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 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 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 stopper for assuredly preventing shifting of a cylindrical printing plate mounted on a plate cylinder is provided. A plate cylinder 1 has a plate-mounting surface 12 on which a cylindrical printing plate 3 is fitted from the front end side and mounted. A front stopper 4 is provided on the end portion of the front end side. The front stopper 4 is configured so as to be able to switch between a protruding orientation in which at least a portion of the stopper is positioned so as to protrude to the outside of the plate-mounting surface 12 in the radial direction and a retracted orientation in which the entire stopper is positioned to the inside of the plate-mounting surface 12 in the radial direction.

A device for mounting a roller cover on a roller with a pair of tensioning rails has a plurality of identical tensioning units, which are arranged on a common pivoting beam and the partial rails of which jointly form the second tensioning rail of the tensioning rail pair, wherein said tensioning units respectively comprise a first lock assigned to the first tensioning rail and a second lock assigned to the respective partial rail, and wherein the locks selectively hold or release the roller cover.

A device for mounting a roller cover on a roller with a pair of tensioning rails has a plurality of identical tensioning units, which are arranged on a common pivoting beam and the partial rails of which jointly form the second tensioning rail of the tensioning rail pair, wherein said tensioning units respectively comprise a first lock assigned to the first tensioning rail and a second lock assigned to the respective partial rail, and wherein the locks selectively hold or release the roller cover.

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 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.

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.