Abstract: A method of manufacturing a surface for the transfer of a viscous liquid product including photochemically grafting onto a surface in distinct zones at least one of anti-adherent hydrophilic monomers, anti-adherent hydrophobic monomers, anti-adherent hydrophilic oligomers, anti-adherent hydrophobic oligomers, and combinations of them, conferring upon the surface a heterogeneousness of structure improving the quality of the transfer of the viscous liquid product.

Abstract: A reversible printing blanket to be used with offset printing machines. The reversible printing blanket has two opposing lithographic printing faces. The blanket comprises a first external lithographic layer providing a first printing face, a second external lithographic layer providing a second printing face, and at least one compressible layer between the lithographic layers. Such reversible printing blanket allows impressions to be made by both sides of the blanket in such a way as to permit two separate printing jobs.

Abstract: A sleeve for a cylinder of a printing, coating or the like machine, comprising in particular a lithographic layer, a compressible layer, a support layer and, between the two last layers, a heat-shrinkable layer for permitting the adaptation of the sleeve to the diameter of a cylinder.

Abstract: A surface for the transfer of a viscous liquid product to a support including a substrate having a surface to which are grafted distinct zones of at least one material. The materials may be an anti-adherent material, a hydrophilic material, and a hydrophobic material to impart to the surface a heterogeneous structure improving the quality of transfer of the liquid product, such as ink, to a support. This transfer surface may be an offset printing blanket for printing ink on paper.

Abstract: A belt-shaped element for printing textiles. The belt is a sandwich structure shaped to conform around two textile printing machine cylinders, and operative to move fabric articles thereon past printing stations with minimal registration error. An exemplary belt has at least one outer elastomer layer, or "working layer," and an inner "cylinder" layer that is innermost against the printing machine cylinders. An exemplary cylinder layer comprises a sheet of fibers oriented longitudinally and having a rigidity of 10.sup.6 -10.sup.7 megapascals in the longitudinal direction. Other exemplary belts comprise an intermediate layer between the outer elastomer and inner fiber sheet layers. An exemplary intermediate layer comprises a layer of transverse fibers.

Abstract: A novel multilayered sleeve-like printing blanket is mountable on gapless cylinders or tubular blanket carriers, thereby minimizing vibration when operated at high rotational speeds. An exemplary printing blanket comprises a seamless outer printing surface layer; at least one reinforced elastomer layer, the elastomer layer being reinforced by fibers substantially parallel with the inward and outward sides of the cylindrical tube defined by the reinforced elastomer layer; and a resiliently compressible layer. The oriented fibers reinforce the elastomer layer such that the modulus of elasticity in the circumferential direction of rotation is increased. Exemplary methods for forming one or more of the layers are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: An exemplary anisotropic printing element comprises an outer printing surface layer and, located radially beneath the outer layer, a spirally-integrated reinforced compressible tubular structure comprising a reinforcing sheet having synthetic fibers, the sheet being spirally wrapped at least two complete turns circumferentially around the longitudinal axis of the tubular structure, thereby defining an inner tubular surface on a radially inward wrapped sheet portion and an outer tubular surface on a radially outward wrapped sheet portion, the tubular structure further comprising an elastomer having voids, the elastomer being disposed between the inner and outer tubular surfaces defined by the wrapped sheet portions, the void-containing elastomer thereby providing radial compressibility to and being spirally-integrated within the tubular structure. Examplary methods for fabricating the printing elements of the invention are also disclosed.

Abstract: An exemplary sheet material shrinkage apparatus comprises an endless belt mounted on rotatable cylinders and disposed against a shrinkage cylinder, the belt comprising inward and outward elastomer layers having different elasticity properties.

Abstract: A damping device for reducing vibration, particularly cylinder bounce in rotating cylinders, such as printing cylinders. The damping device is a multilayered insert of elastomeric and rigid materials. The layers are preferably laminated together and more preferably the elastomeric and rigid layers are alternated throughout the damping device. The insert is located in a housing on the cylinder so as to be flush with the cylinder's outer surface. The damping device may have variable damping abilities formed by the selection of materials, location of materials and/or the use of filled orifices of different damping material in the inserts.

Abstract: The invention concerns a damping device having improved damping properties, including a lower damping viscoelastic layer made from a viscoelastic material affixed to a structural element, and an upper stress constraining layer located above the lower viscoelastic layer on the side opposite of the structural element. The upper stress constraining layer is a composite stress constraining layer having a stress constraining element embedded in a damping material. This stress constraining element can be a clothlike element selected from a knit, a woven or unwoven fabric, or can be prepared from a grid of bundles of strands linked together through welding or gluing.