The impression cylinder is a component of printing presses and plays a crucial role in transferring the printed image onto the paper. The impression cylinder ensures clean and even transfer. The function and arrangement of the impression cylinder vary depending on the printing process:
The impression cylinder usually consists of a sturdy metal roller with a precisely machined surface. It is mounted so that it can rotate precisely and is perfectly aligned with its counterpart, such as the blanket cylinder in offset printing or a printing plate in letterpress printing. The impression cylinder picks up the paper and presses it against the ink-bearing blanket during the printing process, transferring the print image.
In offset printing, the printing cylinder does not come into direct contact with the printing plate, but only with the blanket cylinder, which has previously transferred the image from the printing plate. The paper is fed between the blanket and the printing cylinder, with the printing cylinder providing the necessary counterpressure. The precision of its movement directly influences the accuracy of fit and sharpness of the print.
Even slight deviations in the cylinder or its concentricity can cause colour deviations, double images or blurred contours. For this reason, printing cylinders are manufactured with great precision and regularly maintained. In modern printing machines, they are often equipped with sensors that continuously monitor and regulate the paper feed.
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