PRINTING PRESS
A method of controlling a printing unit is disclosed. The printing unit comprising a plurality of printing couple pairs, each printing couple pair comprising a plate cylinder and a blanket cylinder and an inking system associated with each printing couple pair operable to supply ink to printing plates mounted on the plate cylinders of said printing couple pairs. The printing unit also comprises a primary module carrying the printing couple pairs and, a pair of secondary modules carrying the inking systems, the secondary modules being movable relative to the primary module from an operative into a non-operative position in which each secondary module is separated from the primary module. The printing unit further comprises apparatus for loading/unloading printing plates from the plate cylinders of the printing unit and the method includes the step of unloading printing plates from the plate cylinders of the printing unit using said apparatus whilst the secondary modules are moving relative to the primary modules into their non-operative positions.
1 . A method of controlling a printing unit comprising a plurality of printing couple pairs, each printing couple pair comprising a plate cylinder and a blanket cylinder and an inking system associated with each printing couple pair operable to supply ink to printing plates mounted on the plate cylinders of said printing couple pairs, the printing unit comprising a primary module carrying the printing couple pairs and, a pair of secondary modules carrying the inking systems, the secondary modules being movable relative to the primary module from an operative into a non-operative position in which each secondary module is separated from the primary module, the printing unit further comprising apparatus for loading/unloading printing plates from the plate cylinders of the printing unit, wherein the method includes the step of unloading printing plates from the plate cylinders of the printing unit using said apparatus whilst the secondary modules are moving relative to the primary module into their non-operative positions.
2 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein each printing plate has a leading and trailing edge which locate in respective lock-up slots in the plate cylinders, the step of unloading printing plates from the plate cylinders of the printing unit including the steps of:
(d) extracting the trailing edge of the printing plates from a lock-up slot in the plate cylinder;
(e) partially extracting the leading edge from a lock up slot of a plate cylinder and,
(f) rotating the plate cylinder so that an extraction member engages a portion of the leading edge of the printing plate protruding from the lock up slot following its partial extraction, to remove the printing plate from the plate cylinder and leave the removed plate, hanging by its leading edge, on the extraction member.
3 . A method according to claim 2 , wherein the removed plates are left hanging from the extraction member by the time separation of the secondary module from the primary module is complete.
4 . A method according to claim 2 , wherein the method includes the step of rotating the plate cylinders into a predetermined position following removal of the printing plates therefrom to facilitate the mounting of a further set of printing plates thereto prior to movement of the secondary modules back into their operative position with the primary module.
5 . A method according to claim 4 , wherein the mounting of a further set of printing plates includes the step of manually inserting the leading edge of the printing plates into a leading edge lock up slot in the plate cylinders and operating the printing plate loading/unloading apparatus to insert the trailing edge into the trailing edge lock up slot.
6 . A method according to claim 5 , including the step of operating the printing plate loading/unloading apparatus to insert the trailing edge of the printing plates into their respective trailing edge lock up slots as the secondary modules move back into their operative positions with the primary module.
7 . A printing unit comprising a plurality of printing couple pairs, each printing couple pair comprising a plate cylinder and a blanket cylinder and an inking system associated with each printing couple pair operable to supply ink to printing plates mounted on the plate cylinders of said printing couple pairs, the printing unit comprising a primary module carrying the printing couple pairs and, a pair of secondary modules carrying the inking systems, the secondary modules being movable relative to the primary module from an operative into a non-operative position in which each secondary module is separated from the primary module, the printing unit further comprising apparatus for loading/unloading printing plates from the plate cylinders of the printing unit, wherein the printing unit further comprises control means operable to initiate operation of the apparatus for loading/unloading printing plates from the plate cylinders of the printing unit to unload printing plates therefrom when the secondary modules move relative to the primary module into their non-operative positions.
8 . A printing unit according to claim 7 , wherein the printing plates each have leading and trailing edges located in lock-up slots in the plate cylinders, the apparatus for loading/unloading printing plates comprising means for partially extracting the leading edge of a printing plate from a lock-up slot subsequent to extraction of trailing edge from its lock up slot and, an extraction member for engaging, as the printing cylinder rotates, a portion of the leading edge of the printing plate protruding from the lock up slot following its partial extraction, to complete the removal of the printing plate from the printing cylinder and leave the unloaded plate, hanging by its leading edge, on the extraction member.
9 . A printing unit according to claim 8 , wherein the apparatus is configured so that unloaded printing plates are hanging from the extraction member by the time separation of the secondary modules from the primary module is complete.
10 . A printing unit according to claim 7 , wherein the control means is configured to rotate the plate cylinders into a predetermined position following unloading of the printing plates to facilitate the mounting of a further set of printing plates thereto prior to movement of the secondary modules back into their operative position with the primary module.
11 . A printing unit according to claim 10 , wherein the control means is operable to control the printing plate loading/unloading apparatus to insert the trailing edge of the printing plates into the trailing edge lock up slot following manual insertion of the leading edge lock up slot.
12 . A printing unit according to claim 11 , wherein the control means is operable to initiate operation of the printing plate loading/unloading apparatus, to insert the trailing edge of the printing plates into their respective trailing edge lock up slots, as the secondary modules move back into their operative positions with the primary module.
13 . A method for unloading printing plates with the apparatus of claim 1 .
14 . (canceled)