EP1683633B1 - Gravure printing unit for printing on a web in a printing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The gravure printing unit (10) has connecting element (48) for detachably retaining connecting platform (52) of the printing machine (12) for production of working connection for the printing cylinder (14). The printing cylinder and the color application device (18) are detachably connected on the connection platform whereby counter-pressure cylinder (16) remains in printing machine. An independent claim is also included for the printing machine.

Description

The invention relates to a gravure printing unit for printing a printing material web in a printing press, with at least one gravure printing cylinder, an inking device and a counter-pressure cylinder.

In printing machines for printing labels, in particular self-adhesive labels, a great deal of flexibility or variability is desired in order to be able to carry out as many different types of printing jobs as possible, in particular by producing special optical effects through the printed image or the printed text. For the production of labels, it is particularly common to use printing machines which process a narrow web of a printing material and have a number of connection platforms or interfaces, on each of which a functional unit or a process module can be detachably received for printing with a specific printing method. For example, one embodiment of such a printing press is in the document US 4,384,522 described. The individual functional units can work with mutually different printing methods.

From the documents DE 195 13 536 A1 and WO 95/29813 Multi-printing presses are known in series construction which permit the detachable receipt of a number of functional units or process modules on a number of interconnect platforms. The functional units may contain, among other things, printing units or parts of printing units in cassettes or essays which operate according to a letterpress method, a flexographic printing method, a screen printing method, an offset printing method, a gravure printing method or an inkjet printing method. In addition, functional units (processing units) are provided which allow mechanical processing steps on the printing material, for example, an embossing, a trimming (perforation, punching) or make a turn. such are also referred to as combination printing machines or hybrid printing machines, which are generic terms in this technical field.

A commonly used configuration of a gravure printing unit, such as is also used in the form of a functional unit for a printing press equipped with connection platforms, is, for example, in the document DE 42 42 582 C2 shown. The lateral surface of a gravure cylinder, also referred to below as a printing cylinder simpler, at least partially immersed in an inkwell filled with inkwell, which is located below the gravure cylinder. Upon rotation of the gravure cylinder about its axis of symmetry, the wells passing through the well in the lateral surface are filled with gravure ink. Excess paint is stripped off by at least one squeegee against the jacket surface. In a lying in the upper angular sector of the gravure cylinder printing nip, the gravure ink is transferred to a substrate, which is called by means of a counter-pressure cylinder, often referred to as impression roller, on the colored outer surface of the gravure printing cylinder. If such a gravure printing unit is designed as a process module, in particular in the form of an attachment or a cassette, for a printing press with connection platforms, then the practical disadvantage that should not be underestimated is that the printing material web has to be threaded along its path through the gravure printing unit in a web-processing printing press. In other words, the paths of the web through the printing press with and without gravure printing differ from each other. The change from a gravure printing unit to a printing unit that works with a different printing method or vice versa is therefore associated with a corresponding set-up time.

Furthermore, from the document DE 41 39 343 A1 a trial printing machine is known, which has a replaceable press cylinder. Against the Presseurzylinder further interchangeable, mounted on movable carriage cylinder, optionally a gravure cylinder or a flexographic printing cylinder, which cooperates with a raster cylinder, are delivered. The interchangeable cylinders are driven by friction or by a positive gear connection from the press cylinder.

In the document EP 0 934 827 A2 discloses a printing unit, which can be converted between a direct and an indirect gravure printing process. While the counter-pressure cylinder remains in the printing unit, impression cylinder and transfer cylinder can be added detachably connectable in the side walls, wherein a releasable operative connection of the printing cylinder is closed by a direct drive by means of a clutch. Although the trajectory is maintained by the printing unit when changing a printing cylinder, the trajectory is changed during conversion between the two gravure printing process.

From the document EP 0 864 421 A1 is a printing machine with changeable inking devices with directly driven printing units in a horizontal arrangement (series construction) known. The pressure cylinders accommodated in bearing elements are also interchangeable, so that it is possible to change between different printing processes. The inking device can be turned off by horizontal displacement of the printing cylinder.

In the document EP 0 990 520 A1 a method and a device for collision monitoring in a flexographic printing machine are described. The inking unit and printing cylinder are assigned to a counter-pressure cylinder on a console displaceable and can be employed on the impression cylinder by means of separate spindle drives.

In the document EP 0 476 516 A1 A printing machine with a central counter-pressure cylinder is described for a plurality of printing units which can be switched on and off in the horizontal direction and which can be converted between a flexographic printing process and an indirect gravure printing process.

At this point it should also be noted that when using solvent-based gravure inks measures for explosion protection and environmentally sound disposal must be taken. It is an isolated pressure zone (encapsulation, protective coating), from the danger zone in particular open electrical Components are removed, created. Frequently, a suction of the solvent vapors is made. If solvent-free, UV-curing gravure inks are used as an alternative to solvent-based gravure inks, an appropriate selection of materials in the gravure printing unit and an adapted engraving of the gravure cylinder is required. Also, the printing gap of the gravure printing unit downstream of a device for lighting with UV light, typically arranged directly downstream, optionally integrated with the gravure printing unit.

The object of the present invention is to provide a gravure printing unit in a printing machine for printing on a printing material web, which allows rapid replacement by a printing unit, which operates on a different printing method.

This object is achieved by a gravure printing unit with the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments of the invention are characterized in the dependent claims.

An intaglio printing unit according to the invention for printing on a printing material web in a printing press, with a printing cylinder (used in this illustration as a short print for rotogravure cylinder), an inking device and a counter-pressure cylinder, has at least one connecting element for releasably receiving at least one in substantially horizontal direction movable connection platform Printing press and for producing a releasable operative connection with a separate drive for the one printing cylinder, so that the printing cylinder and the inking device are separable from the at least one connecting platform, wherein the impression cylinder remains in the printing press, that is, in other words, a pressure cylinder and the inking device are separable without separating the impression cylinder from the printing press.

The separation or closing of the connection can preferably take place without changing the course of the printing substrate through the printing press and / or without severing the printing material web. According to the invention, there may be a first number, in particular a plurality, of connecting elements which serve only for detachable reception on at least one connecting platform of the printing press, and a second number, in particular one or a plurality, of connecting elements which are capable of detachable reception on at least one of them Connecting platform of the printing press as well as for the production of a releasable operative connection with a separate drive for the printing cylinder.

The printing cylinder can be designed such that it can receive a gravure form, in particular in the form of a sleeve, or that its lateral surface forms an engraved gravure form.

According to the invention, the gravure printing unit has at least two connecting elements, wherein at least one first connecting element for releasably receiving the printing cylinder on a first connection platform of the printing machine and at least one second connecting element for releasably receiving the inking device on a second connection platform of the printing machine is suitable or executed. In other words, both the printing cylinder and the inking device can be independently separated from the printing machine and attached to the printing press. In this case, the first and the second connection platform are movable relative to each other, in particular displaceable or pivotable. By a relative movement, in particular a lateral displacement, an adaptation to different gravure cylinder diameter (format dependent) is possible. The accessibility can be increased or decreased according to the various operations (printing, cleaning, setting up).

Especially For example, the printing machine can be a series-produced printing machine, that is to say printing units arranged in the horizontal direction.

Alternatively or in addition to the features already described, the inking device may be a cooperating with the printing cylinder ink chamber doctor blade. The ink chamber doctor blade can be open, d. H. have a color cycle with a continuous flow of color through the ink chamber, or be closed. The ink chamber doctor blade can have a doctor blade, which is set at an acute angle with the direction of rotation of the lateral surface (negative doctor), so that it is possible to work with less pressure to set up the doctor blade on the lateral surface. The speed dependency of the print quality can be reduced. A lower wear of the doctor blade is advantageously the result. In an advantageous further development, the gravure printing unit can have a pneumatic device for adjusting the ink chamber doctor blade to the printing cylinder, in particular in the form of a number of pneumatic cylinders. The application pressure may be controlled or regulated depending on the printing speed and / or the operating time of the doctor blade (measure of doctor blade wear). Alternatively, or in addition to the gravure printing unit, a movement device for lateral oscillation of the Farbkammerrakels, d. H. have substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the printing cylinder.

Preferably, a geometric orientation of the inking device, in particular of the ink chamber doctor, to the gravure cylinder on the drive side and operator side individually, independently adjustable eccentric done. The eccentrics can be designed as part of the connection platform, ie integrated with the printing press. The printing delivery of the inking device, in particular of the ink chamber doctor blade, can be via at least two parallel connected pneumatic cylinders as part of the inking device.

It is also advantageous that the gravure printing unit a separate drive device for the printing cylinder (single drive, ie separated from the drives for generating other forms of motion in the printing press, such as substrate transport or the Operation of other printing units or processing plants). The separate drive device is in particular independent of the drive of the impression cylinder in the gravure printing unit. In particular, the gravure printing unit may have a separate drive device for direct drive of the printing cylinder. The operative connection can be that directly (with or without the interposition of a transmission or belt), the shaft of the printing cylinder is connected to the drive device and rotated by this. The drive device may be a servomotor. When entering the printing machine is a shrinkage of the gravure printing plant, especially with Farbkammerrakel, without waste losses possible. When printing, format length corrections are possible thanks to the single drive. It is preferred that the separate drive device is received in the printing press and releasably connectable with the printing cylinder. In particular, at least one of the connecting elements of the gravure printing unit can not only constitute a mechanical connection but at the same time a drive connection.

Alternatively or in addition to the features already described, the gravure printing unit may comprise an antifogging device, in particular in the form of a third squeegee or a roller, which rolls on the lateral surface of the printing cylinder, so that a turbulence of the flow in the reservoir of the inking device is formed. In a particular embodiment, the roller may be rubber coated. In particular, the roller may have a suitable engraving for improved traction. Furthermore, the inking device and / or the printing cylinder of the gravure printing unit can have at least one heating element, so that the color to be printed can be tempered. For typical gravure inks, it is heated to temperatures between 35 and 40 degrees Celsius. By tempering the flow properties of gravure ink are affected, so that the wells or wells can be filled improved in the shell of the gravure cylinder. In the printed image, this can have an effect through a higher layer thickness and a higher gloss.

Alternatively or in addition to the features already described, the counter-pressure cylinder can be detachably connected in the printing press. It may be necessary to change from a first to a second one Printing process also to replace the impression cylinder. Also, application-specific, a counter-pressure cylinder can be used, whose lateral surface has a certain hardness depending on the application.

Preferably, the gravure printing unit according to the invention is designed such that the printing cylinder and the impression cylinder are arranged in the printing press such that their axes of rotation lie substantially in a horizontal plane. Among other things, this arrangement is particularly advantageous when cylinders of different diameters are to be used without changing the fundamental geometry of the gravure printing unit. Furthermore, this structure corresponds to advantageous arrangements of printing units that work according to other printing methods, so that a standardization is achieved. However, the intaglio printing unit according to the invention can also be designed in such a way that the axes of rotation of the impression cylinder and impression cylinder are not in a horizontal plane.

The gravure printing unit can also be designed for printing UV-curable printing ink (solvent-free gravure ink).

In an advantageous embodiment, the gravure printing unit according to the invention may further comprise at least one additional deflection roller, which is arranged above the impression cylinder in such a way that the looping of the impression cylinder through the printing substrate web is reduced compared to operation without the at least one deflection roller. In this way, the printing material is a longer course after the printing allows, for example, for longer drying. This is particularly advantageous for producing a gloss effect, for example when printing paints.

In the context of the inventive idea is also a gravure printing module with at least one printing cylinder and an inking device, which realized in cooperation with a counter-pressure cylinder, which is housed in a printing press, a gravure printing unit with features according to this representation. The gravure printing module can in particular as a cassette, essay or insert be executed.

Furthermore, in the context of the inventive concept, a printing machine is also suitable for printing on a printing material web with a plurality of different printing processes, in particular a hybrid printing press or a combination printing press. The printing machine according to the invention is characterized by at least one gravure printing unit with features according to this representation. In particular, the printing press can be a narrow-web printing press. In particular, the printing press can be designed in series construction. In particular, the printing press may be a label printing machine, adhesive label printing machine or self-adhesive label printing machine.

Figur 1

eine schematische Darstellung einer ersten Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Tiefdruckwerks,

Figur 2

eine schematische Darstellung einer zweiten Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Tiefdruckwerks,

Figur 3

eine schematische Darstellung einer vorteilhaft weiterentwickelten Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Tiefdruckwerks,

Figur 4

eine Ansicht einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform eines Tiefdruckmoduls eines erfindungsgemäßen Tiefdruckwerks, und

Figur 5

eine Ansicht einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Tiefdruckwerks.

Further advantages and advantageous embodiments and developments of the invention will be described with reference to the following figures and their descriptions. It shows in detail:

FIG. 1

a schematic representation of a first embodiment of the gravure printing unit according to the invention,

FIG. 2

a schematic representation of a second embodiment of the gravure printing unit according to the invention,

FIG. 3

a schematic representation of an advantageous further developed embodiment of the gravure printing unit according to the invention,

FIG. 4

a view of a preferred embodiment of a gravure module of a gravure printing unit according to the invention, and

FIG. 5

a view of a preferred embodiment of the gravure printing unit according to the invention.

The FIG. 1 schematically shows a first embodiment of the gravure printing unit 10 according to the invention in a printing machine 12, in particular a combination printing press or hybrid printing machine. This embodiment of the gravure printing unit 10 has a printing cylinder 14 (gravure printing cylinder), which forms a printing gap in cooperation with a counter-pressure cylinder 16 and to which an inking device 18 is employed. During operation of the gravure printing unit 10, the impression cylinder 16 rotates in the direction of rotation 20 and the impression cylinder 14 in the direction of rotation 22, and the printing material web moves in the transport direction 24 along its path. The axes of rotation of both cylinders are in this embodiment in a substantially horizontal plane. The inking device 18 is designed as a Farbkammerrakel 26, which is filled with gravure ink 28 and in the left sector of the jacket of the printing cylinder 14, in particular, the symmetry surface of the chambered doctor blade 26 is also substantially in the horizontal plane mentioned, is arranged. The squeegee 30 of the Farbkammerrakels 26 is a negative doctor. The ink chamber doctor blade 26 has, as an anti-tabling device 32 in this embodiment, a third doctor blade, which is pronounced as a positive doctor blade. The printing cylinder 14 has a connecting element 36, which serves in this embodiment simultaneously as a connection to the drive (hidden in this view behind the impression cylinder 14). The printing cylinder 14 is detachably received on a connecting platform 38, which has a hinged end shield 40, the printing press 12. The counter-pressure cylinder 16 is accommodated by means of a counter-pressure cylinder bearing 42 on the printing press 12 independently of the impression cylinder 14 and of the ink application device 18. In other words, while the impression cylinder 16 remains in the printing machine 12, the other parts of the gravure printing unit 10 can be removed from the printing press 12, since they are releasably connectable to the printing machine 12, so that neither a web separation nor a change in the path of the printing material must be done by the printing press 12 to remove the gravure printing unit 10.

The FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a second embodiment of the gravure printing unit 10 according to the invention in a printing machine 12, in particular a combination printing press or hybrid printing machine. This second embodiment of the gravure printing unit 10 has a printing cylinder 14 (gravure printing cylinder), which forms a printing gap in cooperation with a counter-pressure cylinder 16 and to which an inking device 18 is employed in the lower sector of the jacket of the printing cylinder 14. During operation of the gravure printing unit 10, the impression cylinder 16 rotates in the direction of rotation 20 and the impression cylinder 14 in the direction of rotation 22, and the printing material web moves in the transport direction 24 along its path. The axes of rotation of both cylinders are in this embodiment in a substantially horizontal plane. The inking device 18 is designed as a color trough 44, which is filled with gravure ink 28. The squeegee 47 of the ink tray 44 is a positive squeegee. The inking device 18 has as anti-tabling device 32 in this embodiment, a third doctor blade, which is pronounced as a positive doctor. In addition, the inking device comprises a pressure roller 46 for improving the coloration of the printing cylinder 14. The pressure cylinder 14 has a connecting element 36 which serves in this embodiment simultaneously as a connection to the drive (concealed in this view behind the impression cylinder 14). The printing cylinder 14 is detachably received on a connecting platform 38, which has a hinged end shield 40, the printing press 12. The counter-pressure cylinder 16 is accommodated by means of a counter-pressure cylinder bearing 42 on the printing press 12 independently of the impression cylinder 14 and of the ink application device 18. In other words, while the impression cylinder 16 remains in the printing press 12, the further parts of the gravure printing unit 10 can be removed from the printing press 12 in this embodiment, since they are detachably connectable to the printing machine 12, so that neither a web separation nor a change the path of the substrate web must be made by the printing press 12 to remove the gravure printing unit 10.

The FIG. 3 refers schematically to an advantageously further developed embodiment of the gravure printing unit 10 according to the invention in a printing press 12, in particular a combination printing press or hybrid printing press. Like the other embodiments already shown, this embodiment of the gravure printing unit 10 also has a printing cylinder 14 (intaglio printing cylinder) which, in cooperation with an impression cylinder 16, forms a printing nip and is connected to the printing cylinder an inking device 18, more specifically a Farbkammerrakel, is employed. The inking chamber doctor blade may alternatively to that in the FIG. 1 embodiment shown also be an upwardly open Farbkammerrakel, ie in the lateral direction only comprise a negative scraper on its underside. During operation of the gravure printing unit 10, the impression cylinder 16 rotates in the direction of rotation 20 and the impression cylinder 14 in the direction of rotation 22, and the printing material web moves in the transport direction 24 along its path. The rotational axes of both cylinders and the inking device are in this embodiment in a substantially horizontal plane. The printing cylinder 14 has a first connecting element 48, which serves in this embodiment at the same time as a connection to the drive (concealed behind the printing cylinder 14 in this view). The printing cylinder 14 is detachably received on a first connection platform 50, which has a hinged end shield 40, the printing press 12. The inking device 18 has a second connecting element 50 which, in this embodiment, effects at least one positive connection with the printing press 12. The inking device 18 is detachably received on a second connection platform 52 by means of a bearing plate. Both the first connection platform 50 and the second connection platform 54 are designed to perform a relative movement to the printing machine 12: The first connection platform 50 allows a first shift in the direction 56 such that the impression cylinder 14 are turned on and off against the impression cylinder 16 to form the printing nip can. The second connection platform 54 allows a second shift in the direction 58 such that the inking device 18 can be turned on and off the jacket of the printing cylinder 14. In this way, among other things, a setting according to the format of the printing cylinder (the diameter of the printing cylinder is possible.) The impression cylinder 16 is held in a fixed position by means of a counter-pressure cylinder bearing 42 on the printing press 12 independently of the impression cylinder 14 and of the ink application device 18. With reference to FIG In other words, while the impression cylinder 16 remains in the printing machine 12, the other parts of the gravure printing unit 10 can be removed from the printing machine 12, since they are detachably connectable to the printing machine 12, so that neither a Web separation nor a change in the path of the substrate web must be done by the printing press 12 to remove the gravure printing unit 10.

In the FIG. 3 shown embodiment of the gravure printing unit 10 according to the invention comprises an additional deflection roller 78, which is arranged above the impression cylinder 16 with a distance of 0.5 m to the impression cylinder 16. Thus, the impression cylinder 16 is no longer maximally entwined in comparison to embodiments shown in the other figures.

In the FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a preferred embodiment of a gravure printing module 70 of a gravure printing unit 10 according to the invention shown. The intaglio module 70 is suitable for receiving on a connection platform 38 of a printing machine 12, not shown here in detail, in particular a combination printing press or hybrid printing machine. In cooperation with an impression cylinder of the printing press, the gravure module 70 produces a gravure printing unit. The gravure module 70 comprises a printing cylinder 14, which is rotatable by means of a separate drive 68. The pressure cylinder 14 can be accommodated by means of a cylinder mandrel or cylinder pin on a hinged end shield 40 of the connection platform 38 on the printing press 12. The printing cylinder 14 can be used as a cylinder, which receives a sleeve-shaped gravure form (here in FIG. 4 shown) or as a cylinder whose outer surface is engraved as a gravure form, be. The printing cylinder 14 is a Farbkammerrakel 26 assigned as an inking device 18. The ink chamber doctor blade 26 can be adjusted by means of a pneumatic adjusting device 60, in particular in the form of two pneumatic cylinders, as sketched here, to the printing cylinder and be turned off by him. The adjusting force can be controlled or regulated: The pneumatic adjusting device 60 is connected to a control device 64. The control device may be part of the gravure module 70 or part of the printing press 12 not shown here. Furthermore, the gravure module 70 comprises a device 66 for oscillating the ink chamber doctor blade 26. A modular design of the gravure printing unit 10 provides a particularly user-friendly design.

The FIG. 5 is a view of a preferred embodiment of the gravure printing unit 10 of the invention of a printing press 12, in particular a combination printing press or hybrid printing machine. A printing cylinder 14 cooperates with a counter-pressure cylinder 16 for printing on a printing material web 34, which is moved in the direction 24 through the printing press. The impression cylinder 14 is detachably received on the printing press 12 via a first connecting element 48 concealed in this drawing by means of a hinged end shield 40 of a first connecting platform 52. A separate drive 68 of the printing machine 12 is operatively connected to the printing cylinder 14 to rotate it. At the printing cylinder 14, a Farbkammerrakel 26 is employed: A second connecting element 50 of the ink chamber doctor blade 26 is detachably connected to a second connection platform 54 of the printing press. Analogous to the embodiment in FIG FIG. 3 the connection platforms 52,54 are designed for the realization of a relative movement, so that employment and shutdowns can take place. The counter-pressure cylinder 16 is detachably connected to the printing press 12 independently of the impression cylinder 14 and the ink chamber doctor blade 26. The bearing plate 72 of the impression cylinder can be folded down, so that a recorded impression cylinder 16 can be removed and another impression cylinder 16 can be inserted. In this way, impression cylinders with different properties, such as different hardnesses or surface materials, depending on the application can be used particularly advantageously. For a relatively hard impression cylinder 14, a soft coated impression cylinder 16 is preferably used. The contact force or the contact pressure of the chamber doctor blade 26 to the printing cylinder is controllable or regulated by means of the control device 64 and a concealed in this view pneumatic adjusting device. Also, a means 66 for oscillation of the chambered doctor blade 26 is provided. Finally, this embodiment of the gravure printing unit 10 also has a cover 74, which is pivotable in the direction 76, so that on the one hand the gravure printing unit 10 can be closed for operation and on the other hand can be opened for maintenance or conversion. For those skilled in the art with the described embodiments, it is implicitly apparent that for a design of the gravure printing unit 10 for printing UV light-curing gravure ink, the intaglio printing unit according to the invention consists of parts of correspondingly resistant materials, the in principle known from the prior art, must be constructed and / or the engraving of the gravure cylinder must be adjusted accordingly.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

Gravure printing unit

12

press

14

pressure cylinder

16

Impression cylinder

18

Inking device

20

Direction of rotation of impression cylinder

22

Direction of rotation of the pressure cylinder

24

Railway transport direction

26

Ink chamber doctor blade

28

Gravure ink

30

negative squeegee

32

Antischabloniereinrichtung

34

printing material

36

connecting element

38

connection platform

40

end shield

42

Impression cylinder bearings

44

paint tray

46

pressure roller

47

positive squeegee

48

first connecting element

50

second connecting element

52

first connection platform

54

second connection platform

56

first shift direction

58

second shift direction

60

pneumatic adjusting device

62

employment direction

64

control device

66

oscillation

68

separate drive

70

Gravure printing module

72

End shield of the impression cylinder

74

cover

76

pan direction

78

idler pulley

Claims (14)

1. Gravure printing unit (10) for printing a web of material (34) in a printing press (12) including at least one printing cylinder designed as a gravure forme cylinder (14), an ink application device (18) and an impression cylinder (16) and at least one connecting element (36, 38, 50) for releasable reception on at least one connecting platform (38, 52, 54) of the printing press (12) and for creating a releasable operative connection to a separate drive (68) for the gravure forme cylinder (14), thus causing the gravure forme cylinder (14) and the ink application device (18) to be separatable from the at least one connecting platform (38, 52, 54) with the impression cylinder (16) remaining in the printing press (12),
   characterized by
   the fact that the gravure printing unit (10) has at least two connecting elements (48, 50), at least a first connecting element (48) being designed for releasable reception of the printing cylinder (14) on a first connecting platform (52) of the printing press (12) and at least a second connecting element (50) being designed for releasable reception of the ink application device (18) to a second connecting platform (54) of the printing press (12), and by the fact that the first and second connecting platforms (52, 54) are designed to be movable relative to each other.
2. Gravure printing unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized by
   the fact that the at least one connecting platform (38, 48, 50) is designed to be movable essentially in the horizontal direction.
3. Gravure printing unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized by
   the fact that the ink application device (18) is a chambered doctor blade (26) cooperating with the printing cylinder (14).
4. Gravure printing unit (10) according to Claim 6,
   characterized by
   the fact that the gravure printing unit (10) includes a pneumatic device (60) for engaging the chambered doctor blade (26) with the gravure forme cylinder (14).
5. Gravure printing unit (10) according to Claim 6 or 7,
   characterized by
   the fact that the gravure printing unit (10) includes a moving device (66) for laterally oscillating the chambered doctor blade (26).
6. Gravure printing unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized by
   the fact that the gravure printing unit (10) includes a separate drive device (68) for directly driving the printing cylinder (14).
7. Gravure printing unit (10) according to Claim 9,
   characterized by
   the fact that the separate drive device (68) is received in the printing press (12) and is releasably connectible to the gravure forme cylinder (14).
8. Gravure printing unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized by
   the fact that the gravure printing unit (10) comprises an anti-ghosting device (32).
9. Gravure printing unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized by
   the fact that the ink application device (18) and/or the gravure forme cylinder (14) includes at least one heating element so that the ink to be used for printing is heatable.
10. Gravure printing unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized by
    the fact that the impression cylinder (16) is received in the printing press (12) in a releasably connected way.
11. Gravure printing unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized by
    the fact that the gravure forme cylinder (14) and the impression cylinder (16) are arranged in the printing press (12) in such a way that their axes of rotation are essentially located in a horizontal plane.
12. Gravure printing unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized by
    the fact that the gravure printing unit (10) is designed so as to be usable for printing with printing inks that are curable by UV light.
13. Printing press (12) suited for printing on a web of printing material (34) using a plurality of different printing processes,
    characterized by
    at east one gravure printing unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims.
14. Printing press (12) according to Claim 13,
    characterized by
    the fact that the gravure printing unit (10) includes at least one additional deflection roller (78) arranged above the impression cylinder (16) in such a way that the amount of wrap of the web of printing material (34) around the impression cylinder (16) is reduced compared to an operation without the at least one deflection roller (78).

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