Abstract:
An imaging system (8) including an image receiving structure (10) including a material layer (12) having a tunable energy transfer characteristic; and an energy source (16) to emit an energy beam (18) at the material having the tunable energy transfer characteristic such that marking material is pattern-wise transferred to the image receiving structure. An imaging system (8) includes an image receiving structure (10) disposed to be in direct contact with marking material (94); and an energy source to emit a pattern-wise modulated energy beam (100) at a region (112) of the image receiving structure contacting the marking material to pattern-wise transfer marking material to the image receiving structure.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a new inker system compatible with new requirements of a variable data lithographic printing system.SOLUTION: Ink is transferred from an anilox roll 102 to a form roll 108 by way of a transfer roll 105, and from the form roll 108 to a reimageable surface layer 112 of an imaging member 110 of the variable data lithographic printing system. An ink layer free of ink history is uniformly applied onto a surface of the form roll 108, and subsequently transferred to the reimageable surface layer 112 while avoiding or substantially eliminating image ghosting related to inking non-uniformities.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a dampening liquid, a system, and a process useful for variable lithograph printing.SOLUTION: An alternate solvent for a dampening liquid is a volatile hydrofluoroether liquid or a volatile silicone liquid. Such a liquid is low in vaporization heat, low in surface tension and good in kinematic viscosity as compared with water, which is a conventional solvent used as a dampening liquid. The dampening liquid is a relatively non-polar, is used by being combined with polar ink, and can create a digital lithograph printing system of a new type.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce pullback of imaging areas into non-imaging areas of a dampening fluid layer on an imaging member during laser patterning and provide good image quality using a textured imaging member surface.SOLUTION: A silicon wafer is shown that may be cured to form a photoresist layer 303 at S3000. Image reversal or patterning may be performed at S3005 to form a pattern in the photoresist layer 303. Etching such as isotropic SF6 etching may be performed at S3009 to form a cavity in the silicon wafer. The photoresist layer 303 is stripped at S3015 to form an imaging member textured surface mold.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging member for use in variable data lithography.SOLUTION: An imaging member 12 of a variable lithographic system 10 comprises a substrate 22 and an imageable surface layer 20. The surface layer 20 comprises a matrix material, an aerogel component, and a radiation-absorbing filler. This allows the surface layer 20 to efficiently absorb energy, which dissipates ink-fountain solution from image areas to which ink is to be applied.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and a structure for minimizing the presence of vapor clouding in the path between energy (e.g., radiation) source and the dampening fluid layer in a variable data lithography system.SOLUTION: A dry air source includes an air pump (blower) 38 with a desiccator cartridge 40 attached to the pump exhaust, so that the air being pumped out is dried as the air is being provided. This dry air may then be circulated within environmental control subsystem 30, proximate the surface of dampening fluid layer 32, to enhance the evaporation rate of the dampening fluid and reduce the energy requirements on laser patterning subsystem 16.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printhead subsystem for selectively removing portions of a layer of dampening fluid disposed over an arbitrarily reimageable surface in a variable data lithographic system.SOLUTION: The subsystem comprises a thermal printhead element disposed proximate the arbitrarily reimageable surface, and driving circuitry 35 communicatively connected to the thermal printhead for selectively temporarily heating the thermal printhead to an elevated temperature. Portions of the dampening fluid layer 32 proximate the thermal printhead are vaporized and driven off the arbitrarily reimageable 12 surface by the thermal printhead when the thermal printhead is at the elevated temperature, to thereby form voids in the dampening fluid layer 32.