Abstract: A flexographic rotary platen printing press for printing indicia on a web of flexible material moving along a longitudinal axis. The flexographic rotary platen printing press includes a print drum assembly that is affixed to a trolley that is moveable in a linear direction across the web generally transverse to the direction of the web movement. When the web is stopped, the print drum is caused to roll across the web that is sandwiched between the print drum and a flat, planar platen to print indicia onto the web in a line contact. A linear drive system causes the movement of the print drum assembly. The speed of the transverse movement is electronically coordinated to the speed of the rotation of the print drum as it moves across the web to carry out the printing operation.

Abstract: A roller or a cylinder that is useable in a rotary printing press can accomplish both circumferential as well as axial movement. At least one component of an electric motor can accomplish both the axial and the circumferential movement of the roller. This motor can be integrated into the roller. The surface of the roller can be provided with a suitable covering.

Abstract: A roller offset printing apparatus comprising: a linear stage movable forwards and backwards; a stage driving means for driving said linear stage; a master plate and a work plate disposed at a predetermined interval on said linear stage, said master plate having ink pits reserving ink; a roller transfer drum supported rotatably; a roller transfer drum driving means for driving said roller transfer drum so that said roller transfer drum rotates on the surface of said master plate to transfer the ink in said ink pits of said master plate onto the outer circumferential surface of said roller transfer drum and said roller transfer drum further rotates on a surface of said work plate to thereby transfer the ink from the outer circumferential surface of said roller transfer drum onto the surface of said work plate; a rotation force transmission control means for controlling on/off of transmission of rotation force from said roller transfer drum driving means to said roller transfer drum; a rotation angle detection