In some examples, an intaglio gravure printing press includes at least one gravure printing unit having at least one forme cylinder, at least one impression cylinder, at least one inking unit and/or at least one ink collecting cylinder. Additionally, at least one assigned inking unit, at least one print head, and at least one wiping device are arranged at the at least one forme cylinder. The wiping device is arranged along the direction of rotation of the forme cylinder, and downstream from the print head when the print head is arranged at the at least one forme cylinder. In addition, the wiping device is arranged along the direction of rotation of the forme cylinder, upstream from a contact region of the forme cylinder with the impression cylinder. Alternatively, in some examples, at least one print head is arranged at the at least one impression cylinder.

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 inking system for use in transferring ink to a gravure printing surface in a gravure printing system includes a gravure cylinder r having a printing zone located between first and second recessed bearing contact zones. A radius of the recessed bearing contact zones is less than a radius of the printing zone by at least 0.100 inches. An ink tray includes a floor and first and second end walls. Bearings are mounted outside of the end walls which engage with the first and second bearing contact zones, respectively, thereby positioning the ink tray assembly in a specified position relative to the gravure cylinder. Upper edges of the end walls extend into the recessed bearing contact zones.

An inking system for use in transferring ink to a gravure printing surface in a gravure printing system includes a gravure cylinder r having a printing zone located between first and second recessed bearing contact zones. A radius of the recessed bearing contact zones is less than a radius of the printing zone by at least 0.100 inches. An ink tray includes a floor and first and second end walls. Bearings are mounted outside of the end walls which engage with the first and second bearing contact zones, respectively, thereby positioning the ink tray assembly in a specified position relative to the gravure cylinder. Upper edges of the end walls extend into the recessed bearing contact zones.

In some examples, an intaglio gravure printing press includes at least one gravure printing unit having at least one forme cylinder, at least one impression cylinder, at least one inking unit and/or at least one ink collecting cylinder. Additionally, at least one assigned inking unit, at least one print head, and at least one wiping device are arranged at the at least one forme cylinder. The wiping device is arranged along the direction of rotation of the forme cylinder, and downstream from the print head when the print head is arranged at the at least one forme cylinder. In addition, the wiping device is arranged along the direction of rotation of the forme cylinder, upstream from a contact region of the forme cylinder with the impression cylinder. Alternatively, in some examples, at least one print head is arranged at the at least one impression cylinder.