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, 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 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.

In some examples, an ink feed system for providing and feeding printing ink to an inking unit of an intaglio printing unit includes an inking device in the inking unit for inking a first inking unit cylinder. A provision device includes a storage receptacle with an ink reservoir of printing ink that is fed via an outlet and a line to the inking device. Furthermore, a wall of the storage receptacle encompassing the outlet can be heated and/or a metering device may be provided in the line path to support and/or effectuate delivery of the printing ink from the storage receptacle. On an output side, the metering device may provide a mass flow or volume flow that correlates with a working speed of the metering device via a defined relationship, and the metering device may be connected to a control device to control the working speed of the metering device.

In some examples, a gravure printing unit for printing onto a substrate includes a forme cylinder that has, on an outer circumference, a pattern of recesses for forming an image. The gravure printing unit further includes an inking unit for inking the pattern of recesses on the forme cylinder. The inking unit includes a first inking unit cylinder having line-like recesses on an outer cylindrical surface that correspond to line-like recesses of the pattern of recesses on the outer circumference of the forme cylinder. Two end-aligned line-like recesses on the outer cylindrical surface of the first inking unit cylinder are separated by a supporting ridge and correspond to a single uninterrupted line-like recess on the circumference of the forme cylinder. An upper surface of the supporting ridge lies at a level of an undisrupted region of the outer cylindrical surface of the first inking unit cylinder.

A doctor blade (5, 7) for contact with an anilox roller (15) comprises a flat, elongate base element having a thickness of less than about 0.3 mm, which, along a longitudinal region of the doctor blade adapted for contact with said anilox roller, is provided with a coating (43). The coating comprises a metal matrix and at least about 65% by weight of one or more ceramic(s). The coating comprises 0 to 65% by weight of chromium carbide. An inking arrangement comprises an anilox roller and a doctor blade. A doctor blade is used in flexographic printing.

In an example, a rotogravure printer roller is described. The printer roller (300) comprises a contact surface formed from a plurality of adjacent roller sections (302, 304). The roller sections are constructed and arranged to be removably assembled to form the roller.

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.

The present invention concerns an inking for a flexographic or a rotogravure press. The inking system uses a very small amount of ink coupled with an ink source made of two tanks with two different inks. Thanks to feedback given by measuring the output directly on the printed support, the system mixes the ink in the optimal proportions to ensure an optimal printing quality at any time. It can compensate any effect due to environmental changes like the humidity or the temperature. This system, coupled with a seven colours press allows for the replacement of spot colours in most cases thereby saving times and costs.