Reeves Brothers, Inc.

Francesco Castelli

Gianpiero Invernizzi

Gianpietro Invernizzi

Giampietro Invernizzi

Omar Reale

A laminated printing blanket having compressible and resilient properties and a method for its production are provided. The compressible characteristics are provided by disposing an intermediate layer having substantially uniformly distributed voids of substantially uniform size between the base ply and the working surface of the printing blanket. The voids of the compressible intermediate layer are formed by introducing high melting point microspheres formed from thermoplastic resins into an elastomeric matrix, coating said microsphere containing elastomeric matrix upon an upper surface of the base ply and then vulcanizing the coated base ply at a temperature of between about 80-150&deg; C. for between about one and six hours to form the compressible layer having substantially uniform compression characteristics. Once all of the layers of the blanket are stacked, a final vulcanization treatment at between about 132-160&deg; C. for between about 30 minutes to sixteen hours at a pressure between about atmospheric and 6 kg/cm,in a known manner completes the curing of all the layers to produce a laminated printing blanket.

Formation of compressible ply containing high melting point thermoplastic microspheres and printing blankets comprising same

A laminated printing blanket having compressible and resilient properties and a method for its production are provided. The compressible characteristics are provided by disposing an intermediate layer having substantially uniformly distributed voids of substantially uniform size between the base ply and the working surface of the printing blanket. The voids of the compressible intermediate layer are formed by introducing high melting point microspheres formed from thermoplastic resins into an elastomeric matrix, coating said microsphere containing elastomeric matrix upon an upper surface of the base ply and then vulcanizing the coated base ply at a temperature of between about 80-150.degree. C. for between about one and six hours to form the compressible layer having substantially uniform compression characteristics. Once all of the layers of the blanket are stacked, a final vulcanization treatment at between about 132-160.degree. C. for between about 30 minutes to sixteen hours at a pressure between about atmospheric and 6 kg/cm.sup.2 in a known manner completes the curing of all the layers to produce a laminated printing blanket.

Formation of compressible ply containing high melting point

The present invention relates to a digital printing blanket carcass for supporting a transfer layer having an outer surface which is capable of transferring electrostatic particles. This carcass includes an upper layer of a resilient material which can withstand a temperature of up to about 150.degree. C., such as silicone rubber, hydrogenated nitrile rubber, an acrylic rubber or a fluoroelastomer; a compressible layer of an elastomeric matrix material having a plurality of open or closed cells therein; and a fabric layer of a fiber material which can withstand a temperature of up to about 150.degree. C., such as carbon, boron, a metal, fiberglass, a polyimide, or an aromatic polyamide.

Digital printing blanket carass

A metal backed printing blanket for mounting on a cylinder that includes a gap. The blanket comprises a metal base plate having top and bottom surfaces and ends which include leading and trailing edges adapted for engaging the cylinder gap. The article further comprises a compressible, elastomeric printing blanket secured to the top surface of the base plate, but not to the ends, and having an upper face adapted for contact transfer of ink to a printable substrate. In addition, the blanket is provided with an anti-slip layer upon at least a portion of the top surface of at least one end of the base plate to facilitate retention of the base plate ends within the gap during rotation of the cylinder. The anti-slip layer has a coefficient of friction that is greater than that of the base plate and a thickness sufficient to permit insertion of the base plate edges and ends into the cylinder gap. In alternate embodiments, the invention is further directed to the method of making the above-described blanket, as well as to a method of securing the blanket to a blanket cylinder in a printing press.

Arrangement for securing a printing blanket to a cylinder

A method of manufacturing a cylindrical compressible laminate using the floating knife or knife over roll spreading techniques to apply an inner compressible layer and outer or surface layer of a substantially incompressible material. The coating system includes a coating head to dispense an elastomeric material onto a rotating laminate and a knife blade that is parallel to the axis of rotation to distribute and spread a uniform coating of the elastomeric material. The knife blade can be raised incrementally on each rotation of the laminate so that an additional coating can be applied, until a layer of a desired thickness is obtained. In the preferred embodiment, the coatings are at least partially cured during each rotation.

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Lodi, Italy

Francesco Castelli