Plate-bending apparatus

A bending apparatus for essentially flat plates, in particular for printing plates, has a flat supporting table (14), an adjusting device (16) for the correct alignment of the printing plate (12) relative to the supporting table (14), a fixing device (46) for holding the printing plate (12) on the supporting surface (38) and a pivotable bending device (110, 112) for bending the firmly held printing plate (12). At one end, the supporting table (14) has an anvil (36) with an essentially horizontal topmost supporting surface (38) and an engagement surface (40), extending obliquely relative to the supporting surface (38), for the formation of an acute bending angle. The bending device (110, 112) is provided with an elongate forming beam (120) and is rotatable about an axis of rotation remote from the bending angle, with the result that the forming beam (120) follows a gradually curving path of motion, touches the printing plate (12), bends it along the anvil (36) and brings it up against the engagement surface (40). The curved path of motion of the forming beam (120) and the shape of the anvil (36) and of the forming beam (120) contribute to the production of an accurate, reproducible bend in the printing plate (12) without significant loads on the material in the bending region. ……