Method of producing a compressible layer for a printing blanket
AssigneeSumitomo Rubbers Industries, Limited
InventorsMakoto Sugiya, Toshio Kamada, Seiji Tomono, Yuji Yamasaki
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method is furnished for producing a compressible layer for a printing blanket by heating a sheet-shaped intermediate layer of a rubber composition having a structure in which hollow microspheres are dispersed in matrix rubber for one to fifty minutes under certain defined conditions of vulcanizing pressure and temperature using a vulcanizer for applying heat and pressure in direct contact with the intermediate layer. The produced compressible layer exhibits superior compressibility and durability, is uniform in thickness and internal structure, and does not reduce the productivity of the printing blanket and increase the fabrication cost of the printing blanket.
Claims8
A method of producing a compressible layer for a printing blanket, comprising the steps of:
- (1) dispersing hollow microspheres each having a shell made of thermoplastic resin in unvulcanized matrix rubber, to produce a rubber composition;
- (2) laminating said rubber composition on at least one base fabric, to form a sheet-shaped intermediate member;
- (3) heating said intermediate member for one to fifty minutes under the following conditions of vulcanizing pressure Pv (kgf/cm2) and vulcanizing temperature Tv (° C.) using a vulcanizer comprising a member for applying heat and pressure in direct contact with the intermediate member, to vulcanize the matrix rubber in a layer of said rubber composition according to the following equations:
- 0<Pv≦3.0 kgf/cm2
- Td≦Tv≦Td+50° C.
- wherein Td is the deforming temperature (° C.) where the hollow microspheres are heated under atmospheric pressure without applying pressure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.