US 11,835,446 B2
Fountain solution thickness measurement system and method using ellipsometry
Donald Thresh, Fairport, NY (US); Jonathan Ireland, Lancaster, PA (US); Bruce H. Smith, Webster, NY (US); Michael N. Soures, Webster, NY (US); and James D. Vanbortel, Rochester, NY (US)
Assigned to Xerox Corporation, Norwalk, CT (US)
Filed by Xerox Corporation, Norwalk, CT (US)
Filed on Jun. 23, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/355,692.
Prior Publication US 2022/0412878 A1, Dec. 29, 2022
Int. Cl. G01N 21/21 (2006.01); B41F 7/24 (2006.01); B41N 3/08 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 21/211 (2013.01) [B41F 7/24 (2013.01); B41N 3/08 (2013.01); B41P 2233/30 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image forming device for controlling fountain solution thickness on a non-reflective imaging member surface of a rotating imaging member, comprising:
a reflective substrate attached to the non-reflective imaging member surface at non-image forming regions along a first side gutter of the imaging member surface outside a imageable area of the imaging member surface to form a reflective surface on the otherwise non-reflective surface, the imaging member surface having a layer of fountain solution fluid dispensed on both the reflective surface and the non-reflective surface at a fountain solution dispense rate;
a light reflectance detector spatially separate from the imaging member surface forming a gap therebetween, the light reflectance detector configured to measure a light reflectance from the reflective surface with the fountain solution fluid layer thereon; and
a controller in communication with the light reflectance detector and the fountain solution applicator to modify the fountain solution dispense rate based on the measured light reflectance.