An inking system for use in transferring ink to a flexographic printing plate in a flexographic printing system includes an anilox member having an ink transfer zone located between first and second recessed bearing contact zones. A radius of the recessed bearing contact zones is less than a radius of the ink transfer zone by at least 0.100 inches. An ink tray includes a floor and first and second end walls. Bearings are mounted outside of the end walls which engage with the first and second bearing contact zones, respectively, thereby positioning the ink tray assembly in a specified position relative to the anilox member. Upper edges of the end walls extend into the recessed bearing contact zones.

A substantially tubular interchangeable sleeve is adapted for applying a printing or coating liquid to a substrate material or offset roller. The sleeve has a multi-layer construction primarily consisting of a first outer layer of a dimensionally stable substantially fluid-impregnable solid material, such as aluminum or steel, around the exterior surface of which is affixed or applied a print or coating liquid receiving plate or layer. The sleeve further comprises one or more further interior layers of relatively less dimensionally stable, compressible, usually fibrous materials disposed inwardly of the interior surface of the first layer which, under air pressure, can be compressed so as to enlarge the inner dimensions of the sleeve so that it can be slid over a suitable bridge mandrel. The sleeve further comprises at least one end ring of a dimensionally stable substantially fluid-impregnable solid material.

A substantially tubular interchangeable sleeve is adapted for applying a printing or coating liquid to a substrate material or offset roller. The sleeve has a multi-layer construction primarily consisting of a first outer layer of a dimensionally stable substantially fluid-impregnable solid material, such as aluminum or steel, around the exterior surface of which is affixed or applied a print or coating liquid receiving plate or layer. The sleeve further comprises one or more further interior layers of relatively less dimensionally stable, compressible, usually fibrous materials disposed inwardly of the interior surface of the first layer which, under air pressure, can be compressed so as to enlarge the inner dimensions of the sleeve so that it can be slid over a suitable bridge mandrel. The sleeve further comprises at least one end ring of a dimensionally stable substantially fluid-impregnable solid material.

According to some examples a substance displacement apparatus may comprise a gas ejection aperture and a deflector arm. The gas ejection aperture may be to direct gas towards a roller having a surface on which a substance is disposed. The deflector arm may be moveable between a first position in which gas is directed away from a target area on the surface of the roller, and a second position in which gas is directed towards the target area on the surface of the roller, thereby to displace at least some of the substance from the surface of the roller within the target area. A method and a print apparatus are also disclosed.

According to some examples a substance displacement apparatus may comprise a gas ejection aperture and a deflector arm. The gas ejection aperture may be to direct gas towards a roller having a surface on which a substance is disposed. The deflector arm may be moveable between a first position in which gas is directed away from a target area on the surface of the roller, and a second position in which gas is directed towards the target area on the surface of the roller, thereby to displace at least some of the substance from the surface of the roller within the target area. A method and a print apparatus are also disclosed.

In an example, a rotogravure printer roller is described. The printer roller (300) comprises a contact surface formed from a plurality of adjacent roller sections (302, 304). The roller sections are constructed and arranged to be removably assembled to form the roller.

The present invention relates to a flexographic printing process comprising: applying an energy-curable primer to at least a portion of a surface of a substrate; curing said energy-curable primer to form a cured primer layer on the substrate; applying a metallic ink to at least a portion of the cured primer layer; and curing or drying the metallic ink; wherein the energy-curable primer is applied using a flexographic printing process; and wherein the metallic ink is applied using a flexographic printing process which uses an anilox roller having a transfer volume of from about 6 cm.sup.3/m.sup.2 to about 30 cm.sup.3/m.sup.2.

The present invention relates to a flexographic printing process comprising: applying an energy-curable primer to at least a portion of a surface of a substrate; curing said energy-curable primer to form a cured primer layer on the substrate; applying a metallic ink to at least a portion of the cured primer layer; and curing or drying the metallic ink; wherein the energy-curable primer is applied using a flexographic printing process; and wherein the metallic ink is applied using a flexographic printing process which uses an anilox roller having a transfer volume of from about 6 cm.sup.3/m.sup.2 to about 30 cm.sup.3/m.sup.2.

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).

An anilox roll is provided, having at least one channel on its surface, each channel being limited by a first wall and a second wall opposing said first wall, said first wall having a meandering shape which touches a first straight virtual line at one or more points but does not intersect said first straight virtual, said first virtual line being at the channel side and parallel to said course direction; said second wall having a meandering shape which touches a second straight virtual line at one or more points but does not intersect said second straight virtual line, said second straight virtual line being at the channel side and being parallel to said first straight virtual line; said first straight virtual line being separated from said second straight virtual line by a distance D, wherein either said distance D=0 or 12 m<D<12 m, preferably, 5 m<D<5 m, and most preferably, 2 m<D<2 m.