CN215850320U

CN215850320U - Ink supply assembly and ink supply device

Info

Publication number: CN215850320U
Application number: CN202122518442.3U
Authority: CN
Inventors: 郑攀; 刘鹏; 徐国强; 徐海生
Original assignee: Kunshan Hisense Electronic Co ltd
Current assignee: Micro Ink Intelligent Technology Nantong Co ltd
Priority date: 2021-10-19
Filing date: 2021-10-19
Publication date: 2022-02-18
Anticipated expiration: 2031-10-19

Abstract

The application provides an ink supply assembly and ink supply device, it includes: the ink filter comprises a first chamber, a filtering part, a second chamber, a first switch and a third chamber, wherein the first chamber is provided with a first inlet and a first outlet, and the first inlet is provided with a connecting part connected with an ink supply; the inlet of the filter component is connected with the first outlet through the first flow passage; the second chamber is used for storing ink with standard capacity and is provided with a second inlet and a second outlet, and the second inlet is connected with the outlet of the filter component through a second flow channel; the second chamber is provided with a second liquid level sensor for second liquid level information; the first switch is connected with the second liquid level sensor through a first signal cable, and the first switch is arranged on the first flow channel or the second flow channel; the third chamber is provided with a third inlet and a third outlet, the third inlet is connected with the second outlet of the second chamber through a third flow channel, and the third outlet is connected with the ink jet execution part. The ink supply device can accurately measure the ink amount of the ink supply source, and is simple in device, low in cost and high in feasibility.

Description

Ink supply assembly and ink supply device

Technical Field

The application relates to the field of ink-jet printing devices, in particular to an ink supply assembly and an ink supply device.

Background

When the inkjet printer head continuously prints, an independent ink supply system is generally needed to continuously supply ink capable of being printed by the inkjet printer head. In practical applications, the ink volume of the ink supply system needs to be known, one is through visual inspection, and the other is to use an internal liquid level measuring standard or an external application type liquid level sensor at the ink barrel of the ink supply system to acquire the ink volume data. The ink quantity is checked by a visual method, except for the fact that the ink barrel needs to be provided with an observable window, the estimation on the ink quantity is not accurate and convenient enough, and the mode of using a metering standard piece needs to arrange a corresponding liquid level detection device in each replaceable ink barrel if the printing equipment uses the disposable replaceable ink barrel, so that the cost is high, and the feasibility is poor.

In order to improve the product efficiency and the utilization rate of the jet printing equipment, the jet printing equipment generally works in a long-time continuous printing mode (unattended operation), and the printing mode needs to calculate whether the ink amount in an ink path system can meet the printing requirement of a printing batch before the printing batch begins. If the ink amount can not be accurately acquired and judged, the problem of printing termination caused by ink shortage in the midway of printing is easily caused after printing is started, and the production efficiency is reduced. Meanwhile, in order to conveniently replenish ink for the printing equipment, a disposable replaceable ink barrel is generally adopted, and when the replacement is needed, a new ink barrel is directly used for replacement.

Therefore, there is a need to provide a device that can obtain the current ink volume of a disposable ink cartridge in real time.

Disclosure of Invention

The application provides an ink supply subassembly and ink supply unit to when solving inkjet printer and using disposable replaceable ink barrel, unable accurate problem that obtains current china ink volume in the ink barrel causes to print the technical problem that the midway leads to printing the termination because of lacking the china ink.

A first aspect of the present application provides an ink supply assembly comprising:

the ink supply device comprises a first bin, a second bin and a control unit, wherein the first bin is provided with a first inlet and a first outlet, and the first inlet is provided with a connecting part used for being connected with an ink supply;

the inlet of the filter component is connected with the first outlet through a first flow passage;

the second chamber is used for storing ink with standard capacity and is provided with a second inlet and a second outlet, and the second inlet is connected with the outlet of the filter component through a second flow passage; the second chamber is provided with a second liquid level sensor for obtaining second liquid level information of ink in the second chamber;

the first switch is connected with the second liquid level sensor through a first signal cable for transmitting second liquid level information obtained by the second liquid level sensor, and is arranged on the first flow passage or the second flow passage and used for connecting or disconnecting the first flow passage or the second flow passage according to the second liquid level information;

and the third chamber is provided with a third inlet and a third outlet, the third inlet is connected with the second outlet of the second chamber through a third flow channel, and the third outlet is used for being connected with the ink jet execution part.

Optionally, in some embodiments of the present application, the ink supply assembly further includes:

set up in be used for obtaining on the first bin first level sensor of the first liquid level information of the inside ink of first bin, first level sensor pass through the second signal cable conductor with first switch links to each other, first level sensor passes through the second signal cable conductor makes the first liquid level information transmission that its obtained extremely first switch.

and the alarm component is connected with the first liquid level sensor through a third signal cable, and is used for receiving first liquid level information transmitted through the third signal cable and obtained by the first liquid level sensor.

the third liquid level sensor is arranged on the third chamber and used for obtaining third liquid level information of ink in the third chamber; and

and the second switch is connected with the third liquid level sensor through a fourth signal cable for transmitting third liquid level information obtained by the third liquid level sensor, is arranged on the third flow channel and is used for connecting or disconnecting the third flow channel according to the third liquid level information.

and the third switch is connected with the third liquid level sensor through a fifth signal cable for transmitting third liquid level information obtained by the third liquid level sensor, is arranged on a third outlet of the third chamber and is used for connecting or disconnecting the third chamber with the ink jet execution part according to the third liquid level information.

Optionally, in some embodiments of the present application, the first chamber, the filter component, the second chamber, and the third chamber are integrally formed as a single-piece structure.

Optionally, in some embodiments of the present application, the volume of the third chamber is 1.5 times to 2 times that of the ink chamber of the ink jet actuator.

Optionally, in some embodiments of the present application, the standard capacity of the second chamber is 5ml to 30 ml.

The second aspect of the present application provides an ink supply device, which includes the above ink supply assembly, and the number of the ink supply assemblies is at least two.

Optionally, in some embodiments of the present application, an ink supply apparatus includes: a housing for housing the ink supply assembly.

The application has at least one or more of the following advantages:

according to the ink supply method and device, the second bin with the known standard capacity is used as the metering bin, and the first liquid level sensor and the first switch are arranged, so that the second bin is ensured to be filled with ink when the ink in the second bin is used up, the ink consumption of an ink supply source (namely an ink barrel) can be obtained according to the ink filling times of the second bin, the real-time data of the current ink quantity of the ink supply source can be accurately obtained, the ink supply requirement of batch printing can be met, and the production efficiency is improved; the first chamber is used as a preparation chamber, and ink of the ink supply source is introduced into the second chamber, so that temporary storage and guiding effects can be achieved; the third bin is arranged to supply ink for the ink-jet execution part, so that the ink supply quantity is sufficient and the air pressure is stable, the problem that the ink supply pressure is unstable due to the change of the liquid level of the ink-jet execution part directly supplied by the second bin is solved, the problem that the ink supply quantity and the air pressure required by the ink-jet execution part cannot be smoothly supplied is solved, and meanwhile, the ink bin of the ink-jet execution part can be prevented from entering air when not in use.

The ink supply assembly and the ink supply device are simple in structure and high in feasibility, and can be applied to printing equipment, so that the production cost can be reduced, the higher automation level is realized, and the production efficiency is improved.

Furthermore, the first bin, the filtering part, the second bin and the third bin are integrally formed, the ink leakage phenomenon at the joint between the adjacent bins can be avoided, the sealing part is not required to be arranged on the whole structure, the cost is reduced, and the service life is prolonged.

Drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, the drawings needed to be used in the description of the embodiments are briefly introduced below, and it is obvious that the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present application, and it is obvious for those skilled in the art to obtain other drawings based on these drawings without creative efforts.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an ink supply assembly according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a schematic flow chart illustrating operation of an ink supply assembly provided herein;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a first structure of an ink supply apparatus provided in the present application;

FIG. 4 is a second schematic view of an ink supply apparatus provided in the present application;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a third structure of an ink supply apparatus provided in the present application;

the numbers in the figures are indicated as: 1 is a first chamber, 2 is a filter, 3 is a second chamber, 4 is a third chamber, 5 is a housing, 101 is a first liquid level sensor, 102 is a second liquid level sensor, 103 is a third liquid level sensor, 201 is a first switch, 202 is a second switch, 203 is a third switch, 301 is a first flow channel, 302 is a second flow channel, 303 is a third flow channel, 401 is a base structure, a is an ink supply source, and B is an ink jet executing part.

Detailed Description

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present application, and it is obvious that the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present application, and not all of the embodiments. All other embodiments, which can be derived by a person skilled in the art from the embodiments given herein without making any creative effort, shall fall within the protection scope of the present application. Furthermore, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating exemplary embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration and explanation only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. In the present application, the terms "first", "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and are not to be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Thus, features defined as "first", "second", may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the described features. In the description of the present application, "a plurality" means two or more unless specifically limited otherwise.

The present application provides an ink supply assembly and an ink supply device, which are described in detail below. It should be noted that the following description of the embodiments is not intended to limit the preferred order of the embodiments of the present application. In the following embodiments, the descriptions of the respective embodiments have respective emphasis, and reference may be made to related descriptions of other embodiments for parts that are not described in detail in a certain embodiment.

Referring to fig. 1, fig. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of an ink supply assembly provided by the present application. In the present application, the ink supply assembly comprises a first chamber 1, a filter member 2, a second chamber 3 and a third chamber 4.

The first chamber 1 has a chamber for containing ink. The first chamber 1 is provided with a first inlet and a first outlet which are communicated with the chamber of the first chamber, the first inlet is provided with a connecting part, and the connecting part is used for connecting an ink supply source. The ink supply may be a disposable replaceable ink cartridge. Thus, the ink supply source is communicated with the chamber of the first chamber 1, and the ink of the ink supply source flows into the first chamber 1 through the first inlet of the first chamber 1 and then flows out from the first outlet. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the first inlet communicates with the ink supply via structures known in the art, such as, but not limited to, flow channels, connecting members.

The filtering component is used for filtering the ink and removing impurities in the ink, so that the filtered ink meets the printing requirement. The inlet of the filter component is communicated with the first outlet through a first flow passage; the outlet of the filter element is communicated with the second inlet of the second chamber through a second flow passage.

The ink flowing into the second chamber 3 is filtered by the filter component 2, impurities in the ink are removed, so that the ink entering the ink jet execution part (namely the jet head) is ensured not to contain the impurities, and the ink jet execution part is prevented from being blocked and damaged. As a specific example, the filter member 2 is a filter.

The second chamber 3 has a chamber for storing a standard volume of ink, i.e. the volume of ink that can be accommodated by the chamber of the second chamber 3 is known. The standard capacity of the second chamber is 5ml to 30 ml. In specific implementation, a user can set standard capacity according to custom requirements. The second chamber 3 is provided with a second inlet and a second outlet which are communicated with the chamber of the second chamber, and the second inlet is connected with the outlet of the filter part 2, so that the ink in the first chamber 1 is filtered by the filter part 2 and then flows into the chamber of the second chamber 3 from the second inlet for storage.

The second chamber 3 is provided with a second level sensor 102 for obtaining second level information of the ink in its chamber.

The first switch is connected with the second liquid level sensor through a first signal cable, and the first signal cable is used for transmitting second liquid level information obtained by the second liquid level sensor. The first switch is arranged on the first flow passage or the second flow passage and used for connecting or disconnecting the first flow passage or the second flow passage according to the second liquid level information; when the first switch monitors that the ink in the first switch is completely used through the second liquid level sensor, the first flow channel or the second flow channel is communicated, namely, the ink is added into the second chamber from the first chamber 1, and when the first switch monitors that the ink in the first switch is completely added through the second liquid level sensor, the first flow channel or the second flow channel is disconnected, namely, the ink is stopped from being added into the second chamber from the first chamber 1. As a specific example, the first switch may include a solenoid valve, by which the first flow passage or the second flow passage is opened or closed.

In specific implementation, only when the second liquid level sensor monitors that the ink in the second chamber is used up, the ink can be added to the second chamber, and the usage amount of the ink supply source can be obtained by recording the ink adding times of the second chamber. When printing in a batch, the ink adding times of the second chamber 3 are recorded in a circulating mode in sequence, so that the use condition of the ink amount printed in the batch can be calculated. As a specific example, the number of times of ink addition of the second chamber 3 may be recorded using a PC terminal, and the amount of used ink may be calculated.

The third chamber 4 has a chamber that accommodates ink. The third chamber 4 is provided with a third inlet and a third outlet which are communicated with the cavity of the third chamber, the third inlet of the third chamber 4 is connected with the second outlet of the second chamber 3 through a third flow channel, and the third outlet of the third chamber 4 is connected with the ink jet execution part. Thus, the ink in the second chamber 3 can flow into the chamber of the third chamber 4 to be stored, and finally, the ink is supplied to the ink jet execution unit through the third chamber 4. As a specific example, the ink ejection executing portion is a head of a printing apparatus.

The third chamber 4 is used for filling ink to the ink jet execution part, so that stable ink amount and air pressure can be provided, sufficient ink amount and stable air pressure can be ensured, and meanwhile, the ink chamber of the ink jet execution part can be prevented from entering air when not in use.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the third outlet of the third chamber 4 and the ink-jet actuator can be connected by any structure known in the art, such as, but not limited to, a tube or a connecting member.

The working flow of the ink supply assembly of the above embodiment, as shown in fig. 2, is as follows:

an ink supply source a of the printing apparatus is connected to a connecting portion of the first chamber 1 of the present device, and the ink supply source a is kept in communication with the first chamber 1, whereby ink of the ink supply source a flows into the chamber of the first chamber 1.

The ink in the cavity of the first chamber 1 is filtered by the filter part 2 and then is added into the second chamber 3, and the ink amount in the second chamber 3 is added to the upper limit value of the liquid level.

When the ink amount in the second chamber 3 is full to the upper limit value of the liquid level, the ink is added from the second chamber 3 to the third chamber 4, and the liquid level of the ink amount in the third chamber is maintained in a set range, so that the stable ink amount and pressure can be supplied to the ink jet execution part B.

And connecting a third outlet of the third chamber 4 with an ink bin of an ink jet execution part B of the printing equipment, communicating the third chamber 4 with the ink bin of the ink jet execution part B, and supplying ink to the ink jet execution part B through the third chamber 4.

In practice, it should be noted that the second chamber 3 cannot be refilled from the first chamber 1 to the second chamber 3 until the second chamber is full when the liquid level in the second chamber 3 is low (i.e. when the ink in the second chamber 3 is used up). At the initial filling, the filling of ink from the second chamber 3 to the third chamber 4 is possible only when the liquid level of the second chamber 3 is full. When the ink supply is a new ink barrel or a half of the ink barrel, only the actual ink amount of the ink barrel needs to be known. Meanwhile, by combining the existing software algorithm, the PC terminal can calculate whether the ink amount of the ink barrel can meet the ink requirement of the printing product according to the actual weight of the printing product.

It can be understood that the ink supply assembly has simple structure and high feasibility, and can reduce the production cost and realize higher automation level when being applied to printing equipment, thereby improving the production efficiency.

In other embodiments of the present application, the ink supply assembly further includes a first level sensor. The first liquid level sensor is mounted on the first chamber and used for obtaining first liquid level information of ink in the first chamber. The first liquid level sensor is connected with the first switch through a second signal cable, and the first liquid level sensor transmits first liquid level information obtained by the first liquid level sensor to the first switch through the second signal cable. When the first liquid level sensor monitors that the first chamber is not filled with ink, at the moment, the first switch enables the first flow channel or the second flow channel to be disconnected, and ink adding to the second chamber is stopped.

In other embodiments of the present application, the ink supply assembly further includes an alarm feature.

The alarm component is connected with the first liquid level sensor through a third signal cable, and the alarm component is used for receiving first liquid level information transmitted through the third signal cable and obtained by the first liquid level sensor. In particular implementations, the first chamber is in communication with an ink supply. When the first liquid level sensor monitors that no ink exists in the chamber of the first chamber, the monitoring result is fed back to the alarm component, and the alarm component can give an alarm to remind a user to replace the ink supply source. As a specific example, the alarm component may be an alarm that emits a sound, a light, or a combination of a sound and a light.

In some embodiments of the present application, the ink supply assembly further includes a third level sensor and a second switch,

and the third liquid level sensor is arranged on the third chamber and used for obtaining third liquid level information of the ink in the third chamber.

The second switch is connected with the third liquid level sensor through a fourth signal cable. And the fourth signal cable is used for transmitting third liquid level information obtained by the third liquid level sensor. And a second switch is arranged on the third flow channel and used for connecting or disconnecting the third flow channel according to the third liquid level information. When the third liquid level sensor monitors that the liquid level of the third chamber is not in the set range, the third flow channel is communicated, namely the second chamber supplies ink to the third chamber until the liquid level of the ink in the third chamber is added into the set range, so that the ink amount supplied to the ink jet execution part is always maintained in a stable range. As a specific example, the second switch may include a solenoid valve, by which the third flow passage is opened or shut off.

Preferably, the volume of the third chamber 4 is 1.5 times to 2 times that of the ink chamber of the ink jet actuator, so that the sufficient amount of ink supplied to the ink jet actuator and the stable air pressure can be ensured.

Optionally, in some embodiments of the present application, the ink supply assembly further includes a third switch.

The third switch is connected with a third liquid level sensor through a fifth signal cable, and the fifth signal cable is used for transmitting third liquid level information obtained by the third liquid level sensor. And a third switch is arranged at a third outlet of the third chamber and used for connecting or disconnecting the third chamber with the ink jet execution part according to the third liquid level information. As a specific example, the third switch may comprise a solenoid valve by which the third outlet of the third chamber is opened or closed. Referring to fig. 3, the third switch 203 is fixed to the housing to facilitate connection to the ink supply performing portion.

In specific implementation, when the third liquid level sensor monitors that the ink liquid level of the third chamber is within the set range, the third outlet of the third chamber is opened to supply ink to the ink jet execution part, and when the third liquid level sensor monitors that the ink liquid level of the third chamber is not within the set range, the third outlet of the third chamber is closed to supply ink to the ink jet execution part.

In some embodiments of the present application, the first chamber, the filter element, the second chamber, and the third chamber are integrally formed as a unitary structure. The ink leakage phenomenon at the joint between the adjacent chambers can be avoided by adopting an integrally formed structure, the integral structure does not need to be provided with a sealing part, the cost is reduced, and the service life is prolonged.

In other embodiments of the present application, an ink supply device is provided that includes two sets of ink supply assemblies to match a printing apparatus for ink tanks of two colors.

Referring to fig. 3, the ink supply device further includes a housing 5. Both sets of ink supply assemblies are housed within the housing 5. Each group of ink supply components comprises a first bin 1, a filtering part 2, a second bin 3 and a third bin 4, and the first bin 1, the filtering part 2, the second bin 3 and the third bin 4 are integrally formed. By accommodating the components of the two sets of ink supply assemblies inside the housing 5 in the layout of fig. 3, space can be saved and the overall volume can be minimized.

The flow channel structure of one set of ink supply components and the flow direction of ink in the ink supply device will be described with reference to fig. 3, 4 and 5, and the other set of ink supply components is the same as the set of ink supply components, and therefore will not be described.

The first inlet of the first chamber 1 is provided with a connection portion for connecting an ink supply source. Referring to fig. 3, the connection portion may be a base structure 401 having an upper opening, and the base structure 401 communicates with the first chamber 1. In specific implementation, the ink supply source is installed above the base structure 401, so that the ink of the ink supply source flows into the cavity of the first chamber 1 through the upper opening under the action of gravity.

Referring to fig. 3 and 4, the first chamber 1 is connected to the filter element 2 through the first flow channel 301, such that the first chamber 1 is in communication with the filter element 2; the filter element 2 is integrally connected to the second chamber 3 through the second flow passage 302, and the filter element 2 is made to communicate with the second chamber 3. A first switch 201 is disposed at the second inlet of the second chamber 3, that is, the first switch 201 is installed on the second flow passage 302. Therefore, the ink in the first chamber 1 enters the filter part 2 through the first flow channel 301 for filtering, and enters the second chamber 3 through the second flow channel 302 after filtering. The ink flows in the direction indicated by the arrow in fig. 4.

Referring to fig. 3 and 5, the second chamber 3 is connected to the third chamber 4 through a third flow passage 303, so that the second chamber 3 is communicated with the third chamber 4. The second switch 202 is installed on the third flow path 303. Thereby, the ink in the second chamber 3 enters the third chamber 4 through the third flow channel 303. The ink flows in the direction indicated by the arrow in fig. 5.

Of course, the ink supply device in the present application can also set multiple sets of ink supply components according to the number of ink tanks (ink supply sources) of the existing printing equipment, so as to match the printing equipment meeting the actual requirements.

The present application is described in detail above, and the principles and embodiments of the present application are described herein by using specific examples, which are only used to help understand the method and the core idea of the present application; meanwhile, for a person skilled in the art, according to the idea of the present application, there may be variations in the specific embodiments and the application scope, and in summary, the content of the present specification should not be construed as a limitation to the present application.

Claims

1. An ink supply assembly, comprising:

2. The ink supply assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

3. The ink supply assembly of claim 2, further comprising: and the alarm component is connected with the first liquid level sensor through a third signal cable, and is used for receiving first liquid level information transmitted through the third signal cable and obtained by the first liquid level sensor.

4. The ink supply assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

5. The ink supply assembly of claim 4, further comprising:

6. An ink supply assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first chamber, the filter member, the second chamber and the third chamber are integrally of unitary construction.

7. An ink supply assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 5, in which the volume of the third chamber is 1.5 to 2 times the volume of the ink chamber of the ink ejection actuator.

8. An ink supply assembly according to any of claims 1 to 5, in which the standard capacity of the second chamber is from 5ml to 30 ml.

9. An ink supply device comprising the ink supply member according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the number of the ink supply members is at least two.

10. The ink supply device of claim 9, further comprising: a housing for housing the ink supply assembly.