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.

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.

Recess printing units are usable for printing on a substrate and using associated methods for operation. The recess printing units comprise an intaglio printing cylinder, which provides an image-forming pattern of recesses on its circumference; and an inking unit for applying ink to the pattern of recesses that are provided on the intaglio printing cylinder. The inking unit comprises a first inking unit cylinder which has, in a region of its lateral surface, recesses corresponding to the recesses in the intaglio printing cylinder and to which recesses ink can be supplied by an ink application device in the region of an application point lying on the circumference of the first inking unit cylinder. A second inking unit cylinder cooperates with the first inking unit cylinder and has, in a region of the lateral surface of the second inking unit cylinder, elevations corresponding to recesses in the intaglio printing cylinder or raised regions corresponding to regions of the image-forming pattern of recesses on the intaglio printing cylinder, which regions comprise recesses. The ink application device also comprises, on at least a downstream side of the application point, with respect to the operating direction of rotation of the inking unit cylinder comprising the recesses, a retaining device in the form of a doctor blade or an ink knife. The second inking unit cylinder comprises, on a lateral surface thereof, elevations corresponding to engraving on the intaglio printing cylinder.

Recess printing units are usable for printing on a substrate and using associated methods for operation. The recess printing units comprise an intaglio printing cylinder, which provides an image-forming pattern of recesses on its circumference; and an inking unit for applying ink to the pattern of recesses that are provided on the intaglio printing cylinder. The inking unit comprises a first inking unit cylinder which has, in a region of its lateral surface, recesses corresponding to the recesses in the intaglio printing cylinder and to which recesses ink can be supplied by an ink application device in the region of an application point lying on the circumference of the first inking unit cylinder. A second inking unit cylinder cooperates with the first inking unit cylinder and has, in a region of the lateral surface of the second inking unit cylinder, elevations corresponding to recesses in the intaglio printing cylinder or raised regions corresponding to regions of the image-forming pattern of recesses on the intaglio printing cylinder, which regions comprise recesses. The ink application device also comprises, on at least a downstream side of the application point, with respect to the operating direction of rotation of the inking unit cylinder comprising the recesses, a retaining device in the form of a doctor blade or an ink knife. The second inking unit cylinder comprises, on a lateral surface thereof, elevations corresponding to engraving on the intaglio printing cylinder.