A device for measuring elevations on a surface of a rotary body provided as a cylinder, sleeve, or plate for a graphic industry machine, for instance a flexographic printing plate, includes a first motor rotating the rotary body about an axis of rotation and a measuring device including at least one radiation source, at least one line scan camera, and a computer taking contact-free measurements and combining individual images of the line scan camera to form a joint image. The measuring device preferably includes a reference object such as a wire tautened in an axially parallel direction, a second motor and, if required, a further second motor adjusting the measuring device and/or reference object perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The device provides fast high-precision measurements of elevations such as flexographic printing dots. A system includes the measuring device and a flexographic printing press.

A printing plate pressure adjustment system for a can decorator including a printing plate cylinder assembly having a printing plate cylinder drive shaft, and a blanket wheel. The system includes an actuator, a control system structured to control operation of the actuator to adjust a pressure between the printing plate cylinder assembly and the blanket wheel, an eccentric bushing disposed around the printing plate cylinder drive shaft, wherein rotation of the eccentric bushing causes the printing plate cylinder to move toward or away from the blanket wheel, and a drive mechanism coupled between the actuator and the eccentric bushing, wherein operation of the actuator causes the drive mechanism to rotate the eccentric bushing.

A printing plate pressure adjustment system for a can decorator including a printing plate cylinder assembly having a printing plate cylinder drive shaft, and a blanket wheel. The system includes an actuator, a control system structured to control operation of the actuator to adjust a pressure between the printing plate cylinder assembly and the blanket wheel, an eccentric bushing disposed around the printing plate cylinder drive shaft, wherein rotation of the eccentric bushing causes the printing plate cylinder to move toward or away from the blanket wheel, and a drive mechanism coupled between the actuator and the eccentric bushing, wherein operation of the actuator causes the drive mechanism to rotate the eccentric bushing.

A printing machine includes: a printing plate attached to a plate cylinder; a blanket configured to transfer ink from the printing plate to a printed material; a blanket wheel configured to rotate the blanket; and at least one of a distance sensor or a temperature sensor. The distance sensor is provided in the blanket wheel and configured to measure a distance of the printing plate to the blanket wheel, and the temperature sensor is provided in the blanket wheel and configured to measure a temperature of the printing plate.

An apparatus includes a doctor blade, an impression roller, and a housing assembly configured to be selectively securely mounted to a stationary-mounted printing machine cylinder. The housing assembly is also configured to support, in use, the doctor blade and the impression roller relative to an engraving area of the stationary-mounted printing machine cylinder once the housing assembly is selectively securely mounted to the stationary-mounted printing machine cylinder.

According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided methods to measure characteristics of line width and density of printed test patterns. By printing the test patterns and capturing with an in-line scanner or optical device, the analytical results of these test patterns can be used as feedback to a control system that adjusts both impression and inking levels without the need of a skilled operator.

A device for measuring elevations on a surface of a rotary body provided as a cylinder, sleeve, or plate for a graphic industry machine, for instance a flexographic printing plate, includes a first motor rotating the rotary body about an axis of rotation and a measuring device including at least one radiation source, at least one line scan camera, and a computer taking contact-free measurements and combining individual images of the line scan camera to form a joint image. The measuring device preferably includes a reference object such as a wire tautened in an axially parallel direction, a second motor and, if required, a further second motor adjusting the measuring device and/or reference object perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The device provides fast high-precision measurements of elevations such as flexographic printing dots. A system includes the measuring device and a flexographic printing press.

LAG/bb

A device for measuring elevations of a surface of a rotary body embodied as a cylinder, roller, sleeve, plate or flexographic printing plate for graphic industry machines includes a first motor for rotating the rotary body about an axis of rotation and a measuring device for contactless measurement which is part of or integrated into a mounter for printing plates. The measuring device allows the printing forme to be measured and analyzed to check mounting quality and to detect diameter differences. The measuring device preferably further includes a reference object, such as a wire tautened in an axially parallel direction, a second motor and, if desired, a further second motor for adjusting the measuring device and/or the reference object in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The device provides a fast way of measuring the elevations, such as flexographic print dots, with great accuracy.

A method of operating a flexographic printing press having a printing cylinder carrying a sleeve with at least one flexographic printing forme or a flexographic printing cylinder, and an impression cylinder, includes adjusting contact pressure between the printing cylinder or the flexographic printing cylinder and the impression cylinder by motor. The adjustment is made in an automated way as a function of a dot density of the flexographic printing forme, i.e. of a location-dependent density of printing elevations on the flexographic printing forme or data computationally derived therefrom. A cost-efficient way of producing high-quality prints in an industrial flexographic printing process is thus provided. In addition, the method advantageously provides further automation of the printing process. A flexographic printing press, a flexographic printing press system, and a flexographic printing forme or sleeve for a flexographic printing forme are also provided.

A method operates a flexographic printing press. The press contains a printing cylinder carrying a sleeve with at least one flexographic printing forme or a flexographic printing cylinder and an impression cylinder forming a printing nip with the printing cylinder to print on a web of printing substrate. The method includes automatically adjusting the transport speed of the web of printing substrate as a function of a dot density of the flexographic printing forme, i.e. of a location-dependent density of printing elevations on the flexographic printing forme, or of data computationally derived therefrom, or as a function of gaps of the flexographic printing forme or printing cylinder or data computationally derived therefrom. The printing press advantageously provides a cost-efficient way of producing high-quality prints in an industrial flexographic printing process while avoiding undesired vibration. In addition, the method of the invention advantageously provides further automation of the printing process.