Patent ID: 8307764

Claim:
A printing sleeve assembly for cooperatively engaging a mandrel and forming a predetermined image on a web, the printing sleeve assembly, comprising: (a) a cylindrical print sleeve having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface defining a first channel and the outer surface defining a port fluidly connected to the first channel; (b) the inner surface (i) circumferentially expandable in response to a first flow of pressurized air being directed into the first channel from the port, the circumferential expansion sufficient to enable lateral displacement of the print sleeve along the mandrel, and (ii) circumferentially contractible to fixedly mate the print sleeve with the mandrel in an operable position in response to removal of the first flow; (c) the outer surface having an ink carrying raised portion corresponding to the predetermined image and an adjacent recessed portion; and (d) the print sleeve sized to expose the port independent of the position of the print sleeve relative to the mandrel.