Printing plate attachment system

Abstract

To attach a printng plate (2) to a plate cylinder (1) having a groove therein, the groove has converging inner walls (10, 11) and a two-part attachment clamping wedge (5, 6) is provided, the clamping wedge being spring loaded to clamp an end portion (A) of the plate (2) between one part (6) of the wedge and an adjacent side wall (10), the other end portion (E) of the plate (2) being clamped between the two parts (5, 6). The parts have, in cross section, approximate trapezoidal shape. The two-part clamping element permits release of the plate by pressure (P) from the outer face of the cylinder (1) counter the force of a spring (8) which presses the clamping wedge parts (5, 6) towards the outside via a support plate (4). Preferably, the arrangement is symmetrical about a centerline (M) so that slight canting or tilting of the clamping wedges is possible for easy release of the plate (2) after installation. Upon rotation, centrifugal force acting on the clamping parts tightly clamps the printing plate (2) in position.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.