CN215970708U - Ink supply module and printing equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

The embodiment of the application relates to the technical field of printing machinery and discloses an ink supply module and printing equipment. This supply ink module includes: the ink supply module comprises a first ink box, a first nozzle interface and a communicating pipe. The quantity of first ink horn is two at least, and first ink horn is equipped with first accepting the chamber, and first accepting the chamber is used for accepting the ink. The first nozzle interface is arranged at the bottom of the first ink box and communicated with the first accommodating cavity. The communicating pipe comprises at least two ports, each port is correspondingly connected with a first ink box, and the ports are communicated with the first accommodating cavities. Through the structure, the liquid level of the ink in each first accommodating cavity is balanced through the communicating pipe, so that the ink outlet effect of each first ink box of the ink supply module is consistent, the printing quality of a follow-up sprayer can be improved without independently controlling each first ink box, meanwhile, the use of a control device can be saved, the structure is simplified, and the cost is saved.

Description

Ink supply module and printing equipment

Technical Field

The embodiment of the application relates to the technical field of printing machinery, in particular to an ink supply module and printing equipment.

Background

At present, printing devices are widely used to print on many types of printing media such as paper, plate, glass, plastic, and fabric, so that these products have colorful patterns. Generally, a printing apparatus includes an ink tank, an ink cartridge communicating with the ink tank, and a head communicating with the ink cartridge; the ink tank supplies ink to the ink cartridge, and the ink in the ink cartridge is ejected to a printing medium through the head.

In some printing apparatuses, the ink cartridges are arranged symmetrically, that is, in the traveling direction of the printing medium, the two ink cartridges on the outermost side eject the same color ink, and the two ink cartridges on the second outer side to the two ink cartridges on the innermost side are arranged in this manner.

In the process of implementing the embodiment of the present application, the inventor finds that: in the current printing equipment, each ink box is relatively independent and is respectively connected with the ink storage box, so that the liquid level in each ink box needs to be controlled independently; this tends to cause the liquid level in some ink cartridges with the same ink output color to be inconsistent, and thus the ink output effect of these ink cartridges is inconsistent.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

The embodiment of the application aims at providing an ink supply module and printing equipment to improve the current situation that the liquid level in each ink box in the current printing equipment needs to be controlled independently.

One technical scheme that this application adopted provides an ink supply module, including supplying ink module, it includes first ink horn, first shower nozzle interface and communicating pipe to supply ink module. The number of the first ink box is at least two, the first ink box is provided with a first accommodating cavity, and the first accommodating cavity is used for accommodating ink. The first nozzle interface is arranged at the bottom of the first ink box and communicated with the first accommodating cavity. The communicating pipe comprises at least two ports, each port is correspondingly connected with one first ink box, and the ports are communicated with the first accommodating cavities.

Optionally, the port is communicated with the bottom of the first accommodating cavity.

Optionally, the communicating pipe is bent away from the top of the first accommodating cavity.

Optionally, the ink supply module further comprises an ink storage tank, and the ink storage tank is provided with a liquid storage cavity for containing ink; the ink supply module further comprises a connecting pipe, and the liquid storage cavity is communicated with the first accommodating cavities of the first ink cartridges through the connecting pipe.

Optionally, the connecting pipe includes at least two first pipe fittings, each of the first pipe fittings is correspondingly connected to one of the first ink cartridges, and one end of each of the first pipe fittings is communicated with the first accommodating cavity. The connecting pipe further comprises an adapter pipe, the adapter pipe comprises at least three connectors, one connector is communicated with the liquid storage cavity, and in the other connectors, each connector is correspondingly connected with one first pipe fitting.

Optionally, the ink supply module further comprises a sensor. The sensor is arranged in the first ink box and used for detecting the liquid level of the ink in the first ink box.

Optionally, the ink supply module includes two first ink cartridges, the ink supply module includes at least two sets of ink supply modules, and each first ink cartridge is sequentially disposed along a preset direction. Between any two adjacent sets of the ink supply modules, two first ink boxes in one ink supply module are positioned between two first ink boxes of the other ink supply module.

Optionally, the ink supply module further comprises an ink supply assembly, and the ink supply assembly comprises a second ink cartridge and a second nozzle interface. The second ink box is positioned between the two first ink boxes of the innermost ink supply module and is provided with a second containing cavity for containing ink. The second nozzle interface is arranged at the bottom of the second ink box and is communicated with the second accommodating cavity.

Optionally, the ink supply module further comprises a mounting seat, and the first ink cartridge is mounted on the mounting seat.

In order to solve the above technical problem, another technical solution adopted in the embodiment of the present application is: a printing device is provided, which comprises the printing module.

The beneficial effects of the embodiment of the application are that: different from the situation of the prior art, the ink supply module of the embodiment of the present application includes: the ink supply module comprises a first ink box, a first nozzle interface and a communicating pipe. The number of the first ink box is at least two, the first ink box is provided with a first accommodating cavity, and the first accommodating cavity is used for accommodating ink. The first nozzle interface is arranged at the bottom of the first ink box and communicated with the first accommodating cavity. The communicating pipe comprises at least two ports, each port is correspondingly connected with one first ink box, and the ports are communicated with the first accommodating cavities. Through the structure, the communicating pipe can balance the liquid level of the ink in each first accommodating cavity, so that the ink outlet effect of each first ink box of the ink supply module is consistent, the printing quality of a subsequent sprayer can be improved without independently controlling each first ink box, meanwhile, the use of a control device can be saved, the structure is simplified, and the cost is saved.

Drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present application or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly described below. Throughout the drawings, like elements or portions are generally identified by like reference numerals. In the drawings, elements or portions are not necessarily drawn to scale.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ink supply module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a cutaway view of an ink supply module provided by one embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an ink path of an ink supply module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line a-a of fig. 1 of the present application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT (S) OF INVENTION

In order to facilitate an understanding of the present application, the present application is described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. It is noted that when an element is referred to as being "secured to"/"mounted to" another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may also be present. When an element is referred to as being "connected" to another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or intervening elements may be present. As used herein, the terms "upper," "lower," "inner," "outer," "vertical," "horizontal," and the like are used in an orientation or positional relationship indicated based on the orientation or positional relationship as shown in the drawings for convenience in describing the present application and simplicity in description, and do not indicate or imply that the referenced device or element must have a particular orientation, be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and thus should not be construed as limiting the present application. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and the like are used for descriptive purposes only and are not to be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application belongs. The terminology used in the description of the present application is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the application. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

Referring to fig. 1 and fig. 2, a perspective view of an ink supply module 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure and a perspective view of an ink supply module 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure are respectively shown. The ink supply module 100 is applied to a printing apparatus, and includes a mounting base 40 and an ink supply module 10. The mounting seat 40 is a mounting structure of the ink supply module 10. The ink supply module 10 includes at least two first ink cartridges 11, a first head interface 12, and a communicating tube 13. The first ink cartridge 11 is provided with a first accommodating cavity 111, and the first accommodating cavity 111 is used for accommodating ink. The first nozzle interface 12 is installed at the bottom of the first ink cartridge 11 and is communicated with the first receiving cavity 111, the nozzle 12 is used for outputting the ink received in the first receiving cavity 111 to a nozzle of the printing apparatus, and the nozzle prints the ink onto a printing medium, where the "printing medium" includes but is not limited to paper, plate, glass, plastic, fabric, and the like. The communication pipe 13 includes at least two ports 131, each port 131 is connected to a corresponding first ink cartridge 11, and the port 131 is communicated with the first receiving chamber 111.

Referring to fig. 1, the mounting base 40 includes a mounting plate 41 and a fixing side plate 42. The mounting plate 41 has a flat plate-like structure as a whole, and extends in the illustrated predetermined direction F. The mounting plate 41 is provided with a mounting hole 411 for mounting the ink supply module 10. Along the preset direction F, each end of the mounting plate 41 is respectively provided with a fixed side plate 42, the plate surface of the fixed side plate 42 is perpendicular to the plate surface of the mounting plate 41, and the fixed side plate 42 is used for fixing the ink supply module 100 on the printing apparatus.

Referring to fig. 2, and fig. 1, the ink supply module 10 is a core component of an ink supply module 100, and the ink supply module 100 implements a process of spraying a printing medium through the ink supply module 10. The ink supply module 10 is mounted on one surface of the mounting plate 41 facing the fixed side plate 42 through the mounting hole 411, and includes at least two first ink cartridges 11, a first head connector 12, and a communication pipe 13. Specifically, the first ink cartridge 11 is a rectangular box structure, and a first accommodating chamber 14 is provided inside the first ink cartridge, and the first accommodating chamber 14 is used for accommodating ink. In this embodiment, the ink supply module 10 includes two first ink cartridges 11, and the two first ink cartridges 11 are arranged at intervals along the preset direction F shown in the figure; the two are connected by the communication pipe 13. A first head connector 12 attached to the bottom of the first ink cartridge 11 and communicating with the first receiving chamber 14; in this way, during printing, the ink in the first ink cartridge 11 is output to the nozzle of the printing apparatus through the first nozzle interface 12, and is ejected to the printing medium through the nozzle to print a desired pattern. Optionally, the bottom of each first ink cartridge 11 is provided with at least two first nozzle connectors 12; further optionally, the bottom of each first ink cartridge 11 is provided with three first head connectors 12, and the three first head connectors 12 are arranged in a triangle at the bottom of the first ink cartridge 11. The communication pipe 13 is a tubular structure, and includes two ports 131, and the two ports 131 are respectively connected to the two first ink cartridges 11 and are communicated with the first receiving chamber 14. Thus, according to the principle of the communicating vessel, when the liquid levels of the inks in the two first ink cartridges 11 are higher than the liquid levels of the two ports 131, the ink in the first ink cartridge 11 with the higher liquid level flows to the first ink cartridge 11 with the lower liquid level until the liquid levels in the two first ink cartridges 11 are the same. That is, the liquid level in each first ink tank 11 in the ink supply module 10 does not need to be controlled individually.

Preferably, each port of the communication pipe 13 communicates with the bottom of the corresponding first receiving cavity 111. The liquid level in the first ink box 11 can be made to be consistent until the liquid level is lowered to the bottom of the containing cavity 14 by the communication pipe 13. More preferably, the communication pipe 13 is bent away from the top of the first receiving cavity 111, and the arrangement is intended to make the highest liquid level in the pipe body of the communication pipe 13 lower than the liquid level of the port 131 of the communication pipe 13, so as to make the liquid levels in the two first ink cartridges 11 of one ink supply module 10 equal. Alternatively, the tube body of the communication tube 13 may also be a straight tube, a "V" tube, or a "U" tube. The communication tubes 13 bent toward the top away from the first receiving cavity 111, and the communication tubes 13 in the shape of "V" or "U" are beneficial to the stacking arrangement of the communication tubes 13 of the ink supply modules 10. In this embodiment, the connection between the body of the communication pipe 13 and the port 131 is a threaded sleeve connection, and after the connection pipe 13 is used for a long time, the connection pipe 13 is easily blocked due to the deposition of impurities in the ink in the connection pipe, and the connection pipe 13 can be detached by screwing the threaded sleeve connection structure arranged at the connection, so as to facilitate maintenance or replacement.

It should be noted that, even though the above embodiment is described by taking the case where the ink supply module 10 includes two first ink cartridges 11 as an example, the present application is not limited thereto, as long as the ink supply module 10 is ensured to include at least two first ink cartridges 11. For example, in some other embodiments of the present application, the ink supply module 10 may also include three first ink cartridges 11; at this time, the communication pipes 13 have ports corresponding to the number of the first ink cartridges 11, and each port is connected to one of the first ink cartridges 11.

In this embodiment, the ink supply module 100 includes at least two sets of ink supply modules 10, each ink supply module 10 is mounted on the mounting base 40, each first ink box 11 is sequentially disposed along the predetermined direction F, and between any two adjacent ink supply modules 10, there are: the two first ink boxes 11 in one ink supply module 10 are located between the two first ink boxes 11 in the two ink supply modules 10. This arrangement makes each first ink box 11 in each ink supply module 10 be the symmetrical arrangement along preset direction F, which is favorable to improving the ink supply efficiency of ink supply module 100, and then improves the printing quality and printing efficiency of the above-mentioned printing apparatus.

Further, in order to supply ink to each of the first ink cartridges 11 in the ink supply module 10, the ink supply module 100 further includes an ink storage tank 20 and a connection pipe 15. Specifically, please refer to fig. 3, which shows a schematic diagram of an ink path of the ink supply module 100, in combination with other figures; the ink storage box 20 is a rectangular parallelepiped and wider than the first ink cartridge 11, wherein the ink storage box 20 is provided with a liquid storage cavity 21 for containing ink; the reservoir chamber 21 is communicated with the first receiving chamber 111 of each first ink cartridge 11 through the connecting pipe 15 so that each first ink cartridge 11 of each ink supply module 10 is connected to the same ink reservoir 20 to obtain the same ink. In this embodiment, the ink tanks 20 correspond to the ink supply modules 10 one to one; that is, each ink storage tank 20 is communicated with each first ink cartridge 11 in an ink supply module 10 through a corresponding connecting pipe 13; of course, in other embodiments of the present application, a plurality of ink supply modules 10 may be connected to one ink storage tank 20, and the present application is not limited thereto. Next, a specific structure of the connection pipe 15 in the present embodiment will be explained.

Referring to fig. 1, in conjunction with other figures, the connection tube 15 includes a first tube 151 and an adapter tube 152. The number of the first pipes 151 is at least two, each first pipe 151 is correspondingly connected to a first ink cartridge 11, and one end of the first pipe 151 is communicated with the first receiving cavity 111, so that the ink in the ink storage tank 20 can flow into the first receiving cavity 111 through the first pipe 151. The adapter tube 152 includes at least three connectors 1521, one connector 1521 is communicated with the liquid storage cavity 21, and each connector 1521 of the other connectors 1521 is correspondingly connected with a first tube 151 respectively. In this way, the ink in the ink storage tank 20 can flow to each first ink cartridge 11 in the same ink supply module 10 through the adapter tube 152 and the first tube 151 in sequence. The lengths of the connecting pipes 15 of the ink supply modules 10 are different, the length of the first pipe 151 is longer from the ink supply module 10 with the two first ink cartridges 11 being closer to the ink supply module 10 with the two first ink cartridges 11 being farther from the ink supply module 10, and the first pipe 151 is stacked to reduce the usage space and the volume of the ink supply module 100.

It is understood that the number of the first pipe members 151 is equal to the number of the first ink cartridges 11, and generally, the number of the connectors 1521 of the adapter 152 is one more than the number of the first ink cartridges 11 for connecting with the ink storage tanks 20. In some embodiments, when a plurality of first ink cartridges 11 are connected to the same ink tank 20, the number of connectors 1521 connected to the ink tank 20 is increased as the case may be, in order to increase the amount of ink supplied to the ink tank 20. For example, one connector 1521 connected to the ink tank 20 is added or two connectors 1521 connected to the ink tank 20 are added.

Further, in order to detect the liquid level in the first ink cartridge 11 and control the ink storage tank 20 to supply ink to the first ink cartridge 11 in a timely manner, the ink supply module 100 further includes a sensor 14 and a controller (not shown). Wherein the sensor 14 is installed in the first ink tank 11 for detecting the liquid level of the ink in the first ink tank 11. Optionally, the sensor 14 is an infrared sensor, and it is understood that in other embodiments of the present application, the sensor 14 may also be a hall sensor, a buoyancy level sensor, or other sensors that can be used to detect the liquid level. The controller is connected to the sensor 14 and the ink storage tank 20, respectively, and when the sensor 14 detects that the liquid level in the first ink cartridge 11 rises to a preset liquid level, it sends a corresponding signal to the controller; the controller controls the ink tank 20 to stop supplying ink to the first ink cartridge 11 according to the signal.

In some embodiments, the ink supply module 10 is used for ejecting color ink, and accordingly, the ink supply module 100 further includes an ink supply member 30 for ejecting white ink. Specifically, referring to fig. 4, which shows a schematic sectional view along line a-a of fig. 1, and in conjunction with other figures, the ink supply assembly 30 includes a second ink cartridge 31 and a second head interface 32. The second ink cartridge 31 is located between the two first ink cartridges 11 of the innermost ink supply module 10, and the second ink cartridge 31 is provided with a second accommodating chamber 311 for accommodating ink. The second head interface 32 is mounted on the bottom of the second ink cartridge 31 and communicates with the second receiving chamber 311. The second ink cartridge 31 is used to contain white ink, and the second head interface 32 is used to transfer the ink in the second ink cartridge 31 to the head of the printing apparatus.

It should be noted that the first head interface 12 and the second head interface 32 are both used for connecting with a head (not shown) of the printing apparatus, and the head is provided with a plurality of nanometer-scale nozzles (not shown), for example, the ink drop can be ejected to 5 picoliters, and the printing width of a single nozzle can reach 108mm-112 mm. Because the physical resolution is high, the printing width of a single jet hole is large, and the action frequency is high, the high productivity can be realized under the high-resolution image quality printing. So that the ink can be output from the first and second head interfaces 12 and 32 to the nozzle holes, thereby completing the printing operation.

Optionally, the ink supply module 100 further includes a protection component (not shown), and the protection component includes a housing (not shown), a damper block (not shown), a filter (not shown), and the like. A casing is mounted on the outer side of the mounting plate 41 and the fixed side plate 42, and the casing serves to protect the first ink cartridge 11 mounted on the mounting plate 41, the communication pipe 13 and the first port 12 connected to the first ink cartridge 11, and the like. The damping block is arranged between one first ink box 11 and the other first ink box 11 and is mainly used for relieving the vibration caused by other devices in the working process of the printing equipment, improving the connection strength of the parts or components and preventing ink leakage. The filter is mounted on the housing to reduce the influence of impurities in the external air on the ink supply module 100.

The ink supply module 100 provided by the embodiment of the application comprises: the ink supply module 10 is provided, and the ink supply module 10 includes a first ink cartridge 11, a first head interface 12, and a communication pipe 13. The number of the first ink box 11 is at least two, the first ink box 11 is provided with a first accommodating cavity 111, and the first accommodating cavity 111 is used for accommodating ink. The first nozzle connector 12 is installed at the bottom of the first ink cartridge 11 and is communicated with the first receiving cavity 111, and the first nozzle connector 12 is used for being connected with a nozzle of a printing device. The communication pipe 13 includes at least two ports 131, each port 131 is correspondingly connected to a first ink cartridge 11, and the port 131 is communicated with the first receiving chamber 111. Through the structure, the communicating pipe 13 balances the liquid level of the ink in each first accommodating cavity 111, so that the ink outlet effect of each first ink box 11 of the ink supply module 10 is consistent, the printing quality of the subsequent spray head can be improved without independently controlling each first ink box 11, meanwhile, the use of a control device can be saved, the structure is simplified, and the cost is saved.

Based on the same inventive concept, the present application further provides a printing apparatus, not shown, the printing apparatus includes the ink supply module 100, and please refer to the above embodiment for the structure and function of the ink supply module 100, which is not described herein.

Finally, it should be noted that: the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application, and not to limit the same; within the context of the present application, where technical features in the above embodiments or in different embodiments can also be combined, the steps can be implemented in any order and there are many other variations of the different aspects of the present application as described above, which are not provided in detail for the sake of brevity; although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, it should be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that: the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments may still be modified, or some technical features may be equivalently replaced; and the modifications or the substitutions do not make the essence of the corresponding technical solutions depart from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application.

Claims (10)

1. The utility model provides an ink supply module is applied to printing apparatus, its characterized in that, including supplying ink module, it includes to supply ink module:

the ink box comprises at least two first ink boxes, wherein each first ink box is provided with a first accommodating cavity which is used for accommodating ink;

the first nozzle interface is arranged at the bottom of the first ink box and is communicated with the first accommodating cavity; and

the communicating pipe comprises at least two ports, each port is correspondingly connected with one first ink box, and the ports are communicated with the first accommodating cavities.

2. The ink supply module of claim 1, wherein the port communicates with a bottom of the first receiving cavity.

3. An ink supply module according to claim 1, wherein the communication tube is curved away from the top of the first receiving chamber.

4. An ink supply module according to claim 1, further comprising an ink storage tank provided with a reservoir chamber for containing ink;

the ink supply module further comprises a connecting pipe, and the liquid storage cavity is communicated with the first accommodating cavities of the first ink cartridges through the connecting pipe.

5. An ink supply module according to claim 4, wherein said connecting tube comprises:

each first pipe is correspondingly connected with one first ink box, and one end of each first pipe is communicated with the first accommodating cavity; and

the adapter tube comprises at least three connectors, one connector is communicated with the liquid storage cavity, and in the other connectors, each connector is correspondingly connected with one first pipe fitting.

6. An ink supply module according to claim 1, wherein the ink supply module further comprises a sensor;

the sensor is arranged in the first ink box and used for detecting the liquid level of the ink in the first ink box.

7. The ink supply module according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the ink supply module comprises two first ink cartridges, the ink supply module comprises at least two sets of ink supply modules, and each first ink cartridge is arranged in sequence along a preset direction;

between any two adjacent sets of the ink supply modules, two first ink boxes in one ink supply module are positioned between two first ink boxes of the other ink supply module.

8. The ink supply module of claim 7, further comprising an ink supply assembly including a second ink cartridge interfacing with a second nozzle;

the second ink box is positioned between the two first ink boxes of the innermost ink supply module and is provided with a second containing cavity for containing ink;

the second nozzle interface is arranged at the bottom of the second ink box and is communicated with the second accommodating cavity.

9. An ink supply module according to claim 1,

the ink cartridge further comprises a mounting seat, and the first ink cartridge is mounted on the mounting seat.

10. A printing apparatus comprising a printing module according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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