Patent ID: 6899419

Claim:
A phase change ink image producing machine comprising: (a) a control subsystem for controlling operation of all subsystems and components of the image producing machine; (b) melting apparatus for melting solid phase change ink into melted molten liquid ink; (c) a printhead system located for receiving said melted molten liquid ink, said printhead system being connected to said control subsystem for ejecting droplets of melted molten liquid ink onto an imaging member to form an image; and (d) a movable imaging member having a top outer imaging surface for receiving said droplets of melted molten liquid ink from said printhead system, said imaging member comprising: (i) a substrate member; (ii) at least one elastomeric layer formed over said substrate member and including said top outer imaging surface; and (iii) a surface texture formed into said top outer imaging surface and comprising asperities spaced apart at most one-half to one pixel spot for providing contact angle hysteresis to pin image forming ink droplets received thereon, thereby preventing ink droplet drawback, and resulting in quality images.