A method for attaching a printing plate (12), especially a flexographic printing plate, to a printing cylinder (14) is described. In a first step, the printing plate (12) is provided in a substantially flat condition. Thereafter, an outer circumference of the printing cylinder (14) is arranged adjacent to an edge of the printing plate (12). Subsequently, the printing cylinder (14) is translatorily moved over the printing plate (12) while rotating such that the printing plate (12) is rolled-up on the printing cylinder (14). Additionally, an apparatus (10) for attaching a printing plate (12) to a printing cylinder (14) is presented. The apparatus (10) comprises a printing plate support unit (16) having a substantially flat support surface (18) for supporting the printing plate (12) to be mounted on the printing cylinder (14), and a printing cylinder support unit (36) for supporting and moving the printing cylinder (14). The printing cylinder support unit (36) comprises a translatory drive means (42) for translatorily moving the printing cylinder (14) in a direction parallel to the support surface (18).

A plate cylinder for multiple mounting of flexographic printing plates is provided. The plate cylinder has an outer circumferential surface and a longitudinal axis. It comprises an adhesion layer attached to the plate cylinder, the adhesion layer comprising a carrier sheet with a mounting surface side facing the plate cylinder and an adhesion surface side facing radially outwards in relation to the longitudinal axis; and a plurality of adhesion elements. Each of these adhesion elements includes an elongated body extending radially outwards in relation to the longitudinal axis and an end face for attaching the printing plate by an adhesive bond, wherein the end faces of the adhesion elements form the adhesion surface side.

A method for attaching a printing plate (12), especially a flexographic printing plate, to a printing cylinder (14) is described. In a first step, the printing plate (12) is provided in a substantially flat condition. Thereafter, an outer circumference of the printing cylinder (14) is arranged adjacent to an edge of the printing plate (12). Subsequently, the printing cylinder (14) is translatorily moved over the printing plate (12) while rotating such that the printing plate (12) is rolled-up on the printing cylinder (14). Additionally, an apparatus (10) for attaching a printing plate (12) to a printing cylinder (14) is presented. The apparatus (10) comprises a printing plate support unit (16) having a substantially flat support surface (18) for supporting the printing plate (12) to be mounted on the printing cylinder (14), and a printing cylinder support unit (36) for supporting and moving the printing cylinder (14). The printing cylinder support unit (36) comprises a translatory drive means (42) for translatorily moving the printing cylinder (14) in a direction parallel to the support surface (18).

A method operates a flexographic printing press. The flexographic printing press includes a printing cylinder carrying a sleeve with at least one flexographic printing forme or a flexographic printing cylinder and an impression cylinder. At least one parameter of the flexographic printing press is set. The sleeve is marked with an ID, the ID is detected in a flexographic printing unit of the flexographic printing press or in the flexographic printing press. Data saved in association with the ID are transmitted to the flexographic printing unit or to the flexographic printing press, and the data are used when the parameter is set. In this manner, a cost-efficient way of producing high-quality prints in an industrial flexographic printing process is obtained. In addition, the method provides further automation of the printing process.

An apparatus for mounting a flexible plate onto a print sleeve or cylinder, where the apparatus has at least two manipulator units located below the print sleeve or cylinder and support members provided on each manipulator unit and each support member has a curved profile for arching the flexible plate prior to its mounting onto the print sleeve or cylinder, is disclosed.

An Adhesive Printing Form Attachment Layer comprises a permanently sticky layer, characterized in that the Adhesive Printing Form Attachment Layer is in the shape of a tube, preferably a seamless tube, and the permanently sticky layer forms at least the outer surface of the tube. The Adhesive Printing Form Attachment Layer can be used to adhesively fix a printing plate, preferably a flexographic printing plate, to a printing cylinder during the printing operation. The Adhesive Printing Form Attachment layer provides for easy replacement and easy installation on a printing sleeve or printing cylinder. Also provided are an assembly, comprising an adhesive printing form attachment layer according to the invention mounted on a printing sleeve, and a method of operating a printing machine, the method comprising forming the assembly by pulling the adhesive printing form attachment layer over the printing sleeve.

An apparatus (1) for preparing a flexographic printing sleeve (3) comprises a support structure (21), comprising first support mechanism (2) which defines a workstation for rotatably supporting a first flexographic printing sleeve (3) such that it can rotate about a preset axis (K-K), a roll (11) of double-sided adhesive tape rotatably supported by a second support mechanism (10), and a first feeding and guiding mechanism (13) for unwinding the double-sided adhesive tape (12) from the roll (11) and directing the double-sided adhesive tape (12) to the surface of the first sleeve (3).

A system for moving a flexible plate, in particular a printing plate or a printing plate precursor, over a support surface in the direction of a treatment station, such as a washer station. The system includes a support configured for supporting the plate on a support surface thereof, and intended to be located upstream of the treatment station. A movement means includes a plate engagement means configured to contact the plate in such a way that the plate is engaged by adhesion or by friction or a combination thereof, in a movement mode, and that the plate can be slid over the support surface by controlling the movement means in the movement mode. A control means is configured to control the movement means such that the plate is slid over the support in the direction of the treatment station.

Primer layers for adhesion of a pressure sensitive adhesive material to a substrate are provided. The primer layer comprises a crosslinked polymer. In some embodiments, the primer layer has an atomic nitrogen content of greater than 6 wt %, and in some a ratio of atomic weight percent of oxygen to nitrogen of less than 3.0. In some embodiments the crosslinked polymer is the reaction product of an amine-functional base polymer such as a polyethylenimine (PEI) and a crosslinker, which may be a polyaziridine crosslinker. Also provided are two-layer constructions comprising the primer layer and a substrate layer; and tapes, such as flexographic plate mounting tapes, comprising the two-layer construction and a pressure sensitive adhesive layer.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for mounting a flexible plate onto a print sleeve or cylinder, wherein the apparatus comprises at least two manipulator units located below the print sleeve or cylinder and support members provided on each manipulator unit, wherein each support member has a curved profile for arching the flexible plate prior to its mounting onto the print sleeve or cylinder