.