EP0237787A2 - Verfahren und Gerät zur Aufrechterhaltung eines im wesentlichen konstanten Tintendruckes in einem getrennt geführten Tintendruckkopf - Google Patents

Verfahren und Gerät zur Aufrechterhaltung eines im wesentlichen konstanten Tintendruckes in einem getrennt geführten Tintendruckkopf Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0237787A2
EP0237787A2 EP87101964A EP87101964A EP0237787A2 EP 0237787 A2 EP0237787 A2 EP 0237787A2 EP 87101964 A EP87101964 A EP 87101964A EP 87101964 A EP87101964 A EP 87101964A EP 0237787 A2 EP0237787 A2 EP 0237787A2
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ink
reservoir
printhead
weight
invention according
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Withdrawn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
EP87101964A
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English (en)
French (fr)
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EP0237787A3 (de
Inventor
Niels Nielsen
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.)
HP Inc
Original Assignee
Hewlett Packard Co
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Hewlett Packard Co filed Critical Hewlett Packard Co
Publication of EP0237787A2 publication Critical patent/EP0237787A2/de
Publication of EP0237787A3 publication Critical patent/EP0237787A3/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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    • 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 generally to printing apparatus for applying a fluid ink to a printing medium, such as a sheet of paper to form characters or designs thereon. More particularly, this invention relates to an arrangement for maintaining the fluid ink supply for a remotely fed type of reciprocating ink jet or printhead at a substantially constant pressure.
  • Ink jet printers having reciprocating printhead assemblies have remote ink reservoirs. Ink is plumbed to the printhead carriage through a flexible hose or a system of flexible hoses leading from the remote reservoir.
  • These plumbing systems are generally quite complex and delicate.
  • The include priming pumps, sensors and pressure regulators as the minimal equipment needed to control the pressure of the ink at the printhead. Ink pressure control is required to prevent depriming of the printhead and in controlling ink drop velocity.
  • the following patents disclose systems which are typical of such arrangements.
  • Patent 4,462,037 entitled “Ink Level Control for An Ink Jet Printer” issued July 24, 1984 employs a pump to maintain the ink at one level during printing for controlling hydrostatic pressure.
  • Patent 4,433,341 entitled “Ink Level Control for Ink Jet Printer", issued February 21, 1984, uses a check valve between a reciprocating and a main stationary reservoir to control the direction and the flow of ink between the reservoirs.
  • the check valve allows the ink to rise in the reciprocating reservoir during nonprinting.
  • Patent 4,432,005 entitled “Ink Control System for Ink Jet Printer", issued February 14, 1984, employs a pressurized primary reservoir to supply a secondary reservoir on the movable carriage of a printhead.
  • a solenoid valve controls the transfer of ink.
  • the solenoid valve is controlled by an optical sensor at the secondary reservoir which senses the level of ink thereat.
  • Patent 4,342,042 entitled “Ink Supply System for An Array of Ink Jet Heads", issued July 27, 1982, provides a primary ink supply source and a secondary ink supply reservoir which are connected in series to a transfer circuit which supplies ink upon demand to the ink jet of a printhead.
  • the secondary reservoir has a flexible membrane as its upper surface which is sensed so as to monitor the quantity of ink therein.
  • the secondary reservoir acts as a static pressure regulator for ink entering the ink jets.
  • Patent 4,183,030 entitled “Ink Jet Recording Apparatus”, issued January 8, 1980
  • patent 4,215,353 entitled “Ink Jet Recording Apparatus with Trial Run At Side”, issued July 29, 1980, each employ static pressure variations within an ink tube to control the operation of a compressed air source which applys compressed air to the ink tank to compensate for reduction of static pressure within the ink tank as the ink supply is depleted.
  • Patent 4,074,284 entitled “Ink Supply System and Printhead”, issued February 14, 1978, employs a pressure sensor in a printhead for sensing changes in pressure in the system of ink supply to control a valve to supply ink to the system upon a predetermined reduction in ink pressure.
  • Patent 4,067,020 entitled “Noninterrupt Transfer System For Ink Jet Printer", issued January 3, 1978, provides an arrangement whereby the ink which is not used in printing may be returned to a reservoir from which it is withdrawn together with fresh ink in a manner so that ink pressure fluctuations together with shut downs for filling the reservoir are minimized.
  • the present invention describes a method for sup­plying ink to a reciprocating printhead from a remotely positioned reservoir containing ink. wherein a substantially constant pressure of the ink supply at the printhead is maintained.
  • the method comprises the steps of supporting the ink reservoir for vertical bidirectional movement with the surface of the ink in the reservoir at a predetermined elevation relative to the printhead to provide a selected hydrostatic pressure at the printhead and thereafter moving the reservoir vertically as a function of the combined weight of the reservoir and the ink therein, to maintain the surface of the ink in the reservoir substantially at the desired predetermined elevation with respect to the print­head.
  • the weight of the reservoir is negligible in relation to the weight of the supply of ink in the reservoir.
  • Figure 1 schematically illustrates an ink jet type of printing mechanism having a reciprocating type of printhead 1 and a remote reservoir 2 which is coupled to the printhead 1 by means of a flexible tube 3.
  • the flexible tube 3 is connected between the drain at the bottom of the reservoir 2 and a priming cavity 4 forming a part of the printhead 1.
  • Such a printhead may be either of the thermal jet ("bubble jet”) type or peizoelectric type, both of which are well known in the art.
  • Ink is supplied to an orifice plate 5 from the priming cavity 4, in an on demand basis, whereby minute ink drops 6 are ejected from the orifice plate 5 to impinge in selected patterns upon a sheet of paper 7 which is conventionally advanced over a paper guide 8 past the orifice plate 5.
  • the reciprocating mechanism for the print­head 1 and the paper feed mechanism for the paper 7 are not shown in the interest of simplicity, since both are well known in the art. In practice, the printhead reciprocates horizontally and the paper feed is a vertical direction past the printhead.
  • the reservoir 2 is fabricated of a light weight thin wall material such as ABS (Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-­Styrene), Polyphenylene Oxide, Polyphenylene Ether, with or without fillers or modifiers such as glass or carbon fibers.
  • ABS Advanced Chemical Vapor
  • the weight of the reservoir together with the weight of any portion of the flexible tube 3 attached thereto is negligible in relation to the supply of ink always main­tained within the reservoir.
  • a bridging structure 2a bridging the upper side of the reservoir receives the bottom end of a tension spring 9 the upper end of which is attached to a fixed support 10.
  • the reservoir with its ink supply is freely supported from the bottom end of the tension spring 9.
  • the deflection of the spring can be regarded as a linear func­tion of the weight of the ink.
  • the hydrostatic head H measured between the fixed support 10 and the surface S of the ink can be maintained relatively constant, while the depth of the ink h within the reservoir 2 decreases as the ink supply diminishes.
  • the surface of the ink in the reservoir is kept below the center line of the orifice array. This provides a nominal negative back pressure at the orifices. This back pressure is easily overcome by the capillarity of the orifices during normal operation, but is sufficient to prevent ink from oozing through the orifices when the printhead is not in use.
  • the static pressure is usually between -1 inch and -4 inches of H2O (vacuum).
  • the reservoir may have any desired cross sectional configuration, for the purposes of this discussion it is assumed the the reservoir is of circular cross section having a radius r.
  • the acceleration due to gravity is represented by the arrow labeled g.
  • the density of the ink in the reservoir is designated p and the spring constant is called k.
  • the limit of useful travel of the reservoir 2 is determined by the change in depth of the ink which is in the reservoir.
  • An indication of a minimum level of ink in the reservoir which is to be maintained is obtained by means of a switch 11 which is actuated by a projection 2b pro­jecting from the side of the reservoir 2.
  • a projec­tion 2b closes the switch 11, activating an indicator I.
  • One such restraint with respect to lateral excursions may be a sleeve 12 within which the container 2 is loosely fitted. This sleeve is provided with a slot 12a through which the switch actuator 2b projects. In this arrangement if the container should ride against the inner face of this sleeve 12 vibration of the printing operation usually will be sufficient to prevent any frictional restraint from introducing error in the vertical movement of the reservoir 2 as the ink supply is reduced.
  • a conven­tional fluid damper (not shown) comprising a piston loosely fitted in a tube, or provided with an orifice, or both, and filled with a fluid medium.
  • a damper will absorb any kinetic energy of the reservoir 2 in work done pumping fluid back and forth across the piston, with insignificant fric­tional restraint with respect to normal vertical movement of the reservoir 2 in maintaining the surface of the ink S in the chamber at a relatively constant elevation E with respect to the printhead 1.
  • the invention also may be practiced employing a compression spring 9a as indicated in Figure 2 at the bottom side of the reservoir 2.
  • the compres­sion spring 9a supports the weight of the reservoir and the supply of ink therein.
  • the reservoir may be horizontally restrained as indicated in Figure 1, if needed.
  • Vertical stabilization again, may be achieved by means of a fluid damper.
  • the method and the apparatus for implementing the method according to this invention supplies ink to the printhead with essentially constant pressure without the use of pumps and switches and sensors and other equipment, by the simple expedient of employing an elastic member such as the coil springs of Figure 1 and 2 to hold the term H fixed, which in this application holds the surface of the ink S at a constant elevation below the printhead, the hydrostatic pressure head exerted by the reservoir does not change as the volume of ink in the reservoir changes.
  • the simple expedient of selecting a spring having a spring constant proportional to the cross sectional area of the chamber as shown in equation 7 above the hydrostatic head H will not change as the fluid level h changes.
  • the pressure at the inlet to the priming cavity on the printhead is simply maintained.
  • This invention improves and simplifies the problem of pressure regulation in ink jet printing systems employing reciprocating printheads and remotely positioned reservoirs.
EP87101964A 1986-03-20 1987-02-12 Verfahren und Gerät zur Aufrechterhaltung eines im wesentlichen konstanten Tintendruckes in einem getrennt geführten Tintendruckkopf Withdrawn EP0237787A3 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US84259386A 1986-03-20 1986-03-20
US842593 2004-05-10

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0237787A2 true EP0237787A2 (de) 1987-09-23
EP0237787A3 EP0237787A3 (de) 1988-01-13

Family

ID=25287738

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP87101964A Withdrawn EP0237787A3 (de) 1986-03-20 1987-02-12 Verfahren und Gerät zur Aufrechterhaltung eines im wesentlichen konstanten Tintendruckes in einem getrennt geführten Tintendruckkopf

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0237787A3 (de)
JP (1) JPS62231760A (de)

Cited By (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0606047A2 (de) * 1993-01-07 1994-07-13 Pelikan Produktions Ag Vorrichtung zur Zufuhr von Tinte zu einem Inkjet-Printer oder -Plotter
EP0745482A2 (de) * 1995-05-31 1996-12-04 Hewlett-Packard Company Kontinuierliche Nachfüllanordnung für Federbalg-Tintenkassette in einem Tintenstrahldrucker/-schreiber
WO1997010106A1 (en) * 1995-09-13 1997-03-20 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Printing fluid supply system
EP0770488A2 (de) * 1995-10-27 1997-05-02 Hewlett-Packard Company Fluidspeicher für Tintenstrahldruckköpfe
US5929882A (en) * 1996-10-10 1999-07-27 Sharpe; Colin R. Apparatus for maintaining hydrostatic pressure in an ink jet printhead
US5929883A (en) * 1997-03-03 1999-07-27 Hewlett-Packard Company Printing system with single on/off control valve for periodic ink replenishment of inkjet printhead
US5992985A (en) * 1995-05-31 1999-11-30 Hewlett-Packard Company Variable pressure control for ink replenishment of on-carriage print cartridge
US6003984A (en) * 1992-03-18 1999-12-21 Hewlett-Packard Co. Ink-jet swath printer with auxiliary ink reservoir
US6012806A (en) * 1997-03-03 2000-01-11 Hewlett-Packard Automatic single motor control of both carriage stabilization and valve engagement/disengagement for printhead ink replenishment from off-carriage ink supply
US6030073A (en) * 1997-03-03 2000-02-29 Hewlett-Packard Company Space-efficient enclosure shape for nesting together a plurality of replaceable ink supply bags
US6076920A (en) * 1995-05-31 2000-06-20 Hewlett-Packard Company Replaceable ink supply module (bag/box/tube/valve) for replenishment of on-carriage inkjet printhead
US6139135A (en) * 1997-03-03 2000-10-31 Hewlett-Packard Company Inkjet printing with replaceable set of ink-related components (printhead/service module/ink supply) for each color of ink
EP1593519A3 (de) * 2004-05-07 2007-07-11 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Tintenzuführvorrichtung für ein Tintenstrahlaufzeichnungsgerät
US8025379B2 (en) 2007-01-30 2011-09-27 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Ink cartridges
US8042925B2 (en) 2007-01-30 2011-10-25 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Ink cartridges
EP2463103A1 (de) * 2010-12-10 2012-06-13 Jan Franck Vorrichtung zur Versorgung eines Druckers mit Tinte

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2424831B2 (de) * 1974-05-22 1976-03-25 Olympia Werke Ag, 2940 Wilhelmshaven Einrichtung zum fuellen eines balgartigen reservoirs in einem tintenspritz- schreibwerk
DE3204661A1 (de) * 1982-02-10 1983-08-18 Siemens AG, 1000 Berlin und 8000 München Verfahren zum betrieb eines nach dem unterdruckverfahren arbeitenden schreibwerks
EP0110499A2 (de) * 1982-11-23 1984-06-13 Hewlett-Packard Company Tintenreservoir mit negativem Gegendruck
US4462037A (en) * 1982-06-07 1984-07-24 Ncr Corporation Ink level control for ink jet printer

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5689565A (en) * 1979-12-20 1981-07-20 Canon Inc Liquid drop jetting type recorder

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2424831B2 (de) * 1974-05-22 1976-03-25 Olympia Werke Ag, 2940 Wilhelmshaven Einrichtung zum fuellen eines balgartigen reservoirs in einem tintenspritz- schreibwerk
DE3204661A1 (de) * 1982-02-10 1983-08-18 Siemens AG, 1000 Berlin und 8000 München Verfahren zum betrieb eines nach dem unterdruckverfahren arbeitenden schreibwerks
US4462037A (en) * 1982-06-07 1984-07-24 Ncr Corporation Ink level control for ink jet printer
EP0110499A2 (de) * 1982-11-23 1984-06-13 Hewlett-Packard Company Tintenreservoir mit negativem Gegendruck

Cited By (28)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6003984A (en) * 1992-03-18 1999-12-21 Hewlett-Packard Co. Ink-jet swath printer with auxiliary ink reservoir
US6341853B1 (en) 1992-12-23 2002-01-29 Hewlett-Packard Company Continuous refill of spring bag reservoir in an ink-jet swath printer/plotter
EP0606047A3 (en) * 1993-01-07 1994-09-21 Buettner Ag Franz Ink supply for an ink jet printer or plotter.
EP0606047A2 (de) * 1993-01-07 1994-07-13 Pelikan Produktions Ag Vorrichtung zur Zufuhr von Tinte zu einem Inkjet-Printer oder -Plotter
US5992985A (en) * 1995-05-31 1999-11-30 Hewlett-Packard Company Variable pressure control for ink replenishment of on-carriage print cartridge
EP0745482A2 (de) * 1995-05-31 1996-12-04 Hewlett-Packard Company Kontinuierliche Nachfüllanordnung für Federbalg-Tintenkassette in einem Tintenstrahldrucker/-schreiber
EP0745482A3 (de) * 1995-05-31 1998-04-08 Hewlett-Packard Company Kontinuierliche Nachfüllanordnung für Federbalg-Tintenkassette in einem Tintenstrahldrucker/-schreiber
US6076920A (en) * 1995-05-31 2000-06-20 Hewlett-Packard Company Replaceable ink supply module (bag/box/tube/valve) for replenishment of on-carriage inkjet printhead
CN1082894C (zh) * 1995-09-13 2002-04-17 美国3M公司 印刷用流体供给系统
US5818484A (en) * 1995-09-13 1998-10-06 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Printing fluid supply system having an apparatus for maintaining constant static pressure
WO1997010106A1 (en) * 1995-09-13 1997-03-20 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Printing fluid supply system
EP0770488A3 (de) * 1995-10-27 1998-08-26 Hewlett-Packard Company Fluidspeicher für Tintenstrahldruckköpfe
EP0770488A2 (de) * 1995-10-27 1997-05-02 Hewlett-Packard Company Fluidspeicher für Tintenstrahldruckköpfe
US5929882A (en) * 1996-10-10 1999-07-27 Sharpe; Colin R. Apparatus for maintaining hydrostatic pressure in an ink jet printhead
US6030073A (en) * 1997-03-03 2000-02-29 Hewlett-Packard Company Space-efficient enclosure shape for nesting together a plurality of replaceable ink supply bags
US6012806A (en) * 1997-03-03 2000-01-11 Hewlett-Packard Automatic single motor control of both carriage stabilization and valve engagement/disengagement for printhead ink replenishment from off-carriage ink supply
US6099112A (en) * 1997-03-03 2000-08-08 Hewlett-Packard Company Carriage stabilization during periodic valve engagement for printhead replenishment
US6106109A (en) * 1997-03-03 2000-08-22 Hewlett-Packard Company Printer apparatus for periodic automated connection of ink supply valves with multiple inkjet printheads
US6139135A (en) * 1997-03-03 2000-10-31 Hewlett-Packard Company Inkjet printing with replaceable set of ink-related components (printhead/service module/ink supply) for each color of ink
US6158849A (en) * 1997-03-03 2000-12-12 Hewlett Packard Company Printer carriage alignment for periodic ink replenishment from off-carriage ink supply
US5929883A (en) * 1997-03-03 1999-07-27 Hewlett-Packard Company Printing system with single on/off control valve for periodic ink replenishment of inkjet printhead
US6065829A (en) * 1997-03-03 2000-05-23 Hewlett-Packard Company Periodic ink replenishment station with removable off-carriage ink supply containers
EP1593519A3 (de) * 2004-05-07 2007-07-11 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Tintenzuführvorrichtung für ein Tintenstrahlaufzeichnungsgerät
EP2025519A3 (de) * 2004-05-07 2009-08-12 Panasonic Corporation Tintenverteiler für Tintenstrahlaufzeichner
US7628476B2 (en) 2004-05-07 2009-12-08 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Ink supplier for ink jet recorder
US8025379B2 (en) 2007-01-30 2011-09-27 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Ink cartridges
US8042925B2 (en) 2007-01-30 2011-10-25 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Ink cartridges
EP2463103A1 (de) * 2010-12-10 2012-06-13 Jan Franck Vorrichtung zur Versorgung eines Druckers mit Tinte

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0237787A3 (de) 1988-01-13
JPS62231760A (ja) 1987-10-12

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