Patent ID: 8505450

Claim:
A printing unit, comprising: a plate cylinder for receiving a printing plate, said plate cylinder having an axis of rotation; an impression cylinder having an axis of rotation and forming a printing nip with said plate cylinder for printing on a substrate; and an ink applicator roller to be engaged by the printing plate received on said plate cylinder for contacting said ink applicator roller; said plate cylinder being pivotable about said impression cylinder about a pivot axis, said pivot axis being coaxial with said axis of rotation of said impression cylinder; said plate cylinder being disengageable from said impression cylinder and said ink applicator roller for format variation; said axes of rotation of said plate cylinder and said impression cylinder being spaced apart by a variable distance, the variable distance and a pivoting movement of said plate cylinder being coupled together for simultaneous movement; and a single actuating element for carrying out disengagement of said plate cylinder from said impression cylinder and disengagement of said plate cylinder from said ink applicator roller by controlling the simultaneous movement with said single actuating element.