Saddle lock-up for tab-less flexible printing plates

Abstract

The invention is a saddle lock-up for flexible printing plates utilizing a plurality of radially and axially moveable sleeves contained within an inverted wedge-shaped opening.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 
     
       1. A saddle lock-up for flexible printing plates comprising: a semi-cylindrical saddle body having a leading edge and a trailing edge;   leading edge clamping means connected to the leading edge of said saddle to positively grip one end of a flexible printing plate;   a transverse channel member moveably connected to the trailing edge of said saddle body to move toward and away from said saddle body, said channel member having an upwardly facing inverted wedge-shaped opening therein;   resilient means biasing said channel member away from said trailing edge; and   means mounted within said channel to positively grip a flexible printing plate and to allow lateral adjustment of a printing plate, said means comprising a plurality of transversely spaced sleeves within said channel member, said sleeves radially and axially independently mounted with respect to each other and defining a gap between said sleeves and one side of the inside of said channel member to positively grip the other end of the flexible printing plate in said gap, said sleeves conforming to the thickness of a flexible printing plate independent of each other and allowing lateral movement of the flexible printing plate for purposes of color registration.   
     
     
       2. A saddle lock-up for flexible printing plates comprising: a semi-cylindrical saddle body having a leading edge and a trailing edge;   leading edge clamping means connected to the leading edge of said saddle to positively grip one end of a flexible printing plate;   a tranverse channel member moveably connected to the trailing edge of said saddle body to move toward and away from said saddle body, said channel member having an upwardly facing inverted wedge-shaped opening therein;   resilient means biasing said channel member away from said trialing edge;   means mounted within said channel to positively grip a flexible printing plate and to allow lateral adjustment of a printing plate, said means comprising a plurality of transversely spaced sleeves within said channel member, said sleeves radially and axially independently mounted with respect to each other and defining a gap between said sleeves and one side of the inside of said channel member to positively grip the other end of the flexible printing plate in said gap, said sleeves conforming to the thickness of a flexible printing plate independent of each other and allowing lateral movement of the flexible printing plate for purposes of color registration; and   means connected to said sleeves to simultaneously depress all of the sleeves deeper into the opening when inserting or removing a printing plate, said means comprising a rod concentrically mounted within said sleeves, the diameter of said rod being less than the inside diameter of said sleeves to allow independent radial movement of said sleeves, said rod contacting the inside of said sleeves when one of said sleeves is depressed within said channel member to simultaneously depress all of the sleeves deeper into the opening. .Iadd.   
     
     
       3.  A lock-up for flexible printing plates for mounting on a printing cylinder comprising: leading edge clamping means to positively grip one end of a flexible printing plate, said leading edge clamping means adapted to mount on the surface of a printing cylinder;   trailing edge clamping means to positively grip and tension the other end of a flexible printing plate, said trailing edge clamping means being adapted to be mounted on the surface of a printing cylinder, said trailing edge clamping means having a transverse channel member being moveably mounted with respect to the surface of a printing cylinder, said channel member having an upwardly facing inverted wedge shaped opening therein;   resilient means contacting said channel member and biasing said channel member to tension a flexible printing plate; and   means mounted within said opening to positively grip a flexible printing plate and to allow lateral adjustment of the printing plate, said means comprising a plurality of transversely spaced sleeves within said opening, said sleeves radially and axially independently mounted with respect to each other and defining a gap between said sleeves on one side of the inside of said channel member to positively grip the other end of a flexible printing plate in said gap, said sleeves conforming to the thickness of a flexible printing plate independent of each other and allowing lateral movement of the flexible printing plate for purposes of color registration. .Iaddend. .Iadd.4. A lock-up for flexible printing plates for mounting on a printing cylinder comprising:   leading edge clamping means to positively grip one end of a flexible printing plate, said leading edge clamping means adapted to mount on the surface of a printing cylinder;   trailing edge clamping means to positively grip and tension the other end of a flexible printing plate, said trailing edge clamping means being adapted to be mounted on the surface of a printing cylinder, said trailing edge clamping means having a transverse channel member being moveably mounted with respect to the surface of a printing cylinder, said channel member having an upwardly facing inverted wedge shaped opening therein;   resilient means contacting said channel member and biasing said channel member to tension a flexible printing plate;   means mounted within said opening to positively grip a flexible printing plate and to allow lateral adjustment of the printing plate, said means comprising a plurality of transversely spaced sleeves within said opening, said sleeves radially and axially independently mounted with respect to each other and defining a gap between said sleeves on one side of the inside of said channel member to positively grip the other end of a flexible printing plate in said gap, said sleeves conforming to the thickness of a flexible printing plate independent of each other and allowing lateral movement of the flexible printing plate for purposes of color registration; and   means connected to said sleeves to simultaneously depress all of the sleeves deeper into the opening when inserting or removing a printing plate, said means comprising a rod concentrically mounted within said sleeves, the diamter of said rod being less than the inside diameter of said sleeves to allow independent radial movement of said sleeves, said rod contacting the inside of said sleeves when one of said sleeves is depressed within said channel member to simultaneously depress all of the sleeves deeper into the opening. .Iaddend.