EP0741039A2 - Filtre à brouillard d'encre remplaçable - Google Patents

Filtre à brouillard d'encre remplaçable Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0741039A2
EP0741039A2 EP96303082A EP96303082A EP0741039A2 EP 0741039 A2 EP0741039 A2 EP 0741039A2 EP 96303082 A EP96303082 A EP 96303082A EP 96303082 A EP96303082 A EP 96303082A EP 0741039 A2 EP0741039 A2 EP 0741039A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ink
mist filter
filter
mist
vacuum
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP96303082A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0741039B1 (fr
EP0741039A3 (fr
Inventor
Rusell L. Bartley
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.)
Kodak Versamark Inc
Original Assignee
Kodak Versamark Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Kodak Versamark Inc filed Critical Kodak Versamark Inc
Publication of EP0741039A2 publication Critical patent/EP0741039A2/fr
Publication of EP0741039A3 publication Critical patent/EP0741039A3/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0741039B1 publication Critical patent/EP0741039B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
    • B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
    • B41J2/17563—Ink filters

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to continuous ink jet printers and, more particularly, to an easily replaceable apparatus for the collection of ink mist generated in an ink reservoir.
  • Ink jet printing systems are known in which a print head defines one or more rows of orifices which receive an electrically conductive recording fluid from a pressurized fluid supply manifold and eject the fluid in rows of parallel streams.
  • Printers using such print heads accomplish graphic reproduction by selectively charging and deflecting the drops in each of the streams and depositing at least some of the drops on a print receiving medium, while others of the drops strike a drop catcher device.
  • Printers of this type have a front door to allow the user access to certain components, such as ink bottles and the like.
  • a user replaceable apparatus collects ink mist generated in an ink reservoir under vacuum.
  • the location of the ink mist filter is changed, locating the filter within the front door of the ink jet printing system to allow the user access to the filter.
  • a vacuum system comprises an ink reservoir and a vacuum pump for supplying vacuum to the ink reservoir.
  • the vacuum system is usable with an ink jet printer, the printer having an access door.
  • a user replaceable mist filter is situated within the access door of the printer for capturing ink mist from the ink reservoir. The location of the mist filter makes the mist filter easily accessible, removable and replaceable.
  • the present invention protects vacuum system components from ink mist generated in the air from an ink reservoir, by employing a user replaceable mist filter.
  • Fig. 1 a prior art vacuum system 10 is illustrated.
  • the vacuum system 10 includes an ink reservoir 12 which stores ink for recirculation in an ink supply system for a typical ink jet printer of the type shown in commonly assigned U.S. Patent No. 4,399,446, issued August 16, 1983, to McCann et al.
  • the ink reservoir 12 is under vacuum to provide a means for returning ink from the ink supply system to the ink reservoir 12.
  • a port 14 to which a vacuum source, such as vacuum pump 16, is attached.
  • the vacuum in the ink reservoir 12 is provided by vacuum pump 16, which may be any commercially available vacuum pump such as a WISA model no. 113.079.100.0.
  • the port 14 is situated well above the surface of the ink stored in the ink reservoir 12.
  • a float switch 18 controls the fluid level in the ink reservoir 12.
  • a mist filter housing 20 containing the user replaceable mist filter 22 shown in Fig. 2 is connected between the vacuum pump 16 and the ink reservoir 12 to protect the vacuum pump 16 from ink mist and moisture.
  • the mist filter 22 eliminates clogging of the vacuum system downstream of the ink reservoir caused by dried ink mist in the system 10.
  • FIG. 2 An exploded view of the housing 20 is shown in Fig. 2 to illustrate the user replaceable mist filter 22 of the present invention.
  • a first inlet port 24 of the housing 20 connects directly to the top of the ink reservoir 12 of Fig. 1, by any suitable means, such as a tube.
  • a second inlet port 26 of the housing 20 is connected to a servo controlled vacuum bleed 28, shown in Fig. 1, which regulates the vacuum in the ink reservoir 12.
  • the vacuum bleed 28 of fresh air is included in the system 10 to reduce the humidity in the filter housing 20. Inclusion of the vacuum bleed 28 in the system 10 also provides the advantage of allowing greater latitude in the onset of condensation.
  • the housing 20 of Fig. 2 is comprised of a body 30 which is mounted inside the system.
  • a mist filter receptor means within the machine securably and slidably receives the user replaceable mist filter 22.
  • a release means, such as button 32, is mounted at the front of the ink jet printing system for release of the filter 22.
  • the mist filter 22 is inserted into a filter fitting or elbow 34, which is easily accessible inside an access door of the ink jet printer, making the filter 22 easily replaceable by the user.
  • the operator simply opens the access door of the printer, engages the release button 32 to release the filter 22 from the elbow 34, and slides the filter out.
  • a tube 36 interconnects the mist filter with the fluid system of the ink jet printer.
  • the mist filter 22 is preferably a non-hollow, cylindrically shaped filter.
  • the mist filter 22 material is preferably a melamine foam, or equivalent material, having minuscule lattice-work openings on the order of 140 microns each.
  • the mist filter 22 becomes restricted by the collection of ink mist, and requires replacement.
  • replacement of the mist filter 22 can now be accomplished by the user, merely requiring opening of the access door of the printer to access the filter 22, and sliding the filter out of the elbow fitting.
  • FIG. 3A there is a block diagram illustrating the prior art location of the mist filter 22.
  • Fig. 3B is a block diagram illustrating the location of the mist filter according to the present invention.
  • the location of the ink mist filter 22 in the prior art system requires removal of a cover 38 to access, and thus to replace, the ink mist filter.
  • UL reliability requirements prevent the customer operator of the system from opening the cover, thereby preventing access to the ink mist filter except by service personnel.
  • the location of the ink mist filter is changed, so it is user replaceable.
  • the mist filter 22, as shown in Fig. 3B, is situated within access door 40 of printer 42 for capturing ink mist from ink reservoir 44.
  • the location of the mist filter 22 according to the present invention makes the mist filter easily accessible, removable and replaceable. Locating the filter 22 inside the door 40 of the ink jet printing system allows the user access to the filter.
  • the present invention is useful in the field of ink jet printing, and has the advantage of providing a user replaceable system for protecting components from ink mist generation from an ink reservoir.
  • the present invention provides the further advantage of allowing more reliable operation of the ink supply system for an ink jet printer.
  • the present invention provides the advantage of allowing the user easy access to the mist filter, for removal and replacement of the filter.

Landscapes

  • Ink Jet (AREA)
EP19960303082 1995-05-04 1996-05-01 Filtre à brouillard d'encre remplaçable Expired - Lifetime EP0741039B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US43398995A 1995-05-04 1995-05-04
US433989 1999-11-04

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0741039A2 true EP0741039A2 (fr) 1996-11-06
EP0741039A3 EP0741039A3 (fr) 1998-02-25
EP0741039B1 EP0741039B1 (fr) 2000-08-02

Family

ID=23722372

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19960303082 Expired - Lifetime EP0741039B1 (fr) 1995-05-04 1996-05-01 Filtre à brouillard d'encre remplaçable

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0741039B1 (fr)
CA (1) CA2175728A1 (fr)
DE (1) DE69609554T2 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6328442B1 (en) * 2000-01-31 2001-12-11 Hewlett-Packard Company Particulate filtering muffler

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4184167A (en) * 1978-07-03 1980-01-15 Dennison Manufacturing Company Ink jet collection system
JPS60230856A (ja) * 1984-05-02 1985-11-16 Canon Inc フイルタ装置
JPS61121955A (ja) * 1984-11-20 1986-06-09 Ricoh Co Ltd インクジエツト記録装置
US4811035A (en) * 1988-03-14 1989-03-07 Eastman Kodak Company Modular two-color fluid system for continuous ink jet printer
EP0646470A2 (fr) * 1993-09-08 1995-04-05 Hitachi, Ltd. Dispositif d'impression par jet d'encre et tête d'impression pour un tel dispositif

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4184167A (en) * 1978-07-03 1980-01-15 Dennison Manufacturing Company Ink jet collection system
JPS60230856A (ja) * 1984-05-02 1985-11-16 Canon Inc フイルタ装置
JPS61121955A (ja) * 1984-11-20 1986-06-09 Ricoh Co Ltd インクジエツト記録装置
US4811035A (en) * 1988-03-14 1989-03-07 Eastman Kodak Company Modular two-color fluid system for continuous ink jet printer
EP0646470A2 (fr) * 1993-09-08 1995-04-05 Hitachi, Ltd. Dispositif d'impression par jet d'encre et tête d'impression pour un tel dispositif

Non-Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 010, no. 092 (M-468), 9 April 1986 & JP 60 230856 A (CANON KK), 16 November 1985, *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 010, no. 311 (M-528), 23 October 1986 & JP 61 121955 A (RICOH CO LTD), 9 June 1986, *

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6328442B1 (en) * 2000-01-31 2001-12-11 Hewlett-Packard Company Particulate filtering muffler

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69609554D1 (de) 2000-09-07
DE69609554T2 (de) 2001-04-19
CA2175728A1 (fr) 1996-11-05
EP0741039B1 (fr) 2000-08-02
EP0741039A3 (fr) 1998-02-25

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