EP0603261B1 - Printing plate magazine for a printing machine and printing plate exchange process - Google Patents

Abstract

PCT No. PCT/EP92/02056 Sec. 371 Date May 12, 1994 Sec. 102(e) Date May 12, 1994 PCT Filed Sep. 7, 1992 PCT Pub. No. WO93/04863 PCT Pub. Date Mar. 18, 1993.A device in the form a magazine is disclosed for carrying away used printing plates from the plate cylinder of a printing machine. The device applies in particular to the automatic exchange of printing plates. The device has an arrangement for carrying away the plates with (first) holders for each printing plate capable of being activated. The (first) holders are arranged on a (first) carriage that can be moved along a (first) guide substantially over the whole length of the device, inside the magazine.

Description

The invention relates to a device designed as a magazine for removing and / or feeding printing plates from or to a printing plate cylinder of a printing press, in particular for an automatic or semi-automatic printing plate change, with a plate removal and a plate feed device.

A device of the type mentioned is known from European patent application 0 435 410. It serves to automate a printing plate change. A plate changing device for a printing press with a plate cylinder is described there. The printing plates are held, transported, stacked in the printing plate holding device and stored there. A holding device for new printing plates, in which they are stacked and which holds and transports them, is provided in order to insert them one after the other into the opened clamping device.

From the document US 4,727,807 a robot arm for automatic printing plate change is known, which brings and assembles new printing plates from a magazine containing a plurality of printing plates to the plate cylinder, and removes old printing plates and stores them in a magazine for old printing plates, which holds several old printing plates. The pressure plates are gripped by means of suction cups. The magazines for old and new printing plates are attached to the base of the robot in such a way that the robot arm can reach them.

EP 0 435 413 is a method for plate removal and plate feeding, the criterion for the order serves the most favorable angular position of the plate cylinder.

The magazine records old, used records. For removal, the printing plate used is unclamped at one end on the printing plate cylinder and then - by appropriate rotation of the printing plate cylinder - partially inserted into the magazine. The other end of the printing plate is then released from the clamping device of the printing plate cylinder and the entire printing plate with the plate removal device is introduced into the magazine. Then a new printing plate to be used is then removed from the magazine by means of the plate feed device. First, one end of the printing plate is inserted into the corresponding clamping device of the printing plate cylinder and clamped there and then - by rotating the printing plate cylinder - the printing plate is completely pulled out of the magazine and around the outer surface of the printing plate cylinder. Then the other end of the pressure plate is clamped and there is a clamping in the circumferential direction.

If the printing press has several printing units, a magazine is assigned to each printing unit. For the removal and / or feeding of printing plates, it is necessary to move the magazine from an approximately vertical position into an obliquely inclined position in which the lower magazine end is opposite the lateral surface of the printing plate cylinder. Since the space between the individual printing units is narrow for almost all printing presses, there is little space available for the magazines. The removal of old, used printing plates from the magazine or the introduction of new, used printing plates into the magazine is therefore associated with corresponding difficulties.

The invention has for its object to provide a device of the type mentioned, which allows the removal and / or supply of printing plates with a simple structure and safe operation and small designs and also the introduction into and removal from the magazine in a simple manner allows.

This object is achieved in that at least one cassette for the printing plates is removably assigned to the magazine, at least the cassette receiving the printing plates used having a bottom with adjoining U-shaped upper and lower edge regions.

This has the advantage that the new printing plates to be used can be inserted into the cassette outside the magazine, so that it is only necessary for the magazine to be "loaded" by inserting the cassette into the magazine. In a corresponding manner, a simple removal of old, used printing plates from the magazine is possible by inserting the used printing plates into the cassette located in the magazine by means of the plate removal device, so that only the cassette filled with used printing plates is removed from the magazine for removal got to. The device according to the invention is suitable either for removing old, used printing plates or for feeding new, used printing plates, or else for removing and feeding printing plates, that is, there is then a printing plate change in which one used printing plate included and a printing plate to be used is supplied from the magazine.

If the cassette both receives used printing plates and delivers printing plates to be used, it has a receiving space for the printing plates used and a receiving space for printing plates to be used. To start the operation of the printing press, it is then only necessary to assign this one cassette to the corresponding printing unit.

Alternatively, however, it is also possible for the magazine to be assigned two cassettes in a removable manner, of which a first cassette is used to hold used printing plates and a second cassette is used to dispense printing plates to be used. Therefore, two cartridges must be assigned to each printing unit of the printing press for operation.

The assignment of the cassette or the cassettes is particularly simple if the magazine has at least one receiving slot for inserting the cassette or the cassettes. If two cassettes have to be assigned to the magazine, two receiving shafts are preferably formed on the magazine.

In addition, a depressing device is advantageous which acts on the printing plates to be used which remain in the cassette transversely to their planes in order to prevent them from tipping out of the cassette. This tilting out could otherwise occur in particular if the magazine is pivoted back into its vertical position after an automatic plate change has been carried out.

At least the cassette that holds the (old) printing plates used preferably has a bottom with adjoining, respectively U-shaped upper and lower edge areas. The U-leg of the upper edge area forming a holding edge is preferably longer than the corresponding U-leg of the lower edge area. This makes it possible that the rear edge of a printing plate used can first be pushed far below the longer U-leg of the upper edge area and then retractable, so that the front edge also passes under the corresponding U-leg of the lower edge area without the rear edge the pressure plate is released from the longer U-leg in the upper edge area. The cassette for the new printing plates is preferably designed in the same way as the cassette for the old printing plates.

It has already been explained above that the lifting of a new printing plate to be used from the printing plate stack inside the cassette does not take place over the entire area at the same time, but in such a way that air can get between the plates in order to avoid "sticking" of the printing plates together. For example, suction can take place first through the rear, upper row of suction devices, then through the middle and finally through the lower row of suction devices. In addition, it can preferably be provided that the cassette which receives the printing plates to be used has spacers which are arranged between respectively adjacent printing plates. These spacers prevent a vacuum from forming between the individual printing plates. They can be designed as plastic tongues. They can preferably be fixed on the cassette in the resting position. When filling a cassette, a spacer (or several spacers) is thus first clipped onto the cassette in such a way that it is arranged on the surface of an inserted pressure plate. Only then is another new printing plate inserted in the cassette. The spacers are like this flexible so that they dodge when removing an underlying pressure plate.

In addition, it is particularly advantageous if the individual cassettes each have an identification, in particular a color identification, which is related to the associated printing unit, in particular in relation to the printing ink to be printed in the old printing unit. If all of the cassettes for the individual printing units have been loaded outside the printing press, they can be inserted into the magazines of the individual printing units in a particularly simple manner on the basis of this identification, without being mixed up.

The magazine according to the invention is preferably constructed in a layered manner, the cassette receiving the printing plates used in a lower layer, the plate removal device assigned to this cassette in a subsequent layer, the cassette having the printing plates to be used in a subsequent layer and the following in an outer layer the plate feeder associated with the above cassette.

The invention further relates to a method for removing and / or feeding printing plates from or to a printing plate cylinder of a printing press with a plurality of printing units, in particular for performing a printing plate change, individual sub-actions, such as in particular unclamping the printing plate trailing edges, unclamping the printing plate leading edges, removing the printing plates used , Feeding the printing plates to be used, clamping the printing plate leading edges, pressing or clamping the printing plate trailing edges successively, that is to say one after the other, depending on the smallest positioning path of the individual printing plate cylinders on the corresponding printing units be carried out before the next sub-action takes place in a corresponding manner. The removal, feeding or a change of the printing plate is therefore not carried out completely on one printing unit of the printing press and then carried out on the next printing unit of the printing press, but instead the individual — preferably automatic — work steps (partial actions) are carried out in succession on the corresponding printing units, the printing unit -The order in which these partial actions are carried out is determined by the criterion of the smallest positioning path of the printing plate cylinder. This makes it possible to remove printing plates or feed printing plates or to change printing plates on all printing units in the shortest possible time. The partial action to be carried out first is preferably started at the printing unit, the printing plate cylinder of which has to be adjusted from the angular position just present in order to achieve the angular position necessary to carry out the partial action.

In the case of fully automatic operation, the operator can preferably trigger a fully automatic printing plate change or the fully automatic unclamping of a printing plate used or the fully automatic clamping of a printing plate to be used on a control panel. For this it is necessary to first select a command that defines the work to be carried out. Then the fully automatic process is started by the operator (key press). The partial actions to be carried out then run according to the optimization principle mentioned above.

In addition to this fully automatic operation, semi-automatic operation is also conceivable. This is also carried out with a minimal number of activities on the part of the operator and is intended to be carried out simultaneously with one Minimum possible incorrect operations. The operator controls the process of a printing plate change or the supply or removal of printing plates only via operating elements, and therefore does not have to handle the printing plates themselves even in the semi-automatic mode.

In order to be able to carry out the operation in the semi-automatic mode as clearly as possible and without errors, according to the invention there are only a few operating elements, with which however different functions can be carried out in each case. Thus, for example, an operating element designed as a button allows different sub-actions to be carried out when depressed (for example clamping the printing plate or unclamping the printing plate or various positioning operations of the associated printing plate cylinder). For this purpose, the execution of individual partial actions is stored in such a way that the repeated actuation of an operating element which triggers the previous partial action now triggers a different, different partial action when actuated again. This creates a maximum of operating security with a minimum of controls.

Figur 1

ein Druckwerk einer Druckmaschine in schematischer Darstellung mit einem sich in Ausgangsposition befindlichen Magazin,

Figur 2

das Magazin der Figur 1 in einer Mittelposition,

Figur 3

das Magazin in Plattenwechselposition bei der Zuführung einer neuen, zu gebrauchenden Druckplatte zum Druckplattenzylinder der Druckmaschine,

Figur 4

eine Darstellung gemäß Figur 3, wobei die Druckplatte jedoch bereits auf den Druckplattenzylinder aufgespannt ist,

Figur 5

die Rückführung des Magazins in die Ausgangsposition,

Figur 6

das Anfahren der Mittelposition, um eine verwendete Druckplatte aufzunehmen,

Figur 7

das Magazin in Plattenwechselposition bei Aufnahme der verwendeten Druckplatte,

Figur 8

eine der Figur 7 entsprechende Darstellung, wobei sich die Druckplatte jedoch bereits vollständig in einer Kassette des Magazins befindet,

Figur 9

das Magazin wiederum in Ausgangsposition,

Figur 10

einen Längsschnitt durch das Magazin,

Figur 11

einen Längsschnitt durch das Magazin gemäß Figur 10, jedoch in einer anderen Ebene,

Figur 12

ein Querschnitt durch das Magazin,

Figur 13

eine schematische Ansicht im Längsschnitt beim Zuführen einer verwendeten Druckplatte zum Magazin,

Figur 14

eine der Figur 13 entsprechende Darstellung, jedoch mit weiter eingeführter Druckplatte,

Figur 15

das Magazin im Längsschnitt mit vollständig eingeführter Druckplatte,

Figur 16

eine der Figur 15 entsprechende Darstellung, jedoch im Zustand des Einbringens der Vorderkante der Druckplatte in eine Kassette des Magazins,

Figur 17

einen Querschnitt durch das Magazin im Bereich einer Plattenabführeinrichtung,

Figur 18

einen Längsschnitt durch die Kassette,

Figur 19

eine Bedientafel an den jeweiligen Druckwerken der Druckmaschine,

Figur 20

ein Flußdiagramm für einen vollautomatischen Druckplattenwechsel,

Figur 21

ein Flußdiagramm eines halbautomatischen Druckplattenwechsels,

Figur 22

ein Flußdiagramm bei halbautomatischer Druckplattenentfernung; und

Figur 23

ein Flußdiagramm bei halbautomatischer Druckplattenzuführung.

The drawing illustrates the invention using an exemplary embodiment and shows:

Figure 1

a printing unit of a printing press in a schematic representation with a magazine located in the starting position,

Figure 2

the magazine of Figure 1 in a middle position,

Figure 3

the magazine in the plate changing position when a new printing plate to be used is fed to the printing plate cylinder of the printing machine,

Figure 4

a representation according to Figure 3, but the printing plate is already clamped on the printing plate cylinder,

Figure 5

the return of the magazine to the starting position,

Figure 6

moving to the middle position to pick up a used printing plate,

Figure 7

the magazine in plate change position when the printing plate used is picked up,

Figure 8

7 shows a representation corresponding to FIG. 7, but the printing plate is already completely in a cassette of the magazine,

Figure 9

the magazine again in the starting position,

Figure 10

a longitudinal section through the magazine,

Figure 11

10 shows a longitudinal section through the magazine according to FIG. 10, but in a different plane,

Figure 12

a cross section through the magazine,

Figure 13

1 shows a schematic view in longitudinal section when feeding a printing plate used to the magazine,

Figure 14

13 shows a representation corresponding to FIG. 13, but with the printing plate introduced further,

Figure 15

the magazine in longitudinal section with the pressure plate fully inserted,

Figure 16

15 shows a representation corresponding to FIG. 15, but in the state in which the front edge of the printing plate is inserted into a cassette of the magazine,

Figure 17

3 shows a cross section through the magazine in the area of a plate removal device,

Figure 18

a longitudinal section through the cassette,

Figure 19

an operator panel on the respective printing units of the printing press,

Figure 20

a flow chart for a fully automatic printing plate change,

Figure 21

a flow diagram of a semi-automatic printing plate change,

Figure 22

a flow chart for semi-automatic plate removal; and

Figure 23

a flow chart for semi-automatic printing plate feed.

For an automatic or semi-automatic printing plate change, that is to say for removing an old printing plate used and subsequently feeding a new printing plate to be used to the printing plate cylinder 1 of a printing unit 2 of a printing press 3, the printing unit 2 has a device designed as a magazine 4. With the magazine 4, which is provided in a printing machine 3 with a plurality of printing units 2 on each printing unit 2 of the printing machine 3, a printing plate that is to be used can only be fed in or a printing plate that has already been used can only be removed (FIGS. 1 to 9).

In Figure 1, the magazine 4 is in its starting position (vertical position). In this idle state, the magazine 4 is secured against tipping (locking). Normal machine operation (printing operation) is only possible in this lower, vertical position of magazine 4.

The magazine 4 has two receiving shafts 5 and 6, into each of which a cassette 7 or 8 can be inserted from above (FIG. 1). The cassette 7 is used to hold old printing plates already used in the printing press 3. The cassette 7 is designed such that it can accommodate several, for example five, printing plates used. These printing plates form a stack of printing plates in the interior of the cassette 7, that is to say the individual printing plates lie flat on one another. The cassette 8 is used to hold new printing plates that are still to be used. It can also accommodate several, in particular five, printing plates at the same time, these printing plates also being assigned to one another over a large area. To remove the printing plates used, it is therefore only necessary to pull the cassette 7 out of the receiving shaft 5. Outside the printing machine 3, the cassette 8 can be equipped with new printing plates that are still to be used. If this has taken place, the cassette 8 is inserted into the receiving shaft 6 of the magazine 4, so that it is available for feeding to the printing plate cylinder 1 of the corresponding printing unit 2.

The individual positions of the magazine 4 which are assumed for removing and / or feeding printing plates are explained below. If a printing plate 9 to be used is to be fed to the printing plate cylinder 1, the magazine 4 moves - according to FIG. 2 - vertically upwards into a middle position and then swivels - according to FIG. 3 - into an inclined position (for example about 45 °). By means of a plate feed device of the magazine 4 to be explained in more detail the printing plate 9 to be used is then fed to the printing plate cylinder 1 and clamped thereon (FIG. 4). The magazine 4 then pivots back into its vertical position and then lowers again into the lower position (starting position) according to FIG. 5.

The printing process can now be carried out. When the print job has been completed, the printing plate 9 must be removed from the printing plate cylinder 1. For this purpose, a lifting device in turn lifts the magazine 4 into the middle position (FIG. 6). This is followed - according to FIG. 7 - by pivoting into the inclined position and - by unclamping the rear edge of the plate and turning the printing plate cylinder 1 backwards - the printing plate 10 used is partially pushed into the magazine 4 (FIG. 7). According to FIG. 8, the printing plate 10 used is then completely drawn into the cassette 7 by a plate discharge device of the magazine 4 to be described in more detail. Now the magazine 4 pivots back into its vertical position and then lowers - according to FIG. 9 - into the starting position.

Of course, it is also possible to combine the removal and supply of printing plates in order to change the printing plates. This means that in the inclined position, a printing plate 10 used is first picked up by the magazine 4 and a new printing plate to be used is then fed to the printing plate cylinder 1. If this has taken place, the magazine 4 swings back into the vertical and lowers into the starting position.

The construction of the magazine 4 will be explained in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 10 to 12.

For technical reasons, the magazine 4 in FIGS. 10 and 11 is in a horizontal position relative to the Side edges of the drawing sheet reproduced. However, it should be pointed out that the positions shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 correspond to the inclined positions according to FIGS. 3, 4, 7 and 8.

The magazine 4 is constructed in layers. It has an outer layer 11 from which the cassette 7 is received. A plate removal device 13 assigned to the above cassette 7 is accommodated in a subsequent layer 12. The cassette 8 is arranged in a subsequent layer 14.

A further layer 15 receives a plate feed device 16 which interacts with the pressure plates 9 of the cassette 8.

The plate removal device 13 has first holding means 17, which are designed as activatable first suction elements 18. The suction cups 19 of the first suction members 18 can be extended in the direction of the pressure plates 10 (for the sake of clarity, only one pressure plate 9 or 10 is shown in FIGS. 10 and 11). The first suction elements 18 are arranged on a first carriage 20 which can be moved along a first guide 21. According to FIG. 17, the guide 21 has two guide parts 22 which are spaced apart from one another and run parallel to one another and which are designed as guide rods 23. The guide rods 23 are surrounded by guide parts 24 of the first carriage 20 with a slight play.

The first carriage 20 can be moved along the first guide 21 by means of a drive device 25. The drive device 25 has a fixed, non-ferromagnetic tube 26 (for example an aluminum tube) which extends from the top to the bottom of the magazine 4. Inside the tube 26 is a Magnetic piston 27 which can be moved back and forth within the tube 26 by means of a pressure medium and can be positioned in desired positions. On the first carriage 20 there is a ferromagnetic component which is designed as a steel ring 29. Movement of the magnetic piston 27 therefore has the effect that the steel ring 29 and thus the carriage 20 are taken along via the magnetic field. Because of this construction, there is a flexible coupling and, moreover, the carriage can be moved from a position at the top of magazine 4 (shown with solid lines in FIG. 10) to a position at the bottom (shown with dashed lines in FIG. 10).

According to FIG. 17, a suction element 18 is arranged on both sides of the drive device 25. Each suction element 18 is fastened to a lever 30 which can be pivoted in the direction of the pressure plate 10 by means of a hinge 31. The position of the levers 30 is determined by a positive control 32 (see also FIG. 13), which is formed by a roller 33 which is connected to each lever 30 and which runs in a stationary guide rail 34. Each guide rail 34 has in the upper region of the magazine 4 a run-up slope 35 (FIG. 13), so that when the carriage 20 moves into an upper position, the rollers 33 run onto the run-up slopes 35 and thereby the lever 30 and thus the suction members 18 in the direction pivot onto the pressure plate 10. Springs 115 serve to return the lever 30 and to rest the rollers 33 on the ramp 35.

In the lower area of the magazine 4, actuatable hold-down devices 36 are arranged on opposite sides, which serve to act upon the pressure plate 10 in this area. Furthermore, 4 guide rollers 37, 38 and 39 are arranged in the lower region of the magazine.

The function of removing a printing plate 10 used from the printing plate cylinder 1 into the cassette 7 of the magazine 4 is described below. For this purpose, the magazine 4 is first brought into the required inclined position, corresponding to FIGS. 6 and 7. A rear edge clamping device 40 of the printing plate cylinder 1 then opens and releases the angled printing plate rear edge 41 clamped there. As a result of the inherent elasticity, the rear end of the pressure plate 10 strikes against the guide roller 37 (FIG. 13). Then, by turning the printing plate cylinder 1 backwards (arrow 42), the printing plate 10 is pushed into the cassette 7 of the magazine 4. The guide rollers 37, 38 and 39 help in inserting the trailing edge end of the printing plate 10. Guide rails 116 can be arranged which are in recesses in the Slide the pressure plate trailing edge 41. This insertion is shown in FIG. 13 with a dotted line and in FIG. 14 with an excellent line. If the pressure plate 10 has been moved approximately one third into the magazine 4, the suction elements 18 of the carriage 20 located in the lowest position within the magazine 4 are activated, that is to say the suction cups 19 move in the direction of the pressure plate 10 to be held and suck on the pressure plate 10. Now the carriage 20 moves while simultaneously turning the printing plate cylinder 1 backwards into its upper position, as a result of which the printing plate 10 is completely drawn into the magazine 4. Here, the front edge 44 of the pressure plate 10 is also unclamped. If the carriage 20 reaches the upper end region of the magazine 4, the rollers 33 run onto the run-up slopes 35 and pivot the levers 30, so that - according to FIG. 15 - the angled pressure plate rear edge 41 comes under a retaining edge 43 of the cassette 7. The hold-down devices 36 then press the pressure plate 10 down in the region of its front edge 44 (FIG. 16), so that the front edge 44 is lower than one Holding edge 45 of the cassette 7 comes to rest. By gravity and / or by moving the carriage 20, the front edge 44 is then brought under the holding edge 45 by pulling down the pressure plate 10. The printing plate 10 is thus securely arranged in the cassette 7. In particular, if several printing plates 10 that have already been used are to be accommodated in the cassette 7, it is necessary in the case of the printing plates 10 that were introduced last to pull them down by means of the carriage 20 and to hold them down by the hold-down devices 36 so that they come under the holding edge 45, due to relatively large tensions at the beginning of the printing plate, gravity alone is no longer sufficient to move the printing plates 10 into this position.

The printing plates 10 used are removed from the magazine 4 in a simple manner by pulling the cassette 7 out of the associated receiving shaft 5.

FIG. 18 shows a longitudinal section through a cassette 7. It has a base 46, to which the upper and lower edge regions 47, 48, which are U-shaped, are connected. The upper edge region 47 has a U-leg 49 and the lower edge region 48 has a U-leg 50, which forms the holding edge 45. The length x of the U-leg 49 is greater than the length y of the U-leg 50. The free distance between the ends of the U-legs 49 and 50 is selected such that a pressure plate 10 to be introduced is first pushed under the U-leg 49 and then swung into the interior of the cassette 7, the front edge 44 being the U-leg 50 happens. Then the pressure plate 10 is then displaced such that its front edge 44 passes under the U-leg 50, but - due to the greater length of the U-leg 49 is prevented that the rear grip of the U-leg 49 is released. So is the pressure plate 10 securely housed inside the cassette 7. When a printing plate 9 is removed from a cassette 8, the same procedure is followed, provided that a cassette old behind the grip is also used.

Each cassette 7 or 8 has a handle 51 in its upper area in order to facilitate insertion and removal from the associated receiving shaft 5 or 6 of the magazine 4. Furthermore, the corresponding cassette 7 or 8 can also be transported more easily to the printing press by means of the handle 51. Furthermore, each cassette 7 or 8 has an identification, in particular a color identification (this can be arranged, for example, on the handle 51), which is related to the associated printing unit 2 of the printing press 3. For example, the handle 51 can have a color that corresponds to the printing color of the associated printing unit 2. In this way, a clear assignment is given.

A special feature of the cassette 8, which contains the new printing plates 9 that are still to be used, is already discussed here, although the removal of the printing plates 9 from the cassette 8 will be discussed later. If a plurality of printing plates 9 are stacked on top of one another within the cassette 8, it is possible, when the uppermost printing plate 9 is removed, that a vacuum is formed for the following printing plate 9. This can lead to two printing plates being accidentally removed at the same time because they "stick together". To prevent this, a special removal technique is carried out, which will be discussed in more detail below, and it is also possible to place spacers between the individual pressure plates 9, so that the formation of a vacuum is prevented. The spacers are preferably designed as plastic tongues. You can be preferred Clip in the edge areas in a resting position. An expedient development provides for the spacers to be in the form of two rows of individual tongues, one tongue being placed between two pressure plates on both sides when the pressure plates are inserted. It is expedient to arrange these tongues in the area of the front row of suckers which first comes into action. When loading a cassette 8, spacers are first clipped in before another printing plate 9 is placed on a printing plate 9 already in the cassette 8. The spacers are so flexible that they dodge when removing the underlying pressure plate.

If, after removal of a printing plate 10, a new printing plate 9 still to be used is to be clamped onto the printing plate cylinder 1, the magazine 4 remains in its inclined position and a new printing plate 9 is removed from the cassette 8. This is done by means of the plate feed device 16.

In order to feed a printing plate 9 from the cassette 8 to the printing plate cylinder 1 by means of the plate feed device 16, the magazine 4 is - as already mentioned - in its inclined position in which support rollers 52 are supported on the bearer rings 53 assigned to the printing plate cylinder 1. The plate feed device 16 has second holding means 55 on a second carriage 54, which are also designed as activatable suction members 56 (second suction members). The suction members are - according to FIGS. 10 and 12 - each four of them in a row spaced apart, three rows being formed on the second carriage 54. Provision can also be made to equip the lower row of suction members 56 closest to the printing plate cylinder 1 with four suction members 56 and the remaining rows with three each. Arranged in the lower row assigned to the printing plate cylinder 1 Suction elements 56 are attached to levers 57 which can be pivoted about axes 58. Pressure cylinders 59 are provided for actuating the levers 57; furthermore, the levers 57 are acted upon by a spring 60. A preferably optically operating sensor 61 is arranged in the upper area of the magazine 4 and monitors the position of the associated pressure plate 9, in particular its position of the rear edge 41. An activatable depressing device 62 for loading the pressure plates 9 is arranged between the upper and the middle row of suction elements. Furthermore, the magazine 4 has at its lower end a displaceable pressing element 63 which is designed as a pressure roller 64 which can be displaced radially to the printing plate cylinder 1.

The second carriage 54 can be moved along a second guide 66 (FIG. 12) by means of a piston / cylinder unit 65. The second guide is formed by fixed profile rails 67, in which guide rollers 68 of the carriage 54 run.

For feeding a printing plate 9, the lowest suction members 56 assigned to the printing plate cylinder 1 can first come into operation, the levers 57 being in their undeflected position. Then the suction members 56 of the middle row of suckers and then the suction members 56 of the top row of suckers become active. Another order is conceivable, for example first the middle suction cups and then the ones on the edge. As a result of the activation of the rows of suction elements, which does not take place simultaneously, but is carried out one after the other, the new pressure plate 9 located at the top is raised in such a way that no or only a very slight vacuum forms to the further pressure plate 9 underneath. This ensures that only one pressure plate 9 is raised. Otherwise, the aforementioned spacers (plastic tongues) can be arranged between the individual pressure plates 9, which additionally counteracts the formation of a vacuum. Is the pressure plate 9 raised, the carriage 54 is pushed by means of the piston / cylinder unit 65 in the direction of the pressure plate cylinder 1. The front edge 44 of the pressure plate 9 enters the front edge clamping device 69 of the pressure plate cylinder 1, which was previously positioned accordingly. In the ancestor of the carriage 54 described above, the angled pressure plate rear edge 41 slides under the sensor 61, which registers the correct transport of the pressure plate 9. During the transport of the carriage 54, a bypass is activated in the air supply to the suction devices of the suction members 56, since a strong suction air is only necessary for the suction of the pressure plate 9. After the carriage 54 has almost reached its outermost position facing the pressure plate cylinder 1, the suction devices of the bottom and middle rows of the suction members 56 are pressureless or only subjected to a weak vacuum; the pressure plate 9 is therefore only held by the top row of suction cups. The purpose of this is that the pressure plate 9 can align better. Then the front edge clamping device 69 is closed, so that the front edge 44 of the pressure plate 9 is firmly clamped. Then the printing plate cylinder 1 rotates in the forward direction and pulls the printing plate 9 onto its outer surface. Due to the bypass, the suction elements are only subjected to a slight negative pressure, so that they still hold the pressure plate, but this can be moved on the suction elements by the rotation of the plate cylinder. Before the two upper rows of suction pads pass through the pressure plate trailing edge, these are each depressurized and brackets 70 ensure that the angled trailing edge glides past the suction elements without collision. Due to its proximity to the pressure plate cylinder 1, the pressure plate 9 is relatively rigid in the area of the lower row of suction elements 56, so that a lever 57, which is designed as a plate with a hinge, is used to pass the angled pressure plate rear edge 41 on which the entire row of suction cups is arranged, or a plurality of levers 57 can be pivoted into their position shown in FIG. 10 by means of one or more cylinders 59, so that the pressure plate rear edge 41 can pass the row of suction cups properly. The pressure roller 64 is then moved radially in the direction of the printing plate cylinder 1, as a result of which the angled printing plate rear edge 41 is pressed into the rear edge clamping device 40 of the printing plate cylinder 1. The trailing edge clamping device 40 closes and then clamps the printing plate by appropriate displacement in the circumferential direction of the printing plate cylinder 1. The carriage 54 then moves back to its original position in order to grasp the next printing plate 9 at the given time.

The device moves back to its original position by depressurizing the cylinders 59 so that the springs 60 can cause the lever (s) 57 to return to their original position. Then the depressing device 62 then comes into action, which ensures that the remaining printing plates 9 remain clean in the cassette 8 and cannot tip out, in particular when the magazine 4 is pivoted back into its vertical position.

FIG. 10 shows that elastic brackets 70 are associated with the upper and middle rows of the suction members 56. However, this is only necessary for such rigid printing plates, the rear edge of which does not fall down due to their own weight. The elasticity of the brackets 70 allows the pressure plate 9 to be used to be sucked in, that is to say the brackets 70 do not interfere with this process. As soon as the suction elements 56 no longer have a negative pressure and the pressure edge 41 of the pressure plate travels past the suction elements 56 when the plate is fed, the brackets 70 ensure that that the angled pressure plate rear edge 41 does not get caught on the suckers of the suction members 56.

According to the invention, it is possible to carry out a printing plate change using the magazine 4 fully automatically and / or to remove a printing plate 10 used and / or to supply a printing plate 9 to be used. In order to be able to carry out a printing plate change or the supply and / or discharge of printing plates in the shortest tent, it is provided in a printing machine 3 provided with a plurality of printing units 2 that individual sub-actions, such as in particular unclamping of the printing plate trailing edges 41, unclamping of the printing plate leading edges 44, removal of the used printing plates 10, supplying the printing plates 9 to be used, clamping the printing plate leading edges 44, pressing or clamping the printing plate trailing edges 41, successively, that is to say one after the other, depending on the smallest positioning path of the individual printing plate cylinders 1 on the corresponding printing units 2, before the next partial action is carried out done in a corresponding manner. Work on the printing unit 2 with the smallest positioning path is started. The corresponding partial action is then carried out or further partial actions are carried out until a favorable short positioning path is again available on another printing unit 2. The corresponding sub-actions are then carried out there. These processes are repeated until the desired work has been carried out on all printing units 2 or on selected printing units 2.

In the case of a fully automatic printing plate change, the operation is carried out by selecting an appropriate command on the control panel of the printing machine 3. This is illustrated by step 71 in the flow chart in FIG. 20. The relevant printing units 2 are then selected, as well as the Specification of the function, that is, the action to be carried out. This is done in step 72. Then the operator presses a start button on the control panel (step 73) and step 74 takes action. If a correction is to take place before the start button is pressed, the loop 75 can be run through. After pressing the start button (step 73), the following sub-actions, which are now described, run fully automatically. In step 74, all selected printing units 2 are switched to printing. In the following step 76, a positioning for removing a printing plate 10 used takes place on the printing unit 2 in which the shortest positioning path is present. It should be noted that the printing plate cylinders 1 of the individual printing units 2 are rigidly coupled to one another (via gears, etc.), so that the rotation of a printing plate cylinder brings about a corresponding rotation of all other printing plate cylinders. In step 77, the printing plate rear edge 41 of the printing plate 10 is unclamped on the corresponding printing unit 2 (opening of the trailing edge clamping device 40). Then the printing plate cylinder 1 in question rotates backwards (step 78). This continues until the plate unclamping position is present in one of the other printing units 2. In step 79, this further pressure plate rear edge 41 is then unclamped. Steps 78 and 79 are repeated until the printing plate trailing edges 41 of all printing plates 10 are unclamped. In step 80, the backward rotation then takes place into the unclamping position of the printing plate leading edge 44 in the corresponding printing unit 2, in which the shortest positioning path has to be traversed. In step 81, the pressure plate leading edge 44 is then unclamped by automatically opening the leading edge clamping device 69. These partial actions are repeated until all printing plates 10 are unclamped. In step 82, the printing plate cylinders 1 are then rotated forward until the first - taking into account the smallest positioning path Printing plate leading edge 44 of the printing plates 9 to be fed reaches the insertion position. If this position is taken (step 83), the clamping takes place there (likewise step 83). The sub-actions 82 and 83 are repeated until all new printing plates 9 are clamped on their leading edges 44. In the following step 84, the printing plate cylinders 1 are rotated forward until - again taking into account the smallest positioning path - one of the printing plate trailing edges 41 of the printing plates 9 comes into a position for insertion into the associated trailing edge clamping device 40 of the corresponding printing plate cylinder 1. In step 85, the pressure is then applied to the pressure plate rear edge 41 and the clamping. These partial actions are repeated in succession until all printing plates 9 are clamped. In step 86, all printing units 2 are switched electrically from pressure. "From pressure" means that the adjacent cylinders move away from the printing plate cylinder. (To clamp the printing plates, they must have moved up to the printing plate cylinder in order to achieve a clean system). In step 87, the printing plate cylinder 1 rotates forward, which is necessary so that all printing units 2 reach this operating position mechanically.

With the design according to the invention, however, not only a fully automatic printing plate change, but also a semi-automatic operation is possible. For this purpose, the operator actuates operating elements of an operating panel 77 on each printing unit 2 of the printing press 3. This operating panel 77 is shown in FIG. 19. A push button 77 'is provided for the "forward" mode and a push button 78 for the "reverse" mode. Furthermore, a selection button 79 is available for "save". The operation "inking roller on / off" is possible with an illuminated pushbutton 80. Furthermore, a push button 81 is provided for the "creep speed" mode. With an illuminated push button 82, the operation "ink lifter on / down" be made. A push button 83 is used for "positioning". An indicator light 84 indicates "Fault: printing unit". There is also an illuminated pushbutton 85 for the "clamp / unclamp plate" operation and a further illuminated pushbutton 86 is used for the "delete changeover" operation. Finally, an "emergency stop" can be initiated with a shock switch 87.

In order to have a good overview and to avoid incorrect operation, in the case of a semi-automatic printing plate change or the removal or supply of printing plates, it is provided that different partial actions can be triggered one after the other with one and the same control element. If a certain partial action is started with an operating element, the completion of this partial action is registered by the printing press or its control. If the same control element is then operated again at a later point in time, a different partial action is carried out. Thus, only a few control elements are required and, moreover, the good overview largely prevents the operator from accidentally actuating a wrong control element.

A semiautomatic printing plate change is explained with reference to FIG. "Semi-automatic" means that the operator only actuates control elements, but does not handle the pressure plate himself and / or actuates the tensioning device directly. Rather, the operation is always carried out via the explained control panel 77 (Figure 19).

In step 88 of the flow chart in FIG. 21, the semi-automatic printing plate change is started. By pressing the selection button 79, the "save" is then carried out in step 89, that is to say the printing unit protection of the associated printing unit 2 opens. Then in step 90 push button 83 actuated, whereby positioning is carried out in the shortest possible way towards the end of the plate. The illuminated pushbutton 85 is then actuated by the operator in step 91, whereby the trailing edge 41 of the printing plate is unclamped. Then, in step 92, the pushbutton 83 "positioning" is again pressed, as a result of which the printing plate cylinder 1 is rotated backwards to the beginning of the plate, with the printing plate leading edge 44 automatically being unclamped when this position is reached. In step 93, the illuminated pushbutton 85 is then actuated again, as a result of which the front edge 44 of a new printing plate 9 is clamped in. In the subsequent step 94, the pressure is then applied and the drive proceeds forward to the end of the plate. This is done by actuating the push button 83 "positioning". At the same time, the trailing edge clamping device 40 of the associated printing plate cylinder 1 is opened and the trailing plate edge is pressed in with the pressure roller 64. In step 95, the printing plate end (trailing plate edge 41) is then clamped by actuating the illuminated pushbutton 85. In step 96, the positioning then takes place by actuating the pushbutton 83, as a result of which the corresponding plate end of the next printing unit 2 is reached in the shortest possible way. In the last step 97, unlocking is then carried out by pressing the selection button 89.

The flow chart of FIG. 22 explains the removal of a printing plate 10 used. This function is started with step 98. In step 99, the data is saved by pressing the selection button 79, which opens the printing unit protection. Step 100 relates to positioning (pushbutton 83), which means that the shortest route is to the end of the plate. The illuminated pushbutton 85 is then actuated in step 101, as a result of which the pressure plate rear edge 41 is unclamped. In step 102, positioning (pushbutton 83) takes place Reverse rotation of the associated printing plate cylinder 1 to the beginning of the plate with automatic unclamping of the printing plate leading edge 44 when this position is reached. Step 103 then repositions (pushbutton 83) so that the shortest route to the plate end of the next printing unit 2 is reached. The last step 104 is then used to unlock (selection key 79).

The flow chart of FIG. 23 explains the clamping of a printing plate 9 in semi-automatic operation. This operation is started with step 105. In step 106 a backup is carried out by pressing the selection button 79; the printing unit protection opens. In subsequent step 107, positioning is carried out by pressing pushbutton 83; the shortest way is to turn to the start of the printing plate. In the following step 108, the printing plate leading edge 44 is clamped by actuating the illuminated pushbutton 85. In the following step 109, the pressure is then switched and the forward movement is made to the printing plate trailing edge 41 by actuating the pushbutton 83 "positioning". In step 110, the plate is clamped at the rear by actuating the illuminated pushbutton 85. In step 111, "positioning" (pushbutton 83) then takes the shortest route to the start of the printing plate 2 of the next printing unit 2. In the last step 112, an unlocking takes place (selection key 79).

Claims (16)

1. Device designed as a magazine (4) for carrying away and/or supplying printing plates (10, 9) from or respectively to a printing-plate cylinder (1) of a printing machine (3), in particular for an automatic printing-plate exchange, with a plate carrying-away arrangement and a plate supplying arrangement, characterized in that at least one cartridge (7, 8) for the printing plates (9, 10) is assigned removably to the magazine (4), at least the cartridge (7) receiving the used printing plates (10) having a bottom (46) with upper and lower marginal regions (47, 48) adjoining it, which are in each case of U-shaped design.
2. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the cartridge (7, 8) has a receiving space for used printing plates (10) and a receiving space for printing plates (9) to be used.
3. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that two cartridges (7, 8) are assigned removably to the magazine (4), a first cartridge (7) of which serves for receiving used printing plates (10) and a second cartridge (8) of which serves for delivering printing plates (9) to be used.
4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one receiving shaft (5, 6) for inserting the cartridge or the cartridges (7, 8).
5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a pressing-down device (62) which acts on the printing plates (9) to be used transversely in relation to their planes in order to prevent a tipping out from the associated cartridge (8).
6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the U-leg (49) of the upper marginal region (47), which forms a holding edge (43), is longer than the corresponding U-leg (50) of the lower marginal region (48).
7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cartridge (8) receiving the printing plates (9) to be used has spacers which are arranged between in each case adjacent printing plates (9).
8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spacers are designed as plastic tongues.
9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spacers can be fastened on the cartridge (8) in a catch fit.
10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spacers are designed as two rows of individual tongues, these being arranged at the marginal regions of the cartridge (8) in such a manner that on both sides in each case one tongue can be placed between two printing plates.
11. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spacers are arranged on both sides in the region of the front sucker row.
12. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cartridges (7, 8) have a marking, in particular a colour marking, which bears a relation to the associated printing unit (2), in particular a relation to the printing ink to be printed with the printing unit (2), in other words identical colour of marking and printing ink.
13. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the magazine (4) has a layered structure, the cartridge (7) receiving the used printing plates (10) being arranged in an outer, lower layer (11), the plate carrying-away arrangement (13) assigned to the abovementioned cartridge (7) being arranged in a following layer (12), the cartridge (8) which takes hold of the printing plates (9) to be used being arranged in a further following layer (14), and the plate supplying arrangement (16) assigned to the abovementioned cartridge (8) being arranged in a following, outer layer (15).
14. Method of carrying away and/or supplying printing plates (10, 9) from, or respectively to, a printing-plate cylinder of a printing machine with a number of printing units, when using a device according to the preceding Claims 1 to 13, individual part actions, such as freeing the printing-plate rear edges, freeing the printing-plate front edges, carrying away the used printing plates, supplying the printing plates to be used, gripping firmly the printing-plate front edges, pressing or gripping firmly the printing-plate rear edges, being carried out successively depending upon the smallest positioning travel of the individual printing-plate cylinders (1) on the corresponding printing units (2) before the next part action takes place in a corresponding manner, characterized in that the carrying out of individual part actions is stored by a printing-machine control in such a manner that various part actions are triggered successively with one and the same operating element.
15. Method according to Claim 14, characterized in that starting is effected with the part action to be carried out first on the printing unit (2), the printing-plate cylinder (1) of which has to be displaced by the smallest positioning travel for achieving the angular position necessary for carrying out the part action.
16. Method according to one of the preceding Claims 14 or 15, characterized in that individual part actions are carried out by an operator by actuating operating elements, in particular switches or keys.

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