A screen-printing cylinder includes a cylinder shell and one or more flexible surface elements on the cylinder shell. The one or more flexible surface elements are at least one of resilient or springy, and the one or more flexible surface elements are elliptical patches or circular patches. The flexible surface elements give way upon contact with sheet grippers projecting from an impression cylinder, so that it is not necessary to move the screen-printing cylinder out to avoid contact with the sheet grippers.

In a method for operating a rotary printing press, preferably a flexographic printing press that processes webs, disturbances of a rotating printing cylinder are detected and reduced by changing the printing speed. Here, the disturbances are detected at an actuating drive of the printing cylinder. This leads to a cost-efficient way of printing without disturbances.

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 bearing assembly (26) is described. It is suitable for supporting a printing cylinder or an anilox roll in a printing machine and comprises at least one roller bearing (28, 30) being configured for receiving a shaft (12b, 14b, 16b) associated with the printing cylinder or the anilox roll. Additionally, it has a first support part (32) carrying the roller bearing (28, 30) and a second support part (34) being a carrier element of the printing machine or being configured for being mounted to a carrier element of the printing machine. Furthermore, a fluid chamber (36) is provided acting between the roller bearing (28, 30) and the second support part (34). Moreover, a printing machine is presented wherein a shaft (12b, 14b, 16b) associated with a printing cylinder or an anilox roll thereof is supported by such a bearing assembly (26).

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 system for rotary screen printing includes a screen-printing cylinder having flexible surface elements. The flexible surface elements give way upon contact with sheet grippers projecting from an impression cylinder, so that it is not necessary to move the screen-printing cylinder out to avoid contact with the sheet grippers. A screen-printing cylinder, a method for producing a screen-printing cylinder, a printing machine and a method for using a screen-printing cylinder, are also provided.

A bearing assembly (26) is described. It is suitable for supporting a printing cylinder or an anilox roll in a printing machine and comprises at least one roller bearing (28, 30) being configured for receiving a shaft (12b, 14b, 16b) associated with the printing cylinder or the anilox roll. Additionally, it has a first support part (32) carrying the roller bearing (28, 30) and a second support part (34) being a carrier element of the printing machine or being configured for being mounted to a carrier element of the printing machine. Furthermore, a fluid chamber (36) is provided acting between the roller bearing (28, 30) and the second support part (34). Moreover, a printing machine is presented wherein a shaft (12b, 14b, 16b) associated with a printing cylinder or an anilox roll thereof is supported by such a bearing assembly (26).

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.

In a method for operating a rotary printing press, preferably a flexographic printing press that processes webs, disturbances of a rotating printing cylinder are detected and reduced by changing the printing speed. Here, the disturbances are detected at an actuating drive of the printing cylinder. This leads to a cost-efficient way of printing without disturbances.

A printing system for rotary screen printing includes a screen-printing cylinder having flexible surface elements. The flexible surface elements give way upon contact with sheet grippers projecting from an impression cylinder, so that it is not necessary to move the screen-printing cylinder out to avoid contact with the sheet grippers. A screen-printing cylinder, a method for producing a screen-printing cylinder, a printing machine and a method for using a screen-printing cylinder, are also provided.