EP1609544B1 - Apparatus and method for preparing plates to be located on a printing cylinder - Google Patents

Abstract

The preparation machine (122) may bend the edges of a thin printing plate and the plate forming region (120) has two shaping beams (125) with radiused edges (126,127). The plate holding region (150) includes a pressing beam (152) and side bearing blocks (158). The plate forming region includes a stepping motor (146) and carriages (180-184).

Description

Technical area

The invention relates to a device for preparing printing plates for an arrangement on a pressure roller according to the preamble of the attached claim 1, as shown in US-A-5970774 is known. The invention further relates to a method that can be carried out with such a device for preparing printing plates for placement on a printing roller.

Background of the invention:

From the DE-A-2612485 is a bending machine with electric, pneumatic or hydraulic drive for bending sheets, flat materials, round materials and pipes of ferrous or non-ferrous metals is known, with the arbitrary radii can be bent continuously at an angle of 0 - 135 ° and wherein by walls of one and Bends in the positive and negative direction can be made the same workpiece. This machine is intended for general metalworking, for example in locksmith shops, and serves to bend metallic workpieces, for example sheet metal plates. For this purpose, a holding device for holding the sheet and a molding device is provided with a bending edge, wherein by changing the mold device different radii can be generated. Next, a bending device is provided with a bending element whose movement curve is variable relative to the molding device.

A comparable bending machine for general metalworking is from the JP-A-0 102 7719 known.

However, the invention does not relate to general metalworking but to the preparation of printing plates for mounting on printing rolls of printing presses.

In printing presses, as used for example in newspaper printing, but also for most other printed matter, the texts or graphics to be printed - in technical language, the print image is called "image" - applied to printing plates. For printing, the printing plates are mounted on printing rollers. In multicolor printing, there is a separate printing plate for each color, which is applied to a printing roller accordingly. For accurate, accurate printing, it is important to position the printing plate exactly on the platen.

In Fig. 1, a first pressure roller 10 is schematically sketched. The pressure roller 10 has for the exact positioning of a pressure plate 12 shown in Fig. 4 at its periphery one or more axially extending grooves 14, 15. In Fig. 2 is a second, differently dimensioned pressure roller 16 with clamped pressure plate 12 in axial Direction seen top view shown. For each pressure plate 10, 16 is the circumferential distance U of the grooves 14, 15, the radial orientation of the grooves 14, 15 (angle α) and the shape of the edge 17 between the groove wall 14 a and the peripheral surface 18 characteristic.

Fig. 3 shows an example of an embodiment of a groove 14 with such edge 17 in an enlarged schematic representation. The edge 17 is usually rounded with a certain radius r _i , which is also characteristic of a particular pressure roller i. A feather key 20 is provided in the groove 14 for positioning the pressure plate 12 in the axial direction. A positioning in the circumferential direction via the two grooves 14, 15th

For accurate pressure, the pressure plate 12 should be precisely matched to the grooves 14, 15, as shown by way of example in FIG. For this purpose, there are machines with which the printing plates 12 provided with Image 22 are prepared for placement on the printing roller. When applying the images 22 same position marks 24 are applied with, at which the machine can orient. It scans the position marks 24 optically, positions the pressure plate 12 accordingly and then bends opposite edge portions 26 and 27 of the pressure plate 12 formed mostly of sheet metal adapted to the groove shape and edge shape of the groove 14, 15 and the edge 17 to. Also, a recess (not shown) for detecting the feather key 20 is introduced. For this, greatest accuracy is advantageous. An example of such a machine with positional device is in DE 198 06 579 A1 which is expressly referred to for further details.

These machines in particular bend the opposite edge regions 26, 27 from the original planar extension by an angle β which is adapted to the angle α. In the examples of angle definitions shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, β = 90 ° + α. The shape of the bending edge 28 of the pressure plate 12 is exactly adapted to the edge 17 so that it rests exactly on it. Therefore, this bending edge 28 is rounded with the corresponding radius r ₁ as the edge 17. The distance A ₁ and A _{2 of} the bending edges is determined by the position mark 24, so that the sum A ₁ + A ₂ = U.

Each printing press manufacturer uses pressure rollers with corresponding characteristic features U, 17, 14, 15, r _i . The manufacturers usually also offer suitable machines for preparing the printing plates 12 for use in their printing press as accessories. Now there are more and more printing companies with several printing presses from different manufacturers. For each one is currently a separate printing plate straightening machine necessary. There is therefore the need to be able to prepare the printing plates 12 for different printing rollers 12, 16 with a single machine.

From the US-A-5,970,774 is a device and by the description of its operation also a method for preparing printing plates for an arrangement on a pressure roller known, wherein the preparation is made by bending an edge portion of the printing plate to include with the bent edge portion of an edge of the pressure roller and / or behind. For this purpose, a holding device for holding the pressure plate and a molding device having a bearing surface for placing the pressure plate to be held by the retaining device and an edge surface adjacent the support surface, and a bending device is provided which has a bending element, which is used to bend the edge region of the printing plate to the Edge shape is suitable. It is already mentioned that it is desirable to obtain adaptations to quite different pressure rollers. In order to avoid replacement of the molding device for preparing the printing plates for different pressure rollers, is in this prior art according to the US-A-5,970,774 the bending device formed with the bending element such that different bending angles can be achieved.

Thus, the printing plates can be adapted from the bending angle ago to different groove edges of the printing plates.

However, this is still not sufficient in particular in terms of accuracy to provide an adaptation to any pressure roller can.

Presentation of the invention

The object of the invention is to provide an apparatus and a method for preparing printing plates for placement on pressure rollers such that the printing plates are more precisely adapted to a greater variety of different pressure rollers.

This object is achieved by a device having the features of appended claim 1 and a method comprising the steps of appended claim 29.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

The invention accordingly provides a device for preparing printing plates for an arrangement on a printing roller. The preparation is carried out by bending an edge region of the printing plate in order to encompass and / or reach behind an edge of the printing roll with the bent edge region. The device according to the invention has a holding device for holding the plate, a forming device which has a flat support surface for laying the pressure plate to be held by the holding device and an edge shape adjacent to the support surface, and a bending device with a bending element for bending the edge region of the printing plate around the edge shape , With the retaining device, the pressure plate is held and bent with the bending device, wherein the resulting shape is determined by the molding device. To adapt to different pressure rollers, the molding device is provided with a plurality of edge shapes, which can be used optionally for forming the edge region. Thus, the printing plate can be adapted to different shaped edges of the pressure roller. As different edge shapes of the pressure roller can be controlled with different curvature radii cylindrically rounded edges with the invention. Other bends with different curvature dimensions are conceivable. A very exact correspondence of the shape of the bending edge of the plate to the edge shape of the molding device reproduced edge shape of the support means is possible, although a movement curve of the bending element of the bending device relative to the forming device for adapting to the respective selected edge shape is variable. As a result, material bulges or strains can be avoided, which, for example, at a pressure with pressure plates applied to corresponding pressure plates could result in the worst case to break the edge and / or to move the pressure plate. The thus increased reliability by the invention is particularly for the always taking place under time pressure of daily newspapers or the like periodicals of great advantage.

To adapt to at least two different pressure rollers with r ₁ and r ₂ rounded edges with different radii, the molding device according to the invention at least two edge shapes with seen in cross-section different radii of curvature. In this case, the edge shapes may be formed in adaptation to the usual edges (circular) cylinder jacket section section.

In order to be able to adapt the movement curve of the bending element with a movement both in an x-direction and in a y-direction to the edge shape to be imitated of different edges, it is preferred that the bending device for adjusting the movement curve of the bending element relative to the edge shape in an oblique Plane is slidable, which is inclined to the flat bearing surface with an acute angle. For circular rounded edges with different radii r ₁ and r ₂ , the adjustment in the x direction and in the y direction can be done in a very advantageous manner simply by the fact that the displacement plane is inclined to the support surface by approximately 45 degrees. As a result, the position of the central axis about which a pivoting movement of the bending element takes place can be changed in the x-direction and y-direction by the same amount.

The bending device preferably has a bending beam as a bending element, which can detect and bend the edge region of the pressure plate held on the flat support by the retaining device. The bending beam is further preferably mounted at its end portions so that it is pivotable about the respective selected edge shape with adjustable distance. At the same distance then results in a circular pivoting movement to adapt to a circular rounded edge shape. Other edge shapes, such as elliptical or paraboloidal edge shapes, can be achieved by varying distance during movement, eg, via a cam, computerized control, or the like. In the simplest way, the distance and / or the pivot axis of the pivoting movement of the bending element can be adjusted by a displacement of the bending device.

The retaining device preferably has a pressing element, in particular a pressing beam. The pressing element is more preferably movable relative to the flat bearing surface. So you can then press the pressure plate to hold against the flat support surface. By moving the pressing member in the other direction, the pressure plate is then released again. In principle, the retaining device can be designed and movable independently of the bending device. The construction becomes simpler if the retaining device is displaceable together with the bending device.

In order to be able to bend a plurality of edge regions of the printing plate, in particular the opposite edge regions 26 and 27, in one processing step, it is preferred that a plurality of folding devices are provided. In a further preferred embodiment, each of these Umbiegeeinrichtungen on the above-described retaining means, the above-mentioned variable formable device and the above-described adaptable thereto bending device.

To be able to handle also different distances of opposite edges of the carrier device, for example, different circumferential distances U of the grooves 14, 15 in the two pressure rollers 10, 16, is further preferred that the Umbiegeinrichtungen are movable relative to each other. For example, it is provided that two Umbiegeinheiten for bending are provided opposite edge portions which are movable toward each other and away from each other for the purpose of setting a distance of the bends of the edge portion.

For a precise adjustment is further provided according to the invention a positioning device for aligning the pressure plate before holding and bending, in particular the way they in the DE 198 06 579 A1 shown and described.

In order to facilitate the adaptation of the device to different edge shapes of the pressure rollers, it is further preferred that the shaping device has a selection element with the plurality of edge shapes which is movable, in particular rotatable, for selecting the desired edge shape. For example, the former may be a magazine, e.g. have a kind of revolver magazine with several edge shapes, which by appropriate movement, e.g. Rotation, the magazine can be brought to the appropriate place in the mold and lockable there. This location is preferably chosen so that the center of the respectively selected edge shape, around which a bend of the edge region takes place, in each case parallel to a plane of displacement of the bending device, relative to the (plane) plane of the bending element of the bending element and the reshaped edge shape ) Bearing surface inclined plane lies. A displacement of the bending device is then always parallel to the plane in which the centers of the edge shapes are located. As a result of the displacement, a center axis or focal axis of the movement curve and a center axis or focal point axis of the edge shape can easily be brought into concentric position.

The edge shapes are provided according to the previously explained embodiment on a total of rotatable form beam magazine through the entire rotation of each edge shape is completely replaced. The adaptation of the bending device and the retaining device to the selected edge shape is then z. B. by moving together relative to the Form beam magazine along an inclined plane. However, such a form magazine is complicated and correspondingly expensive. For example, four different radii can be created as edge shapes. However, individual adjustments to other special shapes in addition to another radius of the edge shape are very complex.

For example, in the field of use according to the invention, the preparation of printing plates for mounting on printing rolls of printing presses, the pressure rollers of different manufacturers in the clamping slots, in which bent edge regions are to be used below the edge formed on the roll surface, at the edge shape of which the edge regions of the plates are to be adapted, various projections on which the bent edge portion of the plates can attack with corresponding imprints. The projections formed in the slots reduce the gap distance of the slot. Next can be in the engaging with imprints on these projections plates increase the plate tension with which they rest against the pressure roller. As a result, the plate sits firmly on the pressure roller. One can thus increase the speed of the pressure roller without the consequent higher centrifugal force having a negative impact on the position of the plate. This can increase the overall effectiveness of the printing press.

It is therefore desirable to design the device according to the invention in such a way that the edge regions of the plates can be adapted to different edge shapes of pressure rollers in a simple and relatively cost-effective manner on the one hand at their Umbiegezonen and on the other hand optionally additionally provided with adapted to the pressure rollers embossing.

For this purpose, it is provided in a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention that the molding device is a first mold element with a first Edge shape and a second mold element, in particular with a second edge shape, wherein the second mold element is designed as a removable attachment element for the first mold element.

The second mold element is preferably movable relative to the first mold element. The formation and movability of the second feature is preferably such as to be removable from the first feature for use of the first edge shape when reshaping the edge region, and to use the second edge shape when reshaping the edge region before the first feature to cover the first edge shape provided front side of the first element element is movable.

This advantageous embodiment of the invention has several advantages. You do not have to move the first form element for replacement, it can stay in place and thus adjusted. The possibility of adjustment errors is reduced. It is possible to provide the first mold element with embossing protrusions which, when not in use, can be easily covered by the second mold element. It would also be possible to form the second shaped element such that it has no further edge shape but only the embossing protrusions that are brought in use in front of the first molded element in such a way that its edge shape can continue to be used; for example, the second shaped element is shorter and covered only a lower portion of the first element element. This possibility could also be provided additionally in the form beam magazine of the previously explained embodiment.

An advantage of the further advantageous embodiment with attachment element is that you can easily replace only one or the other form element to adapt the printing plates selectively to two very specific carrier devices can.

One has by this advantageous embodiment several edge shapes and several more shaping elements available, so that in a simple way either printing plates with embossing and printing plates without embossing are editable.

Compared to the first embodiment, the possibility of being able to provide a second mold element as an attachment piece for a first mold element is advantageously provided in that the holding device and the bending device by means of a first adjusting relative to the molding device in a direction perpendicular to the extension at least with a directional component the edge shapes extending first direction (for example, x-direction) are linearly movable in order to compensate for the offset of the edge shapes relative to the retaining device and to the bending device resulting from setting or removing the second element element. The first adjuster can, like all adjusting devices of the device, be driven by a motor so that it can be controlled exactly by an electronic programmable logic controller, as is well applicable in the field of machine tools (eg CNC machines, milling machines, etc.) is known. For example, one or more stepper motors may be provided per adjuster.

Further, it is preferred that the retaining device and the bending device by means of a movable independently of the first adjusting second adjusting relative to the forming device in a at least one direction component perpendicular to the extension of the first and second edge shape and perpendicular to the first direction extending second direction (for Example y-direction) are linearly movable in order to adapt a reference point of the movement path of a bending element of the bending device to the respective selected edge shape.

By the first and the second setting device formed separately therefrom a separation of the possibility of movement in the first and the second direction is provided. The first direction is preferred in the intended use parallel to the pressure plate extending, preferably horizontally extending x-direction. The second direction is then preferably the vertical direction, defined here as the y-direction. The z direction is defined here as the extent of the edge shapes around which the bend takes place. The designations x, y, and z directions denote the directions of a Cartesian coordinate system.

If it is further provided that the retaining device, the bending device and the molding device are linearly movable parallel to the first direction relative to the pressure plate by means of a third adjustment, can be compensated in a simple manner resulting from presetting of the second element element offset the edge shapes relative to the printing plate. In addition, you can achieve with this third adjustment advantageously a default of the entire bending system to determine the position of the edge to be bent on the plate.

If a back side of the second feature is adapted to the front of the first feature, that it can be applied to the front of the first element element, you can bring the form elements very close together and thus gets space in the x-direction, which is responsible for the relative movement of Form elements can be exploited. In addition, adjustment paths in the x-direction are saved when switching between the two form elements as close as possible to the mold elements. For example, the first mold element could be provided with embossing projections. The back of the second mold element then has corresponding recesses for receiving the projections. The thus taking place mutual engagement of the mold elements may also contribute to the adjustment of the movable mold element. For this purpose, the recesses are preferably self-centering, for example, with conically tapering walls formed.

The possibility of movement of the second mold element can be achieved simply by the fact that the molding device is a pivoting mechanism for Swinging away the second feature element from the first mold element and pivoting back the second feature element in front of the first mold element. Also, the pivot mechanism can be controlled electronically controlled in a preferred embodiment very accurate.

Different edge shapes are formed in a preferred embodiment in that the mold elements are each formed by at least one elongated form beam, whose cross-section is provided with a transversely projecting to the longitudinal direction of the mold bar projection at the top of which an acute angle enclosing edge with the respective provided for forming respective Edge shape, in particular with a desired radius is formed. The rear side of the second form beam then preferably has a recess adapted to receive the projection of the first form beam, so that the contact surface can be formed by both closely fitting form beams without a large gap. The mold bars preferably extend in the z-direction and the projection preferably protrudes in the x-direction. In the y-direction, the mold bars for forming the support surface for holding the pressure plate by the retaining means are preferably formed with a flat surface.

A stamping structure is preferably formed in that the front side of at least one of the mold elements has a projecting edge with the edge shape desired for forming and offset therefrom one or more protrusions for producing an embossment on the bent edge region of the printing plate.

The bending device preferably has a bending element mounted pivotably about the respective edge shape on a pivot bearing. The pivotal mounting of the bending device is further preferably movable relative to the molding device in the y-direction, about the pivot axis of the pivoting movement in the center of the selected edge shape, ie especially in the center of a profile in the circular edge shape with selected radius to be able to bring.

A retaining element - for example pressing beam - of the retaining device is more preferably relative to a bending element - for example bending beam - the bending device in the y-direction movable. Thus, when pressing the retaining element (with the interposition of the plate) to the selected form element independent of the retaining element different trajectory of the bending element can be achieved. For example, the pivot axis of the pivoting movement of the bending element can be adjusted relative to the retaining element to bring it into the center of the edge shape cross-section.

In order to be able to adapt the radius of the bearing part of the bending element engaging the plate to different radii of edge shapes, it is further preferred that the bending element mounted pivotably on the pivot bearing be arranged in its longitudinal direction in a holding part mounted on the pivot bearing and radially relative thereto Pivoting movement movably formed part of the plant for application to the edge region of the plate to be bent is divided.

• Auswahl einer an die Kante der Druckwalze angepassten Kantenform,
• Einstellen einer an die Kantenform angepassten Bewegungskurve eines Biegeelements einer Biegeeinrichtung,
• Festhalten der Druckplatte und
• Umbiegen des Kantenbereichs der Druckplatte mittels des sich entlang der Bewegungskurve um die ausgewählte Kantenform herum bewegenden Biegeelements.

The invention further provides, in particular by means of a device according to the invention optionally manually or preferably (for example by computer assistance) automatically executable method for preparing a printing plate for the purpose of applying the same to a pressure roller. In the method, an edge region of the plate is bent so that the edge region of the plate can cover and / or engage behind an edge of the pressure roller as closely as possible. The method according to the invention has the following steps:

• Selection of an edge shape adapted to the edge of the pressure roller,
• Adjusting a movement curve, adapted to the edge shape, of a bending element of a bending device,
• Holding the pressure plate and
• Bending the edge region of the pressure plate by means of the bending element moving along the movement curve around the selected edge shape.

According to the invention, the edge shape is selected from a group of edge shapes rounded off with different radii of curvature. As a movement curve, it is further preferred to set a circular pivoting movement with a pivoting radius which is greater by the thickness of the pressure plate than the radius of curvature of the selected edge shape, concentric with the edge shape.

The adjustment of the pivot radius and / or the pivot axis for adaptation to the selected edge shape is preferably carried out by displacement of the bending device in a plane inclined obliquely inclined to the plane of displacement.

To facilitate the adjustment of the movement of the bending element to the selected edge shape, it is further preferred to arrange a center, in particular a central axis or a focal point axis, of the edge shape around which the edge region of the plate is bent, in a plane parallel to the inclined displacement plane, along which the bending device for adjusting the movement curve is displaceable.

Preferred uses of the device according to the invention or of the method according to the invention are the graphic industry and printing operations as well as reproduction machines, where the invention can be used in particular for preparing printing plates for different printing rollers. With a single device according to the invention, for example, one printing operation can prepare all printing plates for two or more different printing presses, for example also different manufacturers.

Brief description of the drawings:

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer ersten Druckwalze als Beispiel für eine Trägereinrichtung, an welche Platten, wie beispielsweise Druckplatten, anzupassen sind;

Fig. 2

eine Draufsicht in axialer Richtung auf eine zweite Druckwalze zur Erläuterung der unterschiedlichen Parameter von Druckwalzen, die bei der Anpassung zu berücksichtigen sind;

Fig. 3

eine perspektivische Detailansicht eines Endbereiches einer Nut bei einer der beiden Druckwalzen von Fig. 1 oder Fig. 2 zur weiteren Verdeutlichung der unterschiedlichen Druckwalzenparameter;

Fig. 4

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Teils einer Druckplatte, die bereits zur Anbringung an einer Druckwalze vorbereitet ist;

Fig. 5

eine schematische Ansicht einer ersten Ausführungsform einer Vorrichtung zum Vorbereiten einer Druckplatte, mittels der die Druckplatte in die in Fig. 4 gezeigte Form bringbar ist, wobei nur hier interessierende Teile der Vorrichtung gezeigt sind und weitere, grundsätzlich bekannte Teile zur besseren Übersichtlichkeit weggelassen worden sind;

Fig. 6

eine schematische Querschnittsdarstellung einer zweiten Ausführungsform der Vorrichtung mit einem Magazin unterschiedlicher Kantenformen;

Fig. 7

eine schematischen Ansicht vergleichbar den Fig. 6 und 7 zur Verdeutlichung einer Anpassung einer Biegeeinrichtung der Vorrichtung an die jeweils ausgewählte Kantenform;

Fig. 8

eine Querschnittsansicht durch eine Biegeeinrichtung und eine Festhalteeinrichtung einer Ausführungsform der Vorrichtung mit einer beispielhaften Mechanik zur Anpassung der Biegeeinrichtung und der Festhalteeinrichtung an die jeweils ausgewählte Kantenform;

Fig. 9

eine Seitenansicht auf eine bei einer Vorrichtung in einer dritten Ausführungsform vorhandene Umbiegeeinrichtung zum Anpassen des Kantenbereichs der Druckplatte von Fig. 4 an unterschiedliche Kanten unterschiedlicher Druckwalzen, wobei die Umbiegeeinrichtung mit einer Festhalteeinrichtung, einer veränderbaren Formeinrichtung und einer anpassbaren Biegeeinrichtung versehen ist;

Fig. 10

eine stark schematisierte und zu Darstellungszwecken übertrieben dargestellte Querschnittsansicht durch einen Teil einer Trägereinrichtung für eine Platte, nämlich einer Druckwalze mit einer Druckplatte;

Fig. 11

eine Seitenansicht auf eine bei einer vierten Ausführungsform einer Vorrichtung zur Vorbereitung von Platten für die Anordnung auf der Trägereinrichtung gemäß Fig. 10 verwendete Formeinrichtung;

Fig. 12

eine Seitenansicht auf eine bei der vierten Ausführungsform der Vorrichtung zur Vorbereitung von Platten verwendete Festhalteeinrichtung;

Fig. 13

eine Seitenansicht einer bei der vierten Ausführung der Vorrichtung zum Vorbereiten der Platte verwendeten ersten Einstelleinrichtung;

Fig. 14

eine Seitenansicht auf eine bei der vierten Ausführungsform der Vorrichtung verwendete dritte Einstelleinrichtung, die gemeinsam mit der ersten Einstelleinrichtung dargestellt ist;

Fig. 15

eine Seitenansicht auf eine bei der vierten Ausführungsform der Vorrichtung zum Vorbereiten von Platten verwendete Biegeeinrichtung, die die Formeinrichtung, die erste und die dritte sowie eine zweite Einstelleinrichtung, die Festhalteeinrichtung und eine Biegeeinrichtung aufweist;

Fig. 16

eine Seitenansicht der Festhalteeinrichtung und der Biegeeinrichtung der vierten Ausführungsform ;

Fig. 17

eine Vorderansicht in X-Richtung auf ein in der Biegeeinrichtung von Fig. 16 verwendetes Biegeelement in Form eines Biegebalkens und

Fig. 18

eine Seitenansicht auf die Biegeeinrichtung und die Formeinrichtung der vierten Ausführungsform zur Verdeutlichung deren Funktion.

Embodiments of the invention are explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It shows:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of a first pressure roller as an example of a support means to which plates, such as printing plates to be adapted;

Fig. 2

a plan view in the axial direction of a second pressure roller for explaining the different parameters of pressure rollers to be considered in the adjustment;

Fig. 3

a perspective detailed view of an end portion of a groove in one of the two pressure rollers of Figure 1 or Figure 2 to further illustrate the different pressure roller parameters.

Fig. 4

a perspective view of a portion of a printing plate, which is already prepared for attachment to a pressure roller;

Fig. 5

a schematic view of a first embodiment of an apparatus for preparing a printing plate, by means of which the pressure plate can be brought into the form shown in Figure 4, wherein only parts of interest of the device are shown and further, basically known parts have been omitted for clarity;

Fig. 6

a schematic cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the device with a magazine of different edge shapes;

Fig. 7

a schematic view similar to Figures 6 and 7 for illustrating an adaptation of a bending device of the device to the respective selected edge shape.

Fig. 8

a cross-sectional view through a bending device and a retaining means of an embodiment of the device with an exemplary mechanism for adapting the bending means and the retaining means to the respective selected edge shape;

Fig. 9

a side view of an existing in a device in a third embodiment Umbiegeeinrichtung for adjusting the edge region of the printing plate of Figure 4 to different edges of different pressure rollers, wherein the Umbiegeeinrichtung with a retaining means, a changeable forming device and an adjustable bending device is provided;

Fig. 10

a highly schematic and exaggerated for illustrative purposes cross-sectional view through a portion of a support means for a plate, namely a pressure roller with a pressure plate;

Fig. 11

a side view of a forming device used in a fourth embodiment of a device for preparing plates for the arrangement on the carrier device of FIG. 10;

Fig. 12

a side view of a holding device used in the fourth embodiment of the apparatus for preparing plates;

Fig. 13

a side view of a first adjusting used in the fourth embodiment of the apparatus for preparing the plate;

Fig. 14

a side view of a third adjusting device used in the fourth embodiment of the device, which is shown together with the first adjusting device;

Fig. 15

a side view of a bending device used in the fourth embodiment of the apparatus for preparing plates, comprising the forming device, the first and the third and a second adjusting means, the retaining means and a bending device;

Fig. 16

a side view of the retaining means and the bending device of the fourth embodiment;

Fig. 17

a front view in the X direction on a bending element used in the bending device of Fig. 16 in the form of a bending beam and

Fig. 18

a side view of the bending device and the molding device of the fourth embodiment to illustrate their function.

In Fig. 5 a basic structure of a device 30 for preparing plates for attachment to pressure rollers is shown schematically. The device 30 has two conveyor belts 31 for delivering already provided with Image 22 printing plates 12 in still planar form. By means of a plate positioning device in the form of a vacuum table 29, the pressure plate 12 is then aligned on the basis of the position marks 24, as shown in more detail in FIG DE 198 06 579 A1 , to which reference is expressly made for further details, is described, and exactly for puncturing the recess for the feather key 20 by means of a suitable punching device (not shown) and for bending the edge portions 26, 27 positioned. For bending, the device 30 has two essentially mirror-inverted formed Umbiegeeinrichtungen 32, 32 '. Each Umbiegeeinrichtung 32, 32 'has in each case a forming device 34, a retaining device 36 and a bending device 38. In FIG. 5 for the sake of clarity only in the Umbiegeeinrichtung 32 shown there on the left all of these devices 34, 36, 38 indicated in the case of the bending device 32 'shown on the right, only the molding device 34 is indicated.

The shaping device 34 serves to give the bending edge 28 the form adapted to the edge 17 at the position suitable for the circumferential distance U. To adapt the device 30 at different circumferential distances U, the two Umbiegeeinrichtungen 32 and 32 'relative to each other parallel to the plate plane, ie parallel to a through a bending table - indicated by the end portions 40 - provided flat support surface 42 displaceable, as indicated by the arrows 44 is. This can be achieved by a sliding guide, not shown in detail, for example with rails and servomotors, as they are known in machine tools, lathes, etc., be accomplished.

The former 34, in the illustrated example, has the planar support surface 42 provided by the end portions 40 and a variable form member 46 that can provide various edge shapes 48, 48a. In the exemplary embodiments illustrated in FIG. 5 and further in FIG. 9, the shaped element 46 has a rotatable bar-shaped shaped piece 47 with a parallelogram-shaped cross section. At angled angles of this profile, two selectable edge shapes 48, 48a are formed. The edge shapes 48, 48a are in all examples shown here, each with different radii r ₁ , r ₂ , ... circular rounded cylindrical section shaped. The direction along these edges is referred to below as z-direction. The horizontal direction (corresponds to the direction of movement of the Umbiegeeinrichtungen according to the arrows 44) is defined as the x-direction. The remaining vertical direction is defined here as y-direction.

The retaining device 36 serves to hold the pressure plate 12 during the Umbiegvorganges. It has a pressing element, here in the form of a pressing bar 50 extending in the z-direction, which is movable in the x-direction.

The bending device 38 serves to bend over the edge region 26, 27 over the respectively selected edge shape 48 of the molding device 34. It has a bending element, here in the form of a bending beam 52 extending in the z direction. The bending beam 52 can be pivoted in a circular manner about a pivot axis 54 extending in the z direction. To set the radius of this pivoting movement of the bending beam 52 is movable in the starting position shown in Fig. 5 together with the pressing bar 50 in the x direction. For this purpose, the bending device 38 has a pivot bearing 56 for the bending beam 52 with an adjustable pivoting radius.

The pivot bearing 56 of the bending device 38 is further mounted on a bearing block 58 and there along an oblique plane of displacement 60 relative to this and the flat support surface 42 slidably. The inclined displacement plane 60 extends in the z-direction and in each case at an angle of 45 ° to the x and y directions and thus encloses an angle of 45 ° with the planar support surface 42 extending in the x and z directions. The angle depends on the respective basic shape of the edge 17. For circularly rounded edges 17 as in the embodiment, an angle of approximately 45 ° is optimal in the example shown. Thus, even with different radii of curvature r ₁ , r _{2 of} the selectable edge shapes 48, 48a, the pivot axis 54 with the central axis of the radius of curvature bring into line.

FIG. 6 shows a further exemplary embodiment with another shaping element 46 for the shaping device 34, namely in the form of a rotary magazine 62, which in each case has four beam sections FB1, FB2, FB3 and FB4 with four different bending radii r ₁ , r ₂ , r ₃ and r ₄ has. With dashed lines, the pivoting movement of the bending beam (BB) 52 around the respectively selected edge shape, here the first edge shape 48, indicated around.

FIG. 7 shows a schematic cross section through the pressure plate 12 with the thickness D clamped between the bending beam 52 and the shaping element 46 in order to illustrate the position of the respectively selected edge form 48, 48a-48c. Typical thicknesses are below 1 mm, for example 0.2 to 0.5 mm. A solid line shows a first edge form 48 with a first radius of curvature r ₁ about a first center line M ₁ . Dashed lines show a second edge shape with a second radius of curvature r ₂ about a second midpoint line M ₂ and the adjusted position of the bending beam 52. The molding device 34 and in particular the molding element 46 is arranged and formed such that the midpoint lines M ₁ and M _{2 of} the respectively selected edge shape 48, 48 a each lie in a plane parallel to the displacement plane 60, inclined by 45 ° to the flat support surface 42 center plane 66 ,

All of the above-described relative movements can be realized with adjusting devices (not shown in detail) that are commonly used in the machine tool sector. In an ideal, but expensive design each servo motors are used to automatically automatically adjust the device via a controller (not shown) to certain printing rollers only by specifying the previously stored with their parameters special pressure roller.

An embodiment of the pivot bearing 56 and the bearing block 58 with sliding guide is shown purely schematically in Fig. 8. The unit of pivot bearing 56 and bearing block 58 is shown in a view in the z-direction, with a section through the pressing beam 50 and the bending beam 52. On the bearing block 58, a bearing element 70 via a first positioning device 72, indicated by a first actuating gear, along the displacement plane 60 slidably mounted. On the bearing element 70, the pressing beam 50 is movably mounted in the y direction via a second positioning device 74, indicated by a second actuating gear. Next, the pivot bearing 56 with a pivot drive 76, indicated by a third gear, is provided on the bearing element 70. The pivot axis 54 can thus bring about the displacement along the displacement plane 60 in a concentric to the center line M _{i of} the selected edge shape 48 _i . For adjusting the pivot radius of the bending beam 52 is mounted movably on the pivot bearing 56 in the radial direction, here indicated by a slot guide 78 and a fourth positioning device 80, shown as a fourth actuating gear.

The actuating gears are simply indicated as a gear rack gear, but it should be clear to those skilled in the art that other gear, especially more accurate spindle gear can be used.

Due to the shift plane 60, a suitable adjustment can be made simply by coupling the positioning of the flexure 52 and the Reach pressing element 50. Thus, the pivot radius for the bending beam 52 when the press beam 50 is set to the appropriate value r _i + D.

A simpler, not explicitly shown embodiment provides for a common adjustment of the pressing beam 50 and the bending beam 52 in the x-direction for the application of the two beams 50, 52 to the pressure plate 12. The pivot radius for the bending beam 52 is simply rigidly set to the largest possible pivot radius r ₄ + D in this embodiment. Nevertheless, in the case of a bend, deformation will take place around the shaped element 46 and therefore an adaptation of the here decisive inside of the bending edge 28 to the selected edge shape will take place. The radii of curvature r ₁ to r _{4 of} interest here only differ by a few tenths of a millimeter, so that even with this simplified method useful results can be achieved for some applications.

In Fig. 9, finally, a concrete embodiment of a Umbiegungseinrichtung 32 with the molding device 34, here again with the variable bar-shaped fitting 47 with two selectable bending radii r ₁ and r ₂ shown. The pressing beam 50 is lockably mounted on the bearing block 58 along the displacement plane 60 by a suitable device (not shown in detail). On the pressing bar 50, the pivot bearing 56 is provided for the bending beam 52. In addition, the unit of pressing beam 50 and pivotally mounted bending beam 52 is movable in the x direction. The pivot axis 54 is brought by the displacement of the press beam 50 along the displacement plane 60 on the bearing block 58 and application of the press beam 50 by moving in the x direction to the pressure plate 12 concentric with the center line M _{i of} the selected radius r _i . For adjusting the pivot radius to the selected radius r _i (more precisely to r _i + D), an adjusting screw 90 is further provided, by means of which the bending beam can be positioned on the pivot bearing 56 in the radial direction.

The corresponding adjustable positions can be taken manually or with actuators, for example also actuators. When adapting to It is sufficient only two different edge shapes and it is in terms of ease of use advantageous to mark and limit two end positions by stops 92 at each adjustment, as indicated by the stops in Fig. 8. Additionally or alternatively, markings or a scale 94 may be provided for proper adjustment.

In Fig. 10 is shown as a further example of a support means, a portion of a pressure roller 100, which is provided with a groove 102 for clamping a pressure plate 104, as shown in Figs. 1 to 3. In some of the on-the-market printing rolls represented by printing roll 100, there are one or more protrusions 106 in groove 102 that project into groove 102. In the Z direction, d. H. in Drehachsrichtung the pressure roller 100, these projections 106 may be elongated, but there are quite different types of projections possible and conceivable in the future. As shown in FIG. 10, an edge region 108 of the pressure plate 104, which edge region 108 is inserted into the groove 102, also encompasses the projection 106. For the exact arrangement of the pressure plate 104, the edge region 108 is exactly at the edge 110 between the groove 102 and Cylinder jacket of the pressure roller 100 adapted bent over and provided with an embossment 112 for the exact detection of the projection 106.

The projection has the task to reduce the gap distance within the groove 102 and to hold the pressure plate 104 fixed. As a result, the plate tension can be increased.

A currently preferred embodiment of a device for preparing such printing plates 104 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 11 to 18, which can adapt the edge regions 108 of the printing plate 104 to different printing rollers 100 in such a way that, depending on the printing roller 100, they have different radii during bending and can handle different embossments or pressure rollers 100 with or without imprints.

In Fig. 11, a molding device 120 is shown. The forming device 120 is part of a folding device 122 for bending over the edge region 108, which is shown in FIG. 6 in its entirety. The shaping device 120 according to FIG. 11 provides different edge shapes 124, 125, on which a bend of the edge region 108 adapted to different radii is effected. For this purpose, the shaping device 120 has two shaped bars 126, 127 as shaped elements. The first mold bar 126 is fixedly attached to the former 120. For this purpose, the first shaped bar 126 has a holder 128 for screwing on.

The second mold bar 127 is formed as an attachment element for the first mold bar 126. The second mold bar 127 can be pivoted by means of a pivoting mechanism 130 in front of the first mold bar 126, as shown by dashed lines, or swing away to the front and bottom, as shown by solid lines. When the second mold bar 127 is pivoted away, the first edge mold 124, which is formed on the first mold bar 126, can be used to bend over the edge area 108. When Vorsetzen the second form of bar 127 in front of the first mold bar 126, the second edge mold 125 can be used for bending.

The edge shapes 124, 125 are formed on the two mold bars 126 respectively on protrusions 132, 133 projecting in the x direction. The projections 132, 133 enclose an acute angle. The upper side of the respective projection 132, 133 forms a flat bearing surface 134, on which the pressure plate 104 can be held by means of a retaining device, which will be described later. In the illustrated example, the front side of the protrusion 132 of the first bar 126 is provided with an embossing structure 138 having embossing protrusions 140 adapted to the protrusions 106 of the pressure roller 100. The front of the projection 133 of the second mold bar 127, however, is smooth. The back of the second form bar 127 is at the front of the first form of bar 126th adapted and has corresponding recesses 142 for receiving the embossing projections 140.

The pivoting mechanism 130 has a rack 144 which is movable by a stepping motor 146. A gear segment 148, to which the second shaped beam 127 is fastened, meshes with the rack 144.

In the following, the retaining device 150 will be explained with reference to FIG. The retaining device 150 has a retaining element in the form of a press beam 152, which presses the pressure plate against the flat bearing surface 134 via a pressing surface 154. The pressing surface 154 defines the neutral position of the clincher 122 in the vertical y-direction. The pressing beam 152 is mounted on a cylinder 156 in the y-direction movable on lateral support plates 158 - also referred to as bearing blocks - attached. The lateral holding plates 158 have on a projecting portions 159 projecting into lateral recesses 153 of the press beam 152 a pivot bearing 160, which is part of a bending device 162 which will be described in more detail later. The pivot bearing 160 is driven by a pneumatic drive 164 here.

In Fig. 13, a first adjustment 166 is shown. This first adjuster 166 moves the retainer 150 together with the bender 162 relative to the former 120 in the x-direction and thus can compensate for the displacement of the respective edge form 124, 125 in the x-direction resulting from the advancement of the second die 127. The first adjusting device 166 has two guide carriages 168, 169, which can move two side parts 170 driven by at least two cylinders (spindle drives) 172 in the x-direction. At the side parts 170, the retaining device 150 and the bending device 162 are then fastened via a second adjusting device 174, as shown in more detail in FIG. 15. The second adjusting device 174 is used to adjust the retaining device 150 and the bending device 162 in the y direction in order to press the pressing beam 152 against the pressure plate resting on the flat bearing surface 134.

A third adjuster 176 is shown in FIG. The third adjustment device 176 has on a base support 178, which carries the entire Umbiegeeinrichtung 122, two guide carriages 180, 181, which guide a movable support 182 in the x direction. As shown in FIG. 15, both the former 120 and the guide carriages 168, 169 of the first adjuster 166 are mounted on the movable carrier 182.

The third adjusting device 176 thus forms a first plane of an adjustment in the x direction. The first adjuster 166 forms the second level of adjustment in the x direction. The third adjuster 176 is driven by a prime mover which drives the overall system of the clincher 122 to the work area, i. H. moves to the right place on the printing plate. When Vorsetzen or removing the second form of bar 127, an adjustment of the position of the respective edge shape 124, 125 by the third adjustment 176. The adjustment of the retaining means 150 and the bending device 176 in the x-direction then takes place via the second plane, namely the first adjustment 166th ,

As can be seen from FIG. 15, guide carriages 183, 184 of the second adjusting device 174 are fastened to the side parts 170. At the movable end of the guide carriages, the side holding plates 158 are secured to the pressing beam 152 and the pneumatic drive 164. Relative to the lateral holding plates 158 with the pivot bearing 160, the pressing bars 152 are movable via the cylinders 156, so that the pivot axis 161 in the y-direction relative to the zero position in the center of the respective radii A, B of the respectively selected edge shape 124, 125 is insertable. The adjustment of the x-position of the pivot axis 161 via the first adjustment 166. The adjustment of the y-position of the pivot axis 161 via the second adjustment. The adjustment of the zero position is then performed by the cylinder 156th

It is further shown a further guide carriage 185, which can be seen more clearly in Fig. 14. This further guide carriage 185 carries a driven by the pneumatic drive 164 rack (not closer shown), which drives the pivoting of the Verschwenklagerung 160 via a corresponding sprocket.

On the pivot bearing 160, a bending element of the bending device 162 is mounted in the form of a bending beam 186. The bending beam 186 can be pivoted about the pivot position from the position shown in FIG. 15 by solid lines in the position shown in FIG. 15 with dashed lines. During this pivoting movement, the bending beam 186 bends the edge region 108 around the respectively selected edge shape 124, 125. The bending device 162 is again shown only in FIG. 16 together with the pressing beam 152 and the vertical pneumatic drive 164.

17 shows a plan view of the bending beam 186. As can be seen from FIG. 17, the bending beam 186 has a larger beam part 188 with which the bending beam 186 is mounted laterally on the respective pivot bearing 160 on the lateral retaining plates 158. About four actuators 189, a system part 190 is movably held on the beam part 188 in the form of a pressure bar. The contact part 190 forms the contact surface with which the edge region 108 to be bent over is detected. The actuators 189 adjust the radius of the bending movement of the respective selected radius A, B of the respective edge shape.

This is again shown in more detail in Fig. 18, where the bending beam 186 is shown with its two sub-elements 188, 190 and one of the actuators 189 in operative connection with the first mold bar 126 and the pivot bearing 160. The bending beam 186 is accordingly constructed in several parts. It is externally mounted, so that a good power transmission is ensured on the bending beam. The plant part 190, here in the form of a pressure bar, is movable to a beam main body - beam portion 188 - formed. As a result, the contact surface 191 can be adapted to the zero-point plane of the pressing surface 154 again at different radii and the appropriate adjustment of the pivot axis 161. The actuators 189 are here pneumatic drives, but there are also as in all other drives of the device shown here Stepper motors or servomotors, for example in conjunction with spindle drives possible.

The operation of the bending device 122 according to the fourth embodiment shown here can be explained with reference to FIG. 15 as follows. First, according to the pressure roller to be adjusted, it is decided whether to use the first form bar 126 or the second form bar 227. Accordingly, the second mold bar 227 is either preset or folded away with the pivot mechanism 130. The adaptation of the position of the edge form 125 takes place via the first plane with the third adjustment device in the x direction. The x-axis of the pivot axis 161 is adjusted via the second level of the x-adjustment with the first adjuster 166. In this way, the former 120, the retainer 150, and the bender 162 come into mating relative x-position to the printing plate. The pressure plate is then retained by moving the second adjuster 164 and pressing the press beam 152, respectively. The adaptation of the y-position of the pivot axis 161 to the respectively selected edge shape 124, 125 via the second adjustment 174 and the adjustment of the zero position of the pressing surface 154 via the cylinder 156. At the same time, the system part 190 via the actuators 189 again to the Adjusted zero point position, so that the contact surface 191 fits snugly against the pressure plate. Then, the bending beam 186 is pivoted by the pneumatic driver 164, whereby the edge region of the pressure plate is bent. Upon selection of the first mold bar 126, then, by pressing the edge area onto the front side of the corresponding projection 132, embossing of the edge area 108 of the pressure plate by the embossing projections 140 takes place. Subsequently, all the units move back, so that the suitably bent-over pressure plate 104 is released is and can be clamped to the pressure roller 100.

The device is intended in the various embodiments explained in particular for printers who own printing presses and printing rollers of different manufacturers. The device according to the in matched to an appropriate range of two existing at the customer printing presses.

The device explained with reference to FIGS. 11 to 18 has at a non-illustrated opposite end yet another analogously constructed Umbiegeeinheit with the same structure as shown in Fig. 15 in order to reshape an opposite edge region. This further bending device can in principle also be provided with two further, different edge shapes and / or shaped beams, so that a total of four different pressure roller shapes can be handled.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

first pressure roller

12

printing plate

14

first groove

15

second groove

16

second pressure roller

17

edge

18

peripheral surface

20

Adjusting spring

22

image

24

position marks

26

edge region

27

edge region

28

Bending edge of the printing plate

29

Vacuum table (plate positioning device)

30

contraption

31

conveyor belts

32

buckler

34

forming device

36

Securing device

38

bender

40

End areas of a bending table

42

level bearing surface

44

Displacement corrections to the relative displacement of the Umbiegeeinrichtungen

46

Mold element (mold bar)

47

changeable fitting

48

first edge shape

48a

second edge shape

48b

third edge shape

48c

fourth edge shape

50

Pressing beam (pressing element)

52

Bending beam (bending element)

54

swivel axis

56

pivot bearing

58

bearing block

60

displacement plane

62

rotary magazine

64

boom

66

Center level

70

bearing element

72

first positioning device

74

second positioning device

76

Rotary actuator

78

Slot guide

80

fourth positioning device

90

screw

92

attacks

94

scale

100

platen

102

groove

104

printing plate

106

projections

108

edge region

110

edge

112

embossing

120

forming device

122

buckler

124

edge shape

125

edge shape

126

first shape bar

127

second formbar

128

bracket

130

swivel mechanism

132

projections

133

projections

134

level bearing surface

138

embossed structure

140

formative advantage

142

recesses

144

rack

146

stepper motor

148

gear segment

150

Securing device

152

pressing bars

153

recesses

154

Press area

156

cylinder

158

lateral holding plates (bearing block)

159

projecting areas

160

pivot bearing

161

swivel axis

162

bender

164

pneumatic drive

166

first adjustment device

168

Carriage (second level)

169

Carriage (second level)

170

side panels

172

cylinder

174

second adjustment device

176

third adjustment device

178

base support

180

carriages

181

carriages

182

movable carrier

183

carriages

184

carriages

185

another carriage

186

bending beam

188

beam part

189

actuator

190

plant part

191

contact surface

A ₁ , A ₂

Distance bending edges of position marks

D

Thickness of the printing plate 12

FB1

first formbar section

FB2

second formbar section

FB3

third formbar section

FB4

fourth formbar section

M ₁ , M ₂ .

Center line of the edge shape

r _i , r ...

Radius of curvature of the edge 17 or an ith edge shape

U

circumferential distance

Claims (32)

1. Apparatus. (30) for preparing printing plates (12, 104) provided with position markers (24) for arrangement on a printing cylinder (10, 16, 100), by bending an edge region (26, 27, 108) of the printing plate (12, 104), in order to fit around and/or engage behind an edge (17, 110) of the printing cylinder (10, 16, 100) with said bent edge region (26, 27, 108), having:

   a securing device (36, 150) for securing the printing plate (12, 104),

   a forming device (34, 120) which comprises a support surface (42, 134) on which to place the printing plate (12, 100) which is to be secured by the securing device (36, 150) and an edge form (48, 48a, 48b, 48c, 124, 125) adjacent to the support surface (42, 134), and

   a bending device (38, 162) with a bending element (52, 186) for bending the edge region (26, 27, 108) of the printing plate (12, 104) around the edge form (48, 48a, 48b, 48c, 124, 125),

   characterised in that

   the forming device (34, 120) is provided with a plurality of edge forms (48, 48a, 48b, 48c, 124, 125), which can be used selectively for forming the edge region (26, 27, 108),

   a movement curve of the bending element (52) of the bending device (38) can be varied relative to the forming device (34, 102) in order to adapt to the particular edge form (48, 48a, 48b, 48c, 124, 125) selected,

   a plate positioning device (29) is provided for aligning the printing plate (12, 104) by means of the position markers (24) before the securing and bending, and

   the forming device (34, 120) has at least two edge forms (48, 48a, 48b, 48c; 124, 125) having different radii of curvature (r_i, r₁, r₂), viewed in cross-section.
2. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the edge forms (48, 48a, 48b, 48c; 124, 125) are constructed as sections of a (circular) cylindrical sleeve.
3. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the bending device (38) for adjusting the movement curve of the bending element (52) relative to the forming device (34) is movable in a sloping plane of movement (60) which is inclined at an acute angle to the support surface (42).
4. Apparatus according to, claim 3, characterised in that the plane of movement (60) is inclined at about 45 degrees to the support surface (42).
5. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the bending device (38) comprises, as bending element, a bending bar (52, 186) for gripping and bending the edge region (26, 27, 108), which is mounted at its end regions such that it can pivot about the selected edge form (48, 48a, 48b, 48c; 124, 125) at a preferably selectable spacing or pivot radius.
6. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterised in that the spacing and/or the pivot axis (54) of the pivoting movement can be adjusted by moving the bending device (38, 162).
7. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the securing device (36, 150) comprises a pressing element, particularly a pressing bar (50, 152), which is movable relative to the support surface (42, 134), in order to press the printing plate (12, 104) for securing it against the support surface (42, 134) or from removing it therefrom.
8. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the securing device (36, 150) is movable together with the bending device (38, 162) relative to the support surface (42, 138), in particular at an inclined angle thereto.
9. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a plurality of bending means (32, 32', 122) are provided; each equipped with the securing device (36, 150), the forming device (34, 120) and the bending device (38, 162), for bending a plurality of edge regions (26, 27, 108) of the plate (12, 104).
10. Apparatus according to claim 9, characterised in that the bending means (32, 32', 122) are movable relative to one another.
11. Apparatus according to claim 10, characterised in that two bending units (32,32', 122) are provided for bending opposing edge regions (26,27, 108), which can be moved towards one another and away from one another in order to adjust the spacing between the bends (28) of the edge regions (26, 27, 104).
12. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the forming device (34) has a selecting element (46, 47; 62) with the plurality of edge forms (48, 48a, 48b, 48c), which is movable, particularly rotatable, for selecting the desired edge form (48, 48a, 48b, 48c).
13. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the forming device (34) is constructed and arranged such that the centre (M1) of the particular edge form selected, around which the edge region (26, 27) is bent, is located in a plane (68) which is inclined relative to the support surface (42) and is parallel to a plane of movement (60) of the bending device (34).
14. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the forming device (120) comprises a first forming element (126) with a first edge form (124) and a second forming element (127), particularly with a second edge form (125), the second forming element (127) being constructed as a removable attachment for the first forming element (126).
15. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the securing device (150) and the bending device (162) can be moved in linear fashion by means of a first adjusting device (166) relative to the forming device (120) in a first direction (x) extending at least with one directional component perpendicular to the extent of the edge forms (124, 125), in order to equalise the offset of the edge forms (124, 125) relative to the securing device (150) and the bending device (162) caused by the attachment or removal of the second forming element (127).
16. Apparatus according to claim 15, characterised in that the securing device (150) and the bending device (162) can be moved in linear fashion by means of a second adjusting device (174), which is movable independently of the first adjusting device (166) relative to the forming device (120) in a second direction (y) extending at least with one directional component perpendicular to the extent of the first and second edge forms (124, 125) and perpendicular to the first direction (x), in order to match a reference point (161) of the path of movement of a bending element (186) of the bending device (162) to the particular edge form (124, 125) selected.
17. Apparatus according to one of claims 15 or 16, characterised in that the first direction (x) runs parallel to the plate (104), when the apparatus is used as intended.
18. Apparatus according to claim 17, characterised in that the securing device (150), the bending device (162) and the forming device (120) are movable in linear fashion together, by means of a third adjusting device (176), in particular parallel to the first direction (x), relative to the plate (108), in order to equalise the offset of the edge forms (124, 125) relative to the plate (108) caused by the attachment of the second forming element (127).
19. Apparatus according to claim 14, or according to claim 14 and one of claims 15 to 18, characterised in that a rear side of the second forming element (127) is matched to the front side of the first forming element (126) such that it can be placed against the front side of the first forming element (126), thereby making surface contact therewith.
20. Apparatus according to claim 14, or according to claim 14 and one of claims 15 to 19, characterised in that the first forming element (126) is designed to be fixed relative to a holder (128) of the forming device (120) and the second forming element (127) is designed to be movable relative to the holder (128).
21. Apparatus according to claim 14, or according to claim 14 and one of claims 15 to 20, characterised in that the forming device (120) has a pivoting mechanism (130) for pivoting the second forming element (127) away from the first forming element (126) and for pivoting the second forming element back in front of the first forming element.
22. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the forming elements each consist of at least one elongate forming bar (126, 127), the cross-section of which is provided with a projection (132, 133) protruding transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction, at the tip of which is formed an edge enclosing an acute angle, with the particular edge form (124, 125) having the particular desired radius (A, B) provided for the forming operation.
23. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the front side of at least one of the forming elements (126) has a protruding edge with the edge form (124) desired for the forming process and, offset thereto, one or more embossing projections (140) for producing an embossed mark on the bent edge region (108) of the plate (104).
24. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the bending device (162) has a bending element (186) which is mounted on a pivot bearing (160) so as to pivot about the particular edge form (124, 125).
25. Apparatus according to claim 24 and claim 15, characterised in that the pivot bearing (160) of the bending device (162) is movable relative to the forming device in a second direction (y) that extends with at least one directional component perpendicular to the extent of the edge forms (124, 125) and perpendicular to the first direction (x).
26. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, where dependent on claim 15, characterised in that a securing element (152) of the securing device (150) is movable relative to a bending element (186) of the bending device (162) in a second direction (y) that extends at least with one directional component perpendicular to the extent of the edge forms and perpendicular to the first direction (x).
27. Apparatus according to claim 24 or according to claim 24 and one of claims 25 or 26, characterised in that the bending element (186) pivotably mounted on the pivot bearing (160) is divided, in its longitudinal direction, into a retaining part (188) mounted on the pivot bearing and an abutment part (190) constructed to be movable relative thereto radially with respect to the axis of pivotal movement, for, abutting on the edge region (108) of the plate (104), that is to be bent.
28. Use of the apparatus (30) according to one of the preceding claims for preparing printing plates (12, 104) for different printing cylinders (10, 16).
29. Process for preparing a printing plate (12, 104) for applying it to a printing cylinder (10, 16, 100) selected from a plurality of different printing cylinders, by bending an edge region (26, 27, 108) of the printing plate (12, 104), so that the edge region (26, 27, 108) of the printing plate (12, 104) can fit around and/or engage behind an edge (17, 110) of the printing cylinder (10, 16, 100), comprising:

    • selecting an edge form (48, 48a, 48b, 48c, 124, 125) adapted to fit the edge (17, 110) of the printing cylinder (10, 16, .100), the edge form being selected from a group of edge forms (48, 48a, 48b, 48c, 124, 125), each being curved in the shape of a section of a circular cylindrical sleeve having a particular radius of curvature (r_i) which differs from the radius or radii of curvature of the other edge forms (48, 48a, 48b, 48c, 124, 125),

    • adjusting a movement curve of a bending element (52, 186) of a bending device (38, 162) adapted to fit the edge form (48, 48a, 48b, 48c, 124, 125),

    • securing the plate (12, 104) and

    • bending the edge region (26, 27, 108) of the plate (12, 104) by means of the bending element (52, 186) moving along the movement curve about the selected edge form (48, 48a, 48b, 48c, 124, 125).
30. Process according to claim 29, characterised in that, as the movement curve, a circular pivoting movement with a pivot radius which is greater than the radius of curvature (r_i) of the selected edge form (48, 48a, 48b, 48c, 124, 125) by the thickness (D) of the plate (12, 104) is adjusted concentrically with the circularly curved edge form (48, 48a, 48b, 48c, 124, 125).
31. Process according to claim 30, characterised in that the adjustment of the pivot radius and/or the pivot axis (54) for adapting to the selected edge form (48, 48a, 48b, 48c) is carried out by shifting the bending device (38) in a plane of movement (60) which is inclined at an angle to the plane of the plate.
32. Process according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the centre, particularly a central axis or focal point axis, of the edge form around which the edge region (26, 27) is bent is arranged in a plane (68) which lies parallel to a plane of movement (60) which is inclined at an angle to the plane (42) of the plate, along which the bending device (38) is movable in order to adjust the movement curve.

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