Apparatus for facilitating printing cassette replacement

An apparatus for facilitating exchange of printing cassettes in a printing press, the printing cassettes having respective images to be printed on material during operation of the printing press, said apparatus comprising:

• first holding means for receiving a replacement printing cassette from a cassette storage facility;
• transport means for carrying said first holding means and the replacement printing cassette received by said first holding means from the cassette storage facility to a transfer location adjacent to the printing press;
• second holding means for receiving a replaceable printing cassette from a cassette location in the printing press while the replacement printing cassette is retained by said first holding means, said second holding means being located directly underneath said first holding means;
• and
• mover means for simultaneously moving said first and second holding means in a vertical direction between a first position in which said second holding means can receive the replaceable printing cassette from the cassette location in the printing press while said first holding means retains the replacement printing cassette directly above said second holding means and a second position in which the cassette location in the printing press can receive the replacement printing cassette from said first holding means while said second holding means retains said replaceable printing cassette received from the printing press directly underneath said first holding means.