US4903597A — Printing sleeves and methods for mounting and dis…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 138 words

A method for axially mounting a cylindrically-shaped printing sleeve onto a complementary cylindrically-shaped printing cylinder and for dismounting said printing sleeve from said printing cylinder, which comprises: providing said printing sleeve, which is fabricated of a high strength, polymeric laminate material having excellent structural integrity and which is substantially airtight, having a substantially constant cross-sectional configuration, which includes substantially seamless inner and outer cylindrically-shaped wall surfaces, each of said inner and outer wall surfaces having a constant cross-sectional diameter; expanding said printing sleeve to a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the printing cylinder; axially moving said expanded printing sleeve to a position onto said printing cylinder; and contracting said expanded printing sleeve and mounting said printing sleeve onto said printing cylinder to form a minimum interference fit between said printing cylinder and said printing sleeve, respectively.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 138 words

A method for axially mounting a cylindrically-shaped printing sleeve onto a complementary cylindrically-shaped printing cylinder and for dismounting said printing sleeve from said printing cylinder, which comprises: providing said printing sleeve, which is fabricated of a high strength, polymeric laminate material having excellent structural integrity and which is substantially airtight, having a substantially constant cross-sectional configuration, which includes substantially seamless inner and outer cylindrically-shaped wall surfaces, each of said inner and outer wall surfaces having a constant cross-sectional diameter; expanding said printing sleeve to a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the printing cylinder; axially moving said expanded printing sleeve to a position onto said printing cylinder; and contracting said expanded printing sleeve and mounting said printing sleeve onto said printing cylinder to form a minimum interference fit between said printing cylinder and said printing sleeve, respectively.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 50 words

The method of claim 1, wherein said printing sleeve is expanded by introducing a low pressure fluid between said printing sleeve inner wall and said printing cylinder outer wall at a pressure of not more than about 100 psi, and contracting said printing sleeve by removing said low pressure fluid.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 1, which further comprises providing said printing sleeve having a flexural modulus of at least about 6×10 5 lbs/in 2 .

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 1, which further comprises providing said printing sleeve having a minimum sleeve thickness of not less than about 0.015".

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 1, which further comprises providing said printing sleeve having a stiffness factor of from at least about 7.26×105 inch-pounds.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 1, wherein the dimensional tolerance of the outer wall section is not more than about 0.005".

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 1, which further comprises providing said printing sleeve having a minimum sleeve thickness of not less than about 0.020".

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 126 words

A cylindrically-shaped, substantially non-permeable laminate printing sleeve which comprises: a substantially non-permeable, polymeric laminate printing sleeve body having substantially seamless inner and outer cylindrically-shaped wall surfaces having a constant cross-sectional diameter; and at least one substantially non-permeable internal reinforcement layer with said sleeve body, wherein said cylindrically-shaped non-permeable laminate printing sleeve is readily axially mountable on and dismountable from a cylindrically-shaped printing cylinder having a constant cross-sectional diameter, the diameter of said printing sleeve being expandable by the introduction of a relatively low pressure fluid between said inner printing sleeve wall surface and the outer wall surface of said printing cylinder, and said printing sleeve being contractable by removing said expanding forces and having a flexural modulus of at least about 6×10 5 lbs/in 2 .

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 126 words

A cylindrically-shaped, substantially non-permeable laminate printing sleeve which comprises: a substantially non-permeable, polymeric laminate printing sleeve body having substantially seamless inner and outer cylindrically-shaped wall surfaces having a constant cross-sectional diameter; and at least one substantially non-permeable internal reinforcement layer with said sleeve body, wherein said cylindrically-shaped non-permeable laminate printing sleeve is readily axially mountable on and dismountable from a cylindrically-shaped printing cylinder having a constant cross-sectional diameter, the diameter of said printing sleeve being expandable by the introduction of a relatively low pressure fluid between said inner printing sleeve wall surface and the outer wall surface of said printing cylinder, and said printing sleeve being contractable by removing said expanding forces and having a flexural modulus of at least about 6×10 5 lbs/in 2 .

Claim 11

Independent Claim 148 words

A method for axially mounting a cylindrically-shaped printing sleeve onto a complementary cylindrically-shaped printing cylinder and for dismounting said printing sleeve from said printing cylinder, which comprises: providing said printing sleeve, which is fabricated of a non-metallic material and which is substantially airtight, having a substantially constant cross-sectional configuration, which includes substantially seamless inner and outer cylindrically-shaped wall surfaces, each of said inner and outer wall surfaces having a constant cross-sectional diameter, the flexural modulus of said printing sleeve being at least about 6×10 5 lbs/in 2 ; expanding said non-metallic printing sleeve to a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the printing cylinder; axially moving said expanded printing sleeve to a position onto said printing cylinder; and contracting said expanded printing sleeve and mounting said printing sleeve onto said printing cylinder to form a minimum interference fit between said printing cylinder and said printing sleeve, respectively.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 148 words

A method for axially mounting a cylindrically-shaped printing sleeve onto a complementary cylindrically-shaped printing cylinder and for dismounting said printing sleeve from said printing cylinder, which comprises: providing said printing sleeve, which is fabricated of a non-metallic material and which is substantially airtight, having a substantially constant cross-sectional configuration, which includes substantially seamless inner and outer cylindrically-shaped wall surfaces, each of said inner and outer wall surfaces having a constant cross-sectional diameter, the flexural modulus of said printing sleeve being at least about 6×10 5 lbs/in 2 ; expanding said non-metallic printing sleeve to a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the printing cylinder; axially moving said expanded printing sleeve to a position onto said printing cylinder; and contracting said expanded printing sleeve and mounting said printing sleeve onto said printing cylinder to form a minimum interference fit between said printing cylinder and said printing sleeve, respectively.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 132 words

A unitary, cylindrically-shaped printing sleeve, readily axially mountable on and dismountable from a complementary cylindrically-shaped printing cylinder, which comprises a printing sleeve body having a substantially constant cross-sectional diameter and a wall thickness of at least about 0.015 inches, which is substantially airtight when mounted onto said printing cylinder, and which has substantially seamless inner and outer cylindrically-shaped wall surfaces, the diameter of said printing sleeve being expandable by the introduction of a low fluid pressure level between said inner printing sleeve wall surface the outer wall surface of said printing cylinder of not more than about 100 psi at ambient temperature, said printing sleeve being contractable by the removal of said low pressure fluid, and the flexural modulus of said printing sleeve being at least about 6×10 5 lbs/in 2 .

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 132 words

A unitary, cylindrically-shaped printing sleeve, readily axially mountable on and dismountable from a complementary cylindrically-shaped printing cylinder, which comprises a printing sleeve body having a substantially constant cross-sectional diameter and a wall thickness of at least about 0.015 inches, which is substantially airtight when mounted onto said printing cylinder, and which has substantially seamless inner and outer cylindrically-shaped wall surfaces, the diameter of said printing sleeve being expandable by the introduction of a low fluid pressure level between said inner printing sleeve wall surface the outer wall surface of said printing cylinder of not more than about 100 psi at ambient temperature, said printing sleeve being contractable by the removal of said low pressure fluid, and the flexural modulus of said printing sleeve being at least about 6×10 5 lbs/in 2 .

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 33 words

The printing sleeve of claim 10, wherein when said sleeve is mounted onto a printing cylinder, each of said respective wall surfaces of said printing sleeve body has a substantially constant radial diameter.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 16 words

The printing sleeve of claim 10, wherein said printing sleeve is fabricated of a non-metallic material.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 14 words

The printing sleeve of claim 12, wherein said non-metallic material comprises a polymeric material.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 19 words

The printing sleeve of claim 10, wherein the wall thickness of said printing sleeve is at least about 0.020.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 21 words

The printing sleeve of claim 10, wherein the stiffness factor of said printing sleeve is from at least about 7.26×105 inch-pounds.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 33 words

The printing sleeve of claim 10, which comprises a reinforced non-permeable laminate structure including at least one internal layer of a woven reinforcing fabric comprising either one of synthetic fibers and organic fibers.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 23 words

The printing sleeve of claim 16, wherein said reinforced non-permeable laminate structure further includes at least one non-permeable internal layer comprising synthetic fibers.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 31 words

The printing sleeve of claim 16, wherein said synthetic fibers and said organic fibers are of high strength, and said reinforced non-permeable internal layers comprising a non-woven fabric of synthetic fibers.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 20 words

The printing sleeve of claim 10, wherein said relatively low fluid pressure level is not more than about 80 psi.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 38 words

The printing sleeve of claim 10, wherein the maximum difference in the trueness of the outer wall surface of the printing sleeve, when said printing sleeve is mounted on a true cylinder, is not more than about 0.005".

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 118 words

A cylindrically-shaped, substantially non-permeable laminate printing sleeve which comprises: a substantially non-permeable, high strength polymeric laminate printing sleeve body having excellent structural integrity, and substantially seamless inner and outer cylindrically-shaped wall surfaces having a constant cross-sectional diameter; and at least one substantially non-permeable internal reinforcement layer with said sleeve body, wherein said cylindrically-shaped non-permeable laminate printing sleeve is readily axially mountable on and dismountable from a cylindrically-shaped printing cylinder having a constant cross-sectional diameter, the diameter of said printing sleeve being expandable by the introduction of a relatively low pressure fluid between said inner printing sleeve wall surface and the outer wall surface of said printing cylinder, and said printing sleeve being contractable by removing said expanding forces.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 118 words

A cylindrically-shaped, substantially non-permeable laminate printing sleeve which comprises: a substantially non-permeable, high strength polymeric laminate printing sleeve body having excellent structural integrity, and substantially seamless inner and outer cylindrically-shaped wall surfaces having a constant cross-sectional diameter; and at least one substantially non-permeable internal reinforcement layer with said sleeve body, wherein said cylindrically-shaped non-permeable laminate printing sleeve is readily axially mountable on and dismountable from a cylindrically-shaped printing cylinder having a constant cross-sectional diameter, the diameter of said printing sleeve being expandable by the introduction of a relatively low pressure fluid between said inner printing sleeve wall surface and the outer wall surface of said printing cylinder, and said printing sleeve being contractable by removing said expanding forces.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 26 words

The printing sleeve of claim 21, wherein said reinforcement layer comprises a layer of a nonwoven fabric of either one of synthetic fibers and organic fibers.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 22 words

The printing sleeve of claim 21, which further includes at least one internal layer of a reinforcing fabric of high strength fibers.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 16 words

The printing sleeve of claim 23, wherein said reinforcing layer comprises an interwoven fabric of fibers.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 23 words

The printing sleeve of claim 21, wherein said low pressure fluid is introduced at a level of not more than about 100 psi.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 23 words

The printing sleeve of claim 21, wherein the flexural modulus of said printing sleeve is at least about 6×10 5 lbs/in 2 .

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 19 words

The printing sleeve of claim 21, wherein the wall thickness of said printing sleeve is at least about 0.015".

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 21 words

The printing sleeve of claim 21, wherein the stiffness factor of said printing sleeve is from at least about 7.26×105 inch-pounds.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 113 words

A unitary cylindrically-shaped printing sleeve, readily axially mountable on and dismountable from a complementary cylindrically-shaped printing cylinder, which comprises a non-metallic printing sleeve body having a substantially constant cross-sectional diameter and excellent structural integrity, which is substantially airtight when mounted onto said printing cylinder, and which has substantially seamless inner and outer cylindrically-shaped wall surfaces, the diameter of said printing sleeve being expandable by the introduction of a relatively low pressure fluid between said inner printing sleeve wall surface and the outer wall surface of said printing cylinder, said printing sleeve being contractable by the removal of said low pressure fluid and having a stiffness factor of at least about 7.26×10 5 inch-pounds.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 113 words

A unitary cylindrically-shaped printing sleeve, readily axially mountable on and dismountable from a complementary cylindrically-shaped printing cylinder, which comprises a non-metallic printing sleeve body having a substantially constant cross-sectional diameter and excellent structural integrity, which is substantially airtight when mounted onto said printing cylinder, and which has substantially seamless inner and outer cylindrically-shaped wall surfaces, the diameter of said printing sleeve being expandable by the introduction of a relatively low pressure fluid between said inner printing sleeve wall surface and the outer wall surface of said printing cylinder, said printing sleeve being contractable by the removal of said low pressure fluid and having a stiffness factor of at least about 7.26×10 5 inch-pounds.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 32 words

The printing sleeve of claim 29, wherein when said sleeve is mounted onto a printing cylinder, each of said respective wall surfaces of said printing sleeve body has a substantially constant diameter.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 18 words

The printing sleeve of claim 29, wherein said printing sleeve has a thickness of at least about 0.015".

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 17 words

The printing sleeve of claim 31, wherein said non-metallic printing sleeve is fabricated of a polymeric material.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 36 words

The printing sleeve of claim 29, which comprises a reinforced non-permeable high strength laminate structure including at least one internal layer of a woven reinforcing fabric of either one of high strength synthetic and organic fibers.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 27 words

The printing sleeve of claim 33, wherein said reinforced non-permeable laminate structure further includes at least one non-permeable internal layer of a nonwoven fabric of synthetic fibers.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 128 words

A unitary cylindrically-shaped printing sleeve, readily axially mountable on and dismountable from a complementary cylindrically-shaped printing cylinder, which comprises a printing sleeve body having a substantially constant cross-sectional diameter and a wall thickness of at least about 0.015 inches, which is substantially airtight when mounted onto said printing cylinder, and which has substantially seamless inner and outer cylindrically-shaped wall surfaces, the diameter of said printing sleeve being expandable by the introduction of a low fluid pressure level between said inner printing sleeve wall surface and the outer wall surface of said printing cylinder of not more than about 100 psi at ambient temperature, said printing sleeve having a stiffness factor of at least about 7.26×10 5 inch-pounds and being contractable by the removal of said low pressure fluid.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 128 words

A unitary cylindrically-shaped printing sleeve, readily axially mountable on and dismountable from a complementary cylindrically-shaped printing cylinder, which comprises a printing sleeve body having a substantially constant cross-sectional diameter and a wall thickness of at least about 0.015 inches, which is substantially airtight when mounted onto said printing cylinder, and which has substantially seamless inner and outer cylindrically-shaped wall surfaces, the diameter of said printing sleeve being expandable by the introduction of a low fluid pressure level between said inner printing sleeve wall surface and the outer wall surface of said printing cylinder of not more than about 100 psi at ambient temperature, said printing sleeve having a stiffness factor of at least about 7.26×10 5 inch-pounds and being contractable by the removal of said low pressure fluid.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 32 words

The printing sleeve of claim 21, wherein said polymeric laminate sleeve box comprises a synthetic resin having a high degree of toughness and impact resistance, and a high level of tensile strength.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1993-02-26	1993-08-28	1994-02-27	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1997-02-26	1997-08-28	1998-02-27	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2001-02-26	2001-08-28	2002-02-27	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Printing sleeves and methods for mounting and dismounting

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