# US 12,011,920 B2 · Printing method and system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,011,920 B2 - Document ID: US12011920B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/788,335 - Filed: 2020-12-09 - Published: 2023-01-19 - Granted: 2024-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2019-12-29 - Assignees: Landa Corporation Ltd. - Applicants: Landa Corporation Ltd. - Inventors: Benzion Landa; Zohar Goldenstein; Tomer Schindler; Ronen Lalezar - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12011920B2 ## CPC - B41J 2/0057: {where an intermediate transfer member receives the ink before transferring it on the printing material} - B41J 2/01: Ink jet - G03G 15/11: Removing excess liquid developer, e.g. by heat - G03G 15/161: {with means for handling the intermediate support, e.g. heating, cleaning, coating with a transfer agent} - G03G 21/0088: {removing liquid developer} - B41J 2002/012: {with intermediate transfer member} - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract A method of printing includes, applying to an intermediate transfer member (ITM) (44), one or more fluids that include at least a printing fluid for forming an image on the ITM (44). At least part of the image is transferred from the ITM (44) to a target substrate (50). Residues of the one or more fluids that were not transferred to the target substrate (50) and remained on the ITM (44), are transferred from the ITM (44) to one or more rotatable elements (112), and the residues are removed from the one or more rotatable elements (112). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of printing, comprising: moving an intermediate transfer member (ITM) that is placed over one or more rollers, by rotating the one or more rollers; applying to the ITM one or more fluids comprising at least a printing fluid for forming an image on the ITM; transferring at least part of the image from the ITM to a target substrate; engaging between (i) one or more rotatable elements positioned on a first side of the ITM, and (ii) one or more additional rotatable elements positioned on a second side of the ITM, opposite the first side, wherein both the one or more rotatable elements and the one or more additional rotatable elements are different from the one or more rollers that rotate the ITM, and wherein at least a first rotatable element of the rotatable elements and at least a second rotatable element of the additional rotatable elements are facing one another; transferring, from the ITM to the one or more rotatable elements, residues of the one or more fluids that were not transferred to the target substrate and remained on the ITM; and removing the residues from the one or more rotatable elements. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein applying the at least a printing fluid comprises applying a treatment fluid to the ITM, and wherein engaging between the first and second rotatable elements is carried out at least when applying at least one of: (i) the treatment fluid, and (ii) the printing fluid to the ITM. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein engaging between the first and second rotatable elements is carried out at predefined time intervals, and comprising disengaging between the first and second rotatable elements outside the predefined time intervals. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the rotatable elements comprises at least an alloy selected from a list consisting of: (a) aluminum, (b) metallic alloy, (c) ceramic compound, and (d) polymer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein removing the residues comprises at least one of: (a) scraping, (b) brushing, and (c) wiping the residues from the one or more rotatable elements. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein removing the residues comprises engaging between a surface of at least one of the respective rotatable elements and at least a scraper that is oriented, relative to the surface of the respective rotatable element, at an angle of between 55° and 65°. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein transferring the residues comprises, at least when the ITM is moved, at least the first rotatable element and the second rotatable element are continuously engaged with one another. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the first rotatable element has a first diameter, and the second rotatable element has a second diameter, equal to the first diameter. ### Claim 9 A printing system, comprising: one or more stations, which are configured to apply, to an intermediate transfer member (ITM), one or more fluids comprising at least a printing fluid so as to form an image on the ITM; an image transfer station comprising one or more rollers configured to be rotated for moving the ITM, the image transfer station is configured to transfer at least part of the image from the ITM to a target substrate; an ITM cleaning station (ICLS) comprising (a) one or more rotatable elements positioned on a first side of the ITM and (b) one or more additional rotatable elements positioned on a second side of the ITM, opposite the first side, wherein both the one or more rotatable elements and the one or more additional rotatable elements are different from the one or more rollers of the image transfer station, and wherein at least a first rotatable element of the rotatable elements and at least a second rotatable element of the additional rotatable elements are facing one another, wherein the ICLS is configured to: (i) transfer, from the ITM to the one or more rotatable elements, residues of the one or more fluids that were not transferred to the target substrate and remained on the ITM, and (ii) remove the residues from the one or more rotatable elements; and a processor, which is configured to control the ICLS to engage between the first and second rotatable elements for transferring the residues. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system according to claim 9, wherein the one or more stations are configured to apply to the ITM a treatment fluid, and wherein the processor is configured to control the ICLS to engage between the first and second rotatable elements at least when the one or more stations apply to the ITM, at least one of: (i) the treatment fluid, and (ii) the printing fluid. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The system according to claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to control the ICLS to engage between the first and second rotatable elements at predefined time intervals, and to disengage between the first and second rotatable elements outside the predefined time intervals. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The system according to claim 9, wherein the ITM comprises a first outer layer made from a first material, and wherein at least one of the first and second rotatable elements comprises a second outer layer made from a second material, and wherein the first and second outer layers are formed so as to transfer the residues from the first outer layer to the second outer layer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system according to claim 12, wherein the second outer layer comprises at least an alloy selected from a list consisting of: (a) electroless nickel, (b) hard chrome, (c) anodized coating, and (d) ceramic coating. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The system according to claim 12, wherein the second outer layer has an ISO grade surface roughness between N1 and N4. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The system according to claim 9, wherein the ITM comprises a first outer layer having a first adhesion force to the residues, and wherein at least one of the first and second rotatable elements comprises a second outer layer having a second adhesion force to the residues, wherein the second adhesion force is larger than the first adhesion force. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The system according to claim 9, wherein at least one of the rotatable elements comprises at least an alloy selected from a list consisting of: (a) aluminum, (b) metallic alloy, (c) ceramic compound, and (d) polymer. ### Claim 17 (depends on 9) The system according to claim 9, wherein the ICLS comprises at least one of: (a) a scrapper, (b) a brush, and (c) a wiper, configured to remove the residues from the one or more rotatable elements. ### Claim 18 (depends on 9) The system according to claim 9, wherein the ICLS is configured to remove the residues by engaging between a surface of at least one of the respective rotatable elements and at least a scraper that is oriented, relative to the surface of the respective rotatable element, at an angle of between 55° and 65°. ### Claim 19 (depends on 9) The system according to claim 9, wherein at least when the ITM is moved, the processor is configured to control the ICLS to continuously engage between at least the first rotatable element and the second rotatable element. ### Claim 20 (depends on 9) The system according to claim 9, wherein the first rotatable element has a first diameter, and the second rotatable element has a second diameter, equal to the first diameter.