Multilayer imaging blanket coating

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016176185-A1
Application number	US-201414576734-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 19, 2014
Priority date	Dec 19, 2014
Publication date	Jun 23, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A multilayer imaging blanket comprises a seamless belt. A silicone layer is disposed on the belt. The silicone layer comprises silicone rubber and a metal oxide filler. A fluoroelastomer surface layer is disposed on the silicone layer. Printing apparatuses employing the multilayer imaging blanket are also disclosed.

First claim

1 . A multilayer imaging blanket, comprising:
a seamless belt, wherein the belt is a freestanding polyimide film; a silicone layer disposed on the belt, the silicone layer comprising silicone rubber and a metal oxide filler, wherein the silicone layer comprises a platinum cured siloxane; and a fluoroelastomer surface layer disposed on the silicone layer, where the fluoroelastomer surface layer is selected from the group consisting of (i) a fluoroelastomer-aminosilane grafted polymer composition or (ii) a fluorosilicone made by mixing a vinyl terminated trifluoropropyl methylsiloxane polymer with platinum catalyst and a crosslinker, the crosslinker being a substituted or unsubstituted polysiloxane chain having at least one internal siloxane repeating unit with an Si—H bond.

2 . (canceled)

3 . (canceled)

4 . The blanket of claim 1 , wherein the silicone rubber is present in the silicone layer in an amount ranging from about 80 to about 95 weight percent, based on the total weight of the silicone layer.

5 . The blanket of claim 1 , wherein the metal oxide filler is present in the silicone layer in an amount ranging from about 5 to about 20 weight percent, based on the total weight of the silicone layer.

6 . The blanket of claim 1 , wherein the metal oxide filler comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of iron oxide particles and silica particles.

7 . (canceled)

8 . The blanket of claim 1 , wherein the fluoroelastomer layer comprises a fluoroelastomer-aminosilane grafted polymer and infrared absorptive filler materials.

9 . The blanket of claim 8 , wherein a fluoroelastomer group of the fluoroelastomer-aminosilane grafted polymer contains two or more monomer units exclusively selected from the group consisting of hexafluoropropylene (HFP), tetrafluoroethylene (TFE), vinylidene fluoride (VDF), perfluoromethyl vinyl ether (PMVE) and ethylene (ET).

10 . The blanket of claim 8 , wherein an aminosilane group of the fluoroelastomer-aminosilane grafted polymer is an oxyaminosilane.

11 . The blanket of claim 8 , wherein the aminosilane group of the fluoroelastomer-aminosilane grafted polymer is an aminosubstituted trialkoxysilane unit.

12 . The blanket of claim 8 , wherein the infrared absorptive filler materials of the fluoroelastomer layer comprise carbon black and the amount of carbon black ranges from about 1% by weight to about 5% by weight, based on the total weight of the surface layer.

13 . The blanket of claim 1 , wherein the fluoroelastomer layer comprises fluorosilicone.

14 . An indirect printing apparatus comprising:
an image transfer member, comprising a multilayer imaging blanket, the multilayer imaging blanket, comprising:
a seamless belt;
a silicone layer disposed on the belt, the silicone layer comprising silicone rubber and a metal oxide filler; and
a fluoroelastomer surface layer disposed on the silicone layer;
a coating mechanism for forming a sacrificial coating onto the image transfer member; a drying station positioned to dry the sacrificial coating before the printing apparatus elects ink drops during a print process; at least one ink jet nozzle positioned proximate the image transfer member and configured for jetting ink droplets onto the dried sacrificial coating formed on the image transfer member; an ink processing station comprising a radiation source for at least partially drying the ink on the dried sacrificial coating formed on the image transfer member, the radiation source positioned on a side of the image transfer member on which the ink is jetted to allow for direct irradiation of the ink; and a substrate transfer mechanism for moving a substrate into contact with the image transfer member.

15 . The printing apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the silicone rubber is present in the silicone layer in an amount ranging from about 80 to about 95 weight percent, based on the total weight of the silicone layer.

16 . The printing apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the fluoroelastomer layer comprises a fluoroelastomer-aminosilane grafted polymer and infrared absorptive filler materials.

17 . A printing apparatus comprising:
an image transfer member comprising a multilayer imaging blanket, the multilayer imaging blanket, comprising:
a seamless belt, wherein the belt is a freestanding polyimide film;
a silicone layer disposed on the belt, the silicone layer comprising silicone rubber and a metal oxide filler, wherein the silicone rubber is a platinum cured siloxane; and
a fluoroelastomer surface layer disposed on the silicone layer, the fluoroelastomer surface layer comprising fluorosilicone made by mixing a vinyl terminated trifluoropropyl methylsiloxane polymer with platinum catalyst and a crosslinker, the crosslinker being a substituted or unsubstituted polysiloxane chain having at least one internal siloxane repeating unit with an Si—H bond;
a coating mechanism for applying a dampening fluid onto the image transfer member; an optical patterning subsystem configured to selectively apply energy to portions of the layer to image-wise evaporate the dampening fluid and create a latent negative of the ink image that is desired to be printed on the receiving substrate; an inker subsystem for applying ink composition to the image areas to form an ink image; a rheology control subsystem for partially curing the ink image; and a substrate transfer mechanism for moving a substrate into contact with the ink image.

18 . (canceled)

19 . (canceled)

20 . The printing apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the fluoroelastomer surface layer further comprises silica and carbon black.

21 . The blanket of claim 8 , wherein the aminosilane group of the fluoroelastomer-aminosilane grafted polymer is selected from the group consisting of a [3-(2-aminoethylamino)propyl]trimethoxysilane group and 3-aminopropyl trimethoxysilane group.

Assignees

• Xerox Corp

Inventors

• Kanungo Mandakini
• Badesha Santokh S
• Gervasi David J
• Wantuck Phillip J
• Grigoryev Anton
• Taft Kevin H
• Liu xing xin

Classifications

• B41J2/0057 Primary

  where an intermediate transfer member receives the ink before transferring it on the printing material · CPC title

• B41M5/0256

  the transferable ink pattern being obtained by means of a computer driven printer, e.g. an ink jet or laser printer, or by electrographic means · CPC title

• B41M1/06

  Lithographic printing · CPC title

• B41J2/01 Primary

  Ink jet · CPC title

• B41N10/04

  multi-layer · CPC title