Disclosed is a top part of a screen printing machine, wherein the bearing elements (4,4a) for the screen printing stencil (2) are respectively and directly guided and held on lateral longitudinal guide elements (10,11) by means of carriages (9), enabling said bearing elements (4, 4a) to be adjusted in relation to each other and to be fixed. Said configuration makes it possible for the screen printing stencil (2) to be held in a stable and exact manner, irrespective of the size thereof. According to the invention, one of the bearing elements (4a) can also be raised in order to lift the screen printing stencil (2) when pressed against the other bearing element (4). The bearing elements (4, 4a) are thus respectively held on the carriers thereof (7,8) by means of pivoting hinges (5, 6).