Abstract: A supply and removal device for supplying printing plates to a plate cylinder utilizes a storage container which has adjacent compartments, one for the removal of printing plates and the other for the supply of printing plates. Each compartment has a mouth opening with the two such openings being located adjacent the surface of the plate cylinder in two adjacent quadrants.

Abstract: A process for feeding printing plates to a plate cylinder in a rotary printing press utilizes a storage compartment for one or more printing plates. The storage compartment is positioned adjacent the plate cylinder and is provided with a printing plate leading edge alignment unit having an indexing stop. The plate is held in the storage compartment and is then released by the indexing stop so that it can be conveyed onto the plate cylinder and held in plate until clamped by suitable clamps.

Abstract: Printing plates are removed from the surface of a printing plate cylinder by initially releasing the leading edge of the plate from a clamping assembly and allowing the plate's resiliency to let it separate slightly from the surface of the cylinder. This leading edge of the plate is guided into a storage compartment and continued rotation of the plate cylinder causes the plate to be fully inserted into the storage compartment. The leading edge of the plate is released after contact with a last ink application roller and before the entrance to the storage compartment.

Abstract: The accurate registering and mounting of flexible printing plates on a forme cylinder is accomplished by mounting a printing plate to be brought into proper registration on a support which is adjustable in three degrees of freedom and by then superimposing the supported printing plate with a properly registered transparent proof. The plate is brought into proper registration by adjustment of the support using the proof as a reference. The now registered plate is carried by the support to a position where it can be applied to the forme cylinder. A computer may be used to aid in effecting proper register of the plate with reference to the transparent proof.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the registered application of printing plates to a printing cylinder applies the printing plates to the jacket face of the printing cylinder exactly registered and free of bubbles and warping. The printing plate is clamped in a frictionally connected manner in a stretched position by holding arms and is exactly registered in a horizontal and vertical set position. The plate is then aligned and spaced apart from the printing cylinder and is maintained in a frictionally connected manner. Subsequently, the printing plate is brought into line contact with the jacket and is then pressed against it. The printing plate is pressed down against the cylinder jacket, starting at the contact line, and the pressing force is then applied to the plate circumferentially around the cylinder from the initial contact line.

Abstract: A sheet gripper assembly includes a gripper shaft clamping member which is securely attachable to a gripper shaft. A gripper housing that includes a gripper arm and a gripper finger is secured to the gripper shaft clamping member through an elastic member. This elastic member provides a resilient or springy attachment of the gripper housing to the gripper shaft.

Abstract: An inner blanket securement assembly utilizes spaced inner blanket engaging pins and an inner blanket hold-down device with a hook-shaped holding nose to secure an edge of an inner blanket to a cylinder. The inner blanket is structured using a plurality of inner layers within an outer casing that is closed and bag-shaped adjacent the leading edge of the inner blanket.

Abstract: An adjustable sheet guide assembly utilizes a plurality of individually shiftable sheet guide elements. Each of these sheet guide elements is carried by a sleeve which is concentric about a hollow profile body that carries a rotatable, helically fluted shaft. Guide pins on the sleeves are received in the shaft's flutes so that rotation of the shaft or movement of one sheet guide element causes movement of all of the sheet guide elements in the adjustable sheet guide assembly.

Abstract: A sheet transport drum utilizes a plurality of drum peripheral envelope surface elements which are each secured to spaced apart disks. Each of these drum envelope surface elements has a plurality of vacuum chambers which are supplied with vacuum in a circumferentially sequential manner. A sheet to be transported by the sheet transport drum is smoothly attracted to the drum's outer perforated envelope plate without wrinkling or buckling.

Abstract: A paper guide cylinder utilizes an outer cylinder shell and an interior dynamically balanced cast body. A pair of axle journals are formed at the ends of the cylinder body. At least one of the axle journals is adjustably supported concentrically with a bearing journal that is formed with the outer cylinder shell.

Abstract: A drum for transporting sheets includes a drum base body having a plurality of sheet leading edge grippers and a sheet trailing edge holding part. A plurality of movable suction nozzles are used to smooth the sheet on the surface of the drum and the drum base body and holding part are shiftable circumferentially to stretch the smoothed sheet so that all wrinkles and other defects will be removed from the sheet.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus uses spaced, serially arranged suction chambers to provide suction to overrunning conveying belts. The belts are divergent with respect to each other in the direction of sheet transport to effect a lateral stretching of the conveyed sheets. The conveying belts are slidably supported on an upper surface of the conveying table and may have their speeds individually varied.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically feeding a printing plate to, or receiving a printing plate from, a printing plate cylinder in a rotary printing machine utilizes a plate storage compartment which is situated adjacent the plate cylinder. Several transport rolls are located between the storage compartment and the plate cylinder. A control computer is used to automatically actuate the transfer rolls, a drive for the plate cylinder and plate clamping and tensioning assemblies on the plate cylinder.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically changing a printing plate on a rotary printing machine utilizes two adjacent storage compartments which are located beside the peripheral surface of a plate cylinder. A first printing plate's trailing edge is released from the plate cylinder and is guided into a first one of the storage compartments. This first plate is fed into the first storage compartment and a second plate is directed out of the second storage compartment and is attached to the surface of the plate cylinder.

Abstract: An axially shiftable and rotatably driven oscillatory roller is positively coupled to a drive assembly through a universal joint and an encircling sleeve. The oscillatory roller can be moved to shift its axis of rotation with respect to the axis of rotation of its gear drive.

Abstract: A sheet register adjusting assembly of a register drum of a sheet fed rotary printing machine uses axial displacement of the register drum to provide later register adjustment, and pivotal displacement of the register drum to provide circumferential register adjustment. Both lateral and circumferential register adjustments may be made in an accurate manner.

Abstract: A plate clamping assembly for securing a printing plate to a plate cylinder of a rotary printing machine utilizes spaced clamping bars which are each pivotably positioned in a groove in the plate cylinder. An axially slidable and rotatable shaft cooperates with one of the clamping bars while an axially fixed and rotatable adjusting shaft cooperates with the other clamping bar. Both adjusting shafts having a plurality of truncated cones which engage tappet arms on the clamping bars.

Abstract: A sheet turn-over assembly includes at least one cooperating pair of first and second sheet gripper sets. Each set has coacting sheet gripper fingers and sheet gripper abutment surfaces. These fingers and abutment surfaces in each set are carried on coaxially aligned rotatable shafts. Movement of one shaft with respect to the other accomplishes sheet gripping and release. Movement of the coaxial shafts of each gripper set with respect to the cooperating set accomplishes sheet turn-over.

Abstract: A printing plate skewing assembly utilizes slidable coupling plates, carried in a groove on a plate cylinder. The coupling plates carry printing plate clamping and tensioning assemblies and are slidable through their connections to pivotable levers which are positioned at opposing ends of the plate cylinder groove.

Abstract: An axially shiftable sheet gripper assembly includes cooperating gripper fingers and gripper abutment surfaces mounted on an axially slidable carriage. The carriage is located in a groove in a sheet transfer drum and carries a control roller at one end. The control roller rides on a control surface of a pivotable control disk. This control disk is movable toward and away from a side face of the sheet transfer drum to regulate the axial movement of the sheet transfer mechanism carriage.