Method of producing a variable format cylinder for a web-fed offset printing machine

Abstract

Variable-format web-fed offset printing machine having printing-unit cylinders comprising core cylinders to which compressed air can be applied and onto which intermediate sleeves can be pushed axially and shrunk on radially. Each intermediate sleeve includes a carrier layer whose inner face rests on the core cylinder, a compressible intermediate layer, a transition layer, and a variable-thickness bridging layer, which ends with a covering layer to which a further surface like a printing plate or a rubber blanket can be fitted.

1 . (cancelled)  
     
     
         2 . A method for producing a variable format cylinder for a web-fed offset printing machine, said method comprising 
 providing an intermediate sleeve having an open interior with axial end openings, an outer circumferential surface, and holes extending between said open interior and said outer circumferential surface,    closing said open ends in an air-tight manner,    supplying compressed air to said interior so that air emerges from said holes on said outer circumferential surface of said intermediate sleeve to form an air pad,    pushing a functional sleeve axially onto the outer circumferential surface of said intermediate sleeve while said compressed air is being supplied,    switching off said compressed air so that said functional sleeve shrinks radially onto said intermediate sleeve,    providing a core cylinder having an outer circumferential surface and means for supplying compressed air to said outer circumferential surface of said core cylinder,    supplying compressed air to said outer circumferential surface of said core cylinder,    pushing said intermediate sleeve with said functional sleeve onto the outer circumferential surface of the core cylinder while said compressed air is being supplied, and    switching off said compressed air so that said intermediate sleeve shrinks radially onto said core cylinder.    
     
     
         3 - 4 . (cancelled)  
     
     
         5 . A method of producing a printing unit cylinder for a web-fed offset printing machine, said method comprising 
 providing a prefabricated composite comprising a carrier layer, a compressible intermediate layer over said carrier layer, and a transition layer over said compressible intermediate layer,    fixing said prefabricated composite concentrically in a cylindrical mold,    inserting one of a functional into said cylindrical mold concentrically about said composite, thereby forming an intermediate space between said prefabricated composite and said functional layer, and    filling said intermediate space with a plastic foam to form a bridging layer which inseparably joins said transition layer to said functional layer.    
     
     
         6 . A method of producing an intermediate sleeve for a printing unit cylinder in a web-fed offset printing machine, said intermediate sleeve comprising a carrier layer having an inner surface for fitting to the surface of a core cylinder, 
 a compressible intermediate layer over said carrier layer, a transition layer over said compressible intermediate layer, a variable thickness bridging layer over said transition layer, and a rubber blanket which is inseparably fitted to said bridging layer, said method comprising fitting said rubber blanket layer to said bridging layer by one of spraying and vulcanizing.    
     
     
         7 - 12 . (cancelled)