Method for automatic changing of printing plates

Abstract

A method for automatically changing printing plates for a printing machine is disclosed. The machine has a plurality of printing cylinders for mounting the printing plates, wherein each printing cylinder has a respective side register. The method comprises: driving a first printing cylinder to a printing plate release position; releasing the trailing edge of the old printing plate; turning the printing cylinder in a direction for unwinding the old printing plate; stopping the printing machine in a printing plate release position of another printing cylinder; releasing the old printing plate of the other printing cylinder; turning the printing machine in a direction for unwinding the old printing plate; repeating foregoing steps until all old printing plates are released and are connected at their respective leading edges; turning the printing machine in a direction for on-winding new printing plates; stopping the printing machine in a printing plate feed-in position of a first printing cylinder; feeding-in a first new printing plate to the first printing cylinder, and clamping onto the printing cylinder the first new plate; repeating foregoing steps until all new printing plates have been clamped onto a respective printing cylinder; and zero-setting the side register for each printing cylinder before feeding-in the new printing plate.