The Blanket

The blanket is a rubber-surfaced fabric that is clamped around the blanket cylinder.

The behavior of conventional blankets is controlled primarily by that of the rubber itself.

The properties of rubber are very special in that it can be described as a nearly incompressible solid. For a conventional blanket this causes it to bulge out on the sides when squeezed at the nip in order to maintain its total volume.

This shortens plate life when excessive plate/blanket impression pressure (squeeze) causes a rubbing action against the plate as the blanket tries to recover its original shape.

The slipping of the blanket over the plate causes slurring of the print.

A compressible blanket employs a cellular or sponge rubber to improve the performance of the blanket. This improves the packing tolerance of the blanket, reduces slippage and improves plate life.