Apparatus and method for changing printing plates

A method for changing a printing plate in a printing press, comprising the steps of:

• providing a printing plate cartridge for the printing press having (1) multiple cases for accommodating printing plates to be removed during a printing plate change and for accommodating printing plates to be installed during a printing plate change, the printing plate cartridge being mounted in such a way that it is rotationally pivotable and linearly movable relative to a printing group of the printing press, such that multiple printing units of the printing group are serviceable by the printing plate cartridge during a printing plate change, and (2) a gripper device for gripping printing plates during the printing plate change, the gripper device being attached to a conveyor chain and movable by way of the conveyor chain, the conveyor chain being guided in a chain guide bar system, the chain guide bar system having first sections assigned to an outer part of the printing plate cartridge and second sections assigned to the cases of an inner part of the printing plate cartridge, with the first and second sections expanding dependent upon a position of the inner part relative to the outer part in such a way that the gripper device is insertable into the cases of the inner part dependent upon the position of the inner part relative to the outer part;
• changing a first of the printing plates on a first plate cylinder of a first printing unit of a printing group by the printing plate cartridge, wherein the printing group is housed in a frame;
• moving the printing plate cartridge on the frame to a position adjacent to a second plate cylinder of a second printing unit of the printing group;
• and
• changing a second of the printing plates on the second plate cylinder of the second printing unit of the printing group by the printing plate cartridge.