Wechselvorrichtung und Wechselverfahren

Disclosed is a replacing device (5 a, b, 9, 7, 8, 11, 12, 14, 15) for at least one cylinder (4) involved in a printing process, preferably a form cylinder (4) of a gravure printing press, said cylinder (4) being rotatably mounted in the printing unit in the printing position with the aid of holding means (5 a, b). Said replacing device (5 a, b, 9, 7, 8, 11, 12, 14, 15) comprises actuators (7, 8), by means of which the holding means (5 a, b) of the cylinder (4) can be coupled to and disconnected from the cylinder (4), and a transfer device (9, 11, 12, 14, 15) for conveying the cylinder (4) between a position in the printing unit and a forwarding or bearing mechanism (16) that is provided therefor or a discharge point (E) outside the printing unit. The invention is characterized in that at least some of the holding means (5 a, b) and actuators (7, 8) are connected to the transfer device (9, 11, 12, 14, 15) in such a way that said some holding means (5 a, b) and actuators (7, 8) can be conveyed together with the cylinder (4) by means of the transfer device (9, 11, 12, 14, 15). Also disclosed are methods for replacing cylinders (4) involved in a printing process.