Patent ID: 8950322
Filing Date: 2015-02-10
Classification: B41C,B41F,B41N

Abstract:
1. An evaporative thickness control subsystem for controlling the thickness of a dampening fluid layer in a variable data lithography system of the type in which the dampening fluid layer is applied by a dampening fluid subsystem over a reimageable surface of an imaging member, comprising: a gas source; a gas-directing nozzle, communicatively coupled to said gas source, configured to be disposed proximate said reimageable surface, and further disposed in a direction of travel of said imaging member following said dampening fluid subsystem and before an optical patterning system for patterning said dampening fluid layer, wherein said gas-directing nozzle configured to direct a gas from said source in a direction toward a surface of said dampening fluid layer such that a portion of said dampening fluid layer may be caused to evaporate to obtain a dampening layer of a desired thickness; a thickness sensor for determining the thickness of said dampening fluid layer at a location following said gas-directing nozzle; and a barrier structure configured to be disposed between said gas-directing nozzle and said optical patterning subsystem in the direction of travel of said imaging member to prevent evaporated dampening fluid from settling on said dampening fluid layer following evaporation and to otherwise prevent disturbing the dampening fluid layer between the point of evaporation and the optical patterning subsystem.