Printing blanket including meltable polymeric fabric reinforcing layer or polymeric reinforcing layer
AssigneeDay International, Inc.
InventorsMark Queen, Richard Czerner, Creg Bradley, David Blender
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A printing blanket is provided which includes a reinforcing layer formed from a polymeric fabric reinforcing material which softens and flows at a temperature less than that used in the final curing step of forming the blanket 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.
Claims21
A printing blanket comprising:
- a base layer;
- a compressible layer;
- a first polymeric fabric reinforcing layer on said compressible layer;
- wherein at least a portion of adjacent filaments of said fabric reinforcing layer have flowed together and bonded to form a reinforcing layer having reduced thickness;
- and
- a printing surface layer on said fabric reinforcing layer.
A printing blanket comprising:
- a base layer;
- a compressible layer;
- a polymeric reinforcing layer over said compressible layer;
- said polymeric reinforcing layer comprising a film having a thickness between about 0.003 inches and 0.010 inches (0.076 to 0.25 mm);
- and
- a printing surface layer.
A method of making a printing blanket comprising:
- providing a compressible layer over a base layer;
- applying a first polymeric fabric reinforcing layer on said compressible layer;
- applying a printing surface layer on said fabric reinforcing layer;
- and
- curing the layers in said blanket at a temperature above the melting point or softening point of said polymeric fabric reinforcing layer such that said reinforcing layer softens and flows.
A method of making a printing blanket comprising:
- providing a compressible layer over a base layer;
- providing a polymeric reinforcing layer over said compressible layer;
- said polymeric reinforcing layer comprising a film having a thickness between about 0.003 inches and 0.010 inches (0.076 to 0.25 mm);
- and
- applying a printing surface layer on said polymeric reinforcing layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.