Apparatus and process for the print-on and print-off setting of a blanket cylinder in a sheeet fed offset printing machine

A method for the switching of a rubber blanket cylinder in a printing unit of a sheet-fed offset printing machine, the method comprising the steps of:

• throwing-on and throwing-off the rubber blanket cylinder with respect to an impression cylinder and a plate cylinder through independently actuable setting meanS;
• adjusting the axial spacing of the rubber blanket cylinder with respect to the impression cylinder in accordance with printing material thickness;
• and
• actuating only one of the independently actuable setting means which controls the throw-on and throw-off of the rubber blanket cylinder with respect to the plate cylinder when the printing material is above a predetermined thickness.

An apparatus for the print throw-on and throw-off of a rubber blanket cylinder in a printing unit of a sheet-fed offset printing machine comprising:

• first and second setting means for pivoting eccentric bearings operatively associated with the rubber blanket cylinder, the first and second setting means being individually actuable;
• a first ternary member coupling the first and second setting means to the eccentric bearings through at least one lever;
• a print regulation mechanism serially connected to the first setting means for adjusting the axial spacing of the rubber blanket cylinder with respect to an impression cylinder of the printing machine in accordance with the thickness of printing material;
• and
• a controller coupled to the first and second setting means for actuating the first and second setting means to throw-on and throw-off the rubber blanket cylinder in relation to the impression cylinder when the thickness of the printing material is below a predetermined value.