A system and method for aligning a generally flat, planar object and for facilitating the mounting of the generally flat planar object, such as a printing plate, in near perfect alignment in a cylindrical manner. A printing plate cylinder is covered with stickyback having a release liner. A narrow axial strip of release liner is removed and replaced with a piece of release liner that may be pulled or tugged from beyond the end of the printing cylinder. The printing plate is next rolled into a cylindrical form and held in place on a device which allows registration marks on the printing plate to align the two ends of the printing plate prior to the printing plate ends being temporarily adhered to one another using a piece of tape or similar product. The aligned printing plate is next slid over the printing cylinder which is covered with sticky back. The piece of release liner covering the section of previously removed stickyback is removed and a portion of the aligned printing plate is adhered to the stickyback at that point. The piece of tape holding the two ends of the printing plate in alignment is now removed along with the remainder of the release liner on the stickyback of the printing cylinder and the remainder of the printing plate is attached to the printing cylinder, providing an aligned printing plate on a printing plate cylinder. A machine vision system is used to record and certify the alignment and can also be used to aid in the alignment process based on prior aligned plates or a reference target alignment position.

A system and method for aligning a generally flat, planar object and for facilitating the mounting of the generally flat planar object, such as a printing plate, in near perfect alignment in a cylindrical manner. A printing plate cylinder is covered with stickyback having a release liner. A narrow axial strip of release liner is removed and replaced with a piece of release liner that may be pulled or tugged from beyond the end of the printing cylinder. The printing plate is next rolled into a cylindrical form and held in place on a device which allows registration marks on the printing plate to align the two ends of the printing plate prior to the printing plate ends being temporarily adhered to one another using a piece of tape or similar product. The aligned printing plate is next slid over the printing cylinder which is covered with sticky back. The piece of release liner covering the section of previously removed stickyback is removed and a portion of the aligned printing plate is adhered to the stickyback at that point. The piece of tape holding the two ends of the printing plate in alignment is now removed along with the remainder of the release liner on the stickyback of the printing cylinder and the remainder of the printing plate is attached to the printing cylinder, providing an aligned printing plate on a printing plate cylinder. A machine vision system is used to record and certify the alignment and can also be used to aid in the alignment process based on prior aligned plates or a reference target alignment position.

A plate cylinder enables a printing plate to be attached thereto and is improved in strength. A plate cylinder is attached to a rotationally driven plate driving shaft, and is configured to mount a cylindrical printing plate attached thereon from a tip end side thereof. The plate cylinder is provided with a plate cylinder main body having a plate mounting surface to which the printing plate is attached. A flat portion is formed on a flat surface positioned further toward a radially inner side than the plate mounting surface. A plurality of hole portions is formed side by side in an axially separated state in the flat portion. A plurality of plate fixing members tightly fixes the printing plate to the plate mounting surface. The plate fixing members are fitted into the hole portions, and are provided to be movable in radially inward and outward directions of the plate cylinder.

A plate cylinder enables a printing plate to be attached thereto and is improved in strength. A plate cylinder is attached to a rotationally driven plate driving shaft, and is configured to mount a cylindrical printing plate attached thereon from a tip end side thereof. The plate cylinder is provided with a plate cylinder main body having a plate mounting surface to which the printing plate is attached. A flat portion is formed on a flat surface positioned further toward a radially inner side than the plate mounting surface. A plurality of hole portions is formed side by side in an axially separated state in the flat portion. A plurality of plate fixing members tightly fixes the printing plate to the plate mounting surface. The plate fixing members are fitted into the hole portions, and are provided to be movable in radially inward and outward directions of the plate cylinder.

The present invention relates to a device for replacing the printing roller in a printing unit, in particular for in line rotary flexographic machines.

The present invention relates to a device for replacing the printing roller in a printing unit, in particular for in line rotary flexographic machines.

A printing machine has a printing tower with a plurality of printing units arranged one above the other and a printing form changeover system having at least one vertically movable storage device for printing forms. A first machine plane, which is associated with one or a plurality of first printing units, is provided. A conveying system, which can move the vertically movable storage device from a loading position located in the region of the first machine plane to an advanced position which is vertically spaced apart, is provided. In addition to the vertically movable storage device, an additional storage device which is associated with the first printing unit of the printing tower is provided.

A printing machine has a printing tower with a plurality of printing units arranged one above the other and a printing form changeover system having at least one vertically movable storage device for printing forms. A first machine plane, which is associated with one or a plurality of first printing units, is provided. A conveying system, which can move the vertically movable storage device from a loading position located in the region of the first machine plane to an advanced position which is vertically spaced apart, is provided. In addition to the vertically movable storage device, an additional storage device which is associated with the first printing unit of the printing tower is provided.

A printing machine has a printing tower with a plurality of printing units arranged one above the other and a printing form changeover system having at least one vertically movable storage device for printing forms. A first machine plane, which is associated with one or a plurality of first printing units, is provided. A storage is associated with the printing tower. The storage can be moved between a removal position located in the region of the first machine plane and a loading position which is vertically spaced apart therefrom by a conveyor system. The loading position is associated with the second printing unit of the printing tower with a view to feeding printing forms. During the changeover of the printing forms, received printing forms are transported by the vertically movable storage.

A printing machine has a printing tower with a plurality of printing units arranged one above the other and a printing form changeover system having at least one vertically movable storage device for printing forms. A first machine plane, which is associated with one or a plurality of first printing units, is provided. A storage is associated with the printing tower. The storage can be moved between a removal position located in the region of the first machine plane and a loading position which is vertically spaced apart therefrom by a conveyor system. The loading position is associated with the second printing unit of the printing tower with a view to feeding printing forms. During the changeover of the printing forms, received printing forms are transported by the vertically movable storage.