A printing roller for a printing machine, e.g., for a flexographic printing machine, wherein the printing roller includes a rotary and longitudinal axis and an external surface, the external surface being substantially cylindrical and adapted for mounting a plate. The new feature of a printing roller according to the invention is that the external cylindrical surface includes at least one longitudinal groove, where the at least one longitudinal groove includes a geometry with one or more surfaces, the surface or surfaces lying within a circumscribed cylindrical surface for the external surface of the printing roller. In other words, this means that the longitudinal groove or grooves are cutouts in the form of milled or ground grooves in the external cylindrical surface itself on a printing roller.

A mandrel wherein a portion of the mandrel body outer surface is cortical; 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 mandrel wherein a portion of the mandrel body outer surface is cortical; 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.

A modular print drive assembly and platen assembly are provided. The modular print drive assembly is structured for insertion and removal from a printer, the modular print drive assembly and includes a print drive housing defining a plurality of printer mount fasteners, a printhead coupled to and supported by the print drive housing, a platen latch assembly coupled to and supported by the print drive housing. The platen latch assembly is structured to removably receive a platen in position to define a nip between the platen and the printhead The modular print drive also includes a platen drive motor coupled to and supported by the print housing, wherein the platen drive motor is supported by the print housing in position to drive the platen upon receipt within the platen latch assembly.

A modular print drive assembly and platen assembly are provided. The modular print drive assembly is structured for insertion and removal from a printer, the modular print drive assembly and includes a print drive housing defining a plurality of printer mount fasteners, a printhead coupled to and supported by the print drive housing, a platen latch assembly coupled to and supported by the print drive housing. The platen latch assembly is structured to removably receive a platen in position to define a nip between the platen and the printhead The modular print drive also includes a platen drive motor coupled to and supported by the print housing, wherein the platen drive motor is supported by the print housing in position to drive the platen upon receipt within the platen latch assembly.

A printing mechanism 1 including a mandrel 2, and a tubular sleeve 3; wherein the mandrel comprises a main body and sleeve support members 6, a plurality of the sleeve-support members being arranged on the main body at intervals in the axial direction; and wherein the sleeve-support member has a plurality of arm portions 7 extending radially so as to support the sleeve from an inside thereof, and moving mechanisms 8 for moving tip vicinities of the arm portions inward/outward in the radial direction; and wherein the sleeve-support member has an interlock mechanism 9 for synchronously driving each moving mechanism of the sleeve support members, the tip vicinities of the arm portions being engaged with the inner surface of the sleeve or released from the engaged inner surface of the sleeve by the synchronous motion of the tip vicinities of all arm portions inward/outward with the interlock mechanism.

A printing mechanism 1 including a mandrel 2, and a tubular sleeve 3; wherein the mandrel comprises a main body and sleeve support members 6, a plurality of the sleeve-support members being arranged on the main body at intervals in the axial direction; and wherein the sleeve-support member has a plurality of arm portions 7 extending radially so as to support the sleeve from an inside thereof, and moving mechanisms 8 for moving tip vicinities of the arm portions inward/outward in the radial direction; and wherein the sleeve-support member has an interlock mechanism 9 for synchronously driving each moving mechanism of the sleeve support members, the tip vicinities of the arm portions being engaged with the inner surface of the sleeve or released from the engaged inner surface of the sleeve by the synchronous motion of the tip vicinities of all arm portions inward/outward with the interlock mechanism.

A modular print drive assembly and platen assembly are provided. The modular print drive assembly is structured for insertion and removal from a printer, the modular print drive assembly and includes a print drive housing defining a plurality of printer mount fasteners, a printhead coupled to and supported by the print drive housing, a platen latch assembly coupled to and supported by the print drive housing. The platen latch assembly is structured to removably receive a platen in position to define a nip between the platen and the printhead The modular print drive also includes a platen drive motor coupled to and supported by the print housing, wherein the platen drive motor is supported by the print housing in position to drive the platen upon receipt within the platen latch assembly.