An apparatus and method for changing a blade of a rotary die cutter, particularly for flexographic printing machines

A method for changing a blade of a rotary die cutter, comprising the steps of:

• a. providing apparatus for changing a blade of a rotary die cutter, the apparatus comprising a magnetic cylinder configured to receive and support a blade, an insertion station configured for insertion of the blade and an extraction station configured for extracting the blade;
• b. rotating the magnetic cylinder about its own rotation axis;
• c. in the extraction station, detaching and removing a first blade from the magnetic cylinder by an extraction device that cooperates with the rotating magnetic cylinder and with the first blade around the cylinder;
• d. inserting a second blade in the insertion station;
• e. guiding the second blade from the insertion station toward the magnetic cylinder and;
• f. wrapping the second blade around the magnetic cylinder by the rotation of the magnetic cylinder about its own rotation axis;
• the step of detaching and extracting the first blade from the magnetic cylinder comprises engaging the first blade and detaching the first blade from the magnetic cylinder by an extraction device at the extraction station and which is configured to remove the first blade from the magnetic cylinder, by penetrating between the first blade and the magnetic cylinder.