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: A suction gripper is provided having a cylinder and a piston for executing a suction stroke having a first and a second stroke position. A cylinder housing with a cylinder space is provided, which at one end has an orifice to atmospheric pressure, against which the cylinder space is sealed off by means of the piston pre-stressed by a compression spring. A piston rod projects from the other end of the cylinder space for executing a stroke. The cylinder space has a constant connection to a vacuum duct via a first passage bore in the cylinder housing. The piston rod has a central bore in the projecting end. The central bore can be connected in its interior to the vacuum duct via a radial bore in the piston rod and a second passage bore in the central housing. At the projecting end of the piston rod, the central bore is closed by means of a suction element in order to suction a component.