Variable-format web-fed offset printing machine and method of producing variable-format surfaces

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 - 4 . (canceled)  
     
     
         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 . (canceled)