Patent ID: 7117789

Claim:
An apparatus for loading and exchanging engraved rollers of printing units of a printing machine, wherein the printing machine comprises a plurality of the printing units in succession along a path through which objects to be printed at the printing units pass, wherein the printing units are positioned in a continuous line, and the apparatus including: a loading station for engraved rollers, the loading station preceding the printing units; a moving device for moving a first engraved roller from the loading station to the respective printing unit; a further device at the printing unit then operable for moving the first engraved roller to a working position at the printing unit where the first engraved roller is in a position to print an object: the moving device additionally being operable to move among the printing units to enable withdrawal of one of the first engraved rollers from any of the printing units, and the moving device being operable for moving to the respective printing unit where a first engraved roller is to be removed, for engaging the first engraved roller to be removed and for withdrawing the first engraved roller from the working position, for moving the first engraved roller to a loading and unloading position where it may be transported and for bringing that first engraved roller into a storage location; and a control device for controlling operation of the apparatus.