Patent ID: 9096055
Filing Date: 2015-08-04
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. An ink-based digital printing system useful for ink printing, comprising: an imaging member having a surface at a surface temperature; a dampening fluid patterning system comprising an inkjet configured to form a latent image by jetting droplets on the surface of the imaging member, wherein each jetting droplet comprises dampening fluid and carrier in a single fluid phase at a jetting temperature, wherein at the imaging member each jetting droplet spreads and holds a spot size of less than 50 micrometers, and wherein the jetting temperature is higher than the surface temperature; wherein the carrier solidifies upon contacting the imaging member and reaching a temperature lower than the jetting temperature; wherein upon contact with the surface of the imaging member the jetted droplet will phase separate into a solid component and a liquid dampening fluid component that migrates to a surface of the solid component enabling formation of a dampening fluid layer; a transfer member, the transfer member being configured to receive a dampening fluid pattern from the surface of the imaging member, the transfer member and the imaging member being arranged to define a dampening fluid image loading nip for contact transfer, the dampening fluid being separate from and immiscible with solid carrier on the imaging member surface; and an inker system, the inker system being configured to apply ink onto the transfer member having the transferred dampening fluid layer pattern to form an ink image based on the dampening fluid pattern.