Systems and methods for implementing a release film for a cleaning unit in an image forming device using digital offset lithographic printing techniques

A method for cleaning a reimageable surface in a variable data digital image forming system, comprising:

• providing a cleaner roller for contacting a reimageable surface of an imaging member in a variable data digital image forming system at a cleaner nip;
• wetting a cleaning surface component for separately cleaning the cleaner roller with a solvent, the solvent including a liquid component and a solid component suspended in the liquid component,
• contacting a surface of the cleaner roller with the wetted cleaning surface component at a cleaning nip between the cleaning surface component and the surface of the cleaner roller, the cleaning surface component leaving a layer of the solvent on the surface of the cleaner roller;
• evaporating the liquid component of the solvent prior to the surface of the cleaner roller contacting the reimageable surface at the cleaner nip leaving a release layer formed of the solid component of the solvent on the surface of the cleaner roller;
• removing ink from the reimageable surface through contact of the reimageable surface with the cleaner roller at the cleaner nip;
• re-wetting the release layer on the surface of the cleaner roller with the cleaning surface component after the surface of the cleaner roller passes through the cleaner nip collecting the ink from the reimageable surface to facilitate the removal of the ink from the surface of the cleaner roller;
• and
• cleaning the surface of the cleaner roller via contact with the cleaning surface component.