Patent Publication Number: US-11376840-B2

Title: Fountain solution thickness measurement using print engine response

Description:
FIELD OF DISCLOSURE 
     This invention relates generally to digital printing systems, and more particularly, to fountain solution deposition systems and methods for use in lithographic offset printing systems. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Conventional lithographic printing techniques cannot accommodate true high speed variable data printing processes in which images to be printed change from impression to impression, for example, as enabled by digital printing systems. The lithography process is often relied upon, however, because it provides very high quality printing due to the quality and color gamut of the inks used. Lithographic inks are also less expensive than other inks, toners, and many other types of printing or marking materials. 
     Ink-based digital printing uses a variable data lithography printing system, or digital offset printing system, or a digital advanced lithography imaging system. A “variable data lithography system” is a system that is configured for lithographic printing using lithographic inks and based on digital image data, which may be variable from one image to the next. “Variable data lithography printing,” or “digital ink-based printing,” or “digital offset printing,” or digital advanced lithography imaging is lithographic printing of variable image data for producing images on a substrate that are changeable with each subsequent rendering of an image on the substrate in an image forming process. 
     For example, a digital offset printing process may include transferring ink onto a portion of an imaging member (e.g., fluorosilicone-containing imaging member, printing plate) having a surface or imaging blanket that has been selectively coated with a fountain solution (e.g., dampening fluid) layer according to variable image data. According to a lithographic technique, referred to as variable data lithography, a non-patterned reimageable surface of the imaging member is initially uniformly coated with the fountain solution layer. An imaging system then evaporates regions of the fountain solution layer in an image area by exposure to a focused radiation source (e.g., a laser light source, high power laser) to form pockets. A temporary pattern latent image in the fountain solution is thereby formed on the surface of the digital offset imaging member. The latent image corresponds to a pattern of the applied fountain solution that is left over after evaporation. Ink applied thereover is retained in the pockets where the laser has vaporized the fountain solution. Conversely, ink is rejected by the plate regions where fountain solution remains. The inked surface is then brought into contact with a substrate at a transfer nip and the ink transfers from the pockets in the fountain solution layer to the substrate. The fountain solution may then be removed, a new uniform layer of fountain solution applied to the printing plate, and the process repeated. 
     Digital printing is generally understood to refer to systems and methods of variable data lithography, in which images may be varied among consecutively printed images or pages. “Variable data lithography printing,” or “ink-based digital printing,” or “digital offset printing” are terms generally referring to printing of variable image data for producing images on a plurality of image receiving media substrates, the images being changeable with each subsequent rendering of an image on an image receiving media substrate in an image forming process. “Variable data lithographic printing” includes offset printing of ink images generally using specially-formulated lithographic inks, the images being based on digital image data that may vary from image to image, such as, for example, between cycles of an imaging member having a reimageable surface. Examples are disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0103212 A1 (the &#39;212 Publication) published May 3, 2012 based on U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/095,714, and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0103221 A1 (the &#39;221 Publication) also published May 3, 2012 based on U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/095,778. 
     The inventors have found that digital printing processes are sensitive to the amount of fountain solution applied to the imaging member blanket. If too much fountain solution is applied to the imaging member surface, then the laser may not be able to boil/evaporate the fountain solution and no image will be created on the blanket. If too little fountain solution is applied to the imaging member surface, then the ink will not be rejected in the non-imaged regions leading to high background. Currently, there is no way to measure how much fountain solution is deposited on the imaging member blanket. 
     SUMMARY 
     The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of one or more embodiments or examples of the present teachings. This summary is not an extensive overview, nor is it intended to identify key or critical elements of the present teachings, nor to delineate the scope of the disclosure. Rather, its primary purpose is merely to present one or more concepts in simplified form as a prelude to the detailed description presented later. Additional goals and advantages will become more evident in the description of the figures, the detailed description of the disclosure, and the claims. 
     The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities embodied in the present disclosure may be achieved by providing a specific method of controlling fountain solution thickness on an imaging member surface of a rotating imaging member in a digital image forming device. The method includes printing a current image having a grayscale level at a region of a print substrate, with the printing including applying a fountain solution layer at a dispense rate onto the imaging member surface, vaporizing in an image wise fashion a portion of the fountain solution layer to form a latent image, applying ink onto the latent image over the imaging member surface, and transferring the applied ink from the imaging member surface to the print substrate at the region. The method further includes measuring ΔE of the current image printed at the region of the printed substrate, comparing the measured ΔE to a predefined target ΔE, modifying the fountain solution dispense rate based on the comparison, printing a subsequent image using the modified fountain solution dispense rate. 
     According to aspects illustrated herein, an exemplary method of controlling fountain solution thickness on an imaging member surface of a rotating imaging member in a digital image forming device is discussed, wherein the digital image forming device prints a current image having a grayscale level at a region of a print substrate, the printing including applying a fountain solution layer at a dispense rate onto the imaging member surface, vaporizing in an image wise fashion a portion of the fountain solution layer to form a latent image, applying ink onto the latent image over the imaging member surface, and transferring the applied ink from the imaging member surface to the print substrate at the region. The exemplary method includes measuring ΔE of the current image printed at the region of the printed substrate, comparing the measured ΔE to a predefined target ΔE, and modifying the fountain solution dispense rate based on the comparison for a subsequent printing of a subsequent image by the digital image forming device using the modified fountain solution dispense rate. 
     According to aspects described herein, an exemplary method of measuring fountain solution thickness on an imaging member surface during a printing operation of an image by a digital image forming device includes measuring ΔE of an image printed at a region of a printed substrate with a sensor of the digital image forming device, with the ΔE at the region being a measure of change in visual perception between the region and a non-printed area of the printed substrate, and estimating, with a controller of the digital image forming device, the thickness of fountain solution on the imaging member surface during the printing operation of the image based on the measured ΔE. 
     Exemplary embodiments are described herein. It is envisioned, however, that any system that incorporates features of apparatus and systems described herein are encompassed by the scope and spirit of the exemplary embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Various exemplary embodiments of the disclosed apparatuses, mechanisms and methods will be described, in detail, with reference to the following drawings, in which like referenced numerals designate similar or identical elements, and: 
         FIG. 1  is block diagram of a digital image forming device in accordance with examples of the embodiments; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an exemplary fountain solution applicator; 
         FIG. 3  is a graph showing exemplary image forming device printed responses to changes in fountain solution dispense rate; 
         FIG. 4  is a graph showing exemplary image forming device printed responses as fountain solution thickness changes; 
         FIG. 5  is a graph showing fountain solution thickness estimates plotted as a function of ΔE for a 70% halftone patch; 
         FIG. 6  is a block diagram of a controller for executing instructions to control the digital image forming device; and 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart depicting the operation of an exemplary image forming device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Illustrative examples of the devices, systems, and methods disclosed herein are provided below. An embodiment of the devices, systems, and methods may include any one or more, and any combination of, the examples described below. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth below. Rather, these exemplary embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments are intended to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the apparatuses, mechanisms and methods as described herein. 
     We initially point out that description of well-known starting materials, processing techniques, components, equipment and other well-known details may merely be summarized or are omitted so as not to unnecessarily obscure the details of the present disclosure. Thus, where details are otherwise well known, we leave it to the application of the present disclosure to suggest or dictate choices relating to those details. The drawings depict various examples related to embodiments of illustrative methods, apparatus, and systems for inking from an inking member to the reimageable surface of a digital imaging member. 
     When referring to any numerical range of values herein, such ranges are understood to include each and every number and/or fraction between the stated range minimum and maximum. For example, a range of 0.5-6% would expressly include the endpoints 0.5% and 6%, plus all intermediate values of 0.6%, 0.7%, and 0.9%, all the way up to and including 5.95%, 5.97%, and 5.99%. The same applies to each other numerical property and/or elemental range set forth herein, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
     The modifier “about” used in connection with a quantity is inclusive of the stated value and has the meaning dictated by the context (for example, it includes at least the degree of error associated with the measurement of the particular quantity). When used with a specific value, it should also be considered as disclosing that value. For example, the term “about 2” also discloses the value “2” and the range “from about 2 to about 4” also discloses the range “from 2 to 4.” 
     The term “controller” or “control system” is used herein generally to describe various apparatus such as a computing device relating to the operation of one or more device that directs or regulates a process or machine. A controller can be implemented in numerous ways (e.g., such as with dedicated hardware) to perform various functions discussed herein. A “processor” is one example of a controller which employs one or more microprocessors that may be programmed using software (e.g., microcode) to perform various functions discussed herein. A controller may be implemented with or without employing a processor, and also may be implemented as a combination of dedicated hardware to perform some functions and a processor (e.g., one or more programmed microprocessors and associated circuitry) to perform other functions. Examples of controller components that may be employed in various embodiments of the present disclosure include, but are not limited to, conventional microprocessors, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), and field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). 
     Embodiments as disclosed herein may also include computer-readable media for carrying or having computer-executable instructions or data structures stored thereon. Such computer-readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer. By way of example, and not limitation, such computer-readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to carry or store desired program code means in the form of computer-executable instructions or data structures. When information is transferred or provided over a network or another communications connection (either hardwired, wireless, or combination thereof) to a computer, the computer properly views the connection as a computer-readable medium. Thus, any such connection is properly termed a computer-readable medium. Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope of the computer-readable media. 
     Computer-executable instructions include, for example, instructions and data which cause a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or special purpose processing device to perform a certain function or group of functions. Computer-executable instructions also include program modules that are executed by computers in stand-alone or network environments. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, and data structures, and the like that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Computer-executable instructions, associated data structures, and program modules represent examples of the program code means for executing steps of the methods disclosed herein. The particular sequence of such executable instructions or associated data structures represents examples of corresponding acts for implementing the functions described therein. 
     Although embodiments of the invention are not limited in this regard, discussions utilizing terms such as, for example, “processing,” “computing,” “calculating,” “determining,” “using,” “establishing”, “analyzing”, “checking”, or the like, may refer to operation(s) and/or process(es) of a controller, computer, computing platform, computing system, or other electronic computing device, that manipulate and/or transform data represented as physical (e.g., electronic) quantities within the computer&#39;s registers and/or memories into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the computer&#39;s registers and/or memories or other information storage medium that may store instructions to perform operations and/or processes. 
     The terms “media”, “print media”, “print substrate” and “print sheet” generally refers to a usually flexible physical sheet of paper, polymer, Mylar material, plastic, or other suitable physical print media substrate, sheets, webs, etc., for images, whether precut or web fed. The listed terms “media”, “print media”, “print substrate” and “print sheet” may also include woven fabrics, non-woven fabrics, metal films, and foils, as readily understood by a skilled artisan. 
     The term “image forming device”, “printing device” or “printing system” as used herein may refer to a digital copier or printer, scanner, image printing machine, xerographic device, electrostatographic device, digital production press, document processing system, image reproduction machine, bookmaking machine, facsimile machine, multi-function machine, or generally an apparatus useful in performing a print process or the like and can include several marking engines, feed mechanism, scanning assembly as well as other print media processing units, such as paper feeders, finishers, and the like. A “printing system” may handle sheets, webs, substrates, and the like. A printing system can place marks on any surface, and the like, and is any machine that reads marks on input sheets; or any combination of such machines. 
     The term “fountain solution” or “dampening fluid” refers to dampening fluid that may coat or cover a surface of a structure (e.g., imaging member, transfer roll) of an image forming device to affect connection of a marking material (e.g., ink, toner, pigmented or dyed particles or fluid) to the surface. The fountain solution may include water optionally with small amounts of additives (e.g., isopropyl alcohol, ethanol) added to reduce surface tension as well as to lower evaporation energy necessary to support subsequent laser patterning. Low surface energy solvents, for example volatile silicone oils, can also serve as fountain solutions. Fountain solutions may also include wetting surfactants, such as silicone glycol copolymers. The fountain solution may include D4 or D5 dampening fluid alone, mixed, and/or with wetting agents. The fountain solution may also include Isopar G, Isopar H, Dowsil OS20, Dowsil OS30, and mixtures thereof. 
     Inking systems or devices may be incorporated into a digital offset image forming device architecture so that the inking system is arranged about a central imaging plate, also referred to as an imaging member. In such a system, the imaging member is a rotatable imaging member, including a conformable blanket around a central drum with the conformable blanket including the reimageable surface. This blanket layer has specific properties such as composition, surface profile, and so on so as to be well suited for receipt and carrying a layer of a fountain solution. A surface of the imaging member is reimageable making the imaging member a digital imaging member. The surface is constructed of elastomeric materials and conformable. A paper path architecture may be situated adjacent the imaging member to form a media transfer nip. 
     A layer of fountain solution may be applied to the surface of the imaging member by a dampening system. In a digital evaporation step, particular portions of the fountain solution layer deposited onto the surface of the imaging member may be evaporated by a digital evaporation system. For example, portions of the fountain solution layer may be vaporized by an optical patterning subsystem such as a scanned, modulated laser that patterns the fluid solution layer to form a latent image. In a vapor removal step, the vaporized fountain solution may be collected by a vapor removal device or vacuum to prevent condensation of the vaporized fountain solution back onto the imaging plate. 
     In an inking step, ink may be transferred from an inking system to the surface of the imaging member such that the ink selectively resides in evaporated voids formed by the patterning subsystem in the fountain solution layer to form an inked image. In an image transfer step, the inked image is then transferred to a print substrate such as paper via pressure at the media transfer nip. 
     In a digital variable printing process, previously imaged ink must be removed from the imaging member surface to prevent ghosting. After an image transfer step, the surface of the imaging member may be cleaned by a cleaning system so that the printing process may be repeated. For example, tacky cleaning rollers may be used to remove residual ink and fountain solution from the surface of the imaging member. 
     A drawback of digital print processes is print quality sensitivity to the amount of fountain solution deposited onto the imaging blanket. It is estimated that a very thin layer of fountain solution (e.g., 40-100 nm thickness range) is required on the blanket for optimal print process setup. This makes measuring the fountain solution thickness on the imaging blanket most difficult. 
       FIG. 1  depicts an exemplary ink-based digital image forming device  10 . The image forming device  10  may include dampening station  12  having fountain solution applicator  14 , optical patterning subsystem  16 , inking apparatus  18 , and a cleaning device  20 . The image forming device  10  may also include one or more rheological conditioning subsystems  22  as discussed, for example, in greater detail below.  FIG. 1  shows the fountain solution applicator  14  arranged with a digital imaging member  24  having a reimageable surface  26 . While  FIG. 1  shows components that are formed as rollers, other suitable forms and shapes may be implemented. 
     The imaging member surface  26  may be wear resistant and flexible. The surface  26  may be reimageable and conformable, having an elasticity and durometer, and sufficient flexibility for coating ink over a variety of different media types having different levels of roughness. A thickness of the reimageable surface layer may be, for example, about 0.5 millimeters to about 4 millimeters. The surface  26  should have a weak adhesion force to ink, yet good oleophilic wetting properties with the ink for promoting uniform inking of the reimageable surface and subsequent transfer lift of the ink onto a print substrate. 
     The soft, conformable surface  26  of the imaging member  24  may include, for example, hydrophobic polymers such as silicones, partially or fully fluorinated fluorosilicones and FKM fluoroelastomers. Other materials may be employed, including blends of polyurethanes, fluorocarbons, polymer catalysts, platinum catalyst, hydrosilyation catalyst, etc. The surface may be configured to conform to a print substrate on which an ink image is printed. To provide effective wetting of fountain solutions such as water-based dampening fluid, the silicone surface need not be hydrophilic, but may be hydrophobic. Wetting surfactants, such as silicone glycol copolymers, may be added to the fountain solution to allow the fountain solution to wet the reimageable surface  26 . The imaging member  24  may include conformable reimageable surface  26  of a blanket or belt wrapped around a roll or drum. The imaging member surface  26  may be temperature controlled to aid in a printing operation. For example, the imaging member  24  may be cooled internally (e.g., with chilled fluid) or externally (e.g., via a blanket chiller roll  28  to a temperature (e.g., about 10° C.-60° C.) that may aid in the image forming, transfer and cleaning operations of image forming device  10 . 
     The reimageable surface  26  or any of the underlying layers of the reimageable belt/blanket may incorporate a radiation sensitive filler material that can absorb laser energy or other highly directed energy in an efficient manner. Examples of suitable radiation sensitive materials are, for example, microscopic (e.g., average particle size less than 10 micrometers) to nanometer sized (e.g., average particle size less than 1000 nanometers) carbon black particles, carbon black in the form of nano particles of, single or multi-wall nanotubes, graphene, iron oxide nano particles, nickel plated nano particles, etc., added to the polymer in at least the near-surface region. It is also possible that no filler material is needed if the wavelength of a laser is chosen so to match an absorption peak of the molecules contained within the fountain solution or the molecular chemistry of the outer surface layer. As an example, a 2.94 μm wavelength laser would be readily absorbed due to the intrinsic absorption peak of water molecules at this wavelength. 
     The fountain solution applicator  14  may be configured to deposit a layer of fountain solution onto the imaging member surface  26  directly or via an intermediate member (e.g., roller  30 ) of the dampening station  12 . While not being limited to particular configuration, the fountain solution applicator  14  may include a series of rollers, sprays or a vaporizer (not shown) for uniformly wetting the reimageable surface  26  with a uniform layer of fountain solution with the thickness of the layer being controlled. The series of rollers may be considered as dampening rollers or a dampening unit, for uniformly wetting the reimageable surface  26  with a layer of fountain solution. The fountain solution may be applied by fluid or vapor deposition to create a thin fluid layer  32  (e.g., between about 0.01 μm and about 1.0 μm in thickness, less than 5 μm, about 50 nm to 100 nm) of the fountain solution for uniform wetting and pinning. The vaporizer may include a slot at its output across the imaging member  26  or intermediate roller  30  to output vapor fountain solution to the imaging member surface  26 . 
     The optical patterning subsystem  16  is located downstream the fountain solution applicator  14  in the printing processing direction to selectively pattern a latent image in the layer of fountain solution by image-wise patterning using, for example, laser energy. For example, the fountain solution layer is exposed to an energy source (e.g. a laser) that selectively applies energy to portions of the layer to image-wise evaporate the fountain solution and create a latent “negative” of the ink image that is desired to be printed on a receiving substrate  34 . Image areas are created where ink is desired, and non-image areas are created where the fountain solution remains. While the optical patterning subsystem  16  is shown as including laser emitter  36 , it should be understood that a variety of different systems may be used to deliver the optical energy to pattern the fountain solution layer. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 1 , a vapor vacuum  38  or air knife may be positioned downstream the optical patterning subsystem to collect vaporized fountain solution and thus avoid leakage of excess fountain solution into the environment. Reclaiming excess vapor prevents fountain solution from depositing uncontrollably prior to the inking apparatus  18  and imaging member  24  interface. The vapor vacuum  38  may also prevent fountain solution vapor from entering the environment. Reclaimed fountain solution vapor can be condensed, filtered and reused as understood by a skilled artisan to help minimize the overall use of fountain solution by the image forming device  10 . 
     Following patterning of the fountain solution layer by the optical patterning subsystem  16 , the patterned layer over the reimageable surface  26  is presented to the inking apparatus  18 . The inker apparatus  18  is positioned downstream the optical patterning subsystem  16  to apply a uniform layer of ink over the layer of fountain solution and the reimageable surface layer  26  of the imaging member  24 . The inking apparatus  18  may deposit the ink to the evaporated pattern representing the imaged portions of the reimageable surface  26 , while ink deposited on the unformatted portions of the fountain solution will not adhere based on a hydrophobic and/or oleophobic nature of those portions. The inking apparatus may heat the ink before it is applied to the surface  26  to lower the viscosity of the ink for better spreading into imaged portion pockets of the reimageable surface. For example, one or more rollers  40  of the inking apparatus  18  may be heated, as well understood by a skilled artisan. Inking roller  40  is understood to have a structure for depositing marking material onto the reimageable surface layer  26 , and may include an anilox roller or an ink nozzle. Excess ink may be metered from the inking roller  40  back to an ink container  42  of the inker apparatus  18  via a metering member  44  (e.g., doctor blade, air knife). 
     Although the marking material may be an ink, such as a UV-curable ink, the disclosed embodiments are not intended to be limited to such a construct. The ink may be a UV-curable ink or another ink that hardens when exposed to UV radiation. The ink may be another ink having a cohesive bond that increases, for example, by increasing its viscosity. For example, the ink may be a solvent ink or aqueous ink that thickens when cooled and thins when heated. 
     Downstream the inking apparatus  18  in the printing process direction resides ink image transfer station  46  that transfers the ink image from the imaging member surface  26  to a print substrate  34 . The transfer occurs as the substrate  34  is passed through a transfer nip  48  between the imaging member  24  and an impression roller  50  such that the ink within the imaged portion pockets of the reimageable surface  26  is brought into physical contact with the substrate  34  and transfers via pressure at the transfer nip from the imaging member surface to the substrate as a print of the image. 
     Rheological conditioning subsystems  22  may be used to increase the viscosity of the ink at specific locations of the digital offset image forming device  10  as desired. While not being limited to a particular theory, rheological conditioning subsystem  22  may include a curing mechanism  52 , such as a UV curing lamp (e.g., standard laser, UV laser, high powered UV LED light source), wavelength tunable photoinitiator, or other UV source, that exposes the ink to an amount of UV light (e.g., # of photons radiation) to at least partially cure the ink/coating to a tacky or solid state. The curing mechanism may include various forms of optical or photo curing, thermal curing, electron beam curing, drying, or chemical curing. In the exemplary image forming device  10  depicted in  FIG. 1 , rheological conditioning subsystem  22  may be positioned adjacent the substrate  34  downstream the ink image transfer station  46  to cure the ink image transferred to the substrate. Rheological conditioning subsystems  22  may also be positioned adjacent the imaging member surface  26  between the ink image transfer station  46  and cleaning device  20  as a preconditioner to harden any residual ink  54  for easier removal from the imaging member surface  26  that prepares the surface to repeat the digital image forming operation. 
     This residual ink removal is most preferably undertaken without scraping or wearing the imagable surface of the imaging member. Removal of such remaining fluid residue may be accomplished through use of some form of cleaning device  20  adjacent the surface  26  between the ink image transfer station  46  and the fountain solution applicator  14 . Such a cleaning device  20  may include at least a first cleaning member  56  such as a sticky or tacky roller in physical contact with the imaging member surface  26 , with the sticky or tacky roller removing residual fluid materials (e.g., ink, fountain solution) from the surface. The sticky or tacky roller may then be brought into contact with a smooth roller (not shown) to which the residual fluids may be transferred from the sticky or tacky member, the fluids being subsequently stripped from the smooth roller by, for example, a doctor blade or other like device and collected as waste. It is understood that the cleaning device  20  is one of numerous types of cleaning devices and that other cleaning devices designed to remove residual ink/fountain solution from the surface of imaging member  24  are considered within the scope of the embodiments. For example, the cleaning device could include at least one roller, brush, web, belt, tacky roller, buffing wheel, etc., as well understood by a skilled artisan. 
     Downstream the ink image transfer station  46 , the printed ink image may continue past the rheological conditioning subsystem for post-print processing (e.g., output, stacking printed substrate sheets, cutting of the printed substrate into sheets, etc.). Before post-print processing, printed images may be monitored for print quality (e.g., image uniformity, color registration, grayscale quality, imaging efficiency, etc.) by a sensor  58 . The sensor may be an image on web array (IOWA) sensor that may continually monitor print quality. Based on monitored results, the printing process may be adjusted, as discussed by example in greater detail below. 
     In the image forming device  10 , functions and utility provided by the dampening station  12 , optical patterning subsystem  16 , inking apparatus  18 , cleaning device  20 , rheological conditioning subsystems  22 , imaging member  24  and sensor  58  may be controlled, at least in part by controller  60 . Such a controller  60  is shown in  FIG. 1  and may be further designed to receive information and instructions from a workstation or other image input devices (e.g., computers, smart phones, laptops, tablets, kiosk) to coordinate the image formation on the print substrate through the various subsystems such as the dampening station  12 , patterning subsystem  16 , inking apparatus  18 , imaging member  24  and sensor  58  as discussed in greater detail below and understood by a skilled artisan. 
       FIG. 2  depicts an exemplary fountain solution applicator  14  that may apply a fountain solution layer directly onto the imaging member surface  26 . The fountain solution applicator  14  includes a supply chamber  62  that may be generally cylindrical defining an interior for containing fountain solution vapor therein. The supply chamber  62  includes an inlet tube  64  in fluid communication with a fountain solution supply (not shown), and a tube portion  66  extending to a closed distal end  68  thereof. A supply channel  70  extends from the supply chamber  62  to adjacent the imaging member surface  26 , with the supply channel defining an interior in communication with the interior of the supply chamber to enable flow of fountain solution vapor from the supply chamber through the supply channel and out a supply channel outlet slot  72  for deposition over the imaging member surface, where the fountain solution vapor condenses to a fluid on the imaging member surface. 
     A vapor flow restriction boarder  74  extends from the supply channel  70  adjacent the reimageable surface  26  to confine fountain solution vapor provided from the supply channel outlet slot  72  to a condensation region defined by the restriction boarder and the adjacent reimageable surface to support forming a layer of fountain solution on the reimageable surface via condensation of the fountain solution vapor onto the reimageable surface. The restriction boarder  74  defines the condensation region over the surface  26  of the imaging member  24 . The restriction boarder includes arc walls  76  that face the imaging member surface  26 , and boarder wall  78  that extends from the arc walls towards the imaging member surface. The reimageable surface  26  of the imaging member  24  may have a width W parallel to the supply channel  70  and supply channel outlet slot  72 , with the outlet slot having a width across the imaging member configured to enable fountain solution vapor in the supply chamber interior to communicate with the imaging member surface across its width. 
     As noted above, the inventors discovered it would be beneficial to control the fountain solution thickness on the imaging member surface  26  to a very thin layer for optimal printing with the image forming device  10 . One drawback in trying to measure the thickness of fountain solution directly on the imaging blanket is that the top surface of the blanket is coated with a fluorosilicone/carbon black solution. The carbon black is added to absorb the laser light during the imaging process. The carbon black also makes it very difficult to measure the fountain solution on the blanket during image forming operations using a non-contact specular sensor because light is absorbed by the blanket. Such specular sensors researched as potential solutions have been very expensive. An additional drawback of the fluorosilicone/carbon black imaging member surface is that any contact sensors scuff/abrade the surface causing defects objectionable in the print. As a solution to the drawback, the inventors found that instead of measuring the thickness of fountain solution directly on the imaging blanket, results of a current printing on a print substrate may be used to determine the fountain solution thickness applied during the rendering of the current printing, and to determine corrective action to modify fountain solution application during subsequent printings to reach a desired thickness. 
     Examples of the preferred embodiments use printed content (e.g., halftones, difference in grayscale or darkness, ΔE) to determine thickness of fountain solution applied by fountain solution applicator  14  on the imaging member surface  26  and/or determine the image forming device  10  real-time image forming modifications for subsequent printings. For example, in real-time during the printing of a print job, a sensor  58  measures halftones or grayscale differences between printed content and non-printed content of a current printing on print substrate  34 . Based on this measurement of printed content output from the image forming device  10 , the image forming device  10  may adjust image forming (e.g., fountain solution deposition flow rate, imaging member rotation speed) on-the-fly to reach or maintain a preferred fountain solution thickness on the imaging member surface  26  for subsequent (e.g., next) printings of the print job. 
       FIG. 3  is a graph showing exemplary image forming device  10  printed output responses to changes of the fountain solution dispense rate onto the imaging member  24 . Response data was generated on an exemplary image forming device  10  with a fountain solution applicator liquid mass flow controller to precisely control the flow of fountain solution that is supplied to the vaporizer for output onto the imaging member surface  26 . Response data may include ΔE as a measure of change in visual perception between two regions of a printed substrate. While not being limited to a particular theory, the regions may be printed and adjacent non-printed regions (e.g., pixel, one of many dots per inch) of a printed substrate. The regions may also be two regions printed at different lightness, grayscale, gray levels or color levels. While shown in graph form, the response data may be stored in a data storage device of the image forming device in graph form or as a lookup table (LUT), as also discussed in greater detail below. It should also be noted that ΔE may be measured by any of the International Commission on Illumination (CIE) standards (e.g., dE76, dE94, and dE00) or another readily understood metric measuring change in visual perception as understood by a skilled artisan. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the flow rate of the fountain solution was increased, for example, from 0.5 g/min to 1.2 g/min in 0.1 g/min intervals. As the flow rate of fountain solution increased, the thickness of the fountain solution applied onto the imaging member surface  26  increased accordingly. For each flow rate, a toned reproductive curve (TRC) referring to a printed density of a sweep of gray level patches in units of ΔE or L* was generated at each grayscale setpoint (e.g., 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 30%, 40%, etc.) identified by rounded dots in  FIG. 2  to determine the image forming device  10  response. An increase in the flow of fountain solution causes the shape of the TRC&#39;s to become shallower. This is due to the fact that the laser power struggles to evaporate/boil the fountain solution as the thickness increases. For the exemplary image forming device  10 , the 0.6 g/min flow rate output printed response shows significant influence by background (i.e., non-printed regions) in the printout due to not enough fountain solution for ink rejection. The 0.5 g/min flow rate output printed response does not reject the ink at all causing a completely solid print. In this example, the 0.7 g/min flow rate output printed response appears to be more linearly related to the percentage contone input. TRC may also refer to an object (e.g., input image) energy-to-displayed (e.g., reproduction) energy transformation. 
     Based on the response data shown, by example, in  FIG. 3  and/or stored as a lookup table, the controller can determine the fountain solution thickness resulting on the imaging member surface  26  for each of the flow rates sampled. For example, the fountain solution thickness may be determined based on the fountain solution dispense rate divided by rotation speed of the rotating imaging member  24 . The fountain solution thickness may be determined also from additional factors. As an example, the thickness of fountain solution may be determined for the flow rates discussed above based on the formula: 
               FS   ⁢           ⁢   Thickness   ⁢           ⁢     (   nm   )       =       Flow   ⁢           ⁢   Rate   ⁢           ⁢     (     g   /   s     )     *   Efficiency   *   1000000       Slot   ⁢           ⁢   Length   ⁢           ⁢     (   cm   )     *   Process   ⁢           ⁢   Speed   ⁢           ⁢     (     cm   /   s     )     *   FS   ⁢           ⁢   Density   ⁢           ⁢     (     g   /     cm   3       )               
where flow rate is a mass flow rate setting delivering fountain solution to a vaporizer for application of the delivered fountain solution as a vapor to the imaging member surface. Here, efficiency is a percentage of the fountain solution that condenses onto the imaging member surface. Slot length is a length of an outlet of the vaporizer (e.g., supply channel outlet slot  72 ) adjacent the imaging member surface. Process speed is a rotation speed of the rotating imaging member, and FS density is the density of the fountain solution liquid.
 
     The controller  60  may calculate the fountain solution thickness at each flow rate setting discussed above and determine the response vs ΔE.  FIG. 4  shows an exemplary print response of the digital image forming device  10  as the fountain solution thickness changes. It should be noted that the % Contone Input of  FIG. 3  may be considered the same as % Patch in  FIG. 4  The response data can also be stored in a data storage device, for example, as a lookup table. The response date can also be used by the controller  60 , if desired, to predict or estimate the fountain solution thickness for the rendering of an ink image based on the image printed on the substrate  34 . 
     In examples, the sensor  58  measures ΔE of a halftone patch in comparison to an adjacent unprinted patch of a printed image on print substrate  34 , and the controller may use the measured ΔE to estimate fountain solution thickness. While not being limited to a particular theory, in this example % contone corresponds to grayscale level of the input image to the digital image forming device, and % halftone patch corresponds to grayscale level of the printed image result on print substrate  34 . It is also understood that the terms contone and halftone may be used interchangeably herein without departing from the meaning of either term. For example, the printings and measurements thereof may be in halftone or contone formats. 
       FIG. 5  shows a fountain solution thickness estimate plotted as a function of ΔE for a 70% halftone patch. While the sensor  58  can measure ΔE of any printing requested in a print job, in this example, a known halftone patch (e.g., 70%) may be printed in the inter-document zone or in a gutter region outside the customer print width. The gutter region may refer to an outer section of the print media that is cut or removed from a final printed product. The measured ΔE may then be converted to a fountain solution thickness estimate using a calibration curve such as shown in  FIG. 5 . A new calibration curve could be generated in consideration of changes to the digital image forming device  10  that may affect the ΔE, fountain solution flow and fountain solution thickness determinations, for example, every time the imaging member blanket is changed or the fountain solution applicator is altered. 
     While, measurement of the fountain solution thickness is not required for the print process discussed herein including modifying fountain solution deposition in real time based on measurements of current print output, the inventors found it is highly desirable to measure signals that directly correlate to the fountain solution thickness. To this end, the digital image forming device  10  can control fountain solution thickness on the imaging member surface  26  regardless of knowing the actual thickness. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a block diagram of the controller  60  for executing instructions to automatically control the digital image forming device  10  and components thereof. The exemplary controller  60  may provide input to or be a component of a controller for executing the image formation method including controlling fountain solution thickness in a system such as that depicted in  FIGS. 1-2 , and described in greater detail below. 
     The exemplary controller  60  may include an operating interface  80  by which a user may communicate with the exemplary control system. The operating interface  80  may be a locally-accessible user interface associated with the digital image forming device  10 . The operating interface  80  may be configured as one or more conventional mechanism common to controllers and/or computing devices that may permit a user to input information to the exemplary controller  60 . The operating interface  80  may include, for example, a conventional keyboard, a touchscreen with “soft” buttons or with various components for use with a compatible stylus, a microphone by which a user may provide oral commands to the exemplary controller  60  to be “translated” by a voice recognition program, or other like device by which a user may communicate specific operating instructions to the exemplary controller. The operating interface  80  may be a part or a function of a graphical user interface (GUI) mounted on, integral to, or associated with, the digital image forming device  10  with which the exemplary controller  60  is associated. 
     The exemplary controller  60  may include one or more local processors  82  for individually operating the exemplary controller  60  and for carrying into effect control and operating functions for image formation onto a print substrate  34 , including rendering digital images, monitoring printed content (e.g., halftones, difference in grayscale or darkness) to determine thickness of fountain solution applied by a fountain solution applicator on an imaging member surface and/or determine image forming device real-time on-the-fly image forming modifications for subsequent printings. For example, in real-time during the printing of a print job, based on halftones or grayscale differences between printed content and non-printed content of a current printing on print substrate, processors  82  may adjust image forming (e.g., fountain solution deposition flow rate, imaging member rotation speed) to reach or maintain a preferred fountain solution thickness on the imaging member surface for subsequent (e.g., next) printings of the print job with the digital image forming device  10  with which the exemplary controller may be associated. Processor(s)  82  may include at least one conventional processor or microprocessor that interprets and executes instructions to direct specific functioning of the exemplary controller  60 , and control adjustments of the image forming process with the exemplary controller. 
     The exemplary controller  60  may include one or more data storage devices  84 . Such data storage device(s)  84  may be used to store data or operating programs to be used by the exemplary controller  60 , and specifically the processor(s)  82 . Data storage device(s)  84  may be used to store information regarding, for example, digital image information, printed image response data, fountain solution thickness corresponding to ΔE, fountain solution thickness estimation, and fountain solution deposition information with which the digital image forming device  10  is associated. Stored printed image response data may be devolved into data to generate a recurring or continuous feedback fountain solution deposition rate modification in the manner generally described by examples herein. 
     The data storage device(s)  84  may include a random access memory (RAM) or another type of dynamic storage device that is capable of storing updatable database information, and for separately storing instructions for execution of image correction operations by, for example, processor(s)  82 . Data storage device(s)  84  may also include a read-only memory (ROM), which may include a conventional ROM device or another type of static storage device that stores static information and instructions for processor(s)  82 . Further, the data storage device(s)  84  may be integral to the exemplary controller  60 , or may be provided external to, and in wired or wireless communication with, the exemplary controller  60 , including as cloud-based data storage components. 
     The data storage device(s)  84  may include non-transitory machine-readable storage medium to store the device queue manager logic persistently. While a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium is may be discussed as a single medium, the term “machine-readable storage medium” should be taken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) that store one or more sets of instructions. The term “machine-readable storage medium” shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable of storing or encoding a set of instruction for execution by the controller  60  and that causes the digital image forming device  10  to perform any one or more of the methodologies of the present invention. The term “machine-readable storage medium” shall accordingly be taken to include, but not be limited to, solid-state memories, and optical and magnetic media. 
     The exemplary controller  60  may include at least one data output/display device  86 , which may be configured as one or more conventional mechanisms that output information to a user, including, but not limited to, a display screen on a GUI of the digital image forming device  10  or associated image forming device with which the exemplary controller  60  may be associated. The data output/display device  86  may be used to indicate to a user a status of the digital image forming device  10  with which the exemplary controller  60  may be associated including an operation of one or more individually controlled components at one or more of a plurality of separate image processing stations or subsystems associated with the image forming device. 
     The exemplary controller  60  may include one or more separate external communication interfaces  88  by which the exemplary controller  60  may communicate with components that may be external to the exemplary control system such as a sensor  58  (e.g., image on web array (IOWA) sensor) that can monitor color to color registration, grayscale, image uniformity, ΔE and printing efficiency from the printer or other image forming device. At least one of the external communication interfaces  88  may be configured as an input port to support connecting an external CAD/CAM device storing modeling information for execution of the control functions in the image formation and correction operations. Any suitable data connection to provide wired or wireless communication between the exemplary controller  60  and external and/or associated components is contemplated to be encompassed by the depicted external communication interface  88 . 
     The exemplary controller  60  may include an image forming control device  90  that may be used to control an image correction process including fountain solution deposition rate control and modification to render images on imaging member surface  26  having a desired fountain solution thickness resulting in printed images at desired ΔE for the input grayscale (e.g., % contone input). For example, the image forming control device  90  may render digital images on the reimageable surface  26  having a desired fountain solution thickness from fountain solution flow adjusted automatically on-the-fly in real-time based on ΔE measurements of prior printings of the same or prior print job. The image forming control device  90  may operate as a part or a function of the processor  82  coupled to one or more of the data storage devices  84  and the digital image forming device  10  (e.g., optical patterning subsystem  16 , inking apparatus  18 , dampening station  12 ), or may operate as a separate stand-alone component module or circuit in the exemplary controller  60 . 
     All of the various components of the exemplary controller  60 , as depicted in  FIG. 6 , may be connected internally, and to the digital image forming device  10 , associated image forming apparatuses downstream the image forming device and/or components thereof, by one or more data/control busses  92 . These data/control busses  92  may provide wired or wireless communication between the various components of the image forming device  10  and any associated image forming apparatus, whether all of those components are housed integrally in, or are otherwise external and connected to image forming devices with which the exemplary controller  60  may be associated. 
     It should be appreciated that, although depicted in  FIG. 6  as an integral unit, the various disclosed elements of the exemplary controller  60  may be arranged in any combination of subsystems as individual components or combinations of components, integral to a single unit, or external to, and in wired or wireless communication with the single unit of the exemplary control system. In other words, no specific configuration as an integral unit or as a support unit is to be implied by the depiction in  FIG. 6 . Further, although depicted as individual units for ease of understanding of the details provided in this disclosure regarding the exemplary controller  60 , it should be understood that the described functions of any of the individually-depicted components, and particularly each of the depicted control devices, may be undertaken, for example, by one or more processors  82  connected to, and in communication with, one or more data storage device(s)  84 . 
     The disclosed embodiments may include an exemplary method for controlling fountain solution thickness on an imaging member surface of a rotating imaging member in a digital image forming device  10 .  FIG. 7  illustrates a flowchart of such an exemplary method. As shown in  FIG. 7 , operation of the method commences at Step S 100  and proceeds to Step S 110 . 
     At Step S 110 , the digital image forming device  10  prints a rendering of an input image having a grayscale (e.g., % contone) as a current image having a printed grayscale level (e.g., % halftone) at a region of a print substrate  34 . Such a printing includes the dampening station  12  applying a fountain solution layer at a dispense rate onto the imaging member surface  24 , the optical patterning subsystem  16  vaporizing in an image wise fashion a portion of the fountain solution layer to form a latent image, the inking apparatus  18  applying ink onto the latent image over the imaging member surface, and transferring the applied ink from the imaging member surface to the print substrate at the image transfer station  46 . 
     Operation of the method proceeds to Step S 120 , where the sensor  58  measures ΔE of the current image printed at the region of the printed substrate. The sensor  58  may measure ΔE automatically and/or when instructed by the controller  60 . For example, the controller  60  may instruct the sensor  58  as readily understood by a skilled artisan every printed page or every set number of printed pages, or at some other time. 
     Operation of the method proceeds to Step S 130 , where the controller  60  or processor  82  thereof compares the measured ΔE to a predefined target ΔE (e.g., at the % patch of the measured region. While not limited to a particular % patch, the examples may use about 70%-80% patch as the inventors found that patches in this range have the highest sensitivity to fountain solution thickness differences in normal printing ranges. The predefined target ΔE (e.g., 25-90) information may be stored in data storage device  84  as depicted in  FIG. 6  or as a lookup table. Operation of the method proceeds to Step S 140 . 
     At Step S 140 , the controller  60  modifies the fountain solution dispense rate for next printings based on the comparison in Step S 130 . The modification may increase or decrease the fountain solution dispense rate if the measured ΔE is different than the predefined target ΔE (e.g., 35-70, 35-60, 45-70) at the % patch (e.g., 70%-80%, 70%, 80%) of the measured region. For example, if a measured ΔE at a 70% contone input patch is 50, and a predefined target ΔE at 70% contone input is closer to 60, then the controller would instruct the fountain solution applicator  14  to reduce the fountain solution dispense rate about 0.1 g/min to decrease the fountain solution thickness for a next printing. 
     Operation of the method proceeds to Step S 150 , where the digital image forming device  10  prints a subsequent image using the modified fountain solution dispense rate. Operation cease at Step S 160 , may continue by repeating Step S 150  for additional printing, or may continue by repeating back to Step S 120  to measure ΔE of a current image printed on the printed substrate and further adjust the fountain solution flow rate as desired. 
     The exemplary depicted sequence of executable method steps represents one example of a corresponding sequence of acts for implementing the functions described in the steps. The exemplary depicted steps may be executed in any reasonable order to carry into effect the objectives of the disclosed embodiments. No particular order to the disclosed steps of the method is necessarily implied by the depiction in  FIG. 7 , and the accompanying description, except where any particular method step is reasonably considered to be a necessary precondition to execution of any other method step. Individual method steps may be carried out in sequence or in parallel in simultaneous or near simultaneous timing. Additionally, not all of the depicted and described method steps need to be included in any particular scheme according to disclosure. 
     Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other embodiments of the disclosed subject matter may be practiced with many types of image forming elements common to offset inking system in many different configurations. For example, although digital lithographic systems and methods are shown in the discussed embodiments, the examples may apply to analog image forming systems and methods, including analog offset inking systems and methods. It should be understood that these are non-limiting examples of the variations that may be undertaken according to the disclosed schemes. In other words, no particular limiting configuration is to be implied from the above description and the accompanying drawings. 
     It will be appreciated that various of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Also, various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art.