A printing system comprising a flexographic printing machine comprising at least one impression cylinder, on which the material in sheet form to be printed is wound and around which at least one printing station is arranged. Each printing station comprises a plate cylinder, which is provided with a graphic element, and an anilox roller. Downstream of each printing station there is at least one drying unit for the inks which emits at least one first air flow and aspirates at least one second air flow; there are also elements for acquiring a coverage value of the graphic element present on the plate cylinder of each printing station and elements for automatically adjusting a flow rate of the first air flow and of the second air flow as a function of the coverage value of the graphic element acquired by the acquisition elements.

A printing system comprising a flexographic printing machine comprising at least one impression cylinder, on which the material in sheet form to be printed is wound and around which at least one printing station is arranged. Each printing station comprises a plate cylinder, which is provided with a graphic element, and an anilox roller. Downstream of each printing station there is at least one drying unit for the inks which emits at least one first air flow and aspirates at least one second air flow; there are also elements for acquiring a coverage value of the graphic element present on the plate cylinder of each printing station and elements for automatically adjusting a flow rate of the first air flow and of the second air flow as a function of the coverage value of the graphic element acquired by the acquisition elements.

The invention relates to a cylinder (10) which is set up for application of at least one hollow cylinder, the cylinder (10) having a layer structure which comprises in this order, from inside to outside, a base layer (12) or a cylinder core, a first compressible layer (14), a filling layer (16), an interlayer (18), a second compressible layer (20) and an outer layer (22), the outer layer forming a lateral surface of the cylinder. The invention further relates to arrangements comprising at least one such cylinder (10) and further cylinders.

The invention relates to a cylinder (10) which is set up for application of at least one hollow cylinder, the cylinder (10) having a layer structure which comprises in this order, from inside to outside, a base layer (12) or a cylinder core, a first compressible layer (14), a filling layer (16), an interlayer (18), a second compressible layer (20) and an outer layer (22), the outer layer forming a lateral surface of the cylinder. The invention further relates to arrangements comprising at least one such cylinder (10) and further cylinders.

A processing unit, for example a printing unit, for the rotational processing of a web-shaped or sheet-shaped substrate, includes a machine frame, at least a first processing cylinder movably mounted in the machine frame, a second processing cylinder stationarily mounted in the machine frame, and a pair of support members associated with each respective processing cylinder. Each support member of the second processing cylinder has an annular segment, a linear guide, a guide body fixed to the machine frame and a manipulator. Each annular segment contacts a respective support member of the first processing cylinder, and each annular segment is linearly displaceable along the linear guide by a respective manipulator. The processing unit permits a gap dimension between the processing cylinders of the processing unit to be adjustable in a simple, exact manner with precise repeatability. A label printing machine having the processing unit is also provided.

A processing unit, for example a printing unit, for the rotational processing of a web-shaped or sheet-shaped substrate, includes a machine frame, at least a first processing cylinder movably mounted in the machine frame, a second processing cylinder stationarily mounted in the machine frame, and a pair of support members associated with each respective processing cylinder. Each support member of the second processing cylinder has an annular segment, a linear guide, a guide body fixed to the machine frame and a manipulator. Each annular segment contacts a respective support member of the first processing cylinder, and each annular segment is linearly displaceable along the linear guide by a respective manipulator. The processing unit permits a gap dimension between the processing cylinders of the processing unit to be adjustable in a simple, exact manner with precise repeatability. A label printing machine having the processing unit is also provided.

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.

A rotary printing machine includes a printing cylinder, at least one clamping unit mounted on a printing surface of the printing cylinder, and a feeding control mechanism and an unloading control mechanism mounted to a lateral side of the printing cylinder for changing the clamping state of the clamping unit. When the clamping unit is moved to an unloading position, the unloading control mechanism can be operated to control the clamping unit to maintain a closed state, so that a workpiece can be brought by the printing cylinder to a feeding position again. Then, the feeding control mechanism can be operated to control the clamping unit at the feeding position to maintain a clamped state, so that printing can be repeated on the workpiece to form multiple layers of ink and create three-dimensional printed layers showing a specific visual effect.

A rotary printing machine includes a printing cylinder, at least one clamping unit mounted on a printing surface of the printing cylinder, and a feeding control mechanism and an unloading control mechanism mounted to a lateral side of the printing cylinder for changing the clamping state of the clamping unit. When the clamping unit is moved to an unloading position, the unloading control mechanism can be operated to control the clamping unit to maintain a closed state, so that a workpiece can be brought by the printing cylinder to a feeding position again. Then, the feeding control mechanism can be operated to control the clamping unit at the feeding position to maintain a clamped state, so that printing can be repeated on the workpiece to form multiple layers of ink and create three-dimensional printed layers showing a specific visual effect.

The present invention relates to a process for flexographic printing of ink onto a thin polymeric film substrate. In particular the process relates to printing using a central impression cylinder press, wherein the width of printed substrate is greater than 800 mm, to provide a high opacity printing process. According to the present invention the printing process comprising: transferring ink from an ink reservoir to an anilox roll; transferring the ink from the anilox roll to a printing plate wherein the ink volume transferred by the anilox roll is from 9-20 cm.sup.3/m.sup.2; and
applying the ink to the surface of the substrate by applying pressure between the printing plate and an impression surface and passing the substrate between the printing plate and the impression surface wherein the printing plate is a high definition printing plate comprising at least 40 lines per centimeter.