An apparatus for replacing printing sleeves comprising a handling device which can be removably engaged with a printing sleeve and a movement robot for moving the handling device; the handling device comprises a supporting frame, which is connected to the movement robot and supports a supporting rod which protrudes in a cantilevered manner from the supporting frame, and a grip assembly which is able to translate on command, with respect to the supporting frame, along a movement direction that is substantially parallel to the axis of the supporting rod, between an advanced working position and a retracted working position; the grip assembly is actuatable in rotation about an axis that is substantially parallel to the axis of the supporting rod.

A method and device change printing plates on a cylinder. The method includes opening a first clamping device and releasing a leading edge of a first printing plate and opening a second clamping device and releasing a trailing edge of the first printing plate. The first and second clamping devices are both opened before a first rotation process of a cylinder. The cylinder is rotated during the first rotation process in a first direction to dismount the first printing plate from a circumferential surface of the cylinder. The cylinder is rotated in a second rotation process in an opposite second direction to mount a second printing plate replacing the first printing plate to the circumferential surface of the cylinder. Because the first clamping device and the second clamping device are both opened before the first rotation of the cylinder, the set-up period required for a printing plate change is reduced.

A transfer plate and an orientation film generation system are provided. The transfer plate includes a bottom plate and a plurality of relief plates, wherein, the bottom plate is disposed on a printing cylinder and is distributed with a plurality of engagement holes, each of the engagement holes has a plurality of stopper locations configured to provide different engagement depths; and the plurality of relief plates and the plurality of engagement holes are disposed in one-to-one correspondence, and each of the relief plates is provided with an engagement pin cooperated with the stopper locations of a corresponding engagement hole, wherein the relief plate is made of permeable materials. The orientation film generation system includes the above transfer plate.

A transfer plate and an orientation film generation system are provided. The transfer plate includes a bottom plate and a plurality of relief plates, wherein, the bottom plate is disposed on a printing cylinder and is distributed with a plurality of engagement holes, each of the engagement holes has a plurality of stopper locations configured to provide different engagement depths; and the plurality of relief plates and the plurality of engagement holes are disposed in one-to-one correspondence, and each of the relief plates is provided with an engagement pin cooperated with the stopper locations of a corresponding engagement hole, wherein the relief plate is made of permeable materials. The orientation film generation system includes the above transfer plate.

A sleeve station dedicated to the assembly of a sleeve and a mandrel for a flexographic press. The sleeve station can be loaded manually, and assembles the sleeve with the mandrel in a vertical orientation when both are in a vertical orientation with aligned axes, avoiding problems caused by the bending of the sleeves during assembly. After loading of the sleeve, it is returned to a horizontal axis orientation.

A sleeve station dedicated to the assembly of a sleeve and a mandrel for a flexographic press. The sleeve station can be loaded manually, and assembles the sleeve with the mandrel in a vertical orientation when both are in a vertical orientation with aligned axes, avoiding problems caused by the bending of the sleeves during assembly. After loading of the sleeve, it is returned to a horizontal axis orientation.

A printing plate unit to be demountably mounted on a printing plate mounting portion of a plate cylinder includes a printing plate and a printing plate coupling member. A length of the printing plate coupling member is larger than a width of the printing plate so that the printing plate coupling member is provided with a projecting portion projecting from the printing plate formed cylindrically in an axial direction. The printing plate unit is fitted to the printing plate mounting portion from one end side, and is demounted from the same one end side by gripping the projecting portion of the printing plate coupling member in a state both end portions of the printing plate formed into a cylindrical shape are coupled to each other by the printing plate coupling member.

A printing plate unit to be demountably mounted on a printing plate mounting portion of a plate cylinder includes a printing plate and a printing plate coupling member. A length of the printing plate coupling member is larger than a width of the printing plate so that the printing plate coupling member is provided with a projecting portion projecting from the printing plate formed cylindrically in an axial direction. The printing plate unit is fitted to the printing plate mounting portion from one end side, and is demounted from the same one end side by gripping the projecting portion of the printing plate coupling member in a state both end portions of the printing plate formed into a cylindrical shape are coupled to each other by the printing plate coupling member.

A printing unit for making prints from printing plates on plate elements conveyed by a transport system having at least one plate cylinder mounted rotatably and suitable for carrying initially at least one earlier printing plate and then at least one later printing plate, the printing unit includes a primary support suitable for supporting the later printing plate, in a standby configuration, during printing using the earlier printing plate and during the unwinding of the earlier printing plate, and in an engaged configuration, during the winding of the later printing plate onto the plate cylinder, a portion of the later printing plate being attached to the plate cylinder, and a secondary support suitable for supporting the earlier printing plate unwound from the plate cylinder, in which the primary support includes a primary fastening member for fastening the later printing plate in the standby configuration, and a primary fastening mechanism for fastening the later printing plate in the engaged configuration.

A printing unit for making prints from printing plates on plate elements conveyed by a transport system having at least one plate cylinder mounted rotatably and suitable for carrying initially at least one earlier printing plate and then at least one later printing plate, the printing unit includes a primary support suitable for supporting the later printing plate, in a standby configuration, during printing using the earlier printing plate and during the unwinding of the earlier printing plate, and in an engaged configuration, during the winding of the later printing plate onto the plate cylinder, a portion of the later printing plate being attached to the plate cylinder, and a secondary support suitable for supporting the earlier printing plate unwound from the plate cylinder, in which the primary support includes a primary fastening member for fastening the later printing plate in the standby configuration, and a primary fastening mechanism for fastening the later printing plate in the engaged configuration.