Systems and methods are directed towards generating a verified unique watermark. More specifically, the systems and methods are directed towards generating a watermark that is as long as possible without any repetition. Such watermarks are possible by selecting characteristics of the watermark and methods for producing the watermarks (e.g., dandy rollers). By producing longer unique watermarks, users would be capable of generating longer rolls of paper whereby more sheets can be produced that each possesses a unique watermark. With the unique watermark, users can identify what information is printed on each sheet as well as authenticate the contents of each individual sheet.

An imaging printing form having a base body with an elastomeric coating, in which the elastomeric coating carries an engraving pattern. The elastomeric coating has a hard rubber with a hardness of greater than 40 Shore D, and more particularly greater than 70 Shore D. The hard rubber is based on butadiene-acrylonitrile rubber (NBR), carboxyl group-containing nitrile rubber (XNBR), hydrogenated acrylonitrile butadiene Rubber (HNBR) or combinations thereof.

An imaging printing form having a base body with an elastomeric coating, in which the elastomeric coating carries an engraving pattern. The elastomeric coating has a hard rubber with a hardness of greater than 40 Shore D, and more particularly greater than 70 Shore D. The hard rubber is based on butadiene-acrylonitrile rubber (NBR), carboxyl group-containing nitrile rubber (XNBR), hydrogenated acrylonitrile butadiene Rubber (HNBR) or combinations thereof.

There is described an intaglio printing plate coating apparatus comprising a vacuum chamber having an inner space adapted to receive at least one intaglio printing plate to be coated, a vacuum system coupled to the vacuum chamber adapted to create vacuum in the inner space of the vacuum chamber, and a physical vapour deposition (PVD) system adapted to perform deposition of wear-resistant coating material under vacuum onto an engraved surface of the intaglio printing plate, which physical vapour deposition system includes at least one coating material target comprising a source of the wear-resistant coating material to be deposited onto the engraved surface of the intaglio printing plate. The vacuum chamber is arranged so that the intaglio printing plate to be coated sits substantially vertically in the inner space of the vacuum chamber with its engraved surface facing the at least one coating material target. The intaglio printing plate coating apparatus further comprises a movable carrier located within the inner space of the vacuum chamber and adapted to support and cyclically move the intaglio printing plate in front of and past the at least one coating material target.

There is described an intaglio printing plate coating apparatus comprising a vacuum chamber having an inner space adapted to receive at least one intaglio printing plate to be coated, a vacuum system coupled to the vacuum chamber adapted to create vacuum in the inner space of the vacuum chamber, and a physical vapour deposition (PVD) system adapted to perform deposition of wear-resistant coating material under vacuum onto an engraved surface of the intaglio printing plate, which physical vapour deposition system includes at least one coating material target comprising a source of the wear-resistant coating material to be deposited onto the engraved surface of the intaglio printing plate. The vacuum chamber is arranged so that the intaglio printing plate to be coated sits substantially vertically in the inner space of the vacuum chamber with its engraved surface facing the at least one coating material target. The intaglio printing plate coating apparatus further comprises a movable carrier located within the inner space of the vacuum chamber and adapted to support and cyclically move the intaglio printing plate in front of and past the at least one coating material target.

There is described an intaglio printing press (1; 1*) comprising a plate cylinder (8) carrying one or more intaglio printing plates, the plate cylinder (8) receiving ink from an inking system (9, 20, 23; 20*, 23*) having a plurality of chablon cylinders (23; 23*) transferring ink directly or indirectly onto the plate cylinder (8), the intaglio printing press (1; 1*) comprising an adjustment system acting on the chablon cylinders (23; 23*) in order to compensate elongation of the one or more intaglio printing plates. The adjustment system comprises, for each chablon cylinder (23; 23*), an adjustable drive unit, which adjustable drive unit (25) is interposed between the chablon cylinder (23; 23*) acting as a rotating output body of the adjustable drive unit (25) and a driving gear (100) acting as a rotating input body of the adjustable drive unit (25). The adjustable drive unit (25) is designed to allow selected adjustment of a rotational speed of the chablon cylinder (23; 23*) with respect to a rotational speed of the driving gear (100). In an adjusting state of the adjustable drive unit (25), driving into rotation of the chablon cylinder (23; 23*) is adjusted over each revolution of the chablon cylinder (23; 23*) by means of an adjustment motor (300) of the adjustable drive unit (25). In a non-adjusting state of the adjustable drive unit (25), the adjustment motor (300) is inoperative and driving into rotation of the chablon cylinder (23; 23*) is performed exclusively mechanically via the adjustable drive unit (25), the chablon cylinder (23; 23*) rotating at a same rotational speed as the driving gear (100).

There is described an intaglio printing press (1; 1*) comprising a plate cylinder (8) carrying one or more intaglio printing plates, the plate cylinder (8) receiving ink from an inking system (9, 20, 23; 20*, 23*) having a plurality of chablon cylinders (23; 23*) transferring ink directly or indirectly onto the plate cylinder (8), the intaglio printing press (1; 1*) comprising an adjustment system acting on the chablon cylinders (23; 23*) in order to compensate elongation of the one or more intaglio printing plates. The adjustment system comprises, for each chablon cylinder (23; 23*), an adjustable drive unit, which adjustable drive unit (25) is interposed between the chablon cylinder (23; 23*) acting as a rotating output body of the adjustable drive unit (25) and a driving gear (100) acting as a rotating input body of the adjustable drive unit (25). The adjustable drive unit (25) is designed to allow selected adjustment of a rotational speed of the chablon cylinder (23; 23*) with respect to a rotational speed of the driving gear (100). In an adjusting state of the adjustable drive unit (25), driving into rotation of the chablon cylinder (23; 23*) is adjusted over each revolution of the chablon cylinder (23; 23*) by means of an adjustment motor (300) of the adjustable drive unit (25). In a non-adjusting state of the adjustable drive unit (25), the adjustment motor (300) is inoperative and driving into rotation of the chablon cylinder (23; 23*) is performed exclusively mechanically via the adjustable drive unit (25), the chablon cylinder (23; 23*) rotating at a same rotational speed as the driving gear (100).

Systems and methods are directed towards generating a verified unique watermark. More specifically, the systems and methods are directed towards generating a watermark that is as long as possible without any repetition. Such watermarks are possible by selecting characteristics of the watermark and methods for producing the watermarks (e.g., dandy rollers). By producing longer unique watermarks, users would be capable of generating longer rolls of paper whereby more sheets can be produced that each possesses a unique watermark. With the unique watermark, users can identify what information is printed on each sheet as well as authenticate the contents of each individual sheet.

A process for making patterned cigarette wrapper includes the steps of: preparing a printing solution including the steps of: mixing at least water and a starch to form a starch mixture, heating the starch mixture to a temperature of at least about 180 F. preferably for at least about 30 minutes to release amylopectin and amylose, adding propylene glycol to the starch mixture, and mixing the starch mixture and propylene glycol to form a printing solution, wherein the solution is maintained and applied at elevated temperature (120 F. to 150 F.). The process also includes providing a base web of wrapper and applying the printing solution to the wrapper in a predetermined pattern.

There is described an intaglio printing plate coating apparatus (1) comprising a vacuum chamber (3) having an inner space (30) adapted to receive at least one intaglio printing plate (10) to be coated, a vacuum system (4) coupled to the vacuum chamber (3) adapted to create vacuum in the inner space (30) of the vacuum chamber (3), and a physical vapour deposition (PVD) system (5) adapted to perform deposition of wear-resistant coating material under vacuum onto an engraved surface (10a) of the intaglio printing plate (10), which physical vapour deposition system (5) includes at least one coating material target (51, 52) comprising a source of the wear-resistant coating material to be deposited onto the engraved surface (10a) of the intaglio printing plate (10). The vacuum chamber (3) is arranged so that the intaglio printing plate (10) to be coated sits substantially vertically in the inner space (30) of the vacuum chamber (3) with its engraved surface (10a) facing the at least one coating material target (51, 52). The intaglio printing plate coating apparatus (1) further comprises a movable carrier (6) located within the inner space (30) of the vacuum chamber (3) and adapted to support and cyclically move the intaglio printing plate (10) in front of and past the at least one coating material target (51, 52).