A mandrel for use in a printing apparatus includes a substantially cylindrical mandrel shaft and a locking assembly including a stop ring, a locking ring, and a plurality of deformable rings which are slidably and coaxially mounted on the mandrel shaft. Each deformable ring has a cross-sectional profile in a cross-sectional plane in which the mandrel shaft axis extends, which profile includes a first arm and a second arm which are integrally connected to each other at a first connection point. The first arm and the second arms include an angle which is sharper in the unlocked position than in the locked position of the locking assembly. The first arm has a first-arm-end remote from the first connection point, which defines the outer diameter of the deformable ring. The second arm has a second-arm-end remote from the first connection point, which second-arm-end defines the inner diameter of the deformable ring.

A bearing assembly (26) is described. It is suitable for supporting a printing cylinder or an anilox roll in a printing machine and comprises at least one roller bearing (28, 30) being configured for receiving a shaft (12b, 14b, 16b) associated with the printing cylinder or the anilox roll. Additionally, it has a first support part (32) carrying the roller bearing (28, 30) and a second support part (34) being a carrier element of the printing machine or being configured for being mounted to a carrier element of the printing machine. Furthermore, a fluid chamber (36) is provided acting between the roller bearing (28, 30) and the second support part (34). Moreover, a printing machine is presented wherein a shaft (12b, 14b, 16b) associated with a printing cylinder or an anilox roll thereof is supported by such a bearing assembly (26).

A bearing assembly (26) is described. It is suitable for supporting a printing cylinder or an anilox roll in a printing machine and comprises at least one roller bearing (28, 30) being configured for receiving a shaft (12b, 14b, 16b) associated with the printing cylinder or the anilox roll. Additionally, it has a first support part (32) carrying the roller bearing (28, 30) and a second support part (34) being a carrier element of the printing machine or being configured for being mounted to a carrier element of the printing machine. Furthermore, a fluid chamber (36) is provided acting between the roller bearing (28, 30) and the second support part (34). Moreover, a printing machine is presented wherein a shaft (12b, 14b, 16b) associated with a printing cylinder or an anilox roll thereof is supported by such a bearing assembly (26).

There is described a printing press adapted to carry out printing on a sheet-like or web-like substrate, in particular for the production of security documents such as banknotes, comprising a substrate feeding device for feeding the substrate to be treated, at least a printing unit designed to print a first side and/or a second side of the substrate and a delivery unit for receiving the treated substrate. The printing press in the conveying path for the substrate between the feeding device and the delivery unit further comprises an in-line casting device adapted to apply a layer of material acting as an optical medium on a portion of the second side of the substrate and to replicate and form a micro-optical structure in the layer of material acting as optical medium, wherein the printing unit comprises a first printing group comprising a printing cylinder and being adapted to print at least one printed pattern on the first or second side of the substrate in register with the micro-optical structure.

There is described a printing press (100***; 100****) adapted to carry out printing on a sheet-like or web-like substrate (S), in particular for the production of security documents such as banknotes, comprising a printing unit (2*; 2**; 2***; 2****) designed to print a first side (I) and/or a second side (II) of the substrate (S). The printing press (100***; 100****) further comprises an in-line casting device (80; 80*; 80**; 80***) adapted to apply a layer of material acting as an optical medium on a portion of a first side (I, II) of the substrate (S) and to replicate and form a micro-optical structure (L) in the layer of material acting as optical medium. The printing unit (2*; 2**; 2***; 2****) is furthermore adapted to print at least one printed pattern on the first or second side (I, II) of the substrate (S) in register with the micro-optical structure (L), wherein the printing unit (2*; 2**; 2***; 2****) comprises at least a first printing group (93) being adapted to print at least one printed pattern on the second side (II) of the substrate (S) in register with the micro-optical structure (L) and wherein the in-line casting device (80; 80*; 80**; 80***) comprises at least one embossing cylinder (85), which embossing cylinder (85) also is acting as counter-pressure cylinder and cooperates with a printing cylinder (8) of the at least first printing group (93) and/or whereas the in-line casting device (80; 80*; 80**; 80***) and the at least a first printing group (93) being arranged at the Substrate transport path such way, that in-line casting of the micro-optical structure, on one side of the sheets S, and printing of the associated pattern, on the other side of the sheets S, are performed in a same step, without this involving any sheet transfer operation.

A bearing assembly (26) is described. It is suitable for supporting a printing cylinder or an anilox roll in a printing machine and comprises at least one roller bearing (28, 30) being configured for receiving a shaft (12b, 14b, 16b) associated with the printing cylinder or the anilox roll. Additionally, it has a first support part (32) carrying the roller bearing (28, 30) and a second support part (34) being a carrier element of the printing machine or being configured for being mounted to a carrier element of the printing machine. Furthermore, a fluid chamber (36) is provided acting between the roller bearing (28, 30) and the second support part (34). Moreover, a printing machine is presented wherein a shaft (12b, 14b, 16b) associated with a printing cylinder or an anilox roll thereof is supported by such a bearing assembly (26).

A bearing assembly (26) is described. It is suitable for supporting a printing cylinder or an anilox roll in a printing machine and comprises at least one roller bearing (28, 30) being configured for receiving a shaft (12b, 14b, 16b) associated with the printing cylinder or the anilox roll. Additionally, it has a first support part (32) carrying the roller bearing (28, 30) and a second support part (34) being a carrier element of the printing machine or being configured for being mounted to a carrier element of the printing machine. Furthermore, a fluid chamber (36) is provided acting between the roller bearing (28, 30) and the second support part (34). Moreover, a printing machine is presented wherein a shaft (12b, 14b, 16b) associated with a printing cylinder or an anilox roll thereof is supported by such a bearing assembly (26).

A mandrel for use in a printing apparatus includes a substantially cylindrical mandrel shaft and a locking assembly including a stop ring, a locking ring, and a plurality of deformable rings which are slidably and coaxially mounted on the mandrel shaft. Each deformable ring has a cross-sectional profile in a cross-sectional plane in which the mandrel shaft axis extends, which profile includes a first arm and a second arm which are integrally connected to each other at a first connection point. The first arm and the second arms include an angle which is sharper in the unlocked position than in the locked position of the locking assembly. The first arm has a first-arm-end remote from the first connection point, which defines the outer diameter of the deformable ring. The second arm has a second-arm-end remote from the first connection point, which second-arm-end defines the inner diameter of the deformable ring.

A mandrel for use in a printing apparatus includes a substantially cylindrical mandrel shaft and a locking assembly including a stop ring, a locking ring, and a plurality of deformable rings which are slidably and coaxially mounted on the mandrel shaft. Each deformable ring has a cross-sectional profile in a cross-sectional plane in which the mandrel shaft axis extends, which profile includes a first arm and a second arm which are integrally connected to each other at a first connection point. The first arm and the second arms include an angle which is sharper in the unlocked position than in the locked position of the locking assembly. The first arm has a first-arm-end remote from the first connection point, which defines the outer diameter of the deformable ring. The second arm has a second-arm-end remote from the first connection point, which second-arm-end defines the inner diameter of the deformable ring.

A mandrel wherein a portion of the mandrel body outer surface is conical; i.e., flared outwardly, is provided. In this configuration, the necked can is drawn against the conical portion of the mandrel body outer surface while a generally cylindrical portion of the mandrel body extends into the can. Further, the space between the cylindrical portion of the mandrel body and the can is pressurized so as to resist deformations in the can during the decorating process. In an exemplary embodiment, the mandrel includes an elongated mandrel body with an outer surface, a proximal, first end, a proximal medial portion, a distal medial portion, and a distal, second end and having an axis of rotation. The mandrel body outer surface includes an elongated conical portion; the mandrel body outer surface conical portion is disposed adjacently about the mandrel body first end.