Rubber cylinder sleeve for offset printing presses

A single rubber layer for transferring an image in a printing press, the single rubber layer comprising:

• an inner surface for contacting a carrier sleeve;
• an outer surface (7) for contacting a printing plate;
• a compressible element (8) for increasing the relative compressibility K of the rubber layer;
• and
• a filament (9) for increasing the stiffness S of the single rubber layer;
• the compressible element (8) and the filament (9) disposed distal from the outer surface.

A printing cylinder assembly for an offset printing press, the printing cylinder assembly comprising:

• a printing unit cylinder (5) including a passage for compressed air from the interior of the cylinder to the exterior;
• an inner carrier sleeve (2) having a circumferential and an axial direction, the carrier expandable outwardly by an application of compressed air from the printing unit cylinder (5), the inner carrier sleeve (2) for fitting over the printing unit cylinder (5);
• and
• a single rubber layer (3) having an inner surface disposed on the inner carrier sleeve (2) and an outer surface (7) for contacting a printing plate, the single rubber layer (3) including
• a plurality of compressible elements (8) for increasing the relative compressibility K of the rubber layer, and
• a plurality of filaments (9) for increasing the stiffness S of the rubber layer,
• the compressible elements (8) and the filaments (9) disposed distal from the outer surface (7).