Clamping device, system and method for clamping flexible plates onto an imaging cylinder

A method, comprising:

• moving a first clamping element of a clamping device extending in the axial direction of an imaging cylinder of an imaging device, the cylinder having an outer surface, the clamping element located adjacent to the outer surface of the cylinder, the moving being in a direction away from a first surface approximately flush with the outer surface of the cylinder to form a first gap between the first surface and the first clamping element, the clamping device further including a second clamping element extending in the axial direction of the imaging cylinder adjacent to the first clamping element and independently movable;
• placing a first edge of a first flexible plate in the first gap between the first surface and the first clamping element;
• moving the first clamping element in a direction opposite to the first direction to close the first gap;
• automatically maintaining a compressive force onto the first edge placed in the first gap via the clamping element to hold the first edge in a clamped state;
• moving the second clamping element of the clamping device in a direction away from a second surface approximately flush with the outer surface of the cylinder to form a second gap between the second surface and the second clamping element;
• placing a second edge of a flexible plate in the second gap between the second surface and the second clamping element;
• moving the second clamping element in a direction opposite to the first direction to close the second gap;
• and
• automatically maintaining a compressive force onto the second edge placed in the second gap via the clamping element to hold the second edge in a clamped state,
• wherein the compressive force maintained onto the first edge is sufficient to hold the plate without the plate needing to have holes at the first edge through which dowels or pins connected to the first clamping element are needed for holding and tensioning the plate, and
• wherein the moving of the first clamping element is by manually applying a rotative force to a mechanism that translates rotative force to rectilinear force on a first rod coupled to a first lever that causes a first axle rotatively coupled to the imaging cylinder and attached to the first clamping element to rotate to open or close the first gap, and wherein the moving of the second clamping element is by manually applying a rotative force to a mechanism that translates rotative force to rectilinear force on a second rod coupled to a second lever that causes a second axle rotatively coupled to the imaging cylinder and attached to the second clamping element to rotate to open or close the second gap.

A system comprising:

• a first clamping element extending in the axial direction of an imaging cylinder of an imaging device, the cylinder having an outer surface, the first clamping element located adjacent to the outer surface of the cylinder;
• means for moving operative to move the first clamping element in a direction away from a first surface approximately flush with the outer surface of the cylinder to form a first gap between the first surface and the first clamping element;
• a second clamping element extending in the axial direction of the imaging cylinder adjacent to the first clamping element and independently movable to the moving of the first clamping element;
• such that a first edge of a first flexible plate can be placed in the first gap between the first surface and the first clamping element;
• wherein the means for moving the first clamping element also is operative to move the first clamping element in a direction opposite to the first direction to close the first gap;
• means for automatically maintaining a compressive force onto the first edge after the first edge is placed in the first gap, compressive force maintained via the first clamping element to hold the first edge in a clamped state;
• means for moving the second clamping element in a direction away from a second surface approximately flush with the outer surface of the cylinder, the means for moving the second clamping element being operative to move the second clamping element to form a second gap between the second surface and the second clamping element such that a second edge of a flexible plate can be placed in the second gap between the second surface and the second clamping element;
• wherein the means for moving the second clamping element is operative to move the second clamping element in a direction opposite to the first direction to close the second gap;
• and
• means for automatically maintaining a compressive force onto the second edge after the second edge is placed in the second gap via the second clamping element to hold the second edge in a clamped state,
• wherein the compressive force maintained onto the first edge is sufficient to hold the plate without the plate needing to have holes at the first edge through which dowels or pins connected to the clamping element are needed for holding and tensioning the plate,
• wherein the means for moving of the first clamping element is operative to move the first clamping element by manually applying a rotative force to a mechanism that translates rotative force to rectilinear force on a first rod coupled to a first lever that causes a first axle rotatively coupled to the imaging cylinder and attached to the first clamping element to rotate to open or close the first gap, and
• wherein the means for moving the second clamping element is operative to move the second clamping element by manually applying a rotative force to a mechanism that translates rotative force to rectilinear force on a second rod coupled to a second lever that causes a second axle rotatively coupled to the imaging cylinder and attached to the second clamping element to rotate to open or close the second gap.