Vapor deposition and recovery systems for ink-based digital printing

A dampening fluid delivery system useful for printing with an ink-based digital printing system, the ink-based digital printing system having an imaging member with a reimageable surface, the system comprising:

• a dampening fluid supply chamber having a dampening fluid supply chamber interior, the dampening fluid supply chamber including an inlet tube and a split tube having a first split tube portion and a second split tube portion extending to a closed distal end of the split tube, the inlet tube coupled to a dampening fluid supply source, the inlet tube extending from the fluid supply source and splitting into the first split tube portion and the second split tube portion, the first and second split tube portions rejoining at the closed distal end, the dampening fluid supply chamber interior defined by the inlet tube and the split tube, the first split tube portion defining a first split tube portion interior, the second split tube portion defining a second split tube portion interior, the first split tube portion interior being in fluid communication with the second split tube portion interior at both the inlet tube and the distal end;
• and
• a dampening fluid supply channel attached to the split tube, the dampening fluid supply channel defining a dampening fluid supply channel interior in communication with the dampening fluid supply chamber interior, the dampening fluid supply channel being configured to deliver fluid vapor from both the first split tube portion and the second split tube portion onto the reimageable surface of the imaging member.

A dampening fluid delivery system useful for printing with an ink-based digital image forming apparatus having an imaging member with a reimageable surface and a dampening fluid deposition subsystem for applying a layer of dampening fluid from a dampening fluid source in vapor form over the reimageable surface with the dampening fluid vapor condensing onto the reimageable surface, the dampening fluid delivery system comprising:

• a dampening fluid recovery subsystem configured to transfer excess dampening fluid vapor from over a reimageable surface of an imaging member to a dampening fluid source, the dampening fluid recovery subsystem including:
• a seal unit having a front seal portion, the front seal portion having an upper wall facing the reimageable surface, the upper wall being configured to define an air flow channel with the reimageable surface,
• a vapor extraction channel defining a vapor extraction channel interior in communication with the air flow channel, the vapor extraction channel ascending away from the imaging member to deliver the excess dampening fluid vapor from the air flow channel, and
• a vapor extraction manifold including a vapor extraction chamber defining a vapor extraction chamber interior in communication with the vapor extraction channel interior to collect the excess dampening fluid vapor from the vapor extraction channel, the vapor extraction manifold further including a vapor condensation device configured to cool the excess dampening fluid vapor into a fluid state, the vapor extraction manifold including a dampening fluid output conduit configured to deliver the cooled dampening fluid to the dampening fluid source.