Abstract: An apparatus and method for clamping printing plates on a plate cylinder is disclosed. A clamping element is integrated into a lockup slot of a plate cylinder with an actuating element. The clamping element is transferred by the actuating element between a first position, where the clamping element clamps the leading end and/or the trailing end of the printing plate, and a second position, where the clamping element releases the leading end and/or the trailing end of the printing plate. The clamping element can be adjusted exclusively in the radial direction of the plate cylinder and the actuating element exclusively in the axial direction of the plate cylinder such that, depending upon the relative axial position of the actuating element with respect to the clamping element, the clamping element is displaced either radially outwardly for clamping the printing plate or is displaced radially inwardly for releasing the printing plate.

Abstract: A printing couple for a rotary printing press is disclosed. The printing couple includes a base and at least one plate cylinder having a pre-determined length, two longitudinal ends rotatably mounted at the base, a radial longitudinal partition, and a peripheral surface facing outward radially in the area of the longitudinal partition and supported radially and rotatably at a bearing unit. The bearing unit includes a rotation bearing having an outer part designed in the shape of a circular segment and is connected to the base. The peripheral surface of the plate cylinder in the area of the longitudinal partition is supported at the inner curvature of the outer part.

Abstract: A plurality of longitudinal channels for supplying pressure medium are arranged within a carrier having a closed profile. A plurality of operating cylinders have pressure spaces which are flow-connected to the channels for moving the pressure rollers inward and outward in order to press coverings onto a printing unit cylinder.

Abstract: A printing unit includes a press unit having a forme cylinder, a transfer cylinder, an inking unit and, preferably, a damping unit. The inking unit of each press unit applies printing ink to a forme cylinder of the respective press unit in such a way that a ductor roll of an inking unit picks up printing ink kept ready in an ink fountain and applies it to the forme cylinder of the respective press unit by a film roll interacting with the ductor roll, inking unit rolls arranged downstream of the film roll, and at least one ink applicator roll rolling on the forme cylinder. Inking unit rolls driven in rotation and inking unit rolls driven in oscillation are are driven independently from one another on the drive side.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for securing a printing plate on a plate cylinder is disclosed. A tensioning bar is moved by an actuating device toward an entrance slot defined by an outer circumferential edge of the cylinder to engage a rear end of the printing plate. The tensioning bar is disposed on a profile body disposed within a channel defined by the cylinder and extending parallel to an axis of the cylinder. The actuating device is disposed in the profile body. The tensioning bar is then moved away from the entrance slot by the actuating device to exert a tensioning force on the rear end of the printing plate.

Abstract: A printing unit with at least one plate cylinder and a set-up device, which can be moved from a rest position to the plate cylinder, is disclosed. In order to make good accessibility to the printing couples and to the set-up device possible, the set-up device is arranged in a frame, which can be moved perpendicularly to the axis of rotation of the plate cylinder.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for clamping printing plates on a plate cylinder is disclosed. A clamping element is integrated into a lockup slot of a plate cylinder with an actuating element. The clamping element is transferred by the actuating element between a first position, where the clamping element clamps the leading end and/or the trailing end of the printing plate, and a second position, where the clamping element releases the leading end and/or the trailing end of the printing plate. The clamping element can be adjusted exclusively in the radial direction of the plate cylinder and the actuating element exclusively in the axial direction of the plate cylinder such that, depending upon the relative axial position of the actuating element with respect to the clamping element, the clamping element is displaced either radially outwardly for clamping the printing plate or is displaced radially inwardly for releasing the printing plate.

Abstract: A printing plate for a printing machine, more preferably for a reel-fed rotary printing machine, is disclosed. The plate has a plate-like main body serving as a subject carrier, with a leading end which is angled-off relative to the main body, and with a trailing end which is angled-off relative to the main body where the printing plate can be mounted or placed on a form cylinder of a printing machine via the leading end and the trailing end, and where the leading end and the trailing end are symmetrically angled-off relative to the main body such that the leading end and the trailing end enclose an approximately identical angle with one side of the main body. The leading end and the trailing end each enclose an angle between 85° and 90° with the side of the main body.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for driving a driven unit of a printing press, specifically a printing couple or a folding unit of a rotary web press, is disclosed. A cylinder or roller to be driven is driven by a drive with an interposed transmission. An input element is mounted on a shaft of the cylinder or the roller to be driven and an output element is assigned to the drive co-acting with the input element. A shaft of the drive is carried in at least two bearing locations. The output element is mounted directly to the shaft of the drive such that the output element is located immediately adjacent a bearing location of the shaft of the drive.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for securing a printing plate on a plate cylinder is disclosed. A tensioning bar is moved by an actuating device toward an entrance slot defined by an outer circumferential edge of the cylinder to engage a rear end of the printing plate. The tensioning bar is disposed on a profile body disposed within a channel defined by the cylinder and extending parallel to an axis of the cylinder. The actuating device is disposed in the profile body. The tensioning bar is then moved away from the entrance slot by the actuating device to exert a tensioning force on the rear end of the printing plate.

Abstract: A plate cylinder of a printing press, with a tensioning channel which extends in the axial direction, in which means for fixing the plate ends of at least one printing plate which can be positioned on the plate cylinder are arranged. The leading plate end can be fixed by a holding element against a contact surface by means of a tensioning rail which can be moved in the tensioning channel. After that, and after the plate cylinder has been rotated, it is then possible to hook the trailing plate end on the extended tensioning rail. After that, it is possible to draw the tensioning rail back in again to tension the trailing plate end.

Abstract: An inking unit for a rotary printing machine includes an ink fountain, a pivotable ink fountain holder in which the ink fountain is mounted, an ink ductor, and a pivotable ink ductor holder in which the ink ductor is mounted. The ink ductor holder and the ink fountain holder are connected by an operating cylinder so that ductor and the ink fountain can be pivoted jointly to a first position in which ink flows out of the ductor without flowing out of the fountain, and so that the ductor can be pivoted away from the first position to a second position while the ink fountain remains in the first position, thereby creating a gap between the ductor and the ink fountain.

Abstract: A device for fastening flexible printing plates to a plate cylinder of rotary printing machines is provided. The plate cylinder has a channel, a channel gap, and a bore. The channel accommodates bent ends of the printing plate. The bore in the channel is axially parallel to the plate cylinder. Two segmented shafts are arranged pivotally in the bore and have leaf springs which are fastened to the segmented shafts. The leaf springs can be brought into contact with the ends inserted into the channel. The channel has at least one lateral recess or cut out in an area which connects the bore radially to a channel gap on the periphery of the plate cylinder, and is at a distance form the channel gap. The end of the printing plate which is bent approximately at a right angle, is provided with a shaped element projecting in the direction of recesses in the channel. The shaped element of the end inserted into the channel can be moved into the recess by bringing the leaf springs into pressure contact with the bent end.

Abstract: An apparatus for changing flexible printing plates on a plate cylinder of printing machines having a simple, compact and space-saving construction is provided. 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.

Abstract: An offset printing unit includes at least one cylinder pair with a form cylinder and a transfer cylinder. The transfer cylinder cooperates with an impression cylinder in such a way that ink can be applied to a printing material web guided between the transfer cylinder and the impression cylinder. In order to permit the economic production of multifarious products with a relatively low technical outlay, the form cylinder is fitted in the circumferential direction with one, and in the longitudinal direction with at least four, portrait printed pages in broadsheet format. The form cylinder may optionally be fitted with landscape printed pages in tabloid format or portrait or landscape printed pages in book format. A circumference of the form cylinder receives one flexible printing plate and a longitudinal length of the form cylinder receives at least one flexible printing plate.

Abstract: A device for fastening flexible printing plates to a plate cylinder of rotary printing machines having a channel in the plate cylinder which accommodates bent ends of the printing plate. A bore in the channel is axially parallel to the plate cylinder and has two segmented shafts arranged pivotably therein. Leaf springs are each fastened to the segmented shafts and can be brought into contact with the ends of the printing plate inserted into the channel. A region radially connects the bore to a channel gap on the periphery of the plate cylinder. The channel has lateral recesses at a distance from the channel gap and, the approximately rectangularly bent ends of the printing plate are equipped with shaped elements which project into the channel in the direction of the recesses. The shaped elements of one or both ends inserted into the channel can be moved into the recesses by bringing the respective leaf springs into contact while bending the ends.