An application unit includes an application mechanism having an application cylinder, a forme cylinder, and a supply roller, along with a positioning device. The positioning device has a linear guide and the application unit has a magazine for supply rollers, preferably located below the application mechanism, the magazine having magazine receptacles each for receiving one supply roller. The magazine has a repositioning device, by the use of which the magazine receptacles can be placed in different magazines positions. By the use of the positioning device, a supply roller can be moved along a linear roller positioning path, one end of which is identical to a supply position and the other end of which is identical to a magazine position of the magazine that is configured as a change position. The positioning device preferably has at least one transfer supporting member, which is arranged to be movable in and counter to a positioning direction relative to the frame of the flexographic application mechanism, guided along the at least one linear guide, and on which at least one component of a bearing seat can be arranged, which is configured to receive a rolling bearing arranged on the at least one supply roller.

Disclosed herein is a method of managing a printing apparatus including a thermal print head. The method of managing a printing apparatus includes: starting, by the controller of a printing apparatus, the cleaning of a thermal print head when a predetermined condition is satisfied; selecting, by the controller, a cleaning method based on at least one the satisfied condition and previously stored information; and cleaning, by the controller, the thermal print head by driving at least one of heating elements, included in a plurality of recording elements constituting the thermal print head, according to the selected cleaning method.

An application unit includes an application mechanism having an application cylinder, a forme cylinder, and a supply roller, along with a positioning device. The positioning device has a linear guide and the application unit has a magazine for supply rollers, preferably located below the application mechanism, the magazine having magazine receptacles each for receiving one supply roller. The magazine has a repositioning device, by the use of which the magazine receptacles can be placed in different magazines positions. By the use of the positioning device, a supply roller can be moved along a linear roller positioning path, one end of which is identical to a supply position and the other end of which is identical to a magazine position of the magazine that is configured as a change position. The positioning device preferably has at least one transfer supporting member, which is arranged to be movable in and counter to a positioning direction relative to the frame of the flexographic application mechanism, guided along the at least one linear guide, and on which at least one component of a bearing seat can be arranged, which is configured to receive a rolling bearing arranged on the at least one supply roller.

An application unit includes an application mechanism having an application cylinder, a forme cylinder, and a supply roller, along with a positioning device. The positioning device has a linear guide and the application unit has a magazine for supply rollers, preferably located below the application mechanism, the magazine having magazine receptacles each for receiving one supply roller. The magazine has a repositioning device, by the use of which the magazine receptacles can be placed in different magazines positions. By the use of the positioning device, a supply roller can be moved along a linear roller positioning path, one end of which is identical to a supply position and the other end of which is identical to a magazine position of the magazine that is configured as a change position. The positioning device preferably has at least one transfer supporting member, which is arranged to be movable in and counter to a positioning direction relative to the frame of the flexographic application mechanism, guided along the at least one linear guide, and on which at least one component of a bearing seat can be arranged, which is configured to receive a rolling bearing arranged on the at least one supply roller.

A method is disclosed, which method is or at least can be carried out in a flexographic printing press for the purpose of determining a position of mutual contact between a printing roller and at least one counter roller. An average position of mutual contact between the printing roller and the counter roller is calculated, based on every position of mutual contact between the printing roller and the counter roller that is determined for a specific angular position of the printing roller and is used to execute a printing process carried out by the flexographic printing press.

Disclosed herein is a device for fixing a platen roller for a printing apparatus. The device includes: a fixing frame installed in the housing of the printing apparatus; roller bearings respectively coupled to both ends of the platen roller in the longitudinal direction of the platen roller, and configured to allow the platen roller to be rotated; bearing holders installed on the fixing frame, and configured to provide coupling portions for the roller bearings and to allow the roller bearings to enter and exit in a horizontal direction corresponding to the longitudinal direction of the platen roller; and a locking part configured to fix the platen roller and the roller bearings to the bearing holders in the state of preventing the horizontal movement of the platen roller and the roller bearings while restraining at least one of the both ends of the platen roller to the bearing holder.

Disclosed herein is a device for fixing a platen roller for a printing apparatus. The device includes: a fixing frame installed in the housing of the printing apparatus; roller bearings respectively coupled to both ends of the platen roller in the longitudinal direction of the platen roller, and configured to allow the platen roller to be rotated; bearing holders installed on the fixing frame, and configured to provide coupling portions for the roller bearings and to allow the roller bearings to enter and exit in a horizontal direction corresponding to the longitudinal direction of the platen roller; and a locking part configured to fix the platen roller and the roller bearings to the bearing holders in the state of preventing the horizontal movement of the platen roller and the roller bearings while restraining at least one of the both ends of the platen roller to the bearing holder.

Disclosed herein is a method of managing a printing apparatus including a thermal print head. The method of managing a printing apparatus includes: starting, by the controller of a printing apparatus, the cleaning of a thermal print head when a predetermined condition is satisfied; selecting, by the controller, a cleaning method based on at least one the satisfied condition and previously stored information; and cleaning, by the controller, the thermal print head by driving at least one of heating elements, included in a plurality of recording elements constituting the thermal print head, according to the selected cleaning method.

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).

A roller module includes a roller, a magnetic bearing, a permanent magnet, at least one pair of magnetic coring, and a plurality of gap sensors. The roller has a protrusion and has a cylindrical shape. The protrusion is formed at both outer surfaces of the roller with a stepped portion and has the cylindrical shape. The magnetic bearing is formed at the roller. The permanent magnet is formed at the roller. At least one pair of magnetic coring covers an outer circumference of the protrusion. The gap sensors are formed along an axial direction and a radial direction of the roller.