Abstract: A device for selecting and conveying printing plates is provided which can overcome complexity of work involved in so-called batch processing, and can realize operation of, for example, removing a printing plate from a cassette in a small space, such that operation efficiency can be improved and less space is required. Cassettes other than a lowest cassette are independently supported on sliding bases. The sliding bases move (slide) on rails with hardly any frictional resistance. The rails extend to a cassette withdrawing space section provided adjacent, and unnecessary cassettes are moved horizontally along the rails. Thus, a printing plate can be removed from a needed cassette at a reference position without the needed cassette being moved at all. In this way, there is no need to provide, at each cassette, space for removing the printing plate, and no need to move a printing plate removing device to positions at which the cassettes are disposed.

Abstract: A printing press has a support arm that can move between lower and upper positions, first and second link plates swingably supported by a main frame and the support arm, respectively. A connection pin having a protruding end portion is provided to connect the link plates. A support lever, swingably supported by the main frame, has an engagement groove which disengageably engages with the protruding end portion of the connection pin. When the support arm moves from the lower position to the upper position, the protruding end portion of the connection pin comes into contact with the edge surface of a lower portion of the support lever, and swings the support lever. When the protruding end portion of the connection pin reaches the engagement groove of the support lever, the protruding end portion engages with the engagement groove, so that the support arm is held at the upper position.

Abstract: A printing press includes a plate cylinder, a plate making unit, a detection switch, and a control unit. The plate cylinder has an outer surface on which a plate is mounted. The plate making unit performs plate making for the plate mounted on the outer surface of the plate cylinder. The plate making unit is supported to be movable between an operative position where plate making is performed and a wait position to escape from the operative position. The detection switch detects the plate making unit positioned at the wait position. The control unit controls plate change operation in accordance with a detection output from the detection switch.

Abstract: A method for storing printing plates (4) in a stacker (5) comprises the steps of detecting a printing plate (8) exiting a processor (1) or exiting a baking station, activating a conveying mechanism (2) of a stacker, conveying (A) the printing plate to a rear side (18) of the stacker and deactivating the conveying mechanism when the printing plate reaches the rear side of the stacker. Then further steps comprise tilting (B) the printing plate by means of rotating tilting bars (6) into a plate trolley (5) and returning the tilting bars back to a home position (19) on the stacker. Herein, the tilting the printing plate comprises the substeps of releasing a forcing means from the stacker, and forcing (P) the printing plate away from the tilting bars against a rest position (21) in the trolley.

Abstract: A device for automatically changing printing plates is provided in a printing machine having a plate cylinder to which a printing plate is to be fed and on which the printing plate is to be fixed detachably. The device includes a transport system for conveying the printing plate while permitting axial compensating movements thereof. The transport system has at least one driven transport roller and an air cushion for holding the conveyed printing plate in contact with the transport roller. The plate-holding air cushion is formed between a counterpressure element, on one side, and the printing plate, on the other side.

Abstract: A device for delivering a printing plate having at least one edge to a plate cylinder of a printing press in a position for exchange is provided. The device includes at least one selectable exchangeable format slide-in unit insertable into the printing press. The format slide-in unit is selected to accommodate the plate cylinder. The device also includes a delivery mechanism with a number of settings corresponding to the selected format slide-in unit. The delivery mechanism determines the position of exchange that corresponds to the selected format slide-in unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for feeding printing plates to a tensioning device of a plate cylinder of a printing press includes subjecting a front region of a printing plate to flexion to orient a leading edge of the printing plate essentially parallel to tensioning surfaces of a leading-edge tensioner for insertion into the leading-edge tensioner, and inserting the printing plate into the leading-edge tensioner and attaching the printing plate at the plate cylinder.

Abstract: In an apparatus for correctly registering mounting of a printing plate wherein the printing plate is mounted on a plate cylinder of a sheet fed press, the plate cylinder having a plate cylinder gap with a front plate clamping device, and a rear plate clamping and tensions device, and the front plate clamping device has registering punches, the registering punches being connected to means for securing and sensing the correct registration in a lateral and in a circumferential position in correspondence with registering punches in the printing plate, the improvement comprising the registering elements of front plate clamping device each having inserts insulated from the registering elements which contact the printing plate.

Abstract: A plate making apparatus of a flexible plate material 13, 22 being placed on a plate cylinder 7 for executing planographic printing in multiple colors. The plate making apparatus has a cutter 23 being placed between a storage section 21 of a roll-like plate material and an exposure section 25 for cutting the roll-like plate material like a sheet and punch means 30 for making plate cylinder engagement holes 14a and 14b in the left and right margins of the plate material along the transport direction thereof, the plate cylinder engagement holes to be engaged in protrusions 7a an 7b disposed in the circumferential direction of the left and right margins of the plate cylinder. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a plate making apparatus which reliably holds a plate material on a plate cylinder for enabling planographic printing and can use a roll-like plate material.

Abstract: A printing plate changing device reliably discharges a printing plate from a plate cylinder comprising a lower second printing plate guiding device, and printing plate discharging means having a pick-up member, a supporting member, a bracket, and an actuator. The printing plate changing device further includes a receiving board restricted to move the discharged printing plate toward the downstream side with respect to the discharged storing direction and moved in accordance with the movement of the discharged printing plate with the pick-up member, and releasing means including a lower first printing plate guiding device, a guide plate, and an actuator for releasing a gripped side of the discharged printing plate discharged from the lower plate cylinder from the front end of the guide plate of the lower second printing plate guiding device.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding printing plate precursors is provided with a detecting sensor for detecting a position of a separation plate mounted on a cassette accommodating printing plate precursors, and a plate surface detecting sensor for detecting an uppermost plate of printing plate precursors stacked in the cassette. A relative position of the separation plate with respect to suction nozzles of a suction frame of the apparatus for feeding plates is controlled constant.

Abstract: A method for automatically providing a printing plate to a plate cylinder includes the steps of aligning a first edge of a printing plate against a cylinder adjacent to a plate cylinder, moving the first edge of the printing plate into a gap in the plate cylinder, and wrapping the printing plate about the plate cylinder. The present invention also includes a device for attaching a printing plate to a plate cylinder comprising a first set of grippers for gripping a printing plate and aligning the printing plate against a cylinder adjacent to the plate cylinder, and a second set of grippers for moving the printing plate toward a gap in the plate cylinder. An offset printing press having the device is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for extracting and conveying a printing plate. The apparatus includes separation plates disposed at corners of a cassette accommodating at least printing plates. Air enters between an uppermost printing plate that is extracted and an underlying printing plate or an interleaf sheet, thereby separating the uppermost printing plate from the underlying printing plate or the interleaf sheet. Guide rails disposed above the cassette are parallel to a bottom of the cassette. Movable/rotatable bodies are disposed on the guide rails so as to be movable along the guide rails and be rotated about 180° within moving ranges, such that the uppermost printing plate is sent into an exposure section with an emulsion surface of the printing plate facing up.

Abstract: A printing press comprises a pair of left- and right-frames, a safety cover movably supported between a closing position for closing at least one part of a space formed between the frames and a releasing position for releasing the space and a printing plate holding device movably supported at an exterior side with respect to the safety cover between a shelter position for holding a new printing plate supplied to a lower plate cylinder and a discharged printing plate discharged from the lower plate cylinder and an operation position for storing the new printing plate supplied to the lower plate cylinder or the discharged printing plate discharged from the lower plate cylinder.

Abstract: A printing plate mounting apparatus (10) mounts a printing plate (70) to a plate cylinder (61). The plate cylinder (61) has a plate head clamping mechanism (62) having upper and lower jaws (62a, 62b) to position and secure a plate head of a flexible printing plate. In the apparatus (10), a guide member (11, 111) is provided for guiding the flexible printing plate (70) to the plate head clamping mechanism (62). The guide member (11, 111) guides the flexible printing plate (70) so that, at least between the guide member (11, 111) and the plate head clamping mechanism (62), the flexible printing plate (70) is bent toward the plate cylinder (61), or is substantially parallel to the upper face of the lower jaw of the plate head clamping mechanism (62).

Abstract: A scroll compressor has a pair of interleaved scrolls. An Oldham coupling is attached to the orbiting scroll to prevent of the orbiting scroll. This Oldham coupling has keys that are sliding received in slots. One side of each key is loaded while the opposite side is non-loaded. The non-loaded side of the key has stepped or profiled surface to provided clearance to allow deflection of the key. In another embodiment, the stepped or profiled surface is provided on the non-loaded side of the slot.

Abstract: A device for detecting the position of a printing plate on a plate cylinder of a printing machine includes path measuring systems corresponding with one edge of the printing plate.

Abstract: A printing plate is only guided by and wound around peripheral surfaces of cylinders. The cylinders are disposed along an axis of a rotating shaft at predetermined intervals, and support the entire printing plate with substantially equal balance. The printing plate has a degree of firmness, and thus, the printing plate can hold itself in a substantially cylindrical shape even if it is merely rolled in the air. Therefore, the whole printing plate can be accurately wound and held onto a peripheral locus of a predetermined radius coaxial with the rotating shaft merely by disposing guide members as auxiliary guides for positioning and winding parts of the printing plate.

Abstract: A method for automatically providing a printing plate to a plate cylinder includes the steps of aligning a first edge of a printing plate against a cylinder adjacent to a plate cylinder, moving the first edge of the printing plate into a gap in the plate cylinder, and wrapping the printing plate about the plate cylinder. The present invention also includes a device for attaching a printing plate to a plate cylinder comprising a first set of grippers for gripping a printing plate and aligning the printing plate against a cylinder adjacent to the plate cylinder, and a second set of grippers for moving the printing plate toward a gap in the plate cylinder. An offset printing press having the device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A printing plate discharging method and a printing plate discharging device can quickly and reliably discharge a printing plate from a surface plate, which printing plate has been placed in a state wherein one end portion of the printing plate projects from the surface plate, without making an exposed face of the printing plate dirty or scratched. At a discharging mechanism section of an automatic exposure device, a temporary support arm corresponds with the one end portion of the printing plate, which end portion projects from on the surface plate. The temporary support arm is raised higher than the surface plate by a moving stage moving and a roller thereby abutting against a projecting portion of the temporary support arm. Thus, the temporary support arm lifts up the one end portion of the printing plate. In this state, a plate discharging hook engages the one end portion of the printing plate (a lifted portion) and pushes the printing plate toward another end portion of the surface plate.

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 plate removal apparatus in a rotary printing press, which removes outside a printing unit a plate unfixed from a plate fixing unit of a plate cylinder in the printing unit includes a first guide member and a regulating member. The first guide member falls inside the printing unit in removing the plate from the plate cylinder to guide the plate removed from the plate cylinder outside the printing unit. The regulating member is interlocked with falling operation of the first guide member to prevent the plate guided by the first guide member from entering into the printing unit.

Abstract: A sheet-fed printing press is provided to shorten the operation time thereof for feeding the printing plate on the plate cylinder in a printing operation without the tail edge of the printing plate clamped. For this purpose, the sheet-fed printing press is operable in the standard-sized printing plate feeding mode and the shorter-sized printing plate feeding mode. When the shorter-sized printing plate feeding mode is selected, the plate cylinder is rotated in the forward direction with the leading edge of the printing plate clamped by the first clamp device, so that the printing plate is wound around the plate cylinder. In this operation, the second clamp device is not actuated.

Abstract: A feed assembly is provided which feeds a pressure medium to a cylinder and fixes the cylinder in position, independently of whether or not the pressure medium to be connected is supplied. A feed part can be placed on a feed opening of the cylinder by an actuating element which can be controlled independently of any control of the pressure medium. An outlet of the feed part and the feed opening engage one another and lock the cylinder against rotation.

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 mechanism for correcting unbalance of a rotor that is caused by at positions at which at least one of a leading edge chuck and a trailing edge chuck that hold a sheet member disposed on a peripheral surface of the rotor varying in accordance with the sheet size. The unbalance is corrected by disposing, at a predetermined distance from a rotary shaft, an anchor having a fixed weight. In a state where the unbalance is corrected, a main balancer is purposely attached to the rotor to cause an unbalanced state. According to the position at which the trailing edge chuck attaches to the peripheral surface of the rotor, a second arm is moved by mechanical interlocking to maintain an angle &thgr;2 with respect to a chuck holder. Consequently, unbalance is adjusted in accordance with the size of the sheet.

Abstract: A device for detecting the position of a printing plate on the plate cylinder of a printing machine has register equipment corresponding with an edge of the printing plate. The device includes at least one mechanical stress sensor assigned to the register equipment. The at least one mechanical stress sensor is a piezoelectric force sensor.

Abstract: A system for loading and clamping one or more plates onto the cylindrical surface of a rotatable drum, such as used in a platesetter for printing, and for unloading the plates from the drum. The system is characterized by clamps that are movable over the surface, preferably along circumferential tracks, enabling the attachment of multiple plates, end-to-end and/or side-by-side, each plate having any of a wide range of sizes. The clamps are preferably of the dynamic type, whereby the clamping force increases with rotational speed. Also disclosed is a method for mounting and unmounting plates, using the movable clamps, such that allows flexible and convenient arrangement of loading- and unloading stations.

Abstract: A printing plate changing device prevents a new printing plate from being damaged even if an abnormal attachment has occurred during/before attaching the printing plate on a plate cylinder. Various sensors detect a rear end of the new printing plate located near an extrusion member when a phase of the lower plate cylinder forwardly rotating is positioned at a predetermined position, an actuator of the lower printing plate holding device is extended by a control device in accordance with a signal from the sensors to release a hook from an engaged pin. A claw portion is rotated by force energized by a spring to advance into a stored portion. The claw portion of the hook is engaged with the rear end of the new printing plate so that the new printing plate can be returned into the stored portion by extending the actuator.

Abstract: A plate exchanging apparatus in a rotary printing press, which removes an old plate from a plate fixing unit of a plate cylinder and inserts a new plate includes a plate holder and an actuator. The plate holder holds the new plate. The actuator performs one of moving and swinging operations of the plate holder in directions to come close to and separate from the plate cylinder. The actuator selectively positions the plate holder to a first position where the new plate is held in the plate holder, a second position where the new plate held by the plate holder is retreated from an old plate removal path, and a third position where the new plate is inserted into the plate fixing unit of the plate cylinder.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for handling an exposure surface to be exposed includes the steps of hanging the exposure surface in a transitional state during introduction into the exposure region of an exposure unit and/or during discharge from an exposure unit. The exposure surface is transferred from an approximately horizontal orientation in a feed region or loading region into a hanging orientation and/or is lowered for introduction into the exposure unit. The exposure surface to be exposed is, in particular, a printing plate. The exposure unit is, preferably, a printing plate exposer, and is, in particular, an inner-drum printing plate exposer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for changing a printing plate on a plate cylinder in a sheet-fed offset printing machine is provided. The printing plate is first fed to the plate cylinder with its print-end edge leading the print-start edge. The print-end edge of the printing plate is then fixed in a first fixing device on the plate cylinder assigned to the print-end edge of the printing plate. The plate cylinder is then rotated in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation used during a printing operation to draw the printing plate around the outer circumference of the plate cylinder. The print-start edge of the printing plate is then fixed to a second fixing device on the plate cylinder that is assigned to the print-start edge of the printing plate and tensioned on the plate cylinder.

Abstract: A media handling system is provided for an imaging system, such as an external drum platesetter. An edge clamp used to secure a printing plate onto a cylindrical media support surface of the external drum is movable about the drum surface to accommodate the use of different size plates. The edge clamp includes a clamping bar which is radially movable with respect to the media support surface to attach to the media support surface and capture an edge of the printing plate by employing vacuum hold down force.

Abstract: A device for holding and feeding a printing plate to a plate cylinder of a printing machine includes a holding device and a member having a supporting surface, the printing plate being disposable by one edge thereof on the supporting surface and being holdable in a predefinable alignment by the holding device, a mounting for movably supporting the holding device on the printing machine so that the holding device is movable from a rest position into a feeding position, a guide element having at least one guide surface, the guide element being movably mounted on the holding device and being movable from a rest position into a feeding position, the guide surface, in the feeding position, defining a feeding direction for feeding a printing plate to the plate cylinder, and a lever device via which the guide element is operatively connected to the printing machine, the guide element being movable automatically from the rest position into the feeding position by movement of the holding device.

Abstract: Printing plates can be reliably extracted from a plate cylinder with an automatic plate changer even when the plate lock has a very narrow plate gap between the trailing edge and the leading edge of the printing plate. First, the trailing edge of a printing plate is released by the locking member and the printing plate is elastically deformed at the trailing edge. This allows the guide fork of the automatic plate changer to reliably peel the printing plate away from the plate cylinder. In addition, the guide fork may engage the leading edge of the printing plate after the plate lock has been disengaged once more and peel the leading edge away from the plate cylinder by pivoting away from the cylinder.

Abstract: A printer plate having an integral alignment target and a printing plate mounter having a vacuum cup with an alignment member thereon to permit visual alignment of the alignment target with the vacuum cup alignment member with the vacuum cup connectable to a vacuum source so that a vacuum can draw the printing plate alignment target and the alignment member on the vacuum cup from a state of state of misalignment, if any, into precise mechanical alignment for transfer to a printing cylinder while the vacuum cup supports the printing plate.

Abstract: In a stencil disposal unit and stencil disposal method for disposing a stencil clamped at and wound on a printing drum of a rotary stencil printing machine, the end part of the stencil sheet from a clamp is released, the printing drum is caused to rotate in a winding direction with respect to the end part of the stencil sheet released from the clamp, so as to guide the end part of the stencil sheet to a pull-in position, and the printing drum is caused to rotate in a reverse direction opposite to the winding direction, as pulling in the end part of the stencil sheet.

Abstract: A device for holding a printing plate with a simple structure in order to pick-up a discharged printing plate and set a new printing plate in an easy manner. In a device for holding a printing plate that includes guide frames and a guide member with a storing space for storing a discharged printing plate discharged from a plate cylinder. The device is an actuator for moving the discharged printing plate discharged from the plate cylinder between an operation position for storing in the storing space and a shelter position for releasing the discharged printing plate from the plate cylinder. The device includes a hook member for engaging with an end portion of the discharged printing plate in the storing space in the case the members are moved to the operation position by the actuator and releasing the discharged printing plate from the storing space in the case that the member are moved to the shelter position by the actuator.

Abstract: A printing press includes an L-shaped support arm swingably supported by a main frame such that a distal end thereof can move between lower and upper positions, a support frame swingably supported at the distal end of the support arm such that the other end thereof can move between upper and lower positions, swing arms swingably supported by the main frame such that the distal ends thereof can move between lower and upper positions, gas springs for applying force to the corresponding swing arms to move the distal end portions of the swing arms upward, an engagement pin attached to the support frame, and an engagement member attached to the swing arms and into which the engagement pin is inserted and has an engagement groove formed therein to open upward when the distal ends of the swing arms are situated at the upper position.

Abstract: A stencil printing machine in which a stencil is sheared off of a continuous roll of stencil sheet to a length determined by a selected size of printing paper, mounted onto a printing drum, removed from said printing drum, and transported to and inserted into a used stencil container by a transport means, which comprises a stencil length specifying means which specifies the length of the stencil according to a selected size of printing paper when the stencil is prepared for printing, and a control means which controls an operation amount of the transport means, at the time the stencil is removed from the printing drum, in relation to the length of the stencil as specified by the stencil length specifying means. The control means may comprise a random access memory to record the data from the stencil length specifying mechanism.

Abstract: A receiving guide is attached to an upper portion of a discharge mechanism section via a bracket. When a photopolymer plate is discharged from a photopolymer plate conveying section, a leading end portion of the photopolymer plate, which is in a state of hanging down slightly, abuts a flat plate portion of the receiving guide. Thereafter, the receiving guide moves in accordance with movement of the leading end portion of the photopolymer plate. Further, the receiving guide moves forward in a conveying direction of the photopolymer plate immediately before conveying of the photopolymer plate is completed, and the photopolymer plate lands on the surface plate.

Abstract: A stencil disposal box is detachably provided to a stencil printing machine main body, and used stencil sheets are stored therein when the stencil disposal box is mounted to the stencil printing machine main body. An opening, through which a stencil sheet is conveyed, is formed on the stencil disposal box. The stencil disposal box includes a stencil disposal box main body for storing the conveyed stencil sheets, a sweeping member rotatively provided so as to move between an innermost position approximately adjacent to an inner surface of the stencil disposal box main body and a sweeping position located more adjacently to the opening side than the innermost position, and an operation lever portion, which can operate the movement of the sweeping member. This operation lever portion can be operated while gripping a handle portion.

Abstract: A printing plate or decorator cylinder has a tapered bore for engaging the tapered outer surface of a sleeve member which is mounted on an untapered rotatable drive shaft and the sleeve is adjustably coupled to the shaft to permit accurate registration of the printed indicia when a printing plate is changed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fitting a printing plate to a plate cylinder where the printing plate is bent into a circular shape and fixed in this form by leading and trailing legs of the plate being firmly connected to each other. The printing plate shaped in this way is subsequently axially pushed onto the plate cylinder from the free side of the plate cylinder.

Abstract: Installed in a rotary press which is provided with an upper work floor T and a lower work floor U to accommodate multi-layered printing sections, there are included upper turning bodies B installed at a high level on an upper story W, opposing each other at an interval larger than the width of a press plate P; lower turning bodies C installed at a low level on a lower story X, opposing the upper turning bodies B vertically and opposing each other at the same interval as the upper turning bodies B; endless flexible bodies D looped over the upper and lower turning bodies B and C; a drive unit E for rotating the turning bodies so as to run the endless flexible bodies D all at once; and a press plate holding F unit which has a plurality of press plate holders and which is disposed between the left and right endless flexible bodies D with its left and right sides connected to the rear or front segments of the respective endless flexible bodies D stretched between the upper turning bodies B and the lower turning bo

Abstract: The invention provides a plate handling system for use in an imaging system in which plates of recording media are fed through an imaging unit. The plate handling system includes an input portion for receiving a plate from the imaging engine, a first conveying assembly, a second conveying assembly, an intermediate portion and an output portion. The first conveying assembly extends from the input portion to the intermediate portion, and is provided to direct a plate along a first direction. The second conveying assembly extends toward the output portion of the plate handling system, and is provided to direct a plate along a second direction from the intermediate portion to the output portion. The second direction is generally perpendicular to the first direction.

Abstract: A device for delivering a printing plate having at least one edge to a plate cylinder of a printing press in a position for exchange is provided. The device includes at least one selectable exchangeable format slide-in unit insertable into the printing press. The format slide-in unit is selected to accommodate the plate cylinder. The device also includes a delivery mechanism with a number of settings corresponding to the selected format slide-in unit. The delivery mechanism determines the position of exchange that corresponds to the selected format slide-in unit.

Abstract: A printing drum (2), to which a stencil sheet having subjected to a stencil making process is attached, can be attached to and removed from a printer main body (1). A nonvolatile memory (25) is provided in the printing drum. The number of print products is stored in the nonvolatile memory as “Information on the use” of the printing drum. A control device (5) of the printer main body reads out “Information on the use” from the nonvolatile memory and stores them in a RAM (12) when the printing drum is attached to the printer main body. Subsequently, when printing is performed, information on the number of print products is updated. When the printing drum is removed from the printer main body, “Information on the use” is updated and written into the nonvolatile memory.

Abstract: A residual amount in the discharged stencil sheet box is displayed, a superior compression is performed against the discharged stencil sheet and many stencil sheets can be stored in the box. When the perforated stencil sheet 22 transferred by the feeding means 41 into the discharged stencil sheet box 42 is compressed by the discharged stencil sheet compression plate 43, the encoder 50 is utilized for detecting moving amount and compression force of the plate 43. When the pulse width of the pulse generated from the encoder 50 becomes a predetermined value, it is discriminated that the compression force with the plate 43 reaches a desired value, and the compression motor 44 is stopped. The number of pulses generated by the encoder 50 is counted to detect the moving position of the plate 43 and the residual amount in the box 42 is displayed in response to the moving position.

Abstract: A control device comprises printing plate changing means for changing a printing plate supported on a plate cylinder, and means for switching a folding device status of a folding machine in accordance with a folding device status in the next printing. The control device operates the printing plate changing means and the means for switching the folding device status of the folding device simultaneously in order to shorten the total operation time.