A method for attaching a printing plate (12), especially a flexographic printing plate, to a printing cylinder (14) is described. In a first step, the printing plate (12) is provided in a substantially flat condition. Thereafter, an outer circumference of the printing cylinder (14) is arranged adjacent to an edge of the printing plate (12). Subsequently, the printing cylinder (14) is translatorily moved over the printing plate (12) while rotating such that the printing plate (12) is rolled-up on the printing cylinder (14). Additionally, an apparatus (10) for attaching a printing plate (12) to a printing cylinder (14) is presented. The apparatus (10) comprises a printing plate support unit (16) having a substantially flat support surface (18) for supporting the printing plate (12) to be mounted on the printing cylinder (14), and a printing cylinder support unit (36) for supporting and moving the printing cylinder (14). The printing cylinder support unit (36) comprises a translatory drive means (42) for translatorily moving the printing cylinder (14) in a direction parallel to the support surface (18).

A printing plate (10) having at least one optical marker (12, 14) for detecting a position of the printing plate (10) is described. The optical marker (12, 14) comprises an optically detectable structure (18) being positioned within a periphery (20) of the marker (12, 14). Furthermore, a method for detecting a position of a printing plate (10) is presented. Additionally, a control unit (38) for a system (36) for detecting a position of a printing plate (10) and a system (36) for detecting a position of a printing plate (10) are explained. Moreover, a computer program comprising computer readable program code means for causing steps of the method is defined.

A graphic arts support assembly is operable to be used with a graphic arts plate assembly in a press. The graphic arts support assembly and the plate assembly are configured for removable association with a lift mechanism including a shiftable lift element. The support assembly includes a graphic arts magnetic support structure operable to removably support the graphic arts plate assembly. The magnetic support structure includes a support plate, a magnet fixed relative to the plate, and an alignment element projecting from the support plate. The support assembly is operable to be mounted on the lift mechanism so that the lift element is aligned with a lift opening of the support plate, with the lift element shiftable through the lift opening to locate at least part of the graphic arts plate assembly away from the support plate.

A graphic arts support assembly is operable to be used with a graphic arts plate assembly in a press. The graphic arts support assembly and the plate assembly are configured for removable association with a lift mechanism including a shiftable lift element. The support assembly includes a graphic arts magnetic support structure operable to removably support the graphic arts plate assembly. The magnetic support structure includes a support plate, a magnet fixed relative to the plate, and an alignment element projecting from the support plate. The support assembly is operable to be mounted on the lift mechanism so that the lift element is aligned with a lift opening of the support plate, with the lift element shiftable through the lift opening to locate at least part of the graphic arts plate assembly away from the support plate.

A cylinder is arranged to receive one or more hollow cylinders on an outer surface of the cylinder. The cylinder has at least one movable stop with at least one movable element. In an idle position the at least one movable element does not protrude beyond the outer surface of the cylinder and allows hollow cylinders to be slid over the cylinder, and in an active position it protrudes beyond the outer surface of the cylinder and acts as a mechanical stop for hollow cylinders. The at least one movable element can be moved from the idle position to the active position, and vice versa, by means of a rotary movement. A method for positioning a hollow cylinder on a cylinder of this kind.

A method correctly mounts printing plates in a printing press. The method uses prepress software, a transport device, an identification device disposed on the transport device or on a printing plate, and a scanning device. The prepress software defines a sequence of print jobs to be processed by the printing press and sends data for making the printing plates for the print jobs defined in the processing sequence to a platesetter. The platesetter produces the corresponding printing plates. The produced printing plates are deposited on the transport device, the transport device is conveyed to the printing press, and the identification device of the transport device or of a printing plate is scanned by a scanning device at the printing press and the print jobs that have been identified in this way are compared to the print jobs which the prepress software has assigned to the printing press.

An applicator for transferring an indicia to a substrate includes an ink layer forming the indicia. A white layer is disposed on the ink layer. An adhesive layer is disposed on the white layer. The adhesive layer is configured to adhere the ink layer and the white layer to the substrate.

An apparatus for mounting a flexible plate onto a print sleeve or cylinder, where the apparatus has at least two manipulator units located below the print sleeve or cylinder and support members provided on each manipulator unit and each support member has a curved profile for arching the flexible plate prior to its mounting onto the print sleeve or cylinder, is disclosed.

A cylinder is arranged to receive one or more hollow cylinders on an outer surface of the cylinder. The cylinder has at least one movable stop with at least one movable element. In an idle position the at least one movable element does not protrude beyond the outer surface of the cylinder and allows hollow cylinders to be slid over the cylinder, and in an active position it protrudes beyond the outer surface of the cylinder and acts as a mechanical stop for hollow cylinders. The at least one movable element can be moved from the idle position to the active position, and vice versa, by means of a rotary movement. A method for positioning a hollow cylinder on a cylinder of this kind.

The multiple printing plate mounting system of the present disclosure may be used to mount multiple flexible printing plates simultaneously onto a printing sleeve. The system has a back rotary vacuum plate with a plurality of distinct vacuum zones and may be controlled via valve by a computer control system. A filler plate may also be controlled with the same vacuum patterns. The filler plate will move minutely side-to-side. A front plate with match-controlled vacuum patterns may also have a servo to control front-to-back-movement. The distinct vacuum zones are used together with the movable front, back, and filler vacuum plates to selectively, individually, and independently align the flexible printing plates prior to mounting.