Abstract: A plate loading device for a printing press is disclosed. In the printing press, a plate cylinder is rotatably supported in a housing. The device is arranged to replace a used plate wound on a peripheral surface of the cylinder with a new plate supplied through an entrance formed in the housing. The device further includes a cover for selectively closing and opening the entrance in accordance with the loading and unloading of the plate. The device also has holding members for holding the new plate at a predetermined position outside the cover when the cover is closed, and rollers for clamping, holding and guiding the new plate. The new plate is inserted through the entrance to be placed at a predetermined position on the plate cylinder so that the new plate may be wound on the plate cylinder in one direction.

Abstract: A groove extends in the axial direction of a plate cylinder to which a printing plate is mounted. First and second plate clamps are opposite to each other in the groove to clamp the ends of the plate. The second clamp has a pair of clamping modules. The first and the second clamps are movable in the peripheral direction of the plate cylinder for opening motion. The holding portion of the clamp are moved in the radial direction of the plate cylinder for opening and closing motions. The first clamp is rotatably supported by the plate cylinder. The second clamp is shifted from a waiting position near the first clamp to a working position. A pair of the clamping modules is connected with each other via a connecting rod. The clamping modules are moved towards or away from each other to make the bottom end of the printing plate wider or narrower and remove the fanout of printing sheets.