EP0116466A2 - Farbstrahlgerät - Google Patents

Farbstrahlgerät Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0116466A2
EP0116466A2 EP84300822A EP84300822A EP0116466A2 EP 0116466 A2 EP0116466 A2 EP 0116466A2 EP 84300822 A EP84300822 A EP 84300822A EP 84300822 A EP84300822 A EP 84300822A EP 0116466 A2 EP0116466 A2 EP 0116466A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
cartridge
ink
ink jet
bubble trap
jet apparatus
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP84300822A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0116466A3 (de
Inventor
Viacheslav Boris Maltsev
Frank Leslie Roe
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Co
Original Assignee
Exxon Research and Engineering Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Exxon Research and Engineering Co filed Critical Exxon Research and Engineering Co
Publication of EP0116466A2 publication Critical patent/EP0116466A2/de
Publication of EP0116466A3 publication Critical patent/EP0116466A3/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
    • B41J2/19—Ink jet characterised by ink handling for removing air bubbles

Definitions

  • This invention relates to ink jet apparatus, by which ink is supplied from a reservoir to one or more ink jets.
  • a bubble trap is often provided in an ink supply for an ink jet or array of ink jets. Such a trap provides a location for air to accumulate out of the ink supply path to the jet.
  • the bubble trap may actually create one or more difficulties.
  • air trapped within the bubble trap may, upon inversion of the ink jet apparatus during, for example, shipping, flow into the supply line which, in turn, could block the flow of ink from the ink reservoir to the ink jet when the ink jet apparatus is reinverted. This is, of course, an extremely undesirable condition.
  • a bubble trap may also provide a level of ink in the ink jet apparatus which can backflow through the system resulting in ink spillage when the supply of ink is replenished.
  • a needle/septum connection is utilized to couple a removable ink cartridge to the ink supply system, it is possible that ink stored within the bubble trap above the level of the septum/needle connection may backflow through the system resulting in some spillage at the needle. This can create problems for the operator of the ink jet apparatus who must replace the cartridge in the presence of spilled ink.
  • an ink jet apparatus characterised in that it comprises at least one ink jet including a chamber, an orifice coupled to said chamber for ejecting droplets of ink, an inlet to said chamber and transducer means coupled to said chamber for ejecting said droplets in response to the state of energisation of said transducer means, said apparatus further comprising :
  • the means having a plurality of apertures comprises a screen and the screen communicates with the bubble trap means near the bottom of the trap.
  • the ink reservoir comprises a removable cartridge and the apparatus further comprises a receptacle for the cartridge with coupling means including needle means adapted to communicate with the septum of the cartridge to couple ' ink from the cartridge to the bubble trap means.
  • Valve means separate from the needle means communicates with the coupling means so as to interrupt the flow of ink through the coupling means.
  • the valve means includes actuating means adapted to be actuated by the cartridge so as to open the valve means to permit the flow of ink through the coupling means when the cartridge is present in the receptacle and adapted to be de-actuated by the cartridge so as to close the valve means to prevent the flow of ink out of the coupling means when the cartridge is absent from the receptacle.
  • the valve means comprises means for biasing the valve means closed in the absence of a cartridge in the receptacle.
  • the valve means includes plunger means contacting the cartridge and the cartridge itself includes a rigid external container and a collapsible flexible diaphragm within the container. The rigid container is contacted by the actuating means when the cartridge is present in the receptacle.
  • the cartridge In operating the aforesaid apparatus, the cartridge is inserted into the receptacle. Simultaneously, the septum of the cartridge is pierced with the needle while the cartridge contacts the valve means. The valve means is then actuated so as to permit flow of ink through the coupling means downstream from the needle. When the cartridge is removed from the apparatus, contact between the cartrdige and the valve means is eliminated. This closes the valve means so as to preclude the flow of ink through the coupling means downstream from the needle.
  • a preferred embodiment of the invention comprises an ink jet system including an ink jet head 10 having a face 12 which may be formed by an orifice plate with one or more orifices 14. Behind the orifice plate 12 is an ink jet chamber 16 which is supplied by an ink inlet 18 at the rear thereof. Droplets of ink are ejected from the orifice 14 in response to the state of energization of a transducer asssociated with the chamber 16 (the transducer is not shown).
  • the inlet 18 to the ink jet is supplied by an ink supply system including a bubble trap 20.
  • the bubble trap 20 includes an ink supply line 22 which is coupled to the inlet 18 and leads from the trap proper 24 which is a chamber of substantial height.
  • Chamber 24 includes a first portion 26 separated from a second portion 28 by a divider 30.
  • the first portion 26 provides a level detection function which is accomplished by a pair of spaced elongated electrodes 32, only one of which is shown.
  • the electrodes 32 may be coupled to radio frequency level detection circuitry of the type well-known in the art so as to indicate the height or level of the ink 34 in the portion 26 as well as the portion 24 of the chamber 20.
  • the electrode 32 is shown as contoured although it may be desirable to utilize other configurations such as a pin to facilitate removal and replacement.
  • the top of the bubble trap chamber 20 is sealed off by a cap 36 having an opening 38 filled by a vent cap 40.
  • the vent cap 40 is threaded into place within the opening 38 and may be rotated to any of a variety of positions within the opening so as to ,provide for appropriate venting of the bubble trap chamber 20.
  • a member having a plurality of small openings in the form of screen 42 is located at the very bottom of the portion 26 of the bubble trap chamber at the inlet to the ink supply line 22.
  • this screen serves the important function of preventing air from entering the ink supply line 22 or the head 10 of the ink jet system which would undesirably effect the operation of the ink jet or jets coupled to the bubble trap chamber 20.
  • the system as shown in FIG. 1 also comprises an ink reservoir in the form of a cartridge 44 which is coupled to the bubble trap chamber 20 by coupling means including a line 46 terminated at the cartridge 44 by a piercing means in the form of a needle 48.
  • the needle 48 pierces or punctures a septum 50 of the cartridge which allows the needle 48 to enter into the interior ink supply cavity of the cartridge which is formed between a lower portion. 52 of the cartridge 44 and a flexible diaphram 54 located below the rigid external cover 56 of the cartridge 44.
  • the cover 56 includes an upwardly extending projection 58 which provides a handle 59 having a top vent 60 located above gripping surfaces 62.
  • the cartridge 44 is held in place in a nesting receptacle 64 by latches 66.
  • a valve means 68 is placed in the line 46 so as to prevent the backward flow of ink from the bubble trap 20 through the line 46 when the cartridge 44 is absent from the receptacle 64. As shown in FIG. 1, the valve is open in response to actuation by the lower rigid half 52 of the cartridge 44 when the cartridge 44 is present in the receptacle 64. It is important to note that the opening of the needle 48 extends above the path of ink past the valve 68 at the uppermost height of ink in the line 46 at a point 70.
  • the ink has been substantially drained from the cartridge 44 such that the flexible diaphram 54 is collapsed down to the septum 50 of the cartridge 44.
  • a signal may be obtained from the electrode 32 which indicates to the operator that the cartridge should be removed as shown in FIG. 3.
  • an upward force is applied to the cartridge 44 to flex the latches 66 outwardly so as to release the cartridge 44.
  • the septum 50 is filled with ink as shown in FIG. 3, the base 72 of the septum 50 is formed of an elastic material so as to substantially fill the void formed by the needle 48. As a result, ink within the septum 50 does not flow outwardly and fill the well 73 which surrounds the needle 48.
  • valve 68 including actuating plunger 74 is now free to rise to the position shown in FIG. 3 forming a seal 76 within the line 46.
  • the apparatus is now ready to be resupplied with a fresh cartridge as shown in FIG. 4 whereupon the valve 68 will be actuated by the rigid lower cover.52 as shown in FIG 4.
  • the vent cap 40 should be open when a new cartridge 44 is inserted so as to allow the levels within the bubble trap 20 to equalize.
  • plunger 74 is terminated with a cap 76 which is threaded onto the plunger 74.
  • a biasing spring 78 is located between the cap and a washer 80 at the bottom of a hole 82.
  • the cap 76 rises to the position shown and the plunger 74 moves upwardly sliding through an 0-ring 84 which provides a seal along the surface of the plunger.
  • a flange 86 on the plunger 74 carries an 0-ring 88 which moves upwardly against a conical surface 90 in the line 46. The 0-ring seal 88 pushes against the surface 90 and closes the line 46 so as to preclude backflow of ink through the line 46 past the valve 68.
  • the head 10 includes a supply tube 92 which extends into the ink supply line 22 of the ink supply system.
  • An 0-ring 94 circles the tube 92 so as to provide a seal between the head 10 and the supply system at the tube 92.
  • FIG. 7 wherein the components of the bubble trap are shown in enlarged form, it will be seen that a bubble 96 has reached the screen 42 within the trap.
  • the screen 42 as shown in enlarged form in FIG. 8 does not permit the air to pass through the holes or apertures in the screen 42. This is accomplished by sizing the holes or apertures 98 as shown in the even more enlarged view of FIG. 9 such that the surface tension of the fluid or ink 100 at the aperture 98 cannot be broken by an air bubble 102.
  • any air within the bubble trap 20 remains with the bubble trap and does not pass through the screen 42.
  • the latches 66 hold cartridge 44 within the nest. If it is desired to remove the cartridge 44 from the nest, force is applied to the handle 59 and the latches 66 are forced outwardly. In order to minimize the amount of upward force to be applied for removal of the cartridge 44, it may be desirable to provide a release mechanism for the latches 66. This may be accomplished by a suitable lever mechanism which forces the latches 66 outwardly so as to facilitate the removal of the cartridge 44 in response, for example, to a downward force.
  • certain head tending functions may be desirable.
  • a filter in line 46 such as a 1 to 100 micron and preferably a 10 micron teflon or polyethylene filter.
  • the ink jet head 10 has not been described in detail.
  • the details concerning a preferred ink jet head are set forth in U.S. patent application Serial No. 336,603, filed January 4, 1982 as well as in European patent applications 82307016.4, 82307017.2, 82307018.0 and 82303019.8, all filed on the 31st December, 1982.

Landscapes

  • Ink Jet (AREA)
  • Excavating Of Shafts Or Tunnels (AREA)
EP84300822A 1983-02-10 1984-02-09 Farbstrahlgerät Withdrawn EP0116466A3 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US46547483A 1983-02-10 1983-02-10
US465474 1983-02-10

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0116466A2 true EP0116466A2 (de) 1984-08-22
EP0116466A3 EP0116466A3 (de) 1985-12-04

Family

ID=23847957

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP84300822A Withdrawn EP0116466A3 (de) 1983-02-10 1984-02-09 Farbstrahlgerät

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0116466A3 (de)
JP (1) JPS59152866A (de)

Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0199582A2 (de) * 1985-04-22 1986-10-29 Dataproducts Corporation Farbstrahldrucker
DE3624817A1 (de) * 1985-07-24 1987-02-05 Canon Kk Tintenzufuhrvorrichtung und mit dieser ausgestattetes tintenstrahl-schreibgeraet
EP0336043A2 (de) * 1988-04-06 1989-10-11 Seiko Epson Corporation Tintenstrahldrucker
EP1288000A2 (de) * 2001-08-28 2003-03-05 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Tintenstrahlaufzeichnungsgerät
US6648459B2 (en) * 1997-03-19 2003-11-18 Seiko Epson Corporation Valve unit in ink supply channel of ink-jet recording apparatus, ink cartridge using the valve unit, ink supply needle and method of producing the valve unit
US6871944B2 (en) 1996-02-21 2005-03-29 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink cartridge
US6905199B2 (en) 2000-10-20 2005-06-14 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink cartridge for ink jet recording device
US6916089B2 (en) 1994-10-26 2005-07-12 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink cartridge for ink jet printer
US7011397B2 (en) 2002-09-12 2006-03-14 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink cartridge and method of regulating fluid flow
EP1494090A3 (de) * 2003-07-01 2006-07-05 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Kartusche und Verfahren zum Befüllen der Kartusche mit einem Verbrauchsgut
US7090341B1 (en) 1998-07-15 2006-08-15 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink-jet recording device and ink supply unit suitable for it
CN1319747C (zh) * 2003-07-18 2007-06-06 精工爱普生株式会社 液体容器
US7367652B2 (en) 2000-10-20 2008-05-06 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink-jet recording device and ink cartridge
US7748835B2 (en) 2000-10-20 2010-07-06 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink-jet recording device and ink cartridge

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP4770212B2 (ja) * 2005-03-14 2011-09-14 セイコーエプソン株式会社 液体収容体
JP5088193B2 (ja) * 2007-10-16 2012-12-05 セイコーエプソン株式会社 液体収容容器

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3929071A (en) * 1974-12-23 1975-12-30 Ibm Ink recirculating system for ink jet printing apparatus
DE2737911A1 (de) * 1977-08-23 1979-03-01 Olympia Werke Ag Blasensammler in tintenversorgungssystemen
FR2463005A1 (fr) * 1979-08-13 1981-02-20 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Appareil d'ecriture a jet d'encre comportant un dispositif d'humidification du bec
DE3043810A1 (de) * 1980-11-20 1982-06-24 Siemens AG, 1000 Berlin und 8000 München Vorrichtung zur ueberwachung des tintenvorrats in tintenschreibeinrichtungen

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3929071A (en) * 1974-12-23 1975-12-30 Ibm Ink recirculating system for ink jet printing apparatus
DE2737911A1 (de) * 1977-08-23 1979-03-01 Olympia Werke Ag Blasensammler in tintenversorgungssystemen
FR2463005A1 (fr) * 1979-08-13 1981-02-20 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Appareil d'ecriture a jet d'encre comportant un dispositif d'humidification du bec
DE3043810A1 (de) * 1980-11-20 1982-06-24 Siemens AG, 1000 Berlin und 8000 München Vorrichtung zur ueberwachung des tintenvorrats in tintenschreibeinrichtungen

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
IBM TECHNICAL DISCLOSURE BULLETIN, vol. 24, no. 4, September 1981, pages 1808-1809, Armonk, US; F.Y. BRANDON et al.: "Ink jet nozzle structure" *

Cited By (37)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0199582A2 (de) * 1985-04-22 1986-10-29 Dataproducts Corporation Farbstrahldrucker
EP0199582A3 (de) * 1985-04-22 1988-02-03 Dataproducts Corporation Farbstrahldrucker
DE3624817A1 (de) * 1985-07-24 1987-02-05 Canon Kk Tintenzufuhrvorrichtung und mit dieser ausgestattetes tintenstrahl-schreibgeraet
EP0336043A2 (de) * 1988-04-06 1989-10-11 Seiko Epson Corporation Tintenstrahldrucker
EP0336043A3 (en) * 1988-04-06 1990-05-23 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink jet printing apparatus
US4998120A (en) * 1988-04-06 1991-03-05 Seiko Epson Corporation Hot melt ink jet printing apparatus
US5105209A (en) * 1988-04-06 1992-04-14 Seiko Epson Corporation Hot melt ink jet printing apparatus
US6916089B2 (en) 1994-10-26 2005-07-12 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink cartridge for ink jet printer
US6948804B2 (en) 1994-10-26 2005-09-27 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink cartridge for ink jet printer
US7029103B2 (en) 1994-10-26 2006-04-18 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink cartridge for ink jet printer
US6871944B2 (en) 1996-02-21 2005-03-29 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink cartridge
US6648459B2 (en) * 1997-03-19 2003-11-18 Seiko Epson Corporation Valve unit in ink supply channel of ink-jet recording apparatus, ink cartridge using the valve unit, ink supply needle and method of producing the valve unit
US6986568B2 (en) 1997-03-19 2006-01-17 Seiko Epson Corporation Valve unit in ink supply channel of ink-jet recording apparatus, ink cartridge using the valve unit, ink supply needle and method of producing the valve unit
US7350907B2 (en) 1998-07-15 2008-04-01 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink-jet recording device and ink supply unit suitable for it
US8136931B2 (en) 1998-07-15 2012-03-20 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink-jet recording device and ink supply unit suitable for it
US7422317B2 (en) 1998-07-15 2008-09-09 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink-jet recording device and ink supply unit suitable for it
US8007088B2 (en) 1998-07-15 2011-08-30 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink-jet recording device and ink supply unit suitable for it
US7559634B2 (en) 1998-07-15 2009-07-14 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink-jet recording device and ink supply unit suitable for it
US7090341B1 (en) 1998-07-15 2006-08-15 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink-jet recording device and ink supply unit suitable for it
US7367652B2 (en) 2000-10-20 2008-05-06 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink-jet recording device and ink cartridge
US7748835B2 (en) 2000-10-20 2010-07-06 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink-jet recording device and ink cartridge
US7293866B2 (en) 2000-10-20 2007-11-13 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink cartridge for ink jet recording device
US7784930B2 (en) 2000-10-20 2010-08-31 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink cartridge for ink jet recording device
US7815298B2 (en) 2000-10-20 2010-10-19 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink cartridge for ink jet recording device
US6905199B2 (en) 2000-10-20 2005-06-14 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink cartridge for ink jet recording device
EP1288000A3 (de) * 2001-08-28 2004-03-24 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Tintenstrahlaufzeichnungsgerät
EP1288000A2 (de) * 2001-08-28 2003-03-05 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Tintenstrahlaufzeichnungsgerät
US7794067B2 (en) 2002-09-12 2010-09-14 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink cartridge and method of regulating fluid flow
US7011397B2 (en) 2002-09-12 2006-03-14 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink cartridge and method of regulating fluid flow
CN100419595C (zh) * 2003-07-01 2008-09-17 兄弟工业株式会社 盒及用于将消耗品填充入盒中的方法
US7366450B2 (en) 2003-07-01 2008-04-29 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Cartridge and method for filling a consumable into the cartridge
US7215903B2 (en) 2003-07-01 2007-05-08 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Cartridge and method for filling a consumable into the cartridge
EP1494090A3 (de) * 2003-07-01 2006-07-05 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Kartusche und Verfahren zum Befüllen der Kartusche mit einem Verbrauchsgut
US7367662B2 (en) 2003-07-18 2008-05-06 Seiko Epson Corporation Liquid container
CN1319747C (zh) * 2003-07-18 2007-06-06 精工爱普生株式会社 液体容器
US7828422B2 (en) 2003-07-18 2010-11-09 Seiko Epson Corporation Liquid container
US7997702B2 (en) 2003-07-18 2011-08-16 Seiko Epson Corporation Liquid container

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0116466A3 (de) 1985-12-04
JPS59152866A (ja) 1984-08-31

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Inventor name: MALTSEV, VIACHESLAV BORIS