Systems and methods for making a flexo plate, and plates, machines, readers, and computer readable media for use therewith. In the system, a plurality of processing machines, each configured to perform one or more process steps in a workflow, includes a controller, a variable operating parameter controlled by the controller, and a reader configured to read machine-readable indicia on the flexo plate. The machine-readable indicia (e.g. bar code, RFID tag, text) is configured for persistent readability downstream of washing (and cutting) steps, without printing in the printing step. The indicia may embody information including at least a plate identifier and instructions corresponding to the at least one variable operating parameter for each of the processing machines or information corresponding to an address in computer storage where the information resides.

A plate sleeve-holder cylinder provided with a carbon-fibre central tube (T), of the type having compressed air channels (6, 7, 8) arranged between one of the end flanges (Fb, Fm) of said plate sleeve-holder cylinder and a plurality of holes (H) formed in the outer surface of said central tube (T) made of carbon-fibre composite material. Said air channels (6, 7, 8) are partly embedded within said end flanges (Fb, Fm), partly within a thickness of a side wall (P) of said central tube (T) made of carbon-fibre composite material.

A process of manufacturing said central tube (T) by inserting air pipes (6) into grooves (1) which are formed by mechanical milling of a surface of the supporting structure (P) of said central tube (T) obtained through a first lamination and polymerization, said grooves being coated with a surface finishing structure (S) obtained through a second lamination and polymerization.

A plate sleeve-holder cylinder provided with a carbon-fibre central tube (T), of the type having compressed air channels (6, 7, 8) arranged between one of the end flanges (Fb, Fm) of said plate sleeve-holder cylinder and a plurality of holes (H) formed in the outer surface of said central tube (T) made of carbon-fibre composite material. Said air channels (6, 7, 8) are partly embedded within said end flanges (Fb, Fm), partly within a thickness of a side wall (P) of said central tube (T) made of carbon-fibre composite material.

A process of manufacturing said central tube (T) by inserting air pipes (6) into grooves (1) which are formed by mechanical milling of a surface of the supporting structure (P) of said central tube (T) obtained through a first lamination and polymerization, said grooves being coated with a surface finishing structure (S) obtained through a second lamination and polymerization.

In a register error detection device, an image capturing unit captures an image of two first register marks of a first color printed on a substrate by a first plate cylinder of a rotary printing press and a second register mark of a second color printed on the substrate by a second plate cylinder of the rotary printing press. A calculation unit calculates a register error based on the number of pixels between a reference position located between the two first register marks and a comparison position that is based on the second register mark in the image captured by the image capturing unit.

In a register error detection device, an image capturing unit captures an image of two first register marks of a first color printed on a substrate by a first plate cylinder of a rotary printing press and a second register mark of a second color printed on the substrate by a second plate cylinder of the rotary printing press. A calculation unit calculates a register error based on the number of pixels between a reference position located between the two first register marks and a comparison position that is based on the second register mark in the image captured by the image capturing unit.

A registration system for a printing device and a method for controlling the same are disclosed. For example, the registration system includes a lead screw motor, a lead screw coupled to the lead screw motor, and a carriage coupled to the lead screw. The carriage includes two drive rollers, wherein each drive roller is coupled to a respective splined shaft coupled to a respective yoke, wherein the respective yoke is coupled to a drive pulley and a drive motor that is in a fixed position, wherein movement of the carriage causes the respective splined shaft of the two drive rollers to move guided by the respective yoke.

A registration system for a printing device and a method for controlling the same are disclosed. For example, the registration system includes a lead screw motor, a lead screw coupled to the lead screw motor, and a carriage coupled to the lead screw. The carriage includes two drive rollers, wherein each drive roller is coupled to a respective splined shaft coupled to a respective yoke, wherein the respective yoke is coupled to a drive pulley and a drive motor that is in a fixed position, wherein movement of the carriage causes the respective splined shaft of the two drive rollers to move guided by the respective yoke.

An apparatus, a printing press and method for correcting the printing position of a printing unit of a printing press that has at least one sensor unit, where the method includes the steps of detecting an actual position of at least one print mark via the sensor unit, where the print mark is printed onto a printing material via the printing unit, determining of a deviation of the detected actual position from a setpoint position, determining at least one difference value that characterizes the deviation, determining a buffer value from a number of basic values previously stored in a memory, determining a correction value by subtracting the buffer value from the difference value, storing the determined correction value in the memory as one of the basic values, and correcting the printing position based on the determined correction value.

An apparatus, a printing press and method for correcting the printing position of a printing unit of a printing press that has at least one sensor unit, where the method includes the steps of detecting an actual position of at least one print mark via the sensor unit, where the print mark is printed onto a printing material via the printing unit, determining of a deviation of the detected actual position from a setpoint position, determining at least one difference value that characterizes the deviation, determining a buffer value from a number of basic values previously stored in a memory, determining a correction value by subtracting the buffer value from the difference value, storing the determined correction value in the memory as one of the basic values, and correcting the printing position based on the determined correction value.

A device for measuring elevated areas of the surface of a rotary body in the form of a cylinder, a roller, a sleeve or a plate of a printing press, for example a flexographic printing plate, includes a first motor for rotating the rotary body about a rotational axis and a measuring unit for contactless measurement. The measuring unit for contactless measurement includes at least one radiation source and at least one area scan camera. The measuring unit for contactless measurement preferably includes a reference object, for example a wire tensioned in an axially parallel manner, a second motor and optionally a further second motor, for adjusting the measuring unit and/or the reference object perpendicularly to the rotational axis. The device makes it possible to measure elevated areas, for example flexographic print dots, quickly and with high precision. A system having the device is also provided.