EP1608510A2

EP1608510A2 - Devices for storing a blanket to be exchanged on a cylinder of a printing machine

Info

Publication number: EP1608510A2
Application number: EP04712575A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Georg Schneider; Karl Robert SCHÄFER
Original assignee: Koenig and Bauer AG
Current assignee: Koenig and Bauer AG
Priority date: 2003-03-28
Filing date: 2004-02-19
Publication date: 2005-12-28
Anticipated expiration: 2024-02-19
Also published as: WO2004085153B1; ES2321614T3; US7331287B2; WO2004085153A3; US20060254447A1; DE10314340B3; EP1777071A3; ATE425871T1; EP1777071A2; WO2004085153A2; DE502004009176D1; EP1608510B1

Abstract

The storage device has the interchangeable printing plates (01) stored in a shaft which contains at least one code reader, for reading an identification coding carried by each printing plate, e.g. a bar code, with comparison of the read identification codes with a laid down plan for the printing sequence, for providing a warning before fitting of an incorrect printing plate to the printing cylinder.

Description

W1.2104PGT

2004-02-19

description

Devices for storing an elevator to be replaced on a cylinder of a printing press

The invention relates to devices for storing an elevator to be exchanged on a cylinder of a printing press according to the preamble of claim 1, 5 or 8.

From US 4727807 a device for automatically changing printing forms on a cylinder of a printing press is known, wherein a plurality of printing forms are to be arranged on the cylinder, printing forms hanging on a transport system to be fed to a printing unit being removed and in on the printing unit to which they are assigned be temporarily stored in a container after a code reader has read a code attached to each printing form and determined its assignment to the printing unit. A disadvantage of this device is that printing forms are only assigned to a specific printing unit by means of their code, but not to their mounting location on the cylinder, so that in the case of a plurality of printing forms to be arranged on the cylinder, their mounting on the cylinder is by no means ensured in accordance with an allocation plan provided for this cylinder.

EP 1 002646 A1 discloses a device for instructing the mounting position of a printing plate in a rotary press, with a printing form identified on its number of pages being assigned to a mounting location on the rotary press by a link to an imposition scheme and the machine-determined mounting location being displayed. The mounting position is therefore not apparent from the coding attached to the pressure plate. The content of the advertisement does not concern a message indicating a possible incorrect assembly.

US2002 / 0050216 A1 discloses a device for assigning elevators to be mounted on cylinders of a printing press, with manual assembly 2004-02-19

of the elevators by operators, the correct assignment of the elevators to the cylinders is carried out by reading features applied to the elevators. With this procedure, errors can e.g. B. cannot be excluded by confusion. There is no notification of a possible incorrect assembly

DE 39 40795 A1 discloses a method and a device for automatically feeding a printing plate to a plate cylinder or for removing it from a plate cylinder of a rotary printing press. The method for automatically feeding a printing plate to a plate cylinder of a rotary printing press, the plate cylinder having, among other things, means for clamping and tensioning the printing plate, provides that the printing plate is placed in a storage chamber of a printing plate feed or removal device and the plate cylinder is rotated into a printing plate feed position and the printing plate is fed to a clamping device of the plate cylinder by means of a number of transport rollers. The method for the automatic removal of a printing plate from a plate cylinder of a rotary printing press, the plate cylinder having, among other things, means for relaxing and releasing the printing plate, is characterized in that the plate cylinder rotates forward into a printing plate release position, that a clamping flap for detecting a printing plate end opens that the plate cylinder is rotated backwards, that a clamping flap is opened to detect the start of a printing plate and that the printing plate is fed to a storage chamber of a printing plate feed or removal device by means of a number of transport rollers. The device for performing the aforementioned methods has at least one transport roller designed as a drive roller and one transport roller designed as a pressure roller, wherein the pressure roller can be adjusted to the drive roller. In addition, various adjusting means, a pivotally mounted pressure roller for pressing the pressure plate against the plate cylinder and ejection fingers can be provided, the ejection fingers being able to have tips which can be pivoted into the periphery of the plate cylinder. The storage chamber of the printing plate feed or discharge device can also be pivotally mounted about a joint. 2004-02-19

DE 3940796 A1 describes a device for automatically changing a printing plate on a plate cylinder of a rotary printing press, the plate cylinder u. a. Has means for clamping and tensioning the printing plate, the printing plate changing device having two storage chambers, so that a printing plate loosened on the plate cylinder can be guided by means of transport rollers into one storage chamber, while a printing plate stored in the other storage chamber is fed to a clamping device of the plate cylinder by means of transport rollers.

EP 1 084839 A1 describes a device for holding and conveying a printing form. The device has translatory conveying devices which convey a printing form to be mounted on a forme cylinder or a printing form to be removed from a form cylinder. While the device is tilted from a rest position into its operating position for changing a printing form about an axis of rotation, a hook swivels only because of its own weight into the space in which the printing form is stored and secures the printing form at its trailing, bent end against unintentional falling out this room.

EP 0 214549 B1 discloses a device for automatically feeding a printing plate to a forme cylinder of a printing machine or for removing a printing plate from a forme cylinder, the printing plate to be fed to the forme cylinder being guided in a desired position by lateral position elements, the The printing plate is fed from an essentially horizontal storage position.

EP 0 100779 A1 discloses a device for the automatic replacement of printing plates, in which several plates to be assembled are suspended in a plate storage device on a clamping rod arranged below the plate cylinder and are lifted on the clamping rod to form the plate cylinder.

WO 93/04863 A1 describes a device for automatically changing 2004-02-19

Printing plates are known, with a plurality of printing forms being stored in a magazine, and a printing form being exchanged with a form cylinder only when the magazine is tilted.

US Pat. No. 4,178,848 discloses a device for automatically feeding printing formes to a forme cylinder, printing forms with non-folded ends being stored in a stack inclined in the feed direction and driven by rollers via a conveyor belt arranged in front of the stack in the feed direction sequentially to the form cylinder are fed, with the printing form located at the bottom being pulled out of the stack at its leading end with a suction device. This very long device is not suitable for printing forms with bent ends. Moreover, when pulling out the printing forms which are stacked directly on top of one another, there is a risk of damage to their printed image pages.

The invention has for its object to provide devices for storing an elevator to be replaced on a cylinder of a printing press.

The object is achieved by the features of claim 1, 5 or 8.

The advantage that can be achieved with the invention is in particular that several elevators on a cylinder can be changed quickly and reliably at the same time or at least in very rapid succession on a printing press. As a result of the actuation of a holding element, the elevator falls from a vertically upper storage position into an underlying storage position, from which it can be transported to the cylinder. By actuating the holding element, the stored elevator changes in free fall from its vertically upper storage position to the storage position below. The holding element is preferably actuated with a controllable drive and can thus be carried out mechanically. When changing the storage position of an elevator stored in the magazine, the elevator to be changed in its storage position remains in the magazine during the change process, 2004-02-19

the change being triggered by a controllable machine element of the magazine. An elevator to be changed in its storage position is not exposed to the risk that its surface will be damaged when changing. The device is also suitable for elevators which are particularly flexible in terms of their length, with hanging legs bent at their ends. In addition, the height of the device is extremely flat, so that it does not hinder the required access to the printing unit.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and are described in more detail below.

Show it:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an elevator.

2 shows a simplified sectional illustration of a holding device for an elevator arranged on a cylinder;

Fig. 3 tangentially brought up to a cylinder elevators, on their

Mounting a radial force acts;

4 elastically prestressed lifts when they are mounted on a cylinder;

5 shows a 4-cylinder printing machine with printing form magazines;

6 shows a device for changing an elevator on a forme cylinder of a printing press;

7 shows a detailed view of guide rails for lateral mounting of a second printing form in a shaft;

Fig. 8 arranged side by side in the axial direction of the forme cylinder W1.2104PGT 2004-02-19

Printing forms in a shaft;

9 shows a suspension of a guide rail movable in a shaft;

10 to 12 show a further embodiment for an embodiment of the lower shaft;

13 to 35 show a process sequence for changing printing forms on a forme cylinder;

36 shows a further exemplary embodiment for a printing press

Printing forme magazines.

An elevator 01 (Fig. 1) z. B. is designed as a plate-shaped printing form 01 or as a support plate carrying a printing blanket, has a substantially rectangular area with a length L and a width B, the length L z. B. Measured values between 400 mm and 1300 mm and the width B z. B. may have measured values between 280 mm and 1500 mm. Preferred measured values are for the length L z. B. between 360 mm and 600 mm and for the width B z. B. between 250 mm and 430 mm. The surface has a support side, which is referred to below as support surface 02, with which the elevator 01 rests in the state arranged on a lateral surface 07 of a cylinder 06 (FIG. 2). The back of the support surface 02 is a work surface which, in the event that the elevator 01 is designed as a printing form 01, is provided with a printed image or at least can be provided with a printed image. The elevator 01 has two opposite ends 03; 04 preferably each with angled hanging legs 13; 14, the ends 03; 04 limit the contact surface 02 and the hanging legs 13; 14 preferably extend entirely or at least partially across the width B of the elevator 01. The bearing surface 02 of the elevator 01 is flexible at least along the length L and, if the elevator 01 is arranged on the lateral surface 07 of the cylinder 06, its curvature can be adapted (FIG. 2). If the printing form 01 is arranged on the lateral surface 07, the length L runs 2004-02-19

Support surface 02 thus in the direction of the circumference of the cylinder 06, whereas the width B of the support surface 02 extends in the axial direction of the cylinder 06.

As shown in FIG. 2, the hanging legs 13; 14 of the elevator 01 is fastened by means of a holding device, the holding device being arranged in a channel 08, the channel 08 i. d. R. extends in the axial direction to the cylinder 06. An end 03 of elevator 01 which is aligned with the production direction P of cylinder 06 is referred to as its leading end 03, whereas the opposite end 04 is the trailing end 04 of elevator 01. At least the ends 03; 04 of the elevator 01 with the hanging legs 13; 14 consist of a rigid, for. B. metallic material, e.g. B. made of an aluminum alloy. Usually, the material thickness D of the elevator 01 (FIG. 1) or the material thickness D is at least of the hanging legs 13; 14 a few tenths of a millimeter, e.g. B. 0.2 mm to 0.4 mm, preferably 0.3 mm. The elevator 01 thus exists as a whole or at least at its ends 03; 04 made of a dimensionally stable material so that the ends 03; 04 are permanently deformable by bending against material-specific resistance.

At least at one end 03; 04 of the elevator 01 (Fig. 1), but preferably at both ends 03; 04 are along a bending edge 11; 12 each a folded-in hanging leg 13; 14 formed, the hanging legs 13; 14 in a narrow, in particular slot-shaped opening 09 of the channel 08 of the cylinder 06 (Fig. 2) insertable and there by means of a holding device, for. B. a clamping device can be attached. For example, based on the length L of the non-arched, flat support surface 02 of the unassembled elevator 01, at the end 03 there is a hanging leg 13 on the bending edge 11 by an opening angle α1 or at the end 04 a hanging leg 14 on the bending edge 12 by an opening angle β1 folded (Fig. 1), the opening angle α1; ß1 are usually between 30 ° and 140 °. If the opening angle α1 is assigned to the leading end 03 of the elevator 01, it is preferably of acute angle, in particular it is 45 °. The opening angle β1 at the trailing end 04 of the elevator 01 is often preferably greater than 80 ° 2004-02-19

or obtuse-angled, in particular it is 85 ° or 135 °. The folded hook leg 13 at the leading end 03 has a length 113, which, for. B. is in the range of 4 mm to 30 mm, in particular between 4 mm and 15 mm. The folded hook leg 14 at the trailing end 04 has a length 114, the z. B. 4 mm to 30 mm, in particular between 8 mm and 12 mm, the shorter length being preferred, in order to remove the hanging legs 13; 14 to ensure from the opening 09 of the channel 08.

2 shows a simplified sectional illustration of a cylinder 06 with a lateral surface 07 and a channel 08, which has a narrow, slit-shaped opening 09 with a slot width S to the lateral surface 07, the slot width S being less than 5 mm and preferably in the region from 1 mm to 3 mm. The opening 09 has a front edge 16 and a rear edge 17 in the production direction P of the cylinder 06. An acute opening angle α2 is formed between the wall 18 extending from the front edge 16 towards the channel 08 and an imaginary tangent T09 resting on the lateral surface 07 of the cylinder 06 on the opening 09, which is between 30 ° and 50 °, preferably 45 ° is. The beveled suspension leg 13 at the leading end 03 of the elevator 01 can thus preferably be positively attached to this front edge 16 of the opening 09, because the opening angle α1 at the leading end 03 of the elevator 01 is preferably adapted to the opening angle α2. The same applies to the trailing end 04 of the elevator 01. Between the wall 19, which extends from the rear edge 17 to the channel 08, and an imaginary tangent T09 lying on the lateral surface 07 of the cylinder 06 on the opening 09, there is an opening angle ß2 formed, which is either between 80 ° and 95 °, preferably 90 °, or between 120 ° and 150 °, preferably 135 °. The beveled suspension leg 14 at the trailing end 04 of the elevator 01 can thus preferably be positively attached to this rear edge 17 of the opening 09 because the opening angle β1 at the trailing end 04 of the elevator 01 is at least approximately matched to the opening angle β2. 2004-02-19

In channel 08 z. B. at least one preferably pivotally mounted holding means 21 and a preferably biased spring element 22, the spring element 22, the holding means 21 z. B. presses against the beveled hanging leg 14 at the trailing end 04, which is hooked into the opening 09 at its rear edge 17, whereby the hanging leg 14 is held at the trailing end 04 on the wall 19 extending from the rear edge 17 to the channel 08 becomes. In order to release the pressure exerted by the holding means 21, an adjusting means 23, preferably a pneumatically actuated adjusting means 23, is provided in the channel 08, which actuates the holding means 21 against the force of the spring element 22 when it is actuated. The holding device described by way of example therefore essentially consists of the holding means 21, the spring element 22 and the adjusting means 23.

The cylinder 06 described by way of example is preferably of such a nature that several, preferably identical, lifts 01 can be arranged on its lateral surface 07. If the cylinder 06 is designed as a forme cylinder, it can z. B. with up to six plate-shaped printing plates 01. It is also preferably provided that more than one elevator 01 can be arranged on the cylinder 06 in the direction of its circumference. So in the cylinder 06 under its lateral surface 07 z. B. two axially extending to the cylinder 06 channels 08 may be provided which have axially extending holes 09 for fastening lifts 01 to the cylinder 06, the openings 09 on the circumference of the cylinder 06 z. B. are arranged offset by 180 ° to each other if two elevators 01 are to be arranged on the cylinder 06 along its circumference. With this assignment of the cylinder 06 with two elevators 01 arranged one behind the other along its circumference, the leading end 03 of the one elevator 01 is fastened in the one channel 08, whereas the trailing end 04 of the same elevator 01 is fastened in the other channel 08. The same applies to the one or more elevators 01 arranged on this cylinder 06. If several elevators 01 are arranged next to one another in the axial direction of the cylinder 06, these can advantageously also be arranged offset to one another. The offset can e.g. B. individual elevators 01 or groups of elevators 2004-02-19

10

01 concern, each z. B. are offset by half a length L of the elevator 01 to each other, but this means that additional channels 08 with associated openings 09 or at least with portions thereof are introduced into the cylinder 06, which along the circumference of the cylinder 06 to the aforementioned channels 08 and openings 09 z. B. are arranged offset by 90 °.

In the following, a method for mounting a flexible elevator 01 on a cylinder 06 of a printing press is described by way of example, two elevators 01 being able to be arranged one behind the other on the cylinder 06 and each elevator 01 having a leading end in relation to the production direction P of the cylinder 06 03 and a trailing end 04 (Fig. 3). At the leading end 03 of the elevator 01, a suspension leg 13 is formed, this suspension leg 13 being bent to the elongated length L of the elevator 01 with an opening angle 1 of at most 90 °, preferably 45 °. At least one preferably slot-shaped opening 09 is provided in the cylinder 06 with an edge 16 and a second edge 17 in the production direction P of the cylinder 06, the edges 16; 17 preferably run parallel to one another in the axial direction of the cylinder 06. The leading end 03 of the elevator 01 is z. B. by means of a shear force acting on the trailing end 04 of the elevator 01, preferably tangentially fed to the cylinder 06 in its production direction P until the suspension leg 13 is present at the leading end 03 behind the second edge 17 of the opening 09 on the cylinder 06, so that the trailing end When the cylinder 06 rotates in the direction of production P at the end 03, the hanging leg 13 engages in the opening 09 as a result of a radial force FR acting at least on the leading end 03 and directed towards the cylinder 06 and hooks on the first edge 16. In the event that the elevator 01 with its hanging leg 13 formed on the leading end 03 stands on the lateral surface 07 of the cylinder 06 to support it, the radial force FR can, for. B. the acting on the lateral surface 07 of the cylinder 06 gravity FG of the elevator 01.

In addition to using the gravity FG of the elevator 01 or alternatively, the leading end 03 of the elevator 01 can be elastically pre-tensioned (FIG. 4), so that the 2004-02-19

11

at the leading end 03 formed hanging leg 13 due to a restoring moment MR directed towards the cylinder 06 springs into the opening 09 as soon as the opening 09 of the cylinder 06 and the line of contact 27 of the hanging leg 13 with the lateral surface 07 of the cylinder 06 due to a relative movement between the elevator 01 and the cylinder 06 are directly opposite, the relative movement taking place in particular by the rotation of the cylinder 06 in the production direction P.

The restoring moment MR results from the fact that the elevator 01 consists of an elastically deformable material and thus inherently has an elastically resilient property, this property being used insofar as the leading end 03 of the elevator 01 when approaching the cylinder 06 z. B. over a preferably axially extending to the cylinder 06, spaced from the cylinder 06 arranged edge 26 of a support member 24 and is bent there such that a bending stress builds up with a spring force directed to the cylinder 06 at the leading end 03 of the elevator 01 (dashed line of elevator 01 in Fig. 4). At least until the leading end 03 of the elevator 01 guided over the edge 26 of the support element 24 stands on the lateral surface 07 of the cylinder 06, the trailing end 04 of the elevator 01 is fed from a spatial direction fixed to the cylinder 06. The elevator 01 is thus stabilized during the assembly process by the line of contact 27 of its hanging leg 13 attached to the leading end 03 with the lateral surface 07 of the cylinder 06 and by its support on the edge 26 of the support element 24 and by a positional fixation 28 of the trailing end 04. The support element 24 may e.g. B. as a rolling element 24, in particular as a roller 24 or as one or more axially to the cylinder 06 arranged side by side rollers 24, the z. B. in the function of a pressure element 24 on the cylinder 06 is or are. The support element 24 is preferably arranged close to the cylinder 06.

The leading end 03 of the elevator 01 can also be brought against the cylinder 06 in such a way that after its contact with the lateral surface 07 of the cylinder 06 this end 03 is at an acute angle γ with an imaginary angle in 2004-02-19

12

a contact point 29 on the lateral surface 07 of the cylinder 06, a second tangent T29 lying away from the lateral surface 07 of the cylinder 06 (illustration of the elevator 01 in FIG. 4 with a solid line). The bending of the leading end 03 of the elevator 01 carried out in this way should, however, only be so strong that the hanging leg 13 attached there still lies securely against the lateral surface 07 of the cylinder 06. To support the secure fit of the hanging leg 13 on the lateral surface 07 of the cylinder 06, for. B. the support element 24 are placed on the elevator 01, whereby the elevator 01 is held with its leading end 03 close to the lateral surface 07 of the cylinder 06.

During the relative movement between the cylinder 06 and the elevator 01, preferably during the rotation of the cylinder 06 in its production direction P, but also just as well during a suitable movement of the elevator 01, e.g. B. against the production direction P of the cylinder 06, the hooking leg 13 hooks on the leading end 03 of the elevator 01 on the first edge 16 of the opening 09. A rolling element 24 placed on the cylinder 06 can support the mounting of the elevator 01 on the cylinder 06 by the rolling element 24 rolling up the elevator 01 on the cylinder 06. The hanging leg 14 is formed at the trailing end 04 of the elevator 01, this hanging leg 14 being pressed by the rolling element 24 in the course of the winding of the elevator 01 onto the cylinder 06 into the opening 09 of the cylinder 06.

A device for performing the aforementioned method is now using the example of a web offset printing press with z. B. a standing rubber-to-rubber printing unit in 4-cylinder design with z. B. horizontal guidance of a printing material 46, preferably a paper web 46 explained (Fig. 5). In this example, a first pair of cylinders 31; 32 consisting of a forme cylinder 31 and a blanket cylinder 32 and a second pair of cylinders 33; 34 consisting of a forme cylinder 33 and a blanket cylinder 34 is provided, the paper web 46 between the two 2004-02-19

rubber blanket cylinders 32; 34 is passed. In the printing press, preferably several, e.g. B. five or six printing points are provided for different printing inks. For the sake of simplicity and without restricting the invention, it is assumed below that at least the forme cylinders 31; 33 are the same in their construction and in their dimensions.

The forme cylinder 31 is covered with at least two printing forms 36 and the forme cylinder 33 in the same way with two printing forms 37, or at least can be used, the printing forms 36; 37 z. B. a half the circumference of the forme cylinder 31; 33 have corresponding length L. The width B of the printing forms 36; 37 is u. a. depends on how many printing forms 36; 37 in the axial direction of the respective forme cylinder 31; 33 are to be arranged. So in the axial direction of the respective forme cylinder 31; 33 z. B. up to six printing forms 36; 37 may be arranged side by side. The forme cylinders 31; 33 double width and double circumference, whereas on the blanket cylinders 32; 34 arranged blankets the blanket cylinder 32; 34 z. B. span the full range.

As already shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the printing formes 36; 37 at their front ends with respect to the length L beveled suspension legs 13; 14 with which the printing forms 36; 37 on the respective forme cylinder 31; 33 are fastened by the hanging legs 13; 14 in one of the in the outer surface of the forme cylinder 31; 33 introduced in the axial direction to the forme cylinder 31; 33 extending slot-shaped openings 09 and inserted there if necessary with a in the forme cylinder 31; 33 are preferably held in a channel 08 arranged holding device. At the leading end 03 of each printing form 36; 37 is the opening angle α1 between the beveled hanging leg 13 and the elongated length L of the printing form 36; 37 preferably 45 °. At the trailing end 04 of each printing form 36; 37 is the opening angle β1 between the beveled hanging leg 14 and the elongated length L of the printing form 36; 37 preferably 90 °. The slot width S in the forme cylinder 31; 33 introduced openings 09 is preferably 1 mm to 5 mm, in particular 3 mm. 2004-02-19

14

For a change of one or more on the forme cylinders 31; 33 arranged printing forms 36; 37 are e.g. B. for the forme cylinder 31, a first, arranged below the paper web 46 printing form magazine 38 and for the forme cylinder 33, a second, above the paper web 46 arranged printing form magazine 39 are provided, each printing form magazine 38; 39 each have a receiving device 41; 42, e.g. B. a shaft 41; 42 for receiving at least one of the respective forme cylinders 31; 33 used printing plate 36; 37 and a receiving device 43; 44, e.g. B. a shaft 43; 44, for receiving a on the respective forme cylinder 31; 33 new printing plate 36; 37, preferably each receiving device 41; 42; 43; 44 preferably several spoke positions each for removable, used printing forms 36; 37 and for new printing plates 36; 37 has. While the respective forme cylinder 31; 33 assigned printing form magazine 38; 39 z. B. by a pivoting movement of the respective forme cylinder 31; 33 for changing a printing form 36; 37 is employed, z. B. the first forme cylinder 31 and the second forme cylinder 33 from their respective operative blanket cylinder 32; 34 parked. Alternatively or in addition to the parked forme cylinders 31; 33 can also the blanket cylinder 32; 34 be parked by the paper web 46. So when changing one or more printing forms 36; 37 the relevant forme cylinder 31; 33 decoupled from the paper web 46, while in the printing unit the other pair of cylinders 32; 34 can remain in production.

In the printing form magazines 38; 39 are the shafts 41; 43 and 42; 44 for receiving at least one used or new printing form 36; 37 each advantageously arranged at least substantially parallel to one another, ie they are preferably arranged one above the other in a layered construction. Here, for. B. a partition 47 in the respective printing forme magazine 38; 39 the shafts 41; 43 and 42; 44 separate from each other (Fig. 5). Each shaft 41; 43 and 42; 44 points for the printing forms 36; 37 at least two memory positions. In order to have good access to the shafts 41; 43 and 42; 44 to W1.2104PGT

2004-02-19

15

enable z. B. to remove a used printing form 36; 37 from the shafts 41; 42 or to provide a new printing form 36; 37 in the shafts 43; 44, these shafts are 41; 43 and 42; 44 preferably from the side facing away from the forme cylinder 33 or from a side of the printing form magazines 38; 39 accessible. The printing form magazines 38; 39 each preferably extend over the length of the bale of the forme cylinder 31; 33, but at least over the width B of the printing form 36; 37, and in their respective shafts 41; 43 and 42; 44 a printing form 36; 37 preferably completely, that is, according to their length L. The shafts 41; 43 and 42; 44 are z. B. in a housing, the housing having an opening o38; o39, wherein the opening o38; o39 each parallel to the bale of the respective forme cylinder 31; 33 can be aligned. Through the respective opening o38; o39 is a printing form 36; 37 the forme cylinder 31; 33 can be fed or from this into the shaft 41; 43 insertable. For this purpose, the openings o38; o39 of the printing form magazines 38; 39 based on an opening 09 in the forme cylinders 31; 33 at a significantly shorter distance a38; a39 to the forme cylinder 31; 33 brought up as the length L of the printing plates 36; Is 37. Distances a38 are advantageous; a39 between 2% and a maximum of 50% of the length L of the printing forms 36; 37, in particular short distances a38; a39 to 10% of the length L It is advantageous to arrange at least the printing form magazine 39 arranged above the paper web 46 such that this printing form magazine 39 can be moved from a rest position, preferably above the printing unit, to the form cylinder 33 into a working position z. B. can be moved up or swung up. The movable arrangement of the printing form magazines 38; 39 results in better accessibility to the printing unit z. B. to carry out the work required there, for. B. Maintenance work. In the working position, the shafts 41; 43 and 42; 44 of the printing form magazines 38; 39, but at least the storage positions of the printing forms 36; 37, preferably horizontally or with a slight inclination, preferably aligned with less than 15 ° with respect to the horizontal H, the openings o38; o39 of the printing form magazines 38; 39 advantageously to one of the openings 09 in that forme cylinder 31; 33 points with which the respective printing forme magazine 38; 39 cooperates. 2004-02-19

16

A movably arranged printing form magazine 38; 39 is in its working position in front of a forme cylinder 31; 33 at a38 distance; a39 and its orientation to the forme cylinder 31; 33 can be fixed by a locking means 48 (FIG. 5). The lock 48 can, for. B. done by a tapered bolt, the z. B. with respect to the forme cylinder 31; 33 is stationary and in an opening in the housing of the printing forme magazine 38; 39 engages and one on the forme cylinder 31; 33 z. B. swung-in printing forme magazine 38; 39 with its openings o38; o39 with respect to the barrel of the forme cylinder 31; 33 centered. It is advantageous to the forme cylinder 31; 33 to register in a pre-defined position, z. B. zeroing the page register before replacing a printing form 36; 37 between the forme cylinder 31; 33 and the printing forme magazine 38; 39 is coming. As an alternative to setting the forme cylinder 31; 33 can also the printing form magazine 38; 39 laterally relative to the forme cylinder 31; 33 are brought into a predefined position so that the exchange of a printing form 36; 37 between the printing form magazine 38; 39 and the forme cylinder 31; 33 can be done in a targeted manner and without lateral offset.

It is advantageous to arrange an articulated, preferably pivotable guide plate 49 near the forme cylinder 33 in front of the opening of the printing forme magazine 39 which can be directed onto the forme cylinder 33 (FIG. 5), with which a trailing end 04 of a printing forme released from an opening 09 in the forme cylinder 33 37 is directed to the shaft 42 for receiving the printing form 37 to be removed. In particular, the guide plate 49 for a printing form 37 to be removed from the forme cylinder 33 blocks an erroneous access to the shaft 44 in which at least one new printing form 37 is provided or at least can be provided. Likewise, the attachment of a guide plate 49 to the printing form magazine 38 arranged below the paper web 46 and interacting with the forme cylinder 31 can also be advantageous, but this is not shown in FIG. 5 for the sake of clarity.

Another embodiment of a printing press with printing form magazines results in connection with a printing press, for. B. a multicolor 2004-02-19

17

Offset printing machine, the printing units of which are preferably arranged in a bridge design or a compact figure of eight, ie a printing machine with eight printing points, which is of low construction, as shown by way of example in FIG. 36, in at least one frame 97 on a foundation 96 one above the other. A printing material 46, preferably a paper web 46, is fed to the printing press and passed vertically through the printing units. 36 shows four printing units which follow one another in the transport direction of the paper web 46, each of which has a transfer cylinder 32; to the right and left of the paper web 46; 34 with a forme cylinder 31; 33, the transfer cylinders 32; which are located opposite each other in a printing unit on the paper web 46; 34 roll on top of each other. The paper web 46 is z. B. brought up to the first printing unit by means of a first paper guide roller 92 arranged in front of the first printing unit and derived from the fourth printing unit by means of a second paper guide roller 93 arranged after the fourth printing unit. Each forme cylinder 31; 33 is assigned at least one inking unit 94, the details of which will not be discussed in more detail here. Each forme cylinder 31; 33 is a printing form magazine 38; 39 assigned, each preferably two shafts 41; 42; 43; 44 has. As in the exemplary embodiment described above in connection with FIG. 5, each printing forme magazine 38; 39, but at least its storage position for a printing form 36; 37, in the working position preferably essentially horizontally or only with a slight inclination of less than 15 ° to the forme cylinder 31; 33 aligned, in the working position of the printing forme magazine 38; 39 is at least one printing form 36; 37 between the shafts 41; 42; 43; 44 and the forme cylinder 31; 33 interchangeably by either a printing form 36; 37 from the forme cylinder 31; 33 removed and in the shaft 41; 42 introduced or a new printing form 36; 37 from the shaft 43; 44 led out and on the forme cylinder 31; 33 is mounted. The design features of the printing form magazines 38; 39 in this embodiment can correspond to those of the embodiment previously described in connection with FIG. 5. It is advantageous if the implementation, in particular the completion of a printing form change, is monitored by sensors. Likewise are the printing form magazines 2004-02-19

38; 39 in connection with the forme cylinders 31; 33 can be controlled in such a way that a printing form change can preferably be initiated selectively from a control station assigned to the printing press. Because the printing form magazines 38; 39 can be prepared for a printing form change during an ongoing production of the printing press, the makeready time required for the printing units to come to a standstill is reduced to an extremely short period of z. B. less than two minutes, preferably less than ninety seconds, for a complete change of all printing forms 36; 37 of the printing units arranged in this printing press. Depending on the design of the printing units, z. B. Ninety-six printing forms 36; 37 can be used at the same time. Such a rapid change of printing form even with a larger number of printing forms 36; 37 significantly increases the profitability of the printing press due to its extremely short downtime.

Further details regarding a method and a device for carrying out the method will now be explained by way of example with reference to FIGS. 6 to 35. 6 shows a forme cylinder 33 with two channels 08 offset on the circumference by 180 ° and two printing formes 37 arranged one behind the other along the circumference, the right-angled hanging leg 14 at the end 04 of each printing form 37 trailing in the production direction P of the forme cylinder 33 of one each arranged in the channel 08, held by a spring element 22 pressurized holding means 21 on a wall 19, the wall 19 extending from a rear edge 17 of an opening 09 opening the channel 08 to the channel 08, the holding means 21 being actuated by a the pneumatic element 23 counteracting the spring element 22 can be released. On the wall 18 extending from the front edge 16 of the same opening 09 to the channel 08, the hanging leg 13 bent at an acute angle is positively attached to the leading end 03 of the other printing form 37 arranged along the circumference of the forme cylinder 33. For details on the mounting of the printing forms, reference is made to FIG. 2.

6 also shows a pressure element 24 in the form of a pressure roller 24 or pressure roller 24 that can be adjusted by pneumatic actuation to the forme cylinder 33. 2004-02-19

19

Likewise close to the forme cylinder 33 is an alignment device 51 which is pivotably mounted parallel to its axial direction and has two diametrically arranged, wing-shaped stops 52 acting laterally on a printing form 37; 53 provided, the alignment device 51 each with one of its stops 52; 53 temporarily fixes a printing plate 37 to be assembled while it is being brought up to the forme cylinder 33. The stops 52; 53 z. B. each formed as a side guide plate, the stops 52; 53 z. B. on a pivotable cross member, for. B. a square tube are arranged. The stops 52; 53 differ z. B. in its position based on the axial direction of the forme cylinder 33, so that, for. B. for a printing plate 37 of simple width, the stop 52 and for a printing plate 37 in panorama format, the stop 53 is used by correspondingly pivoting the alignment device 51. The stops 52; 53 can be adjusted axially to the forme cylinder 33 for the required width of the printing form 37.

6 further details of the printing forme magazine 39 can be seen. The exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 to 35 is based on a variant for the printing form magazine 39, in which an upper shaft 44 for providing a printing form 37 to be mounted on the form cylinder 33 as an independent structural unit independently of a lower shaft 42 for receiving one of the Forme cylinder 33 removed printing form 37 is operable. Both shafts 42; 44 can be used as individually and independently usable and thus independently functional units. This application is of interest if e.g. B. only the loading of the forme cylinder 33 with new printing forms 37 is to be automated, whereas the removal of used printing forms 37 is carried out by an operator. If both shafts 42; 44 are formed in the printing form magazine 39, a fully automatic printing form changer results. Both shafts 42; 44 each have all the devices required for storing and conveying printing formes 37 and are preferably of a very compact design. In particular, despite their capacity of at least two printing forms 37 each, they have a low overall height. The height is z. B. less than 150 mm, preferably less than 100 mm. 2004-02-19

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 to 35, the shaft 44 is arranged horizontally and aligned tangentially to it. As a result, the gravity FG exerted on the printing form 37 is used in the best possible way to support the functions described below. In the shaft 44 there is a support 54 on which a first printing form 37 to be mounted on the forme cylinder 33 with its beveled hanging legs 13; 14 can be set up or put down. A printing form 37 deposited on the pad 54 is there, for. B. with their entire stretched length L. The support 54 is preferably not formed over the entire surface, but in the form of parallel strips 54 or slide rails 54. The hanging leg 14 at the trailing end 04 of the first printing forme 37 lies in the shaft 44 on the side facing away from the forme cylinder 33 against a preferably vertical stop 56, the stop 56 being linear from a conveyor 57 and parallel to the support 54 in the direction of the opening o39 of the printing form magazine 39 is movable in order to convey this first printing form 37 out of the shaft 44 by means of a translational movement and preferably without deformation until the hanging leg 13 at the leading end 03 of this first printing form 37 can engage in the slot-shaped opening 09 of the forme cylinder 33. The stop 56 thus serves as a contact position in the shaft 44 for the first printing form 37 and also has the function of a slide 56. If this first printing form 37 has at least one register punch on the trailing leg 14 at its trailing end 04, the stop 56 can, for. B. advantageously also be formed as a perpendicular to the support 54 standing, connected to the conveyor 57 register pin 56, so that with the application of the first printing form 37 to the stop 56 for them a pre-registration with respect to their side register. The conveyor 57 is, for. B. as a belt drive 57 or as a linear drive 57, preferably as a pneumatic linear drive 57, in particular as a rodless, double-acting linear drive 57.

In the shaft 44 there is a holder 58, in particular a printing plate holder 58 for holding at least one second printing plate 37 to be mounted on the forme cylinder 33. As shown in FIG. 13, the second printing plate 37 is held by the printing plate holder 58 above the support 54, ie at a distance a54 over the edition 54 z. B. held by that 2004-02-19

21

the printing form holder 58, for example on the side facing away from the forme cylinder 33, has a piston 59 or slide 59 which can be moved parallel to the support 54, at the end of which a holding element 61, e.g. B. L-shaped bracket 61 is arranged, the second printing plate 37 above the support 54 between the angle 61 of the extended slide 59 and an arranged in the region of the opening 39 of the printing forme magazine 39 further holding element 62, z. B. a rigidly arranged stop 62 is clamped. The distance a54 has a value that is preferably between twice and four times the length 114 of the hanging leg 14 at the trailing end 04 of the second printing form 37. The second printing form 37 is clamped in that a clear distance a58 between the angle 61 of the extended slide 59 and the stop 62 is set shorter than the elongated length L of the second printing form 37. The stop 62 in the region of the opening o39 of the printing form magazine 39 preferably has a bevel 63 on which the hanging leg 13 can be supported on the leading end 03 of the second printing plate 37, the bevel 63 of the stop 62 and the L-shaped bracket 61 on which the hanging leg 14 is located on the trailing end 04 the second printing form 37 supports, are facing each other. Since the second printing form 37 is flexible, in particular along its length L, it bulges in its state clamped between the angle 61 and the stop 62. The slide 59 of the printing form holder 58 can preferably be moved linearly parallel to the support 54 and preferably has two stable operating positions, namely a stable operating position in the retracted state which releases the second printing form 37 and in the extended state, that is to say which clamps the second printing form 37. In a variant for the printing form holder 58, the arrangement of the movable slide 59 and rigid stop 62 are interchanged, so that the slide 59 is located in the region of the opening o39 of the printing form magazine 39 and the stop 62 is on the side facing away from the form cylinder 33. As an alternative to the linear mobility described, the angle 61 or the stop 62 can also be arranged to be pivotable about a pivot axis aligned parallel to the width B of the printing form 37. A printing form 37 clamped between the angle 61 and the stop 62 is in its upper or first storage position, while a printing form 37 is deposited on the support 54 2004-02-19

22

Printing form 37 assumes a lower, second storage position in this state, the printing form 37 being temporarily stored in the second storage position before being conveyed to the forme cylinder 33. By actuation, preferably by a distance, e.g. B. from a control station belonging to the printing press, the printing form 37 changes within the shaft 44 from its upper, first storage position to its lower, second storage position. Printing forms 37 stored in the first storage position and in the second storage position are spaced apart from one another, e.g. B. along its length L with the distance a54, so that they do not touch each other and therefore cannot damage.

Another embodiment of the printing form holder 58, which advantageously allows a particularly low overall height for the shaft 44, provides for the second printing form 37 above the support 54 which extends in a single plane in the axial direction of the forme cylinder 33 and has at least one holding element 64 in an upper spoke position to hold, the holding element 64 z. B. is formed as a guide rail 64, preferably as two mutually parallel guide rails 64, (Fig. 7 to 9), the guide rails 64, the second printing plate 37 located in the shaft 44 on its two longitudinal sides along at least part of its length L in hold the upper memory position. The design of the printing form holder 58 with guide rails 64 requires that the hanging legs 13; 14 at the ends 03; 04 of the second printing form 37 do not extend over the full width B of the printing form 37, by not reaching the long sides of the printing form 37. The long sides of the printing form 37 thus form a protrusion in the area of the contact surface 02 of the printing form 37 with respect to the hanging legs 13; 14. This projection is necessary to make the printing form 37 feasible in the guide rails 64. The holding element 64, in particular each guide rail 64, is ∑. B. from a U-shaped, each one of the long sides of the printing plate 37 with a certain play encompassing bracket into which the second printing plate 37 can be inserted from the side facing away from the forme cylinder 33. The second printing form 37 is thus preferably held by the guide rails 64 in a narrow region of their side, the holder in particular as a vertical support and thus 2004-02-19

23

acts as a support against the gravity FG acting on the printing form 37. The guide rails 64 are preferably made of a dimensionally stable material such as metal or plastic.

In order to place a second printing form 37 held by the guide rails 64 on the support 54, at least one of the guide rails 64 can be moved in the direction of the width B of the second printing form 37. Preferably, however, both guide rails 64 can be moved in opposite directions along the width B of the second printing form 37, so that they move away from one another at least for a short time and increase their distance from one another in such a way that they no longer vertically support the long sides of the printing form 37, as a result of which the second printing form 37 as a result of the gravity FG acting on it falls between the guide rails 64 onto the support 54. If the holding element 64 in a first operating state, the second printing form 37 z. B. in the upper storage position by an electrical or magnetic force, the holding element 64 preferably changes remotely from its first operating state to a second operating state, the second operating state causing the holding element 64 to separate the printing form 37 and the holding element 64 and the printing form 37, when detached from the holding element 64 in the shaft 44, changes due to a free fall and thus solely due to the gravitational force FG acting thereon, into the spoke position which is preferably directly vertically below the upper storage position. The second printing form 37 is held in the lower and also in the upper spoke position in the shaft 44 at an inclination of less than 15 °, preferably horizontally. At least the guide rails 64 designed as a support bearing for the second printing form 37 have only this slight inclination or a horizontal course in their longitudinal extent.

Release of the second printing form 37 from the guide rails 64 which engage it laterally is preferably supported by a stop 67 which is perpendicular to the bearing surface 02 of the second printing form 37 and which is preferably arranged rigidly in the shaft 44, preferably on both longitudinal sides of the second printing form 37 such stop 67 is arranged so that during a along the 2004-02-19

24

Width B of the second printing form 37 directed in opposite direction from the guide rails 64 holding this printing form 37, this printing form 37 remains stable in position through the stops 67 arranged on both sides in the plane spanned by the support surface 02 of the printing form 37. The stops 67 scrape the printing form 37 from the guide rails 64 which move away from one another by the printing form 37 striking the stops 67, the vertical support being simultaneously removed from the printing form 37 by the movement of the guide rails 64. The second printing forme 37 is preferably released by a z. B. from the control station belonging to the printing press controllable drive 69, the drive 69 acting on the guide rails 64 and moving them along an adjustment path s68.

If several printing plates 37 are to be arranged next to one another on the forming cylinder 33 in the axial direction thereof and several printing plates 37 are arranged next to one another in the shaft 44 in the axial direction of the forme cylinder 33, it is advantageous to guide the guide rails 64, which engage adjacent second printing plates 37, in the printing plate magazine 39 above the Pad 54 in two different planes, ie to be arranged vertically offset from one another, 33 successive planes preferably being arranged alternately offset in the axial direction of the forme cylinder. Due to the offset arrangement of the planes forming the first storage position of the printing formes 37, a distance a67 between printing forms 37 arranged next to one another in the axial direction of the forme cylinder 33, that is to say adjacent, can be kept as small as possible. The value of the distance a67 preferably corresponds to a distance which the printing cylinders 37 have on the form cylinder 33 in the axial direction next to one another, ie adjacent. From planes arranged next to one another in the axial direction of the forme cylinder 33, ie in each case from a first storage position, deposited on the support 54 and thus respectively brought into their second storage position, the forme cylinder 33 can be fed to the forme cylinder 33 either individually or, preferably, simultaneously, with the conveying device 57, whereby the latter procedure is advantageous for a quick change of printing forms 37 on the forme cylinder 33. Printing forms 37 stored in different planes arranged next to one another in the axial direction of the forme cylinder 33 can be operated simultaneously W1.2104PGT

2004-02-19

25

or ∑ switch to their respective second storage position at least in quick succession. Printing forks 37 which are fed simultaneously to the forme cylinder 33 are arranged side by side on the forme cylinder 33 in its axial direction,

In the example shown in FIG. 8, four second printing forms 37 are arranged next to one another in their first storage position in the axial direction of the forme cylinder 33, each of these printing forms 37 being held in each case on their longitudinal sides in a guide rail 64. The vertical offset of the printing forms 37 is only a few millimeters, for. B. 4 mm to 6 mm, and corresponds approximately to the height of the guide rails 64, preferably their single to double height. The movement of the guide rails 64 along the width B of the second printing form 37 takes place, for. B. by a linear displacement of the guide rails 64; however, it can also be carried out by a pivoting movement of the guide rails 64, the guide rails 64 being pivotable about a pivot axis, the pivot axis running parallel to the side of the printing form 37 supported by the guide rails 64. So a guide rail 64 z. B. be attached to at least one swivel arm 68 which, for. B. in the plane spanned by the support surface 02 of the second printing form 37, which is indicated in FIG. 9 by an arrow. The swivel arm 68, one end of which is connected to the guide rail 64 and the other end of which is preferably fixed in place in the shaft 44, can, for. B. as a laterally acting on the guide rail 64 spring element 68, z. B. be designed as a leaf spring 68, the connected to the pivot arm 68 guide rail 64 through the drive 69, z. B. is moved by a controllable, in particular remotely controllable magnet 69, in an operating position holding the second printing form 37 or detaching from this printing form 37. The adjustment path s68, which a movable guide rail 64 executes along the width B of the second printing form 37, is in the range of a few millimeters, eg. B. between 2 mm and 10 mm, preferably at 4 mm. In this embodiment variant, too, a stop 67 is preferably provided, against which the printing form 37 abuts with its side supported by the guide rail 64, while the guide rail 64 withdraws the support from the printing form 37 by its movement. Two in the axial direction of the 2004-02-19

26

Forme cylinders 33 adjacent printing forms 37 can strike on opposite sides of the same stop 67. During the change from the upper storage position to the lower storage position, the printing form 37 can also slide vertically downward with one of its sides on the stop 67, so that the printing form 37 released from the upper storage position moves into the lower storage position in a guided movement. For a printing form 37 which changes its spoke position, the stop 67 then has the function of a lateral guide which preferably extends as far as the support 54.

Generally formulated, a method for storing at least two of the same cylinder 06; 31; 33 of a printing machine lifts 01; 36; 37 the following steps: a) one from cylinder 06; 31; 33 lift 01; 36; 37 is conveyed from a first to a second storage position, b) the elevator 01; 36; 37 elevator 01; 36; 37 is at the first storage position of the elevator 01; 36; 37 stored, c) the previously removed elevator 01; 36; 37 in its second spoke position and the elevator 01; 36; 37 in the first storage position of the elevator 01; 36; 37 are stored at an orthogonal distance along their length L, d) the elevators 01; 36; 37 are stored in their respective contact surface 02, at least for the most part covering, preferably covering at least 80%, or in their complete or almost complete covering. The elevator 01; 36; 37 and the elevator 01; 36; 37 can be stored vertically or horizontally spaced apart along their length L. The elevator 01; 36; 37 conveyed into its second storage position by a linear movement, in particular by a linear movement connecting both storage positions directly and directly to one another orthogonal to its support surface 02 or also by a movement of its trailing end 04, which will be explained in more detail below.

It is advantageous, in particular in the shaft 44, for example on the slide 56 for one W1.2104PGT 2004-02-19

27

to mount a code reader 71 on the support 54 lying on the first printing form 37 or also on the L-shaped bracket 61 for a second printing form 37, said code reader 71 reading a code preferably attached to the hanging leg 14 at the trailing end 04 of each printing form 37, i. H. a feature for identifying a printing form is recorded in order to check whether the printing forms 37 inserted in the shaft 44 correspond to the assignment plan of the intended printing process in a comparison, preferably carried out electronically in a control unit, with an occupancy plan provided for the forme cylinder 33 and stored in the control unit whether the printing forms 37 placed in the shaft 44 are also in the correct order for the intended occupancy. Thus, a corresponding message, for. B. an error message, d. H. a warning to the operating personnel against incorrect assembly, generated and z. B. to a control center assigned to the printing unit and displayed there or on the printing unit.

The coding can preferably be in addition to a human readable code such. B. be designed as a barcode. The code reader 71 is thus preferably arranged in the shaft 44 at its end facing away from the forme cylinder 33, a reading direction of the code reader 71 being directed either parallel to the length L of the printing form 37 or preferably parallel to the width B of the printing form 37. In a preferred embodiment, the code reader 71 is preferably arranged to be movable in or on the shaft 44 with a linear guide, or a movable mirror is preferably provided which is inclined at 45 ° to the width B of the printing form 37 and which detects a detection or reading signal from one on the printing form 37 deflects the coding attached to a code reader 71 arranged on one side of the shaft 44, so that only a single code reader 71 is required to read the coding attached to the printing forms 37 stored in the shafts 44. Considerable costs can be saved by using only a single code reader 71 for a plurality of stored printing forms 37. When using only a single code reader 71, the code reader 71 or the mirror is either parallel to the width B of the printing form 37, ie in the axial direction of the forme cylinder 33, preferably along a plurality of shafts 44 2004-02-19

28

and / or vertically vertically movable along the printing forms 37 stacked in one of the shafts 44, so that the code reader 71 or the mirror detects the coding of printing forms 37 stored in different storage positions. Either code reader 71 or at least one further sensor 91 can be used to monitor and / or to check whether an intended printing form change has been carried out successfully. Errors such as double occupancy or incorrect occupancy, i. H. the assembly of a printing form 37 at an incorrect location can then be avoided, but at least can be determined by a message preferably sent to the control center of the printing press before greater damage occurs.

FIG. 6 shows a further shaft 42, which is used to hold printing formes 37 removed from the forme cylinder 33. This shaft 42 has a z. B. inclined support 72, which, like the support 54 in the shaft 44 for providing printing plates 37 to be mounted on the forme cylinder 33, is preferably not formed over the entire surface, but in the form of parallel strips 72 or slide rails 72, the inclination of the support 72 The shaft 42 preferably widens on the side facing away from the forme cylinder 33, as a result of which this shaft 42 is more accessible for an operator on the side facing away from the forme cylinder 33, which facilitates the removal of printing forms 37 stored in the well 42. The pad 72 in the shaft 42 is, for. B. be inclined relative to a horizontal H by an angle of inclination δ, the angle of inclination δ z. B. between 5 ° and 15 °, may be approximately 7 °. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the shaft 42 for receiving printing plates 37 removed from the forme cylinder 33 is located below a shaft 44 for providing printing plates 37 to be mounted on the forme cylinder 33, which is a preferred but not a mandatory arrangement. The shafts 42; 44 can also be layered in the reverse order or arranged separately from one another.

A preferred embodiment of the shaft 42 provides that at least two printing forms 37 can be stored next to one another in the shaft 42 in the axial direction of the forme cylinder 33. This configuration enables printing plates 37 to be removed particularly quickly, in particular when on the forme cylinder 33 in its axial direction 2004-02-19

29

at least two printing forms 37 can be arranged because several printing forms 37 can be removed from the forme cylinder 33 at the same time. If on the forme cylinder 33 in its axial direction z. B. at least four printing forms 37 can be arranged, it is advantageous for reasons of stability, for. B. to arrange two shafts 42 side by side in the axial direction of the forme cylinder 33. Each storage space defined by the width B of a printing form 37 in one of these shafts 42 is then designed such that at least as many printing forms 37 can be stored there as printing forms 37 can be arranged on the form cylinder 33 along its circumference, the printing forms 37 being stored each space is stacked on top of each other. It can be provided that in each of the shafts 42 up to ten, but at least up to eight, printing plates 37 can be stored, so that printing plates 37 removed from the forme cylinder 33 can be collected in the shafts 42 and the shafts 42 not necessarily after each change of the printing plates 37 must be cleared by the operating personnel. Regardless of the number of shafts 42 arranged side by side, the storage locations in the axial direction of the forme cylinder 33 are at the same narrow distance from one another as the printing formes 37 are arranged on the forme cylinder 33.

On the side facing the forme cylinder 33, the shaft 42 for receiving printing plates 37 removed from the forme cylinder 33, at least in the operating state employed on the forme cylinder 33, has a guide element 73 arranged near the lateral surface 07 of the forme cylinder 33. B. in the form of a baffle 73, a wedge 73 or a rolling element 73, z. B. a roller 73 is formed and has the task of leading the trailing end 04 of a printing plate 37 to be removed from the forme cylinder 33 into the shaft 42. A distance a73 of the guide element 73 from the lateral surface 07 of the forme cylinder 33 is preferably not much greater than the length 114 of the folded-in hanging leg 14 at the trailing end 04 of the printing plate 37, in particular the distance a73 of the guide element 73 has a value between the simple and the double Length 114 of the hanging leg 14 on (Fig. 6). Since a printing form 37 to be removed from the forme cylinder 33 touches the guide element 73 with its printed image side, its contact is with a rotatably mounted rolling element W1.2104PGT 2004-02-19

30

73 more gentle on its surface than sliding over a flat rigid wedge 73. This aspect is particularly important when the printing form 37 is to be used again and damage to its printed image side by scratches or grinding marks is to be avoided. A sensor 91 can be attached to the guide element 73, which either in contact with the printing form 37 to be removed from the forme cylinder 33 or advantageously without contact, for. B. inductive, checks whether the hanging leg 14 at the trailing end 04 of the printing plate 37 to be removed from the forme cylinder 33 has actually released after actuation of the holding means 21 arranged in the channel 08 of the forme cylinder 33. With its test, the sensor 91 sends a signal z. B. to the control station belonging to the printing press. On the basis of the signal sent by the sensor 91, a decision is made as to whether the process of removing a printing form 37 to be removed from the forme cylinder 33 can be continued or whether measures for eliminating a fault must be initiated. A plurality of sensors 91 are preferably provided on the guide element 73 in the axial direction of the forme cylinder 33, e.g. B. four or six, namely in each case at least one sensor 91 for each printing form 37 which can be arranged next to one another on the form cylinder 33 in its axial direction.

In a preferred exemplary embodiment, the hanging leg 14 is placed on the trailing end 04 of the printing form 37 to be removed from the forme cylinder 33 after passing through the guide element 73, preferably on a first ramp 74 spaced from the guide element 73, before it reaches the support 72 in the shaft 42, whereby the first ramp 74 initially rises in the direction of the support 72 and drops again towards the support 72 after a summit point 76. The first ramp 74 is preferably rigidly connected to the support 72. In the course of the introduction of the printing form 37 to be removed from the forme cylinder 33 into the shaft 42, its hanging leg 14 meets at the trailing end 04 on a second ramp 77, the flank of which, preferably after the summit point 78, that is to say on the side facing away from the forme cylinder 33, is abruptly steep drops to edition 72. In the direction in which the printing form 37 is inserted into the shaft 42, at a short distance a77 (FIG. 14) behind the summit point 78 is a rigidly connected to the second ramp 77 2004-02-19

31

Stop 79 arranged, against which the hanging leg 14 abuts the trailing end 04 of the printing forme 37. The distance a77 has a value of a few millimeters, preferably a value of less than the simple length 114, in particular less than half the length 114 of the folded-in hanging leg 14 at the trailing end 04 of the printing form 37. If the hanging leg 14 at the trailing end 04 of the printing form 37 strikes the stop 79, it preferably engages behind the second ramp 77 by the hooking leg 14 engaging in the space formed by the distance a77. The second ramp 77 and the stop 79 connected to it can be moved linearly and parallel to the support 72 by a conveyor 81 in order to completely convey the printing form 37 to be removed from the forme cylinder 33 into the shaft 42-. The conveying device 81, which in particular together with the steep flank on the second ramp 77 for the folded-in hanging leg 14 at the trailing end 04 of the printing form 37 forms a driving device conveying the printing form 37 into the shaft 42, is e.g. B. as a belt drive 81 or as a linear drive 81, preferably as a pneumatic linear drive 81, in particular as a rodless, double-acting linear drive 81. Both the first ramp 74 and the second ramp 77 exist for. B. not from full-surface levels, but from several parallel arranged as the tines of a comb guide rails. The second ramp 77 can e.g. B. be formed from one or more appropriately curved metal strips.

On the side facing away from the forme cylinder 33, a lifter 82, in particular a printing forme lifter 82, is arranged in the shaft 42, the printing forme lifter 82 having, for example, a piston 83 which can preferably be moved perpendicularly to the support 72, at the end of which a z. B. L-shaped, in particular U-shaped lifting arm 84 is arranged, wherein the beveled hanging leg 14 is set up at the trailing end 04 of the printing forme 37 on the lifting arm 84 or set. The printing form lifter 82 preferably has two stable operating positions, namely a stable operating position with the piston 83 retracted, in which the lifting arm 84 is below the level defined by the support 72 2004-02-19

32

is located, and a further stable operating position with the piston 83 extended, in which the lifting arm 84 lifts the printing plate 37 removed from the forme cylinder 33 from the support 72. The printing form lifter 82 executes a stroke s82 which is greater than the length 114 of the folded-in hanging leg 14 at the trailing end 04 of the printing form 37. The stroke s82 preferably has a value between the single and the double length 114 of the hanging leg 1. The printing form lifter 82 thus lifts a printing form 37 removed from the form cylinder 33 from a preliminary first spoke position into a final second storage position.

Arranged above the printing form lifter 82, in particular above its lifting arm 84, is a securing element 86 which can preferably be pivoted about a pivot axis running essentially parallel to the width B of the printing form 37, for. B. in the form of a strip-shaped flap 86, the lower edge of which or is located at a distance a86 from the lifting arm 84, the distance a86 preferably being dimensioned less than the length 114 of the bent hanging leg 14 at the trailing end 04 of the printing forme 37 6 indicates an arrow indicating the pivotability of the securing element 86. The securing element 86 secures a printing form 37 raised by the printing form lifter 82 against inadvertent slipping in the shaft 42 or removal from the shaft 42. Thus, an operator must first pivot the securing element 86 before the raised printing form 37 can be removed from the shaft 42.

A further exemplary embodiment for assemblies arranged in the shaft 42 is shown in FIGS. 10 to 12. This exemplary embodiment provides a stop 79 which is preferably rigidly arranged in the central region of the support 72, a printing form lifter 82 connected to a conveyor device 81 which can be moved linearly along the support 72, the bent-over suspension leg 14 at the trailing end 04 of a printing form 37 to be removed from the forme cylinder 33 via the Stop 79 lifts and pulls the printing form 37 on its beveled hanging leg 14, preferably in its state raised by the printing form lifter 82, to the end of the shaft 42 facing away from the form cylinder 33. The conveyor 81 and the 2004-02-19

33

Printing form lifters 82 can be positively coupled in such a way that the printing form lifter 82 then raises the folded-in suspension leg 14 of the printing form 37 as soon as the conveying device 81 executes a movement in the direction facing away from the form cylinder 33. Furthermore, between the stop 79 and the end of the shaft 42 facing the forme cylinder 33, a further printing form lifter 87 is provided, which raises the leading end 03 of a printing form 37 which is removed from the forme cylinder 33 and is inserted into the shaft 42 to such an extent that another from the forme cylinder 33 printing form 37 to be removed can be inserted into the slot 42 between the support 72 and the raised printing form 37.

13 to 35, methods for changing printing plates 37 on a forme cylinder 33 will now be explained in particular. It is assumed that two printing forms 37 are arranged in the upper shaft 44 to provide new printing forms 37 to be mounted on the forme cylinder 33, that two printing forms 37 are placed on the form cylinder 33 along its circumference, and that the lower shaft 42 is for receiving printing formes 37 removed from the forme cylinder 33 are empty, i. H. is free of printing forms 37.

The forme cylinder 33 rotates the opening 09 of a channel 08, in which the hanging leg 14 is held by a holding means 21 at the trailing end 04 of the printing form 37 to be removed from the forme cylinder 33, into a first position which is below the guide element belonging to the lower shaft 42 73 is located. The controllable, preferably pneumatically actuated pressing element 24 is placed against the forme cylinder 33 (FIG. 13).

The preferably pneumatically actuated adjusting means 23 pivots the holding means 21 against the force of a spring element 22, as a result of which the hanging leg 14 snaps out of the opening 09 at the trailing end 04 of the printing form 37 due to its elastic inherent tension and strikes the guide element 73. The applied pressure element 24 secures the printing form 37 against further loosening from the lateral surface 07 of the forme cylinder 33 (FIG. 14). 2004-02-19

34

The forme cylinder 33 rotates counter to its production direction P and thereby pushes the trailing end 04 of the printing form 37 into the shaft 42. When the printing form 37 is introduced into the shaft 42, the hanging leg 14 slides along the guiding element 73 at the trailing end 04 of this printing form 37 and then stands on the first ramp 74 belonging to the shaft 42. The hanging leg 14 slides up the ramp 74 to its summit point 76 and then reaches the support 72. While the pressing element 24 is still in contact with the forme cylinder 33, the printing form 37 is moved further into the shaft 42 by rotating the forme cylinder 33 against its production direction P. inserted. Her suspension leg 14 at the trailing end 04 also overcomes the second ramp 77 connected to the conveying device 81 and abuts against the stop 79 connected to the second ramp 77 (FIG. 15).

The pressing element 24 is turned off by the forme cylinder 33. Due to the impact of the hanging leg 14 of the trailing end 04 at the stop 79, the bent leg 13 which is preferably positively attached to the front edge 16 of the opening 09 at the leading end 03 of the printing forme 37 is released from the opening 09. The printing forme 37 now lies with its leading end End 03 freely on the lateral surface 07 of the forme cylinder 33. The form cylinder 33 has made less than half a turn from loosening the hanging leg 14 at the trailing end 04 until now. The folded hook leg 14 at the trailing end 04 has hooked between the second ramp 77 and the stop 79. The conveyor device 81 connected to the second ramp 77 and the stop 79 can now completely pull the printing form 37 into the shaft 42 (FIG. 16).

The printing form 37 is removed from the forme cylinder 33 and its length L is in the shaft 42. Its hanging leg 14 at the trailing end 04 lies on the summit point 78 of the second ramp 77, while its leading end 03 lies on the summit point 76 of the first ramp 74 rests, whereby at least the hanging leg 13 preferably hangs freely at the leading end 03. The storage of the printing form 37 in 2004-02-19

35

Shaft 42 is therefore preferably carried out by a support at two points, namely on the summit points 76; 78 of the two ramps 74; 77 (Fig. 17).

The z. B. pneumatically actuated printing die lifter 82 lifts the printing forme 37 drawn into the shaft 42 at its trailing end 04 to just below the securing element 86, the suspension leg 14 standing on the lifting arm 84 connected to the printing forme lifter 82 (FIG. 18).

While a first printing form 37 to be mounted on the forme cylinder 33 with its beveled hanging-in gifts 13; 14 stands on the support 54 in the upper shaft 44, the forme cylinder 33 continues to rotate against its production direction P into a second position until the opening 09, from which the hanging leg 13 at the leading end 03 of the printing forme 37 previously removed from the forme cylinder 33 has been released has passed a contact point 88 of the pressure element 24 placed on the forme cylinder 33 and the edge 17 of the opening 09 in the production direction P of the forme cylinder 33 is at a distance a88 from the contact point 88, the distance a88 being in the range of a few millimeters, is preferably less than 30 mm, and thus corresponds to an arc length of less than a thirtieth part of the circumference of the forme cylinder 33. The first position of the forme cylinder 33 for removing a printing form 37 arranged on it is usually not identical to its second position for receiving a new printing form 37. The pressing element 24 is preferably placed on the forme cylinder 33 while the opening 09 is the point of contact 88 happened or after she passed the uprising point 88. The alignment device 51 arranged close to the forme cylinder 33 pivots with its previously preferably horizontally aligned diametrical stops 52; 53 preferably into a vertical position by 90 °, so that a stop 52; matched to the width B of the printing form 37 to be mounted on the forme cylinder 33; 53 is immersed in a transport plane defined by the support 54 in the shaft 44 for the printing form 37 to be mounted on the form cylinder 33 and the printing form 37 to be mounted on the form cylinder 33 ∑u during its transport from the shaft 44 at the stop 52; 53 is aligned in register with the forme cylinder 33 (FIG. 19). 2004-02-19

36

The first printing form 37 to be mounted on the forme cylinder 33 is in contact with its trailing leg 14 at its trailing end 04 against the stop 56 connected to a conveying device 57. The conveying device 57 is put into operation so that the stop 56, in a movement which is preferably tangential to the forme cylinder 33, conveys the first printing forme 37 out of the shaft 44 until its leading end 03 touches the pressing element 24 placed on the forme cylinder 33 and the on this leading end 03 beveled hanging leg 13 between the rear edge 17 in the production direction P of the forme cylinder 33 of the opening 09 and the contact point 88 of the pressing element 24 on the forme cylinder 33 (FIG. 20).

The forme cylinder 33 changes its direction of rotation and begins to rotate in its production direction P, as a result of which the suspension leg 13 set up on the forme cylinder 33 slides into the opening 09 at the leading end 03 of the printing form 37 and preferably hangs positively on the front edge 16 of the opening 09 (Fig. 21).

As a result of the further rotation of the forme cylinder 33 in its production direction P, the printing form 37, which is suspended in the opening 09 with its hanging leg 13, is completely conveyed out of the shaft 44 and drawn onto the forme cylinder 33. During mounting, the printing form 37 is rolled onto the form cylinder 33 by the pressing element 24 placed on the form cylinder 33. After half a turn of the forme cylinder 33 in its production direction P, the pressing element 24 presses the folded-in suspension leg 14 at the trailing end 04 of the printing forme 37 into the opening 09. The holding means 21 in the channel 08 belonging to this opening 09 was released and then becomes one Operating position brought in which it inserted into the opening 09 hanging leg 14 at the trailing end 04 of the printing form 37 z. B. fixed by a clamp. The conveyor 57 moves the stop 56 connected to it back into its end position on the side facing away from the forme cylinder 33 in the shaft 44 (FIG. 22). 2004-02-19

37

The pressing element 24 is turned off by the forme cylinder 33 and the alignment device 51 pivots with its diametrical stops 52; 53 again preferably in a horizontal position. With the method steps described so far, a change of a first printing form 37 on the form cylinder 33 is completed by removing a used printing form 37 and mounting a new printing form 37. This change of a printing form 37 can be carried out completely with the described device in a very short time, preferably in less than a minute. The forme cylinder 33 is then ready for production again (FIG. 23).

The change of another, e.g. B. on the forme cylinder 33 arranged along its circumference, the second printing form 37 begins with the operator preferably inserting the new second printing form 37 into the shaft 44 during the previous ongoing production. The second printing forme 37 is held by a controllable, preferably pneumatically controllable printing forme holder 58 over the support 54 by the printing forme 37 z. B. either at their ends 03; 04 between two stops 61; 62 is clamped, at least one of the stops 61; 62 is movable, or in that the printing form 37 is inserted into guide rails 64 on its longitudinal sides, at least one of the guide rails 64 being movable along the width B of the printing form 37. When the printing form holder 58 releases the printing form 37 by its elements holding the printing form 37, e.g. B. the stops 61; 62 or the guide rails 64, their distance, for. B. a58, enlarge each other at least briefly, the printing form 37 falls on the support 54 and is there with its hanging legs 13; 14 on (Fig. 24).

To add another, e.g. B. remove the second printing form 37 from the forme cylinder 33, the forme cylinder 33 rotates according to the method explained for FIG. 13, the opening 09 of the channel 08, in which the hanging leg 14 at the trailing end 04 of the second printing form 37 to be removed from the forme cylinder 33 by a holding means 21 is held in the first position, which is located below the guide element 73 belonging to the lower shaft 42. The controllable, preferably pneumatic W1.2104PGT 2004-02-19

38

actuatable pressing element 24 is placed on the forme cylinder 33 (FIG. 25).

In accordance with the method explained for FIG. 14, the preferably pneumatically actuated adjusting means 23 pivots the holding means 21 against the force of the spring element 22, as a result of which the hanging leg 14 snaps out of the opening 09 at the trailing end 04 of the second printing form 37 due to its elastic inherent tension and on the guide element 73 strikes. The applied pressure element 24 secures the second printing form 37 against further loosening from the lateral surface 07 of the forme cylinder 33 (FIG. 26).

The forme cylinder 33 rotates counter to its production direction P and thereby pushes the trailing end 04 of the second printing form 37 into the shaft 42. When the printing form 37 is introduced into the shaft 42, the hanging leg 14 slides along the guiding element 73 at the trailing end 04 of this printing form 37 and then stands on the first ramp 74 belonging to the shaft 42. The hanging leg 14 of the second printing form 37 slides up the ramp 74, sliding under the first printing form 37 resting in the shaft 42 and resting on the summit point 76 of the first ramp 74 and its leading end 03 overhanging at the summit point 76 and directed towards the forme cylinder 33 lifts while the hanging leg 14 of the second printing form 37 exceeds the summit point 76 of the first ramp 74 and then reaches the support 72. While the pressing element 24 is still positioned on the forme cylinder 33, the second printing forme 37 is pushed further into the shaft 42 by the rotation of the forme cylinder 33 against its production direction P. The hanging leg 13 slides at the leading end 03 of the first printing form 37 resting in the shaft 42 over the printed image side of the second printing form 37 conveyed into the shaft 42. In the further course, the hanging leg 14 at the trailing end 04 of the second printing form 37 also overcomes the one with the conveying device 81 connected second ramp 77 and abuts against the stop 79 connected to the second ramp 77 (FIG. 27).

The pressing element 24 is turned off by the forme cylinder 33. By the push of the 2004-02-19 9

The hanging leg 14 of the trailing end 04 at the stop 79 detaches the beveled hanging leg 13, which is preferably positively attached to the front edge 16 of the opening 09, at the leading end 03 of the second printing form 37 from the opening 09. The hanging leg 13 with its leading end 03 is now exposed on the outer surface 07 of the forme cylinder 33. The form cylinder 33 has now made less than half a turn from loosening the hanging leg 14 at the trailing end 04. The folded hook leg 1 at the trailing end 04 hooks between the second ramp 77 and the stop 79. The lifting arm 84 of the printing form lifter 82 lowers, as a result of which the first printing form 37 held by it at its trailing end 04 and resting in the shaft 42 is placed on a web 89 formed on the stop 79, the web 89 being perpendicular to the support 72 Height h89, the value of which is greater than the length 114 of the beveled hanging leg 14 at the trailing end 04 of the second printing form 37. The height h89 preferably has a value between the single and double length 114 of the beveled hanging leg 14 at the trailing end 04 of the second printing form 37 on (Fig. 28).

The conveyor device 81 connected to the second ramp 77 and the stop 79 now pulls the second printing form 37 completely into the shaft 42, the length L of the first and the second printing form 37 being arranged one above the other in the shaft 42. The conveying device 81 forms, together with the second ramp 77 and the stop 79 for the folded-in hanging leg 14 at the trailing end 04 of the printing form 37 introduced into the shaft 42, a driver device (FIG. 29).

The printing form lifter 82 now preferably lifts the trailing end 04 of both printing forms 37 arranged in the shaft 42 up to the securing element 86 with its lifting arm 84. The leading end 03 of the second printing form 37 lies on the summit point 76 of the first ramp 74 with an overhang directed towards the forming cylinder 33, and the folded-in suspension leg 13 at the leading end 03 of the first printing form 37 stands on the leading end 03 of the second printing form 37 ( Fig. 30). 2004-02-19

40

To assemble the second printing form 37 in the upper shaft 44, the forme cylinder 33 rotates again in the second position against its production direction P until the opening 09 from which the hanging leg 13 at the leading end 03 of the second printing form 37 previously removed from the form cylinder 33 is released has passed the contact point 88 of the pressing element 24 placed on the forme cylinder 33 and the rear edge 17 of the opening 09 in the production direction P of the forme cylinder 33 is at a distance a88 from the contact point 88, the distance a88 being in the range of a few millimeters , is preferably less than 30 mm, and thus corresponds to an arc length of less than a thirtieth part of the circumference of the forme cylinder 33 (FIG. 19). The pressing element 24 is preferably placed against the forme cylinder 33 while the opening 09 passes the contact point 88 or after it has passed the contact point 88. The alignment device 51 arranged close to the forme cylinder 33 pivots with its previously preferably horizontally aligned diametrical stops 52; 53 preferably into a vertical position by 90 °, so that a stop 52; matched to the width B of the second printing form 37 to be mounted on the forme cylinder 33; 53 is immersed in a transport plane defined by the support 54 in the shaft 44 for the second printing form 37 to be mounted on the forme cylinder 33 and the second printing form 37 to be mounted on the forme cylinder 33 during its transport from the shaft 44 at the stop 52; 53 is aligned in register with the forme cylinder 33 (FIG. 31).

The second printing form 37 to be mounted on the forme cylinder 33 is in contact with its trailing leg 14 at its trailing end 04 against the stop 56 connected to the conveying device 57. According to the method explained in relation to FIG. 20, the conveying device 57 is put into operation, so that the stop 56, in a movement preferably directed tangentially to the forme cylinder 33, conveys the second printing forme 37 out of the shaft 44 until its leading end 03 reaches the forme cylinder 33 touched pressure element 24 touches and the hanging leg 13 bent at this leading end 03 between the rear edge 17 of the opening 09 in the production direction P of the forme cylinder 33 and the 2004-02-19

41

Contact point 88 of the pressure element 24 stands on the forme cylinder 33 (FIG. 32)

According to the method explained in relation to FIG. 21, the Form∑ylindei 33 changes its direction of rotation and begins to turn in its production direction P, whereupon the hanging leg 13 set up on the form cylinder 33 slips into the opening 09 at the leading end 03 of the second printing form 37 and preferably slides positively hooked onto the front edge 16 of the opening 09 (Fig. 33)

Due to the further rotation of the forme cylinder 33 in its production direction P, the second printing form 37, which is suspended with its hanging leg 13 in the opening 09, is completely demanded out of the shaft 44 and is pulled onto the forme cylinder 33 Forme cylinder 33 engaged pressure element 24 rolled onto the form cylinder 33 After half a turn of the forme cylinder 33 in its production direction P, the pressure element 24 prints the bent hanging leg 14 at the trailing end 04 of the second printing form 37 into the opening 09. The holding means 21 in the opening 09 Channel 08 belonging to it was detached and is then brought into the operating position in which it fixes the hanging leg 14 inserted into the opening 09 at the trailing end 04 of the second printing form 37, for example by means of a clamp. The conveying device 57 moves the stop 56 connected to it back into its final position on the side facing away from the forme cylinder 33 in the shaft 44. The upper shaft 44 is now empty, whereas two used printing forms 37 are stored in the lower shaft 42 (FIG. 34)

The pressure element 24 is turned off by the forme cylinder 33 and the alignment device 51, with its diametrical stops 52, 53, preferably pivots again into a horizontal position. With the method steps described so far, the change of a second printing forme 37 on the forme cylinder 33 is completed by a used second printing forme 37 was first removed and a new second printing forme 37 was drawn on. The forme cylinder 33 is ready for production again. This change can also be completed in less than a minute using the device described 2004-02-19

42

be carried out. The change of a first and a second printing form 37 can thus be completed in less than two minutes, preferably in less than ninety seconds (FIG. 35).

2004-02-19

43

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

01 elevator, printing form

02 contact surface (01)

03 end, leading (01)

04 end, trailing (01)

05 -

06 cylinder; form cylinder

07 lateral surface (06)

08 channel

09 opening (08)

10 -

11 bending edge (13)

12 bending edge (14)

13 hanging legs

14 hanging legs

15 -

16 edge, front, first (09)

17 edge, rear, second (09)

18 wall

19 wall

20 -

21 holding means

22 spring element

23 Stθllmittθl

24 support element; Andrückel

25 -

26 edge

27 contact line

28 Fixation of position

29 contact point 2004-02-19

44

30 31 cylinders, forme cylinders, first 32 cylinders, blanket cylinders, first 33 cylinders, forme cylinders, second 34 cylinders, blanket cylinders, second 35 36 elevator; Printing form 37 elevator; Printing form 38 printing form magazine 39 printing form magazine 40 41 shaft 42 shaft 43 shaft 44 shaft 45 46 printing material; Paper web 47 partition 48 locking 49 guide plate 50 51 alignment device 52 stop (51) 53 stop (51) 54 support (44); slide rail; Bar 55 56 stop; slide; Register pin 57 conveyor; Conveyor; Belt drive; Linear actuator 58 holder; Printing form holder 59 pistons; Slider 60 2004-02-19

45

61 angle, stop; holding member

62 stop; holding member

63 bevel (62)

64 guide rail; retaining element

65 -

66 temples (64)

67 stop

68 swivel arm; Spring element; leaf spring

69 drive; magnet

70 -

71 code readers

72 edition; Afford; slides

73 guide element; baffle; Wedge; WälΣelement; role

74 ramp, first

75 -

76 summit point (74)

77 ramp, second

78 summit point (76)

79 stop

80 -

81 conveyor; Conveyor; Belt drive; linear actuator

82 lifter; Printing forme lifter

83 pistons

84 lifting arm (82)

85 -

86 securing element; flap

87 lifter; Printing forme lifter

88 contact point

89 footbridge (79)

90 -

91 sensor W1.2104PGT

2004-02-19

46

92 paper guide roller, first

93 paper guide roller, second

94 inking unit

95 -

96 foundation

97 frame

FR radial force

FG gravity

MR reset torque

B width; dimension

D material thickness

H horizontal

L length; dimension

M mounting direction

P production direction

S slot width

T09 tangent

T29 tangent

a09 distance a37 distance a38 distance a39 distance a54 distance a58 distance a67 distance a73 distance 2004-02-19

47

a77 distance a86 distance

3.88 distance h89 height

113 length

114 length

038 opening

039 opening

S68 travel range

S82 stroke

α1 opening angle α2 opening angle ß1 opening angle ß2 opening angle y angle δ inclination angle

Claims

W1.2104PGT2004-02-1948Ansprüche

1. Device for storing an elevator (01; 36; 37) to be exchanged on a cylinder (06; 31; 33) of a printing press, wherein several elevators (01; 36; 37) are to be arranged on the cylinder (06; 31; 33), the elevator (01; 36; 37) to be exchanged being stored in a receiving device (41; 42; 43; 44), the receiving device (41; 42; 43; 44) having at least one code reader (71), the code reader ( 71) detects a feature attached to the elevator (01; 36; 37) for its identification, characterized in that the detected feature is compared with an occupancy plan for the intended printing process, with at least one inconsistency in the comparison before assembly of the elevator (01; 36; 37) on the cylinder (06; 31; 33) generates a message warning of incorrect assembly.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that a plurality of elevators (01; 36; 37) are stored in the receiving device (41; 42; 43; 44).

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the feature is detected in order to identify all the elevators (01; 36; 37) stored in the receiving device (41; 42; 43; 44).

4. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that a check of all the elevators (01; 36; 37) stored in the receiving device (41; 42; 43; 44) is carried out to determine whether the elevators (01; 36; 37) in the Recording device (41; 42; 43; 44) for the intended printing process are stored in a correct order.

5. Device for storing an elevator (01; 36; 37) to be exchanged on a cylinder (06; 31; 33) of a printing press, wherein several elevators (01; 36; 37) are to be arranged on the cylinder (06; 31; 33), the one to be replaced 2004-02-19

49

Elevator (01; 36; 37) is stored in a receiving device (41; 42; 43; 44), at least one code reader (71) being provided in the receiving device (41; 42; 43; 44), the code reader (71 ) detects a feature attached to the elevator (01; 36; 37) for its identification, characterized in that a plurality of elevators (01; 36; 37) are stored in the receiving device (41; 42; 43; 44) The feature for identifying all the elevators (01; 36; 37) stored in the receiving device (41; 42; 43; 44) is carried out, with all the elevators (01; 36; 37) to determine whether the elevators (01; 36; 37) are stored in the receiving device (41; 42; 43; 44) in the correct order for the intended printing process.

6. The device according to claim 2 or 5, characterized in that in the receiving device (41; 42; 43; 44) as many code readers (71) are provided as elevators (01; 36; 37) are stored.

7. The device according to claim 1 or 5, characterized in that in the axial direction of the cylinder (06; 31; 33) a plurality of receiving devices (41; 42; 43; 44) are provided side by side.

8. Device for storing an elevator (01; 36; 37) to be exchanged on a cylinder (06; 31; 33) of a printing press, wherein several elevators (01; 36; 37) are to be arranged on the cylinder (06; 31; 33), wherein the elevator (01; 36; 37) to be exchanged is stored in a receiving device (41; 42; 43; 44), the receiving device (41; 42; 43; 44) having a code reader (71), the code reader (71 ) detects a feature attached to the elevator (01; 36; 37) for its identification, characterized in that several elevators (01; 36; 37) at vertically spaced storage positions of the same receiving device (41; 42; 43; 44) and / or in different receiving devices arranged side by side in the axial direction of the cylinder (06; 31; 33) 2004-02-19

50

(41; 42; 43; 44) are stored, the same code reader (71) detecting the coding of these lifts (01; 36; 37).

9. The device according to claim 2, 5 or 8, characterized in that in a receiving device (41; 42; 43; 44) with several elevators (01; 36; 37), the elevators (01; 36; 37) with a vertical distance their bearing surface (02) are stored one above the other in a stack.

10. The device according to claim 5 or 8, characterized in that a comparison of the detected feature with an occupancy plan for the intended printing process takes place, at least one discrepancy in the comparison before mounting the elevator (01; 36; 37) on the cylinder (06; 31; 33) generates a message warning of incorrect assembly.

11. The device according to claim 1, 5 or 8, characterized in that a plurality of elevators (01; 36; 37) are to be arranged on the cylinder (06; 31; 33) in the circumferential direction thereof.

12. The apparatus of claim 2, 5 or 8, characterized in that the exchange of the elevators (01; 36; 37) stored in the receiving device (41; 42; 43; 44) with the cylinder (06; 31; 33) sequentially he follows.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, 5 or 8, characterized in that the feature is designed as a bar code.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, 5 or 8, characterized in that the elevator (01; 36; 37) at its trailing end (04) has an angled hanging leg (14) and the feature is attached to this hanging leg (14). 2004-02-19

51

15. The apparatus according to claim 1, 5 or 8, characterized in that the code reader (71) is arranged in the receiving device (41; 42; 43; 44) at its end facing away from the cylinder (06; 31; 33).

16. The apparatus of claim 1, 5 or 8, characterized in that a reading direction of the code reader (71) is directed parallel to a length (L) of the elevator (01; 36; 37).

17. The apparatus according to claim 1, 5 or 8, characterized in that the code reader (71) or at least one further sensor (91) checks whether an elevator stored in the receiving device (41; 42; 43; 44) or to be stored there (01; 36; 37) was successfully removed from the cylinder (06; 31; 33) or transported there.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, 5 or 8, characterized in that a control unit carries out the adjustment electronically.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, 5 or 8, characterized in that the message is sent to a control station assigned to the printing press.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, 5 or 8, characterized in that the code reader (71) or a detection signal to the code reader (71) can be moved by deflecting mirror.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20, characterized in that the code reader (71) or the mirror can be moved with a linear guide.

22. The apparatus according to claim 20, characterized in that the code reader (71) or the mirror can be moved parallel to a width (B) of the elevator (01; 36; 37). 2004-02-19

52

23. The device according to claim 20, characterized in that the code reader (71) or the mirror along the stacked lifts (01; 36; 37) is vertically movable.

24. The device according to claim 1, 5 or 8, characterized in that the receiving device (41; 42; 43; 44) is designed as a shaft (41; 42; 43; 44).