Printing sleeves and methods for mounting and dismounting

A cylindrically-shaped, substantially non-permeable laminate printing sleeve which comprises:

• a substantially non-permeable, polymeric laminate printing sleeve body having substantially seamless inner and outer cylindrically-shaped wall surfaces having a constant cross-sectional diameter;
• and
• at least one substantially non-permeable internal reinforcement layer with said sleeve body, wherein said cylindrically-shaped non-permeable laminate printing sleeve is readily axially mountable on and dismountable from a cylindrically-shaped printing cylinder having a constant cross-sectional diameter, the diameter of said printing sleeve being expandable by the introduction of a relatively low pressure fluid between said inner printing sleeve wall surface and the outer wall surface of said printing cylinder, and said printing sleeve being contractable by removing said expanding forces and having a flexural modulus of at least about 6.times.10.sup.5 lbs/in.sup.2.

A unitary, cylindrically-shaped printing sleeve, readily axially mountable on and dismountable from a complementary cylindrically-shaped printing cylinder, which comprises a printing sleeve body having a substantially constant cross-sectional diameter and a wall thickness of at least about 0.015 inches, which is substantially airtight when mounted onto said printing cylinder, and which has substantially seamless inner and outer cylindrically-shaped wall surfaces, the diameter of said printing sleeve being expandable by the introduction of a low fluid pressure level between said inner printing sleeve wall surface the outer wall surface of said printing cylinder of not more than about 100 psi at ambient temperature, said printing sleeve being contractable by the removal of said low pressure fluid, and the flexural modulus of said printing sleeve being at least about 6.times.10.sup.5 lbs/in.sup.2.

A unitary cylindrically-shaped printing sleeve, readily axially mountable on and dismountable from a complementary cylindrically-shaped printing cylinder, which comprises a non-metallic printing sleeve body having a substantially constant cross-sectional diameter and excellent structural integrity, which is substantially airtight when mounted onto said printing cylinder, and which has substantially seamless inner and outer cylindrically-shaped wall surfaces, the diameter of said printing sleeve being expandable by the introduction of a relatively low pressure fluid between said inner printing sleeve wall surface and the outer wall surface of said printing cylinder, said printing sleeve being contractable by the removal of said low pressure fluid and having a stiffness factor of at least about 7.26.times.10.sup.5 inch-pounds.

A unitary cylindrically-shaped printing sleeve, readily axially mountable on and dismountable from a complementary cylindrically-shaped printing cylinder, which comprises a printing sleeve body having a substantially constant cross-sectional diameter and a wall thickness of at least about 0.015 inches, which is substantially airtight when mounted onto said printing cylinder, and which has substantially seamless inner and outer cylindrically-shaped wall surfaces, the diameter of said printing sleeve being expandable by the introduction of a low fluid pressure level between said inner printing sleeve wall surface and the outer wall surface of said printing cylinder of not more than about 100 psi at ambient temperature, said printing sleeve having a stiffness factor of at least about 7.26.times.10.sup.5 inch-pounds and being contractable by the removal of said low pressure fluid.