Abstract: A system and method for minimizing printhead density differences is disclosed, which includes printing a first test patch onto a first print at one or more halftone levels using a print head array may include more than one print head, scanning the first test patch, calculating an average print density of the first test patch for each print head and an average print density for the print head array, adjusting a drive voltage for each print head to match the average print density of the first test patch for the print head array, printing a second test patch onto a second print at one or more halftone levels using the print head array, scanning the second test patch. The method includes calculating an average print density of the second test patch for each print head and an average print density for the print head array.

Abstract: A precoat application system is disclosed. The precoat application system includes a pressure member configured to apply contacting pressure to a hydrophobic compliant member. A precoat solution, disposed on at least a portion of a surface of the hydrophobic compliant member, is delivered to a surface of paper in contact with the hydrophobic compliant member when the paper is passed between the hydrophobic compliant member and the pressure member. A pressure member is configured to apply pressure to the surface of the paper and the precoat solution on the surface of the paper to obtain a uniform coating of the precoat solution on the surface of the paper. The precoat solution may include an aqueous salt solution, such as magnesium chloride, calcium nitrate, barium, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A printhead contamination prevention device is disclosed. The printhead contamination prevention device includes a mounting fixture, optionally rotatable to multiple angles about a central axis, and an optionally movable blade attached to the mounting fixture, where an angle of the mounting fixture and a position of the movable blade create a gap between a tip of the movable blade and a printing media. An angle of the movable blade relative to the printing media is from about 15 degrees to about 35 degrees and a gap between the tip of the blade and the printing media is from about 0.1 mm to about 0.75 mm. A method for preventing contamination in a printing system by blocking one or more droplets of a non-pigmented fluid ejected from the primer dispensing printhead that are not coated onto the surface of the media from moving along the media path is disclosed.

Abstract: A method for detecting missing jets in a precoat solution application system of an ink jet printing system includes providing print media into a path of a printer having a precoat application system, passing the print media past the precoat application system, passing print media in proximity to an ink jet printhead, jetting a plurality of drops of a first ink onto the print media to form a solid patch on a first surface of the print media, passing the print media through a dryer to dry the solid patch of the first ink on the first surface of the print media, passing the print media in proximity to the precoat application system, applying a precoat solution onto the dried solid patch of ink on the first surface of the print media, and analyzing the print media. An ink jet printing system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for detecting missing or misdirected jets in a drop on demand delivery system for media priming in an inkjet printing application includes passing a diagnostic media in proximity to a first printhead may include a plurality of ejector jets. The method includes firing each of the plurality of jets onto the diagnostic media to deposit a precoat solution onto the diagnostic media in a first predetermined pattern, followed by depositing a plurality of droplets of at least one ink compositions onto the diagnostic media in a second predetermined pattern. An image of the diagnostic sheet can be captured and the printed pattern analyzed to detect missing or misdirected jets of a printhead configured to deposit a precoat solution or a primer solution.

Abstract: A precoat application system is disclosed. The precoat application system includes a pressure member configured to apply contacting pressure to a hydrophobic compliant member. A precoat solution, disposed on at least a portion of a surface of the hydrophobic compliant member, is delivered to a surface of paper in contact with the hydrophobic compliant member when the paper is passed between the hydrophobic compliant member and the pressure member. A pressure member is configured to apply pressure to the surface of the paper and the precoat solution on the surface of the paper to obtain a uniform coating of the precoat solution on the surface of the paper. The precoat solution may include an aqueous salt solution, such as magnesium chloride, calcium nitrate, barium, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided a method of determining the amount of fountain solution employed in a digital offset lithography printing system. Fountain solution thickness is determined from diagnostic images that are printed and analyzed using the existing Image Based Controls (IBC). An analysis of the density of solids, halftones, and background as a function of the fountain solution control parameter is performed to decide on the appropriate level of fountain solution. A latitude window of control parameters is then derived for which the digital offset lithography printing system in operation minimizes the undesirable effects of too much or too little fountain solution.

Abstract: According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided a method of determining the amount of fountain solution employed in a digital offset lithography printing system. Fountain solution thickness is determined by examining optical density of some halftone or solid patch versus laser current level. The apparatus and method uses a variable current signal to dither or perturb the laser imaging system to irradiate a fountain solution layer to create patches at different laser current levels. An aptly programmed controller then process optical density measurements to indirectly estimate fountain solution level.

Abstract: Provided herein is an imaging blanket for variable data lithography comprising (i) a substrate and (ii) a thermally-conductive composition disposed on the substrate comprising a silicone elastomer and a thermally-conductive filler selected from metal oxides, wherein the thermally-conductive composition has a thermal conductivity ranging from about 0.6 W/m2 to about 1.6 W/m2. Further provided herein a method of making the imaging blanket, as well as a printing system comprising the imaging blanket, wherein the imaging blanket has improved thermal conductivity.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a multilayer imaging blanket for a variable data lithography printing system, including: a multilayer base having a lower contacting surface configured to wrap around or to be mounted on a cylinder core of the variable data lithography printing system; and a platinum catalyzed fluorosilicone surface layer opposite the lower contacting surface; wherein the multilayer base is a sulfur-free carcass including: a top layer including a sulfur-free rubber substrate such as an ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber substrate, a bottom layer including the lower contacting surface; and a compressible layer disposed between the top layer and the bottom layer, the compressible layer being attached to a surface of the top layer opposite the platinum catalyzed fluorosilicone surface layer and a surface of the bottom layer opposite the lower contacting surface, optionally the top layer further comprises a reinforcing fabric layer, the reinforcing fabric layer attached to a surfa

Abstract: According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided a method of determining the amount of fountain solution employed in a digital offset lithography printing system. Fountain solution thickness is determined from diagnostic images that are printed and analyzed using the existing Image Based Controls (IBC). An analysis of the density of solids, halftones, and background as a function of the fountain solution control parameter is performed to decide on the appropriate level of fountain solution. A latitude window of control parameters is then derived for which the digital offset lithography printing system in operation minimizes the undesirable effects of too much or too little fountain solution.

Abstract: According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided a method of determining the amount of fountain solution employed in a digital offset lithography printing system. Fountain solution thickness is determined by examining optical density of some halftone or solid patch versus laser current level. The apparatus and method uses a variable current signal to dither or perturb the laser imaging system to irradiate a fountain solution layer to create patches at different laser current levels. An aptly programmed controller then process optical density measurements to indirectly estimate fountain solution level.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a multilayer imaging blanket for a variable data lithography printing system, including: a multilayer base having a lower contacting surface configured to wrap around or to be mounted on a cylinder core of the variable data lithography printing system; and a platinum catalyzed fluorosilicone surface layer opposite the lower contacting surface; wherein the multilayer base is a sulfur-free carcass including: a top layer including a sulfur-free rubber substrate such as an ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber substrate, a bottom layer including the lower contacting surface; and a compressible layer disposed between the top layer and the bottom layer, the compressible layer being attached to a surface of the top layer opposite the platinum catalyzed fluorosilicone surface layer and a surface of the bottom layer opposite the lower contacting surface, optionally the top layer further comprises a reinforcing fabric layer, the reinforcing fabric layer attached to a surfa

Abstract: Provided herein is an imaging blanket for variable data lithography comprising (i) a substrate and (ii) a thermally-conductive composition disposed on the substrate comprising a silicone elastomer and a thermally-conductive filler selected from metal oxides, wherein the thermally-conductive composition has a thermal conductivity ranging from about 0.6 W/m2 to about 1.6 W/m2. Further provided herein a method of making the imaging blanket, as well as a printing system comprising the imaging blanket, wherein the imaging blanket has improved thermal conductivity.

Abstract: A device comprising a flow channel having an inlet for introducing a flow of a first material, an outlet for exiting a flow of a second material; a plunger disposed and slidably movable coaxially within the flow channel; a first cooling device disposed adjacent to and substantially surrounding the flow channel comprising a housing having an internal sealable chamber for containing a first cooling fluid, an inlet having a first seal, and an outlet having a second seal, wherein the first cooling fluid is sealable within the sealable chamber; a second cooling device disposed adjacent to and substantially surrounding the first cooling device comprising a housing having an internal channel for a flow of a second cooling fluid, an inlet in fluid communication with the internal channel, an outlet in fluid communication with the channel, and a device for controlling the flow of second cooling fluid.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising: (a) a substrate including a level intermediate region disposed between a first end region and a second end region; (b) a first external member disposed circumferentially around the first end region in a continuous manner and protruding above the level intermediate region, thereby resulting in a deposition region including the surface of the first external member covering the first end region, an optional exposed first end region portion, and the intermediate region; and (c) a dip coated layer over the entire deposition region, wherein the portion of the dip coated layer over the first external member and the optional exposed first end region portion is formed prior to the portion of the dip coated layer over the intermediate layer.

Abstract: An apparatus including: (a) a substrate including a deposition region and an optional uncoated region, wherein the deposition region includes a level intermediate region disposed between a first end region and a second end region, wherein the first end region includes a first raised surface portion extending above the level intermediate region and extending circumferentially around the first end region in a continuous manner; and (b) a dip coated layer over the entire deposition region.

Abstract: An apparatus, to be used when an open end of a hollow substrate contacts a coating solution to define a solution free interior portion of the substrate, for controlling the level of the coating solution relative to the substrate interior, the apparatus including: a gas container capable of changing in volume; a channel connecting the gas container to the solution free interior portion of the substrate to allow gas flow in either direction between the gas container and the solution free interior portion; and pressure means for exerting a changeable, continuous pressure on the gas container that automatically exerts an increasingly greater pressure on the gas container as the gas container expands in volume and that automatically exerts a decreasingly lesser pressure on the gas container as the gas container decreases in volume.

Abstract: An apparatus, to be used when an open end of a hollow substrate contacts a coating solution to define a solution free interior portion of the substrate, for controlling the level of the coating solution relative to the substrate interior, the apparatus including: a gas container capable of changing in volume; a channel connecting the gas container to the solution free interior portion of the substrate to allow gas flow in either direction between the gas container and the solution free interior portion; and pressure means for exerting a changeable, continuous pressure on the gas container that automatically exerts an increasingly greater pressure on the gas container as the gas container expands in volume and that automatically exerts a decreasingly lesser pressure on the gas container as the gas container decreases in

Abstract: An apparatus including: