Method for conveying printing forms during the changeover of printing forms and printing machine having a printing tower and a vertically movable storage device

A method for conveying printing formes during a printing forme changeover to a printing machine comprising a printing tower (01) which has a plurality of printing couples (02) arranged one above the other, said tower comprising a plurality of first printing couples (02), one above the other, in a machine plane (B1) which is assigned in terms of access and a plurality of second printing couples (02) spaced vertically from the first printing couples (02), wherein

• a storage device (17.2) assigned to the second printing couples (02) with respect to the infeed of printing formes is moved by vertical displacement by means of a conveyor device (43) to a loading position (P17.2A) which can be reached from the machine plane (b1) assigned to the first printing couple or couples (06),
• the vertically movable storage device (17.2), which is located in the loading position (P17.2A) and is assigned to the second printing couples (02), is loaded with a plurality of printing formes (06) side by side, as viewed in the longitudinal direction of a forme cylinder of the printing couple or couples (02) assigned to the storage device (17.2) in question, from an operating space of the printing tower (01) which is located laterally adjacent to the printing tower (01) as viewed in the radial direction of printing couple cylinders (03;
• 12) of the printing tower (01),
• before, after, or during the loading of the storage device (17.2) assigned to the second printing couples (02), a further storage device (17.1) assigned to the first printing couples (02) of the same printing tower (01) with respect to the infeed of printing formes is loaded with a plurality of printing formes (06) from the operating space of the printing tower (01),
• and the storage device (117.2), which has been loaded with new printing formes (06) and is assigned to the second printing couples (02), is moved by a conveyor device (43) from the loading position (P17.2A) to an advanced position (P17.2B) assigned to the second printing couples (02) with respect to the infeed of printing formes, once the loading of the vertically movable storage device (17.2) with a plurality of printing formes (06) for the pending production run has been completed, such that, at least when the storage device (17.2) is in the advanced position (P17.2B) at the end of its conveying path, the printing formes (06) to be conveyed are already in alignment true to lateral register and/or are in position for the intended location on the forme cylinder (03), as viewed in the axial direction of the forme cylinder (03) to be loaded.

A printing machine comprising a printing tower (01) which has a plurality of printing couples (02) arranged one above the other and a printing forme changing system comprising at least one vertically movable storage device (17.2) for printing formes (06), wherein a machine plane (B1) assigned to one or more first printing couples (02) in terms of access is provided, wherein a conveying system (43) is provided, by which the vertically movable storage device (17.2) can be moved from a loading position (P17.2) located in the area of the first machine plane (B1) to a vertically spaced advanced position (P17.2B), assigned to a plurality of second printing couples (02) with respect to the infeed of printing formes, characterized in that in addition to the vertically movable storage device (17.2) an additional storage device (17.1) assigned to the first printing couple or couples (02) of the printing tower (01) with respect to the infeed of printing formes is provided, in that the conveying system (43) and the vertically movable storage device (17.2) and the additional storage device (17.1) are arranged and configured such that the vertically movable storage device (17.2) located in its loading position (P17.2A) and the additional storage device (17.1) are arranged offset from one another and can be reached for loading with printing formes (06) or with a carrier element (37) that is preloaded with printing formes (06) from the same machine plane (B1), and in that the conveying system (43) and the two storage devices (17.1;

• 17.2) are configured and/or arranged on the printing tower (01) such that at least the loading positions (P17.1A;
• P17.2A) of the two storage devices (17.1;
• 17.2) are arranged close to the printing tower, i.e. on the side close to the printing tower, as viewed in the horizontal direction, of an operating space (118) that is accessible to operators, and, at least when the storage device (17.2) is in the advanced position (P17.2B) at the end of its conveying path, the printing formes (06) to be conveyed by the vertically movable storage device (17.2) are already in alignment true to lateral register and/or are in position for the intended location on the forme cylinder (03), as viewed in the axial direction of the forme cylinder (03) to be loaded.