A gravure printing unit, which is usable for printing on a substrate, according to a gravure printing method, includes a forme cylinder which comprises, on its circumference, an image-forming pattern of recesses, and an inking unit, by the use of which the pattern of recesses provided on the forme cylinder is inked. The forme cylinder can be partially inked from an inking device via a first inking unit cylinder which has recesses in the region of its outer cylindrical surface that correspond to recesses on the forme cylinder, and via a second inking unit cylinder, which cooperates with the first inking unit cylinder and which comprises ink-transferring elements or raised areas on its circumference. For controlling the transfer of ink, the first inking unit cylinder having the recesses, is configured as being temperature controllable or has a temperature control device in the ink unit supply. Alternatively, a printing pressure between inking units cylinders can be varied during operation. The invention also relates to a method for adjusting or modifying a transfer of ink and for operating the gravure printing unit.

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.

In some examples, a gravure printing unit for printing onto a substrate includes a forme cylinder that has an image-forming pattern of recesses, and comprising an inking unit for inking the pattern of recesses on the forme cylinder. The inking unit includes a first inking unit cylinder having recesses that correspond to the recesses on the forme cylinder, an inking device, and a second inking unit cylinder that cooperates with the first inking unit cylinder. The linear recesses on the first inking unit cylinder that correspond to continuous linear recesses on the forme cylinder include at least one supporting ridge, which interrupts the recess on the first inking unit cylinder that corresponds to the continuous linear recess on the forme cylinder, and the upper surface of which lies at the level of an undisrupted and non-engraved outer cylindrical surface of the first inking unit cylinder.

A gravure printing unit is usable for printing onto substrate according to a gravure printing method. The gravure printing unit has a forme cylinder, which comprises, on its circumference, an image-forming pattern of recesses, and has an inking unit for inking the pattern of recesses provided on the forme cylinder. The inking unit comprises a first inking unit cylinder, which comprises recesses in a region of its outer cylindrical surface that correspond to the recesses on the forme cylinder, and which form a nip point downstream with a second inking unit cylinder, which comprises, on its circumference, ink-transferring elevations or raised areas. The recesses are formed on the outer cylindrical surface of an ink transfer forme sheath. The first inking unit comprises a cylinder body which is or which can be mounted rotatably in the inking unit and on which a circumferentially closed ink transfer forme sheath, that carries the recesses of the first inking unit cylinder on its outwardly facing surface, is or can be detachably arranged. A printing press has such a gravure inking unit. A setting up method, an ink transfer forme sheath, and a method for producing the same are also disclosed.

A printing apparatus applies ink to a surface of a printing plate in the shape of a predetermined pattern and then transfers the ink to a substrate. The printing apparatus includes: an image recording section that applies the ink to the surface of the printing plate; a plate surface observation unit that acquires information about the surface of the printing plate; a storage section that stores information about a reference shape serving as a reference of the surface of the printing plate; and a determination section that compares the information about the reference shape stored in the storage section with the information about the surface of the printing plate, which is obtained by the plate surface observation unit, and determines whether or not the surface of the printing plate to which the ink has been applied is present in a predetermined range of the reference shape.

The invention relates to a method of producing three-dimensional structural surfaces based on synthetic resin-impregnated materials applied to the surface, in particular of wood-based panels. The method is characterized in that before the impregnation, at the stage of pattern printing, a mixture is applied to the decor paper, consisting of printing ink, whether with pigment or not, and a swelling agent in the form of microspheres, being encapsulated gas bubbles of sizes ranging from 2 pm to 180 pm, increasing its volume under the influence of rising temperature, wherein the mixture of the ink and the swelling agent contains from 0.3% to 45% by weight of the swelling agent, and after exiting the printing press and after the impregnation, the decor paper with the formed final pattern with a coded three-dimensional structure is pressed onto the surface, in particular of a wood-based panel, using a heated press plate with any working surface.

A gravure printing unit is usable for printing onto substrate according to a gravure printing method. The gravure printing unit has a forme cylinder, which comprises, on its circumference, an image-forming pattern of recesses, and has an inking unit for inking the pattern of recesses provided on the forme cylinder. The inking unit comprises a first inking unit cylinder, which comprises recesses in a region of its outer cylindrical surface that correspond to the recesses on the forme cylinder, and which form a nip point downstream with a second inking unit cylinder, which comprises, on its circumference, ink-transferring elevations or raised areas. The recesses are formed on the outer cylindrical surface of an ink transfer forme sheath. The first inking unit comprises a cylinder body which is or which can be mounted rotatably in the inking unit and on which a circumferentially closed ink transfer forme sheath, that carries the recesses of the first inking unit cylinder on its outwardly facing surface, is or can be detachably arranged. A printing press has such a gravure inking unit. A setting up method, an ink transfer forme sheath, and a method for producing the same are also disclosed.

An apparatus decorates manufactured articles via thermosetting powder paint. The apparatus contains a decoration station with a plane, a decoration unit having a rotating cylinder supported by a carriage movable along the longitudinal extension of the manufactured articles, and a system for applying the paint to the cylinder and transferring the paint onto the manufactured articles. The outer surface of the cylinder has engraved cavities, which represent the pattern to be reproduced on the manufactured articles and are designed to contain the paint. The system has a reservoir to contain the paint, which contacts the outer surface of the cylinder and is introduced into the cavities. The reservoir has a bottom with a free end placed close to the outer engraved surface of the cylinder to identify a point for the fall of the paint from the cavities to the manufactured articles during the rotation of the cylinder.

An apparatus decorates manufactured articles via thermosetting powder paint. The apparatus contains a decoration station with a plane, a decoration unit having a rotating cylinder supported by a carriage movable along the longitudinal extension of the manufactured articles, and a system for applying the paint to the cylinder and transferring the paint onto the manufactured articles. The outer surface of the cylinder has engraved cavities, which represent the pattern to be reproduced on the manufactured articles and are designed to contain the paint. The system has a reservoir to contain the paint, which contacts the outer surface of the cylinder and is introduced into the cavities. The reservoir has a bottom with a free end placed close to the outer engraved surface of the cylinder to identify a point for the fall of the paint from the cavities to the manufactured articles during the rotation of the cylinder.

A device (3000) for loading fluid into nozzle(s) of a nozzle-bearing body (3070) includes a first member (3010), having a first surface (3016), and a second member (3020) protruding from the first member (3010). The second member (3020) has second and third surfaces (3028, 3026), the second surface (3028) extending from the first surface (3016) at an angle. The first surface (3016) substantially complements the shape of the nozzle-bearing body's surface (3070). The device (3000) has a recess (3023) defined therein at least in part by the first and second surfaces (3016, 3028). When the device (3000) is placed into a working configuration with the nozzle-bearing body (3070), a tangent to the third surface (3026), in a region of the third surface (3026) proximate to where the second surface (3028) meets the third surface (3026), is substantially parallel to a tangent to the first surface (3016), in a region of the first surface (3016) where the first surface (3016) meets the second surface (3028), wherein, the recess (3023) forms a pocket for receiving the fluid.