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: 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: 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.