Patent ID: 8397633

Claim:
Anilox roll for a printing apparatus for transferring a fluid, such as an ink, comprising a cylinder having a surface, wherein the surface comprises a fluid distribution structure for receiving the fluid, distributing the fluid over the cylinder, and transferring the fluid, wherein the fluid distribution structure is arranged to transfer in a first operational mode for printing heavy layers of ink a relatively large fluid droplet and in a second operational mode for printing details a relatively small fluid droplet by a combination of restrictions in the fluid distribution structure, wherein the fluid distribution structure has a channel formed in the surface for distributing the fluid over the fluid distribution structure, the channel having opposite channel walls positioned next to each other in a relative parallel oscillating fashion such that said channel is meandering over the surface, and both the channel and the channel walls have the form of a wave with a repetitive pattern, and the channel has a constant channel width between 10 and 150 μm in a direction parallel to an axis of rotation of said anilox roll, and said anilox roll has a total surface and the channel wall has a channel wall surface taking up less than 10% of said total surface.