EP0142265A1 - Systèmes hydrauliques pour imprimantes à jet d'encre - Google Patents

Systèmes hydrauliques pour imprimantes à jet d'encre Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0142265A1
EP0142265A1 EP84306916A EP84306916A EP0142265A1 EP 0142265 A1 EP0142265 A1 EP 0142265A1 EP 84306916 A EP84306916 A EP 84306916A EP 84306916 A EP84306916 A EP 84306916A EP 0142265 A1 EP0142265 A1 EP 0142265A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
liquid
tube
viscosity
ink
supply line
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.)
Granted
Application number
EP84306916A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0142265B1 (fr
Inventor
Alan Needham
Paul Harley Jessup
Stephen Charles Markham
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.)
Domino Printing Sciences PLC
Domino Amjet Inc
Original Assignee
Domino Printing Sciences PLC
American Technology Inc
Domino Amjet Inc
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 Domino Printing Sciences PLC, American Technology Inc, Domino Amjet Inc filed Critical Domino Printing Sciences PLC
Publication of EP0142265A1 publication Critical patent/EP0142265A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0142265B1 publication Critical patent/EP0142265B1/fr
Expired 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
    • B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor

Definitions

  • This invention relates to hydraulic systems, suitably to ink supply systems for ink jet printers.
  • ink is conveyed from a reservoir to a print head where the ink is forced through a nozzle at high pressure and broken up into droplets by an ultrasonic vibrator. Droplets emerging from the nozzle are charged by amounts which suit their print positions on a target and the charged droplets are then deflected on to the target by an electrostatic field. Uncharged droplets are returned to the reservoir.
  • a hydraulic system comprising a viscometer which includes an upstanding tube connected to a supply line for liquid and an element which is movable upwardly and downwardly within the tube, and control means which are adapted to control the flow of liquid from the supply line to the tube, the element being moved to an upper part.of the tube by a sufficient upwards flow of liquid from the supply line and descending through the liquid when the upwards flow of liquid is terminated, and the control means being further adapted to determine the time taken for the element to descend through a predetermined distance through liquid within the tube, which time is representative of the viscosity of the liquid in the tube.
  • means are provided for charging the liquid in the system with a component which causes a change in the viscosity thereof, the control means being arranged to effect a comparison between a desired viscosity and the viscosity represented by the said time taken for the element to descend through the liquid and to generate a control signal for activating the charging means if the comparison reveals a difference between the two viscosities, whereby the liquid is charged with the said component and the difference between the two viscosities is reduced.
  • an ink system is designed to convey ink between a reservoir 1 and a print head 3 of an ink jet printer.
  • head 3 includes an ink container 5 having an inlet 7' at an upper end thereof, an outlet orifice 9 at a lower end, and a bleed outlet 11.
  • ink in the container 5 is subjected to a pressure which forces a jet of ink through the orifice 9. Vibration of the vibrator 13 ensures that the jet breaks up into droplets of uniform size.
  • an electrode 15 for charging droplets by an amount which suits their print,positions on a target and a pair of electrodes 17 for deflecting charged droplets on to the target (not shown).
  • a gutter 19 is provided for collecting uncharged droplets, which are not deflected on to the target.
  • the reservoir 1 is provided with a cartridge 21 containing ink for replenishing the ink stored within the reservoir. Also mounted on the reservoir 1 is a make-up cartridge 23 containing solvents for adding to ink within the system, as hereinafter described.
  • the pump 27, which is a gear pump of the suction shoe type, has an inlet connected to the reservoir 1 and an outlet connected to the head 3 via a filter damper 33, a pressure regulator 35 and a jet run solenoid valve 37.
  • the filter damper 33 serves both to filter ink from the reservoir 1 and to dampen cyclical variations in the rate of flow of ink from the pump 27.
  • the pressure regulator 35 maintains the pressure of ink supplied to the head 3 at a predetermined value. A visual indication of this pressure is provided by a pressure gauge 39. To ensure that the pressure of ink does not rise above 60 pounds per square inch, a pressure relief valve 41 connects the output of the pump 27 to the reservoir 1 by means hereinafter described.
  • the pump 29 On the suction side of the system, the pump 29 has an inlet connected to the gutter 19 via a gutter filter 47 and an outlet connected directly to the reservoir 1.
  • the pump 29 is a gear pump of the cavity plate type.
  • the inlet to the pump is connected to the outlet of the pump 27 via a bleed line 49 and the pressure relief valve 41.
  • a bleed control orifice 51 which is preset to allow a predetermined flow of ink to the pump 29.
  • the junction between the bleed line 49 and the valve 41 is connected to the reservoir 1 by a further pressure relief valve 53, which opens if the pressure of ink in the line 49 exceeds 1 pound per square inch.
  • Operation of the motor 31 and the valves 37 and 45 is controlled by a main microprocessor (not shown) which is linked to the print microprocessor.
  • a viscometer 55 has its inlet connected to the bleed line 49 by a normally closed solenoid valve 57 and its outlet directly connected to the reservoir 1.
  • the viscometer 55 includes a stainless steel ball 58 which is movable upwardly and downwardly within an upstanding tube 59 of ground glass. At an upper end of the tube 59 there is a flared portion 61, whilst a seat 63 for the ball 57 is provided near to a lower end of the tube.
  • a ball detector coil 65 surrounds a section of the tube 59 immediately above the seat 63.
  • the ink make up cartridge 23, referred to above, contains solvents which are added to the ink when a loss of solvents is detected by the viscometer 55. Solvents from the cartridge 23 are supplied to the line between the pump 29 and the gutter 19 via a normally closed make-up solenoid valve 67.
  • the control circuit of Figure 3 includes a single chip microcomputer 69 having inputs which are supplied with data representing the current and desired viscosities of ink in the system and outputs which supply control signals for removing any discrepancy between current and desired viscosities.
  • a first input to the microcomputer 69 is connected to a cartridge memory device 71 which stores data relating to various kinds of ink and the viscosities thereof for optimum printing results.
  • a second input to the microcomputer is connected to a sensor 73, whose input is connected to the ball detector coil 65, referred to above. Further inputs are connected to a temperature sensor 75 and associated analogue/digital converter 77 and to a timer 79.
  • Outputs from the microcomputer 69 are connected to the make-up solenoid valve 67 and to the solenoid valve 57, respectively.
  • the microcomputer 69 is programmed to activate the viscometer 55, to interpret data relating to viscosity and associated parameters applied to the inputs thereof, and to provide control signals for actuating the make-up solenoid valve 67, as hereinafter described.
  • the solenoid valves 57 and 67 are normally closed and the jet run solenoid valve 37 is normally open. Initially, the bleed solenoid valve 45 is also open.
  • ink from the reservoir 1 is pumped to the container 5 in the head 3 via the filter damper 33, the pressure regulator 35 and the jet run solenoid valve 37.
  • the pressure applied to ink within the container 5 forces a jet of ink downwardly via the orifice 9 to the gutter 19.
  • a mixture of ink and air is returned to the reservoir 1 via the bleed outlet 11 of the container 5, the bleed line 43 and the bleed solenoid valve 45.
  • the bleed solenoid valve 45 is closed.
  • ink at an initial pressure of 1 p.s.i. is supplied from the outlet of the pump 27 to the inlet to the pump 29 via the pressure relief valve 41, the bleed line 49 and the bleed control orifice 51.
  • This supply of ink seals internal clearances within the pump 29. Accordingly, the efficiency of the pump 29 as an air pump is increased, a higher suction is applied to the gutter 19, and a mixture of air and unused liquid is drawn from the gutter.
  • the orifice 51 is pre-set to allow a predetermined flow of ink along the bleed line 49, this predetermined flow being sufficient to ensure that the pump 29 is adequately lubricated.
  • the microcomputer 69 initiates a check on the viscosity of ink in the system.
  • a signal from th ⁇ microcomputer 69 is applied to the solenoid valve 57, causing the valve to open and to allow ink to flow from the bleed line 49 to the viscometer 55.
  • Ink flows upwardly through the tube 59 of the viscometer 55, forcing the steel ball 58 upwardly into the flared portion 61 at the top of the tube.
  • the ball remains in the flared portion 61, supported by the upwards flow of ink, whilst ink continues to flow upwardly past the ball and then outwardly from the tube 59 to the reservoir 1.
  • the presence of the flared portion 61 means there is sufficient space for any solid particles in the ink to pass between the wall of the tube 59 and to return to the reservoir 1.
  • the microcomputer 69 activates the timer 79 and at the same time applies a further signal to the valve 57, causing the valve to close.
  • the ball 58 descends slowly within the tube 59 at a rate dependent upon the viscosity of ink in the tube.
  • the ball detector coil 65 Movement of the ball 58 through the coil 65 is sensed by the sensor 73, which applies an input signal to the microcomputer 69.
  • a computation of the viscosity of the ink is made from data representing the time between the closing of solenoid valve 57 and the arrival of the ball 58 at the coil 65, data representing the ambient temperature or the temperature of the ink, supplied by the temperature sensor 75 and the analogue digital converter 77, and data stored in the memory device 71 and representing the relationship between the viscosity of the ink, the time taken for the ball 58 to descend through the tube 59 and the ambient temperature.
  • a comparison is then made between the computed viscosity and data representing the optimum viscosity, also stored in the memory device 71.
  • a similar computation of viscosity is made at intervals of 15 minutes. Each time there is a discrepancy between the computed and optimum viscosities, a fresh volume of solvents is supplied from the make-up cartridge 23. If the computed viscosity equals the optimum viscosity, the solenoid valve 67 remains closed so that no solvents are added.
  • Coates Black MEK One ink suitable for use in the ink jet printer of Figures 1 to 3 is known as "Coates Black MEK”.
  • this ink has a viscosity which varies linearly with temperature between 20 0 C and 45 0 C, the viscosity falling from approximately 3.8 c.p. at a temperature of 20 0 C to approximately 2.0 c.p. at 45°C.
  • the viscosity of this ink and the time taken for the ball to fall through the predetermined distance within the tube 59 of the viscometer 59, as shown in the graph forming Figure 4B.
  • the printer was then operated over a second 12 hour period with the microcomputer 69 re-connected to the solenoid valve 57.
  • the valve 57 was therefore opened and the viscosity checked in the manner described above. It will be seen from Figure 4D that the effect of periodically checking the viscosity and adding fresh solvent, when necessary, is to restrict variation in the viscosity and values between 3.9 and 4.0 c.p.

Landscapes

  • Ink Jet (AREA)
EP84306916A 1983-10-19 1984-10-10 Systèmes hydrauliques pour imprimantes à jet d'encre Expired EP0142265B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8327999 1983-10-19
GB838327999A GB8327999D0 (en) 1983-10-19 1983-10-19 Hydraulic systems

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0142265A1 true EP0142265A1 (fr) 1985-05-22
EP0142265B1 EP0142265B1 (fr) 1988-09-21

Family

ID=10550452

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP84306916A Expired EP0142265B1 (fr) 1983-10-19 1984-10-10 Systèmes hydrauliques pour imprimantes à jet d'encre

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0142265B1 (fr)
DE (2) DE142265T1 (fr)
GB (1) GB8327999D0 (fr)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0282049A2 (fr) * 1987-03-13 1988-09-14 Jan Slomianny Système encreur pour une imprimante matricielle à jet d'encre
EP0571785A2 (fr) * 1992-05-29 1993-12-01 SCITEX DIGITAL PRINTING, INC. (a Massachusetts corp.) Assemblage d'une tête d'impression
EP2995462A1 (fr) 2014-09-04 2016-03-16 Markem-Imaje Holding Procédé de gestion de la qualité de l'encre d'une imprimante a jet d'encre en fonction de la température

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3111987A1 (de) * 1980-03-28 1982-01-07 Sharp K.K., Osaka "vorrichtung zur steuerung der viskositaet der tinte in einem tintenstrahldrucker"
DE3125194A1 (de) * 1980-06-30 1982-03-04 Sharp K.K., Osaka "tintenstrahldrucker"

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4027516A (en) * 1976-03-16 1977-06-07 Gam Rad, Inc. Viscometer system
DE3031863A1 (de) * 1980-08-23 1982-04-01 Thöne, Ernst, 2000 Hamburg Verfahren und vorrichtung zum bestimmen der viskositaet einer fluessigkeit

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3111987A1 (de) * 1980-03-28 1982-01-07 Sharp K.K., Osaka "vorrichtung zur steuerung der viskositaet der tinte in einem tintenstrahldrucker"
DE3125194A1 (de) * 1980-06-30 1982-03-04 Sharp K.K., Osaka "tintenstrahldrucker"

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0282049A2 (fr) * 1987-03-13 1988-09-14 Jan Slomianny Système encreur pour une imprimante matricielle à jet d'encre
EP0282049A3 (en) * 1987-03-13 1989-08-16 Jan Slomianny Ink system for an ink jet matrix printer
EP0571785A2 (fr) * 1992-05-29 1993-12-01 SCITEX DIGITAL PRINTING, INC. (a Massachusetts corp.) Assemblage d'une tête d'impression
EP0571785A3 (fr) * 1992-05-29 1995-04-05 Eastman Kodak Co Assemblage d'une tête d'impression quatre pouces.
EP2995462A1 (fr) 2014-09-04 2016-03-16 Markem-Imaje Holding Procédé de gestion de la qualité de l'encre d'une imprimante a jet d'encre en fonction de la température
US10144216B2 (en) 2014-09-04 2018-12-04 Markem-Imaje Holding Method for managing ink quality of an inkjet printer versus temperature

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE142265T1 (de) 1986-02-27
GB8327999D0 (en) 1983-11-23
EP0142265B1 (fr) 1988-09-21
DE3474124D1 (en) 1988-10-27

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