Patent ID: 9616654
Date: 2017-04-11
CPC Classifications: B41F,B41M,B41N,G02B,G03G

Claim:
1. A variable data lithography system comprising: an imaging member comprising a surface layer at the outermost layer of the imaging member, wherein the surface layer includes a fluorosilicone and an infrared-absorbing filler consisting of energy absorbing particles; wherein the infrared-absorbing filler when exposed to an infra-red portion of a laser source supports evaporation of the dampening solution on the surface layer of the imaging member; wherein the infrared-absorbing filler is selected from the group consisting of carbon black, iron oxide, carbon nanotubes, graphene, graphite, and carbon fibers; a dampening fluid subsystem to uniformly wet the imaging member with a dampening solution to form a layer having a uniform and controlled thickness and an optical patterning subsystem that selectively applies energy to portions of the layer to image-wise evaporate the dampening solution; wherein the dampening solution comprises a mixture of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4) and decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5); wherein the fluorosilicone comprises siloxane units; wherein at least 75% of the siloxane units are fluorinated; wherein the optical patterning subsystem uses the laser source to image-wise evaporate the dampening solution and create a latent negative of an ink image that is desired to be printed on a receiving substrate in the variable data lithography system; wherein the infrared-absorbing filler is able to absorb energy from the laser source with wavelength of from about 750 nm to about 1000 nm; wherein the infrared-absorbing filler has an average particle size of 2 nanometers to 10 microns; wherein the infrared-absorbing filler is present in an amount from 5 to 20 weight percent of the surface layer; wherein the fluorosilicone includes amino-functional groups.