Apparatus for reducing procession of a tubular printing sleeve

An apparatus for reducing procession of a gapless tubular printing sleeve caused by at least one fluid wave having a certain pressure, comprising:

• a gapless tubular printing sleeve having an inner circumference;
• a cylinder having a circumferential surface, and having an outer circumference which is greater than the inner circumference of the printing sleeve, said circumferential surface adapted to receive the printing sleeve for mounting thereon;
• a passage provided on the circumferential surface of the cylinder, pressurized fluid being applied through the passage to rapidly expand the printing sleeve during installation of the printing sleeve onto, and removal of the printing sleeve from, the cylinder;
• and
• means extending substantially across a length of the cylinder for connecting an interface of the cylinder and the printing sleeve to a low pressure region, said interface enclosing a fluid wave between the cylinder and the printing sleeve and extending substantially across the length of the cylinder, said low pressure region having a pressure lower than the pressure at the interface, thereby allowing the fluid wave extending substantially across the length of the cylinder to escape to the low pressure region.