Printing sleeve including meltable polymeric cord reinforcing layer or polymeric reinforcing layer
View Patent ↗A printing sleeve is provided which includes a reinforcing layer formed from a polymeric cord reinforcing material which softens and flows at a temperature less than that used in the final curing step of forming the sleeve or a polymeric reinforcing material having a thickness of between about 0.003 inches and 0.010 inches. The reinforcing layer provides a smooth surface to support an outer print surface layer and provides improved print performance while enabling a reduction in the overall thickness of the reinforcing layer.
1. A printing sleeve comprising:
a compressible layer;
a first polymeric cord reinforcing layer wound around said compressible layer; wherein at least a portion of adjacent windings of spun cord have flowed together and bonded resulting in a thinner structure;
a second cord reinforcing layer positioned below said first polymeric cord reinforcing layer, wherein said second cord reinforcing layer comprises a polymeric spun fiber having a melting point greater than 200° C.; and
a printing surface layer on said first polymeric cord reinforcing layer, said printing surface layer comprising a rubber or elastomeric material.
2. The printing sleeve of claim 1 further comprising a base layer supporting said compressible layer, said base layer comprising a thin layer of metal foil or fiberglass.
3. The printing sleeve of claim 1 wherein said spun cord of the first polymeric cord reinforcing layer softens and flows at a temperature of between about 100 and 200° C.
4. The printing sleeve of claim 1 wherein said first polymeric cord reinforcing layer comprises the spun cord.
5. The printing sleeve of claim 1 wherein said first polymeric cord reinforcing layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of fluorinated ethylene propylene, linear low density polyethylene, polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon copolymers, polyester copolymers, high density polyethylene, and ethylene/propylene copolymers.
6. The printing sleeve of claim 1 wherein said first polymeric cord reinforcing layer has a thickness of about 0.008 to 0.010 inches (0.20 to 0.25 mm) prior to heating or curing.
7. The printing sleeve of claim 1 wherein said first polymeric cord reinforcing layer has a thickness of about 0.003 to 0.008 inches (0.076 to 0.2032 mm) after heating or curing.
8. The printing sleeve of claim 1 wherein said compressible layer has a thickness of about 0.021 to 0.025 inches (0.53 mm to 0.63 mm).
9. A printing sleeve comprising:
a compressible layer;
a first polymeric cord reinforcing layer wound around said compressible layer; wherein at least a portion of adjacent windings of spun cord have flowed together and bonded resulting in a thinner structure;
a second cord reinforcing layer positioned below said first polymeric cord reinforcing layer, wherein said second cord reinforcing layer comprises a polymeric spun fiber having a melting point greater than 200° C.; and
a printing surface layer on said first polymeric cord reinforcing layer.
10. The printing sleeve of claim 9 wherein said polymeric spun fiber of said second cord reinforcing layer is comprised of a material selected from polyester, polyamides and aramid.
11. The printing sleeve of claim 1 in which said printing surface layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of nitrile rubber, a copolymer of ethylene/propylene rubber, EPDM, butyl rubber, polyurethane, and blends thereof.
12. The printing sleeve of claim 1 in which said compressible layer comprises a volume compressible material.
13. The printing sleeve of claim 12 in which said compressible layer includes voids.
14. A printing sleeve comprising:
a base layer comprising a pressure expandable material;
a volume compressible layer over sad base layer;
a first polymeric cord reinforcing layer comprising one or more of monofilament and multiple filament materials wound around said compressible layer; wherein at least a portion of adjacent windings of said monofilament and filament materials have flowed together and bonded to form a reinforcing layer having reduced thickness;
a second cord reinforcing layer positioned below said first polymeric cord reinforcing layer, wherein said second cord reinforcing layer comprises a polymeric spun fiber having a melting point greater that 200° C.; and
a printing surface layer on said cord reinforcing layer, said printing surface layer comprising a rubber or elastomeric material.
15. A printing sleeve comprising:
a compressible layer;
a first polymeric cord reinforcing layer wound around said compressible layer, said polymeric cord layer comprising a polymer which softens and flows at a temperature of between about 100 and 2000 C.;
a second cord reinforcing layer positioned below said first polymeric cord reinforcing layer, wherein said second cord reinforcing layer comprises polymeric spun fiber having a melting point greater than 200° C.; and
a printing surface layer on said cord reinforcing layer, said printing surface layer comprising a rubber or elastomeric material.
16. The printing sleeve of claim 15 further comprising a base layer supporting said compressible layer, said base layer comprising a thin layer of metal foil or fiberglass.
17. The printing sleeve of claim 15 wherein said first polymeric cord reinforcing layer comprises the spun cord.
18. The printing sleeve of claim 15 wherein said polymeric spun fiber of said second cord reinforcing layer is comprised of a material selected from polyester, polyamide, and aramid.