CLAMPING AND TENSIONING DEVICE

A clamping and tensioning device for clamping a printing plate on a cylinder of a printing machine includes a tensioning bar and a clamping bar having substantially radially extending, mutually opposing clamping surfaces for gripping therebetween a bent end of a printing plate, the tensioning bar being formed as a pivotal double lever, tension spring devices engageable with the tensioning bar for applying a tensioning force thereto in a tensioning direction, adjusting devices engageable with the tensioning bar and actuatable for pivoting the tensioning bar against the tensioning force applied by the tension spring devices, the clamping bar being formed as a pivotal double lever connected to the tensioning bar, clamping spring devices engaging with the clamping bar for pressing the clamping surface of the clamping bar against the corresponding clamping surface of the tensioning bar with a clamping force for holding a printing plate therebetween, the clamping bar being further formed with a holding element, a fixed stop cooperatively engageable by the holding element for pivoting the clamping bar against the force of the clamping spring devices when the adjusting devices are actuated.