Inkjet Imaging Fluid Phase Separation for Digital Printing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ink-based digital printing systems using high power lasers for laser patterning are costly and limited by slow print speeds, with inkjet drop spreading issues resulting in image defects and excessive fluid pick-up.
Innovation Solution
A multi-component single-phase imaging fluid comprising a dampening fluid and a carrier component that are miscible at jetting temperature but phase-separate upon contact with a receiving surface, allowing for high-resolution image formation without the need for expensive laser imagers, using an inkjet printhead to jet the fluid and transfer the image to a transfer member for inking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a high power laser is used for laser patterning of dampening fluid, then image formation is achieved, but system cost increases and print speed is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the laser-based optical patterning system with an inkjet printing system that directly deposits dampening fluid in desired patterns. This substitution eliminates the need for expensive high-power lasers and complex optical components while enabling faster print speeds through direct digital inkjet deposition.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using laser to pattern existing dampening fluid, the system directly copies the desired image pattern by jetting dampening fluid only in the areas where it is needed, creating the dampening fluid pattern directly without requiring subsequent laser processing steps.
2Manufacturing precision
If inkjet droplet volume is increased to reduce spreading, then dot size is maintained, but excessive fluid pick-up occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the dampening fluid by formulating it with specific surfactants and additives that control surface tension and wetting properties. This allows the fluid to be deposited in smaller volumes without excessive spreading, and reduces fluid pick-up by the substrate while maintaining precise dot size control.
Solution Approach 2:
The dampening fluid is formulated as a composite material containing multiple components including surfactants, alcohols, and other additives working together. This composite formulation enables simultaneous optimization of droplet placement precision, spreading control, and reduced substrate pick-up that cannot be achieved with simple water-based solutions.
3Manufacturing precision
If dampening fluid is jetted to form high resolution image, then image quality improves, but fluid spreading causes image defects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the rheological and surface tension parameters of the dampening fluid through careful formulation. This enables the fluid to be jetted as precise droplets that maintain their shape upon deposition, preventing the spreading that would otherwise cause image defects while still achieving high resolution through controlled droplet placement.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables high-resolution, cost-effective ink-based digital printing with reduced fluid spreading and image defects, achieving efficient ink transfer and maintaining desired dot sizes, thus overcoming the limitations of traditional systems.
Implementation Method 1
The components are phase-separated at a lower temperature, such as a temperature of the imaging fluid components upon contacting the imaging member or fluid receiving surface
Implementation Method 2
the dampening fluid migrates to a surface of the carrier component, forming a dampening fluid pattern or image
Data Source
AI summary
An ink-based digital printing system for variable data lithographic printing includes an imaging member and a dampening fluid/carrier patterning system. An inkjet-type device of the patterning system jets material onto an imaging member. The as-jetted material includes dampening fluid and carrier component such as a wax jetted in a single phase. Upon contact with a surface of an imaging member, the jetted material cools and phase separation occurs, the dampening fluid leaching to a surface of the solid component on the imaging member surface, dampening the solid component, which forms an image according to image data input to the patterning system.