Patent ID: 9649835
Date: 2017-05-16
CPC Classifications: B41F,B41N

Claim:
1. A printing blanket mounted on a blanket cylinder, said blanket cylinder including a gap and a lockup mechanism within said gap; said printing blanket comprising at least a printable surface ply and a non-extensible backing layer comprising a polymeric material or a reinforcing material which has been impregnated with a polymeric material, said printing blanket having first and second ends inserted into said gap; wherein at least a portion of said blanket overlying said non-extensible backing layer and spaced inwardly from at least one end of said blanket has been removed or molded to form at least one relief area which extends across substantially the width of the blanket and which is defined by blanket walls on each side; wherein said at least one relief area is positioned in said gap immediately above said lock-up mechanism; and wherein said at least one relief area is adapted to permit the blanket to be fitted into said lockup mechanism without a reduction in gauge.