Ink splitting multi-roll cleaner for a variable data lithography system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10603897-B2
Application number	US-201715847010-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 19, 2017
Priority date	Dec 19, 2017
Publication date	Mar 31, 2020
Grant date	Mar 31, 2020

Abstract

A cleaning subsystem for a variable data lithography system includes a cleaning roller train having a cleaning member in physical contact with an imaging member such that residual ink remaining on the imaging member, such as following transfer of an inked latent image from the imaging member to a substrate, adheres to the cleaning member through cohesion and is thereby removed from the imaging member. The cleaning roller train uses the ink-splitting mechanics to remove, transport and collect the ink waste. The key cleaning roller train is a thin but uniform layer of ink on the cleaning member that contacts the imaging member causing removal on the residual ink through cohesion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A variable data lithography system, comprising:
an imaging member having an arbitrarily reimageable imaging surface;
a dampening solution subsystem for applying a layer of dampening solution to the imaging surface;
a patterning subsystem for selectively removing portions of the dampening solution layer so as to produce a latent image in the dampening solution;
an inking subsystem for applying ink over the imaging surface such that the ink selectively occupies regions where dampening solution was removed by the patterning subsystem to thereby form an inked latent image;
an image transfer subsystem for transferring the inked latent image to a substrate; and,
a cleaning subsystem for removing residual ink from the surface of the imaging member, the cleaning subsystem comprising:
a cleaning roller train;
a cleaning member having on its surface a smooth and thin layer of ink and wherein the cleaning member is in physical contact with the imaging member to remove the residual ink;
wherein cohesion between the smooth and thin layer of ink and the residual ink removes the residual ink from the imaging member;
a transport member in physical contact with the cleaning member so as to maintain the smooth and thin layer of ink on the surface of the cleaning member at a predetermined thickness.

2. The variable data lithography system of claim 1 , wherein the cleaning roller train comprises cleaning member, the transport member in physical contact with the cleaning member, and a collection member.

3. The variable data lithography system of claim 2 , wherein the cleaning member comprises a smooth roll and/or hard roll.

4. The variable data lithography system of claim 2 , wherein an adhesion of the residual ink to the imaging member is less than a cohesion of the residual ink to the thin and smooth layer of ink at the cleaning member.

5. The variable data lithography system of claim 4 , wherein the cleaning member is a roller.

6. The variable data lithography system of claim 2 , wherein the collection member is a consumable component and disposed to be readily replaceable within the cleaning roller train.

7. The variable data lithography system of claim 4 , wherein the transport member contacts the cleaning member to acquire therefrom a first portion of such residual ink while the thin layer of ink remains on the surface portion of the cleaning member.

8. The variable data lithography system of claim 7 , further comprising: at least one motor for independently controlling the transport member and/or the collection member.

9. The variable data lithography system of claim 8 , wherein the collection member accumulates the acquired first portion of the residual ink at the transport member.

10. The variable data lithography system of claim 8 , further comprising:
a rheology modifying agent.

11. The variable data lithography system of claim 10 , wherein the rheology modifying agent is a radiation source configured to increase accumulated residual ink viscosity before the collection member contacts the transport member.

12. The variable data lithography system of claim 8 , wherein the collection member is a cleaning web that is translatable and arranged to directly contact the transport member to accumulate the acquired first portion of the residual ink at the transport member.

13. A cleaning subsystem for removing residual ink from a surface of an imaging member in a variable data lithography system, comprising:
a cleaning roller train having a cleaning member with a smooth and thin layer of ink on its surface in physical contact with the imaging member;
a transport member in physical contact with the cleaning member so as to maintain the smooth and thin layer of ink on the surface of the cleaning member at a predetermined thickness;
wherein cohesion between the smooth and thin layer of ink and the residual ink removes the residual ink from the imaging member;
wherein an adhesion of the residual ink to the imaging member is less than the cohesion of the residual ink to the smooth and thin layer of ink at the cleaning member.

14. The cleaning subsystem of claim 13 , wherein the cleaning roller train comprises the transport member in physical contact with the cleaning member, and a collection member in physical contact with the transport member.

15. The cleaning subsystem of claim 14 , wherein the cleaning member and transport member comprise two or more rolls.

16. The cleaning subsystem of claim 15 , wherein the collection member is a cleaning web that is translatable and arranged to directly contact the transport member.

17. The cleaning subsystem of claim 15 , further comprising:
a viscosity control unit positioned downstream of the transport member in a process direction and configured to cure the residual ink on the collection member surface to produce a hardened residual ink.

18. The cleaning subsystem of claim 17 , wherein the viscosity control unit is a radiation source configured to increase accumulated residual ink viscosity before the collection member contacts the transport member.

Assignees

• Xerox Corp

Inventors

• Liu Chu-Heng

Classifications

• B41F35/002 Primary

  for dampening rollers · CPC title

• B41F35/02

  for forme cylinders · CPC title

• B41F7/26

  using transfer rollers · CPC title

• B41P2235/22

  Rollers · CPC title

• B41F7/00 Primary

  Rotary lithographic machines {(such office printing machines B41L7/00)} · CPC title