EP0764538B1 - Collecteur de fluide pour tête d'impression à jet d'encre - Google Patents

Collecteur de fluide pour tête d'impression à jet d'encre Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0764538B1
EP0764538B1 EP19960306789 EP96306789A EP0764538B1 EP 0764538 B1 EP0764538 B1 EP 0764538B1 EP 19960306789 EP19960306789 EP 19960306789 EP 96306789 A EP96306789 A EP 96306789A EP 0764538 B1 EP0764538 B1 EP 0764538B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
fluidic
fluid
printhead
fluid system
manifold
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
EP19960306789
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0764538A3 (fr
EP0764538A2 (fr
Inventor
David A. Huliba
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 EP0764538A2 publication Critical patent/EP0764538A2/fr
Publication of EP0764538A3 publication Critical patent/EP0764538A3/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0764538B1 publication Critical patent/EP0764538B1/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
    • 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

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to ink jet printing systems and, more particularly, to a fluid manifold for integrating fluid paths, fluidic sensors, and fluidic connectors for an ink jet printing system.
  • 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.
  • the continuous stream ink jet printing process is described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,255,754; 4,698,123 and 4,751,517.
  • the fluid system for a continuous ink jet printer must perform a number of functions. These functions include liquid supply, catch fluid return, startup and shutdown of the print head, and long-term storage.
  • Known fluid systems typically provided electronic control for pressure at the print head, ink temperature during startup, or ink concentration. The control of these functions leads to improved long-term ink jet performance.
  • a fluid system for an ink jet printhead comprises fluid paths, fluidic sensors, fluidic valves, and fluidic connectors.
  • a fluid manifold integrates this collection of individual components into a common structure, thereby eliminating free-hanging fluid connections, valves, and printhead sensing functions.
  • the present invention therefore, integrates all umbilical to printhead fluid paths, connections, valves and sensors into a single compact, easily tested, assembled, and serviced unit.
  • the manifold assembly 10 integrates the functions of the fluidic sensors, valves, and connections between an ink jet printhead and a supply umbilical, thereby providing an improved fluidic packaging design.
  • the manifold assembly 10 integrates a variety of fluidic features. These include inlet and outlet fluid connections 12 and 14, respectively, to a supply umbilical (not shown), for providing fluidic quick disconnect between the umbilical and manifold 15.
  • the integrated fluidic features also include inlet and outlet fluid connections 16 and 18, respectively, to the printhead (not shown), for providing fluidic quick disconnect between the manifold and the printhead.
  • a pressure transducer 20 to the outlet of the printhead and a temperature thermistor 22 to the inlet of the printhead are also integrated by the fluid manifold 10 of the present invention.
  • the pressure transducer 20 senses pressure at the printhead and is part of a servo loop control of the fluid pump to provide given printhead pressures.
  • the temperature thermistor 22 senses ink temperature at the printhead, and provides servo loop control of the ink heater in the fluid system, to maintain a minimal fluid temperature.
  • the fluid manifold assembly 10 integrates inlet and outlet solenoid valves 24 and 26, respectively, to the printhead.
  • the inlet fluid valve 24 shuts off fluid to the printhead and prevents fluid from draining into the printhead during shutdown periods, where the printhead position may be lower than the fluid system position.
  • the outlet fluid valve 26 provides a means for establishing pressure in the printhead when closed, while providing flow through cleaning of the printhead when open.
  • the manifold assembly 10 of the present invention integrates a bracket/electrical connector assembly 28, shown in Fig. 3, for the DC components.
  • the assembly 28 provides integrated termination of electrical component wiring between the printhead and the umbilical.
  • the DC components typically include the transducer 20, the thermistor 22, inlet/outlet valves 24 and 26, and an eyelid solenoid (not shown).
  • the manifold design configuration integrates all of the referenced components, provides interconnecting fluid paths within the manifold as required, and provides inlet/outlet ports which directly communicate with the printhead and umbilical fluid lines.
  • the present invention is particularly useful, given the design constraints of a smaller "footprint" for the printhead, i.e., 240 drops per inch, as compared to existing printheads which have 120 drops per inch; and the use of larger components, i.e., valves for improved reliability and flow.
  • the present invention addresses these constraints and achieves a design which integrates a variety of fluidic functions into a compact unit which still meets manufacturing assembly approval, as well as serviceability approval.
  • the present invention is useful in the field of ink jet printing, and has the advantages of integrating all umbilical to printhead fluid paths, connections, valves and sensors.
  • the present invention has the further advantage of integrating all of these functions into a single compact, easily tested, assembled, and serviced unit. It is another advantage of the present invention that it provides a compact unit for a 240 drops per inch printhead, which uses large components.

Landscapes

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

Claims (9)

  1. Système fluidique pour une tête d'impression à jet d'encre, le système fluidique comprenant :
    des circuits de fluide ;
    des capteurs fluidiques ;
    des soupapes fluidiques ;
    des connecteurs fluidiques ; et
    un collecteur de fluide pour intégrer les circuits de fluide, les capteurs fluidiques, les soupapes fluidiques et les connecteurs fluidiques dans une unité compacte.
  2. Système fluidique selon la revendication 1, comprenant, de plus, une conduite principale d'alimentation pour constituer des circuits électriques et fluidiques vers et à partir de la tête d'impression.
  3. Système fluidique selon la revendication 2, dans lequel le collecteur de fluide intègre des fonctions de capteurs fluidiques, de soupapes fluidiques et de connecteurs fluidiques entre la tête d'impression à jet d'encre et la conduite principale d'alimentation.
  4. Système fluidique selon la revendication 2, dans lequel les connecteurs fluidiques comprennent :
    des connexions d'entrée et de sortie de fluide vers la conduite principale d'alimentation pour assurer une déconnexion fluidique rapide entre la conduite principale et le collecteur de fluide ; et
    des connexions d'entrée et de sortie de fluide vers la tête d'impression pour assurer une déconnexion fluidique rapide entre le collecteur et la tête d'impression.
  5. Système fluidique selon la revendication 1, dans lequel les capteurs fluidiques comprennent un transducteur de pression pour détecter la pression dans la tête d'impression.
  6. Système fluidique selon la revendication 1, dans lequel les capteurs fluidiques comprennent une thermistance de température pour détecter la température de l'encre dans la tête d'impression.
  7. Système fluidique selon la revendication 1, dans lequel les soupapes fluidiques comprennent une soupape d'entrée de fluide pour couper le fluide vers la tête d'impression.
  8. Système fluidique selon la revendication 1, dans lequel les soupapes fluidiques comprennent une soupape de sortie de fluide pour établir une pression dans la tête d'impression lors d'une fermeture et assurant un écoulement de nettoyage de la tête d'impression lors d'une ouverture.
  9. Système fluidique selon la revendication 1, comprenant, de plus, un ensemble de connecteur électrique.
EP19960306789 1995-09-19 1996-09-18 Collecteur de fluide pour tête d'impression à jet d'encre Expired - Lifetime EP0764538B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US53041895A 1995-09-19 1995-09-19
US530418 1995-09-19

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0764538A2 EP0764538A2 (fr) 1997-03-26
EP0764538A3 EP0764538A3 (fr) 1998-05-13
EP0764538B1 true EP0764538B1 (fr) 2000-07-19

Family

ID=24113576

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19960306789 Expired - Lifetime EP0764538B1 (fr) 1995-09-19 1996-09-18 Collecteur de fluide pour tête d'impression à jet d'encre

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0764538B1 (fr)
JP (1) JPH09169122A (fr)
CA (1) CA2185840A1 (fr)
DE (1) DE69609385T2 (fr)

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0805037B1 (fr) * 1996-04-30 2000-05-10 SCITEX DIGITAL PRINTING, Inc. Filtre et raccord déconnectable rapidement pour une tête d'impression à jet d'encre
US6493937B1 (en) * 1998-03-16 2002-12-17 Hewlett-Packard Company Method of manufacture for ink-jet hard copy apparatus using a modular approach to ink-jet technology
US6082854A (en) * 1998-03-16 2000-07-04 Hewlett-Packard Company Modular ink-jet hard copy apparatus and methodology
FR2837421B1 (fr) * 2002-03-22 2004-07-02 Imaje Sa Raccord hydro-electrique pour tete d'imprimante et imprimante equipee
GB0802349D0 (en) * 2008-02-08 2008-03-12 Domino Printing Sciences Plc Improvements in or relatign to continuous inkjet printers
EP3212408B1 (fr) 2014-10-30 2020-08-26 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Circulation dans chambre de détection de tête d'impression

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5634461A (en) * 1979-08-30 1981-04-06 Ricoh Co Ltd Ink jet recorder
US4649817A (en) * 1984-11-02 1987-03-17 Smith Michael S Stencil manufacturing and printing process
JPS6322655A (ja) * 1986-07-16 1988-01-30 Ricoh Co Ltd インクジエツトプリンタのインク供給装置
GB8725465D0 (en) * 1987-10-30 1987-12-02 Linx Printing Tech Ink jet printers

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69609385D1 (de) 2000-08-24
DE69609385T2 (de) 2001-04-05
EP0764538A3 (fr) 1998-05-13
CA2185840A1 (fr) 1997-03-20
EP0764538A2 (fr) 1997-03-26
JPH09169122A (ja) 1997-06-30

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