Abstract: An automated printing press (10) is provided with a plurality of printing stations (13), each having a printing mechanism (60) which prints at least one component image at spaced apart locations along a web (11). Each printing mechanism (60) is positionable to one side of the press for servicing. The print roller (61) is driven through a swingable gear assembly (268) that maintains gear spacing as the print roller to impression roller spacing varies and that engages and disengages tangentially to improve meshing. Microprocessor based computer controllers (400, 405) at each station (13) precisely and repeatably control positions of the printing mechanism (60) and precisely register the component images being printed at the stations (13).

Abstract: A printing plate roller including a cylindrical tube and two journaled end caps plugging opened ends of the cylindrical tube, thereby forming a vacuum chamber within the tube. At least one groove is formed in the outer surface of the cylindrical tube with at least one bore hole formed through the wall of the tube interconnecting the at least one groove with the vacuum chamber. It is desirable for a plurality of such grooves to be formed in the outer surface of the cylindrical tube. The vacuum chamber is connectable to a vacuum producing source.

Abstract: A portable print head module dedicated to one type of printing, for example rotary screen printing, for functionally replacing one print head, dedicated to another type of printing, for example flexographic printing, in a rotary printing press having a number of spaced apart print head stations for transferring multiple images along the length of a continuous web substrate. The rotary print head module is installed by partially retrofitting one of the print head stations. The module can be moved to functionally replace any of the print heads in the rotary printing press. A non-rotating impression bar can be used to back the continuous web instead of a rotatable impression cylinder. A cushion of air is formed on the backing face of the impression bar on which the continuous web can ride.