What to record when you change an anilox or a blanket
A roll change needs numbers. Keep an image from before and after. Use a test sheet, not the look of a clean new roll.
When you change an anilox or a blanket, write the old number, the new number, the time, and the defect image from that moment. Without a number, a later ink streak cannot be traced to which roll it was. After the change, use the same test sheet and see whether the solid is even.
Why it is judged this way
Anilox wear happens slowly. If the one you fit is still an old roll, the defect does not go away. The number stops you taking the wrong one. A blanket is the same: a dent shows once each new revolution. If the repeat matches the blanket, do not go and add ink.
What to compare
| What you see | What to call it | What not to do |
|---|---|---|
| Both the old and the new number are written | It can be traced later | Only write “replaced” |
| The test sheet still has a streak after the change | Check this new roll or how it was fitted | Start normal production |
| The repeat matches the blanket | Check the blanket | Add ink |
At job change or when a roll is opened
- Write both numbers on the change sheet.
- Keep one image of the defect from before the change.
- Use the test sheet, then start the press.
