Abstract: An inking system for use in transferring ink to a flexographic printing plate in a flexographic printing system includes an anilox member having an ink transfer zone located between first and second recessed bearing contact zones. A radius of the recessed bearing contact zones is less than a radius of the ink transfer zone by at least 0.100 inches. An ink tray includes a floor and first and second end walls. Bearings are mounted outside of the end walls which engage with the first and second bearing contact zones, respectively, thereby positioning the ink tray assembly in a specified position relative to the anilox member. Upper edges of the end walls extend into the recessed bearing contact zones.

Abstract: An inking system for use in transferring ink to a gravure printing surface in a gravure printing system includes a gravure cylinder r having a printing zone located between first and second recessed bearing contact zones. A radius of the recessed bearing contact zones is less than a radius of the printing zone by at least 0.100 inches. An ink tray includes a floor and first and second end walls. Bearings are mounted outside of the end walls which engage with the first and second bearing contact zones, respectively, thereby positioning the ink tray assembly in a specified position relative to the gravure cylinder. Upper edges of the end walls extend into the recessed bearing contact zones.

Abstract: An ink transfer pressure between cylinders in a flexographic printing system is controlled to provide consistent image quality. A flexographic printing plate is provided that includes an image region arranged to print an image pattern having printed image features and a pressure characterization region outside the image region arranged to a print pressure characterization pattern. Ink is transferred from an anilox cylinder to the flexographic printing plate with a first transfer pressure, and from the flexographic printing plate to a recording medium with a second transfer pressure. An optical property of at the printed pressure characterization pattern is measured and used to adjust one or both of the first and second transfer pressures.