Printing – Print plate feeding or delivering
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-02
2002-09-17
Evanisko, Leslie J. (Department: 2854)
Printing
Print plate feeding or delivering
C101S415100, C101S389100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06450096
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for changing flexible printing plates on a plate cylinder of a printing machine. More particularly the present invention relates to an apparatus including two adjacent magazines for two respective printing plates, a transporting arrangement beside the magazines, and a holding means for gripping and gliding the printing plates. The apparatus allows for ready access to the plate cylinder for maintenance and the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
German reference DE 43 22 027 A1 discloses an apparatus for changing printing plates on a plate cylinder of a rotary printing machine, including devices for inserting and removing the print plate arranged so that they can be pivoted with respect to the plate cylinder. The disadvantage of this configuration is that accessibility to the plate cylinder is very restricted, since the working cylinders that pivot the devices for feeding the printing plate and removing it are arranged so that they cross in the drive-side frame side wall. In addition, in this type of an arrangement, the space below the pivoting devices is small, so that the distance of the devices from the plate cylinder, after they have been pivoted away into a park position, is not sufficient to perform maintenance work on the plate cylinder without being a physical hindrance.
A further configuration of the prior art makes access to the plate cylinder difficult, in that in order to change the printing plates, pressure rollers with actuating rollers which can be set against the plate cylinder are required. These rollers are physically separate from the devices for inserting and removing the printing plate. A further disadvantage of DE 43 22 027 A1 is apparent when separating the printing plate to be removed from the plate cylinder. There, release of the end of the printing plate that is clamped in the clamping channel of the plate cylinder has to be performed by a mechanism in the clamping channel that releases the clamped end of the printing plate from the clamping device.
From the earlier patent application 198 38 777.6, not yet previously published, an apparatus for changing printing plates on a plate cylinder of a rotary printing machine is known. There, a carriage which can be displaced towards the plate cylinder and contains pivotable holding means is disclosed. The holding means is fitted between the device for inserting the printing plate and the device for removing the printing plate. The disadvantage of this configuration is that the displaceable carriage in the apparatus for changing plates is relatively high, which contrasts with the low space available in rotary printing machines.
German reference DE 195 08 844 C2 discloses an apparatus for changing printing plates on a plate cylinder of a printing machine, where the magazines for the printing plate to be inserted and removed are separated by a transporting means that passes through the magazines and is fitted on both sides with suction-type devices that are used to grip and guide the printing plates. The disadvantage of this configuration is that since the transporting means is between the magazines the apparatus is relatively high. As a result, already restricted space between the printing units is further limited, further impeding accessibility to the plate cylinder.
A further disadvantage of DE 195 08 844 C2 is that although there is a transporting means to transport the printing plate to be inserted and removed, suction devices facing the printing plate are required on the transporting means in order to guide and grip the printing plate. This further interferes with a compact overall height and also increases the costs of the apparatus.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is based on the object of providing an apparatus for changing flexible printing plates which has a simple, compact and space saving construction.
According to the present invention, the object is achieved by an apparatus for changing flexible printing plates on a plate cylinder of printing machines having a simple, compact and space-saving construction. The apparatus includes two magazines arranged beside each other, to hold the printing plates to be inserted and removed. A transporting arrangement pivotably mounted on a shaft is beside the magazines. A holding arrangement which is on the transporting means is used both to grip and guide a printing plate to be inserted and to grip and guide a printing plate to be removed. The magazines and the transporting arrangement are mounted in a frame that can be pivoted towards and away from the plate cylinder. The invention further relates to a method of changing flexible printing plates on a plate cylinder of a printing machine.
A significant advantage of the present invention is that it provides the required functional elements, in a small space, in an apparatus which is of simple construction and is easy to handle.
It is a further object of the present invention to avoid the necessity of using additional bulky devices. To this end, a separate pressure roll is not required for the printing plate. Specifically, the apparatus of the present invention can be readily mounted in a pivotable frame and can therefore be moved completely away from the plate cylinder. This ensures accessibility of the plate cylinder for maintenance work.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide an effective means of moving the printing plates. According to the present invention, a further significant advantage is achieved in that the transporting means bears the holding means and is configured so that it is arranged between the magazines and the plate cylinder and can be pivoted. As a result, the holding means can grip both the printing plate to be inserted and the printing plate to be removed, and can guide them to and from the plate cylinder, respectively. Suitable holding means may, for example, be suction devices that can be loaded both with vacuum and with pressure by an air supply system.
A further advantage of the present invention is that the magazines are additionally arranged in a frame which can be moved by means of a drive device, so that both the magazine for the printing plate to be inserted into the plate cylinder and the magazine for holding the printing plate to be removed from the plate cylinder can be set against the holding means.
A further significant advantage arises in that the drive device used to pivot the entire apparatus can also perform both an insertion movement of the leading end of the printing plate to inserted into a channel of the plate cylinder, and a removal movement of the trailing end of the printing plate to be removed from the channel in the plate cylinder.
The present invention also relates to a method for changing flexible printing plates on a plate cylinder of a printing machine providing an easy way to change printing plates.
The method will be understood from the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings.
The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of the disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages, and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the drawing and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5595119 (1997-01-01), Hada et al.
patent: 6216594 (2001-04-01), Nakano et al.
patent: 43 22 027 (1995-01-01), None
patent: 195 08 844 (1996-12-01), None
patent: 198 38 777 (2000-03-01), None
patent: 198 38 777.2 (2000-03-01), None
Dunger Matthias
Hamann Reiner
Koppelkamm Günter
Roth Heiko
Cohen & Pontani, Lieberman & Pavane
Evanisko Leslie J.
MAN Roland Druckmaschinen AG
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