Device for automatically blocking air passages in cylinder, specifically for support cylinders and compensation mantles
AssigneePolybribron Technologies S.A.
InventorsJean-Francois Tocheport, Jean Francille
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to an automatic closing device for air passage holes in a support cylinder, or compression sleeves used in printing applications. The automatic closing devices of the invention are inserted into the thickness of the wall of the cylinder and comprises a support, a seat with an interior passage and a valve mobile in translation in the support. The support is capable of assuming two positions, the first in which the valve comes into tight contact with the aforementioned seat and the other in which it is retracted so as to allow for a passage.
Claims21
A sleeve support to which a printing sleeve may be coupled, said sleeve support comprising:
- a hollow cylinder defined by a substantially cylindrical sidewall having a thickness defined by the distance between an exterior surface and an interior surface, said sidewall having a plurality of air passages disposed therethrough, each one of the air passages having a closing device disposed therein, each one of the closing devices comprising:
- a seat coupled with the sidewall;
- and
- a valve member having a body portion and a head portion, said valve member being movably disposed longitudinally within said air passage and is capable of assuming a first position wherein said head portion comes into contact with said seat, and a second position wherein said valve is retracted to permit a passage for pressurized gas.
A method for mounting a printing sleeve assembly comprising the steps of:
- providing a support cylinder having a hollow interior and comprising an interior and exterior surface and a first set of transverse openings for the passage of air from said hollow interior, said support cylinder being capable of receiving a flow of pressurized air;
- providing a flow of pressurized air to said interior surface of said hollow support cylinder such that said pressurized air escapes through said first set of transverse openings;
- and
- introducing a sleeve support over said first set of transverse openings, said sleeve support comprising:
- a hollow cylinder defined by a substantially cylindrical sidewall having a thickness defined by the distance between an exterior surface and an interior surface, said sidewall having a plurality of air passages disposed therethrough, each one of the air passages having a closing device disposed therein, each one of the closing devices comprising:
- a seat coupled with the sidewall;
- and
- a valve member having a body portion and a head portion, said valve member being movably disposed longitudinally within said air passage and is capable of assuming a first position wherein said head portion comes into contact with said seat, and a second position wherein said valve member is retracted to permit a passage for pressurized gas to escape,
- whereby said escaping pressurized air causes said head portion of said valve member to come into tight contact with said seat thereby preventing the escape of air through said plurality of air passages in said sleeve support and generating a film of air between said outer surface of said support cylinder and said interior surface of said sleeve support.
A method for mounting a printing sleeve assembly onto a sleeve support, comprising the steps of:
- providing a sleeve support comprising an interior surface and an exterior surface, a hollow interior, and a plurality of passages formed between said interior and exterior surfaces for enabling air communication therethrough, each one of said passages including a valve assembly disposed therein that is biased toward a closed position;
- providing pressurized air to said passages;
- sliding an open end of a printing sleeve longitudinally over said sleeve support;
- moving said printing sleeve longitudinally over said sleeve support, said sleeve support contacting a portion of said valve assembly to urge said valve assembly from its closed position to an open position to enable the pressurized air to communicate with said printing sleeve;
- and
- turning off the pressurized air after said printing sleeve is disposed in its desired position relative to said sleeve support.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.