Abstract: Methods for producing cylindrical flexographic printing elements, the cylindrical flexographic printing elements having a relief-forming layer, and the relief-forming layer being produced by successive application of a plurality of layers of a relief-forming material in liquid melt form, preferably of a photopolymerizable material in liquid melt form, to a rotating cylindrical sleeve in a continuous process.

Abstract: A doctor-type ink fountain includes a rear wall and a row of flow profiles provided along the rear wall. The flow profiles are obliquely aligned at an acute angle relative to an axis of rotation of a screen roller interacting with the doctor-type ink fountain. A printing press having the doctor-type ink fountain is also provided.

Abstract: A printing sleeve mandrel assembly for use in a rotary printing press is disclosed. The printing sleeve mandrel assembly includes a mandrel having an outer circumference and a plurality of printing sleeves each operable to be removeably disposed along the outer circumference of the mandrel. Each of the plurality of printing sleeves includes a first end and a second end wherein at least one of the first end and the second end includes an engagement mechanism, each engagement mechanism for removeably coupling with the engagement mechanism of an adjacent printing sleeve so that each of the plurality of printing sleeves are operable to rotate in conjunction with the other printing sleeves.

Abstract: A printing cylinder for a printing machine or printing sleeve for forming a printing cylinder that includes a plurality of cups for forming a supporting inner structure of the printing cylinder or printing sleeve. Each cup includes a central disc, a radially outer edge, and a first conical surface part. The first conical surface part of one cup at least partially bears against an adjacent cup in order to form a connection between the one cup and the adjacent cup. The radially outer edges of the plurality of cups together define a substantially cylindrical surface.

Abstract: A printing cylinder or printing sleeve including an internal structure that is at least partially open and the internal structure defines a hollow space. A substantially liquid-tight cylindrical outer layer surrounds the internal structure and a coupling device couples a plate to the printing cylinder or printing sleeve. The coupling device is at least partially positioned in, on, or under the outer layer. An insert is supported by the internal structure and is arranged at least partially around or under the coupling device. The insert is constructed to impart strength to the coupling device.

Abstract: A web-fed printing press, wherein the printing couple or each printing couple comprises a form cylinder, a transfer cylinder (10), an inking couple, and preferably a dampening unit, wherein a transfer system is assigned to the transfer cylinder and a printing form system is assigned to the form cylinder, and wherein the transfer system (11) and/or the printing form system includes plural rubber sleeves (13, 14) positioned in the axial direction on the transfer cylinder and/or the printing form system includes plural form sleeves positioned in the axial direction on the form cylinder. The transfer cylinder (10) and/or the form cylinder have at least three independent compressed air systems (19, 20, 21) for installing the rubber sleeves (13, 14) and/or the printing form sleeves, on the respective transfer cylinder and/or the form cylinder, and also to remove the sleeves from the respective cylinder.

Abstract: A coating device for coating a peripheral surface of a sleeve body with a coating formulation includes a vertical support column for supporting a sleeve body in a vertical position coaxial with a coating axis, a carriage slideable along the vertical support column, and an annular coating stage attached to the carriage and moveable therewith for containing the coating formulation and for coating a layer of the coating formulation onto the peripheral surface of the sleeve body during a sliding movement of the carriage along the vertical support column. The coating device includes an irradiation stage that is arranged to be moveable with the annular coating stage and to provide radiation to at least partially cure the layer of coating formulation onto the peripheral surface so as to prevent flow off of the coating formulation.

Abstract: A liquid ink imaging member having a top outer imaging surface is provided for receiving image forming ink droplets from a printhead. The liquid ink imaging member includes (a) a substrate member; (b) at least one elastomeric layer formed over the substrate member and including the top outer imaging surface; and (c) a surface texture formed into the top outer imaging surface and comprising asperities spaced apart at most from about one-half to about one pixel spot size for providing contact angle hysteresis to pin image forming ink droplets received thereon, thereby preventing ink droplet drawback, and resulting in quality images.

Abstract: There is disclosed a hand-held labeler which is easy to load, clean and service. The labeler has a gear driven print head wherein the print head is situated on an upper housing section and the print head is actuated from a lower housing section. The upper housing section can be moved to an open position without interfering with the maintenance of the drive connection with the print head or the advance of a label carrying web through the labeler. An inker enables an ink roller to be easily inserted and removed without ink from the ink roller being transferred to the user's hands. An impression control device has only a small number of parts and is easy to assemble.

Abstract: An inking cylinder or a dampening cylinder or roller for a rotary printing press is provided with a rubber cover that is adhered to the body of the cylinder or roller. A device for applying the rubber cover to the roller body includes a support table that is pivotably supported.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of an ink roller assembly with a capillary ink metering unit and a surrounding porous ink retaining sleeve, wherein the unit is comprised of a pair of capillary sections connected to each other and wherein capillary sections include a hollow shaft and discs with intervening ink capillary chambers interconnected by passages. In another embodiment, a capillary ink metering unit includes discs on a solid shaft, wherein there are passages interconnecting capillary chambers. In yet other embodiments, separate sections are provided to enable inks of different colors, viscosities and/or types to be applied to printing members. There is also provision to meter ink to printing members having different faces or areas in accordance with or as function of the sizes of those areas. The ink roller assembly with separate sections can carry both visible ink and visually alterable ink for coding purposes.

Abstract: Various embodiments of an ink roller assembly include a capillary ink metering unit and a surrounding porous ink retaining sleeve, wherein the unit is comprised of a pair of capillary sections connected to each other and wherein capillary sections include a hollow shaft and discs with intervening ink capillary chambers interconnected by passages. In another embodiment, a capillary ink metering unit includes discs on a solid shaft, wherein there are passages interconnecting capillary chambers. In yet other embodiments, separate sections are provided to enable inks of different colors, viscosities and/or types to be applied to printing members. There is also provision to meter ink to printing members having different faces or areas in accordance with or as function of the sizes of those areas. The ink roller assembly with separate sections can carry both visible ink and visually alterable ink for coding purposes.