# US 2018/0111365 A1 · Reimageable and reusable printing sleeve for a variable cutoff printing press

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- Number: US 2018/0111365 A1
- Document ID: US20180111365A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/850,329
- Filed: 2017-12-21
- Published: 2018-04-26
- Earliest claimed: 2013-12-19
- Assignees: Goss International Americas, Inc.
- Applicants: Goss International Americas, Inc.
- Inventors: Parris Robert Ballentine; James Brian Vrotacoe; Mehmet Oktay Kaya
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180111365A1

## CPC

- B41F 13/193: Transfer cylinders; Offset cylinders {(attaching blankets B41F30/04)}
- B41C 1/1008: {by removal or destruction of lithographic material on the lithographic support, e.g. by laser or spark ablation; by the use of materials rendered soluble or insoluble by heat exposure, e.g. by heat produced from a light to heat transforming system; by on-the-press exposure or on-the-press development, e.g. by the fountain of photolithographic materials}
- B41C 1/182: {Sleeves; Endless belts}
- B41C 1/1016: {characterised by structural details, e.g. protective layers, backcoat layers or several imaging layers}
- B41N 1/20: made of metal {or similar inorganic compounds, e.g. plasma coated ceramics, carbides}
- B41N 3/00: Preparing for use and conserving printing surfaces
- B41F: PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES (manifolding devices or office printing machines B41L)
- B41C: PROCESSES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR REPRODUCTION OF PRINTING SURFACES (photomechanical processes for producing printing surfaces G03F; photoelectrical processes for producing printing surfaces G03G)
- B41N: PRINTING PLATES OR FOILS (photosensitive material G03); MATERIALS FOR SURFACES USED IN PRINTING MACHINES FOR PRINTING, INKING, DAMPING, OR THE LIKE; PREPARING SUCH SURFACES FOR USE AND CONSERVING THEM

## Abstract

A lithographic printing sleeve for mounting on a cylinder in a printing press is provided. The lithographic printing sleeve includes a tubular base layer for contacting and surrounding an outer circumference of the cylinder, a permanent tubular hydrophilic layer on an outer surface of the tubular base layer and a temporary hydrophobic layer on an outer surface of the tubular hydrophilic layer. A variable cutoff printing press is also provided.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A lithographic printing sleeve for mounting on a cylinder in a printing press comprising:
a tubular base layer for contacting and surrounding an outer circumference of the cylinder;
a permanent tubular hydrophilic layer on an outer surface of the tubular base layer; and
a temporary hydrophobic layer on an outer surface of the tubular hydrophilic layer.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The printing sleeve as recited in claim 1 wherein the printing sleeve is reusable and reimageable.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The printing sleeve as recited in claim 1 wherein the permanent hydrophilic layer and the temporary hydrophobic layer are continuous on the first imaged printing sleeve such that the permanent hydrophilic layer and the temporary hydrophobic layer exist in full circumference on the first imaged printing sleeve.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The printing sleeve as recited in claim 1 wherein the permanent tubular hydrophilic layer is formed of chromium, silver, aluminum oxide, titanium oxide, nickel oxide, or silicon dioxide.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The printing sleeve as recited in claim 1 wherein the temporary tubular hydrophobic layer is formed of an epoxy or a synthetic polymer.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The printing sleeve as recited in claim 1 wherein the permanent hydrophilic tubular layer is made from a high surface area energy hydrophilic material selected from the group consisting of titanium oxide, nickel oxide, or silicon dioxide, and wherein the temporary hydrophobic layer is made from a low surface area energy material consisting of an epoxy or a synthetic polymer.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The printing sleeve as recited in claim 1 wherein the tubular base layer is pneumatically expandable.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A variable cutoff printing press comprising:
a plate cylinder including the printing sleeve recited in claim 1; and
a blanket cylinder in rolling engagement with the printing sleeve for receiving images from the temporary hydrophobic layer.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The variable cutoff printing press as recited in claim 8 wherein the plate cylinder includes a mandrel and a support cylinder removably slidably mounted on the mandrel, the printing sleeve being removably slidably mounted on the support cylinder.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The variable cutoff printing press as recited in claim 9 wherein the mandrel includes a plurality of mandrel air ports for receiving pressurized air supplied through the mandrel to radially expand the support cylinder to facilitate slidably mounting the support cylinder on the mandrel.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The variable cutoff printing press as recited in claim 10 wherein the support cylinder includes a plurality of cylinder air ports for receiving pressurized air supplied from the mandrel air ports to radially expand the printing sleeve to facilitate slidably mounting the printing sleeve on the support cylinder.