Patent ID: 9643397
Date: 2017-05-09
CPC Classifications: B41F,B41M,B41N,B41P

Claim:
1. A variable data lithography system for applying a multicomponent image to a substrate, comprising: an imaging member comprising an arbitrarily reimageable surface layer, the arbitrarily reimageable surface layer having: a dampening solution subsystem for applying a layer of dampening solution to the arbitrarily reimageable surface layer; a patterning subsystem for selectively removing portions of the dampening solution layer to expose regions of the arbitrarily reimageable surface layer of the imaging member producing a latent image in the dampening solution; a marking material subsystem, comprising: a control mechanism configured to engage each of the plurality of marking material assemblies with the arbitrarily reimageable surface of the imaging-member based only on the location of the exposed regions of the arbitrarily reimageable surface and disengage each of the plurality of the marking material assemblies with the arbitrarily reimageable surface of the imaging-member based only on the location of the unexposed regions of the arbitrarily reimageable surface regardless of the rotational orientation of the imaging member, wherein the each marking material form roller is brought into and out of engagement with the arbitrarily reimageable surface layer by the control mechanism while remaining elements of the marking material subsystem remain fixed in position relative to, and disengaged from, the arbitrarily reimageable surface layer of the imaging member; and an image transfer subsystem for transferring the inked latent image to a substrate, the control mechanism controlling the selective engaging and disengaging of each of the plurality of marking material assemblies such that only one of the plurality of marking material assemblies is engaged with the arbitrarily reimageable surface layer at any one time.