Printing blanket with convex outer print surface
A tubular printing blanket having an axial center has a carrier sleeve layer having a uniform thickness, a compressible layer, a reinforcing layer over the compressible layer, and a print layer disposed over the reinforcing layer. At least one of the reinforcing layer and the compressible layers has a non-uniform thickness so as to be thicker in the axial center. An outer surface of the print layer is convex.
1 . A tubular printing blanket having an axial center comprising:
a carrier sleeve layer having a uniform thickness;
a compressible layer;
a reinforcing layer over the compressible layer; and
a print layer disposed over the reinforcing layer;
at least one of the reinforcing layer and the compressible layers having a non-uniform thickness so as to be thicker in the axial center, an outer surface of the print layer being convex.
2 . The blanket as recited in claim 1 wherein the compressible layer is thicker in the axial center.
3 . The blanket as recited in claim 2 wherein the reinforcing layer has a uniform thickness.
4 . The blanket as recited in claim 1 wherein the reinforcing layer is thicker in the axial center.
5 . The blanket as recited in claim 4 wherein the compressible layer is of uniform thickness.
6 . The blanket as recited in claim 1 wherein the blanket provides uniform axial print or nip pressure across a width of the blanket.
7 . The blanket as recited in claim 1 wherein the print layer is gapless.
8 . The blanket as recited in claim 1 wherein the reinforcing layer is gapless.
9 . The blanket as recited in claim 1 wherein the compressible layer is gapless.
10 . The blanket as recited in claim 1 wherein the carrier sleeve layer is gapless.
11 . An offset print unit comprising an image cylinder, a blanket cylinder having a uniform outer radius, and the printing blanket as recited in claim 1 disposed over the blanket cylinder for contact with the image cylinder.
12 . The offset print unit as recited in claim 11 wherein the image cylinder carries at least twice the number of images axially as circumferentially.
13 . The offset print unit as recited in claim 12 wherein the image cylinder carries at least three times the number of images axially as circumferentially.
14 . The offset print unit as recited in claim 11 wherein the image cylinder carries at least four images axially.
15 . A method for manufacturing a printing blanket having an axial center comprising the steps of:
disposing a compressible layer over a carrier sleeve layer having a uniform thickness;
disposing a reinforcing layer over the compressible layer; and
disposing a print layer disposed over the reinforcing layer;
at least one of the reinforcing layer and the compressible layers having a non-uniform thickness so as to be thicker in the axial center, an outer surface of the print layer being convex.
16 . The method as recited in claim 15 wherein the reinforcing layer has a non-uniform thickness and is ground.
17 . The method as recited in claim 16 wherein the reinforcing layer is ground using CNC control.
18 . The method as recited in claim 15 wherein the print layer is ground.
19 . The method as recited in claim 18 wherein the print layer is ground using CNC control.