FLEXOGRAPHIC PRINTING CYLINDER

Abstract

A flexographic printing cylinder (10, 40) includes a cylinder body (20) made of a carbon fiber composite material and carrying a printing pattern on its peripheral surface (34), the printing pattern being formed by a polymer jacket layer (36) that is formed integrally with the cylinder body (20).

Description

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be explained in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal sectional view of an embodiment of a printing cylinder according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a cross-section of the printing cylinder according to FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 shows a cross-section of a printing cylinder according to another embodiment of the invention.

Claims

1. A flexographic printing cylinder comprising: a cylinder body made of a carbon fiber composite material,a polymer jacket layer that is formed integrally with and on a peripheral surface of the cylinder body, the polymer jacket layer including a printing pattern thereon.

2. The printing cylinder according to claim 1, wherein the jacket layer carries a printing pattern formed by laser gravure.

3. The printing cylinder according to claim 1, wherein the jacket layer is made of rubber.

4. The printing cylinder according to claim 1, wherein the jacket layer is made of a photo-polymer.

5. The printing cylinder according to claim 1, further comprising at least one intermediate layer interposed between the peripheral surface of the cylinder body and the jacket layer.

6. The printing cylinder according to claim 5, wherein the intermediate layer is made of a material that is softer than the jacket layer.

7. The printing cylinder according to claim 1, further comprising a protective layer formed on a peripheral surface of the jacket layer.

8. The printing cylinder according to claim 1, wherein the cylinder body is a hollow cylindrical body that coaxially surrounds a cylinder core and is releasably clamped thereon without play and in a rotationally rigid manner.