A processing station for processing a substrate web supplied and led away with a substantially continuous speed includes an impression roller and two tool cylinders. Within one revolution of the tool cylinder, the transport speed of the substrate web at a contact area between tool cylinder and impression roller can periodically vary relative to the rotation speed of the tool cylinder. Of the two tool cylinders, at any time only one is in an operative state in that it is in engagement with an impression roller. The other tool cylinder is in a non-operative state in which it can be made accessible for thereon exchanging a tool plate.

A device and a method is disclosed to maintain plate and anilox mandrel position stability in print decks of a flexographic printing press. In one aspect, the mandrel bearings associated with at least one of the plate roll and the anilox roll are preloaded for the purpose of eliminating backlash and increasing the positional stiffness of the bearings, and thus the mandrel. In another aspect, the roll drive motor control system is enabled to provide a torque additive command the torque profile to maintain rotational consistency and otherwise overcome torque transients experienced by the motor during print bounce. Accordingly, the problem commonly referred to as print bounce and or print banding is alleviated.

A printing assembly may include a first continuous cylinder and a first jogging assembly. The first continuous cylinder may be configured to apply print media to a flexible substrate responsive to contact with the flexible substrate. The first continuous cylinder may include a plurality of partitions configured such that only one of the partitions is aligned for contact with the flexible substrate at any given time, and each of the partitions may have a unique print characteristic associated therewith. The first jogging assembly may be operably coupled with the first continuous cylinder to move the first continuous cylinder along an axis thereof to change alignment of the partitions relative to the flexible substrate.

A printing assembly may include a first continuous cylinder and a first jogging assembly. The first continuous cylinder may be configured to apply print media to a flexible substrate responsive to contact with the flexible substrate. The first continuous cylinder may include a plurality of partitions configured such that only one of the partitions is aligned for contact with the flexible substrate at any given time, and each of the partitions may have a unique print characteristic associated therewith. The first jogging assembly may be operably coupled with the first continuous cylinder to move the first continuous cylinder along an axis thereof to change alignment of the partitions relative to the flexible substrate.

A method of operating flexographic printing presses having an impression cylinder, printing cylinder carrying a sleeve with a flexographic printing forme or cylinder, uses a sensor adjusting print register of the printing forme or cylinder relative to a further printing forme or cylinder and/or adjusts color density and/or implements color inspection. An image of the sleeve surface with printing forme is recorded by a camera and processed before printing, locating a register mark and/or a color measurement field in terms of x-y positions. A sensor automatically moves for recording the register mark to the y-position of the register mark before adjusting to record the register mark and/or a sensor moves for recording the color measurement field to the y-position of the color measurement field before adjusting to record the color measurement field. Cost-efficient, high-quality industrial printing and further automation is provided.

A method of operating flexographic printing presses having an impression cylinder, printing cylinder carrying a sleeve with a flexographic printing forme or cylinder, uses a sensor adjusting print register of the printing forme or cylinder relative to a further printing forme or cylinder and/or adjusts color density and/or implements color inspection. An image of the sleeve surface with printing forme is recorded by a camera and processed before printing, locating a register mark and/or a color measurement field in terms of x-y positions. A sensor automatically moves for recording the register mark to the y-position of the register mark before adjusting to record the register mark and/or a sensor moves for recording the color measurement field to the y-position of the color measurement field before adjusting to record the color measurement field. Cost-efficient, high-quality industrial printing and further automation is provided.

A device and a method is disclosed to maintain plate and anilox mandrel position stability in print decks of a flexographic printing press. In one aspect, the mandrel bearings associated with at least one of the plate roll and the anilox roll are preloaded for the purpose of eliminating backlash and increasing the positional stiffness of the bearings, and thus the mandrel. In another aspect, the roll drive motor control system is enabled to provide a torque additive command the torque profile to maintain rotational consistency and otherwise overcome torque transients experienced by the motor during print bounce. Accordingly, the problem commonly referred to as print bounce and or print banding is alleviated.

A processing unit for rotational processing includes at least two processing cylinders and a machine frame. A first processing cylinder is movably mounted in the machine frame, a second processing cylinder is stationarily mounted in the machine frame and a pair of support members is provided for each respective processing cylinder. A respective support member of the second processing cylinder has a solid joint, a manipulator and an annular segment attached to the solid joint and contacting one support member of the first processing cylinder. A solid joint is linearly displaceable by the manipulator and an annular segment is linearly displaceable therewith. A gap dimension between the processing cylinders can therefore be adjusted in a simple, accurate manner with precise repeatability. A label printing machine having the processing unit is also provided.

A processing unit for rotational processing includes at least two processing cylinders and a machine frame. A first processing cylinder is movably mounted in the machine frame, a second processing cylinder is stationarily mounted in the machine frame and a pair of support members is provided for each respective processing cylinder. A respective support member of the second processing cylinder has a solid joint, a manipulator and an annular segment attached to the solid joint and contacting one support member of the first processing cylinder. A solid joint is linearly displaceable by the manipulator and an annular segment is linearly displaceable therewith. A gap dimension between the processing cylinders can therefore be adjusted in a simple, accurate manner with precise repeatability. A label printing machine having the processing unit is also provided.

A printing assembly (400) may include a first continuous cylinder (420) and a first jogging assembly (424). The first continuous cylinder (420) may be configured to apply print media to a flexible substrate (300) responsive to contact with the flexible substrate. The first continuous cylinder (100, 420) may include a plurality of partitions (210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260) configured such that only one of the partitions is aligned for contact with the flexible substrate at any given time, and each of the partitions may have a unique print characteristic associated therewith. The first jogging assembly (424) may be operably coupled with the first continuous cylinder (420) to move the first continuous cylinder along an axis thereof to change alignment of the partitions relative to the flexible substrate.