Abstract: The apparatus comprises a housing (12) defining one or more treatment cells (14, 16, 18) having a sheet material path (20) extending therethrough from an entrance (22) to an exit (24). The entrance (22) and exit (24) are each closed by a respective drive roller (26) in contact with a reaction surface (28, 50) to define a nip (29) therebetween through which the sheet material path (20) extends. Rotatable sealing means (30) seal each drive roller (26) to the housing (12). A reduced pressure is established within the treatment cell (14, 16, 18). The continuous treatment of sheet materials can be carried out under reduced pressure, in a convenient and reliable manner.

Abstract: A printing sleeve removal device has at least one band for wrapping around at least part of a printing sleeve and a tightening device connected to the at least one band for tightening the at least one band. Also provided is a method for axially removing a printing sleeve including placing a sleeve removal device over the printing sleeve, tightening the sleeve removal device so as to grasp the sleeve, and axially pulling on the removal device so as to axially remove the printing sleeve.

Abstract: The present invention provides an extruded external drum for an imaging system. The external drum is extruded from a light-weight and strong material such as an aluminum alloy. The external drum includes a thin outer wall, a hollow cylindrical hub, and a plurality of thin radial spokes extending between the cylindrical hub and the outer wall. The present invention provides a stiff external drum having low rotational inertia.

Abstract: A flexible printing plate or continuous printing roll comprising a printing layer formed of an elastomeric composition including an epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) component and a natural rubber component.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing procession of a gapless tubular printing blanket in an offset printing press caused by at least one fluid wave having a certain pressure trapped at an interface of the printing blanket and a blanket cylinder. The apparatus includes a blanket cylinder which is adapted to receive the printing blanket for mounting on its circumferential surface. The blanket cylinder has at least one path which connects an interface of the blanket cylinder and the printing blanket to a region of pressure lower than the pressure in the fluid wave. The path allows the fluid wave, which is trapped at the interface and advancing in front of a nip between the blanket cylinder and an adjacent cylinder, to escape to the region of low pressure.

Abstract: A tube printer and method for printing information on an interior surface of a tube. The tube printer including a housing, an ink wheel assembly and a print wheel. The housing having at least two side members interconnected by a top plate extending there between and including spring biased guide wheels that cooperatively center the housing within the tube. An operating handle is operatively attached to an end of the housing to provide a means to push and pull the tube printer within the tube. The ink wheel assembly is operatively positioned between the side members of the housing and the print wheel is operatively positioned between the side members of the housing and adjacent the ink wheel and includes a raised surface containing the information to be printed on the interior surface of the tube.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing procession of a gapless tubular printing sleeve in an offset printing press caused by at least one fluid wave having a certain pressure trapped at an interface of the printing sleeve and a cylinder on which it is mounted. The apparatus includes a cylinder which is adapted to receive the printing sleeve for mounting on its circumferential surface. The cylinder has at least one path which connects an interface of the cylinder and the printing sleeve to a region of pressure lower than the pressure in the fluid wave. The path allows the fluid wave, which is trapped at the interface and advancing in front of a nip between the cylinder and an adjacent cylinder, to escape to the region of low pressure.

Abstract: A block copy material for a lithographic printing plate material comprising a sheet-like substrate, on at least one side of which a plurality of minute projections are distributively formed, or a lithographic press having a plate cylinder, on a surface of which a plurality of minute projections are distributively formed, wherein the density of minute projections having a height of more than 40 &mgr;m is 20 projections/cm2 or less on surface average, and the density of minute projections having a height of 3 &mgr;m or more is 25 projections/cm2 or more on surface average. The block copy material for a lithographic printing plate material, the lithographic press and a lithographic printing method using the block copy material or the lithographic press can avoid the deterioration of the printing dimension and printing accuracy caused by strain partially developed in printing, and can solve the problem of conventional methods, the deterioration of the workability in printing.

Abstract: A printing cylinder assembly adapted to be removably supported on a hydraulically operable mandrel having means to hydraulically apply radially outward forces is disclosed. The printing cylinder assembly has a generally cylindrical coated printing cylinder having two open end portions, and a generally annular sleeve positioned within each end portion and in shrink fit relation therewith. Each annular sleeve has a generally annular groove therein and at a location which corresponds to the general location of application of the radially outward forces when the cylinder is positioned on the mandrel. Radially outward forces are hydraulically developed by the mandrels and are transmitted to the cylinder through the annular sleeves to retain the cylinder and the mandrel as an integral unit. The grooved portion of each annular sleeve defines two adjacent annular stepped portions wherein the grooved portion has a greater flexibility in the radial direction than the adjacent stepped portions.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate comprises a plate body with a plurality of predetermined breaking points formed therein. The breaking points extend from a leading end to a trailing end of the printing plate. The predetermined breaking points define edges of sub-plates, each carrying an image which corresponds to a newspaper page of a newspaper to be printed with the lithographic printing plate. The printing plate can be mounted on the plate cylinder of a lithographic rotary printing press as one piece and can afterwards be broken up at the predetermined breaking points, in order to exchange one of the sub-plates against another sub-plate for a new print job, in case of an edition change.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tubular blanket which comprises a main blanket section having at least a portion coming into contact with a printing-made web and a remaining blanket section other than the main blanket section. The remaining blanket section has a thickness thinner than the thickness of the main blanket section. Thus, even if inks or paper particles are attached to a web absent area on a circumferential surface of the tubular blanket, it is possible to eliminate the influence from the attachment of inks or paper particles, and to make the web cut-off hard to occur, so that the interference with the use of the tubular blanket is preventable, thereby enhancing the economy and the working efficiency.

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: Angular deformation is caused in a portion of offset-printed web paper corresponding to an adjacent portion of each of side edges of two blankets of a blanket cylinder so that paper wrinkles are caused. To prevent the paper wrinkles from being caused, a contact roller 10 is arranged in a paper wrinkle preventing device such that a circumferential face of the contact roller can rotatably come in contact with the running web paper W in a rotary printing press having an offset printing portion P for printing the web paper W coming in contact with surfaces of two blankets B2 having side edges adjacent to each other at an approximately axial center of a blanket cylinder B. The contact roller 10 is arranged between the offset printing portion P and a drag roller D1. An equal diameter portion 101c is formed by a roller portion coming in contact with an area of the running web paper W coming in contact with an adjacent portion B1 of each of the two blankets B2 and a portion near this adjacent portion.

Abstract: An apparatus and method which reduces solid mottling in an offset printing press. One or more form rolls having a hard elastomeric outer surface, in the range of approximately 50-100 Shore A durometer hardness, preferably approximately 60-90 Shore A durometer hardness, are used to transfer ink to the plate cylinder. The use of a form roll of this type ensures a smoother application of ink to the plate cylinder, which in turn ensures smoother ink application to the blanket cylinder and printed web. If more than one form roll is used, it is preferable that, at a minimum, the final form roll, i.e., the last form roll the plate cylinder contacts in the direction of rotation, be a hard elastomeric form roll. In another aspect of the present invention, the form rolls can be made of a convex shape along their axial length, such that the diameter of the form rolls at their axial center is larger than the diameter of the form rolls at their axial ends.

Abstract: A coating plate is provided for use in applying a coating material over selected areas of printed material produced in lithographic, flexographic, letterpress, or other types of printing presses. The coating plate is formed of a light-transmitting sheet-form carrier and a light-transmitting sheet-form applicator adhesively affixed to the carrier by a pressure-sensitive releasable adhesive. In preparing the coating plate for use in applying a coating to selected areas of printed material, a pattern sheet is provided with indicia indicating the selected areas of the printed material to be coated. The pattern sheet is placed under the coating plate. Utilizing the indicia of the pattern as a guide, the operator utilizes a knife or other suitable cutting instrument to cut through the applicator sheet around the areas indicated by the pattern sheet to be utilized as coating areas.

Abstract: A printing roller for channel-free printing, in particular for a rotary offset printing machine including a roller core 1 on which a sleeve-shaped printing or transfer form 2 can be positioned. The roller includes a thin intermediate layer 7 provided at least partially between the outer surface of the roller core 1 and the inner surface of the sleeve-shaped printing or transfer form 2 for adjusting the printing or transfer form 2 on the printing roller 1, 3, 4, 6 and for securing the printing or transfer form 2 in an improved manner. The printing roller constructed according to the present invention allows a sleeve-shaped printing or transfer form to be adjusted or fitted precisely and in a stationary manner on the printing roller when slid onto the printing roller without limiting the principle on which the sleeve technique for printing is based.

Abstract: A printing press includes an anilox roller having a rigid inner core and a replaceable, resilient, pliable sleeve having ink cells defined in the outer surface thereof. The anilox roller rotates in contact with two spaced doctor blades defining an opening into an ink reservoir whereby cells receiving ink enabled by a rotating ink roller within the reservoir. The anilox roller engages the plate cylinder of the press forming a nip therebetween for delivery of ink to the image areas of the plate. The invention finds utility in lithographic, flexographic, offset, gravure and letter press printing.

Abstract: A printing plate cylinder having a hollow cylindrical bore is mounted to a tapered rotatable drive shalt by an adapter having a tapered bore for engaging the drive shalt and a cylindirical outer surface with a flange having guide pins for mating with linear bearings mounted on the printing plate cylinder.

Abstract: A replaceable sleeve having a working surface is provided which is adapted to be mounted on a carrier. The sleeve includes an inner polymeric layer, a reinforcing layer overlying the inner layer, an intermediate polymeric layer overlying the reinforcing layer, and an outer polymeric layer. The sleeve may include a cushion layer between the intermediate layer and the outer layer. The layers comprising the sleeve are formed around a support and then cured simultaneously in a single step. The resulting sleeve may be used in printing operations or in other applications such as coating, embossing, laminating, calendering and the like.

Abstract: A tubular body which can be applied to a cylindrical carrier body and removed from it again, being characterized in that a first layer (10) of a wound narrow strip material (6) with a first pitch (12) is covered by another material.

Abstract: A printing carrier sleeve for mounting printing plates thereon, is formed by cutting a sheet of flexible plastic material having opposite edges into a substantially rectangular shape of desired dimensions such that opposite edges are cut-away to provide complementary tabs and openings that interlock with each other, adhering printing plates on the sheet when the sheet is in a substantially flat condition, securing opposite edges of the sheet together in abutting relation so as to prevent air from passing between the opposite edges, and thereby forming the printing carrier sleeve in a cylindrical configuration, by placing a strip of tape on a forming cylinder, securing one edge of the rectangular sheet on the strip of tape on the cylinder, and wrapping the opposite edge of the sheet about the cylinder into abutting relation with the one edge to provide the interlocking arrangement.

Abstract: An applicator system roll for direct or indirect application of a coating medium onto a traveling fiber material web includes a core substantially comprised of a fiber composite material and a cover substantially surrounding the core.

Abstract: A method for coating a printing machine cylinder, especially a rubber blanket cylinder of a web- or sheet-fed rotary offset printing machine, includes applying to a cylinder body a first layer containing at least one zinc-bearing substance selected from the group consisting of ZnFe, ZnCo, ZnNi and Zn.

Abstract: A printing machine roller, especially an ink roller, and preferably an ink distributor roller, with a coating of the entire outer cylindrical surface. The coating consists of a support matrix of a good heat-conducting and low-wear metal, e.g., nickel or aluminum-silicon alloy and graphite or plastic particles, e.g., of polyester, inlaid into the metal matrix. The coating is produced by thermal spraying, preferably plasma spraying or flame spraying. The residual porosity of the coating can be varied within wide limits based on process requirements. This residual porosity also permits the ink-friendliness to be varied within wide limits via sealing with an ink-friendly plastic. The roughness of such layers can be adjusted virtually as desired to the individual requirements of the offset process.

Abstract: In order to facilitate removal and replacement of blanket and impression sleeves in a rotary offset printing press, the blanket and plate cylinders are supported in cantilever fashion. The cantilevered cylinders allow axial removal and replacement of the blanket and impression sleeves without temporary support of the cylinder and without removal of any bearings. Each cylinder is rotatably supported on a cantilevered support shaft having a bore therethrough. A drive shaft operatively connected to a drive motor extends through the support shaft bore and engages the inner surface of the generally hollow cylinder. A blanket or impression sleeve mounted on the cylinder is removable using compressed air, which is routed through a bore in the drive shaft and through a plurality of radially oriented passage in a flange on the end of the drive shaft.

Abstract: Described is a stamping roller (10) intended for a stamping apparatus, which roller has a central carrier roller (12) and stamping punch portions (24) which are spaced from each other in the peripheral direction, wherein fixed to the carrier roller is at least one punch ring whose two axially mutually spaced edge portions are designed with spacer rings (26) for the defined contact of at least one associated backing roller (28), and the punch ring (20) is designed with the stamping punch portions (24) between the two spacer rings (26). The/each punch ring (20) is matched to the carrier roller (12) in respect of dimensions and material in such a way that the/each punch ring (20) is displaceable on the carrier roller (12) at ambient temperature and at elevated stamping or operating temperature of the stamping roller (10) thermal expansion fixes the/each punch ring (20) on the carrier roller (12).

Abstract: A multi-layer rubber blanket, that is intended for use on a rubber blanket cylinder, is secured at its underside to a dimensionally stable support plate. The ends of the multi-layer rubber blanket are not affected by mechanical or chemical cleaning. This is accomplished by sealing the front or end faces of the layers of the multi-layer blanket, which are situated underneath the outer, cover layer of the rubber blanket.

Abstract: A printing cylinder 20 has a length for mass printing and is used for an inking roller group for supplying printing ink, a plate cylinder having a printing plate, a blanket cylinder for printing with the ink transferred from the printing plate, etc. A ring groove 25 is dug at each end face of the printing cylinder 20 so as to open annularly and to have a depth of 1/4 to 1/3 of the length of the printing cylinder 20 in the axial direction of the printing cylinder. Deflection deformation caused on the outer circumference of the printing cylinder 20 can thereby be equalized at the central portion and both end portions of the printing cylinder 20. Axial directional changes in the pressing force caused by the deflection deformation can be reduced, and even with the elongated printing cylinder 20 of the same cylinder diameter as a conventional one, irregularities of inking in the axial direction of the printing cylinder 20 due to changes in the pressing force do not occur.

Abstract: A bridge mandrel for use as part of the rollers used in flexographic printing presses. When used as a part of the printing roller, the bridge mandrel allows the use of inexpensive printing sleeves to which the flexographic printing plates can be attached. When used as part of the inking roller, the bridge mandrel provides a durable and cost effective design. The bridge mandrel is made from a cylinder and two bearing sleeves that mount the cylinder to a standard mandrel. When the bridge mandrel is used as a printing roller, the thin printing sleeve mounts to the cylinder by means of an extension of the conventional compressed air mounting system. The ability to use inexpensive thin printing sleeves greatly reduces the cost and time expenditure normally associated with changing the printing rollers in flexographic printing presses.

Abstract: A printing unit for a web-fed rotary printing press comprises a housing defining a first side wall in which a drive mechanism is mounted and a second side wall in which a locking mechanism is mounted. A blanket cylinder including a plurality of holes extending axially therethrough, and being releasably mounted between the first and second side walls includes an endless tubular printing blanket mounted around an external surface thereof. A first end-cap affixed to a first end portion of the blanket cylinder is drivingly coupleable to the drive mechanism so that torque generated by the drive mechanism is transmitted via the first end-cap to the blanket cylinder to rotate the blanket cylinder about the axis.

Abstract: A printing machine, having side walls and at least one form cylinder with an outer cylindrical surface carrying a removable sleeve-shaped printing form, the form cylinder having journals and being removably mounted in the side walls. A bearing rotatably supports the journals in the sidewalls and at least one of the side walls has an opening. A transport device moves the form cylinder back and forth through the opening in the side wall so that the sleeve of the form cylinder removed from the printing machine can be exchanged for a replacement sleeve and the form cylinder with the replacement sleeve can be moved back into the printing machine.

Abstract: An ink transport roller (1) which may be used universally for panorama printing and printing of multiple colors next to one another. The roller has a recess (2) in an area between the colors which may be optionally opened or closed depending upon whether the roller is to be used for printing multiple colors next to one another or panorama printing, respectively.

Abstract: A sleeve adapted to be mounted on a mandrel to form a liquid transfer roll or the like comprises a radially expandable inner skin defining a radially inner surface of the sleeve, at least one radially compressible intermediate layer of resilient plastic material; and a rigid, self-supporting metal outer tube. Further methods for producing such a sleeve are described.

Abstract: A ferromagnetic foil carrying a layer of a pressure sensitive adhesive for adhesive attachment to a printing plate to be used in a letterpress or flexographic printing operation. The ferromagnetic foil preferably is formed of a cold rolled steel having a thickness in the range of from about 0.001 inch to about 0.007 inch. The metal foil allows the printing plate to be adhered to the outer surface of a magnetized printing cylinder due to the magnetic attraction between the printing cylinder and the ferromagnetic foil. If the printing cylinder is not magnetized, but is formed of a ferromagnetic material, a flexible magnetic pad is applied to the outer surface of the cylinder, and the ferromagnetic foil-backed printing plate is then placed on the flexible magnetic pad.

Abstract: In a compact drive for a float-mounted cylinder of a rotary printing machine, the spindle carrying the cylinder is housed together with a motor in a carrier tube mounted in the side wall.

Abstract: A cylindrical spacer sleeve is interposed between a printing sleeve, which carries printing matrices, and a printing cylinder. The spacer sleeve has an innermost core member that is expandable by interposition of air pressure between the inner surface of the core member and the outer surface of the printing cylinder. In an alternative embodiment, the core member is not expandable. The outer surface of the spacer sleeve torsionally rigidly supports by an interference fit, the printing sleeve. A rigid bridge layer is disposed between the outer surface and the core member. The spacer sleeve has a plurality of air channels through which pressurized air is supplied from within the bridge layer to the outer surface. In one embodiment, the bridge layer includes a pair of axially spaced apart spacer rings.

Abstract: Removable print roll sleeves are changed on a printing press without removal of a respective print roll from the press frame by securing the position of the print roll on the drive side axle bearing while the outboard axle bearing for the roll is removed. A bracket on a support tree has a motorized strut which bears upon an extension of the print roll axle shaft from the drive side axle bearing. This support tree may be rotated 90.degree. about a vertical axis when not in use for minimum interruption and storage. On the outboard side of the print cylinder, the axle shaft bearing is mounted on a bearing carriage for disengagement from the axle shaft journal and withdrawn by a lead screw at a 45.degree. angle along a slide plate.

Abstract: An apparatus for dynamically balancing a rotating drum mounted in a fixed frame. The apparatus has at least one balancing set, each balancing set includes two weights, each of the two weights is movable along a circular track attached to the drum and substantially concentric with the axis of rotation of the drum, and a mechanism for holding each of the two weights at any fixed position along the track during rotation of the drum.

Abstract: Offset printing cylinder is formed of a basic cylinder body and a printing cover disposed on an outer cylindrical surface of the cylinder body, the printing cover including a plurality of layers of which at least one is a heat-removing layer having a location selected from a group thereof consisting of a location intermediate two other layers of the printing cover and a location at the bottom of the printing cover.

Abstract: A device for manipulating sleeves, including sleeves serving as printing forms or as rubber blankets as well as screened sleeves, from outside the printing mechanism without removing the paper web which has been drawn in. The device includes a sleeve gripping system associated with each cylinder intended to receive a sleeve. A force mechanism is activated by this sleeve gripping system to grip the sleeve within the printing mechanism in a frictional or positive engagement. When gripped, the respective sleeve can be displaced on the cylinder in the axial direction in a correctly positioned manner by the gripping system at least between the side walls of the printing mechanism.

Abstract: A printing sleeve for a rotogravure or flexo printing roll is provided that as a base sleeve with a slightly conical or tapered geometry adapted to be mounted over the printing roll which also has a slightly conical or tapered geometry. The printing sleeve also comprises a layer of compressible material mounted to the base sleeve, a layer of foamed spacer material, and an outer tube mounted over the layer of foamed spacer material. Further, an engravable layer is typically applied to the exterior of the outer tube.

Abstract: A hollow cylinder retention device includes a hollow cylinder and a pair of bearers disposed at opposite ends of the hollow cylinder. Mounted on each of the bearers is a bushing including an actuator for applying a clamping force to a clamping portion of the bearers to securely clamp the hollow cylinder onto a rotatable cylinder shaft. The bushings are arranged on the respective bearings to apply a clamping pressure at a location that is spaced from the bearer points where the hollow cylinder is mounted on the bearers to avoid damage to the bushings and bearers. The hollow cylinder, bearers and bushings are connected to form an integral unit that is easily and quickly mounted and removed from a rotatable shaft.

Abstract: An imaging drum assembly is disclosed and which includes an inner substantially cylindrically shaped sleeve, the inner sleeve having an outwardly facing surface, and an inwardly facing surface, and wherein the inwardly facing surface has a plurality of spaced, inwardly regularly extending projections which define a cavity; and an outer, substantially shaped sleeve, the outer sleeve telescopingly receiving the inner sleeve, and wherein the outer sleeve has an outwardly facing surface, and an inwardly facing surface which is disposed in energy transmitting relation relative to the outwardly facing surface of the inner sleeve, and wherein the outwardly facing surface of the outer sleeve has a given minimum capacitance.

Abstract: A printing mechanism for waterless offset printing, including a form cylinder that carries a sleeve-shaped printing form and/or a transfer cylinder that carries a sleeve-shaped transfer form. The printing form and transfer form can be slipped onto or removed from the respective cylinder. At least one of the form cylinder and the transfer cylinder being provided with an internal channel through which fluid is circulated for internally cooling the cylinder.

Abstract: A printing sleeve for a rotogravure or flexo printing roll is provided that as a slightly conical or tapered geometry wherein the inner diameter at one end is slightly smaller than the inner diameter at a second end. Similarly, the printing roll is provided with a slightly conical geometry or tapered diameter as well wherein the outside diameter at one end is slightly smaller than the outside diameter at the other end. The larger end of the printing sleeve is mounted over the smaller end of the printing roll and the sleeve is pushed forward either manually or mechanically until the larger end of the printing sleeve is disposed over the larger end of the printing roll. A key/slot combination may be provided on the inside surface of the printing sleeve and outside surface of the printing roll to ensure proper alignment. An apparatus also is provided for mounting a printing sleeve over a printing roll which includes two support bearings for mounting the opposing ends of the printing roll or printing axle.

Abstract: An inner sleeve portion in the form of a spacer sleeve is disclosed for being torsionally rigidly mounted on a rotogravure or flexographic mandrel that is to be rotated about its axis when used in a printing machine. The outer surface of the inner sleeve portion torsionally rigidly supports by an interference fit, an outer sleeve portion (the printing sleeve) that carries the printing matrices. The inner sleeve portion has a plurality of air channels extending from the inner surface through the outer surface. Pressurized air flowing through the channels assists in expanding the diameter of the innermost surface of the outer sleeve portion for alternatively mounting the outer sleeve portion onto the inner sleeve portion and dismounting the outer sleeve portion from the inner sleeve portion.

Abstract: A printing unit for a web fed rotary printing press for printing newspapers is provided in which the central impression cylinder (2) is commonly rotatably mounted in the two side walls (14a, 14b) of the housing (14) of the printing press and the blanket cylinder (4) and/or print cylinder (6) are rotatably cantilevered on one end in the first side wall (14a) during the make ready operation of the printing press, allowing a quick and easy changing of the cylinders (4, 6) via an opening (30) formed in the second side wall (14b). When the printing press is in operation the blanket and print cylinders (4, 6) may be additionally rotatably supported in a side plate (32) fitted to the opening (30), or may remain unsupported on their other ends.

Abstract: An apparatus for printing labels having a tacky side and a non-tacky printable side. The apparatus comprises a print head for printing indicia on the printable side of the labels, and a print roller disposed in close proximity to the print head. The print head is thus enabled to print indicia on the labels when the labels are supported by the print roller, the print roller having at least one annular recess in its surface thereof. The apparatus further comprises at least one elongated stripper element retained in and extending from the recess such that upon rotation of the roller, the label is transported to the stripper element. The stripper element thereby lifts the label from the surface of the roller and the label is removed from the print roller.

Abstract: A reusable mandrel for use in a plate cylinder of a printing press. The reusable mandrel includes two semi-cylindrical shells spaced slightly apart to form a tube having two opposing longitudinal slots. Disposed inside the tube is a controller that may be activated in order to selectively adjust the diameter of the tube. The tube is preferably set at an initial diameter so that the tube may incrementally accept plate material from a supply mandrel. Thereafter, the controller may be activated in order to decrease the diameter of the tube so that the tube may be removed from a spool of used plate material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a printing sleeve and a method for producing a sless printing sleeve particularly for a flexo printing cylinder with the printing sleeve being slidable onto a core roll when flexibly expanded by means of a pressurized air cushion and being slidable off therefrom.