Systems and methods for ink-based digital printing using liquid immersion development

摘要

Ink-based digital printing systems useful for ink printing include a photoreceptor layer configured to receive a layer of liquid immersion fluid. The liquid immersion fluid includes dampening fluid, dispersed solid particles, and charge directors that impart charge to the solid particles. The photoreceptor surface is charged to a uniform potential, and selectively discharged using an ROS according to image data to form an electrostatic latent image. The charged liquid immersion fluid adheres to portions of the photoreceptor surface according to the electrostatic latent image to form a liquid immersion fluid image. The fluid portion of the liquid immersion fluid image is partially transferred to an imaging member and/or transfer member to form a dampening fluid image, either or both of which may be electrically biased. The dampening fluid image is inked on the transfer member, and the resulting ink image transferred to a recording medium.

主权项

1. An ink-based digital printing system useful for ink printing, comprising:
an imaging member configured for carrying a liquid immersion fluid image on the imaging member; a transfer member, the imaging member and the transfer member forming a fluid image loading nip, the transfer member being electrically biased to attract or repel a portion of the immersion fluid at the image fluid loading nip during transfer of the immersion fluid from the imaging member to the transfer member; an immersion metering system comprising a roll for metering a uniform layer of immersion fluid onto a surface of the imaging member to form the immersion fluid image; an inking system, the inking system being configured to apply ink to the fluid image on the surface of the transfer member for developing the fluid image, wherein the immersion fluid comprises:
a dampening fluid; solid particles dispersed in the dampening fluid; anda charge director for imparting charge to the solid particles to enable transfer of the immersion fluid image.