Abstract:
A lateral registration device for printing plates in a plate cylinder uses axially shiftable insertion strips. These insertion strips have register pins which engage recesses in the beveled ends of flexible printing plates inserted into an insertion slit. The insertion or guide strips are arranged adjacent each other in the circumferential direction of the plate cylinder.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an adjustment device for a lateral register of at least two adjacent flexible printing plates. Axially adjustable strips that accomplish the lateral registration are spaced circumferentially. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
     A lateral register adjustment device for printing plates is known from DE 42 41 588 C2. Printing plates have beveled edges which are fastened in a slit or in several slits extending in an axis-parallel direction along the circumference of the printing cylinder. Each one of the printing plates has a recess for this, which recess is engaged by a respective register pin which, in turn, is fixedly connected with one insertion strip, respectively. This insertion strip is movable in an axis-parallel direction in the slit. The insertion strips are arranged on top of each other in the slit and are each connected with a separate adjustment system. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the present invention is based on providing an adjustment device for a lateral register. 
     In accordance with the present invention, this object is attained by the provision of printing plates whose beveled ends are received in a slit or channel in the printing cylinder. Each plate end has a register recess that will receive a register pin which is carried by an axially displaceable insertion strip. The insertion strips are situated one behind the other in the circumferential direction of the printing cylinder. 
     The advantages which can be achieved by means of the present invention rest, in particular, in that a lateral register adjustment device for printing plates with beveled edges has been created (slit clamping), whose insertion strips are secured against being ejected from the slit by simple means. Furthermore, the slit can be kept narrow, even if solid insertion strips are used. The beginning or leading end of each printing plate is provided with a lateral register adjustment device. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Two preferred embodiments of the present invention are represented in the drawings and will be described in greater detail in what follows. 
     Shown are in: 
     FIG. 1, a cross section through a schematically represented lateral register adjustment device taken along line I—I in FIG. 2 of a first preferred embodiment, 
     FIG. 2, a section taken along line II—II of FIG. 1 of the lateral register adjustment device with an unrestricted view of the insertion strips, 
     FIG. 3, a side view of an insertion strip. 
     FIG. 4, an end view of the insertion strip in FIG. 3, and in 
     FIG. 5, a cross section through a schematically represented lateral register adjustment device in accordance with a second preferred embodiment. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A printing cylinder  1  has, on its circumference, secant-like narrow plate end insertion slits  2  of a width a, and extending in an axis-parallel direction, for receiving the beveled ends  3 ,  4  of flexible first and second printing plates  6 ,  7 . Here, the leading end  3  of the first printing plate  6  extends at an angle α of approximately 35° in relation to the printing plate  6 , and the trailing end  4  of the second printing plate  7  extends at an angle β of approximately 145° in relation to the printing plate  7 . Both ends  3 ,  4  are together fastened in the slit  2 , all as seen in FIG.  1 . 
     An insertion strip channel  8  having a rectangular cross section and a channel width d which is greater than the width a of the slit  2 , for example, extends underneath each slit  2 . The insertion strip channel  8  extends parallel with the slit  2  and is symmetrical in respect to a plane  9 , which is also the vertical axis of the slit  2 . The insertion strip channel  8  is connected with the slit  2 . 
     Two insertion strips  11 ,  12  are arranged next to each other and are each movable back and forth in the axial movement direction E, shown in FIG. 2, of the printing cylinder  1  in the insertion strip channel  8 . The channel  8  can be created by spark erosion, for example. 
     Each one of the insertion strips  11 ,  12  supports at least one register pin  13 ,  14 , as seen in FIGS. 1-4, which register pin  13  or  14  is guided in the plate end insertion slit  2  and is fixedly connected with the respective insertion strip  11 ,  12  or is made of one piece with it. The register pin  13 ,  14  has a maximum thickness which corresponds to the width a of the slit  2 , while each insertion strip  11 ,  12  has a maximum thickness which corresponds to half the width d of the insertion strip channel  8 . Here, the width d/2 can be greater than the width a. The insertion strip  12  supporting the register pin  14  which is situated remote from the end face  23  of cylinder  1 , has a recess  15  on its top surface; i.e. the surface facing the ends  3 ,  4 . The length of recess  15 , as seen in FIG. 3, is greater than the clear dimension of the register pin  13  of the insertion strip  11 . This recess  15  is provided to allow for the unrestricted movement of the register pin  13 . 
     Each register pin  13 ,  14  engages a recess of a beveled end of a printing plate in an interlocking manner which is not specifically shown in the drawings. 
     On its end, each insertion strip  11 ,  12  is provided with an adjustment device  16 ,  17  for accomplishing its axial back-and-forth movement E. This adjustment device  16 ,  17  can, for example, be structured in such a way that each insertion strip  11 ,  12  is angled in an L-shape on one of its ends, wherein the angle piece  18 ,  19  is fastened on the end face  23  of the printing cylinder  1  by means of a screw  21 ,  22 , all as shown in FIG.  2 . 
     A variable number of intermediate pieces  24 ,  26 , for example spring elements, are located between the angle piece  18 ,  19  and the end face  23  of the printing cylinder  1 . 
     The adjustment devices  16 ,  17  are preferably located in a partially routed-out notch  27  in the cylinder end face  23 . The printing plate  6  can be moved back and forth in the axial movement direction E by varying the number of intermediate pieces  24 ,  26 . However, once a basic adjustment has been performed, a simple turning of the screw  21 ,  22  is sufficient to accomplish a fine lateral register adjustment. It is, of course, also possible to fasten a block at the end of the insertion strip  11 ,  12  instead of the angle piece  18 ,  19 , and to provide it with an axial bore for receiving the screw  21 ,  22 . 
     If four printing plates are arranged next to each other on the printing cylinder  1 , it is possible to also arrange laterally reversed adjustment devices on a second, opposite end face of the printing cylinder  1  , and to arrange separate insertion strips in the second cylinder half. 
     In accordance with a second preferred embodiment, as seen in FIG. 5, a printing cylinder  28  has a secant-like plate end insertion slit  29  of a width f, in which beveled ends  31 ,  32  of flexible printing plates  33 ,  34  are maintained. Insertion strips  36 ,  37  of a maximum thickness of half the width f of the slit  29  are arranged next to each other in the lower portion of the slit  29 . 
     Each insertion strip  36 ,  37  is fixedly connected with a register pin  38 ,  39 , which engages a recess in a printing plate in an interlocking manner which is not specifically shown in FIG.  5 . Each register pin  38 ,  39  can maximally have the thickness f of the slit  29 . 
     To secure the insertion strips  36 ,  37  against the effects of centrifugal force when cylinder  28  is in the operating state, the insertion strips  36 ,  37  are held on their sides facing the beveled plate ends  31 ,  32  by means of pins  41  fixed on the cylinder and extending into the plate end insertion slit  29 . 
     While preferred embodiments of a lateral registration device in accordance with the present invention have been set forth fully and completely hereinabove, it will be apparent to one of skill in the art that changes in, for example the overall size of the cylinders, the type of flexible plates secured to its surface and the like could be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present invention which is accordingly to be limited only by the following claims.