Patent ID: 8069787
Filing Date: 2011-12-06
Classification: B41F,B41P

Abstract:
1. A printing couple of a printing press comprising: a forme cylinder having a longitudinal axis of rotation and having a circumferential surface divided axially into a plurality of printing forme receiving sections, said sections including a center section and at least first and second outer sections; a forme cylinder center plane extending transversely to said forme cylinder longitudinal axis of rotation, said center plane bisecting said forme cylinder and dividing said forme cylinder circumferential surface center section into a first center section half and a second center section half, said at least first outer section being adjacent said first center section half, said at least second outer section being adjacent said second center section half; at least one printing forme end receiving channel in said forme cylinder and extending in said longitudinal axial direction of said forme cylinder and radially inwardly from said forme cylinder circumferential surface; a plurality of printing forme end retaining assemblies spaced axially along said channel and including at least a first center section half retaining assembly, a second center section half retaining assembly, a first outer section retaining assembly and a second outer section retaining assembly; a separately operable actuating device for each of said retaining assemblies; and actuating device control means usable to selectively operate each of said separately operable actuating devices, said first center section half retaining assembly actuating device, said second center section half retaining assembly actuating device, said at least first outer section retaining assembly actuating device and said at least second outer section retaining assembly actuating device each being operable independently wherein, in a first mode of operation, said first and second center section half retaining assemblies can work together to retain a printing forme placed on said forme center section and in a second mode of operation, each of said first and second center section half retaining assemblies can work with its adjacent one of said first outer section retaining assembly and said second outer section retaining assembly to each retain selected ones of second and third printing formes placed on said forme cylinder circumference and occupying axial positions different from an axial position of said first printing forme.