A method of controlling the clamping of a plate in a printing press includes clamping a plate in a first clamping device provided on a carriage, transporting the plate to a plate cylinder in a first direction by way of the carriage, and clamping the plate in a second clamping device provided on the plate cylinder. Then the carriage is driven backward in a second direction while the plate remains clamped in the first clamping device. If the plate is properly clamped in the plate cylinder clamps, the carriage is estopped from moving in the second direction. A control unit determines, based on the reaction of the carriage, whether or not the plate is securely clamped in the second clamping device.

An apparatus (1) for preparing a flexographic printing sleeve (3) comprises a support structure (21), comprising first support mechanism (2) which defines a workstation for rotatably supporting a first flexographic printing sleeve (3) such that it can rotate about a preset axis (K-K), a roll (11) of double-sided adhesive tape rotatably supported by a second support mechanism (10), and a first feeding and guiding mechanism (13) for unwinding the double-sided adhesive tape (12) from the roll (11) and directing the double-sided adhesive tape (12) to the surface of the first sleeve (3).

A method is provided for automatically exchanging a sleeve (18a) of a printing tool (14, 16, 18, 22, 24) mounted in a printing machine (12), in particular a flexographic printing machine, by means of a printing tool handling unit (28) comprising a coupling interface (36). In one step of the method the printing tool handling unit (28) is temporarily coupled to a coupling interface (46) located at the end of a shaft (54, 56, 58, 60) of the printing tool (14, 16, 18, 22, 24) with its coupling interface (36). In a further step, the printing tool handling unit (28) transports the printing tool (14, 16, 18, 22, 24) to a separation unit (78) comprising at least one clamping device (80, 82, 84) and places the printing tool (14, 16, 18, 22, 24) in the clamping device (80) of the separation unit (78). The printing tool (14, 16, 18, 22, 24), in particular a sleeve (18a) of the printing tool (14, 16, 18, 22, 24), is clamped by the clamping device (80), and the printing tool handling unit (28) separates the shaft (54, 56, 58, 60) from the sleeve (18a) by pulling the shaft (54, 56, 58, 60) out of the sleeve (18a) while the sleeve (18a) is clamped in the clamping device (80).

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.

For a flexographic printing apparatus, an apparatus (1) and method for mounting a printing plate (2) on a printing cylinder (4) or a printing sleeve including a system for pre-alignment (5, 8) of a printing plate (2) and real-time alignment (5, 8) of the printing plate (2) during mounting.

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.

An apparatus is comprised of a plurality of printing units for printing hollow elements. A conveying device conveys the hollow elements to be printed into a printing zone of at least one of the printing units. At least one of the printing units includes a plate cylinder to which a plate replacing mechanism is assigned.

A printing unit has a printing form cylinder. A plate changer is arranged in a manner which is allocated to the printing form cylinder. The plate changer has a bearing surface on which a printing form, which is arranged or is to be arranged on the printing form cylinder, can be laid. That bearing surface is arranged such that it can be moved to and fro between at least two defined positions longitudinally with respect to the rotational axis of the printing form cylinder. The printing form is arranged and registered on the bearing surface of the plate changer. At least two edges of a carrier for the relevant printing form, which are arranged at a right angle with respect to each other, are brought into physical contact with register pins which are arranged on the bearing surface of the plate changer. A first edge of the carrier of the relevant printing form is arranged to bear against a first register pin and a second edge, orthogonal with respect to the first edge, of the carrier of the relevant printing form, is arranged to bear against a second register pin. The printing unit is preferably arranged as a device for printing hollow bodies.

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 device for printing on hollow bodies has a plurality of printing units each having a printing cylinder. At least one of the printing units has an inking unit having a chambered doctor blade that provides printing ink. The chambered doctor blade system has at least one ink pan and a doctor blade holder in a single assembly. The single assembly of the chambered doctor blade system is retained in the inking unit only on one side. The assembly of the chambered doctor blade system forms a cantilever arm on a side frame of the inking unit. The assembly of the chambered doctor blade system can be moved axially parallel to the anilox roller and can be removed from the inking unit by that movement.