Device for replacing plate cylinders

A device for replacing plate cylinders for a color printer having a plurality of plate cylinders, said device comprising:

• a plurality of pairs of suspending means having a bearing adapted to support one end of the shaft of the plate cylinder and to be movable in a vertical direction for suspending the plate cylinder;
• a plurality of pairs of travelling means for moving the plate cylinder supported on said suspending means in a horizontal direction;
• and
• at least one pair of elevator conveyors having a conveyor body movable up and down and a plurality of bearings secured to said conveyor body for supporting each end of the shaft of the plate cylinder;
• the bearings of said suspending means and the bearings of said elevator conveyors being arranged so that the plate cylinder on the bearings of said suspending means will be received by the bearings of said elevator conveyors either by moving the bearings of said suspending means downwardly past the bearings of said elevator conveyor or moving the latter upwardly past the former and so that the plate cylinder on the bearings of said elevator conveyor will be received by the bearings of said suspending means either by moving the bearings of said elevator conveyor downwardly past the bearings of said suspending means or moving the latter upwardly past the former.