Abstract: A method and an apparatus for automatically feeding printing plates to a rotary printing press include conveying devices spaced apart from each other transversely to a conveying direction for feeding the printing plate to a clamping device having register pins. One of the conveying devices is lifted briefly off the printing plate in the event of a lack of in-register contact while the other conveying device remains in contact with the printing plate and thus ensures a forward drive of the printing plate, while the lifting of one conveying device promotes stress relief in the printing plate. A sheetfed rotary printing press having the apparatus, is also provided.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for automatically feeding printing plates to a rotary printing press include conveying devices spaced apart from each other transversely to a conveying direction for feeding the printing plate to a clamping device having register pins. One of the conveying devices is lifted briefly off the printing plate in the event of a lack of in-register contact while the other conveying device remains in contact with the printing plate and thus ensures a forward drive of the printing plate, while the lifting of one conveying device promotes stress relief in the printing plate. A sheetfed rotary printing press having the apparatus, is also provided.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for coupling or uncoupling a cylinder, in particular a plate or blanket cylinder, to or from a gear train of a printing press or for coupling and uncoupling the cylinder to and from an auxiliary drive, for example for service work or during changeover processes, includes firstly accelerating the auxiliary drive to a predefined rotational speed, then coupling the auxiliary drive to the cylinder and then uncoupling the cylinder from the main drive. A sheetfed rotary printing press having the apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: A method for in-register pre-positioning a printing plate in a plate feeding device, wherein the printing plate is pre-positioned by a positioning device of the plate feeding device, and then fed to a plate cylinder and clamped into a leading edge clamping device of the plate cylinder, includes detecting the in-register pre-positioning by sensors and, if appropriate, correcting the pre-positioning, and then transferring the printing plate in-register to the leading edge clamping device of the plate cylinder; and a device for performing the method.

Abstract: A method of making-ready and feeding printing forms to a form cylinder of a printing machine, wherein at least one printing form is provided in a rolled-up state in a container and is unrolled so as to be fed to the form cylinder, which comprises replaceably positioning the container on the frame of a printing unit; gripping the printing form, that is formed as a printing plate, at a leading edge thereof by a clamping device of a form cylinder, that is formed as a plate cylinder; and rotating the cylinder so as to apply the printing plate to the plate cylinder; and a device for performing the method.

Abstract: A device for in-register positioning of a printing plate for mounting it on a plate cylinder of a printing press, includes at least two positioning pins engageable for in-register positioning exactly in recesses formed in a printing plate leading edge, and sensors for detecting the exact engagement and for transmitting a corresponding signal, at least one positioning pin and at least one recess on one side of the printing plate leading edge having noninterchangeable engagement positions in relation to at least one positioning pin and at least one recess on another side of the printing plate leading edge which is opposite to the one side thereof with respect to a center line of the printing plate.

Abstract: A method and device for automatically feeding a printing plate to a plate cylinder of a printing press, includes a draw-in shaft for inserting a printing plate, a leading-edge clamping device on the plate cylinder, the draw-in shaft being positionable on the plate cylinder so that a printing plate therein is insertable by a leading edge thereof into the leading-edge clamping device due to a backward rotation of the plate cylinder, and a control for stopping the backward rotation of the plate cylinder after the leading edge of the printing plate has been inserted into the leading-edge clamping device, for closing the leading-edge clamping device, and for then initiating a forward rotation of the plate cylinder so as to wind the printing plate on the plate cylinder.

Abstract: A method for automatically detecting at least one printing plate edge in at least one clamping device of a plate cylinder of a printing press includes detecting at least one of a position of a printing plate edge and a respective presence and absence of a printing plate edge in the at least one clamping device by at least one sensor, the printing plate edge being detected being the printing plate trailing edge, and the clamping device by which it is detected being the trailing edge clamping device, and a device for performing the detecting method, including at least one sensor disposed in a trailing edge clamping device of the plate cylinder for detecting at least one of a position of the printing plate trailing edge and a respective presence and absence of the printing plate trailing edge in the trailing edge clamping device, and at least one transmitter for transmitting the signals from the plate cylinder to stationary parts of the printing press.