Patent ID: 7819060
Filing Date: 2010-10-26
Classification: B41F,B41P,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method for mounting a plurality of cylindrically-shaped printing forms onto a cylindrically-shaped base having an exterior surface and at least one opening for providing pressurized air to the exterior surface, the printing forms each having an alignment indicator and an interior surface, capable of being radially expanded by the pressurized air, and an axial length such that the sum of the axial lengths of the printing forms is less than or equal to an axial length of the base, the method comprising: a) axially orienting the interior surface of a first printing form adjacent the exterior surface of the base by expanding the first printing form with the pressurized air sufficiently to float the first printing form on the base; b) positioning the first printing form on the base to a first registration position by aligning the indicator on the first printing form to the base; c) engaging the floating first printing form with at least one holding member that maintains the first printing form in the first registration position; d) axially orienting the interior surface of a second printing form adjacent the exterior surface of the base by expanding the second printing form with the pressurized air sufficiently to float the second printing form on the base; e) positioning the second printing form on the base to a second registration position by aligning the indicator on the second printing form to the base; f) engaging the floating second printing form to maintain the second printing form in the second registration position; and g) removing the pressurized air from the exterior surface of the base to allow the first and second printing forms to contract and thereby cause the respective interior surface of each printing form to contact the exterior surface of the base while the holding members maintain each printing form in the particular registration position on the base.