# US 8,783,857 B2 · Quartz tube leveling apparatus and systems for simultaneous leveling and pinning of radiation curable inks > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,783,857 B2 - Document ID: US8783857B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/525,232 - Filed: 2012-06-15 - Published: 2012-10-11 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2008-10-23 - Assignees: Xerox Corporation - Applicants: Bryan J. Roof; David J. Gervasi; Bin Zhang; James Padula - Inventors: Bryan J. Roof; David J. Gervasi; Bin Zhang; James Padula - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8783857B2 ## CPC - B41J 11/00214: {using UV radiation} - B41J 2/01: Ink jet - B41J 11/00216: {using infrared [IR] radiation or microwaves} - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS ## Abstract Systems for leveling UV-curable gel ink include a leveling member having a conformable surface. The leveling member is a quartz tube rotatable about a longitudinal axis, and connected to a mandrel, with conformable VITON O-rings interposing the mandrel and the quartz tube. A UV source is disposed within the quartz tube, and configured to emit light through the quartz tube and the conformable surface onto a surface of a substrate passing through a leveling or pressure nip defined by the quartz tube and a backing member or pressure belt. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A leveling apparatus useful for printing radiation curable ink on a substrate, comprising: a leveling member, positioned to contact a radiation curable ink-bearing side of the substrate at a nip, the leveling member comprising quartz and a conformable surface; a light source configured to emit light, the leveling member being configured so that emitted light may pass through the quartz and to a first portion of a pressure nip, and the leveling member being configured to contact an ink-bearing side of a substrate at a second portion of the pressure nip, wherein the first portion follows the second portion in a process direction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, the leveling member comprising the conformable surface for contacting the substrate surface, the quartz forming a tube-shape. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the leveling member comprising a quartz tube encapsulating the light source. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, comprising the light source being a ultra-violet light source. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, the light source further comprising a light-emitting diode array. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, comprising: a light shield, the light shield being configured to block light emitted by the light source when the light source is positioned away from the leveling nip. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, comprising: a mandrel, configured to connect the leveling member to a printing system whereby the leveling member may be supported by the mandrel connected to the printing system. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, comprising: a dampening member, the dampening member interposing the mandrel and the leveling member. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, comprising the dampening member being an 0-ring, the 0-ring interposing and contacting the leveling member and the mandrel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, the dampening member comprising a conformable elastomer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, comprising: a conformable surface coating, the surface coating being applied to the leveling member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the surface coating comprises silicone. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the surface coating comprises silicone, a reinforcing filler, and a reinforcing resin. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, the reinforcing filler comprising nanocrystalline silica. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, the reinforcing resin comprising a highly-branched siloxane. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, comprising wherein the reinforcing filler comprises fumed silica. ### Claim 17 A system for leveling gel ink on a substrate, comprising: a leveling member, positioned to contact a radiation curable ink-bearing side of the substrate at a pressure nip, the leveling member comprising quartz and a conformable surface; and a backing member, the backing member defining the pressure nip with the leveling member, the leveling member being a load bearing member during leveling; a light source configured to emit light, the leveling member being configured so that emitted light may pass through the quartz tube and to a first portion of the pressure nip, and the leveling member being configured to contact an ink-bearing side of a substrate at a second portion of the pressure nip, wherein the first portion follows the second portion in a process direction. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, comprising: a mandrel, the mandrel being connected to a printing system and configured to support the leveling member whereby the leveling member is rotatable about a longitudinal axis. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, comprising: a conformable coating formed on the surface of the leveling member, the coating including silicone having at least one of fumed nanocrystalline silica and a highly branched functional siloxane.