Method of making a photopolymer sleeve blank having an integral cushion layer for flexographic printing
AssigneeDay International, Inc.
InventorsMichael E. McLean, Dieter Schulze-Baing, Michael Kockentiedt, Will Goss
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of making a photopolymer sleeve blank for use in flexographic printing is provided which includes providing a base sleeve, applying a cushion layer over the base sleeve, applying an optional barrier layer over the cushion layer, and applying a photopolymer layer over the barrier or cushion layer. The method provides a sleeve blank having an integral cushion layer and eliminates the need for a back exposure step.
Claims20
A method of making a seamless photopolymer sleeve blank for use in flexographic printing comprising:
- providing a cylindrical base sleeve including an inner surface and an outer surface;
- applying a cushion layer over said outer surface of said base sleeve without back exposing said cushion layer;
- said cushion layer selected from the group consisting of an open-cell foam, a closed-cell foam, or a soft, volume displaceable material having a Shore hardness of about 30 to 70;
- grinding the surface of said cushion layer to a predetermined thickness and to establish a relief depth for a final image to form a floor;
- applying a barrier layer over said cushion layer;
- applying an adhesive layer over said barrier layer;
- and
- applying a photopolymer layer over said adhesive layer and fusing said photopolymer layer by applying heat to partially melt said photopolymer.
A method of making a seamless photopolymer sleeve blank for use in flexographic printing comprising:
- providing a cylindrical base sleeve including an inner surface and an outer surface;
- applying a cushion layer over said outer surface of said base sleeve without back exposing said cushion layer;
- said cushion layer selected from the group consisting of an open-cell foam, a closed-cell foam, or a soft, volume displaceable material having a Shore hardness of about 30 to 70;
- applying a barrier layer over said cushion layer such that said barrier layer is integral with said cushion layer and said layers together function as a floor for a relief image;
- applying an adhesive layer over said barrier layer;
- and
- applying a photopolymer layer over said adhesive layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.