Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for the rapid, uniform curing of cylindrical, polymeric objects. The invention provides precise, accurate control of both the curing temperature and pressure because the heating system is independent of the pressurization device. Cylindrical polymeric objects are cured by mounting the object on a cylindrical mandrel, applying substantially uniform pressure to the outer surface of the object, typically through an expandable bladder, and supplying curing is heat directly to the object by circulating a liquid heat transfer medium through the bladder or mandrel. Preferably, the expandable elastomeric bladder is mounted coaxially with the mandrel, and is expanded with a suitable liquid or gas to provide the pressure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tool used to insert the sleeve of a cylindrical printing blanket over a press cylinder. One end of the tool is equipped with a tapered portion which forms a snug fit with the inside wall of the sleeve. This tapered portion is formed on a ring shaped member, a plurality of connecting rods connect the ring shaped member to a base plate attached to a handle. The length of these connecting rods is sufficient to accommodate the length of a bearing assembly of the press cylinder onto which the cylindrical blanket is mounted.

Abstract: A unitary printing blanket construction which requires no packing when installed and which has a nontextured, low abrasion base surface contacting the blanket cylinder so that the pressures to which the blanket is subjected are spread substantially over the entire surface of the blanket in contact with the blanket cylinder is provided. The laminated printing blanket construction includes at least one base ply and a surface layer laminated to one surface thereof. The opposite surface of the base ply is substantially nontextured such that, when mounted on a blanket cylinder, the pressures to which the blanket is subjected are spread substantially over the entire surface of the blanket in contact with the cylinder. The printing blanket is particularly useful when used in conjunction with a metal-plated blanket cylinder.

Abstract: A laminated printing blanket having compressible and resilient properties and a method for its production are provided. The compressible characteristics are provided by disposing an intermediate layer having substantially uniformly distributed voids of substantially uniform size between the base layer and the surface layer of the printing blanket. The voids of the compressible intermediate layer are formed by introducing microcapsules into an elastomeric compound formulated for production of the intermediate layer, and by vulcanizing the intermediate layer at a temperature below the melting point of the microcapsules to a degree sufficient to fix the microcapsules in place within the structure of the intermediate layer. A final vulcanizing step completes the curing of all layers to produce a laminated unitary blanket.

Abstract: A compressible printing blanket is provided which has a compressible body comprised of an elastomeric matrix having randomly disposed voids therein and a plurality of layers of discrete fibers bonded together by said matrix as a single mass with each of the layers having its fibers randomly disposed in substantially parallel relation and substantially uniformly throughout the layers with the fibers in each layer being disposed transverse the fibers of an adjoining layer.

Abstract: A method of continuously making a printing blanket construction is provided and comprises the steps of supporting a substrate web in coil form for unwinding rotation, unwinding and moving the forward portion of the substrate web through a laminating station, and laminating a polymeric layer adjacent the substrate web at the station wherein the polymeric layer may serve as a printing face or the method may comprise the process of forming a printing face adjacent the polymeric layer.

Abstract: A smash-recoverable printing blanket having a substantially uniform thickness and method of making same are provided wherein the blanket comprises a plurality of layers including at least one layer adapted to swell upon being contacted by a liquid and a plurality of microcapsules disposed within the blanket with the microcapsules containing the liquid; and, the microcapsules are adapted to be ruptured upon smashing the blanket to thereby release the liquid contained therewithin against the one layer causing swelling thereof and restoring of the adjacent layers substantially to their original position prior to the smashing to define the uniform thickness.

Abstract: A printing blanket is provided which comprises a base ply, a printing face, and a high strength woven layer disposed between the base ply and the printing face with the woven layer being defined by warps and wefts wherein at least the warps are made of highly flexible synthetic filaments having a breaking tenacity ranging between 18 and 26 grams per denier and an elongation at break ranging between 3 and 5% with the blanket having optimum stability and minimum elongation under operating tension.