Fountain solution deposition apparatus and method for digital printing device

A method for depositing a layer of fountain solution onto a reimageable surface of a rotatable imaging member useful for printing with an ink-based digital image forming apparatus, comprising:

• delivering fountain solution vapor from a fountain solution vapor source towards a surface of a donor roller in rolling communication with the reimageable surface of the rotatable imaging member via a vapor supply chamber defining a vapor supply chamber interior in fluid communication with the fountain solution vapor source, the vapor supply chamber being adjacent the donor roller;
• providing a vapor supply chamber outlet adjacent the donor roller surface to enable vapor communication between the vapor supply chamber interior and the donor roller surface;
• confining the fountain solution vapor to a gap region adjacent the donor roller surface with a vapor baffle in contact with the vapor supply chamber and extending about the donor roller surface downstream the vapor supply chamber in a rotating direction of the donor roller, the confined fountain solution vapor transferring onto the donor roller surface at the gap region as the layer of fountain solution;
• and
• transferring the layer of fountain solution from the donor roller surface to the reimageable surface of the rotatable imaging member.

A fountain solution deposition system useful for printing with an ink-based digital image forming apparatus having a rotatable imaging member with a reimageable surface, the system comprising:

• a conductive donor roller having a surface in rolling communication with the reimageable surface of the rotatable imaging member;
• a vapor supply chamber defining a vapor supply chamber interior in fluid communication with a fountain solution vapor source, the vapor supply chamber descending towards the conductive donor roller, the vapor supply chamber being configured to deliver vapor from the fountain solution vapor source towards the surface of the conductive donor roller;
• a vapor supply chamber outlet configured to enable the vapor supply chamber interior to communicate with the surface of the conductive donor roller;
• and
• a vapor baffle in contact with the vapor supply chamber and extending about the surface of the conductive donor roller downstream the vapor supply chamber in a rotating direction of the conductive donor roller defining a vapor flow channel with the surface of the conductive donor roller to confine the fountain solution vapor to a gap region between the vapor baffle and the surface of the conductive donor roller to support forming a layer of fountain solution on the surface of the conductive donor roller via transfer of the fountain solution vapor over the surface of the conductive donor roller, the conductive donor roller configured to transfer the layer of fountain solution from the surface of the conductive donor roller onto the reimageable surface of the rotatable imaging member, wherein the fountain solution passes through the vapor supply chamber and the vapor baffle for transfer of the vapor onto the surface of the conductive donor roller.