Selective flexographic printing with movable anilox roll

摘要

A printing apparatus includes an inker roll, a plate cylinder and an impression cylinder mounted for rotation about parallel axes. The inker roll is selectively displaced into engagement and disengagement with the plate cylinder to transfer ink to the plate cylinder and to a substrate about the impression cylinder. The inker roll is moved to transfer ink only during printing cycles and is out of engagement with the plate cylinder during non-printing cycles. A doctor blade engages the inker roll along a diameter thereof passing through the pivotal axis of the inker roll and its axis of rotation and on the side of the axis of rotation remote from its pivotal axis.