Method of operating a flexographic printing press, flexographic printing press, system, flexographic printing forme and a sleeve for a flexographic printing forme

US11712885B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG · DE

Inventor

• Werner Schwab · Monheim, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 22, 2021
• Grant date: Aug 1, 2023
• Expiry date: Oct 22, 2041

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01B11/24
• WIPO field: Textile and paper machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

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.