US 11,865,830 B2
Method of operating a flexographic printing press, flexographic printing press, system and sleeve
Werner Schwab, Bechtsrieth (DE)
Assigned to Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, Heidelberg (DE)
Filed by Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, Heidelberg (DE)
Filed on Oct. 22, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/507,896.
Claims priority of application No. 102020213327.1 (DE), filed on Oct. 22, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0126562 A1, Apr. 28, 2022
Int. Cl. B41F 5/24 (2006.01); B41F 13/14 (2006.01); B41F 13/24 (2006.01); B41F 33/00 (2006.01)
CPC B41F 5/24 (2013.01) [B41F 13/14 (2013.01); B41F 13/24 (2013.01); B41F 33/0081 (2013.01)] 4 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of operating a flexographic printing press and a measuring device, the method comprising:
providing a flexographic printing press including at least one printing unit having a printing cylinder, a sleeve associated with the printing cylinder, a flexographic printing forme carried by the sleeve, and at least one sensor;
marking the sleeve with a machine-readable ID and providing the machine-readable ID as an unambiguous identifier of the respective sleeve;
providing a measuring device with a camera, the measuring device being different from the flexographic printing press;
providing a computer;
defining an x-direction as a circumferential direction of the sleeve, and defining a y-direction as a direction perpendicular to the x-direction being an axial direction of the sleeve;
recording respective images of surfaces of the sleeve in the measuring device by using the camera before a printing operation;
subjecting the respective image to pattern detection using the computer including searching for a defined pattern of a register mark to locate a total of at least two register marks in terms of x-positions and y-positions of the register marks before a printing operation and saving the x-positions and y-positions in association with the machine-readable ID;
making the machine-readable ID available to the flexographic printing press when the sleeve is mounted on one of the printing cylinders;
accessing the saved x-positions and y-positions in association with the machine-readable ID and automatically moving the sensors to the y-position of the respective register marks using respective actuating motors to record the register marks in the flexographic printing machine before a register adjustment;
using x-y position data of the respective register marks to record the register marks in the flexographic printing machine using the sensors;
adjusting the print register by controlling print register of the sleeve carrying the flexographic printing forme using the recorded register marks; and
performing the printing operation using the adjusted print register.