US 2022/0205778 A1 · FOUNTAIN SOLUTION THICKNESS MEASUREMENT USING AN OPTICAL GRATING SURFACE IN A DIGITAL LITHOGRAPHY PRINTING SYSTEM

Abstract

According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided a method of measuring the amount of fountain solution employed in a digital offset lithography printing system. Fountain solution thickness is measured using a diffractive optical element (DOE) configured with grating surfaces varying in a periodic fashion to hold an amount of fountain solution. When radiated with a light source the combination of the grating surface and the fountain solution therein reduces the scattering of the surface structure (“contrast”) that gives rise to a diffraction pattern. The diffractive optical element can be placed on the printing blanket of the lithography printing system or on a separate substrate.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method to measure fountain solution thickness for variable data lithography printing comprising:

using an optical gating-like surface varying in a periodic fashion, wherein diffraction intensity off the gating-like surface varies as a function of fountain solution thickness;
emitting light through the fountain solution to the gating-like surface using an optical system, while the light reflected from the gating-like surface is received by the optical system through the fountain solution;
and
measuring a thickness of the fountain solution, based on intensity of the reflected light received by the optical system.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Fountain solution thickness measurement using an optical grating surface in a digital lithography printing system

Life of this patent

Fountain solution thickness measurement using an optical grating surface in a digital lithography printing system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20