PRINTING BLANKET INCLUDING MELTABLE POLYMERIC FABRIC REINFORCING LAYER OR POLYMERIC REINFORCING LAYER

• US 20140109783A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 04/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Day International Group Incorporated (ColourOz TopCo)
• Original Assignee: Day International Group Incorporated (ColourOz TopCo)
• Inventors: Queen, Mark, Czerner, Richard, Bradley, Creg, Blender, David
• Granted Patent: US 9,859,374 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 101/401.1
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 17/08 for printing on filamentary or elongated articles, or on articles with cylindrical surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 3/46 Details
• CPC Class Codes: B41N 10/04 multi-layer
• CPC Class Codes: B41N 2210/04 Intermediate layers
• CPC Class Codes: B41N 2210/14 characterised by macromolecular organic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/0332 characterised by their composition, e.g. multilayer masks, materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 29/0673 oriented parallel to a substrate
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 29/1033 with insulated gate, e.g. characterised by the length, the width, the geometric contour or the doping structure with channel and gate aligned in the lengthwise direction H01L29/42376; with buried channel H01L29/7838
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 29/66545 using a dummy, i.e. replacement gate in a process wherein at least a part of the final gate is self aligned to the dummy gate
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 29/6656 using multiple spacer layers, e.g. multiple sidewall spacers
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 29/66795 with a horizontal current flow in a vertical sidewall of a semiconductor body, e.g. FinFET, MuGFET
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 29/785 having a channel with a horizontal current flow in a vertical sidewall of a semiconductor body, e.g. FinFET, MuGFET
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/10 Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor

Abstract

A printing blanket is provided which includes a reinforcing layer formed from a polymeric fabric reinforcing material which softens and flows at a temperature less than that used in the final curing step of forming the blanket or a polymeric reinforcing material having a thickness of between about 0.003 inches and 0.010 inches. The reinforcing layer provides a smooth surface to support an outer print surface layer and provides improved print performance while enabling a reduction in the overall thickness of the reinforcing layer.

Claims

1. A printing blanket comprising:

a base layer;

a compressible layer;

a first polymeric fabric reinforcing layer on said compressible layer;

wherein at least a portion of adjacent filaments of said fabric reinforcing layer have flowed together and bonded to form a reinforcing layer having reduced thickness; and

a printing surface layer on said fabric reinforcing layer.

2. The printing blanket of claim 1 further comprising a base layer supporting said compressible layer.

3. The printing blanket of claim 1 wherein said first polymeric fabric reinforcing layer softens and flows at a temperature of between about 100 and 200°

C.

4. The printing blanket of claim 1 wherein said first polymeric fabric reinforcing layer comprises woven threads.

5. The printing blanket of claim 1 wherein said first polymeric fabric reinforcing layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of fluorinated ethylene propylene, linear low density polyethylene, polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon copolymers, polyester copolymers, high density polyethylene, and ethylene/propylene copolymers.

6. The printing blanket of claim 1 wherein said first polymeric fabric reinforcing layer has a thickness of about 0.008 to 0.010 inches (0.20 to 0.25 mm) prior to heating or curing.

7. The printing blanket of claim 1 wherein said first polymeric fabric reinforcing layer has a thickness of about 0.003 to 0.008 inches (0.076 to 0.2032 mm) after heating or curing.

8. The printing blanket of claim 1 further including a second fabric reinforcing layer positioned below said fabric reinforcing layer.

9. The printing blanket of claim 8 wherein said second fabric reinforcing layer comprises a material having a melting point greater than about 200°

C.

10. The printing blanket of claim 8 wherein said second fabric reinforcing layer is comprised of a natural or synthetic materials selected from the group consisting of polyester, cotton, or blends thereof.

11. The printing blanket of claim 1 wherein said first polymeric fabric reinforcing layer is a hybrid layer comprising a first polymeric material which flows at temperatures used to cure said blanket and a second non-melting material.

12. A printing blanket comprising:

a base layer;

a compressible layer;

a polymeric reinforcing layer over said compressible layer;

said polymeric reinforcing layer comprising a film having a thickness between about 0.003 inches and 0.010 inches (0.076 to 0.25 mm); and

a printing surface layer.

13. The printing blanket of claim 12 wherein said polymeric reinforcing layer is comprised of a polymeric material selected from the group consisting of rubber, and thermoplastic or thermosetting polymers including polyester, polycarbonate, and rigid polyurethane.

14. The printing blanket of claim 12 wherein said polymeric reinforcing layer further comprises reinforcing materials selected from the group consisting of chopped fiberglass, woven and nonwoven fabrics, pulp, chopped fibers, continuous filaments, cords, and fillers.

15. The printing blanket of claim 14 wherein said fillers comprise carbon black, clay, or silica.

16. A method of making a printing blanket comprising:

providing a compressible layer over a base layer;

applying a first polymeric fabric reinforcing layer on said compressible layer;

applying a printing surface layer on said fabric reinforcing layer; and

curing the layers in said blanket at a temperature above the melting point or softening point of said polymeric fabric reinforcing layer such that said reinforcing layer softens and flows.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said first polymeric fabric reinforcing layer softens and flows at a temperature of between about 100 and 200°

C.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein said blanket is cured at a temperature between about 225°

F. and 350°

F. (107°

C. to 177°

C.).

19. A method of making a printing blanket comprising:

providing a compressible layer over a base layer;

providing a polymeric reinforcing layer over said compressible layer;

said polymeric reinforcing layer comprising a film having a thickness between about 0.003 inches and 0.010 inches (0.076 to 0.25 mm); and

applying a printing surface layer on said polymeric reinforcing layer.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said polymeric reinforcing layer is applied in the form of a film.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein said polymeric reinforcing layer is applied in the form of a coating.