APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR METERING FLUID FILM IN AN INK JET PRINTING SYSTEM

• Main Authors: WILLIAMSON BRENDAN H, VAN BORTEL DAVID P
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 18.03.2010
• Subjects: CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS; i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; LINING MACHINES; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PRINTING; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS; STAMPS; TRANSPORTING; TYPEWRITERS

An apparatus (100) and method that meters fluid film in an ink jet printing system is disclosed. The apparatus can include a source of fluid film (110) and a source metering assembly (120) rotatably supported in the apparatus. The source metering assembly can have a source metering assembly surface (122) coupled to the source of fluid film and the source metering assembly surface can be configured to transport fluid film from the source of fluid film. The apparatus can include a donor assembly (140) rotatably supported in the apparatus, where the donor assembly can have a donor assembly surface (142) coupled to the source metering assembly surface and the donor assembly surface can be configured to transport fluid film from the source metering assembly surface. The apparatus can include an ink jet printhead (195) configured to emit ink and a print assembly (170) rotatably supported in the apparatus. The print assembly can have a print assembly surface (172) coupled to the donor assembly surface, where the print assembly surface can be configured to transport fluid film from the donor assembly surface and the print assembly can be configured to receive ink from the ink jet printhead and produce an image on media using the ink.