Fountain solution thickness identification via gloss measurement system and method

A method of controlling fountain solution thickness on an imaging member surface of a rotating imaging member in an image forming device, the image forming device printing a current image onto a print substrate, the printing including applying a fountain solution layer at a dispense rate onto the imaging member surface, the fountain solution fluid layer having a surface above the imaging member surface, vaporizing in an image wise fashion a portion of the fountain solution layer to form a latent image, applying ink onto the latent image over the imaging member surface, and transferring the applied ink from the imaging member surface to the print substrate, the method comprising:

• a) measuring a specular reflection of the fountain solution fluid layer surface on the imaging member surface as a gloss value with a gloss meter spatially separate from the imaging member surface;
• b) modifying the fountain solution dispense rate based on the measured gloss value;
• and
• c) printing a subsequent image by the image forming device using the modified fountain solution dispense rate.

An image forming device controlling fountain solution thickness on an imaging member surface of a rotating imaging member, comprising:

• a fountain solution applicator configured to apply a fountain solution fluid layer at a dispense rate onto the imaging member surface for a printing, the fountain solution fluid layer having a surface above the imaging member surface;
• a gloss meter spatially separate from the imaging member surface forming a gap therebetween, the gloss meter configured to measure a specular reflection of the fountain solution fluid layer surface on the imaging member surface as a gloss value;
• and
• a controller in communication with the gloss meter and the fountain solution applicator to modify the fountain solution dispense rate based on the measured gloss value,
• the fountain solution applicator configured to apply a subsequent fountain solution layer at the modified fountain solution dispense rate onto the imaging member surface for a subsequent printing.