Device for attaching and adjusting flexible printing plates on printing cylinders

Claim 1

In a device for adjustably securing a printing plate on a printing cylinder, said printing cylinder including an axially extending recess and a plurality of pairs of clamping barS adjustably mounted in said recess for axial and tangential movement therein relative to said printing cylinder, said clamping bars being arranged for gripping therebetween an edge of said printing plate aligned relative to said printing cylinder in accordance with registration marks appearing on said printing plate and printing cylinder, with alignment means formed on a first pair of said clamping bars which are adapted to first have a printing plate edge clamped therebetween, said alignment means being arranged to mate with related alignment means formed on said first clamped printing plate edge for guiding said printing plate into clamped engagement with said clamping bars, the improvement comprising, in combination, a pin attached at said first clamping bars at substantially the longitudinal center thereof, means located in said recess defining a slot extending generally circumferentially of said printing cylinder, said slotdefining means being positioned relative to said cylinder to locate said slot with said pin extending thereinto, a pair of adjustment screw means operatively associated with said first clamping bar pair at opposite ends thereof to effect adjustment of said clamping bars circumferentially of said printing cylinder, said adjustment screw means including indicator means to indicate the adjusted position of said clamping bars, and means enabling said slot-defining means to be adjustably fixed relative to said printing cylinder after said printing plate has been accurately mounted thereupon.