Systems and methods for ink-based digital printing using dampening fluid imaging member and image transfer member
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorChu-heng Liu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An ink-based digital printing system for variable data lithographic printing includes an imaging member having a surface configured to absorb dampening fluid. A dampening fluid patterning system jets dampening fluid onto the imaging member surface according to image data to form a dampening fluid pattern. The system includes a transfer member that receives the jetted dampening fluid pattern from the imaging member at a dampening fluid loading nip for subsequent inking of the dampening fluid pattern to form an ink pattern. The ink pattern is transferred to a substrate from the transfer member at an ink pattern transfer nip.
Claims20
An ink-based digital printing system useful for ink printing, comprising:
- an imaging member configured to absorb a dampening fluid;
- a dampening fluid patterning system configured to deposit the dampening fluid onto a conformable silicone surface of the imaging member according to image data,
- the depositing of the dampening fluid pattern onto the conformable surface of the imaging member including jetting the dampening fluid pattern of silicone oil onto the conformable silicone surface of the imaging member, the imaging member configured to swell after absorbing the dampening fluid pattern;
- a transfer member, the transfer member being configured to receive a dampening fluid pattern from a surface of the imaging member, the transfer member and the imaging member being arranged to define a dampening fluid image loading nip for contact transfer;
- an inker configured to apply ink to a surface of the transfer member having the dampening fluid pattern to produce an ink pattern;
- and
- an ink image transfer nip defined by the transfer member and a substrate transport roll configured to transfer the ink pattern to a substrate.
An ink-based digital printing system useful for ink printing, comprising:
- an imaging member configured to absorb a dampening fluid;
- a dampening fluid patterning system configured to deposit the dampening fluid onto a conformable porous silicone surface of the imaging member according to image data,
- the depositing of the dampening fluid pattern onto the conformable porous silicone surface of the imaging member including jetting the dampening fluid pattern onto the conformable silicone porous surface of the imaging member, the imaging member configured to swell after absorbing the dampening fluid pattern;
- a transfer member, the transfer member being configured to receive a dampening fluid pattern from a surface of the imaging member, the transfer member and the imaging member being arranged to define a dampening fluid image loading nip for contact transfer;
- an inker configured to apply ink to a surface of the transfer member having the dampening fluid pattern to produce an ink pattern;
- and
- an ink image transfer nip defined by the transfer member and a substrate transport roll configured to transfer the ink pattern to a substrate.
An ink-based digital printing system useful for ink printing, comprising:
- an imaging member configured to absorb a dampening fluid;
- a dampening fluid patterning system configured to deposit the dampening fluid onto a conformable silicone surface of the imaging member according to image data,
- the depositing of the dampening fluid pattern onto the conformable surface of the imaging member including jetting the dampening fluid pattern of silicone oil onto the conformable silicone surface of the imaging member, the imaging member conformable silicone surface including a non-porous surface configured to absorb dampening fluid causing swelling of the surface;
- a transfer member, the transfer member being configured to receive a dampening fluid pattern from a surface of the imaging member, the transfer member and the imaging member being arranged to define a dampening fluid image loading nip for contact transfer;
- an inker configured to apply ink to a surface of the transfer member having the dampening fluid pattern to produce an ink pattern;
- and
- an ink image transfer nip defined by the transfer member and a substrate transport roll configured to transfer the ink pattern to a substrate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.