Day International, Inc.

Thomas Gerald Ferguson

Michael Edward McLean

William James Lane, Iii

Melvin D Pinkston

John Rocco Elia

Darren Reed McCracken

Allen T Shannon

Michael E McLean

Dennis R Wolters

William Haul Haddock

John J Dolan

Sylvain L Ndebi

Chris Baldermann

Ray Brooks

Graham Macfarlane

Noel D Arrington

A method of dispensing a metal-backed printing blanket onto a printing press cylinder in a controlled fashion is provided. A carton containing the rolled printing blanket may be provided, and a lengthwise slit or opening is opened to withdraw a mounting end of the printing blanket. The alignment and tension of the printing blanket is controlled as it mounts on the printing press cylinder. Parallel reference lines on the carton may be used to draw alignment marks on the printing blanket such that it may be properly inserted into a locking device of the printing press cylinder. The alignment and tension may be controlled using graspable sides of the carton.

Method of dispensing metal-backed printing blankets

A replaceable sleeve having a working surface is provided which is adapted to be mounted on a carrier. The sleeve includes an inner polymeric layer, a reinforcing layer overlying the inner layer, an intermediate polymeric layer overlying the reinforcing layer, and an outer polymeric layer. The sleeve may include a cushion layer between the intermediate layer and the outer layer. The layers comprising the sleeve are formed around a support and then cured simultaneously in a single step. The resulting sleeve may be used in printing operations or in other applications such as coating, embossing, laminating, calendering and the like.

Replaceable sleeve

A carton is provided for packaging, shipping, and dispensing a metal-backed printing blanket onto a printing press cylinder in a controlled fashion. A lengthwise slit or opening can easily be formed in a panel of the carton from which only an end of the metal-backed printing blanket may be removed. Parallel reference lines may also be included on the carton which permit alignment marks to be drawn on the printing blanket such that it may be properly inserted into a locking device of the printing press cylinder. Graspable sides of the carton facilitate tension and alignment control as the printing blanket is dispensed onto the cylinder.

Dispensing carton for metal-backed printing blanket

An endless belt for use in digital imaging systems is provided having edge to edge uniform flatness, and precise circumferential and edge to edge thickness. The layers comprising the belt may be tailored as desired for use in either image recording, image transfer or sheet transport operations. In one embodiment, the belt includes an elastomeric base layer, an elastomer-impregnated spun cord layer, a woven or non-woven fabric layer, and an elastomeric surface ply. The belt is preferably manufactured by building the layers on a workpiece and then curing the layers.

Endless belt for use in digital imaging systems

Replaceable printing sleeve

A printing blanket which resists gauge loss throughout its useful life when subjected to printing nip pressures by retaining at least 95% of its original gauge throughout the useful life of the printing blanket. The printing blanket includes at least a printing surface layer and at least one reinforcing woven fabric ply and may also include a compressible layer. At least one, and preferably all, of the reinforcing woven fabric plies in the blanket construction are treated or fabricated to resist permanent deformation when subjected to printing nip pressures.

Printing blanket having improved dynamic thickness stability and method

Growing community of inventors

Waynesville, NC, United States of America

Thomas Gerald Ferguson