Printing press with multi-plate plate cylinder

Abstract

A printing press comprising a multi-plate plate cylinder for carrying at least a first printing plate and a second printing plate, the plate cylinder having a cylinder body with an outer surface and a lock-up bar having a retracted position and an extended position, the lock-up bar for fastening both of the first and second plates about the outer surface in the retracted position. A tucker bar is located adjacent the lock-up bar, the tucker bar including at least a first segment for tucking and holding the first printing plate on the plate cylinder and a second segment for tucking and holding the second printing plate on the plate cylinder, the first segment being independently movable with respect to the second segment. Also disclosed is a method including the steps of contacting the first printing plate with an associated first segment of a tucker bar when the common lock-up bar is in an extended position and while the second printing plate is not contacted by an associated second segment of the tucker bar, moving the common lock-up bar to the retracted position so that the first printing plate is fastened and so that an end of the second printing plate is free, and removing the second printing plate from the plate cylinder.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.