Abstract: A chamber blade system maximizes ink flow at an anilox doctor blade by including a heating element adjacent the doctor blade to heat ink adjacent the blade. The heating element may be a heat strip next to an anilox doctor blade that heats the ink adjacent the doctor blade and temporarily reduces the ink viscosity to improve the flow of ink in the vicinity of the blade. Doctoring blades with a ceramic tip coating may be configured to allow a small amount of controlled ink flow through that can wet the lands thereby reducing the hydrodynamic back pressures and friction when trying to force the ink into anilox cells.

Abstract: A system is provided for transferring a marking material from a ribbon to a substrate. The system includes a ribbon take-up device; a ribbon supply source that supplies the ribbon to the ribbon take-up device such that the ribbon is moved in a process direction; a pressure roll located between the ribbon supply source and the ribbon take-up device in the process direction, the pressure roll being configured to apply pressure to the ribbon at a pressure location when the ribbon is positioned between the pressure roll and the substrate; and a laser beam source that directs a laser beam or laser light through the pressure roll and onto the ribbon at the pressure location such that a marking portion of the ribbon is heated by the laser beams and transferred to the substrate.

Abstract: A variable lithographic inking system includes a chamber blade system configured to supply ink to an anilox member of an inking system. The inking system includes a soft ink transfer roll and a hard form roll. Ink is transferred from the anilox roll to the form roll by way of the transfer roll, and from the form roll to a reimageable surface layer of an imaging member of a variable data lithographic system. An ink layer free of ink history is uniformly applied onto a surface of the form roll, and subsequently transferred to the reimageable surface layer while avoiding or substantially eliminating image ghosting related to inking non-uniformities.

Abstract: A system is provided for transferring a marking material from a ribbon to a substrate. The system includes a ribbon take-up device; a ribbon supply source that supplies the ribbon to the ribbon take-up device such that the ribbon is moved in a process direction; a pressure roll located between the ribbon supply source and the ribbon take-up device in the process direction, the pressure roll being configured to apply pressure to the ribbon at a pressure location when the ribbon is positioned between the pressure roll and the substrate; and a laser beam source that directs a plurality of laser beams through the pressure roll and onto the ribbon at the pressure location such that a marking portion of the ribbon is heated by the laser beams and transferred to the substrate.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for an ink-based digital printing system, comprising providing an imaging member a reimageable surface layer disposed on a structural mounting layer, the reimageable surface layer comprising a fluorosilicone elastomer and an infrared-absorbing filler comprising carbon black, and a plurality of surface defects on the reimageable surface layer, wherein the surface defects comprises carbon black exposed through the fluorosilicone elastomer of the reimageable surface layer. The method also comprises applying a coating of rejuvenating oil comprising an amino-functional organopolysiloxane to the reimageable surface layer, whereby at least a portion of the plurality of surface defects are coated by the amino-functional organopolysiloxane, thereby rejuvenating the imaging member.

Abstract: A dampening fluid useful in offset ink printing applications contains water and a surfactant whose structure can be altered. The alteration in structure aids in reducing accumulation of the surfactant on the surface of an imaging member. The surfactant can be decomposed, switched between cis-trans states, or polymerizable with ink that is subsequently placed on the surface.

Abstract: A dampening fluid useful in offset ink printing applications contains water and a surfactant whose structure can be altered. The alteration in structure aids in reducing accumulation of the surfactant on the surface of an imaging member. The surfactant can be decomposed, switched between cis-trans states, or polymerizable with ink that is subsequently placed on the surface.

Abstract: A system is provided for transferring a marking material from a ribbon to a substrate. The system includes a ribbon take-up device; a ribbon supply source that supplies the ribbon to the ribbon take-up device such that the ribbon is moved in a process direction; a pressure roll located between the ribbon supply source and the ribbon take-up device in the process direction, the pressure roll being configured to apply pressure to the ribbon at a pressure location when the ribbon is positioned between the pressure roll and the substrate; and a laser beam source that directs a plurality of laser beams through the pressure roll and onto the ribbon at the pressure location such that a marking portion of the ribbon is heated by the laser beams and transferred to the substrate.

Abstract: A reimageable layer of an imaging member is provided with a dampening fluid layer. The reimageable layer has specific properties such as composition, surface profile, and so on so as to be well suited for receipt and carrying the dampening fluid layer. An optical patterning subsystem such as a scanned modulated laser patterns the dampening fluid layer. Ink having a first set of properties such as color, composition, etc., is applied at an inking subsystem such that it selectively resides in voids formed by the patterning subsystem in the dampening fluid layer to thereby form an inked latent image. The inked latent image is then transferred to a substrate, and the reimageable surface cleaned. The process is repeated for a second ink having properties different than the first. Each ink image may successively be applied to the substrate, or a composite image may be formed then applied to the substrate.

Abstract: Different solvents for a dampening fluid are disclosed. The solvent is a volatile hydrofluoroether liquid or a volatile silicone liquid. Such liquids have a lower heat of vaporization, a lower surface tension, and better kinematic viscosity compared to water, which is the conventional solvent used in dampening fluids. The dampening fluids, which are relatively nonpolar, can be used in a combination with polar inks to form a new type of digital lithographic printing system.

Abstract: A system for transferring a marking material from a ribbon to a substrate is provided. The ribbon has a marking material and a tie layer. The system includes a ribbon take-up device; a ribbon supply source that supplies the ribbon to the ribbon take-up device such that the ribbon is moved in a process direction; a first laser beam source configured to project a laser beam onto the ribbon to define an edge outline to a pattern of a marking portion of the marking material of the ribbon, the marking portion being a portion of the marking material of the ribbon that is to be transferred to the substrate, the first laser beam source being configured to create a weakening of the edge outline; and a heating unit configured to melt the tie layer of the ribbon at the marking portion, the melting taking place at a location where the ribbon is in contact with the substrate, the heating unit being configured to melt the tie layer such that the marking portion transfers to the substrate.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for enclosing a plurality of cleaning unit components in a moist cleaning unit environment, the plurality of cleaning unit components cooperating to employ a cleaner roller in an image forming device to facilitate effective cleaning of a reimageable surface in an image forming device using a proposed variable data digital lithographic image forming architecture. A range of solvents may be applied to a hard smooth high surface energy surface of the cleaner roll and a cleaning unit component internally positioned within the cleaning enclosure to clean the surface of the cleaner roll. Mechanical components are properly placed prior to the cleaner roll-reimageable surface nip to ensure that residual liquid on a surface of the cleaner roll is removed.

Abstract: A method and system is provided to extend operational life of a mirror array of an image generating system, wherein the image generating system further includes a high intensity power light source to cause light to impinge on the mirror array, sufficient to cause deleterious plastic deformation of associated hinges of the mirror array, and an image output generating section configured to receive light from the mirror array. Image date is received by the image generating system image data to control mirrors of the mirror array and to generate an output image. A required level of illumination is provided from the mirror array to the image output generating section over a predetermined time period, in accordance with the received image data.

Abstract: An ejector device that includes one or more ejectors comprises an ejector layer that spans at least one hollow area. The ejector layer has a first surface and an opposing second surface arranged to receive a viscous material with viscosity between 20 and 50,000 centipoise. The ejector layer includes a radiation absorber material configured to thermally expand without phase transition in response to heating by activation radiation transmitted to the first surface. Thermal expansion of the ejector layer causes displacement of the ejector layer and ejection of the material from the second surface of the ejector layer.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing rewritable printing by utilizing nanoparticles at the printing plate to reduce power requirements for imaging modules in a variable data lithography system is provided. The disclosed embodiments propose a printing plate surface that is made up of an elastomer and incorporates engineered nanoparticles that have high optical absorption properties to improve ablation performance. The exact material, composition and geometry of the engineered nanoparticles are optimized for the specified imaging module without altering plate properties. The apparatus and method use electromagnetic radiation coupled with a nano-filler to locally apply heat to a dampening solution on the printing plate to form a latent image. The nanoparticles do not undergo a physical or chemical change beyond heating up.

Abstract: A variable lithographic inking system includes a chamber blade system configured to supply ink to an anilox member of an inking system. The inking system includes a soft ink transfer roll and a hard form roll. Ink is transferred from the anilox roll to the form roll by way of the transfer roll, and from the form roll to a reimageable surface layer of an imaging member of a variable data lithographic system. An ink layer free of ink history is uniformly applied onto a surface of the form roll, and subsequently transferred to the reimageable surface layer while avoiding or substantially eliminating image ghosting related to inking non-uniformities.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for providing an improved inker unit surface cleaning and conditioning system, including in a single anilox chamber blade system, for improving image quality, including eliminating ghosting, in a proposed variable data digital lithographic image forming architecture. Techniques are provided to remove acquired oil from an inking member. A particularly-configured containment encloses a cleaner (disturber) roller to emulsify the acquired oil on the inking roller. The cleaner roller is preferably configured with a pliable surface including a silicon roller surface over a porous base. The silicon roller (1) absorbs dampening solution oil; and (2) agitates ink that may be still held in certain cells/cavities of the inking member or roller. In embodiments, a vacuum pressure is applied to the inside of the hollow cleaner roller to better remove the residual ink and dampening solution from the inking roller.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for implementing a unique scheme by which to execute digital vapor phase patterning on metals, semiconductor substrates and other surfaces using a proposed variable data digital lithographic image forming architecture or technique. For certain substrate printing and manufacturing applications, including some printed electronics applications, the disclosed schemes implement techniques to digitally pattern metal layers with bulk material properties in a manner that is aligned with underlying layers on the fly. The disclosed digital printing process may pattern a release oil on a substrate in support of a metal deposition process. Changeable patterning is implemented with an ability to modify the alignment of the patterns on-the-fly. The release layer on a drum is laser patterned in order that the patterned release layer is transferred to the substrate, or the patterning of the release layer is accomplished directly on the substrate.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for enclosing a plurality of cleaning unit components in a moist cleaning unit environment, the plurality of cleaning unit components cooperating to employ a cleaner roller in an image forming device to facilitate effective cleaning of a reimageable surface in an image forming device using a proposed variable data digital lithographic image forming architecture. A range of solvents may be applied to a hard smooth high surface energy surface of the cleaner roll and a cleaning unit component internally positioned within the cleaning enclosure to clean the surface of the cleaner roll. Mechanical components are properly placed prior to the cleaner roll-reimageable surface nip to ensure that residual liquid on a surface of the cleaner roll is removed.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for providing an improved inker unit surface cleaning and conditioning system, including in a single anilox chamber blade system, for improving image quality, including eliminating ghosting, in a proposed variable data digital lithographic image forming architecture. Techniques are provided to remove acquired oil from an inking member. A particularly-configured containment encloses a cleaner (disturber) roller to emulsify the acquired oil on the inking roller. The cleaner roller is preferably configured with a pliable surface including a silicon roller surface over a porous base. The silicon roller (1) absorbs dampening solution oil; and (2) agitates ink that may be still held in certain cells/cavities of the inking member or roller. In embodiments, a vacuum pressure is applied to the inside of the hollow cleaner roller to better remove the residual ink and dampening solution from the inking roller.