A can decorator having a blanket wheel and a plurality inking stations. Each of one or more of the inking stations comprises a rotatable shaft geared to the blanket wheel, a print cylinder mounted on the shaft for rotation with the shaft during printing operations, and an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the angular position of the print cylinder on the rotatable shaft during set-up and for fixing the angular position for printing operations. There is further provided a rotary encoder for determining the angular position of the print cylinder relative to the rotatable shaft during set-up and for providing an electrical signal indicative of the angular position to an operator interface device.

A can decorator having a blanket wheel and a plurality inking stations. Each of one or more of the inking stations comprises a rotatable shaft geared to the blanket wheel, a print cylinder mounted on the shaft for rotation with the shaft during printing operations, and an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the angular position of the print cylinder on the rotatable shaft during set-up and for fixing the angular position for printing operations. There is further provided a rotary encoder for determining the angular position of the print cylinder relative to the rotatable shaft during set-up and for providing an electrical signal indicative of the angular position to an operator interface device.

In some examples, a printing device includes a first print drum comprising a first ring gear defined on a surface of the first print drum, a second print drum comprising a second ring gear defined on a surface of the second print drum, a rotatable drive shaft, and pinion gears to engage the first ring gear and the second ring gear, wherein rotation of the drive shaft causes the pinion gears to interact with the first and second ring gears to rotate the first print drum and the second print drum at different angular velocities.

In some examples, a printing device includes a first print drum comprising a first ring gear defined on a surface of the first print drum, a second print drum comprising a second ring gear defined on a surface of the second print drum, a rotatable drive shaft, and pinion gears to engage the first ring gear and the second ring gear, wherein rotation of the drive shaft causes the pinion gears to interact with the first and second ring gears to rotate the first print drum and the second print drum at different angular velocities.

An interlocking drive plate for an anilox roll which incorporates a dowel pin with a bushing that is able to move slightly and rotate. The interlocking drive disc is similar in structure to the current structure of a drive disc for the Mark Andy P-Series printing presses. However, the stationary dowel pin has been replaced with a modified dowel pin which includes a bushing providing slight movement and rotation. The modified dowel pin, with slight movement and rotation, reduces the shear forces on the pin which in turn reduces the wear on the pin when rotated by a servomotor. This reduction in wear will cause the interlocking drive disc to last longer than traditional drive discs without the need for repair or replacement.

An interlocking drive plate for an anilox roll which incorporates a dowel pin with a bushing that is able to move slightly and rotate. The interlocking drive disc is similar in structure to the current structure of a drive disc for the Mark Andy P-Series printing presses. However, the stationary dowel pin has been replaced with a modified dowel pin which includes a bushing providing slight movement and rotation. The modified dowel pin, with slight movement and rotation, reduces the shear forces on the pin which in turn reduces the wear on the pin when rotated by a servomotor. This reduction in wear will cause the interlocking drive disc to last longer than traditional drive discs without the need for repair or replacement.

A differential printing device includes a first print drum including a first ring gear defined on an outside surface of the first print drum. The device also includes a second print drum including a second ring gear defined on an outside surface of the second print drum. A drive shaft that rotates the first print drum and the second print drum has a number of pinion gears to engage the first ring gear and the second ring gear. The number of pinion gears rotate the first print drum and the second print drum at different angular velocities.

A differential printing device includes a first print drum including a first ring gear defined on an outside surface of the first print drum. The device also includes a second print drum including a second ring gear defined on an outside surface of the second print drum. A drive shaft that rotates the first print drum and the second print drum has a number of pinion gears to engage the first ring gear and the second ring gear. The number of pinion gears rotate the first print drum and the second print drum at different angular velocities.

A method for determining blanket performance in a printing press is provided. The printing press includes a plate cylinder having a printing plate transferring an image to a blanket on a blanket cylinder for printing on a substrate. The method includes determining an acceptable range of nip force (Fp) between a plate cylinder and a blanket cylinder in a printing unit, calculating the nip force (Fp) between the plate cylinder and blanket cylinder and determining blanket performance based on the nip force with respect to the acceptable range of nip force. A printing press is also provided.

A method for determining blanket performance in a printing press is provided. The printing press includes a plate cylinder having a printing plate transferring an image to a blanket on a blanket cylinder for printing on a substrate. The method includes determining an acceptable range of nip force (Fp) between a plate cylinder and a blanket cylinder in a printing unit, calculating the nip force (Fp) between the plate cylinder and blanket cylinder and determining blanket performance based on the nip force with respect to the acceptable range of nip force. A printing press is also provided.