Techniques are disclosed for connecting a printing plate to a print cylinder or surface. The techniques may be implemented, for instance, with respect to a printing plate, a print cylinder, a print sleeve, or some combination thereof. In an embodiment, a field of mechanical fasteners is provisioned on a printing plate, and a complementary field of mechanical fasteners is provisioned on a print sleeve or cylinder. The mechanical fasteners collectively operate to provide a mechanical bond or interface that inhibits lateral and rotational movement of the plate during printing operations, and can also be configured to manage backlash between engaging surfaces of the interface. In some cases, backlash management includes use of cushion effect integral with the mechanical bond itself and/or unidirectional and possibly angled fastener elements to provide a snugging effect. The mechanical bond may be implemented with hook-and-loop, hook-and-hook, hook-to-channel, male/female-type fittings, vacuum, suction, and/or magnetics.

Techniques are disclosed for connecting a printing plate to a print cylinder or surface. The techniques may be implemented, for instance, with respect to a printing plate, a print cylinder, a print sleeve, or some combination thereof. In an embodiment, a field of mechanical fasteners is provisioned on a printing plate, and a complementary field of mechanical fasteners is provisioned on a print sleeve or cylinder. The mechanical fasteners collectively operate to provide a mechanical bond or interface that inhibits lateral and rotational movement of the plate during printing operations, and can also be configured to manage backlash between engaging surfaces of the interface. In some cases, backlash management includes use of cushion effect integral with the mechanical bond itself and/or unidirectional and possibly angled fastener elements to provide a snugging effect. The mechanical bond may be implemented with hook-and-loop, hook-and-hook, hook-to-channel, male/female-type fittings, vacuum, suction, and/or magnetics.

A gravure offset printing apparatus includes two clamps, a printing roller and a driving device. The two clamps are applicable to clamp individually two opposing ends of a blanket. The printing roller having an axial direction parallel to a first direction is disposed between the two clamps. The blanket wraps part of a radial periphery of the printing roller. The driving device is to drive the two clamps to undergo reverse motions so as to displace the blanket, and the blanket further rotates the printing roller. A gravure module, disposed on a platform of the gravure offset printing apparatus, has a groove for containing an offset ink. While the two clamps pull the blanket to undergo the reverse motions, a surface of the blanket contacts the gravure module so as to adhere the offset ink on the surface of the blanket.

A gravure offset printing apparatus includes two clamps, a printing roller and a driving device. The two clamps are applicable to clamp individually two opposing ends of a blanket. The printing roller having an axial direction parallel to a first direction is disposed between the two clamps. The blanket wraps part of a radial periphery of the printing roller. The driving device is to drive the two clamps to undergo reverse motions so as to displace the blanket, and the blanket further rotates the printing roller. A gravure module, disposed on a platform of the gravure offset printing apparatus, has a groove for containing an offset ink. While the two clamps pull the blanket to undergo the reverse motions, a surface of the blanket contacts the gravure module so as to adhere the offset ink on the surface of the blanket.

Offset print apparatus comprises: a blanket to receive print agent; a non-contact temperature sensor to monitor electromagnetic radiation from a measurement location of the blanket and generate a respective output; and a controller to: receive the output from the non-contact temperature sensor; determine coverage information relating to a print agent coverage of the blanket at the measurement location; and calculate a temperature of the blanket at the measurement location taking into account both the output from the non-contact temperature sensor and the determined coverage information.

Offset print apparatus comprises: a blanket to receive print agent; a non-contact temperature sensor to monitor electromagnetic radiation from a measurement location of the blanket and generate a respective output; and a controller to: receive the output from the non-contact temperature sensor; determine coverage information relating to a print agent coverage of the blanket at the measurement location; and calculate a temperature of the blanket at the measurement location taking into account both the output from the non-contact temperature sensor and the determined coverage information.

A method for operating a device for printing hollow cylinder is provided. The device comprises a rotating segmented wheel with a plurality of printing cylinders arranged successively along the periphery of the device. A plurality of plate cylinders are provided in association with the segmented wheel. According to a printing process to be performed, a selected quantity of plate cylinders is thrown onto the segment wheel or is thrown off the segment wheel. In a first printing process, a first partial quantity of thrown-on plate cylinders transfers printing ink to a plurality of the printing blankets arranged on the segment wheel. At the end of the printing process, at least some of the plate cylinders, that were thrown on the segment wheel in the first printing process, are thrown off the rotating segment wheel. During constant uninterrupted rotation of the segment wheel, for the implementation of a second printing process, a second partial quantity of plate cylinders is thrown onto the segment wheel and respectively transfer printing ink to a plurality of the printing blankets arranged on the segment wheel. The respective printing forme of at least one plate cylinder involved in the first printing process, and uninvolved in the ongoing second printing process, is changed during the ongoing printing process.

A composition for producing particulate coatings for printing machine cylinders or printing machine cylinder covers that are nonstick and wear resistant. The composition includes at least one sol-gel precursor compound and a mixture of hard solid-state particles, such as silicon carbide. One type of particles has a Sauter diameter d.sub.32 of between 1.0 ?m and 2.0 ?m and the other type of less than 1.0 ?m. A mixing ratio of the two types of hard solid-state particles lies in the range from 1.5:1 to 1:1.5.

A structural underblanket unit (10) for blanket cylinders (100) of printing machines, comprising a first layer (11) made of rubber, a second layer (12) made of polyester and a third layer (13) made of fabric. The layers (11, 12, 13) are solidly bonded to one another so as to define a multilayer structural unit (10) having an overall transversal thickness (S) corresponding to the sum of the transversal thicknesses (S11, S12, S13) of said layers, the order of bonding of said layers being any whatsoever. A process for adjusting a distance of a printing blanket (101) from a wall (102) of a blanket cylinder of a printing machine.

A device for printing hollow bodies includes a segmented wheel which can be rotated about a rotational axis. The segmented wheel has multiple segments, one behind the other, on the segmented wheel circumference, each for receiving a respective printing blanket. At least one of the printing blankets, which is arranged on one of the segments, is arranged on the hollow body to be printed in a rolling manner or at least in a rollable manner. Each of the printing blankets is arranged on a plate-shaped metal support. Each plate-shaped metal support is configured to be bendable and forms a metal printing blanket, together with the printing blanket arranged on the support. Each metal printing blanket formed by the respective support, together with the printing blanket arranged on the support, is arranged or can at least be arranged on one of the segments of the segmented wheel in a replaceable manner as a whole. Each support, which is arranged on one of the segments of the segmented wheel, of the corresponding metal printing blanket, is held on the support in one of a form-fitting and a force-fitting manner.