Patent ID: 8893616

Claim:
A digital offset inking method, comprising: metering a uniform layer of ink onto a hard form roll from a transfer roll of an inking system, the transfer roll having a conformable surface; and transferring the ink of the uniform layer directly from the hard form roll to a digital imaging member; cleaning a combination solution that includes ink and fountain solution from the hard form roll, the cleaning including removing the combination solution from the surface of the hard form roll, the fountain solution being transferred to the hard form roll during the transferring the ink to the digital imaging member; collecting the removed combination solution to a reservoir of a fountain solution removal system; and separating the ink from the fountain solution by subjecting the combination solution to a separation procedure while the combination solution is in the reservoir, wherein the cleaning step further comprises contacting a hard surface of the hard form roll with a cleaning blade whereby the combination solution is removed from the hard form roll, and the separating procedure includes evaporating the fountain solution from the combination solution to yield ink that is substantially free of the fountain solution.