Either of two devices located in the cylinder gap of an offset press's plate cylinder, consisting of metal fingers which grasp both the leading and trailing edges (called the head clamp and tail clamp, respectively) of the offset plate and fasten it tightly and securely to the cylinder. There are a variety of configurations of plate clamps, some utilize a single quick-release cam, others involve a series of independently-released metal fingers. Some can also be operated electronically from a press console to tilt the plate, if necessary. All clamps, regardless of configuration, allow the plate to be moved up or down or laterally, so as to position the image on the press sheet. On many newer configurations, plate clamps comprise a series of register pins that correspond to holes punched in the plates, allowing for proper positioning with a minimum of, if any, further adjustment. (See Plate Cylinder.)
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