EP1013459B1 - Luftbehandlung für Tintenstrahldruckkopf - Google Patents

Luftbehandlung für Tintenstrahldruckkopf Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP1013459B1
EP1013459B1 EP19990309504 EP99309504A EP1013459B1 EP 1013459 B1 EP1013459 B1 EP 1013459B1 EP 19990309504 EP19990309504 EP 19990309504 EP 99309504 A EP99309504 A EP 99309504A EP 1013459 B1 EP1013459 B1 EP 1013459B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
printhead
air
docking station
flow
ink
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
EP19990309504
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1013459A1 (de
Inventor
Bruce A. Bowling
John N. Blum
Homer D. Durst
Timothy T. Hare
John C. Loyd
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.)
Eastman Kodak Co
Original Assignee
Eastman Kodak Co
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 Eastman Kodak Co filed Critical Eastman Kodak Co
Publication of EP1013459A1 publication Critical patent/EP1013459A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1013459B1 publication Critical patent/EP1013459B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

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
    • B41J29/00—Details of, or accessories for, typewriters or selective printing mechanisms not otherwise provided for
    • B41J29/377—Cooling or ventilating arrangements

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the field of continuous ink jet printing and, more particularly, to supplying filtered air to keep clean air in the printhead area to inhibit contamination from entering.
  • the printhead is susceptible to paper dust and contamination that can enter at the eyelid opening.
  • the eyelid is a moveable seal which diverts ink on startup into the catcher, thereby recycling the ink while containing it within the printhead.
  • the printhead is often protected by slightly pressurizing the printhead housing area with filtered air.
  • the tendency is to use a fan and filter with less than optimum air flow and filtration characteristics.
  • JP-A-56130362 discloses an air handling method for affecting an ink jet printhead having an associated drop generator and attached to a printhead docking station and including a drop generator, a printhead cover, an ink catcher, an eyelid for diverting ink into the catcher on start up, comprising the steps of supplying pressurized air from the printhead docking station, transferring the pressurized air from the printhead docking station into the printhead to be received by the printhead, in an air flow; and directing the air flow to a region around a jet array produced by the drop generator of the printhead to eliminate external debris from internal components of the printhead.
  • the present invention is characterized by providing sealing strips between the eyelid and the printhead cover to reduce air leakage.
  • the method comprises the step of filtering the pressurized air.
  • Desirably air supplied to the printhead also serves to cool components in the printhead docking station.
  • the method comprises the step of distributing flow of air across a jet array.
  • the step of distributing flow of air across a jet array further comprises the step of using a plenum in the printhead docking station to aid in distributing the flow of air across jet array.
  • the invention also provides an ink jet printhead for attachment to a printhead docking station and including a drop generator, a printhead cover, an ink catcher, an eyelid for diverting ink into the catcher on start up, means for supplying pressurized air from the printhead docking station, means for transferring the pressurized air from the printhead docking station into the printhead, in an air flow and means for directing the air flow to a region around a jet array produced by the drop generator to eliminate external debris from internal components of the printhead, characterized by means for preventing air leakage including a sealing strips between the eyelid and the printhead cover for reducing air leakage.
  • the means for reducing air flow includes the printhead cover which is seamless.
  • the means for reducing air leakage may also comprise air dams.
  • a plenum located in at least the printhead and/or printhead docking station may serve to distribute the air across the width of the printhead.
  • Filter media located in at least the printhead and/or printhead docking station may be used to clean the air supplied to the printhead by the printhead docking station. In this way, filtered air is supplied to the ink jet printhead by the printhead docking station to which it is attached.
  • the use of a one piece printhead cover and seals around the movable eyelid minimizes air leakage from the printhead ensuring the needed air flow in the critical region around the jets.
  • the ink jet printhead attaches to a printhead docking station.
  • the printhead docking station locates the printhead adjacent to the print media. As the print media moves relative to the printhead, images can be created by the printhead, as desired.
  • the printhead docking station may also serve as an interface between the printhead and the fluid system controller. As an interface, the printhead may attach to an umbilical from the fluid system and may include valving and other fluid related components.
  • the printhead docking station may further include electronic interface components for handling the print data or for control of the ink jet printhead.
  • the printhead docking station includes means for moving air, which means may comprise a fan.
  • the fan draws or forces air through a filter.
  • Filtered air from the printhead docking station passes from the printhead docking station into the printhead.
  • a plenum in at least one of the components (printhead docking station and printhead) serves to distribute the air so that a fairly uniform flow of air is supplied across the jet array to the region around the jets. This uniform flow of filtered air around the jets serves to keep airborne debris out of this critical region of the ink jet printhead.
  • Fig. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the printhead docking station and printhead assembly 1, constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.
  • the printhead is a customer replaceable unit which attaches or docks with the printhead docking station.
  • the printhead docking station provides all necessary fluid and electrical connections to the printhead. These connections are made on the upper surface of the printhead. Umbilical line connections from the printhead docking station to the fluid system controller are not shown.
  • fans 2 enclosed in the printhead docking station provide a means for moving air through the printhead docking station and the printhead.
  • Intake vents 3 through which the fans 2 draw air are on a side of the printhead docking station.
  • Replaceable air pre-filters 4 filter the air entering the printhead docking station.
  • air from the fans 2 also serves to cool electronics (not shown) contained in the printhead docking station.
  • exhaust vents 5 on the opposite side of the printhead docking station from the air intakes, through which some air exits. Since these exhaust vents are only necessary for the function of cooling the printhead docking station components, such exhaust vents may be omitted if the cooling function is not required.
  • these exhaust vents perform two functions. First, they allow sufficient air flow through the printhead docking station for the desired cooling. Second, they provide sufficient pressure build up in the printhead docking station to divert the desired flow rate of air through the filter and into the printhead.
  • the filter which is replaceable, is located in slots on the plenum 7.
  • One or more air transfer openings 8 in the lower wall of the plenum which are aligned with one or more air transfer openings 9 in the upper cover of the printhead, provide means for the flow of the air in the direction of arrows 12 from the printhead docking station to the printhead.
  • Foam gaskets (not shown) or other suitable means can enclose the air transfer openings in the gap between the printhead docking station and the printhead to prevent air leakage.
  • the space inside the printhead serves as a second plenum for distributing the supplied air.
  • sealing gaskets 14 and at all the printhead openings, and the use of a seamless one piece cover 10, illustrated in detail in Fig. 2B, air leakage from the printhead is minimized so that the air will exit the printhead through the opening between the catcher and the eyelid.
  • FIG. 2A shows a cross sectional view of a portion of the printhead.
  • the eyelid 20 incorporates the flexible sealing strip 14 which seals the space between the eyelid and the printhead covers while still allowing the eyelid to open for print or service functions.
  • Air dams 22, best illustrated in Fig. 2B, are located at each end of the printhead to minimize the air leakage from around the ends of the eyelid.

Landscapes

  • Ink Jet (AREA)
  • Accessory Devices And Overall Control Thereof (AREA)

Claims (8)

  1. Belüftungsverfahren zum Einwirken auf einen mit einer zugeordneten Tropfenerzeugungseinrichtung versehenen Tintenstrahldruckkopf, der an einer Druckkopf-Ankopplungsstation befestigt ist und eine Tropfenerzeugungseinrichtung, eine Druckkopf-Abdeckung (10), eine Tintenauffangeinrichtung und eine Klappe (20) umfasst zum Umlenken von Tinte in die Auffangeinrichtung bei der Inbetriebnahme, mit den Schritten:
    Zuführen von Druckluft aus der Druckkopf-Ankopplungsstation;
    Überführen der Druckluft aus der Druckkopf-Ankopplungsstation in den Druckkopf, wobei der Druckkopf die Luft in Form einer Luftströmung empfängt; und
    Leiten der Luftströmung in einen Bereich um eine von der Tropfenerzeugungseinrichtung des Druckkopfs gebildete Düsenanordnung herum, um äußere Verunreinigungen von inneren Bestandteilen des Druckkopfs zu trennen;
    gekennzeichnet durch das Bereitstellen von Dichtungsstreifen (14) zwischen der Klappe (20) und der Druckkopf-Abdeckung (10), um das Austreten von Luft zu vermindern.
  2. Belüftungsverfahren nach Anspruch 1, mit dem Schritt des Filtems der Druckluft.
  3. Belüftungsverfahren nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, worin die dem Druckkopf zugeführte Luft auch dazu dient, Bestandteile in der Druckkopf-Ankopplungsstation abzukühlen.
  4. Belüftungsverfahren nach Anspruch 1, 2 oder 3, mit dem Schritt des Verteilens von Luftströmung über einer Düsenanordnung.
  5. Belüftungsverfahren nach Anspruch 4, worin der Schritt des Verteilens von Luftströmung über einer Düsenanordnung den Schritt des Verwendens einer Verteilereinrichtung in der Druckkopf-Ankopplungsstation umfasst, um das Verteilen von Luftströmung über die Düsenanordnung hinweg zu erleichtern.
  6. Tintenstrahldruckkopf, der an einer Druckkopf-Ankopplungsstation befestigt ist und eine Tropfenerzeugungseinrichtung aufweist, eine Druckkopf-Abdeckung (10), eine Tintenauffangeinrichtung, eine Klappe (20) zum Umlenken von Tinte in die Auffangeinrichtung bei Inbetriebnahme, ein Mittel (2) zum Zuführen von Druckluft aus der Druckkopf-Ankopplungsstation, ein Mittel (8, 9) zum Überführen der Druckluft aus der Druckkopf-Ankopplungsstation in den Druckkopf in Form einer Luftströmung und Mittel zum Leiten der Luftströmung in einen Bereich um eine von der Tropfenerzeugungseinrichtung des Druckkopfs gebildete Düsenanordnung herum, um äußere Verunreinigungen von inneren Bestandteilen des Druckkopfs zu trennen, gekennzeichnet durch Mittel zum Verhindern des Austretens von Luft mit einem Dichtungsstreifen (14) zwischen der Klappe (20) und der den Luftaustritt vermindernden Druckkopf-Abdeckung (10).
  7. Tintenstrahldruckkopf nach Anspruch 6, worin die Mittel zum Vermindern der Luftströmung die Druckkopf-Abdeckung (10) umfasst, die nahtlos ist.
  8. Tintenstrahldruckkopf nach Anspruch 6 oder 7, worin die Mittel zum Vermindern des Austretens von Luft Luftsperren (22) umfassen.
EP19990309504 1998-12-14 1999-11-29 Luftbehandlung für Tintenstrahldruckkopf Expired - Lifetime EP1013459B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US21108498A 1998-12-14 1998-12-14
US211084 1998-12-14

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1013459A1 EP1013459A1 (de) 2000-06-28
EP1013459B1 true EP1013459B1 (de) 2005-09-28

Family

ID=22785540

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19990309504 Expired - Lifetime EP1013459B1 (de) 1998-12-14 1999-11-29 Luftbehandlung für Tintenstrahldruckkopf

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1013459B1 (de)
JP (1) JP2000218832A (de)
CA (1) CA2292410A1 (de)
DE (1) DE69927467T2 (de)

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2364564A1 (de) * 1972-12-29 1974-07-11 Dick Co Ab Tintentropfenschreiber
JPS56130362A (en) * 1980-03-18 1981-10-13 Matsushita Graphic Commun Syst Inc Ink jet recorder
EP0271090B1 (de) * 1986-12-10 1994-08-31 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Aufzeichnungsgerät
US5406316A (en) * 1992-05-01 1995-04-11 Hewlett-Packard Company Airflow system for ink-jet printer
US5831655A (en) * 1995-03-23 1998-11-03 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink jet recording apparatus
JPH09193399A (ja) * 1996-01-12 1997-07-29 Canon Inc インクジェット記録方法および記録装置
EP0860287B1 (de) * 1997-02-05 2001-07-18 Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. Direkt thermisch aufzeichender Drucker, direkt thermisch aufzeichendes Druckverfahren und Transportvorrichtung für Aufzeichnungsmaterial
EP0916509B1 (de) * 1997-11-14 2005-02-02 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Tintenstrahdrucker

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1013459A1 (de) 2000-06-28
CA2292410A1 (en) 2000-06-14
DE69927467D1 (de) 2005-11-03
DE69927467T2 (de) 2006-06-29
JP2000218832A (ja) 2000-08-08

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US5552812A (en) Recording apparatus having an ink mist evacuation system
JPS62501139A (ja) インクジェットプリンタ
CN100464989C (zh) 油墨储存器
US7234800B2 (en) Inkjet recording apparatus
EP1013459B1 (de) Luftbehandlung für Tintenstrahldruckkopf
JPS63145071A (ja) インクジェット記録装置
EP0082272A1 (de) Tintenstrahldrucker und Methoden solche Drucker zu bedienen
US6439704B1 (en) Ejector mechanism for a print engine
JP2003326739A (ja) 画像形成装置及び印字ヘッド交換方法
US20220194089A1 (en) Liquid ejection apparatus
JP2004050472A (ja) インクジェット記録装置
US6137504A (en) Wiping and recovery of an ink jet head with inclined discharge port surface
JP2006240185A (ja) 画像記録装置
KR102530716B1 (ko) 인쇄 장치
EP1303415B1 (de) Tintenversorgungseinheit für einen drucker
KR100701985B1 (ko) 프린트엔진용 잉크공급장치
JPH05270006A (ja) インクジェットプリンタ
JP2005246885A (ja) 画像形成装置
AU2004203188B2 (en) An ejector system for a print engine
CN100464980C (zh) 一种打印引擎分组件
JPS63145070A (ja) インクジエツト記録装置
JP2006068978A (ja) インクジェット記録装置
JPS61121941A (ja) インクジエツト記録装置
JP2004501006A (ja) プリントエンジン用インキ供給機構
KR20030024705A (ko) 프린트엔진용 잉크공급 조립체

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): DE FR GB

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Free format text: AL;LT;LV;MK;RO;SI

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20001221

AKX Designation fees paid

Free format text: DE FR GB

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20010214

RAP1 Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred)

Owner name: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY

GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

GRAS Grant fee paid

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): DE FR GB

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 69927467

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 20051103

Kind code of ref document: P

ET Fr: translation filed
PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed

Effective date: 20060629

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20061004

Year of fee payment: 8

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20061103

Year of fee payment: 8

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20061130

Year of fee payment: 8

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20071129

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20080603

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

Effective date: 20080930

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20071129

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20071130