A flexographic printing unit (17) for a converting machine (10). The flexographic printing unit comprises a flexographic printing assembly (28) including a printing cylinder (30), an anilox cylinder, a counter cylinder (32) and a doctor blade chamber (36). The printing cylinder being arranged vertically above the counter cylinder and configured to print on a top side (S1) of a sheet (1). The flexographic printing unit comprises a fixed frame portion (102) and a movable frame portion (104), and the printing cylinder, anilox cylinder and the doctor blade chamber are attached to the movable frame portion and the counter cylinder is attached to the fixed frame portion. The movable frame portion being vertically movable between an operating position where the printing cylinder is positioned against the counter cylinder and a service position where the printing cylinder is further distanced from the counter cylinder.

A rotary screen printing press is provided with a screen-cylinder throw-on/off motor encoder (231) that detects the position of a screen cylinder (201), a squeegee throw-on/off motor encoder (232) that detects the position of a squeegee (221), and a control unit (300) that controls screen cylinder throw-on/off motors (209) and squeegee throw-on/off motors (224) based on the position of the screen cylinder (201) detected by the screen-cylinder throw-on/off motor encoder (231) and the position of the squeegee (221) detected by the squeegee throw-on/off motor encoder (232) so that the squeegee (221) may not contact a screen plate (201A) except when the screen plate (201A) is in contact with an impression cylinder (100).

In order to provide a numbering and imprinting machine capable of minimizing the amount of wasted paper produced, the numbering and imprinting machine is provided with: a first-number inspection camera (124B) that is arranged downstream of the position of contact between an impression cylinder (112) and a first-number cylinder (113) of a first-number printing unit (111) in the direction of rotation of the impression cylinder (112), and images a first number printed on paper (W) held on the impression cylinder (112); a second number inspection camera (124C) that is arranged downstream of the position of contact between an impression cylinder (117) and a second-number cylinder (118) of a second-number printing unit (116) in the direction of rotation of the impression cylinder (117), and images a second number printed on paper (W) held on the impression cylinder (117); and a printing-press control device (10) that controls first- and second-number-cylinder throw-on and throw-off devices (38, 39) based on signals from the first- and second-number inspection cameras (124B, 124C) to cause the first-number cylinder (113) and the second-number cylinder (118) to make separating movements.

A multiple degrees of freedom control apparatus for a roll-to-roll printing system.

A multiple degrees of freedom control apparatus for a roll-to-roll printing system.

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 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 web-fed printing machine that is highly variable in terms of its configuration, provides a high degree of positioning accuracy of processing modules and has a cost-efficient machine frame, includes a plurality of the processing modules fixed to the machine frame. Each respective processing module is advantageously fixed to the machine frame by a respective carrier module. Every carrier module includes two parallel longitudinal beams extending in the machine direction and two parallel crossbars which are oriented at right angles to the longitudinal beams and which interconnect the two longitudinal beams.

Examples include a die-cutting unit that includes a device for changing a die-cutting cylinder. The die-cutting unit includes at least one die-cutting cylinder and at least one anvil cylinder. The die-cutting cylinder is arranged in a die-cutting position for die-cutting, and the at least one die-cutting cylinder is exchangeable for at least one other die-cutting cylinder by means of the device for changing the die-cutting cylinder. A shortest straight connecting line between the axis of rotation of the die-cutting cylinder in the die-cutting position and the axis of rotation of the die-cutting cylinder in the move-out position is inclined less than 30 degrees with respect to a horizontal plane. Further, a shortest straight connecting line between the axis of rotation of the die-cutting cylinder in the move-out position and a maintenance position is inclined less than 30 degrees with respect to a vertical direction.

Examples include a die-cutting unit that includes a device for changing a die-cutting cylinder. The die-cutting unit includes at least one die-cutting cylinder and at least one anvil cylinder. The die-cutting cylinder is arranged in a die-cutting position for die-cutting, and the at least one die-cutting cylinder is exchangeable for at least one other die-cutting cylinder by means of the device for changing the die-cutting cylinder. A shortest straight connecting line between the axis of rotation of the die-cutting cylinder in the die-cutting position and the axis of rotation of the die-cutting cylinder in the move-out position is inclined less than 30 degrees with respect to a horizontal plane. Further, a shortest straight connecting line between the axis of rotation of the die-cutting cylinder in the move-out position and a maintenance position is inclined less than 30 degrees with respect to a vertical direction.