The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 04, 1987
Filed:
Sep. 17, 1985
Louis M Sardella, Cockeysville, MD (US);
John B West, Cockeysville, MD (US);
John R Harrison, Baltimore, MD (US);
Dennis J Parr, York, PA (US);
The Ward Machinery Company, Cockeysville, MD (US);
Abstract
Apparatus for mounting a flexible printing plate comprises a printing cylinder having a surface upon which the printing plate is mountable, and a connection for applying subatmospheric pressure inside the cylinder. A plurality of valves selectively apply the subatmospheric pressure to the surface from inside the cylinder. These valves have depressable actuating members protrudable above the cylinder surface. Those actuating members contacted by the printing plate when applied to the cylinder surface are depressed thereby to effect application of subatmospheric pressure to beneath the printing plate to draw the plate against the cylinder. Preferably, grooves are provided in the cylinder surface for distribution of the subatmospheric pressure beneath the plate. Advantageously, the printing plate may have a thin, highly flexible and deformable fringe along its trailing edge to seal the surface grooves, at that location. This mounting arrangement facilitates quick changing of printing plates during printing operations.