Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, for thermal transfer printing include, in at least one aspect, a printing apparatus includes: a band capable of holding hot melt ink thereon; rollers configured and arranged to hold and transport the band with respect to a substrate; a printhead configured and arranged to thermally transfer a portion of the ink from the band to the substrate to print on the substrate; and a heating device configured and arranged to heat the band to cause ink on the band to re-melt, flow and replace at least some of the portion of the ink transferred to the substrate previously before arriving at the printhead again for a next print.

A device for printing on hollow bodies has a plurality of printing units each having a printing cylinder. At least one of the printing units has an inking unit having a chambered doctor blade that provides printing ink. The chambered doctor blade system has at least one ink pan and a doctor blade holder in a single assembly. The single assembly of the chambered doctor blade system is retained in the inking unit only on one side. The assembly of the chambered doctor blade system forms a cantilever arm on a side frame of the inking unit. The assembly of the chambered doctor blade system can be moved axially parallel to the anilox roller and can be removed from the inking unit by that movement.

A gravure kiss coater 1 includes a paint feeder 30 placed along a small-diameter gravure roll 10 having an outside diameter D in a range of 45-150 mm. The paint feeder 30 includes a doctor blade 32, a case 31, and a coating feed path 34, 35. A distal end 32a of the doctor blade 32 is directed in a direction opposite to a direction of rotation of the small-diameter gravure roll 10, and the small-diameter gravure roll 10 is capable of contacting the substrate S within a range of rotation angles equal to or less than 90 from the distal end 32a of the doctor blade 32.

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, for thermal transfer printing include, in at least one aspect, a printing apparatus includes: a band capable of holding hot melt ink thereon; rollers configured and arranged to hold and transport the band with respect to a substrate; a printhead configured and arranged to thermally transfer a portion of the ink from the band to the substrate to print on the substrate; and a heating device configured and arranged to heat the band to cause ink on the band to re-melt, flow and replace at least some of the portion of the ink transferred to the substrate previously before arriving at the printhead again for a next print.

An inking device for printing machines that comprises an inking body which is designed to be arranged so as to face the lateral surface of an anilox roller and forms an inking chamber that is open toward the anilox roller and has at least one inlet for introducing the ink into the inking chamber and at least one outlet for the exit of the ink from the inking chamber, and control elements that are adapted to vary the passage opening of the or of each outlet as a function of the pressure of the ink in the inking chamber.

An anilox roller for flexographic printing machines, which comprises a sleeve cylinder rotatably supported about its own axis by the fixed structure of a flexographic printing machine, and an anilox sleeve, which has a tubular body provided, on its outer side wall, with an anilox surface which can be axially fitted on and removed from the sleeve cylinder. Forced circulation of a temperature control fluid within the tubular body is further provided.

An end seal for removable attachment to a doctor blade assembly is provided. The end seal comprises a seal body having a bottom wall, opposite first and second sidewalls and a top edge configured to include a radius adapted to seal against a roller surface. At least one abrasion resistant insert is integrally secured within the seal body. The insert includes a bottom wall, opposite first and second sidewalls and a top edge configured to coincide with the body top edge so as to seal against the roller surface. The seal body and the at least one abrasion resistant insert each further comprise respective first and second upper angled sidewalls extending from respective opposite first and second sidewalls, the respective first upper angled sidewall having a different length and tapering from the top edges at a different angle than the respective second upper angled sidewall.

A fluid distribution device, for applying a fluid onto a transfer roller, includes an elongated chamber, at least one inlet for letting a fluid into the chamber, a longitudinal opening extending in the axial direction and adapted to face a transfer roller to allow fluid to exit the chamber and contact the transfer roller, and at least one wiper blade extending along at least a portion of the longitudinal opening. The chamber includes, at each of the two axial ends of the chamber, a wall separating the chamber from a cavity. The wall has a wall surface arranged to face the transfer roller when the device is in use. The wall is dimensioned so that the wall surface will be distanced from the transfer roller when the device is in use, so as to allow fluid to be present in a gap between the wall surface and the transfer roller.

A doctor (20), in particular for printing cylinders and coating systems, includes a doctor edge (21), a doctor body (22), and a curved blade profile (25) which is formed between the doctor edge (21) and the doctor body (22). In order to produce a doctor (20) which reduces the maintenance requirements of a gravure, flexographic, offset and/or digital printing machine and increases the service life of a doctor (20), according to the invention the extension of the curved blade profile (25) from the doctor edge (21) to the doctor body (22) is square or cuboid and/or the extension of the curved blade profile (25) from the doctor edge (21) to the doctor body (22) has at least one turning point (26).