EP0389481B1 - Procede et dispositif pour verifier automatiquement l'aptitude au fonctionnement de systemes d'impression a encre - Google Patents

Procede et dispositif pour verifier automatiquement l'aptitude au fonctionnement de systemes d'impression a encre Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0389481B1
EP0389481B1 EP88907627A EP88907627A EP0389481B1 EP 0389481 B1 EP0389481 B1 EP 0389481B1 EP 88907627 A EP88907627 A EP 88907627A EP 88907627 A EP88907627 A EP 88907627A EP 0389481 B1 EP0389481 B1 EP 0389481B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ink
arrangement
comb
conductor paths
nozzle surface
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP88907627A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP0389481A1 (fr
Inventor
Ernst Goepel
Hans Kusmierz
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Siemens AG
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Siemens AG
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Publication date
Priority claimed from DE19873732395 external-priority patent/DE3732395A1/de
Priority claimed from DE19873732396 external-priority patent/DE3732396A1/de
Application filed by Siemens AG filed Critical Siemens AG
Publication of EP0389481A1 publication Critical patent/EP0389481A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0389481B1 publication Critical patent/EP0389481B1/fr
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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
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/165—Prevention or detection of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
    • B41J2/16579—Detection means therefor, e.g. for nozzle clogging

Definitions

  • the invention relates to an arrangement for determining the functionality of an ink printing device according to the preamble of patent claim 1.
  • ink printing devices that is subject to the functional monitoring of the user is the problem of print image acceptance.
  • the user of ink printing devices must recognize in good time whether the typeface generated is faulty or not. This is particularly difficult with multi-nozzle ink heads of high print resolution, since e.g. B. the failure of one or more nozzles of the ink print head initially only results in a slight deterioration in the printed image.
  • DE-A-36 34 034 In order to be able to determine malfunctions due to the failure of individual nozzles, it is known from DE-A-36 34 034 to use an ink droplet sensor which comprises a plurality of electrodes, at least the first electrode of which can be brought into a position in which it meets the outlet nozzles opposite of the ink print head at a predetermined distance. The change in resistance between the first electrode and another electrode is detected when conductive ink ejected from the ink print head reaches the first electrode.
  • DE-A-32 44 112 describes an arrangement for checking nozzle outlet openings on ink writing heads for clogging or contamination in ink writing devices.
  • an ink device for monitoring the droplet ejection is arranged in the range of movement of the ink print head, with a light receiver and a light transmitter. After cleaning the ink print head, a nozzle test is carried out by spraying, the presence of an ink meniscus being checked at the nozzle outlet openings. If the reflection intensity of the meniscus deviates from a comparison intensity, a control signal is generated. This control signal either triggers a flushing of the write head or an optical or acoustic warning signal.
  • DE-A-29 19 727 describes a device for closing the nozzle surface on an ink writing head, in which a motor-driven, elastic endless band is provided, which rests on the nozzle surface.
  • the object of the invention is to provide an arrangement of the type mentioned at the beginning, with which an automatic operational security of the ink printing device is possible.
  • the ink head in the region of its nozzle surface is first cleaned and flushed through. After the cleaning procedure has been completed, each nozzle of the ink print head is then subjected to a spray test, and then, depending on the result of the spray test, either the printing operation is released or the ink printing device is put into a fault state after one or more unsuccessful cleaning procedures. H. further printing is prevented or the fault status is shown on a display.
  • This automatic operational security of the ink printing device before the start of the printing operation or automatic control procedure during the printing operation ensures optimal operational reliability and printing quality.
  • the arrangement is inexpensive and inexpensive and relieves the user of the printing device from its own possibly imprecise controls, since the ink printing device checks itself at defined times.
  • the necessary components are inexpensive and easy to manufacture, and the function test procedure that controls the process can be saved as part of the microprocessor-controlled central control.
  • the function test procedure can be called up when the printing device is started up or after a predefinable printing time.
  • an ink writing head 1 which is arranged on a printer carriage 100 is moved line by line along a recording medium (not shown here) with the aid of a stepping motor 101 in printing operation.
  • the printer carriage 100 is guided on guide rods 102 and is connected to the stepper motor 101 via a toothed belt 103.
  • the components required for automatically ensuring the operational reliability of the ink printer are arranged on the printer chassis 41. These are essentially a cleaning and rinsing station 105 and an ink droplet sensor 11 arranged next to them.
  • the cleaning and rinsing station shown in particular in FIGS. 11, 13 and 14 consists of a rotating endless belt 107 made of elastic material, e.g. Rubber or elastomer, which is guided by two rollers 108 and the width of which is somewhat larger than the width of the nozzle surface (nozzle plate) 2 of the ink writing head 1.
  • a rotating endless belt 107 made of elastic material, e.g. Rubber or elastomer, which is guided by two rollers 108 and the width of which is somewhat larger than the width of the nozzle surface (nozzle plate) 2 of the ink writing head 1.
  • two wedge-shaped wiping lips 109 are arranged on the endless belt 107. These wiper lips have an approximately triangular cross section, the angle at the front edge may differ from the angle at the rear edge, so that they can form oblique triangular lips. It is essential that the triangular wiper lips are attached to the endless belt 107 in such a way or are designed as a bulge of the endless belt that they cannot flip over
  • the endless belt 107 with the wiper lips 109 is arranged at such a distance close to the nozzle surface 2, so that the wiper lips 109 can surely slip over the nozzle surface during the cleaning process.
  • the elasticity and resilience for generating the pressing force necessary for stripping is essentially achieved by the deflection of this band.
  • the endless belt has further lips 110 parallel to the belt between the wiping lips 109, so that a corresponding protective hood-like depression results in the endless belt 107.
  • This recess is brought in front of the nozzle surface 2 during pauses and rests elastically on the latter.
  • the lips 109 and 110 are arranged so that they cover the area of the writing nozzles in the sealed state.
  • the side lips 110 are arranged with respect to the wiper lips 109 so that they leave openings in order to ensure pressure and temperature compensation to the environment. It is essential, however, that after positioning this protective hood in front of the nozzle openings in the area of the protective hood, a kind of small climate is established that prevents drying and contamination of the nozzle surface during breaks in writing.
  • an area 111 is provided on the endless belt 107 in the device shown, which serves for free spraying as a collecting surface for the ink droplets during free spraying. 14, this area 111 is brought in front of the nozzle surface 2 during free spraying, the impinging ink then dripping off the endless belt 107 and being collected by a collecting container 112.
  • the ink When flushing, the ink is passed through the ink print head 1 with the aid of a hose pump arranged in the printer carriage 100 113 pressed.
  • This hose pump can be designed in accordance with EP-A-0 212 503.
  • a single motor 106 drives both the cleaning and rinsing station 105 and the hose pump 113, depending on its direction of rotation.
  • a respective first 116 and second locking mechanism 117 are arranged on the drive shaft 115 of the motor 106.
  • This locking mechanism which is dependent on the direction of rotation, is designed as freewheels, the first freewheel 116 being connected to the rollers 108 of the endless belt 107 via a belt 118.
  • the freewheel 116 is designed in such a way that it freewheels counterclockwise when the drive shaft 115 is driven and is coupled to the endless belt 107 via the belt 118 when the drive shaft is driven clockwise.
  • the second freewheel 117 is designed as a freewheel freewheeling in the clockwise direction of the drive shaft 115 and has toothing 119 on its outside which cooperate with a corresponding toothing 120 of the hose pump 113.
  • the hose pump 113 is coupled to the motor 106 by moving the printer carriage 100, the coupling being carried out in the position shown on the left in FIG.
  • the ink droplet sensor 11 arranged next to the cleaning and rinsing device 105 will now be described in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10.
  • the ink writing head 1 is shown on the right. It has, for example, a nozzle plate 2 with nine outlet nozzles 3, a head part 4 with nine ink channels 5 and drive elements 6 associated therewith, and an ink supply part 7. This is connected via an ink feed 8 to an ink reservoir, not shown here.
  • a single ink droplet 9 is ejected from the associated nozzle 3.
  • the nozzles 3 in the sectional view according to FIG. 1 can also be arranged several times, namely in several rows perpendicular to the plane of the drawing. Four such rows would then form a write head with 32 nozzles, the nozzles of the individual rows being offset from one another.
  • the ink droplet sensor 11 is arranged at a distance 10 from the write head 1. It essentially consists of a sensor plate 12, designed as an electrode comb, with two connecting electrodes 13 and 14 leading to the outside, and of a layer located behind or below it, which is referred to below as suction block 17 and which serves to absorb and discharge liquid.
  • the electrode comb has, at least in the area of the point of impact of the ink droplets, a multiplicity of conductor tracks 18 and 19 which run in parallel in the outlet area of the ink droplets.
  • the device for removing the liquid supplied by the impact of ink droplets consists of non-conductive porous material; it can be constructed in one layer or preferably from several sub-layers.
  • the connection electrodes 13 and 14 are connected to an evaluation circuit 20 which, as will be discussed in more detail later, depending on the impact of one or more ink droplets on the electrode comb 12, emits a corresponding signal, the sensor signal SM.
  • FIGS. 2 and 3 show an exemplary embodiment of the electrode comb 12 of the ink droplet sensor in a top view (FIG. 2) and in a sectional illustration (FIG. 3).
  • the electrode comb is formed by two comb parts 121 and 122, whose tongue-shaped conductor tracks 18,19 lie next to each other in the area of the impact points for the ink droplets and form the comb structure.
  • the comb parts 121 and 122 with the conductor tracks 18 and 19 are applied here to the suction block 17 consisting of the porous, non-conductive layer.
  • Each of these comb parts 121 and 122 is electrically accessible from the outside via the connection electrodes 13 and 14.
  • the suction block 17 consists of two partial layers 15 and 16 of absorbent material with the thicknesses S1 and S2.
  • An insulating layer in the form of a gold-coated insulating film 21 is laminated onto the uppermost partial layer 15, which is then structured according to the division ratio T of the electrode comb and is provided with the conductor tracks 18 and 19.
  • T ⁇ D must be formed in order to form an electrical resistance bridge between adjacent conductor tracks 18 and 19 and thus between comb parts 121 and 122.
  • the example according to FIG. 3 shows that an ink drop 9 meets this condition when it hits the surface of the ink droplet sensor, that is to say it brings about a marked reduction in resistance between two adjacent conductor tracks, which can be evaluated at the connection electrodes 13 and 14 by the evaluation circuit. After the ink droplet 9 strikes, the amount of liquid is first absorbed by the upper porous sub-layer 15, transported downward and finally penetrates into the second sub-layer 16.
  • the electrically non-conductive porous sub-layers 15 and 16 act as a type of suction pump with a capillary effect.
  • the efficiency of this suction pump can be adjusted to specific applications by selecting the porosity (or pore size) and / or the number or the thickness S1, S2 of the partial layers.
  • the porosity P1 and P2 of the two layers 15 and 16 is different. It is advantageous if the porosity of the individual layers increases with increasing distance from the electrode comb (P2> P1).
  • Increasing porosity means decreasing pore size and thus increasing capillarity of the layers. This ensures that a liquid transport preferably takes place from the upper sub-layer 15 to the lower sub-layer 16. This has the advantage that the space in the vicinity of the electrode comb is emptied of ink relatively quickly and that a sequence of individual droplets arriving at short intervals can thus be reliably detected.
  • Duran filter glass for the upper partial layer 15 and so-called Millipore filter paper for the lower partial layer 16 are preferably suitable as materials for the individual partial layers 15 and 16 with different porosities.
  • the pore sizes of the upper porous partial layer 15 can be between 0.01 and 0 , 02, the pore sizes of the lower porous sublayer 16 are between 0.005 and 0.01 mm.
  • the comb structures described can advantageously be based on the known thin-film or Thick film technology can be produced.
  • the amount of liquid between two adjacent conductor tracks increases with each newly arriving ink droplet until the amount of liquid establishes an electrical connection between the two Produces conductor tracks. In this way it is possible that, for example, a significant abrupt change in resistance is only caused with the third droplet arriving. It is within the scope of the invention to adjust the porosity of the individual layers, which cause capillary suction of the ink liquid, accordingly.
  • the structures of the electrode comb arrangement are bifilar arranged conductor tracks designed, which has the advantage that the conductor tracks of the comb structure are electrically controllable and can be connected to each other, for example, during individual pauses in measurement.
  • FIG. 4 shows an example of this.
  • the conductor tracks 181 and 191 of the two comb parts 123 and 124 are meandered here on the suction block 17. Its construction and the formation of the conductor tracks 181 and 191 can take place in the manner described with reference to FIG. 3. As before, the conductor tracks run parallel next to each other in the area where the ink droplets meet.
  • the embodiment specified here offers the possibility of providing a second pair of connecting electrodes 23 and 24 in addition to the connecting electrodes 13 and 14 which lead to the outside and by means of which the conductor tracks 181 and 191 can be galvanically connected to one another.
  • the connection electrodes 23 and 24 are not connected to one another for the duration of a measurement process, that is to say for the duration during which the impact of ink droplets is detected.
  • the mode of operation of the detection for the impingement of ink droplets then takes place as described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.
  • the connections 23 and 24 can now be connected to one another via a switch, not shown here, which is actuated in the measurement pauses, that is to say when no ink droplets are detected. It is thus possible to use the conductor tracks 181 and 191 for heating and thus for evaporating the ink droplets during the measurement pauses with the aid of a current source (not shown here) which can be connected to the connections 13 and 14. This has the advantage that in addition to the capillary action of the suction block, there is also liquid removal by evaporation.
  • a circuit arrangement is provided for evaluating the impact of ink droplets, which is associated with a sudden reduction in resistance in the course of the conductor tracks of the electrode comb, with each impact of an ink droplet emits the sensor signal SM.
  • An embodiment of this is shown in FIG 5.
  • the circuit shown there essentially consists of a voltage divider, which consists of a fixed resistor 30 and the variable measuring resistor 31. This represents the current resistance value between the conductor tracks 18 and 19 (FIG. 2) and 181, 191 (FIG. 4) of the electrode comb, ie the circuit shown is connected to the connection electrodes 13 and 14 of the electrode comb at this point.
  • the tap between the resistors 30, 31 of the voltage divider is connected to the inputs of a comparator 32.
  • the printer controller By monitoring the time period between the excitation for droplet ejection by the printer controller and the occurrence of the sensor signal, it is possible to check the functionality of the individual nozzles. If there is no sudden change in resistance after a certain period of time, which can be set depending on predetermined parameters, such as printer structure, flight time of the droplets, ink composition, etc., the printer controller recognizes that the excited nozzle is not working.
  • the circuit arrangement described works with direct current, i.e. the voltage divider circuit is connected between a positive voltage source and ground.
  • this can lead to decomposition of the ink liquid especially when several ink droplets arriving in quick succession are necessary for the evaluation of ink droplets.
  • the ink liquid in this case is exposed to a current flow for a period of t ⁇ 100 ms, which can cause electrolytic changes.
  • the dye precipitates out of the solvent, which leads to solidification, which means that capillary suction is no longer possible.
  • this problem is solved in that the ink droplet sensor is operated with AC voltage.
  • An exemplary embodiment of this is shown in FIG. 6.
  • the evaluation circuit shown there also has the voltage divider circuit, consisting of the fixed resistor 30 and a resistor 31 representing the current resistance value between the conductor tracks.
  • the voltage divider circuit 30, 31 is here connected to an AC voltage generator 38.
  • a demodulator 33 is connected between the dividing point of the voltage divider circuit 30, 31 and the comparator 32 and operates in the circuit configuration selected in FIG. 7 as a so-called peak value rectifier. A voltage value is therefore available at its output which corresponds to the corresponds to the current peak value of the voltage at the dividing point. This is fed directly to one input of the comparator 32 via the resistor 39 and to the other input via the integrator 35, 36 as an average over time.
  • the comparison in the comparator 32, the reversal of the bistable circuit 37 and the output of the sensor signal SM in the printer control then take place, as described with reference to FIG. 5.
  • FIG. 7 shows a detailed circuit structure as an example of an embodiment for the evaluation circuit according to FIG. 6.
  • an electrically insulating carrier plate 26 is provided with a metal layer. This is preferably done by evaporating a glass plate with a thickness of 0.1 to 0.8 mm with a base metallization made of Ti, Cu.
  • a photoresist layer is applied to both sides of this. Subsequently, the pattern of the electrode comb structure desired later on the sensor plate 25 with the conductor tracks 18, 19 is generated on one side and this is galvanically reinforced to 10 ... 20 ⁇ m Ni.
  • the area of a spray window 28 is exposed on both sides, and after the base metallization has been etched off, the glass is etched away in this area, so that the conductor tracks 18, 19 span the now glass-free spray window 28.
  • so-called contacting windows 27 are etched free in this glass etching process.
  • the sensor plate 25 can be produced with great utility and can be connected and contacted with the suction block in a simple manner. Details are described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10.
  • FIG. 9 in a top view
  • FIG. 10 in a sectional view
  • a housing 29 the suction block 17, the sensor plate 25 and contact springs 42 arranged on both sides
  • Non-conductive plastic injection-molded part housing 29 serves to accommodate these parts and is in turn fastened in the printer chassis 41 with the aid of the locking tongues 40 belonging to the housing.
  • the surface quality of the suction block 17 consisting of electrically non-conductive, open-porous material, such as, for example, suction ceramic, filter glass or foam, is subject only to certain requirements with regard to the side facing the ink writing head 1.
  • the flatness of this surface should be of the order of magnitude of the pore size of the porous suction block 17 in order to ensure that the flat sensor plate 25 is supported on it.
  • the sensor plate 25 has the comb parts 121, 122, the conductor tracks 18, 19, the spray window 28 and two contacting windows 27.
  • the mechanical assignment of the sensor plate 25 to the suction block 17, whose side provided with the conductor tracks 18, 19 faces the suction block 17, is done by the multifunctional contact springs 42 arranged on both sides.
  • the suction block 17 is inserted into the housing 29 and Subsequent placement of the sensor plate 25 on the suction block 17, these metal contact springs 42 are pressed into corresponding insertion openings 43 of the housing 29.
  • the contact springs 42 have latching lugs 44 which securely snap into a recess 45 when inserted into the housing 29. This ensures that the three spring tongues 46 formed at one end of the contact springs 42 resiliently rest on the sensor plate 25.
  • the two outer spring tongues 46 each press on the support of the sensor plate 25 and guarantee a gap-free support of the sensor plate 25 on the suction block 17.
  • the middle spring tongue 46 in each case lies in the area of the contacting window 27, presses directly on the respective contact surface of the electrode comb structure 18, 19 and thus makes the electrical contact.
  • the respective other end of the contact springs 42 forms the connection electrode 13 or 14.
  • the electrical connection from the electrode comb structure to the electronic evaluation circuit, not shown here, is established via a connection designed as a flat connector 47 for standardized plug sleeves.
  • the ink sprayed onto the conductor tracks 18, 19 is drawn capillary into the suction block 17.
  • the absorbency of the suction block 17 depends on its suction volume and its material, on the ink and on the frequency of the spray test.
  • an opening 48 can be provided in the housing of the device for an additional ink disposal, which is filled with a suction material of higher porosity than that of the suction block 17.
  • ink droplets which is associated with a sudden reduction in resistance in the course of the conductor tracks of the electrode comb, is evaluated in a circuit arrangement (20 in FIG. 1) which emits the sensor signal SM with each impact of one or more ink droplets.
  • the height of the splash window 28 is adapted to the vertical distance of the outer nozzles of the ink writing head.
  • the width of the spray window 28 depends on the horizontal extension of the nozzle exit area of the ink writing head. In the case of a single-row nozzle arrangement, only a narrow, in the case of multi-row, a correspondingly wider spray window 28 is required. It is also possible to orient the spatially separated nozzle rows one after the other towards the spray window 28. This is more advantageous since the spray test of the individual nozzles only takes place sequentially and not next to one another and a narrow spray window 28 is a narrow design of the device and thus allows for less overall widening of the printer chassis.
  • the arrangement shown in FIG. 11 for automatic operational security of the ink printer is controlled via the microprocessor-controlled central control ZS of the printing device. It controls via a microprocessor-controlled drive control AS designed in the usual way, the stepper motor 101 for the printer carriage drive 100 and the motor 106 for driving the cleaning and rinsing station. Furthermore, the evaluation circuit 20 described in connection with the ink droplet sensor 11, a display DS and a time control arrangement TS are connected to the central control.
  • This time control arrangement TS is constructed in a conventional manner and detects the printing time of the ink printing device or makes it possible to enter freely selectable time periods after which a function test procedure which is stored in the memory area of the central control system ZS is called.
  • the central control ZS of the printing device is connected to the data output via an interface IF, e.g. of a terminal in connection.
  • the ink print head 1 is in the rest position (interface II) FIG 11, FIG 13 at the left outer edge of the printing area before printing and the hose pump 113 is coupled to the motor 106 via the freewheel 117.
  • the nozzle surface 2 of the ink print head 1 is closed by the lips 109 and 110.
  • the motor shaft 115 By rotating the motor shaft 115 in a clockwise direction, the nozzle exit surface of the ink head 1 is wiped or cleaned by means of the upper lip of the wiper lips 109 and the endless belt 107 is brought into the position according to FIG. 14, in which the free-spike region 111 faces the nozzle plate.
  • the ink head nozzles can be rinsed by means of the hose pump 113, and this can also be used as a "STANDBY" position designated position can be used to spray the nozzles freely.
  • the resulting amount of ink drips from the ink head 1 or from the endless belt 107 onto the collecting container 112 and is disposed of in this way.
  • the wiping process can be repeated by means of the wiping lips 109 of the endless belt 107 by rotating the motor shaft 115 clockwise again.
  • the inkjet print head 1 is then driven by the carriage drive over a distance 130 (FIG. 11) into a spray control position (shown in broken lines in FIG. 11), where the individual nozzles are sequentially checked for their functionality.
  • printing operation is then either started on the printing paper to the right of position II-XIII or, if the spray test is not accepted, a new rinsing or wiping procedure is carried out in the STANDBY position and then tested again in the control position. Only after a freely definable number of repeat cycles with a negative spray test result does the ink printer go into the fault state. This fault condition of the printer is shown on the display DS and the printer operation is interrupted.
  • ink print head 1 In normal operation with a positive spray test result, ink print head 1 will print.

Landscapes

  • Ink Jet (AREA)
  • Particle Formation And Scattering Control In Inkjet Printers (AREA)

Abstract

Pour permettre la vérification automatique de l'aptitude au fonctionnement, un système d'impression à encre possède un dispositif de nettoyage et de rinçage (105) ainsi qu'un détecteur de gouttelettes d'encre (11). Lors de l'appel d'une procédure d'essai fonctionnel entièrement automatique avant l'opération d'impression proprement dite ou après écoulement d'une durée déterminée d'impression, la tête d'impression à l'encre est nettoyée et rincée dans une position de repos et son fonctionnement est ensuite vérifié, au cours d'un essai de pulvérisation, par l'intermédiaire d'un détecteur de gouttelettes d'encre (11). Si les résultats de cet essai sont satisfaisants, l'opération d'impression peut alors reprendre. Si les résultats de deux essais de pulvérisation consécutifs sont négatifs, le dispositif d'impression est placé en état de défaillance et l'opération d'impression est arrêtée.

Claims (12)

  1. Agencement pour vérifier l'aptitude au fonctionnement d'un dispositif d'impression à encre, comportant un chariot d'écriture (100) portant une tête d'impression à encre (1) et un dispositif pour surveiller l'éjection des gouttelettes (11), qui présente un capteur de gouttelettes d'encre évaluant l'impact des gouttelettes d'encre,
    caractérisé en ce que, dans la zone de déplacement de la tête d'impression à encre (1), est agencé un dispositif (105), pour nettoyer et obturer la tête d'impression à encre, comportant un dispositif de nettoyage à lèvres de raclage (109), qui, entraînées de façon motorisée, balayent la surface des buses (2) de la tête d'impression à encre (1), ainsi qu'un dispositif d'obturation (109,110) qui recouvre, au besoin, la surface des buses (2).
  2. Agencement selon la revendication 1,
    caractérisé en ce que le dispositif (105) pour nettoyer et obturer la tête d'impression à encre (1) et le dispositif (11) pour surveiller l'éjection des gouttelettes sont agencés à l'extérieur de la zone d'impression sur son bord.
  3. Agencement selon la revendication 1,
    caractérisé en ce que le dispositif (105) pour nettoyer et obturer la surface des buses présente une bande sans fin élastique (107) entraînée de façon motorisée et guidée le long de la surface des buses (2), la bande sans fin (107) étant guidée à distance devant la surface des buses (2) et présentant des lèvres de raclage (109) ayant une section transversale en forme de coin, qui sont agencées, de façon assurée en torsion, sur la bande sans fin (107), de sorte qu'elles balayent, au moins par leur bord avant, la surface des buses, lorsque la bande sans fin (107) est en service.
  4. Agencement selon la revendication 3,
    caractérisé en ce que la bande sans fin (107) présente une zone (111) dépourvue de lèvres de raclage, qui peut être amenée, au besoin, devant la surface des buses (2) comme écran collecteur pour les gouttelettes d'encre pour le fonctionnement libre des buses.
  5. Agencement selon la revendication 4,
    caractérisé en ce que la bande sans fin (107) présente une zone creusée (109,110) qui peut être amenée devant la surface des buses pour les protéger du séchage à la façon d'un capot de protection, et qui est réalisée de sorte que, dans la zone creusée, se crée un mésoclimat empêchant le séchage des buses.
  6. Agencement selon la revendication 1,
    caractérisé en ce qu'un moteur stationnaire commun (106) est prévu aussi bien pour l'entraînement du dispositif de nettoyage (105) que pour l'entraînement d'une pompe à encre (113), comportant des premier et second dispositifs d'encliquetage (116,117) dépendant du sens de rotation, qui sont couplés au moteur (106) et au dispositif de nettoyage (105) ou à la pompe à encre (113), de sorte que, dans un premier sens de rotation du moteur (106), la pompe à encre (113) est entraînée et, dans le second sens de rotation, le dispositif de nettoyage (105) est entraîné.
  7. Agencement selon la revendication 6,
    caractérisé en ce que la pompe à encre (113) est agencée sur le chariot d'écriture (100) et présente un dispositif de couplage (120) qui, lorsque le chariot d'écriture (100) est positionné dans une position de nettoyage, couple la pompe à encre (113) au moteur (106).
  8. Agencement selon la revendication 1,
    caractérisé en ce que le dispositif pour surveiller l'éjection des gouttelettes présente une plaque de capteur (12,25) comportant des pistes conductrices structurées en forme de peigne et agencées en un rapport de répartition (T) déterminé, un circuit d'exploitation (20) détectant la variation de résistance se produisant entre au moins deux pistes conductrices voisines et évaluant celle-ci, et en ce que le liquide d'encrage amené pendant une période de mesure ou de surveillance est évacué par capillarité de la plaque de capteur (12,25).
  9. Agencement selon la revendication 1,
    caractérisé en ce que la plaque de capteur (12,25) agencée à une distance (10) devant les buses de sortie (3) est réalisée, sur sa surface en regard des ouvertures de sortie (3), sous forme d'un peigne d'électrodes, dont les pistes conductrices (18,19;181,191) formant la structure de peigne présentent un rapport de répartition (T) déterminé par la largeur (A) et l'écartement (B) des pistes conductrices (18,19;181,191), en ce que, de façon adjacente à la plaque de capteur (12,25), est prévu un bloc d'aspiration (17) formé par au moins une couche poreuse électriquement non conductrice pour évacuer le liquide, en ce que le circuit d'exploitation (20), relié électriquement aux pistes conductrices (18,19;181,191) de la plaque de capteur (12,25), évalue la variation de résistance, créée lors de l'impact d'au moins une gouttelette sur la surface du peigne d'électrodes de la plaque de capteur (12,25) , entre au moins deux pistes conductrices voisines (18,19;181,191), et délivre un signal de capteur (SM).
  10. Agencement selon la revendication 9,
    caractérisé en ce que le peigne d'électrodes est constitué de deux parties de peigne (121,122) et chaque partie de peigne (121,122) présente une électrode de raccordement (13,14), à laquelle est raccordé le circuit d'exploitation (20), et en ce que les pistes conductrices (18) d'une partie de peigne (121), ainsi que les pistes conductrices (19) de l'autre partie de peigne (122), s'étendent en forme de languettes dans la zone d'impact des gouttelettes et forment, à cet endroit, la structure de peigne avec le rapport de répartition (T).
  11. Agencement selon la revendication 9,
    caractérisé en ce que le peigne d'électrodes est formé par des pistes conductrices (181,191) agencées de façon bifilaire, qui s'étendent sous forme de méandre et forment, dans la zone d'impact des gouttelettes, la structure de peigne avec le rapport de répartition (T), et en ce que le circuit d'exploitation (20) peut être raccordé, à chaque fois, à deux raccords (13,14) des pistes conductrices bifilaires (181,191), et les deux autres raccords (23,24) ne sont pas reliés ensemble.
  12. Agencement selon la revendication 11,
    caractérisé en ce que, aux deux raccords (13,14) des pistes conductrices bifilaires (181,191), pendant les pauses de mesure du circuit d'exploitation (20), peut être raccordée une source de courant, et les deux autres raccords (23,24) sont, dans ce cas, reliés ensemble.
EP88907627A 1987-09-25 1988-09-20 Procede et dispositif pour verifier automatiquement l'aptitude au fonctionnement de systemes d'impression a encre Expired - Lifetime EP0389481B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE3732396 1987-09-25
DE19873732395 DE3732395A1 (de) 1987-09-25 1987-09-25 Verfahren und anordnung zur ueberwachung des troepfchenausstosses aus austrittsduesen eines tintenschreibkopfes
DE19873732396 DE3732396A1 (de) 1987-09-25 1987-09-25 Vorrichtung zur ueberwachung des troepfchenausstosses aus austrittsduesen eines tintenschreibkopfes
DE3732395 1987-09-25

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0389481A1 EP0389481A1 (fr) 1990-10-03
EP0389481B1 true EP0389481B1 (fr) 1994-03-09

Family

ID=25860166

Family Applications (3)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP88907604A Expired - Lifetime EP0382741B1 (fr) 1987-09-25 1988-09-09 Dispositif pour controler la projection de gouttes par les buses de sortie d'unetete d'ecriture a encre
EP88907627A Expired - Lifetime EP0389481B1 (fr) 1987-09-25 1988-09-20 Procede et dispositif pour verifier automatiquement l'aptitude au fonctionnement de systemes d'impression a encre
EP88908144A Ceased EP0380526A1 (fr) 1987-09-25 1988-09-26 Procede et dispositif pour determiner la position d'impression des ajutages de sortie dans des tetes d'impression a encre

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP88907604A Expired - Lifetime EP0382741B1 (fr) 1987-09-25 1988-09-09 Dispositif pour controler la projection de gouttes par les buses de sortie d'unetete d'ecriture a encre

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP88908144A Ceased EP0380526A1 (fr) 1987-09-25 1988-09-26 Procede et dispositif pour determiner la position d'impression des ajutages de sortie dans des tetes d'impression a encre

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (3) EP0382741B1 (fr)
JP (3) JPH03500271A (fr)
DE (2) DE3885904D1 (fr)
WO (3) WO1989002826A1 (fr)

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DE10028318B4 (de) * 1999-06-28 2017-02-16 Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Ag Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Reinigung eines Druckkopfes eines Tintenstrahldruckers
US20220040981A1 (en) * 2020-08-04 2022-02-10 Canon Production Printing Holding B.V. Method and device for checking a cleaning unit

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EP0443832B1 (fr) * 1990-02-23 1996-12-18 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Appareil de transmission d'image
US5160938A (en) * 1990-08-06 1992-11-03 Iris Graphics, Inc. Method and means for calibrating an ink jet printer
JP3190486B2 (ja) * 1993-07-19 2001-07-23 キヤノン株式会社 インクジェット記録装置および該装置用インクジェット記録ヘッド
JP2000270129A (ja) * 1999-03-12 2000-09-29 Ryuji Ito インクジェット式プリンタを備えた印画装置
DE10027261B4 (de) 1999-06-28 2017-04-27 Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Ag Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Reinigen einer Düsenaustrittsfläche an einem Druckkopf eines Tintenstrahldruckers
WO2002053386A1 (fr) * 2000-12-29 2002-07-11 Array Ab Procede et dispositif d'impression electrostatique directe
EP1245397B1 (fr) * 2001-03-30 2006-06-28 Hewlett-Packard Company, A Delaware Corporation Appareil et procédé de détection de gouttes d'encre dans un dispositif d'impression
EP1245399B1 (fr) 2001-03-30 2010-03-03 Hewlett-Packard Company, A Delaware Corporation Méthode d'alignement améliorée pour dispositif d'impression et appareil correspondant
JP5564893B2 (ja) * 2009-10-29 2014-08-06 コニカミノルタ株式会社 インクジェット記録装置
WO2012084686A1 (fr) * 2010-12-21 2012-06-28 Oce-Technologies B.V. Procédé pour déterminer des performances d'unité de maintenance
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US20220040981A1 (en) * 2020-08-04 2022-02-10 Canon Production Printing Holding B.V. Method and device for checking a cleaning unit
US11511542B2 (en) * 2020-08-04 2022-11-29 Canon Production Printing Holding B.V. Method and device for checking a cleaning unit

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPH03500270A (ja) 1991-01-24
EP0389481A1 (fr) 1990-10-03
JPH03500272A (ja) 1991-01-24
EP0382741B1 (fr) 1993-11-24
WO1989002827A1 (fr) 1989-04-06
JPH03500271A (ja) 1991-01-24
DE3885904D1 (de) 1994-01-05
EP0380526A1 (fr) 1990-08-08
WO1989002828A1 (fr) 1989-04-06
EP0382741A1 (fr) 1990-08-22
WO1989002826A1 (fr) 1989-04-06
DE3888363D1 (de) 1994-04-14

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