A printing machine including a printing plate on a surface of a rotating cylinder, in which the printing plate has a fixed pattern for receiving a toner; a vessel containing the toner, which includes a pigment and a thermoplastic binder, in which the fixed pattern is a permanent pattern in a form of selected portions of an image is disclosed. A plate for use in the printing machine is also disclosed. A printing system is also disclosed.

A printing machine including a printing plate on a surface of a rotating cylinder, in which the printing plate has a fixed pattern for receiving a toner; a vessel containing the toner, which includes a pigment and a thermoplastic binder, in which the fixed pattern is a permanent pattern in a form of selected portions of an image is disclosed. A plate for use in the printing machine is also disclosed. A printing system is also disclosed.

Provided is a printing apparatus including: a printing roller whose outer circumferential surface is coated with ink; a cliché roller which rotates in engagement with the printing roller and forms first patterns on the printing roller by removing portions of the ink coated on the outer circumferential surface of the printing roller and on which second patterns which are the removed portions of the ink are formed; a first transfer substrate onto which the first patterns of the printing roller are transferred; and a second transfer substrate onto which the second patterns of the cliché roller are transferred. The printing apparatus can reduce the time required for a product production process by omitting a cliché cleaning process.

The present invention describes a method for manufacturing rotogravure cylinders with a cylinder base made of aluminum and a single metallic layer on the cylinder surface. The method comprises the construction of the cylinder base, the deposition of the metallic layer on the cylinder surface, the thinning of the cylinder to achieve the required dimensions, the polishing of the cylinder surface and finally the etching of the cylinder with the desired printing pattern. The metallic layer can be any copper alloy that will produce a surface with a Vickers hardness of about 400 HV. The metallic layer is deposited onto the cylinder base using any thermal spraying method. The cylinder surface is then thinned and polished by using any conventional method. Finally, the cylinder is etched to provide a superb cylinder for the printing industry.

The present invention describes a method for manufacturing rotogravure cylinders with a cylinder base made of aluminum and a single metallic layer on the cylinder surface. The method comprises the construction of the cylinder base, the deposition of the metallic layer on the cylinder surface, the thinning of the cylinder to achieve the required dimensions, the polishing of the cylinder surface and finally the etching of the cylinder with the desired printing pattern. The metallic layer can be any copper alloy that will produce a surface with a Vickers hardness of about 400 HV. The metallic layer is deposited onto the cylinder base using any thermal spraying method. The cylinder surface is then thinned and polished by using any conventional method. Finally, the cylinder is etched to provide a superb cylinder for the printing industry.

A method of flexographically printing a plurality of lines onto a substrate includes providing a flexo-master having a pattern of raised features including a plurality of lines. At least two of the lines intersect at a junction, wherein the junction includes one or more hollow voids. The flexo-master is used to apply ink onto the substrate forming a printed pattern including a printed junction corresponding to the junction on the flexo-master, wherein the printed junction has a different shape than the junction on the flexo-master.

A method of flexographically printing a plurality of lines onto a substrate includes providing a flexo-master having a pattern of raised features including a plurality of lines. At least two of the lines intersect at a junction, wherein the junction includes one or more hollow voids. The flexo-master is used to apply ink onto the substrate forming a printed pattern including a printed junction corresponding to the junction on the flexo-master, wherein the printed junction has a different shape than the junction on the flexo-master.

The printing machine comprises an impression cylinder (10) having a support surface (10a) supporting a web substrate (S), a pressure roller (12) pressing the web substrate (S) against the impression cylinder (10), one or more printing units (14) for printing ink on said web substrate (S) supported on the impression cylinder (10), and a liquid applying unit (18) for applying liquid insoluble with the ink being printed on the support surface (10a) of the impression cylinder (10) upstream of said pressure roller (12), said liquid forming a liquid layer (L) on at least one specific area of the support surface (10a) of the impression cylinder (10), so that the liquid layer (L) provides an ink-repellent coating on areas of the support surface (10a) not covered by the web substrate (S) and optionally an increased bonding of the web substrate (S) to the support surface (10a).

The printing machine comprises an impression cylinder (10) having a support surface (10a) supporting a web substrate (S), a pressure roller (12) pressing the web substrate (S) against the impression cylinder (10), one or more printing units (14) for printing ink on said web substrate (S) supported on the impression cylinder (10), and a liquid applying unit (18) for applying liquid insoluble with the ink being printed on the support surface (10a) of the impression cylinder (10) upstream of said pressure roller (12), said liquid forming a liquid layer (L) on at least one specific area of the support surface (10a) of the impression cylinder (10), so that the liquid layer (L) provides an ink-repellent coating on areas of the support surface (10a) not covered by the web substrate (S) and optionally an increased bonding of the web substrate (S) to the support surface (10a).

A mandrel for use in a printing apparatus includes a substantially cylindrical mandrel shaft and a locking assembly including a stop ring, a locking ring, and a plurality of deformable rings which are slidably and coaxially mounted on the mandrel shaft. Each deformable ring has a cross-sectional profile in a cross-sectional plane in which the mandrel shaft axis extends, which profile includes a first arm and a second arm which are integrally connected to each other at a first connection point. The first arm and the second arms include an angle which is sharper in the unlocked position than in the locked position of the locking assembly. The first arm has a first-arm-end remote from the first connection point, which defines the outer diameter of the deformable ring. The second arm has a second-arm-end remote from the first connection point, which second-arm-end defines the inner diameter of the deformable ring.