Anti-static, anti-smearing pre-stretched and pressed flat, precision-cut striped flexible coverings for transfer cylinders

Abstract

Freshly printed sheets are transferred from one printing unit to another by transfer cylinders each having an ink repellent, electrically conductive, striped flexible jacket covering that is movable relative to the sheet support surface of the transfer cylinder. The jacket covering is made of a flexible fabric material that is pre-stretched, pressed flat, cut to size and treated with an ink repellent compound and is also treated with an anti-static ionic compound or is otherwise rendered electrically conductive by one or more conductive strands. Electrostatic charges carried by the freshly printed sheets are discharged through the ink repellent, electrically conductive, flexible jacket covering into the grounded transfer cylinder. A low friction, electrically conductive cylinder base covering that includes center alignment marks is secured to the transfer cylinder for engaging the flexible jacket covering. The ink repellent, electrically conductive flexible jacket covering is provided with alignment center marks and alignment stripes so that the flexible jacket covering can be precisely aligned with ease and secured over the gripper edge, tail edge and side edges of the transfer cylinder. The low frictional coefficient of the conductive cylinder base covering is further reduced by nodes and/or openings.

1. In a printing unit having a transfer cylinder for transferring a freshly printed substrate, and having a flexible jacket covering attached to the transfer cylinder for engaging the freshly printed substrate as it is transferred over the transfer cylinder, characterized in that the flexible jacket covering comprises a sheet of fabric  flexible material that is pre-stretched, pressed flat, pre-cut to predetermined length and width dimensions, and  having visual alignment means for visually aligning during attaching the flexible jacket covering to the transfer cylinder in an operative position without use of a spotting device wherein the flexible jacket covering is movable relative to the support surface of the transfer cylinder, with the end play movement of the flexible jacket covering relative to the support surface being substantially the same at each attachment end portion ;
 wherein the visual alignment means do not actively participate in physical engagement with other alignment or attachment elements.  
 
     
     
       2. The invention as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the sheet of flexible fabric  material is treated with an ink-repellent compound. 
     
     
       3. The invention as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the sheet of flexible fabric  material is treated with a conductive means or an anti-static means. 
     
     
       4. A flexible jacket in combination with a succession of freshly printed substrates having freshly printed surfaces wherein each freshly printed surface is temporarily supported by contact with the flexible jacket while the substrates are moved along a path, wherein the flexible jacket comprises an individual sheet of flexible fabric material having spaced electrically conductive strands or threads whereby electrical charges delivered to the flexible fabric jacket by the succession of freshly printed substrates may be transferred to an underlying grounded surface for the purpose of reducing ink buildup on the jacket and reducing smearing of fresh ink on the freshly printed surfaces. 
     
     
       5. The flexible jacket of  claim 4  wherein said flexible jacket has been treated with a chemical compound that renders said jacket material electrically conductive. 
     
     
       6. The flexible jacket of  claim 5  wherein said chemical compound comprises an ionic polymer selected from the group consisting of polyacrylic acid polymers and polyamonium polymers. 
     
     
       7. The flexible jacket of  claim 5  wherein said flexible fabric material is wettable by an aqueous solution containing an ionic polymer. 
     
     
       8. The flexible jacket of  claim 4  wherein said spaced electrically conductive strands or threads in the jacket comprise strands or threads made of an electrically conductive material. 
     
     
       9. The flexible jacket of  claim 8  wherein said spaced electrically conductive strands or threads in the jacket are coated with a conductive material. 
     
     
       10. The flexible jacket of  claim 8  wherein the electrically conductive material is selected from a group consisting of metal, carbon black or graphite. 
     
     
       11. The flexible jacket of  claim 8  wherein the electrically conductive material comprises a polymer mixed with an electrically conductive material. 
     
     
       12. The flexible jacket of  claim 8  wherein at least some of the spaced electrically conductive strands or threads comprise a polymer or copolymer selected from the group consisting of polyesters, polyacrylates, polyolefins, polyimides and polyamides. 
     
     
       13. The flexible jacket of  claim 4  wherein the flexible jacket is pre-cut to a predetermined length and width dimension larger tan the size of the succession of freshly printed substrates wherein said dimensions are selected to adapt the jacket for being movably secured to said underlying grounded surface. 
     
     
       14. The flexible jacket of  claim 13  wherein the jacket material has been pre-stretched and pressed flat to resist stretching in response to hand applied tension force and contact with the succession of freshly printed substrates. 
     
     
       15. The flexible jacket of  claim 4  wherein the flexible jacket is pre-stretched, pressed flat and pre-cut to precise width and length dimension sufficient to support the entire freshly printed surface of the substrates and provided with means for alignment with respect to said underlying grounded surface. 
     
     
       16. The flexible jacket of  claim 4  wherein the flexible jacket comprises a weave of warp strands or threads and weft strands or threads, wherein at least one warp strand or thread or at least one weft strand or thread has a color that contrasts with the color of at least one other strand or thread of the weave, thereby defining at least one contrasting alignment stripe. 
     
     
       17. The flexible jacket of  claim 4  wherein at least one spaced electrically conductive strand or thread comprises a strand of carbon black and includes a polyester thread wrapped around said strand. 
     
     
       18. The flexible jacket of  claim 4  wherein the flexible fabric material of said flexible jacket is prestretched woven material, and characterized by minimal elastic memory such that upon the application of tension force applied by hand to the woven material, the flexible jacket substantially resists elongation and upon release of tension, the amount of recovery is no more than 2% of its relaxed length. 
     
     
       19. The flexible jacket of  claim 4  wherein said flexible fabric material is woven from natural material selected from the group consisting of cotton, help, wool, silk and linen. 
     
     
       20. The flexible jacket of  claim 4  wherein said flexible fabric material is woven from polymers or copolymers selected from the group consisting of polyesters, polyacrylates, polyolefins, polyimides and polyamides. 
     
     
       21. The flexible jacket of  claim 4  wherein said flexible fabric material is impregnated with an ink-repellant compound. 
     
     
       22. A flexible jacket in combination with a succession of freshly printed substrates having freshly printed surfaces wherein each freshly printed surface is temporarily supported by contact with the flexible jacket while the substrates are being moved along a printing path, wherein the flexible jacket comprises an individual sheet of flexible jacket material which has been prestretched, pressed flat and pre-cut to precise width and length dimension sufficient to support the entire freshly printed surface of the substrates, the flexible jacket having a plurality of conductive strands or threads, said conductive strands or threads being disposed in a pattern and being spaced apart with respect to each other whereby electrical charges delivered to the flexible jacket by the succession of freshly printed substrates may be transferred from the flexible jacket for the purpose of reducing ink build up on the jacket and reducing smearing of fresh ink in the freshly printed surfaces. 
     
     
       23. The flexible jacket of  claim 22  wherein the material of said flexible jacket is woven material having warp strands or heads and weft strands or threads wherein the material has no noticeable stretching when pulled by hand in the weft direction or in the warp direction. 
     
     
       24. The flexible jacket of  claim 23  wherein the warp elongation at break does not exceed about 7% elongation and the weft elongation at break does not exceed about 12% elongation when tested in a 1 inch by 6 inch sample by ASTM procedure applicable to fabrics. 
     
     
       25. The flexible jacket of  claim 23  wherein said strands or threads of the woven material are woven in a lattice pattern, where the distance between adjacent strands or threads is about at least 10 times the diameter of adjacent strands or threads. 
     
     
       26. The flexible jacket of  claim 25  wherein said lattice pattern comprises a design selected from the group consisting of a herringbone or checkerboard design. 
     
     
       27. The flexible jacket of  claim 25  wherein the jacket is woven from strands or threads selected from the group consisting cotton, hemp, wool, silk, linen, polymers, copolymers, polyesters, polyacrylates, polyolefins, polyimides and polyamides. 
     
     
       28. The flexible jacket of  claim 22  wherein the spaced electrically conductive strands or threads are formed of a material having a color that contrasts with the color of other strands or threads in the woven material, thereby defining contrasting alignment stripes. 
     
     
       29. The flexible jacket of  claim 28  wherein said spaced electrically conductive strands or threads are evenly spaced apart from each other. 
     
     
       30. The flexible jacket of  claim 29  wherein the spacing between conductive strands or threads is approximately one-half inch with respect to each other. 
     
     
       31. The flexible jacket of  claim 29  wherein at least one conductive strand or thread comprises a strand of copper wire. 
     
     
       32. The flexible jacket of  claim 22  wherein said spaced conductive strands or threads comprise a fluoropolymer resin containing a conductive agent. 
     
     
       33. The invention as defined in  claim 1  wherein the end play movement of the flexible jacket covering relative to the support surface is substantially the same at each attachment end portion. 
     
     
       34. The invention as defined in  claim 1  wherein the sheet of flexible material comprises an open cell polymer foam material. 
     
     
       35. In a printing unit having a transfer cylinder for transferring a freshly printed substrate, and having a flexible jacket covering attached to the transfer cylinder for engaging the freshly printed substrate as it is transferred over the transfer cylinder, characterized in that the flexible jacket covering comprises a sheet of flexible material having alignment means for attaching the flexible jacket covering to the transfer cylinder in an operative position wherein the flexible jacket covering is movable relative to the support surface of the transfer cylinder and wherein said flexible jacket covering comprises a sheet of fabric material that is pre- stretched, pressed flat, pre - cut to predetermined length and width dimensions.   
     
     
       36. In a printing unit having a transfer cylinder for transferring a freshly printed substrate, and having a flexible jacket covering attached to the transfer cylinder for engaging the freshly printed substrate as it is transferred over the transfer cylinder, characterized in that the flexible jacket covering comprises a sheet of flexible material having alignment means for attaching the flexible jacket covering to the transfer cylinder in an operative position wherein
   the flexible jacket covering is movable relative to the support surface of the transfer cylinder and the flexible jacket comprises a weave of warp strands or threads and weft strands or threads, and        said alignment means comprises at least one warp strand or thread or at least one weft strand or thread having a color that contrasts with the color of at least one other strand or thread of the weave, thereby defining at least one contrasting alignment stripe.     
     
     
       37. The invention as defined in  claim 36  wherein:
   said transfer cylinder comprises a gripper edge for engaging a first longitudinal edge of said flexible jacket covering, and        said alignment means comprises at least one alignment stripe parallel to said first longitudinal edge.     
     
     
       38. The invention as defined in  claim 37  wherein:
   said transfer cylinder comprises a tail edge for engaging a second longitudinal edge of said flexible jacket covering, and        said alignment means comprises at least one alignment stripe parallel to said second longitudinal edge.     
     
     
       39. The invention as defined in  claim 38  wherein:
   said transfer cylinder has a circumferential dimension between said gripper edge and said tail edge, and        the flexible jacket has a dimension between said first and second longitudinal edges greater than said circumferential dimension by an amount sufficient to provide a preselected end play when said first and second longitudinal edges are operatively connected to said gripper edge and tail edge respectively.     
     
     
       40. The invention as defined in  claim 39 , wherein said alignment means comprises a pair of alignment stripes parallel to said first longitudinal edge and a pair of alignment stripes parallel to said second longitudinal edge. 
     
     
       41. The invention as defined in  claim 40 , wherein each pair of alignment stripes are spaced apart by a distance related to said preselected end play, whereby said stripes indicate proper operative positioning of said flexible jacket on said cylinder. 
     
     
       42. The invention as defined in  claim 41 , wherein said preselected end play is from about one- sixteenth inch  ( about  2  mm )  to about one inch  (   2 . 54  cm )  and each pair of stripes are spaced apart by said preselected end play.   
     
     
       43. The invention as defined in  claim 39 , wherein said alignment means comprises a plurality of alignment stripes between and parallel to said first and second longitudinal edges. 
     
     
       44. The invention as defined in  claim 43 , wherein said alignment stripes are evenly spaced apart from each other by a distance related to said preselected end play. 
     
     
       45. The invention as defined in  claim 44 , wherein said alignment stripes are spaced apart by a distance equal to said preselected end play. 
     
     
       46. The invention as defined by  claim 43 , wherein said alignment means comprises an alignment stripe perpendicular to said longitudinal edges. 
     
     
       47. The invention as defined by  claim 43 , wherein said alignment means comprises a plurality of alignment stripes perpendicular to said longitudinal edges. 
     
     
       48. In a printing unit having a transfer cylinder for transferring a freshly printed substrate, and having a flexible jacket covering attached to the transfer cylinder for engaging the freshly printed substrate as it is transferred over the transfer cylinder, characterized in that the flexible jacket covering comprises a sheet of flexible material having visual alignment means for visually aligning during attaching the flexible jacket covering to the transfer cylinder in an operative position without use of a spotting device wherein the flexible jacket covering is movable relative to the support surface of the transfer cylinder and
   said cylinder comprises at least one centering mark, and        said alignment means comprises at least one centering mark,        whereby said centering marks indicate a proper operative position of said flexible jacket on said cylinder and wherein the visual alignment means do not actively participate in physical engagement with other alignment or attachment elements.     
     
     
       49. A flexible jacket is combination with a succession of freshly printed substrates having freshly printed surfaces wherein:
   each freshly printed surface is temporarily supported by contact with the flexible jacket while the substrates are moved along a path,        the flexible jacket comprises a weave of warp strands or threads and weft strands or threads, and        at least one warp strand or thread or at least one weft strand or thread has a color that contrasts with the color of at least one other strand or thread of the weave, thereby defining at least one contrasting alignment stripe.     
     
     
       50. The invention as defined in  claim 49  wherein said flexible jacket has dimensions sufficient for attachment to a printing unit transfer cylinder in an operative position wherein the flexible jacket is movable relative to a support surface of the transfer cylinder. 
     
     
       51. The invention as defined in  claim 50 , wherein said flexible jacket has first and second longitudinal edges adapted for connection to a gripper edge and a tail edge respectively of said transfer cylinder. 
     
     
       52. The invention as defined in  claim 51 , wherein said flexible jacket comprises at least one first alignment stripe parallel to said first longitudinal edge, said at least one first alignment stripe operating as an indicator of operative positioning of said flexible jacket relative to said gripper edge. 
     
     
       53. The invention as defined in  claim 51 , wherein said flexible jacket comprises at least one second alignment stripe parallel to said second longitudinal edge, said at least one second alignment stripe operating as an indicator of operative positioning of said flexible jacket relative to said tail edge. 
     
     
       54. The invention as defined in  claim 51 , wherein said flexible jacket comprises a plurality of alignment stripes parallel to said longitudinal edges. 
     
     
       55. The invention as defined in  claim 54 , wherein:
   said flexible jacket has dimensions sufficient to provide a preselected end play when operatively positioned on said transfer cylinder, and        said plurality of alignment stripes are spaced apart by a distance related to said preselected end play.     
     
     
       56. The invention as defined in  claim 55 , wherein said preselected end play is from about one- sixteenth inch  ( about  2  mm )  to about one inch  (   2 . 54  cm )  and said plurality of alignment stripes are spaced apart by said preselected end play.   
     
     
       57. The invention as defined in  claim 54 , wherein said flexible jacket comprises a plurality of alignment stripes perpendicular to said longitudinal edges. 
     
     
       58. The invention as defined in  claim 51 , wherein said flexible jacket has dimensions sufficient to provide a preselected end play when operatively positioned on said transfer cylinder. 
     
     
       59. The invention as defined in  claim 58 , wherein said flexible jacket comprises a pair of first alignment stripes parallel to said first longitudinal edge and spaced apart by a distance related to said preselected end play, whereby said stripes indicate proper operative positioning of said flexible jacket on said cylinder. 
     
     
       60. The invention as defined in  claim 59 , wherein said flexible jacket comprises a pair of second alignment stripes parallel to said second longitudinal edge and spaced apart by a distance related to said preselected end play, whereby said stripes indicate proper operative positioning of said flexible jacket on said cylinder. 
     
     
       61. The invention as defined in  claim 60 , wherein said preselected end play is from about one- sixteenth inch  ( about  2  mm )  to about one inch  (   2 . 54  cm )  and each pair of alignment stripes are spaced apart by said preselected end play.   
     
     
       62. The invention as defined in  claim 50  wherein:
   said cylinder comprises at least one centering mark, and        said alignment stripe comprises at least one centering mark,        whereby said centering marks indicate a proper operative position of said flexible jacket on said cylinder.     
     
     
       63. In a printing unit having a transfer cylinder for transferring a freshly printed substrate, and having a flexible jacket covering attached to the transfer cylinder for engaging the freshly printed substrate as it is transferred over the transfer cylinder, characterized in that the flexible jacket covering comprises a sheet of flexible material marked with at least one visual alignment stripe for visually aligning during attaching the flexible jacket covering to the transfer cylinder in an operative position wherein the flexible jacket covering is movable relative to the support surface of the transfer cylinder;
   wherein the visual alignment stripe does not actively participate in physical engagement with other alignment or attachment elements;        wherein the visual alignment stripe presents an overall visual appearance of an extended stripe.     
     
     
       64. The invention of  claim 63  wherein the alignment stripe extends across the entire length or width of the sheet of flexible material. 
     
     
       65. The invention of  claim 63  wherein the alignment stripe extends across less than the entire length or width of the sheet of flexible material while still presenting the overall visual appearance of an extended stripe. 
     
     
       66. The invention of  claim 63  wherein the alignment stripe has a discontinuous appearance while still presenting the overall visual appearance of an extended stripe. 
     
     
       67. The invention of  claim 63  wherein the at least one alignment stripe comprises an element of a checkerboard or herringbone pattern while still presenting the overall visual appearance of an extended stripe. 
     
     
       68. The invention as defined in  claim 63  wherein the sheet of flexible material has dimensions sufficient for attachment to a printing unit transfer cylinder in an operative position wherein the sheet of flexible material is movable relative to a support surface of the transfer cylinder. 
     
     
       69. The invention as defined in  claim 68 , wherein the sheet of flexible material has first and second longitudinal edges adapted for connection to a gripper edge and a tail edge respectively of said transfer cylinder. 
     
     
       70. The invention as defined in  claim 69 , wherein the sheet of flexible material is marked with at least one first alignment stripe parallel to the first longitudinal edge, the at least one first alignment stripe operating as an indicator of operative positioning of the sheet of flexible material relative to the gripper edge. 
     
     
       71. The invention as defined in  claim 69 , wherein the sheet of flexible material is marked with at least one second alignment stripe parallel to the second longitudinal edge, the at least one second alignment stripe operating as an indicator of operative positioning of the sheet of flexible material relative to said tail edge. 
     
     
       72. The invention as defined in  claim 69 , wherein the sheet of flexible material is marked with a plurality of alignment stripes parallel to the longitudinal edges. 
     
     
       73. The invention as defined in  claim 72 , wherein the sheet of flexible material is marked with a plurality of alignment stripes perpendicular to the longitudinal edges. 
     
     
       74. The invention as defined in  claim 69 , wherein the sheet of flexible material has dimensions sufficient to provide a preselected end play when operatively positioned on the transfer cylinder. 
     
     
       75. The invention as defined in  claim 69  wherein:
   the cylinder is marked with at least one centering mark, and        the alignment stripe comprises at least one centering mark while still presenting the overall visual appearance of an extended stripe,        whereby the centering marks indicate a proper operative position of the sheet of flexible material on the cylinder.     
     
     
       76. In a printing unit having a transfer cylinder for transferring a freshly printed substrate, and having a flexible jacket covering attached to the transfer cylinder for engaging the freshly printed substrate as it is transferred over the transfer cylinder, characterized in that the flexible jacket covering comprises a sheet of flexible material marked with at least one alignment stripe for attaching the flexible jacket covering to the transfer cylinder in an operative position wherein the flexible jacket covering is movable relative to the support surface of the transfer cylinder, wherein the sheet of flexible material is a woven fabric and the alignment stripe comprises at least one thread which contrasts with other threads in the fabric. 
     
     
       77. The invention of  claim 76  wherein the at least one thread has a color which contrasts with other threads in the fabric. 
     
     
       78. The invention of  claim 76  wherein the at least one thread contrasts with an adjacent thread in the fabric. 
     
     
       79. In a printing unit having a transfer cylinder for transferring a freshly printed substrate, and having a flexible jacket covering attached to the transfer cylinder for engaging the freshly printed substrate as it is transferred over the transfer cylinder, characterized in that the flexible jacket covering comprises a sheet of flexible material marked with at least one alignment stripe for attaching the flexible jacket covering to the transfer cylinder in an operative position wherein the flexible jacket covering is movable relative to the support surface of the transfer cylinder;
   wherein the sheet of flexible material has dimensions sufficient for attachment to a printing unit transfer cylinder in an operative position wherein the sheet of flexible material is movable relative to a support surface of the transfer cylinder;        wherein the sheet of flexible material has first and second longitudinal edges adapted for connection to a gripper edge and a tail edge respectively of said transfer cylinder;        wherein the sheet of flexible material is marked with a plurality of alignment stripes parallel to the longitudinal edges;        wherein the sheet of flexible material has dimensions sufficient to provide a preselected end play when operatively positioned on the transfer cylinder; and,        wherein the plurality of alignment stripes are spaced apart by a distance related to the preselected end play.     
     
     
       80. The invention as defined in  claim 79 , wherein the preselected end play is from about one- sixteenth inch  ( about  2  mm )  to about one inch  (   2 . 54  cm )  and the plurality of alignment stripes are spaced apart by said preselected end play.   
     
     
       81. In a printing unit having a transfer cylinder for transferring a freshly printed substrate, and having a flexible jacket covering attached to the transfer cylinder for engaging the freshly printed substrate as it is transferred over the transfer cylinder, characterized in that the flexible jacket covering comprises a sheet of flexible material marked with at least one alignment stripe for attaching the flexible jacket covering to the transfer cylinder in an operative position wherein the flexible jacket covering is movable relative to the support surface of the transfer cylinder;
   wherein the sheet of flexible material has dimensions sufficient for attachment to a printing unit transfer cylinder in an operative position wherein the sheet of flexible material is movable relative to a support surface of the transfer cylinder;        wherein the sheet of flexible material has first and second longitudinal edges adapted for connection to a gripper edge and a tail edge respectively of said transfer cylinder;        wherein the sheet of flexible material has dimensions sufficient to provide a preselected end play when operatively positioned on the transfer cylinder; and,        wherein the sheet of flexible material is marked with a pair of first alignment stripes parallel to the first longitudinal edge and spaced apart by a distance related to the preselected end play, whereby the stripes indicate proper operative positioning of the sheet of flexible material on the cylinder.     
     
     
       82. The invention as defined in  claim 81 , wherein the sheet of flexible material is marked with a pair of second alignment stripes parallel to the second longitudinal edge and spaced apart by a distance related to the preselected end play, whereby the stripes indicate proper operative positioning of the sheet of flexible material on the cylinder. 
     
     
       83. The invention as defined in  claim 82 , wherein the preselected end play is from about one- sixteenth inch  ( about  2  mm )  to about one inch  (   2 . 54  cm )  and each pair of alignment stripes are spaced apart by said preselected end play.   
     
     
       84. In a printing unit having a transfer cylinder for transferring a freshly printed substrate, and having a flexible jacket covering attached to the transfer cylinder for engaging the freshly printed substrate as it is transferred over the transfer cylinder, characterized in that the flexible jacket covering comprises a sheet of flexible material having alignment means for attaching with an amount of end play the flexible jacket covering to the transfer cylinder in an operative position wherein the flexible jacket covering is movable relative to the support surface of the transfer cylinder, wherein the alignment means are used both to align the flexible jacket covering with the transfer cylinder and to define the amount of end play. 
     
     
       85. The invention as defined in  claim 84 , wherein the sheet of flexible material is treated with an ink- repellent compound.   
     
     
       86. The invention as defined in  claim 84 , wherein the sheet of flexible material is treated with a conductive means or an anti- static means.   
     
     
       87. The invention as defined in  claim 84  wherein the sheet of flexible material comprises an open cell polymer foam material. 
     
     
       88. The invention as defined in  claim 84 , wherein
   said cylinder comprises at least one centering mark, and        said alignment means comprises at least one centering mark,        whereby said centering marks indicate a proper operative position of said flexible jacket on said cylinder.     
     
     
       89. In a printing unit having a transfer cylinder for transferring a freshly printed substrate, and having a flexible jacket covering attached to the transfer cylinder for engaging the freshly printed substrate as it is transferred over the transfer cylinder, characterized in that the flexible jacket covering comprises a sheet of flexible material having alignment means for attaching with an amount of end play the flexible jacket covering to the transfer cylinder in an operative position wherein the flexible jacket covering is movable relative to the support surface of the transfer cylinder wherein
   the flexible jacket comprises a weave of warp strands or threads and weft strands or threads, and        said alignment means comprises at least one warp strand or thread or at least one weft strand or thread having a color that contrasts with the color of at least one other strand or thread of the weave, thereby defining at least one contrasting alignment stripe.     
     
     
       90. The invention as defined in  claim 89  wherein:
   said transfer cylinder comprises a gripper edge for engaging a first longitudinal edge of said flexible jacket covering, and        said alignment means comprises at least one alignment stripe parallel to said first longitudinal edge.     
     
     
       91. The invention as defined in  claim 90  wherein:
   said transfer cylinder comprises a tail edge for engaging a second longitudinal edge of said flexible jacket covering, and        said alignment means comprises at least one alignment stripe parallel to said second longitudinal edge.     
     
     
       92. The invention as defined in  claim 91  wherein:
   said transfer cylinder has a circumferential dimension between said gripper edge and said tail edge, and        the flexible jacket has a dimension between said first and second longitudinal edges greater than said circumferential dimension by an amount sufficient to provide a preselected end play when said first and second longitudinal edges are operatively connected to said gripper edge and tail edge respectively.     
     
     
       93. The invention as defined in  claim 92 , wherein said alignment means comprises a pair of alignment stripes parallel to said first longitudinal edge and a pair of alignment stripes parallel to said second longitudinal edge. 
     
     
       94. The invention as defined in  claim 93 , wherein each pair of alignment stripes are spaced apart by a distance related to said preselected end play, whereby said stripes indicate proper operative positioning of said flexible jacket on said cylinder. 
     
     
       95. The invention as defined in  claim 94 , wherein said preselected end play is from about one- sixteenth inch  ( about  2  mm )  to about one inch  (   2 . 54  cm )  and each pair of stripes are spaced apart by said preselected end play.   
     
     
       96. The invention as defined in  claim 92 , wherein said alignment means comprises a plurality of alignment stripes between and parallel to said first and second longitudinal edges. 
     
     
       97. The invention as defined in  claim 96 , wherein said alignment stripes are evenly spaced apart from each other by a distance related to said preselected end play. 
     
     
       98. The invention as defined in  claim 97 , wherein said alignment stripes are spaced apart by a distance equal to said preselected end play. 
     
     
       99. The invention as defined by  claim 96 , wherein said alignment means comprises an alignment stripe perpendicular to said longitudinal edges. 
     
     
       100. The invention as defined by  claim 96 , wherein said alignment means comprises a plurality of alignment stripes perpendicular to said longitudinal edges.