EP0362101A1 - Tintensteuer- und -regelvorrichtung für einen kontinuierlich arbeitenden Tintenstrahldrucker - Google Patents

Tintensteuer- und -regelvorrichtung für einen kontinuierlich arbeitenden Tintenstrahldrucker Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0362101A1
EP0362101A1 EP89460031A EP89460031A EP0362101A1 EP 0362101 A1 EP0362101 A1 EP 0362101A1 EP 89460031 A EP89460031 A EP 89460031A EP 89460031 A EP89460031 A EP 89460031A EP 0362101 A1 EP0362101 A1 EP 0362101A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ink
droplets
nozzle
drops
charged
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Granted
Application number
EP89460031A
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English (en)
French (fr)
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EP0362101B1 (de
Inventor
Paul Bajeux
Alain Dunand
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Markem Imaje SAS
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Imaje SA
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Priority to AT89460031T priority Critical patent/ATE96736T1/de
Publication of EP0362101A1 publication Critical patent/EP0362101A1/de
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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
    • B41J2/07—Ink jet characterised by jet control
    • 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
    • B41J2/195—Ink jet characterised by ink handling for monitoring ink quality
    • 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
    • B41J2/07—Ink jet characterised by jet control
    • B41J2/125—Sensors, e.g. deflection sensors
    • 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

  • the present invention relates to devices for controlling and regulating an ink and its processing in a continuous inkjet printer.
  • the ink-jet writing technique using a continuous jet of calibrated droplets, supplied by a modulation system, consists in electrostatically charging these droplets, by means of an appropriate electrode.
  • the passage of these variably charged drops between two electrodes brought to a large difference in electric potential leads to a deflection of the drops proportional to their charge. This deflection combined with the displacement of the support allows the matrix printing of characters or graphics on said support.
  • All the parameters conditioning the operation of the printer must be controlled so as to ensure the constant quality of the printing despite the inevitable variations in the environment.
  • the speed of the drops constitutes the most influential parameter on the print quality, because it conditions the time of passage of the charged drops in the deflector electric field (and therefore the trajectory of the printed drops), but also the phenomenon of formation and electric charge of the drops in the charging electrode.
  • the quality of the ink is also a very influencing factor in the operation of printers for several reasons.
  • the physical properties of the ink condition the flow of the ink in the nozzle, as well as the physical process of formation of the drops.
  • the main factors leading to a variation in the physical properties of the ink are the evaporation of the ink solvent, on the one hand, and temperature variations, on the other hand.
  • the chemical properties of the ink which result from the concentrations of the various constituents of the ink, must be kept constant over time.
  • the dye concentration must be controlled so as to ensure consistency in the optical quality of the markings on the printed medium (optical density, color, etc.).
  • the quantity of resin present in the ink must be controlled because it conditions, in certain formulations, the electrical conductivity of the ink, and therefore the electrical charge of the drops.
  • the quantity of resin must be particularly controlled for applications where a physicochemical treatment is applied to the printed deposit in a phase simultaneous or subsequent to marking, such as crosslinking under ultra-violet rays, reaction under radiation, etc., in order to give it specific chemical resistance properties.
  • the process of formation and electrical charge of the drops also conditions the quality of the print.
  • a spectacular characteristic of printer malfunction linked to a defect in the drop formation process is the pollution of the deflection electrodes by small parasitic droplets commonly called satellite drops.
  • the process of formation and electrical charge of the drops results from the interaction of complex hydrodynamic and electrical phenomena, still poorly described by theory.
  • the parameters influencing this process are linked both to the physico-chemical properties of the ink and to the operating characteristics of the machine: geometry, jet speed, frequency and amplitude of modulation.
  • the object of the invention is to allow control and regulation of the parameters most influencing the print quality of an inkjet printer: speed of the drops, quality of the ink and process of formation and charging. drops.
  • an important object of the invention consists in providing control and regulation devices which are simple and compact, therefore suitable for compact inkjet printers.
  • Another important object of the invention consists in providing control and regulation devices which can be used reliably under severe and very variable environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, ventilation), as well as with types of 'different ink.
  • a field of application particularly targeted by the present invention is the field of industrial marking, where the environmental conditions are very different and very variable over time: - very different ambient temperatures according to industrial activity and large amplitudes of variations of this temperature (printing in a cold room, printing outside); - use of very volatile solvents (methyl ethyl ketone, alcohols, etc.), whose evaporation is very dependent on the environment (temperature, ventilation, etc.); - use of very different ink formulations, generally chosen according to the nature of the medium to be printed (paper, metal, glass, plastics, etc.)
  • the speed of the drops is measured by means of a single detector comprising a conductive element in two parts symmetrical with respect to the trajectory of the drops, said detector being located between the charge electrode and the deflection electrodes.
  • the conductive element of the detector is connected to ground via a resistor across which is connected to a processing circuit.
  • a charged drop, or a train of charged drops induces a charge of opposite sign in the detector element, and this charge varies according to the position of the charged drop, or the train of charged drops, in the detector.
  • the processing of the first derivative I (t) and of the second derivative J (t) with respect to the time of the charge Q (t) makes it possible to determine the instants of entry and exit of the charged drop, or of the train of charged drops, in the detector and, consequently, its speed, the length of the detector being known.
  • the length of the detector is greater than the distance between its two symmetrical parts with respect to the trajectory of the drops.
  • the functioning of most of the ink circuits of inkjet printing machines consists, on the one hand , to continuously measure the viscosity of the ink in the ink circuit using a viscometer and, on the other hand, to regulate the viscosity of the ink supplying by adding solvent or fresh ink the nozzle.
  • a description of an ink circuit operating according to this principle is given in particular in US Patent No. 4,628,329 in the name of the present applicant.
  • the incorporation of the viscometer function in the ink circuit significantly increases the complexity of its operation and generally leads to significant additional bulk.
  • the place of viscosity measurement is generally far from the print head.
  • the viscosity measured in the ink circuit may not be representative of the actual viscosity at the print head. This is especially true when the temperature instead of viscosity measurement is different from the temperature at the print head.
  • various temperature control solutions of the ink in the print head have been proposed, generally incorporating a heating element (see U.S. Patent No. 4,337,468 of RICOH or US No. 4403 227 from IBM), which increases the complexity and energy consumption of the printer.
  • Another object of the present invention consists in measuring the "quality of the ink" at the print head, without resorting to a viscometer function proper.
  • This object is achieved, according to the invention, by combining the use of a device for measuring the speed of the drops, an electronic circuit and a device for supplying ink to the nozzle cooperating in the regulation of the speed of the drops, of an ink pressure measurement in the ink circuit associated with rules for sizing the hydraulic conduits.
  • Another object of the invention consists in measuring a temperature representative of the temperature of the ink at the nozzle, and in correcting the quality of the ink by adding solvents or fresh ink, according to a law which takes account of temperature.
  • the speed of regulation of the quality of the ink is also planned to optimize the speed of regulation of the quality of the ink, on the one hand by taking into account the time of flow and homogenization of the ink between the place of the additions. ink (or solvents) and the nozzle and, on the other hand, using an extra ink cartridge containing an ink whose concentration is higher than the nominal use value.
  • the pressurized ink is ejected by a nozzle in the form a jet which is caused to fragment into a series of droplets to which a charge is then applied selectively and which are directed towards the printing medium or towards a gutter.
  • Various methods can be used to control and synchronize the formation of droplets, consisting of vibrating the nozzle, or causing disturbances of the ink pressure at the nozzle by incorporating in particular a resonator excited by a piezoelectric ceramic upstream nozzle. Due to the disturbance, the jet fragments, at the frequency of the disturbance, into uniform droplets, often accompanied by smaller droplets called satellite droplets.
  • the means used to apply the electric charge chosen at each droplet generally include a charging circuit and an electrode surrounding the jet at the place of formation of the drop.
  • the electrostatic charge of the drop is then obtained by applying a voltage of amplitude Vc between a point of electrical contact with the ink and the charging electrode.
  • the charge Qg acquired by the drop then depends on the value of the charge voltage Vc at the time of the formation of the drop, on the electric capacity Cg of the droplet formation / charge electrode assembly, and on the ratio of the period of droplet formation at the electrical characteristic time of the jet / electrode assembly, defined by Rj.Cj where Rj is the equivalent electrical resistance of the jet between the nozzle and the drop in formation, and Cj is the electrical capacity of the jet assembly /electrode.
  • the parameters Rj, Cj, Cg are in particular influenced by the shape of the jet during the period of formation and charge of the drop.
  • the electrical resistance of the jet Rj also depends on the electrical conductivity of the ink, which itself generally depends on the concentration and the temperature of the ink.
  • control and regulate the process of formation and charging of the drops by simultaneously regulating the speed of the drops, the quality of the ink, and the place of separation of the drops from the jet.
  • Control of the place of separation of the drops from the jet is obtained by controlling the time of flight of the drops between the place of charge of the drops and the position of the drop speed detector.
  • Regulation of the place of separation of the drops is obtained by modifying the amplitude of excitation of the resonator so as to maintain the place of separation of the drops at a place called operating point, which depends on the quality of the ink measured at the nozzle.
  • Fig. 1 illustrates the main mechanical and electrical elements of an ink jet print head 1 of the continuous jet type. It has in particular a nozzle 2 supplied with ink under pressure by an ink circuit 3 and creating a continuous jet J. Under the influence of the vibration of a resonator 4 supplied by a modulation circuit 5, the continuous jet J splits in the center of a charge electrode 6 into a continuous sequence of Equidistant and equidimensional G droplets.
  • the charging electrode 6 is connected to a charging circuit 7.
  • the drops G driven by a speed V substantially equal to the average speed of the liquid in the jet J, then pass through a detector 8 used as phase detector and jet speed, and connected to an electric drop speed detection circuit 9.
  • the charged drops are then deflected by a constant electric field maintained between deflection electrodes 10.
  • the uncharged or lightly charged drops are recovered by a gutter 11 , while the others continue their flight to a recording medium, not shown.
  • the drops recovered by the gutter 11 are recycled to the ink circuit 3.
  • Fig. 2 schematically illustrates the charged drop speed detection electrode 8, placed immediately downstream of the place of formation and charging of the drops.
  • the passage of a single charged drop Gc, of charge Qg, shown in black and being close to the active conducting element 8c of the detector 8, is illustrated.
  • the latter is electrically connected to the electric detection circuit. of speed of drop 9.
  • the speed detection electrode 8 comprises a central conducting element 8c, preferably protected from the influence of external electrical charges (present on the charging electrode 6 in particular), thanks to a thickness d insulator 8i and to an external conductive element 8e, said guard electrode, electrically connected to ground.
  • the detector 8 has a plane symmetry and the drops G move in the axis of a slot made along the axis of symmetry of the detector.
  • the drops G move in the axis of a slot made along the axis of symmetry of the detector.
  • any other configuration of the symmetrical detector with respect to the axis of the trajectory of the drops G may be suitable.
  • the droplets G have a substantially uniform translation speed V in the detector, and oriented along the axis of the detector.
  • the charged droplet Gc is shown in dark color and the other uncharged droplets located upstream and downstream are shown in clear.
  • ⁇ V / f.
  • the proximity of the charged drop Gc leads by electrostatic influence to the appearance of electric charges of opposite sign on the surface of the detector (charges represented by signs + in Figs. 3a to 3d).
  • the quantity of electric charges present on the detector varies according to the axial distance x. If the influence of the insulator 8i is neglected, this quantity of charge can be represented in the form of a linear density of charge ⁇ (x) given diagrammatically on the ordinate for different positions x1 to x4 of the charged drop Gc.
  • the linear charge density curve is symmetrical with respect to the position x i of the drop.
  • relation (2) the electric charges induced by the droplet on the detector are more concentrated near the drop and practically nonexistent at a long distance from the drop.
  • the total charge carried by the active element 8c of effective length Le is denoted Q. It is defined by:
  • Q corresponds to the hatched areas in Figs. 3a to 3d.
  • Q varies with the position x of the drop in the detection electrode 8c.
  • the dimensions of the detection electrode 8c verify the relationship: S / 2 ⁇ Le, either, according to (3) R ⁇ The (5)
  • n1 checks the relationship: (n1 + 1)> (Le + R) / ⁇ or, taking into account (1) n1> (Le + R) / (5 0 ⁇ B) -1 approximately (6)
  • This condition allows the charged drop to enter the speed detector 8 while the previously charged drops are far enough apart not to influence the measurement.
  • the number n2 of uncharged drops according to the drop used for the measurement of the speed checks the equality: (n2 + 1)> (Lt + Le - Lb) / ⁇ where Lt is the distance which separates the nozzle from the detection electrode 8c and Lb is the length of the jet J between the nozzle and the point of formation of the drops, these distances being represented in FIG. 2.
  • Lt is the distance which separates the nozzle from the detection electrode 8c
  • Lb is the length of the jet J between the nozzle and the point of formation of the drops, these distances being represented in FIG. 2.
  • Condition (7) ensures that no drop is charged during the time that the detector 8 is influenced by the drop Gc used for the speed measurement. Indeed, despite the shielding of the speed detection electrode 8c, it can be parasitized by the charging voltages applied to the charging electrode 6. It is moreover preferable, when charging the drops used for speed detection, to apply the charging voltage to the charging electrode for half, or less, the period of drop formation. This allows the drops to be loaded correctly, while minimizing interference from the measurement.
  • Le is the equivalent length of the electrode 8c, characteristic of the measurement obtained by calibration using another method of measuring drop speed.
  • FIG. 5 A practical embodiment of the measurement is shown in Figs. 5 to 7.
  • a means of implementing the measurement of T2 - T1 is described in FIG. 7.
  • a count is triggered when simultaneously J (t) takes a negative value and I (t) is greater than a threshold + i o .
  • the counting is stopped when simultaneously J (t) takes a positive or zero value and I (t) is less than -i o .
  • the content of the counter then corresponds to the value T2 - T1 to be measured.
  • the representation of the digital processing is given by the diagrams of the digital signals F1, F2 and F3.
  • the counting lasts the time that the digital signal F3 is at the high logic level.
  • the digital signal F1 is at the high logic level when I (t) is greater than the threshold i o or less than the threshold -i o .
  • the digital signal F2 is at the high logic level when J (t) is positive or zero.
  • the signal F3 goes to the high logic level during the falling edge of F2, F1 being at 1.
  • F3 returns to zero during the
  • the method for measuring the speed of charged drops requires loading, and therefore deflecting, drops which are not useful for printing. So as not to print unnecessary drops on the recording medium, the drops charged to perform the speed measurement are sufficiently light to be recovered by the gutter 11. Given the low level of charge of these drops, it is necessary, in order to increase the signal / noise ratio of the device, to carry out the measurement on a train of N equally charged and equidistant droplets.
  • the linear density of charge ⁇ N on the electrode 8c of the detector 8 corresponds, in this case, to the sum of the contributions of the N charged drops of the train of drops (the case for three charged drops is represented in Fig. 8).
  • the linear density ⁇ N can have several maxima, as shown in Fig. 8.
  • FIG. 9 the evolutions of the quantities I (t) and J (t) corresponding and used to make the measurement.
  • the quantity I (t) has a shape similar to the linear density ⁇ N.
  • the zero crossing points of the function J (t) can be multiple.
  • a variant of processing the measurement consists in counting the time elapsing between the instants corresponding to the rising edges of the logic signal F2 at the high level when J (t) is greater than a value J o or less than a value -J o , as shown in Fig. 9.
  • the signal is shaped using a suitable electrical circuit which makes it possible to overcome these drawbacks.
  • the electrical measurement circuit is described in more detail below, in relation to Figs. 10 and 11.
  • the processing of the signals necessary to carry out the measurement results in a shaping of the temporal variations of the electrical signals I (t), J (t).
  • the electric circuit for measuring the speed of drops 9 is diagrammatically in the form described in FIG. 10.
  • the current I (t) resulting from the temporal variations of the electric charge Q (t) carried by the sensitive electrode 8c flows between this electrode and the ground through a resistor 12.
  • the voltage U (t) across the terminals of the resistor 12 is treated successively by a bypass then by filtering, giving a signal W (t).
  • the filtering solution adopted is a 5-fold filtering towards the high frequencies and of order 1 towards the low frequencies. This filtering towards the high frequencies makes it possible in particular to eliminate from the processed signal W (t) the multiple zero crossing points present in the raw signal J (t), which result from the presence of several charged drops in the train of charged drops: compare J (t) in Fig. 9 and W (t) in FIG. 10.
  • the function of the circuit is to determine the difference of the two characteristic instants T2 and T1 corresponding to the zero crossings of the voltage W (t) of FIG. 10.
  • a preamplification of Q (t) is carried out using an amplifier with FET input 13 whose spectral density of input current noise is very low, of the order of 10 ⁇ 14 Amperes / ⁇ hertz .
  • the input resistor 12 determines a first derivation of the signal.
  • the components comprising the resistor 14 and the diodes 15 and 16 provide protection of the input.
  • the components comprising the resistors 17, 18, 19 and the capacitors and 21 contribute to the filter function.
  • a capacitor 22 creates a second bypass of the signal.
  • the components comprising resistors 23, 24, capacitor 25 and amplifier 26 constitute the continuation of the filter function.
  • a comparator 27 changes state by passing to a high level at its output when the first derivative of the charge of the electrode 8c exceeds an amplitude VL, determined by resistors 28 and 29.
  • the components comprising resistors 30 and 31 and diodes 32 and 33 adapt the output voltages of the comparators to the voltages of the logic circuits.
  • a comparator 34 changes state at its output at zero crossings of the voltage UH (t).
  • Resistors 35 and 36 create the shift.
  • a resistor 37 and a diode 38 create a voltage offset on W (t) in the waiting phase of the measurement, and a resistor 39 creates a voltage offset on W (t) in the measurement phase. It is necessary to use the "offset" function to prevent the comparators from changing state randomly at times when the amplitude of the load derivative is low, and to avoid bouncing of the logic signals in the search for zero crossings of the voltage UH (t).
  • the resistors 35, 36 and 39 are involved in the quality of the measurement, so the offset voltage generated must be sufficiently low and also distributed around the zero potential.
  • the measurement can only start if the voltage V (t) is sufficiently negative (-VL). Then, the signal E at the output of comparator 27 is at the high level.
  • a flip-flop 40 has a high level on its input D. Via NAND gates 41 and 42, the level CL / passes to the high level and puts the flip-flop in operating state, the offset is reduced to that necessary for the measurement.
  • the flip-flop 40 copies the state present on the input D on the output QL, the output QL / takes the opposite state, ensuring the offset of the voltage UH (t) necessary for hysteresis during the measurement.
  • the instant T1 being thus defined, the counting of time begins. During the passage of the signal C at the low level, by means of the gates 41 and 42, an offset is defined for the measurement wait, the level CL / goes to the low level and puts the scale in frozen state with the output QL low. The QL / output takes the opposite state, ensuring the voltage offset UH (t) necessary during the measurement standby phase.
  • the instant T2 is thus defined. The time counting is stopped and the information T2 - T1 is made available to the computer.
  • Fig. 13 schematically represents the various mechanical and electrical elements constituting an ink jet printer, including a print head 1 and an ink supply circuit.
  • the various elements are also represented: sensors, electrical circuits, allowing the implementation of the ink quality control process, object of the present invention.
  • Fig. 13 illustrates in particular a print head 1 comprising a nozzle 2 making it possible to form a succession of droplets G, a charging electrode 6 and electrical means 7 making it possible to charge these droplets, a drop speed detector 8, deflection electrodes 10, and a gutter 11, already described in connection with FIG. 1.
  • An ink circuit comprises a constant ink flow generator 43, independent of variations in the environment, said generator 43 being hydraulically connected to the nozzle 2 by lines 44 and 45 in series, from a mixing tank 46 containing the ink intended for the nozzle.
  • Two tanks 47 and 48 respectively containing fresh ink and solvent are hydraulically connected to the tank 46, so as to adjust the quantities of ink and solvent of the latter.
  • a reservoir 49 contains the ink coming from the drops not used for printing and recovered in the gutter 11.
  • the constant flow generator 43 consists of a positive displacement pump 50 driven by a motor 51, a speed measuring device according to the invention, and a drop speed regulation circuit 52.
  • the positive displacement pump 50 may be a multifunction unit having a variable volume chamber, as described in the French patent application No. 86 17385 in the name of the present applicant.
  • the drop speed regulation circuit 52 acts on the motor 51 driving the pump 50, so as to increase (or decrease) the flow rate of the pump 50, depending on whether the measured drop speed is lower (or higher) than a setpoint Vo.
  • a similar method drop of speed control is described in particular in US Patents No. 4,045,770 and US No. 4,063,252 for the case of a jet printer magnetic ink.
  • the generator 43 is connected to the nozzle 2 by a single line defined by the series of lines 44 and 45.
  • the regulation of the drop speed substantially amounts to regulating the flow of ink at the output of the generator 43, circulating in the lines 44 and 45.
  • a device 53 for measuring the pressure of the ink Pe delivered by the pump 50 placed between the generator 43 and the nozzle 2, and dividing the pipeline into an upstream part and a downstream part with respect to the direction of circulation of the fluid, already referenced 44 and 45 respectively.
  • the pressure Pe necessary to maintain a fixed jet flow rate Qo depends on the following parameters: - the difference in height (zp - zj) existing between the pressure measurement location and the jet J; - geometric characteristics (sections, lengths and shapes) of the pipe 45 located between the place of pressure measurement and the jet J, and of the nozzle 2; characteristics of the ink present in the line 45 between the place of pressure measurement and the jet J (viscosity, density), and in the nozzle 2.
  • the elevation (zp - zj) is known (by construction or measurement on the site).
  • the pressure Pe * taking into account the difference in height, and defined below, then only depends on the characteristics (density and viscosity) of the ink circulating in the conduits (the pipe 45 and the nozzle 2) between the place of pressure measurement and the jet.
  • ink density ⁇ contributes to the pressure loss Pe * by the first term of the right member of the relation (11), which corresponds to a loss by inertia; this depends (via the coefficient K1) on the amplitude of the changes in cross-sections of the flow of the ink in the conduits located between the place of pressure measurement and the jet.
  • the viscosity ⁇ ink contributes to the pressure loss Pe * by the second term of the right-hand side of the relation (11), which corresponds to a loss by friction; this depends (via the coefficient K2) on the diameter and lengths of the conduits located between the place of measurement of Pe * and the jet.
  • a nozzle 2 is preferably used, the slenderness (defined by the ratio of the length of the orifice to the diameter of the orifice) is at least equal to 1, in order to increase the value of the coefficient K2B in relation (12) and to obtain a measurement more sensitive to variations in the quality of the ink, which mainly results from variations in viscosity.
  • the ink quality control device is schematically shown in FIG. 13.
  • a temperature sensor 54 is arranged in the ink circuit in order to carry out a temperature measurement representative of the temperature Te * of the ink at the nozzle.
  • the measurements of the pressure Pe * and of the temperature Te * of the ink are transmitted to a control circuit 55.
  • the latter according to a quality instruction of the ink to be maintained, which can in particular be defined by a curve Pe * (setpoint) -Te * as shown in FIG. 14, continuously regulates the quality of the ink by adding to the mixing tank 46 determined quantities of fresh ink coming from the tank 47, or solvent coming from the tank 48, or ink recycled to the gutter 11 coming from the tank 49, thanks to an action on one of the solenoid valves, respectively 56, 57 and 58.
  • the ink present in the fresh ink reservoir 47 is of a higher concentration than the nominal concentration of use.
  • the Pee curve characterizing the quality of this fresh ink as a function of temperature is shown in FIG. 14, as well as that of the solvent Pes.
  • the main advantages of using concentrated make-up ink are, on the one hand, a faster response time of the ink quality regulation and, on the other hand, a higher autonomy of the machine. in terms of new ink replenishment.
  • the positive displacement pump 50 consists of a variable volume chamber closed by a membrane, the latter being set in reciprocating motion by a motor of the stepping motor type.
  • the pump 50 continuously supplies the print head 1 with ink, through the mixing tank 46, the flow rate Qo being kept constant using of the regulating circuit 52.
  • the regulation of the quality of the ink is obtained by varying the opening times of the solenoid valves 56, 57 and 58, controlled by the regulating circuit 55.
  • the latter also functions d 'a sampled period period dt.
  • the regulation takes account, not only of the quality of the ink measured at the present moment, but of all the history of the ink quality measured from the moment the machine was started.
  • the ink quality control mode is then ensured as follows:
  • the following average values are defined over a sampling period dt of the regulation circuit 55, over the ith sampling period: the duration of opening De (i) of the fresh ink solenoid valve 56, - the opening time Ds (i) of the solvent solenoid valve 57, the opening time Dg (i) of the solenoid valve 58 of recycled ink coming from the gutter 11, - the measured temperature of the ink Te * (i), - the pressure measured Pe * (i) at the temperature Te * (i), - the setpoint curve Pec (T) as a function of the temperature T (Fig. 14); - the Pee curve (T) characteristic of fresh ink (Fig. 14); - the characteristic Pes (T) curve of the solvent (Fig. 14); - The response time tr of the circuit between the tanks 47, 48, 49 and the nozzle 2 defined by the volume ratio of the pipe on the volume flow of the jet Qo.
  • Fig. 13 also illustrates the operating diagram of the device for controlling the formation of drops, object of the invention.
  • the device implements the print head 1, comprising the nozzle 2, supplied by the ink circuit comprising the constant-flow generator 43.
  • the jet J coming from the nozzle 2, the speed of which is fixed (regulated), fragments at a distance Lb, Fig. 2, of the nozzle 2 in a succession of equidistant and equidimensional droplets G, under the action of the pressure disturbance applied by the resonator 4 placed upstream of the nozzle 2, and supplied by the modulation circuit 5.
  • the circuit charge 7 cooperating with the charge electrode 6 makes it possible to charge the drops intended for printing.
  • an electrical circuit 59 measures a time of flight tv of the drops used for the speed measurement.
  • This flight time tv is defined by the time between the instant of charge of these drops and the instant of detection of their passage at the input of the speed detector 8.
  • a timing diagram of the operation of the detector 59 is presented in FIG. . 15.
  • the number of drops of the train used for speed detection being known (5 in Fig. 15)
  • a simple processing of the charge signals Vc (t) (the charge voltage Vc is applied to the charge electrode for half a drop period for the case shown in Fig. 15) and speed detection I (t), J (t) allows to obtain the time tv.
  • control means In the control means described above, all the parameters controlled are measured (or representative of the measurable values) at the level of the nozzle. This allows very precise regulation of the operation of the printer. The precision achievable by these control means allows their use in inkjet printers used for high quality marking applications. In general, it contributes to improving the quality of printing and the reliability of inkjet printers.
  • Example 1 Example 2
  • Example 3 f Drop frequency 125 kHz 83.33 kHz 62.5 kHz
  • Electrode slot width 0.6 mm 0.6 mm 0.6 mm
  • Detector length 8c 2 mm 2 mm 2.8mm Li Insulation length 1 mm 1 mm 1.2mm
  • the Effective length of 8c 2.39 mm 2.375 mm 3.25mm NOT number of charged drops 7 6 7 ⁇ B
  • Nozzle diameter 40 ⁇ m 55 ⁇ m 70 ⁇ m

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Quality & Reliability (AREA)
  • Particle Formation And Scattering Control In Inkjet Printers (AREA)
  • Ink Jet (AREA)
EP89460031A 1988-09-29 1989-09-22 Tintensteuer- und -regelvorrichtung für einen kontinuierlich arbeitenden Tintenstrahldrucker Expired - Lifetime EP0362101B1 (de)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT89460031T ATE96736T1 (de) 1988-09-29 1989-09-22 Tintensteuer- und -regelvorrichtung fuer einen kontinuierlich arbeitenden tintenstrahldrucker.

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR8812935 1988-09-29
FR8812935A FR2636884B1 (fr) 1988-09-29 1988-09-29 Dispositif de controle et de regulation d'une encre et de son traitement dans une imprimante a jet d'encre continu

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0362101A1 true EP0362101A1 (de) 1990-04-04
EP0362101B1 EP0362101B1 (de) 1993-11-03

Family

ID=9370643

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP89460031A Expired - Lifetime EP0362101B1 (de) 1988-09-29 1989-09-22 Tintensteuer- und -regelvorrichtung für einen kontinuierlich arbeitenden Tintenstrahldrucker

Country Status (11)

Country Link
US (1) US5160939A (de)
EP (1) EP0362101B1 (de)
JP (1) JPH0667621B2 (de)
KR (1) KR900701538A (de)
AT (1) ATE96736T1 (de)
AU (1) AU615803B2 (de)
CA (1) CA1313972C (de)
DE (1) DE68910459T2 (de)
ES (1) ES2045529T3 (de)
FR (1) FR2636884B1 (de)
WO (1) WO1990003271A1 (de)

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FR2695704A1 (fr) * 1992-09-15 1994-03-18 Imaje Régulateur de pression pneumatique à commande électronique et procédé de régulation de pression d'un fluide utilisant un tel régulateur.
WO1995013192A1 (en) * 1993-11-08 1995-05-18 Videojet Systems International, Inc. Drop marking control system responsive to acoustical properties of ink
FR2934810A1 (fr) * 2008-08-11 2010-02-12 Imaje Sa Dispositif d'impression a jet d'encre a compensation de vitesse de jet
WO2011012641A1 (en) 2009-07-30 2011-02-03 Markem-Imaje Directivity detection device of trajectories of drops issuing from liquid jet, associated electrostatic sensor, print head and continuous ink jet printer
WO2012107560A1 (en) 2011-02-11 2012-08-16 Markem-Imaje New method for stimulation range detection in a continuous ink jet printer
WO2013041589A1 (de) 2011-09-20 2013-03-28 Simaco GmbH Verfahren und vorrichtung zur gewinnung homogener tinte für inkjet-geräte
EP3098075A1 (de) * 2015-05-29 2016-11-30 Dover Europe Sàrl Verfahren und vorrichtung zur verwaltung der tintenqualität in einem tintenstrahldrucker
FR3048199A1 (fr) * 2016-02-26 2017-09-01 Dover Europe Sarl Dispositif simplifie d'alimentation d'un circuit d'encre

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US5396274A (en) * 1992-05-20 1995-03-07 Videojet Systems International, Inc. Variable frequency ink jet printer
US5517216A (en) * 1992-07-28 1996-05-14 Videojet Systems International, Inc. Ink jet printer employing time of flight control system for ink jet printers
EP0668165B1 (de) * 1994-02-23 2000-12-27 Hewlett-Packard Company Verfahren zur Optimierung der Wirkungsweise eines Druckers
CA2200086A1 (en) * 1994-09-16 1996-03-21 Marconi Data Systems Inc. Continuous ink jet printing system for use with hot-melt inks
GB9610796D0 (en) 1996-05-23 1996-07-31 Videojet Systems Int Charged droplet position determining apparatus
US5963235A (en) * 1997-10-17 1999-10-05 Eastman Kodak Company Continuous ink jet printer with micromechanical actuator drop deflection
US6509917B1 (en) 1997-10-17 2003-01-21 Eastman Kodak Company Continuous ink jet printer with binary electrostatic deflection
US6079821A (en) * 1997-10-17 2000-06-27 Eastman Kodak Company Continuous ink jet printer with asymmetric heating drop deflection
US6254225B1 (en) 1997-10-17 2001-07-03 Eastman Kodak Company Continuous ink jet printer with asymmetric heating drop deflection
US6012805A (en) * 1997-10-17 2000-01-11 Eastman Kodak Company Continuous ink jet printer with variable contact drop deflection
US6402305B1 (en) 1997-10-17 2002-06-11 Eastman Kodak Company Method for preventing ink drop misdirection in an asymmetric heat-type ink jet printer
FR2801836B1 (fr) 1999-12-03 2002-02-01 Imaje Sa Imprimante a fabrication simplifiee et procede de realisation
US6626513B2 (en) 2001-07-18 2003-09-30 Lexmark International, Inc. Ink detection circuit and sensor for an ink jet printer
US6843547B2 (en) 2001-07-18 2005-01-18 Lexmark International, Inc. Missing nozzle detection method and sensor for an ink jet printer
US6616261B2 (en) 2001-07-18 2003-09-09 Lexmark International, Inc. Automatic bi-directional alignment method and sensor for an ink jet printer
US6655777B2 (en) 2001-07-18 2003-12-02 Lexmark International, Inc. Automatic horizontal and vertical head-to-head alignment method and sensor for an ink jet printer
US6631971B2 (en) 2001-07-18 2003-10-14 Lexmark International, Inc. Inkjet printer and method for use thereof
US6769756B2 (en) * 2001-07-25 2004-08-03 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Ink drop detector configurations
US6883904B2 (en) * 2002-04-24 2005-04-26 Eastman Kodak Company Apparatus and method for maintaining constant drop volumes in a continuous stream ink jet printer
US7121642B2 (en) * 2002-08-07 2006-10-17 Osram Opto Semiconductors Gmbh Drop volume measurement and control for ink jet printing
US7131372B2 (en) * 2003-12-01 2006-11-07 Lockheed Martin Corporation Miniature fluid dispensing end-effector for geometrically constrained areas
US7932302B2 (en) * 2005-05-02 2011-04-26 Cytec Surface Specialties, S.A. Radiation curable urethane (meth)acrylate polymer and adhesives formulated with them
FR2934809A1 (fr) * 2008-08-11 2010-02-12 Imaje Sa Dispositif d'impression a jet d'encre a injecteur d'air, injecteur d'air et tete d'impression grande largeur associes
FR2954216B1 (fr) 2009-12-23 2013-02-08 Markem Imaje Systeme de mesure dans un circuit de fluides d'une imprimante a jet d'encre continu, circuit de fluides associe et bloc destine a mettre en oeuvre un tel systeme de mesure
FR2954215A1 (fr) 2009-12-23 2011-06-24 Markem Imaje Systeme de determination de l'autonomie en fluides consommables d'une imprimante a jet d'encre continu
FR2956061B1 (fr) * 2010-02-11 2012-12-21 Markem Imaje Imprimante a jet d'encre industrielle a communication numerique
WO2015187926A1 (en) 2014-06-05 2015-12-10 Videojet Technologies Inc. An ink buildup sensor arrangement
AU2015271713B2 (en) 2014-06-05 2018-04-19 Videojet Technologies Inc. A self-sealing filter module for inkjet printing
WO2015187983A2 (en) 2014-06-05 2015-12-10 Videojet Technologies Inc. Continuous ink jet print head with zero adjustment embedded charging electrode
FR3025454B1 (fr) 2014-09-04 2016-12-23 Markem-Imaje Holding Procede de gestion de la qualite de l'encre d'une imprimante a jet d'encre en fonction de la temperature.
FR3045459B1 (fr) * 2015-12-22 2020-06-12 Dover Europe Sarl Tete d'impression ou imprimante a jet d'encre a consommation de solvant reduite
FR3048200B1 (fr) * 2016-02-26 2019-07-12 Dover Europe Sarl Procede et dispositif d'ajout de solvant par petites quantites
CN108367487B (zh) 2016-10-17 2020-05-19 瓦克化学股份公司 用于生产打印质量提高的聚硅氧烷弹性体制品的方法

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Cited By (19)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2695704A1 (fr) * 1992-09-15 1994-03-18 Imaje Régulateur de pression pneumatique à commande électronique et procédé de régulation de pression d'un fluide utilisant un tel régulateur.
EP0588698A1 (de) * 1992-09-15 1994-03-23 Imaje S.A. Druckluftregler mit elektronischer Steuerung und Fluidumdruckregelungsverfahren unter Verwendung eines solchen Reglers
US5555005A (en) * 1992-09-15 1996-09-10 Imaje Electronically controlled pneumatic pressure regulator and method for the regulation of the pressure of a fluid using such a regulator
WO1995013192A1 (en) * 1993-11-08 1995-05-18 Videojet Systems International, Inc. Drop marking control system responsive to acoustical properties of ink
FR2934810A1 (fr) * 2008-08-11 2010-02-12 Imaje Sa Dispositif d'impression a jet d'encre a compensation de vitesse de jet
WO2010018169A2 (en) * 2008-08-11 2010-02-18 Markem-Imaje Inkjet printing device with compensation for jet velocity
WO2010018169A3 (en) * 2008-08-11 2010-08-12 Markem-Imaje Inkjet printing device with compensation for jet velocity
WO2011012641A1 (en) 2009-07-30 2011-02-03 Markem-Imaje Directivity detection device of trajectories of drops issuing from liquid jet, associated electrostatic sensor, print head and continuous ink jet printer
WO2012107560A1 (en) 2011-02-11 2012-08-16 Markem-Imaje New method for stimulation range detection in a continuous ink jet printer
FR2971451A1 (fr) * 2011-02-11 2012-08-17 Markem Imaje Detection de plage de stimulation dans une imprimante a jet d'encre continu
FR2971452A1 (fr) * 2011-02-11 2012-08-17 Markem Imaje Nouveau procede de detection de plage de stimulation dans une imprimante a jet d'encre continu
US8998391B2 (en) 2011-02-11 2015-04-07 Markem-Imaje Method for stimulation range detection in a continuous ink jet printer
WO2013041589A1 (de) 2011-09-20 2013-03-28 Simaco GmbH Verfahren und vorrichtung zur gewinnung homogener tinte für inkjet-geräte
RU2580092C2 (ru) * 2011-09-20 2016-04-10 Зимако Гмбх Способ и устройство получения однородных чернил для струйных принтеров
EP3098075A1 (de) * 2015-05-29 2016-11-30 Dover Europe Sàrl Verfahren und vorrichtung zur verwaltung der tintenqualität in einem tintenstrahldrucker
FR3036650A1 (fr) * 2015-05-29 2016-12-02 Dover Europe Sarl Procede et dispositif de gestion de la qualite d'encre d'une imprimante a jet d'encre
EP3495147A1 (de) * 2015-05-29 2019-06-12 Dover Europe Sàrl Verfahren und vorrichtung zur verwaltung der tintenqualität in einem tintenstrahldrucker
US10647122B2 (en) 2015-05-29 2020-05-12 Dover Europe Sàrl Method and device for managing ink quality in an inkjet printer
FR3048199A1 (fr) * 2016-02-26 2017-09-01 Dover Europe Sarl Dispositif simplifie d'alimentation d'un circuit d'encre

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
KR900701538A (ko) 1990-12-03
US5160939A (en) 1992-11-03
FR2636884B1 (fr) 1990-11-02
JPH02504375A (ja) 1990-12-13
FR2636884A1 (fr) 1990-03-30
CA1313972C (fr) 1993-03-02
JPH0667621B2 (ja) 1994-08-31
ES2045529T3 (es) 1994-01-16
AU4323689A (en) 1990-04-18
DE68910459D1 (de) 1993-12-09
WO1990003271A1 (fr) 1990-04-05
DE68910459T2 (de) 1994-03-03
AU615803B2 (en) 1991-10-10
ATE96736T1 (de) 1993-11-15
EP0362101B1 (de) 1993-11-03

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