PRINTING SLEEVES AND METHODS FOR MOUNTING AND DISMOUNTING SUCH PRINTING SLEEVES

摘要

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