A lightweight interchangeable magnetic sleeve and method of manufacture thereof are disclosed. The sleeve assembly comprises an annular tube in the exterior surface having recesses filled with comparatively rigid magnetic means which are firmly adhered therein. The sleeve assembly includes a tubular radially compressible liner component, relatively slightly shorter than the tube, and bonded inside and substantially axially centrally within the tube thus leaving interior cylindrical end regions of the tube exposed beyond the annular end surfaces of said liner. The remaining exposed interior cylindrical surfaces of the tube are rebated back from the liner exposing annular shoulders within the tube. The rebates are tapped so that correspondingly sized threaded end rings of a more structurally robust, rigid and resilient material than the tube material, can be fitted into the tube ends and tightened against the annular shoulders created by the rebating, placing the entire sleeve assembly under slight compression.

A lightweight interchangeable magnetic sleeve and method of manufacture thereof are disclosed. The sleeve assembly comprises an annular tube in the exterior surface having recesses filled with comparatively rigid magnetic means which are firmly adhered therein. The sleeve assembly includes a tubular radially compressible liner component, relatively slightly shorter than the tube, and bonded inside and substantially axially centrally within the tube thus leaving interior cylindrical end regions of the tube exposed beyond the annular end surfaces of said liner. The remaining exposed interior cylindrical surfaces of the tube are rebated back from the liner exposing annular shoulders within the tube. The rebates are tapped so that correspondingly sized threaded end rings of a more structurally robust, rigid and resilient material than the tube material, can be fitted into the tube ends and tightened against the annular shoulders created by the rebating, placing the entire sleeve assembly under slight compression.

An apparatus for mounting a flexible plate onto a print sleeve or cylinder, where the apparatus has at least two manipulator units located below the print sleeve or cylinder and support members provided on each manipulator unit and each support member has a curved profile for arching the flexible plate prior to its mounting onto the print sleeve or cylinder, is disclosed.

A cylinder is arranged to receive one or more hollow cylinders on an outer surface of the cylinder. The cylinder has at least one movable stop with at least one movable element. In an idle position the at least one movable element does not protrude beyond the outer surface of the cylinder and allows hollow cylinders to be slid over the cylinder, and in an active position it protrudes beyond the outer surface of the cylinder and acts as a mechanical stop for hollow cylinders. The at least one movable element can be moved from the idle position to the active position, and vice versa, by means of a rotary movement. A method for positioning a hollow cylinder on a cylinder of this kind.

A cylinder is arranged to receive one or more hollow cylinders on an outer surface of the cylinder. The cylinder has at least one movable stop with at least one movable element. In an idle position the at least one movable element does not protrude beyond the outer surface of the cylinder and allows hollow cylinders to be slid over the cylinder, and in an active position it protrudes beyond the outer surface of the cylinder and acts as a mechanical stop for hollow cylinders. The at least one movable element can be moved from the idle position to the active position, and vice versa, by means of a rotary movement. A method for positioning a hollow cylinder on a cylinder of this kind.

The multiple printing plate mounting system of the present disclosure may be used to mount multiple flexible printing plates simultaneously onto a printing sleeve. The system has a back rotary vacuum plate with a plurality of distinct vacuum zones and may be controlled via valve by a computer control system. A filler plate may also be controlled with the same vacuum patterns. The filler plate will move minutely side-to-side. A front plate with match-controlled vacuum patterns may also have a servo to control front-to-back-movement. The distinct vacuum zones are used together with the movable front, back, and filler vacuum plates to selectively, individually, and independently align the flexible printing plates prior to mounting.

The multiple printing plate mounting system of the present disclosure may be used to mount multiple flexible printing plates simultaneously onto a printing sleeve. The system has a back rotary vacuum plate with a plurality of distinct vacuum zones and may be controlled via valve by a computer control system. A filler plate may also be controlled with the same vacuum patterns. The filler plate will move minutely side-to-side. A front plate with match-controlled vacuum patterns may also have a servo to control front-to-back-movement. The distinct vacuum zones are used together with the movable front, back, and filler vacuum plates to selectively, individually, and independently align the flexible printing plates prior to mounting.

The invention relates to an adapter sleeve for adapting the internal diameter of cylindrical hollow cylinders to the external diameter of a cylindrical roller, comprising a sleeve body with (as viewed from the inside to the outside) a deformable base sleeve, optionally an intermediate layer and a top layer. The adapter sleeve furthermore comprises a first gas distribution system and a second gas distribution system, which are connected to a gas inlet. The first gas distribution system is connected to at least one first gas outlet, which opens on an outer lateral surface of the adapter sleeve. The second gas distribution system has a cavity, which is designed, when supplied with a pressurized gas, to transmit pressure from the inside to the deformable base sleeve in such a way that the internal diameter of the sleeve body is reduced, at least in a partial region of the adapter sleeve, by a deformation of the base sleeve.

The invention furthermore relates to arrangements comprising an adapter sleeve of this kind and methods for mounting a hollow cylinder on a cylindrical roller using an adapter sleeve of this kind.

The invention relates to an adapter sleeve for adapting the internal diameter of cylindrical hollow cylinders to the external diameter of a cylindrical roller, comprising a sleeve body with (as viewed from the inside to the outside) a deformable base sleeve, optionally an intermediate layer and a top layer. The adapter sleeve furthermore comprises a first gas distribution system and a second gas distribution system, which are connected to a gas inlet. The first gas distribution system is connected to at least one first gas outlet, which opens on an outer lateral surface of the adapter sleeve. The second gas distribution system has a cavity, which is designed, when supplied with a pressurized gas, to transmit pressure from the inside to the deformable base sleeve in such a way that the internal diameter of the sleeve body is reduced, at least in a partial region of the adapter sleeve, by a deformation of the base sleeve.

The invention furthermore relates to arrangements comprising an adapter sleeve of this kind and methods for mounting a hollow cylinder on a cylindrical roller using an adapter sleeve of this kind.

A method is provided for automatically exchanging a sleeve (18a) of a printing tool (14, 16, 18, 22, 24) mounted in a printing machine (12), in particular a flexographic printing machine, by means of a printing tool handling unit (28) comprising a coupling interface (36). In one step of the method the printing tool handling unit (28) is temporarily coupled to a coupling interface (46) located at the end of a shaft (54, 56, 58, 60) of the printing tool (14, 16, 18, 22, 24) with its coupling interface (36). In a further step, the printing tool handling unit (28) transports the printing tool (14, 16, 18, 22, 24) to a separation unit (78) comprising at least one clamping device (80, 82, 84) and places the printing tool (14, 16, 18, 22, 24) in the clamping device (80) of the separation unit (78). The printing tool (14, 16, 18, 22, 24), in particular a sleeve (18a) of the printing tool (14, 16, 18, 22, 24), is clamped by the clamping device (80), and the printing tool handling unit (28) separates the shaft (54, 56, 58, 60) from the sleeve (18a) by pulling the shaft (54, 56, 58, 60) out of the sleeve (18a) while the sleeve (18a) is clamped in the clamping device (80).