Plate cylinder clamps for printing presses or the like

Claim 1

IN A PRINTING MACHINE, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING A PLATE CYLINDER ADAPTED TO HOLD A THIN FLEXIBLE PRINTING PLATE, A BAR MOUNTED ON SAID CYLINDER AND EXTENDING GENERALLY PARALLEL TO THE SURFACE THEREOF, SAID BAR HAVING AN ANVIL PORTION ADAPTED TO BE ENGAGED BY ONE END OF THE PRINTING PLATE, A PLURALITY OF CLAMPS MOUNTED ON SAID BAR FOR MOVEMENT TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID ANVIL PORTION FOR CLAMPING THE END OF THE PRINTING PLATE AGAINST SAID ANVIL PORTION, SPRINGS ACTING BETWEEN SAID CLAMPS AND SAID BAR AND BIASING EACH OF SAID CLAMPS INTO PLATE CLAMPING RELATION TO SAID BAR, AN ELONGATED CAMMING MEMBER MOUNTED ON SAID BAR FOR SLIDING MOVEMENT LONGITUDINALLY THEREOF, SAID CAMMING MEMBER HAVING A PLURALITY OF CAMS FORMED THEREON, EACH OF SAID CLAMPS HAVING A CAM FOLLOWER THEREON ENGAGEABLE BY ONE OF SAID CAMS UPON LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT OF SAID CAMMING MEMBER IN ONE DIRECTION FOR MOVING SAID CLAMPS OUT OF CLAMPING RELATION WITH SAID BAR TO RELEASE THE END OF THE PRINTING PLATE, A LEVER SWINGABLY MOUNTED ON SAID BAR FOR MOVING SAID CAMMING MEMBER LONGITUDINALLY, A LINK CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID LEVER AND SAID CAMMING MEMBER, AND A CATCH FOR RELEASABLY RETAINING SAID LEVER IN ITS INEFFECTIVE POSITION TO PREVENT INADVERTENT CLAMP RELEASING MOVEMENT OF SAID LEVER.