A printing plate unit to be demountably mounted on a printing plate mounting portion of a plate cylinder includes a printing plate and a printing plate coupling member. A length of the printing plate coupling member is larger than a width of the printing plate so that the printing plate coupling member is provided with a projecting portion projecting from the printing plate formed cylindrically in an axial direction. The printing plate unit is fitted to the printing plate mounting portion from one end side, and is demounted from the same one end side by gripping the projecting portion of the printing plate coupling member in a state both end portions of the printing plate formed into a cylindrical shape are coupled to each other by the printing plate coupling member.

An ink transfer medium, in particular a printing blanket, in particular a printing blanket for flexographic printing, has a cover layer for transferring an ink via a printing side and an adhesive layer for fastening the ink transfer medium to a base, in particular to a cylinder of a printing machine. The ink transfer medium is characterized by a support layer which is disposed between the cover layer and the adhesive layer, wherein the adhesive layer is disposed directly on that side of the support layer that faces away from the printing side, and wherein the support layer is a film/foil.

A fixture for a photosensitive seal machine is deposited on a transfer paper on the photosensitive seal machine to locate at least one stamp, and the fixture has a frame. The frame has a top surface, a bottom surface, multiple locating recesses and multiple retaining faces. The bottom surface is opposite to the top surface. The locating recesses are formed through the top surface of the frame. The retaining faces are formed in the frame and respectively surround the locating recesses of the frame. Each stamp is located well by the fixture to increase the exposure effect of the stamps and raise the yield rate of the stamps.

Pressure-sensitive adhesives and methods, for bonding flexible printing plates, comprising at least one adhesive component comprising at least one polymer component based on a monomer mixture comprising at least one of the following monomers: at least one acrylic ester; at least one methacrylic ester; acrylic acid; and methacrylic acid. The pressure-sensitive adhesives further comprise 1 to 30 wt %, based on the overall blend of the at least one adhesive component without solvent, of a polyvinyl acetate.

Pressure-sensitive adhesives and methods, for bonding flexible printing plates, comprising at least one adhesive component comprising at least one polymer component based on a monomer mixture comprising at least one of the following monomers: at least one acrylic ester; at least one methacrylic ester; acrylic acid; and methacrylic acid. The pressure-sensitive adhesives further comprise 1 to 30 wt %, based on the overall blend of the at least one adhesive component without solvent, of a polyvinyl acetate.

Relief precursors with an enhanced capacity to be developed into high performing relief structures, more in particular high quality relief structures such as printing plates. A photosensitive composition (PC) for forming a photosensitive layer of a relief precursor (RP), comprising particular stabilizers and binders. By including the stabilizer and binder as described herein the stability of the melt of the photosensitive composition during production, e.g. production by extrusion, can be enhanced significantly. Such enhanced stability could be achieved without or with minimal undesired impact on the resulting printing performance and/or imaging characteristics of the reliefs formed by developing the relief precursors.

An automatic applicator of a sticky back material to a printing sleeve is disclosed. The applicator includes a controller that is programmable with data relating to the size and desired positioning of the sticky back material to the sleeve. The sticky back material is secured to a transport system and cut to the desired size by a cutter, creating a sheet. The sheet is then transported between a pressure roller and the sleeve. The pressure roller applies pressure to the sticky back sheet, applying the sheet to the sleeve. A mandrel grips and rotates the sleeve to apply the sticky back sheet around an exterior surface of the sleeve.

An automatic handling and transport device for printing sleeves that includes a holding support (10) for printing sleeves (60) and a clamping carriage (20) connected to a motorized carriage (30) for a guided movement of the clamping carriage (20) between a gripping position for gripping sleeves (60) and a transport position, and a mobile handling unit (90) carrying the holding support (10). The holding support (10) has an inner core (12) attached to the mobile handling unit (90), and the holding support (10) is coupled to the core (12) or to the mobile handling unit (90) through adaptable support means (40), which provide a relative movement with respect to the core (12) to at least one of the two ends of the holding support (10). The connection of the clamping carriage (20) to the motorized carriage (30) comprises adaptable means (49) that allow a relative movement between the clamping carriage (20) and the motorized carriage (30).

An automatic handling and transport device for printing sleeves that includes a holding support (10) for printing sleeves (60) and a clamping carriage (20) connected to a motorized carriage (30) for a guided movement of the clamping carriage (20) between a gripping position for gripping sleeves (60) and a transport position, and a mobile handling unit (90) carrying the holding support (10). The holding support (10) has an inner core (12) attached to the mobile handling unit (90), and the holding support (10) is coupled to the core (12) or to the mobile handling unit (90) through adaptable support means (40), which provide a relative movement with respect to the core (12) to at least one of the two ends of the holding support (10). The connection of the clamping carriage (20) to the motorized carriage (30) comprises adaptable means (49) that allow a relative movement between the clamping carriage (20) and the motorized carriage (30).

An automatic applicator of a sticky back material to a printing sleeve is disclosed. The applicator includes a controller that is programmable with data relating to the size and desired positioning of the sticky back material to the sleeve. The sticky back material is secured to a transport system and cut to the desired size by a cutter, creating a sheet. The sheet is then transported between a pressure roller and the sleeve. The pressure roller applies pressure to the sticky back sheet, applying the sheet to the sleeve. A mandrel grips and rotates the sleeve to apply the sticky back sheet around an exterior surface of the sleeve.