Day International, Inc.

Edward P Dzierzynski

Michael E McLean

Philip K Loyer

Dennis R Wolters

Robert L Andrew

Melvin D Pinkston

Dawn Kopecky

Robert Andrew

A printing blanket sleeve is provided having two separable sections including a carcass sleeve and a face sleeve. The face sleeve is mounted over the carcass sleeve such that, when the printing blanket sleeve is installed on a blanket cylinder, the carcass sleeve and the face sleeve form an integral unit in use. The printing blanket sleeve is provided in separable sections so that the printing surface may be replaced in a manner wherein the carcass sleeve, including preferably at least some portion of the inner layers, can be reused with new printing surfaces. Further, the printing blanket sleeve is arranged such that the user of the printing blanket sleeve can change the printing surface of the printing blanket sleeve on-site so that there is no longer a need to discard the entire printing blanket sleeve, or alternatively send the printing blanket sleeve back to the manufacturer to be reconditioned.

Printing blanket sleeve with replaceable printing surface

A flexible image transfer blanket is provided which has a non-extensible backing which is easy to mount onto conventional blanket cylinders, which requires no packing (but which can be used with packing), which does not need to be retensioned during operation, and which prints to the gap better than conventional fabric-reinforced blankets. The image transfer blanket is adapted to be mounted onto a blanket cylinder and includes first and second ends, with at least one of the first and second ends being adapted to be inserted into an axially-extending gap in the blanket cylinder. The blanket includes a image transfer surface layer, at least one woven fabric ply, and a non-extensible base layer. The at least one woven fabric ply includes both warp and weft fibers, with the weft fibers being oriented so that when the blanket is mounted on the blanket cylinder the weft fibers extend circumferentially about the blanket cylinder.

Flexible image transfer blanket having non-extensible backing

A continuous image transfer belt which is useable in a variable image size offset press system and which is adapted to permit the press to print a variety of different sized printed matter is provided. The image transfer belt includes at least one base ply, at least one layer of a compressible material over the base ply, and a surface ply over the layer of compressible material Preferably, the belt is continuous. The belt is used in an offset printing system having the capability to print variable-sized images. The system includes a source of ink; at least one plate cylinder and a replaceable sleeve for the plate cylinder, and a printing plate which is adapted to receive ink from the ink source. The system also includes at least one blanket cylinder; the image transfer belt positioned to contact the printing plate in a nip formed between the plate and blanket cylinders; an image transfer belt tensioning system to register the image transfer belt to the blanket cylinder position in the area of desired image transfer; and an image belt cleaning station adapted to remove residual ink from the surface of the belt.

Continuous image transfer belt and variable image size offset printing system

A continuous image transfer belt which is useable in a variable image size offset press system and which is adapted to permit the press to print a variety of different sized printed matter is provided. The image transfer belt includes at least one base ply, at least one layer of a compressible material over the base ply, and a surface ply over the layer of compressible material. Preferably, the belt is continuous. The belt is used in an offset printing system having the capability to print variable-sized images. The system includes a source of ink; at least one plate cylinder and a replaceable sleeve for the plate cylinder, and a printing plate which is adapted to receive ink from the ink source. The system also includes at least one blanket cylinder; the image transfer belt positioned to contact the printing plate in a nip formed between the plate and blanket cylinders; an image transfer belt tensioning system to register the image transfer belt to the blanket cylinder position in the area of desired image transfer; and an image belt cleaning station adapted to remove residual ink from the surface of the belt.

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Ashville, NC, United States of America

Edward P Dzierzynski