Abstract:
A lightweight portable compact flexographic universal printer coater adaptable to printing units on the same press or other presses of the same nominal printing width. The printer coater has a frame which comprises an anilox roller, a means to rotate the anilox roller at or near the surface speed of the rotating printing surface, a liquid film supply for replenishing the liquid film on the surface of the anilox roller, and a positioner device to place the printer coater between the on and off-impression positions. The printer coater apparatus is placed onto at least one pair of fixed supports mounted on the printing press frame so that the positioner apparatus can place the printer coater between an on and off-impression position. Spacers of selected widths may be mounted between the fixed supports and the interior surfaces of the press frame to compensate for slightly varying press frame widths associated with different press manufacturers. In the alternative, fixed supports may be manufactured in different widths and mounted on the interior surface of the press frame to avoid the use of spacers. The printer coater is portably liftable into and out of position from the printing press frame and easily transportable to any printing unit of a multiple unit rotary offset lithographic printing press or other rotary offset lithographic presses of the same nominal printing width.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to the printing industry, and in particular, to a new lightweight portable and compact flexographic printer coater for movement to any printing unit on a multi-unit rotary offset lithographic printing press for inking or coating purposes. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Offset lithography is a process well known in the art which utilizes the planographic method. Image and non-printing areas are essentially on the same plane of a thin metal plate and the distinction between them is maintained chemically. Ink is offset from a plate on the plate cylinder to a rubber blanket on a blanket cylinder and then from the blanket to a substrate supported on an impression cylinder on which printing occurs. 
     Conventional sheet-fed, rotary offset printing presses typically include one or more printing units through which individual sheets are fed and printed. After the last printing unit, freshly printed sheets are transferred by a delivery conveyor to the delivery end of the press where they are collected and stacked uniformly. In a typical sheet-fed, rotary offset printing press, the delivery conveyor includes endless chains carrying gripper bars with gripper fingers which grip and pull freshly printed sheets from the last impression cylinder and convey them to the sheet delivery stacker. 
     Printed lithographic ink on the surface of the substrate sheet dries relatively slowly through oxidation and is easily smeared by subsequent transfer cylinders between the individual printing units of the press. Any relative movement of the freshly printed surface relative to a support surface can result in smearing. Modified and specialized equipment and techniques have been developed to combat this problem. 
     A related problem that is faced in the prior art is the problem of “offsetting” and “set off” of freshly printed ink at the delivery end of the press after the printed sheets are collected and stacked. A similar problem occurs in roll form material produced on a web-fed press. In some printing jobs, offsetting is prevented by applying a protective and/or decorative coating material over all or a portion of the freshly printed sheets. Some coatings are formed of an ultra-violet (UV)-curable or water-dispersed resin applied as a liquid solution over the freshly printed sheets to protect the ink from offsetting or set-off and improve the appearance of the freshly printed sheets. Such coatings are particularly desirable when decorative or protective finishes are applied in the printing of posters, record jackets, brochures, magazines, folding cartons and the like. In cases where coating is to be applied, the coating operation is carried out after the last printing unit, most desirably by an in-line coating application. It is highly undesirable to process the sheet through the press a second time in order to apply coatings, although this is sometimes done for special effects that are not otherwise obtainable. 
     The ability to overall coat, spot coat or print with aqueous, flexographic and UV curable inks and/or coatings in combination with lithographic, flexographic and waterless printing processes on a rotary offset printing press is highly desirable. Flexographic printing or coating with aqueous, flexographic and UV curable inks from a blanket or a relief plate can permit much heavier wet and dried ink film layers on the substrate. This is largely due to the nature of lithographic inks. Lithographic inks are generally oil based inks that are formulated to print from planographic surfaces based on the principle that oil and water do not mix. Lithographic inks are generally very strong in color value to compensate for the lesser amount that is printed. They are among the strongest of all inks. The average amount of ink transferred to the paper is further diluted by the double split of the ink film between the plate cylinder and the blanket cylinder and between the blanket cylinder and the substrate to be printed in the nip between the blanket cylinder and the impression cylinder. In many situations, only a quarter of the film thickness on the plate is transferred to the substrate. This can make it difficult to obtain sufficient opacity with white or metallic (gold, silver or other metallic) ink or in printing specialized vehicles such as “scratch-and-sniff” materials from a slurry containing encapsulated essence. This often means that sheets or substrate must be removed and transferred to a second type of machine using the flexographic process to apply greater amounts of ink thickness or the sheets must make successive or two or more passes on a lithographic press to achieve desired print quality. 
     The prior art has attempted to solve these problems to obtain higher applied film weights on lithographic printing presses in a variety of ways. 
     For example, it is known to provide a printing machine with a downstream coating station having a blanket roller coater associated with a coating application unit for application of a protective coating over the entire printed area of copy sheets or web before they go to the stacker. Jahn, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,615,293 and 4,706,601 disclose separate duplex coating units disposed downstream of a printing press. These permit coating selected portions of the substrate using a relief plate and they permit blanket coating. 
     A number of coating units are known which are appended to or mounted upon the final printing station in the press. Most of these coating units prevent the printing unit on which it is mounted from doing its normal printing function resulting in the loss of one printed color. A four color press using such a coating apparatus would permit printing only three colors in line in a single pass operation because the last station is converted to a flexographic printer-coater. Bird, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,796,556 and 4,841,903 disclose a liquid application station for the final downstream printing station which converts the lithographic station to a printing coater or a continuous film coater by moving a carriage having a coating unit into impression with the plate or blanket cylinder of the last station on the press. When the coater is used, the normal lithographic printing function on that station is inoperative. DiRico, U.S. Pat. No. 4,685,414 discloses a process and apparatus in use in combination with the last station of an existing offset lithographic press where the coating means is retractable to be used or not as a printer requires. Since the DiRico coater utilizes a blanket cylinder on the last unit of the press, this last unit cannot be used for color printing when it is used for coating. DeMoore, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,651,316 discloses a retractable printer-coater unit which though not limited to the last printing station of an offset lithographic press, is useful for lithographic or flexographic printing when the ordinary lithographic operation of the station in which it is mounted is not being used. The lithographic operation of the station is lost when this printer-coater is in operation. Sarda, U.S. Pat. No. 4,889,051 illustrates a retractable lithographic printing unit which does not disable normal lithographic printing on the lithographic printing station. It enables printing another lithographic color at a station by adding a second blanket roller and a retracting inked and dampened applicator for the second blanket roller of the printing station. 
     Koehler, et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,934,305 and 5,178,678 disclose a flexographic liquid film applicator unit which employs a special “blanket” cylinder which engages the substrate on the impression cylinder of the last lithographic printing station on a multicolor lithographic press. The unit slides in and out on “inclined tracks”. Manual reengagement and registration of a drive gear on the applicator with a press drive gear using “index” marks is required to reset the applicator “blanket” cylinder after the unit has been moved away from the printing station. 
     DeMoore, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,176,077 is a delivery cylinder coater for use on the final printing station of a lithographic printing press. The delivery cylinder is provided with a coating blanket. A flexographic applicator roll applies liquid coating to the delivery cylinder as it rotates into the freshly lithographically inked surface of the sheets coming off the press. The coating pickup anilox roller frictionally engages the surface of the delivery cylinder and is rotated by a hydraulic motor. 
     Much of the prior art has disadvantages. Retrofitting existing presses is often difficult because of space considerations, especially between printing units. A dedicated coating unit is often not possible because of limited space and involves press downtime and substantial capital costs. Retrofitted devices that utilize the print cylinder or blanket cylinder of the press can limit the ability of that station to lithographically print in the normal manner. 
     Coaters which utilize the plate cylinder or the blanket cylinder of the printing unit still suffer from the disadvantage that the coating is split which reduces the wet film thickness that can be applied to the substrate itself. A few add on coating units that print directly on the substrate on the impression cylinder or a transfer cylinder are limited to the last printing station on the press where there is more room for installation. Such equipment can be moved away or the operator can do the make ready work on the opposite side of the last printing station in the conventional work space for the operator. If such equipment is mounted in the interstation space on a lithographic press, the equipment interferes with operator access to the next station. 
     Much of the prior art consumes large areas of space on the press, both between printing units and in some instances in the overhead area. Because of the complexity and size of equipment, limited locations are available for which it can be used. Additionally, the prior art devices are heavy; thus, when installing these devices, cranes or similar equipment are often required to properly mount the devices in position. A further disadvantage is that these devices are expensive to manufacture and maintain. Finally, the prior art devices are not designed as portable devices for placement on different printing presses or on different printing units. Most printer coater devices are attached to a single printing unit and require extensive connections that must be disconnected requiring extensive labor and costs. Also, as stated previously, each time a printer coater is moved, a crane or other transport device is required to remove and carry the printer coater to a different printing unit. 
     It is preferable not to have to cut into press frame to gain access to the main gears and not to have to manually engage and disengage indexed gear teeth of gears on the coater with gears on the press. The ability to flexographically coat, spot coat or print on the substrate at an intermediate printing station with an apparatus that is inexpensive and compact so that it can fit into small areas is highly desirable. It is also desirable to have a lightweight and portable device so that it can be carried by humans for use on any printing unit of a lithographic printing press or to a completely different printing press of the same size and installed or removed without the use of heavy equipment. The present invention is able to fulfill these needs and more. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a portable universal apparatus for application of flexographic inking or coating substances to printed material on a lithographic printing press, such as those manufactured by Heidelberg Speedmaster, Komori, M.A.N. Rowland, Mitsubishi and other presses of the same nominal width. The apparatus is configured to be placed on any printing unit of a rotary offset lithographic printing press with minimal modification to the printing press. The apparatus is compact, inexpensive and lightweight to allow portability so that it may be transported and used on any printing unit of the printing press or transported to a different printing press which is manufactured by the same or a different manufacturer. The printer coater itself is designed for a given printing format. 
     The entire printer coater apparatus is constructed as a unit and includes a liquid chamber to hold printing liquid, an applicator roller to receive and apply the printing liquid to a rotating printing surface, a means to drive or rotate the applicator roller and a positioner device to place the printer coater between the on and off-impression positions. The printer coater apparatus comprises a movable frame to support and hold the components of the apparatus. A rotating printing surface is meant to include a plate on the plate cylinder or a plate or blanket on the blanket cylinder as the printer coater apparatus may be installed adjacent a plate cylinder or adjacent a blanket cylinder. 
     The applicator roller is most preferably a lightweight anilox roller made of a non-metallic composite material. The roller surface is designed to be wear resistant and capable of applying the printing ink or coating material to the rotating printing surface. The anilox roller is journaled into the printer coater side members so that it is capable of rotation by a remotely controlled electrical motor, also mounted onto the frame of the printer coater apparatus. Rotation of the anilox roller is most preferably performed by an electrical motor, however, an equivalent means such as a hydraulic motor may be used. 
     The liquid chamber, also mounted to the printer coater frame, provides a means to apply the inking or coating to the anilox roller. Attached to the liquid chamber by a quick connect mechanism are a pair of flexible conduits for supplying inking or coating liquid to the chamber. One hose supplies liquid to the inking chamber that is pumped from a remote reservoir and the other hose is connected to a vacuum pump and used to re-circulate unused fluid back to the remote reservoir for maintaining a fresh supply of inking or coating substance. 
     A positioner device carried by the printer coater frame moves the printer coater apparatus between the on and off-impression positions. When in the on-impression position, the coating or inking substance is applied to a rotating printing surface. When placed in the off-impression position, the printer coater is retracted from the rotating printing surface to stop liquid application. The positioner device most preferably comprises a pneumatically operated cylinder; however, other devices such as a hydraulically or electrically operated device may be used. In order to establish the on-impression position for the printer coater, an adjustable on-stop is mounted on each side of the printer coater frame which cooperates with a stop surface on the fixed support. 
     The printer coater attaches to the printing press with little modification to the press frame. Fixed supports are mounted on the interior surface of the press frame adjacent a rotating printing surface, one on the drive side and the other on the operator side of the press frame. Each fixed support member comprises a rail so that the printer coater may slide upon as it is inserted and moved into the printing unit. The fixed supports serve two main purposes: to provide a “track” for sliding the printer coater into the right position and to support the printer coater while mounted in the printer unit. A pair of fixed supports can be mounted unobtrusively on each and every printing unit so the printer coater can be removed from one unit and immediately installed on a different printing unit. These fixed supports do not interfere with access to the printing unit when the printer coater is removed from the printing unit. 
     Connected to the bottom of the printer coater apparatus is a pair of lock-on members that releasably connect the printer coater frame with the fixed supports. The lock-on members serve as an anchor for relative movement of the printer coater apparatus as it is moved by the positioner on and off-impression. 
     Mounted on the printer coater frame end members are handles that allow the users to carry the printer coater apparatus. The unit weights approximately 85 pounds and can be easily carried and transported by two humans. Most preferably, the printer coater apparatus is mounted adjacent the blanket cylinder delivery side for best performance and results. However, other appropriate locations for mounting the apparatus include the feed side of the blanket cylinder and adjacent the plate cylinder. 
     Often different press manufacturers for printing presses of the same nominal printing width will have varying lengths between the interior sides of a press frame. The present invention can be adapted for use on any printing press of the same nominal printing width, regardless of the press manufacturer. Thus, it is unnecessary to construct additional printer coaters. In order to compensate for larger press widths, spacers of various thickness can be mounted between the fixed supports and the interior surfaces of the press frame. In addition, the fixed supports can be made of varying thickness so that spacers are not necessary. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A more complete understanding of the invention and its advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a simplified side view of a five station rotary offset lithographic printing press showing the portable inking/coating apparatus of the invention placed on the first and fourth printing unit at the blanket cylinders and in phantom illustrating other positions where the inking/coating apparatus may also be placed. 
     FIG. 2 is a simplified side view of a rotary offset printing press printing unit as seen in FIG. 1 showing the portable inking/coating apparatus of the invention being inserted into the printing unit for placement adjacent the blanket cylinder. 
     FIG. 3 is a simplified side view of the rotary offset printing unit of FIG. 2 after it has been moved into inking/coating position adjacent the blanket cylinder. 
     FIG. 4 is a simplified side view of a rotary offset printing unit of FIGS. 1-3 showing the inking/coating apparatus may be placed in alternative positions adjacent the plate cylinder and adjacent the blanket cylinder on the feed side. 
     FIG. 5 show a top plan view of the printer coater apparatus of FIGS. 1-4 mounted to the printing press frame. 
     FIG. 6 is a side end view of the printer coater apparatus of the invention viewed from the operator side of the press. 
     FIG. 7 is a side end view of the printer coater apparatus of the invention seen from the drive side of the press. 
     FIG. 8 is an elevational view of the printer coater apparatus from the back side showing the positioner apparatus and a drive motor connected to the printer coater frame. 
     FIG. 9 shows a partial section view of the printer coater frame and press frame connection taken on the line  9 — 9  in FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of one of the fixed support structures mounted on the printing press frame to support the printer coater apparatus. 
     FIG. 11 shows a partial top plan view of one side of the printer coater apparatus after it is connected and locked to the press frame. 
     FIG. 12 is a diagram showing schematically the operation of the principal components of the printer coater controller system. 
     FIG. 13 shows the printer coater apparatus of the invention being carried by two press operators for installation on a printing unit. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a new and improved lightweight portable compact printer coater  36  for use on a sheet-fed or web-fed rotary offset lithographic printing press, herein generally designated  16 . Referring to FIG. 1, rotary offset printing press  16  includes a press frame  34  coupled at one end to a sheet feeder  48  from which sheets to be printed are fed into the printing press. On the opposite end, a stacker  46  collects and stacks the freshly printed sheets. Between sheet feeder  48  and stacker  46  are five substantially identical sheet printing units  52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  58  and  60  which can lithographically print five different colors onto the sheets as they are transferred through the press  16 . As illustrated, the printing units  52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  58  and  60  are identical and of conventional design. Each printing unit includes an in feed transfer cylinder  28 , a plate cylinder  24 , a blanket cylinder  22  and an impression cylinder  26 . These cylinders are supported for rotation by printing press frame  34  which define printing unit towers T 1 , T 2 , T 3 , T 4  and T 5 . Each of the first four printing units have a transfer cylinder  42  disposed to transfer the freshly printed sheets from the adjacent impression cylinder  26  to the next printer unit via an intermediate transfer cylinder  44 . 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the lightweight portable compact printer coater  36  can be installed on any printing unit of press  16 . Printer coater  36  is positioned above raised catwalk  38  on the first and fourth printing units adjacent blanket cylinder  22 . Printer coater  36  is lightweight and compact so that humans can remove and carry the apparatus from a given printing unit for placement on different printing units or printing presses in little time and with minimal difficulty. Phantom lines on FIG. 1 illustrate other positions where printer coater  36  may be placed on press  16  in impression with a rotating printing surface. 
     Referring to FIG. 2, a close up view of a printing unit on press  16  shows plate cylinder  24  in operation with inking roller train  30  and dampening system  32 . Blanket cylinder  22  is located beneath plate cylinder  24 , where the printer coater apparatus is preferably placed. In this figure, printer coater  36  is being aligned and inserted into position adjacent blanket cylinder  22 . A pair of fixed supports  102  are mounted parallel to each other and attached to the interior surfaces  33  of frame  34 . One support is placed on the drive side and the other support is placed on the operator side. FIG. 2 illustrates one fixed support  102  mounted on the drive side of press  16 . Fixed supports  102  provide support for printer coater  36  when the apparatus is placed inside the printing unit. When inserting printer coater  36 , side member slots  184  seen in FIG. 9 are aligned with fixed supports  102  so that the printer coater may be moved into position. 
     Referring to FIG. 3, printer coater  36  is positioned on the same printing unit as shown in FIG.  2 . Printer coater  36  is aligned with blanket cylinder  22  and is supported by fixed supports  102 . Printer coater  36  rests slightly above raised catwalk  38  consuming minimal space to allow operator access at interstation area  35 . While in the on-impression position, printer coater  36  applies a flexographic inking or coating substance to blanket cylinder  22  which rotates synchronously with impression cylinder  26 . The printing substrate, which is paper or other material in sheet or web form, is fed over impression cylinder  26  and is in printing contact with blanket cylinder  22 . When the substrate passes contact point  27 , it is dried by dryer  50 . As the substrate continues to the next printing unit and over intermediate transfer cylinder  44 , it is further dried by a drying means  51 . Drying means  51  can include high velocity air with or without extraction, ultra-violet radiation, infra-red radiation or other suitable drying means. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates alternate placement positions on a printing unit of press  16  for printer coater  36 . As seen, the printer coater can be placed adjacent plate cylinder  24  or adjacent blanket cylinder  22  on feed side  35 . In such case fixed supports  102  are mounted at appropriate places on the innersides of the press frame  34 . 
     FIG. 5 exhibits a top view of printer coater  36  mounted to frame  34 . Printer coater apparatus  36  comprises a drive side side member  64 , an operator side side member  66  and a base or cross member  70  that rigidly connects the side members. All of these components form printer coater frame  68 . Frame  68  supports applicator roller  62 , drive assembly  180  (as best seen in FIG.  6 ), liquid chamber  208 , and positioner  130  best seen in FIGS. 8 and 11. 
     In FIG. 5, applicator roller  62  is mounted on stub shafts  100  which are supported at opposite ends by two bearings (not shown), one bearing mounted on each side member  64  and  66 . The bearings permit free rotation of applicator roller  62 , which is rotated by electric motor  168 . Applicator roller  62  is preferably an anilox metering roller which transfers measured amounts of printing ink or coating material to a rotating printing surface. Anilox roller  62  is preferably a lightweight anilox roller made of a non-metallic composite material having a wear resistant ceramic anilox surface for applying printing ink or coating material. Anilox roller  62  can be fabricated by and purchased from Pamarco Global Graphics 500 Wharton Circle S.W., Atlanta, Ga. 30336. 
     Referring now to FIG. 6, liquid chamber  208  is mounted on frame  68  adjacent roller  62  to supply fluid inking or coating materials to roller  62 . The inking or coating fluid is preferably a flexographic or IR curable inking or coating material. Liquid from chamber  208  flows onto the surface of roller  62  to replenish the wet film as the anilox roller rotates through the chamber. The transfer surface of the anilox roller is “doctored” (wiped or scraped) by reverse doctor blades  209 , as seen in FIG. 6, to remove excess ink or coating material. Furthermore, doctor blades  209  and suitable end seals (not shown) also provide a seal for the liquid supply chamber. Air bubbles entrapped on the surface of anilox roller  62  are displaced by wiping the surface of the applicator roller with bristles of a brush (not shown) located inside liquid supply chamber  208 , as set forth in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,425,809 and 5,989,639, assigned to Printing Research, Inc., which are incorporated herein by reference. This promotes the flow of inking or coating materials onto applicator roller surface  62 . 
     Referring back to FIG. 5, hose  242  connects to fluid entry port  116  on chamber  208  to direct fresh inking or coating substance inside the chamber. Fluid return hose  244  shown in FIG. 12 directs the excess liquid or inking substance from chamber  208  so that fresh liquid can be re-circulated into the chamber  208 . These hoses are easily connected to and disconnected from printer coater  36  by quick release connections (not shown). Located on each end of chamber  208  are a pair of quick release handles  88 , which pivot about pivot pin  89  to permit quick removal of the chamber from the printer coater frame. 
     As seen in FIGS. 5 and 8, positioner  130  comprises a floating two way or double acting air cylinder  152  mounted above cross member  70 . Air is supplied to cylinder  152  by air hoses  156  and is regulated by solenoid  154 , which directs air into cylinder  152  to reciprocate the cylinder in the desired direction. Cylinder  152  has two brackets  150  connected to the cylinder and cylinder piston rod respectively which move in the transverse direction (toward side members  64  and  66 ) upon actuation of the cylinder. Cylinder  152  is not attached to printer coater frame  68  and floats to permit symmetrical movement of the brackets on both sides of the cylinder. Attached to brackets  150  are connecting members  158 . These members are vertically oriented and extend beneath cross member  70  through slot  74 . Two horizontally placed rigid members  142  are mounted below cross member  70  and attached to members  158 . Examining rigid member  142  on drive side  18 , member  142  has a first end  144  attached to connecting member  158  and a slot  148  on second end  146  (FIG. 5) to pivotally connect first arm  136  of bell crank  134 . Bell crank  134  is pivotally mounted by means of pivot pin  162  to a housing  132 . Housing  132  is rigidly fastened to cross member  70  by attachment bolts  164 . Second arm  138  of bell crank  134  pivotally attaches to slot  128  on sleeve  126  which is securely mounted to lock-on  76  by set screw  129  (FIG.  11 ). Attachment and configuration for rigid member  142  on operator side  20  is the same as it is for the drive side attachment and configuration. 
     With reference to FIGS. 5 and 11, when air cylinder  152  actuates outwardly, rigid members  142  reciprocate in the transverse direction toward side members  64  and  66  causing bell cranks  134  to pivot. As a result of the pivoting motion, a force is exerted toward the blanket cylinder on sleeve slots  128 . Because lock-on members  76  and sleeves  126  remain stationary with respect to the printer coater, they function as an anchor for relative movement of the printer coater and a track for the apparatus to slide thereon. Thus, the force from bell cranks  134  cause housings  132  and cross member  70  to move printer coater  36  in the longitudinal direction away from the blanket cylinder. The movable components will stop at a predetermined distance established by stop-blocks  166 . Blocks  166  are affixed to the surface of cross member  70  and stop the motion of connecting members  158  as they are pushed toward side members  64  and  66 . This establishes the outermost distance the printer coater will travel. Blocks  166  further comprise a fine adjustment screw  160  to adjust the distance that cross members may travel in the transverse direction. 
     When connecting members  158  are in contact with blocks  166 , the printer coater is in the off-impression position. The printer coater remains at this position until cylinder  152  is actuated and retracts connecting members  158  inward away from members  64  and  66 . This motion rotates cranks  134  so that bell crank second arm  138  exerts a force on sleeve slot  128  in a direction opposite the rotating printing surface. The force on sleeve slot  128  causes printer coater  36  to move in the longitudinal direction toward the rotating printing surface. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, a side view of printer coater apparatus  36  can be seen from the operator side and drive side respectfully. Side members  64  and  66  each comprise carrying handles  200  located on the top portion of each side member to allow for gripping and carrying printer coater  36 . As seen on FIG. 7, operator side side member  66  is taller than drive side side member  64  to protect drive assembly  180 , as belt guard  178  is mounted to the top of operator side member  66  to cover the moving parts. Both FIGS. 6 and 7 show printer coater  36  mounted on fixed supports  102 , which are attached to the interior surfaces of the drive side and operator side of printing press frame  34  (not shown in these figures) by fixed support bolts  104 . Side member slots  184 , located on side frames  64  and  66 , engage with the fixed support rail  110  (FIG. 9) as printer coater  36  is moved toward rotating printing surface  22  or  24 . 
     As best seen in FIG. 7, on-stop member  80  is mounted below printer coater frame  68  in the longitudinal direction. On-stop  80  extends through spacer block  188  and adjustment block  120 , both of which are attached to printer coater frame  68 . As printer coater  36  is moved toward the rotating printing surface, conical end  86  of on-stop  80  touches sloped surface  106  of fixed support member  102 . This establishes the on-impression position. 
     As seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, the orientation angle of liquid chamber  208  with respect to the surface of anilox roller  62  can be adjusted by loosening adjustment screws  206  on the chamber and sliding the screw along slot  210  until the chamber is at the desired orientation angle. Referring to FIG. 6, the position of motor  168  is adjusted relative to frame  68  by loosening and sliding bolts  172  along motor positioning slots  170  until the motor is in the desired position. Located on the bottom of side members  64  and  66  are five equally spaced bolt holes  186  for attaching base or cross member  70  to side members  64  and  66 . Drip pan  246  is mounted below anilox roller  62  to collect excess falling inking or coating material. 
     Anilox roller  62  is rotated synchronously with blanket cylinder  22  or plate cylinder  24  by drive assembly  180 , as shown in FIG.  6 . Drive assembly  180  comprises an electric motor  168 , small sprocket  174 , large sprocket  176  and belt  182 . In operation, motor  168  and connecting shaft  169  (FIG. 5) turn the sprockets simultaneously by rotating smaller sprocket  174  which pulls belt  182  to rotate large sprocket  176 . Sprocket  176  and anilox roller  62  rotate synchronously, as both pieces are connected. Belt guard  178  covers the belt and sprocket assembly to prevent injury to hands or fingers. 
     A sectional view of printer coater frame  68  connected to the operator side  18  of press frame  34  is shown in FIG.  9 . Fixed support  102  is connected to interior surface  33  of press frame  34  by a series of bolts  104 . Operator side member slot  184  slideably engages with rail  110  on fixed support  102  when inserting the printer coater in position. Spacer  90  provides adequate clearance between fixed support  102  and press frame  34  so that side support  66  does not rub against press frame interior surface  33  when sliding the printer coater into position. Different sized spacers  90  can also be used to compensate for differing between frame spacing on printing presses of the same nominal printing width that are manufactured by different companies. Alternatively, fixed support  102  can be connected directly to press frame interior surface  33  without the use of spacer  90  by varying the width of the fixed support. This facilitates the use of a universal printer coater of a given printing width on presses of different manufacture. Bolts  121  attach adjustment block  120  to side member  66 . Adjustment block  120  comprises threaded on-stop opening  124  and parallel lock-on opening  122 . On-stop opening  124  includes a threaded interior  125  in order to receive threaded exterior portion  82  of on-stop  80  (FIG.  11 ). The diameter of lock-on opening  122  is slightly larger than the diameter of lock-on  76  to allow adjustment block  120  to slide along the surface of lock-on  76  when the printer coater moves between the on and off-impression positions. Drip pan  246  is connected to block  120  to catch free falling liquid or inking substance. While FIG. 9 illustrates the connection details on operator side  18  of press  16 , the same could be seen in mirror image on printing press drive side  20 . 
     FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of a right handed fixed support  102  attached to interior surface  33  of printing press frame  34 . While FIG. 10 shows a right hand version for mounting on the operator side of press  16 , the left hand version, for the drive side, is a mirror image of the fixed side support seen in FIG.  10 . Fixed side supports  102  are mounted parallel to each other and at the same height on frame  34 . Fixed supports  102  form a track on the interior surface  33  of the press frame by which printer coater  36  is supported and may slide thereon for placement in position. Fixed support  102  is attached to press frame  34  via bolts  104 . A planar surface or flat  72  on first end  101  of fixed support  102  permits the operator to set printer coater side support  66  on flat  72  for alignment. While resting on flat  72 , side member slot  184  (not shown herein) is aligned with rail  110  and moved forward along rail  110  to second end  103  of fixed support  102  which has a projecting portion  108  fixed thereon. 
     In FIG. 11 projecting portion  108  mounted on second end  103  of fixed support  102  receives the end  77  of lock-on  76  and conical end  86  of on-stop  80 . Portion  108  comprises sloped surface  106 , locking member chamber  112  (best seen in FIG. 10) and locking slot  114 . Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, lock-on end  77  has a pin  78  which must be aligned with slot  114  when inserting lock-on end  77  into chamber  112 . When pin  78  and slot  114  are aligned, lock on end  77  can be inserted in chamber  112 . Lock on grip  84  is used to rotate lock-on  76  one-quarter turn to place pin  78  in a downward and locked position, as seen in FIG.  11 . While in the locked position, lock-on  76  remains stationary and cannot be moved. Lock-on  76  serves as a rail which allows printer coater  36  to slide when moving between the on and off-impression positions. In addition to functioning as a rail, lock-on  76  serves as an anchor for relative movement of the printer coater when it moves between the on and off-impression positions. As printer coater  36  is moved toward the on-impression position, conical end  86  of on-stop  80  contacts stop surface  106  to prevent any further movement in the longitudinal direction. Sloped portion  106  pushes downward on conical end  86  (FIG. 7) of on-stop  80  and thereby takes up any looseness to prevent movement which could cause vibration of the printer coater while in the on-impression position. 
     Referring again to FIG. 11, lock-on  76  and on-stop  80  are both located underneath cross member  70 . These members are mounted parallel to each other and are oriented in the longitudinal direction. Lock-on  76  and on-stop  80  both extend through spacer block  188  and adjustment block  120 . Spacer block  188  comprises two parallel openings  215  and  217  to receive lock-on  76  and on-stop  80  respectively. Opening  215  and  217  are slightly larger than the diameters of members  76  and  80  to allow the members to slide relative to block  188 . Spacer block  188  is connected to cross member  70  via connecting bolts  189  and serves to maintain parallel alignment between members  76  and  80 . Block  188  further comprises a set screw  214  with a nylon button  216  to control sliding movement or rotation of on-stop  80 . 
     In FIGS. 9 and 11, adjustment block  120  and on-stop  80  are used to adjust the on-impression contact pressure between anilox roller  62  and the rotating printing surface. Threaded exterior surface portion  82  of on-stop  80  engages threaded on-stop opening  124 . To adjust the contact pressure, on stop member  80  is rotated to shorten or lengthen distance “D”. This allows the anilox roller position to be adjusted relative to the plate or blanket cylinder. FIG. 11 exemplifies one side of the coater apparatus  36  attached to the press frame  34 ; however, it should be realized the configuration occurs in mirror image on the opposite side of coater apparatus  36 , not shown herein. That is, each side has a lock-on and an on-stop. 
     The ink or coating supply and control system is seen in FIG.  12 . Control unit  212  is capable of regulating the surface speed of anilox roller  62  and the flow of inking or coating fluid into liquid chamber  208 . Controller  212  comprises two inputs: a continuous power supply  220  and a voltage input  251  from tachometer  250  to regulate rotational surface speed of anilox roller  62 . Controller  212  further preferably comprises a main power switch  226 , a low vacuum sensor  228 , a high vacuum sensor  230 , a return pump controller  232 , a supply pump controller  234  and an anilox controller  236  which are well known in the art. 
     In FIG. 12, ink or coating material  219  is pumped by pump  238  from off-press reservoir  218 , through supply conduit  242  into chamber  208 . The ink or coating material circulates through chamber  208  and is returned by return conduit  244  back through vacuum pump  240  to off-press source reservoir  218 . The flow of ink or coating material into chamber  208  is provided in a manner as set forth in my U.S. Pat. No. 5,367,982 entitled Automatic Coating Circulation and Wash-Up System for Printing Presses, which is incorporated herein by reference. Doctor chamber  208  is preferably maintained in a vacuum condition by constantly pulling a vacuum in the manner set forth in my U.S. Pat. No. 5,207,159 entitled Coating Apparatus For Sheet-Fed Offset Rotary Printing Presses, which is incorporated herein by reference. Recirculation maintains a constant fresh supply of ink or coating material in chamber  208  at all times. 
     In order to rotate anilox roller  62  at or near the same surface speed as the rotating printing surface, anilox controller  236  receives the voltage signal from tachometer  250  which is mounted on the press and turns with the press. The controller interprets the input voltage and adjusts in real time the surface speed of anilox roller  62  by sending the desired output voltage to motor  168 . The output voltage increases or decreases the surface speed of anilox roller  62  to establish the same surface speed as the rotating printing surface. If the printer coater apparatus is to be used on a different press of the same nominal printing width, that press is also equipped with the inexpensive tachometer  250 . 
     Printer coater controller  212  further comprises a supply pump control  234  and a return pump control  232  to operate the system at a vacuum and to assist in circulating the inking or coating substance from reservoir  218  into chamber  208  and finally back into reservoir  218 . Low vacuum and high vacuum sensors  228  and  230  continuously monitor the pressure inside chamber  208  to maintain the vacuum at all times. A pressure gauge, not shown, allows the operator to adjust the system to attain a desired vacuum pressure. 
     Control unit  212  may be portable so that it may be carried and placed adjacent to the printing unit where the printer coater is mounted, or it may be placed at one location with extension cables and lines for printer coater  36  running to different printing units to monitor and adjust the system if printer coater  36  is moved to different printing units. 
     FIG. 13 shows two humans  248  carrying printer coater apparatus  36 . It is lightweight and portable so that no equipment is necessary to transport the printer coater between printing units. In order to carry and place printer coater  36  between printing units, side members  64  and  66  contain grips  200  disposed on the top portion of side members  64  and  66  to allow users to grasp and hold the unit. An exemplary compact coater printer according to the invention had an overall length of about 43 inches, an overall depth of about 12 inches and an overall height of about 7 inches. A prototype of this approximate size weighed only about 85 pounds, and it is believed improvements can be made to reduce the weight to only 75 pounds or less. 
     Although the invention has been described with particular reference to presently preferred embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated that various modifications, alterations, variations, etc., may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.