FOUNTAIN SOLUTION IMAGING AND TRANSFER USING DIELECTROPHORESIS

A compliant surface is created with micron scale pits or dimples above an electrically biased conductive layer. The dimples are filled partially with fountain solution and brought adjacent a surface bearing a charge image. The field lines between pixel charge and backplane conductive layer are guided by the dielectric variations defined by the dimple walls and the fountain solution. Dielectrophoretic forces cause the fountain solution within the dimples to flow up to the charge image and wet the surface. A desired volume is controlled by varying parameters such as nip pressure. The developed latent image is then brought into contact with a transfer member blanket and split, thus creating on the blanket a fountain solution latent image ready for inking.