Rotary printing module and printing machine provided with such printing module

A printing module comprising:

• a frame which comprises two opposite frame parts;
• an anilox roller which is bearing-mounted in the frame in a manner rotatable about an anilox roller axis and extends between the two opposite frame parts;
• an impression roller which is bearing-mounted in the frame in a manner rotatable about an impression roller axis and extends between the two opposite frame parts;
• a plate cylinder assembly comprising:
• a stationary shaft;
• two supporting rings which are each connected with the shaft near an associated end of the shaft;
• and
• a plate cylinder which is mounted on the shaft in a manner rotatable about a plate cylinder axis, the diameter of the plate cylinder substantially corresponding to the diameter of the supporting rings;
• a first and a second plate cylinder holder assembly which are each connected with an associated frame part, and which are each configured for removably placing and fixing therein a supporting ring of the plate cylinder assembly;
• wherein each plate cylinder holder assembly comprises:
• a plate-shaped body part which extends in an imaginary body part plane which extends perpendicular to the plate cylinder axis, wherein a side of the plate-shaped body part proximal to the plate cylinder axis forms a supporting ring support surface which extends substantially perpendicular to the body part plane and runs along a curve which extends in the body part plane, wherein the curve is mirror-symmetrical with respect to an imaginary curve symmetry plane which extends substantially perpendicular to the body part plane and with respect to which the anilox roller axis and impression roller axis are substantially symmetrically positioned and in which the plate cylinder axis extends, wherein the curve, viewed from the plate cylinder axis, comprises:
• a central concave curve part which is symmetrical with respect to the central curve symmetry plane;
• a first convex curve part which adjoins a first end of the concave curve part and which extends to a first convex free end;
• and
• a second convex curve part which adjoins a second end of the concave curve part and which extends to a second convex free end, the two convex parts being symmetrical with respect to the curve symmetry plane;
• and
• a body part support assembly via which the body part is connected with the associated frame part, wherein the body part support assembly is configured for pivoting the body part about a first pivoting axis and for pivoting the body part about a second pivoting axis, wherein the first and second pivoting axes are symmetrically positioned on opposite sides of the curve symmetry plane, wherein the first pivoting axis substantially coincides with the impression roller axis, that is, coincides exactly with the impression roller axis or extends parallel to the impression roller axis with the distance between the first pivoting axis and impression roller axis being less than 50 mm, and wherein the second pivoting axis substantially coincides with the anilox roller axis, that is, coincides exactly with the anilox roller axis or extends parallel to the anilox roller axis with the distance between the second pivoting axis and anilox roller axis being less than 50 mm
• wherein each plate cylinder holder assembly is provided with an associated hold-down which engages the supporting ring or a freely accessible part of the stationary shaft,
• wherein each hold-down comprises a piston-cylinder assembly and an associated pull rod, wherein the pull rod near an end is provided with a hook which in a retracted condition engages said freely accessible part of the stationary shaft, such that the supporting rings are pulled or pushed against the supporting ring support surface,
• a first eccentric cam connecting shaft which is connected with the first eccentric cam of the second plate cylinder holder assembly and which extends from the second frame part to the first frame part and which near the first frame part is provided with a first operating knob with the aid of which the first eccentric cam of the second plate cylinder holder assembly is adjustable;
• a second eccentric cam connecting shaft which is connected with the second eccentric cam of the second plate cylinder holder assembly and which extends from the second frame part to the first frame part and which near the first frame part is provided with a second operating knob with the aid of which the second eccentric cam of the second plate cylinder holder assembly is adjustable;
• a third operating knob which is connected with the first eccentric cam of the first plate cylinder holder assembly and with the aid of which the first eccentric cam of the first plate cylinder holder assembly is adjustable;
• and
• a fourth operating knob which is connected with the second eccentric cam of the first plate cylinder holder assembly and with the aid of which the second eccentric cam of the first plate cylinder holder assembly is adjustable,
• wherein the pull force exerted by the pull rods of the hold-downs is taken up via the supporting rings and the body parts by said eccentric cams.