EP1019252A1 - Ink filling device for an ink print head and ink print head which can be filled therewith - Google Patents

Ink filling device for an ink print head and ink print head which can be filled therewith

Info

Publication number
EP1019252A1
EP1019252A1 EP98931892A EP98931892A EP1019252A1 EP 1019252 A1 EP1019252 A1 EP 1019252A1 EP 98931892 A EP98931892 A EP 98931892A EP 98931892 A EP98931892 A EP 98931892A EP 1019252 A1 EP1019252 A1 EP 1019252A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ink
print head
volume
hollow body
discharge opening
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
EP98931892A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1019252B1 (en
Inventor
Günter Baitz
Joachim Burchart
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.)
Wincor Nixdorf International GmbH
Original Assignee
Wincor Nixdorf International GmbH
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 Wincor Nixdorf International GmbH filed Critical Wincor Nixdorf International GmbH
Publication of EP1019252A1 publication Critical patent/EP1019252A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1019252B1 publication Critical patent/EP1019252B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

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
    • B41J2/17503—Ink cartridges
    • B41J2/17556—Means for regulating the pressure in the cartridge
    • 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
    • B41J2/17503—Ink cartridges
    • B41J2/17506—Refilling of the cartridge
    • B41J2/17509—Whilst mounted in the printer
    • 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
    • B41J2/17566—Ink level or ink residue control

Definitions

  • Ink filling device for an ink print head and ink print head that can be filled with this
  • the invention relates to an ink filling device for an ink printhead and an ink printhead which can be filled therewith according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • Ink printheads have a limited ink supply, which is usually sufficient for the printing of approx. 1-4 million print characters. For ink printers that have to be available day and night, on weekends and also during holiday periods, such as those in fax machines, as well as in applications with a high permanent load, such as with cash register printers, the ink supply stored in the ink print head is not sufficient.
  • JP-A-90 29 991 has therefore already proposed refilling an ink print head in the state installed in an ink printer.
  • the ink print head is equipped with level indicators that report its minimum and maximum permitted ink level. If the minimum fill level is undershot, the ink printhead is transported with its feed opening under an ink refill device, where a nozzle connected to a higher-level ink reservoir is lowered into the feed opening with the aid of an electromagnet and is lifted off the latter after the maximum fill level has been reached .
  • the amount of ink transferred into the ink printhead is determined using electrically controlled means and is dependent only on one level indicator. If the power supply fails during a filling process or the filling fails Level indicator, the ink flow from the ink reservoir cannot be interrupted.
  • US Pat. No. 4,178,595 already describes an ink printer in which the ink print head can be displaced in the print line direction between side walls of the printer frame, the feed opening is arranged on a side wall of the ink print head and a discharge opening of an ink filling device on a side wall of the printer frame in a coaxial orientation the feed opening is arranged.
  • the feed opening can be connected to the discharge opening in a liquid-tight manner by displacing the ink print head in the direction of the print line.
  • the discharge opening of the ink filling device is attached to a variable-volume cylinder, which takes up ink from an ink reservoir when the volume is increased and releases it through the discharge opening when the volume is reduced.
  • the cylinder is dimensioned so that it only receives and dispenses a small amount of ink.
  • a connecting line between the cylinder and the ink reservoir is closed, so that no ink can flow from the latter into the cylinder or from this back into the ink reservoir.
  • the cylinder is reduced in volume by means of a piston which can be displaced with the aid of an electromagnet, and the volume is increased by a spring which pushes the piston back.
  • the amount of ink to be transferred into the ink print head is determined by the energization time of the electromagnet.
  • the known ink filling device also requires an electromagnet and additional control effort for this.
  • the electromagnet must be designed so that it generates the flow pressure for the ink. conditions as well as the friction of the piston in the cylinder and the restoring force of the spring must be overcome.
  • the object of the invention is therefore to provide an ink filling device for an ink print head and an ink print head which can be filled with it, in which only a certain amount of ink is transferred to the ink print head without additional drive effort.
  • the invention is based on the consideration that the drive motor, which is required anyway for the displacement of the ink print head between the side walls of the ink printer along the print line, can be used to influence the volume of the hollow body if the hollow body is arranged on the inside of the side wall of the printer frame .
  • the same drive motor is used to dock the ink printhead to the delivery port.
  • the volume is then reduced by a further displacement of the ink print head against the side wall beyond the point of connection of the feed opening of the ink print head with the discharge opening.
  • the volume is increased by moving the ink print head in the opposite direction.
  • the drive motor preferably a stepper motor, required for the print head displacement along the printing line can also be used for influencing the volume of the hollow body in the sense of triple use. So no additional drive elements are required.
  • the arrangement according to the invention has the advantage that only a well-dosed volume of ink can reach the ink printhead.
  • the arrangement has an intrinsically safe operating state with regard to the ink flow during each operating state of the ink printer: only if the Hollow body is affected in the sense of a volume reduction, the discharge opening is open. If the volume is constant or the volume of the hollow body is enlarged, the discharge opening is securely closed so that no ink can flow out.
  • the amount of ink delivered by the ink filling device to the ink print head is determined by the size of the adjustment or the further displacement. In this way, partially empty ink printheads can be filled with the required amount of ink, and the use of ink printheads with different capacities is possible without changing the arrangement.
  • the hollow body is then only partially emptied. When the volume is increased, it is then only filled in accordance with the partial quantity removed.
  • the point in time and / or the amount of ink of an ink filling can be controlled depending on a predeterminable number since the ink print head was inserted into the ink printer and thereafter depending on the printed dots or printed characters since the last ink filling. Since the ink droplets ejected from the print nozzles of the ink print head have a known volume, the ink consumption can be calculated from the number of nozzles activated during printing. The same applies to the number of printed characters if the average ink consumption is known for them. This makes it easy to refill the ink printhead with an amount of ink that corresponds to the calculated consumption. The time of a refill can also be determined in this way.
  • the volume reduction and enlargement is repeated several times. can be carried out indirectly one after the other. This process can be triggered automatically by a special control command to the ink printer or, depending on the operating time of the ink print head, by the printer control itself.
  • the discharge opening is formed on a tubular connecting piece which, when the ink print head is moved, dips into the feed opening of the ink print head against the discharge opening.
  • a valve spring-loaded in its closed position is installed in the nozzle, which opens when the pressure in the hollow body exceeds a predetermined value.
  • the arrangement of the nozzle on the hollow body has the advantage that when the displacement movement of the ink print head against the discharge opening and thus against the hollow body ends, the pressure in the latter immediately falls below the predetermined value and the valve closes.
  • the nozzle When the ink print head is moved away from the hollow body, the nozzle initially remains connected to the feed opening, but a vacuum is formed in the area in front of the valve, which ensures that the ink still remaining in this area is sucked into the ink print head becomes.
  • the volume-variable hollow body can optionally be designed as a compressible balloon made of elastic plastic, as a bellows or also as a piston / cylinder arrangement.
  • 1 to 3 is a schematic front view of a
  • FIG. 1 shows a generally designated 10 ink printer in a schematic front view.
  • An ink print head 12 is slidably guided in both directions between a left side wall 14 and a right side wall 16 of a printer frame on a parallel guide 18 along a print line.
  • the ink print head 12 is displaced by a belt drive 22 which can be driven by a stepping motor 20.
  • the ink printer 10 has a printing area P which can be occupied by a maximum of one recording medium.
  • the print area P is followed by an ink fill area F in which there is an ink fill device, designated overall by 23.
  • the ink filling device 23 is constructed as described below:
  • a bellows 24 is attached to the inside of the left side wall 14. Due to its own elasticity, this is subjected to a restoring force acting in the direction of its maximum longitudinal expansion a.
  • the bellows 24 can be compressed parallel to the pressure line in the direction of arrow A against its restoring force.
  • a connecting line 26 opens into the bellows 24, the other end of which is connected to an ink reservoir 28.
  • a first valve 30 spring-loaded into its closed position is installed in the connecting line 26. This opens when the pressure in the bellows 24 is lower than the pressure in the ink reservoir 28 by a predetermined value.
  • a tubular connecting piece 34 is placed vertically, which continues in a nozzle-shaped delivery opening 36.
  • a second valve 38 which is spring-loaded in its closed position is installed in the connecting piece 34. This opens when the pressure in the bellows 24 exceeds a predetermined value.
  • the discharge opening 36 is in coaxial alignment with a feed opening 40 arranged, which is introduced into a side wall 42 of the ink print head 12 facing the ink filling device 23.
  • the feed opening 40 can be connected to the discharge opening 36 in a liquid-tight manner by displacing the ink print head 12 in the direction of arrow A.
  • This operating state of the ink printer 10 is shown in FIG. 2, the bellows 24 having already been compressed by a small amount compared to its maximum length a. The ink in the bellows 24 is thus under such an increased pressure that the first valve 30 is closed and the second valve 38 is open. If the ink print head 12 is moved further in the direction of arrow A, the bellows 24 is compressed to an increasing extent and the ink flows through the discharge opening 36 and the feed opening 40 into an ink chamber 44 located in the ink print head 12. The pressure is reduced by the ink discharge in the bellows 24 so far that the second valve 38 closes.
  • FIG. 3 shows this operating state, the ink print head 12 having already been moved away from the left side wall 14 by a small amount against the direction of the arrow A.
  • the bellows 24 begins to expand again, so that a vacuum is created in it.
  • This operating state is shown in Fig. 1.

Abstract

The invention relates to an ink filling device (23) for an ink print head (12) and to an ink print head which can be filled therewith. The ink filling device has an ink reservoir and a discharge opening (36). The ink print head has an ink chamber with a feed opening for ink and can be filled when it is installed in an ink printer. The discharge opening (36) is arranged in a hollow body (24) with variable volume which removes ink from an ink reservoir (28) when the volume is increased and which discharges ink via the discharge opening (36) when the volume is decreased.

Description

Tintenfülleinrichtung für einen Tintendruckkopf und mit dieser befüllbarer Tintendruckkopf Ink filling device for an ink print head and ink print head that can be filled with this
Die Erfindung betrifft eine Tintenfülleinrichtung für einen Tintendruckkopf und einen mit dieser befüllbaren Tin- tendruckkopf gemäß dem Oberbegriff des Anspruchs 1.The invention relates to an ink filling device for an ink printhead and an ink printhead which can be filled therewith according to the preamble of claim 1.
Tintendruckköpfe haben einen begrenzten Tintenvorrat, der meist für den Abdruck von ca. 1-4 Millionen Druckzeichen ausreicht. Bei Tintendruckern, die Tag und Nacht, an Wochenenden und auch in Ferienzeiten verfügbar sein müssen, wie z.B. solche in Telefaxgeräten, sowie in Einsatzfällen mit einer hohen Dauerbelastung wie etwa bei Kassendruk- kern, reicht der im Tintendruckkopf gespeicherte Tintenvorrat nicht aus.Ink printheads have a limited ink supply, which is usually sufficient for the printing of approx. 1-4 million print characters. For ink printers that have to be available day and night, on weekends and also during holiday periods, such as those in fax machines, as well as in applications with a high permanent load, such as with cash register printers, the ink supply stored in the ink print head is not sufficient.
In der JP-A-90 29 991 ist deshalb bereits vorgeschlagen worden, einen Tintendruckkopf im in einen Tintendrucker eingebauten Zustand nachzufüllen. Dazu ist der Tintendruckkopf mit Füllstandsmeldern ausgestattet, die dessen minimal und maximal zulässigen Tintenfüllstand melden. Bei Unterschreiten des Minimal-Füllstandes wird der Tin- tendruckkopf mit seiner Zuführöffnung unter eine Tinten- nachfülleinrichtung transportiert, wo mit Hilfe eines Elektromagneten eine mit einem höhergelegenen Tintenreservoir verbundene Düse in die Zuführöffnung abgesenkt und nach Erreichen des Maximal-Füllstandes von dieser ab- gehoben wird.JP-A-90 29 991 has therefore already proposed refilling an ink print head in the state installed in an ink printer. For this purpose, the ink print head is equipped with level indicators that report its minimum and maximum permitted ink level. If the minimum fill level is undershot, the ink printhead is transported with its feed opening under an ink refill device, where a nozzle connected to a higher-level ink reservoir is lowered into the feed opening with the aid of an electromagnet and is lifted off the latter after the maximum fill level has been reached .
Mit dieser Anordnung wird sichergestellt, daß der Tintendruckkopf immer druckbereit ist . Andererseits wird die in den Tintendruckkopf übergeleitete Tintenmenge mit elektrisch gesteuerten Mitteln und abhängig nur von einem Füllstandsmelder bestimmt. Fällt während eines Füllvorganges die Spannungsversorgung aus oder versagt der Füll- Standsmelder, kann der Tintenfluß aus dem Tintenreservoir nicht unterbrochen werden.This arrangement ensures that the ink printhead is always ready to print. On the other hand, the amount of ink transferred into the ink printhead is determined using electrically controlled means and is dependent only on one level indicator. If the power supply fails during a filling process or the filling fails Level indicator, the ink flow from the ink reservoir cannot be interrupted.
In der US 4 178 595 ist bereits ein Tintendrucker beschrieben, bei dem der Tintendruckkopf in Druckzeilen- richtung zwischen Seitenwänden des Druckergestells ver- schieblich, die Zuführöffnung an einer Seitenwand des Tintendruckkopfes angeordnet und eine Abgabeöffnung einer Tintenfülleinrichtung an einer Seitenwand des Druckergestells in koaxialer Ausrichtung zu der Zuführöffnung an- geordnet ist. Die Zuführöffnung ist dabei durch Verschieben des Tintendruckkopfes in Druckzeilenrichtung gegen die Abgabeöffnung mit dieser flüssigkeitsdicht verbindbar .US Pat. No. 4,178,595 already describes an ink printer in which the ink print head can be displaced in the print line direction between side walls of the printer frame, the feed opening is arranged on a side wall of the ink print head and a discharge opening of an ink filling device on a side wall of the printer frame in a coaxial orientation the feed opening is arranged. The feed opening can be connected to the discharge opening in a liquid-tight manner by displacing the ink print head in the direction of the print line.
Die Abgabeöffnung der Tintenfülleinrichtung ist an einem volumenveränderlichen Zylinder angebracht, der bei Volumenvergrößerung Tinte aus einem Tintenreservoir entnimmt und bei Volumenverkleinerung durch die Abgabeöffnung abgibt. Der Zylinder ist so dimensioniert, daß er jeweils nur eine kleine Tintenmenge aufnimmt und abgibt. Bei Ver- kleinerung seines Volumens wird eine Verbindungsleitung zwischen dem Zylinder und dem Tintenreservoir verschlossen, so daß keine Tinte aus letzterem in den Zylinder oder aus diesem zurück in das Tintenreservoir fließen kann. Die Volumenverkleinerung des Zylinders erfolgt durch einen mit Hilfe eines Elektromagneten verschiebli- chen Kolben, die Volumenvergrößerung durch eine den Kolben zurückschiebende Feder. Die in den Tintendruckkopf zu überführende Tintenmenge wird durch die Bestromungsdauer des Elektromagneten bestimmt.The discharge opening of the ink filling device is attached to a variable-volume cylinder, which takes up ink from an ink reservoir when the volume is increased and releases it through the discharge opening when the volume is reduced. The cylinder is dimensioned so that it only receives and dispenses a small amount of ink. When its volume is reduced, a connecting line between the cylinder and the ink reservoir is closed, so that no ink can flow from the latter into the cylinder or from this back into the ink reservoir. The cylinder is reduced in volume by means of a piston which can be displaced with the aid of an electromagnet, and the volume is increased by a spring which pushes the piston back. The amount of ink to be transferred into the ink print head is determined by the energization time of the electromagnet.
Die bekannte Tintenfülleinrichtung benötigt zusätzlich einen Elektromagneten und zusätzlichen Steuerungsaufwand für diesen. Zudem muß der Elektromagnet kräftig ausgelegt werden, da dieser den Strömungsdruck für die Tinte erzeu- gen sowie die Reibung des Kolbens im Zylinder und die Rückstellkraft der Feder überwinden muß.The known ink filling device also requires an electromagnet and additional control effort for this. In addition, the electromagnet must be designed so that it generates the flow pressure for the ink. conditions as well as the friction of the piston in the cylinder and the restoring force of the spring must be overcome.
Aufgabe der Erfindung ist es daher, eine Tintenfülleinrichtung für einen Tintendruckkopf und einen mit dieser befüllbaren Tintendruckkopf anzugeben, bei der ohne zusätzlichen Antriebsaufwand jeweils nur eine bestimmte Tintenmenge in den Tintendruckkopf überführt wird.The object of the invention is therefore to provide an ink filling device for an ink print head and an ink print head which can be filled with it, in which only a certain amount of ink is transferred to the ink print head without additional drive effort.
Die Aufgabe wird durch die Merkmale des Anspruchs 1 gelöst .The object is solved by the features of claim 1.
Die Erfindung geht von der Überlegung aus, daß der Antriebsmotor, welcher ohnehin für die Verschiebung des Tintendruckkopfes zwischen den Seitenwänden des Tintendruckers entlang der Druckzeile erforderlich ist, zur Volumenbeeinflussung des Hohlkörpers benutzt werden kann, wenn der Hohlkörper auf der Innenseite der Seitenwand des Druckergestells angeordnet ist . Der selbe Antriebsmotor wird zum Andocken des Tintendruckkopfes an die Abgabeöffnung benutzt . Die Volumenverkleinerung erfolgt dann durch eine weitere Verschiebung des Tintendruckkopfes gegen die Seitenwand über den Punkt der Verbindung der Zuführöffnung des Tintendruckkopfes mit der Abgabeöffnung hinaus. Eine Volumenvergrößerung erfolgt durch Verschieben des Tintendruckkopfes in entgegengesetzter Richtung. Damit kann der für die Druckkopfverschiebung entlang der Druck- zeile benötigte Antriebsmotor, vorzugsweise ein Schrittmotor, im Sinnen einer Dreifachnutzung auch für die Volumenbeeinflussung des Hohlkörpers benutzt werden. Es sind also keinerlei zusätzliche Antriebselemente erforderlich.The invention is based on the consideration that the drive motor, which is required anyway for the displacement of the ink print head between the side walls of the ink printer along the print line, can be used to influence the volume of the hollow body if the hollow body is arranged on the inside of the side wall of the printer frame . The same drive motor is used to dock the ink printhead to the delivery port. The volume is then reduced by a further displacement of the ink print head against the side wall beyond the point of connection of the feed opening of the ink print head with the discharge opening. The volume is increased by moving the ink print head in the opposite direction. In this way, the drive motor, preferably a stepper motor, required for the print head displacement along the printing line can also be used for influencing the volume of the hollow body in the sense of triple use. So no additional drive elements are required.
Die erfindungsgemäße Anordnung hat den Vorteil, daß nur ein wohldosiertes Tintenvolumen zum Tintendruckkopf gelangen kann. Die Anordnung hat hinsichtlich des Tintenflusses während jedes Betriebszustandes des Tintendruk- kers einen eigensicheren Betriebszustand: Nur wenn der Hohlkörper im Sinne einer Volumenverkleinerung beeinflußt wird, ist die Abgabeöffnung geöffnet. Bei konstantem Volumen oder einer Volumenvergrößerung des Hohlkörpers ist die Abgabeöffnung sicher verschlossen, so daß keine Tinte ausfließen kann.The arrangement according to the invention has the advantage that only a well-dosed volume of ink can reach the ink printhead. The arrangement has an intrinsically safe operating state with regard to the ink flow during each operating state of the ink printer: only if the Hollow body is affected in the sense of a volume reduction, the discharge opening is open. If the volume is constant or the volume of the hollow body is enlarged, the discharge opening is securely closed so that no ink can flow out.
In einer vorteilhaften Weiterbildung der Erfindung wird die von der Tintenfülleinrichtung an den Tintendruckkopf abgegebene Tintenmenge durch die Größe der Verstellung oder der weiteren Verschiebung bestimmt. Dadurch können auch teilweise leergeschriebene Tintendruckköpfe mit der nötigen Tintenmenge befüllt werden, und eine Verwendung von Tintendruckköpfen mit unterschiedlichem Fassungsvermögen wird ohne Änderung der Anordnung möglich. Der Hohlkörper wird dann nur teilweise entleert. Seine Befüllung erfolgt dann bei seiner Volumenvergrößerung auch nur entsprechend der entnommenen Teilmenge.In an advantageous development of the invention, the amount of ink delivered by the ink filling device to the ink print head is determined by the size of the adjustment or the further displacement. In this way, partially empty ink printheads can be filled with the required amount of ink, and the use of ink printheads with different capacities is possible without changing the arrangement. The hollow body is then only partially emptied. When the volume is increased, it is then only filled in accordance with the partial quantity removed.
Gemäß einer anderen Weiterbildung der Erfindung ist der Zeitpunkt und/oder die Tintenmenge einer Tintenfüllung abhängig von einer vorgebbaren Anzahl seit dem Einsetzen des Tintendruckkopfes in den Tintendrucker und danach abhängig von der seit der letzten Tintenfüllung gedruckter Druckpunkte oder Druckzeichen steuerbar. Da die von den Druckdüsen des Tintendruckkopfes ausgestoßenen Tintentröpfchen ein bekanntes Volumen haben, kann aus der Zahl der beim Drucken jeweils angesteuerten Düsen der Tintenverbrauch errechnet werden. Ähnliches gilt für die Zahl gedruckter Schriftzeichen, wenn für diese der durchschnittliche Tintenverbrauch bekannt ist. Eine Nachfüllung des Tintendruckkopfes mit einer dem errechneten Ver- brauch entsprechenden Tintenmenge wird damit leicht möglich. Auch der Zeitpunkt einer Nachfüllung läßt sich auf diese Weise bestimmen.According to another development of the invention, the point in time and / or the amount of ink of an ink filling can be controlled depending on a predeterminable number since the ink print head was inserted into the ink printer and thereafter depending on the printed dots or printed characters since the last ink filling. Since the ink droplets ejected from the print nozzles of the ink print head have a known volume, the ink consumption can be calculated from the number of nozzles activated during printing. The same applies to the number of printed characters if the average ink consumption is known for them. This makes it easy to refill the ink printhead with an amount of ink that corresponds to the calculated consumption. The time of a refill can also be determined in this way.
Um ein Durchspülen verstopfter Düsen zu ermöglichen, ist die Volumenverkleinerung und -Vergrößerung mehrfach un- mittelbar nacheinander durchführbar. Dieser Vorgang kann durch einen speziellen Steuerbefehl an den Tintendrucker oder abhängig von der Betriebszeit des Tintendruckkopfes durch die Druckersteuerung selbst automatisch ausgelöst werden .To enable clogged nozzles to be flushed out, the volume reduction and enlargement is repeated several times. can be carried out indirectly one after the other. This process can be triggered automatically by a special control command to the ink printer or, depending on the operating time of the ink print head, by the printer control itself.
Die Abgabeöffnung ist an einem rohrförmiger Stutzen ausgebildet, welcher beim Verschieben des Tintendruckkopfes gegen die Abgabeöffnung in die Zuführöffnung des Tintendruckkopfes eintaucht. In den Stutzen ist ein in seine Schließstellung federbelastetes Ventil eingebaut, welches öffnet, wenn der Druck in dem Hohlkörper einen vorgegebenen Wert übersteigt. Die Anordnung des Stutzens an dem Hohlkörper hat den Vorteil, daß bei einer Beendigung der Verschiebebewegung des Tintendruckkopfes gegen die Abga- beÖffnung und damit gegen den Hohlkörper der Druck in letzterem sofort den vorgegebenen Wert unterschreitet und das Ventil schließt. Beim Verschieben des Tintendruckkopfes weg von dem Hohlkörper bleibt der Stutzen zunächst noch mit der Zuführöffnung verbunden, es bildet sich aber in dem vor dem Ventil gelegenen Bereich ein Unterdr ck aus, der dafür sorgt, daß die noch in diesem Bereich verbliebene Tinte in den Tintendruckkopf gesaugt wird.The discharge opening is formed on a tubular connecting piece which, when the ink print head is moved, dips into the feed opening of the ink print head against the discharge opening. A valve spring-loaded in its closed position is installed in the nozzle, which opens when the pressure in the hollow body exceeds a predetermined value. The arrangement of the nozzle on the hollow body has the advantage that when the displacement movement of the ink print head against the discharge opening and thus against the hollow body ends, the pressure in the latter immediately falls below the predetermined value and the valve closes. When the ink print head is moved away from the hollow body, the nozzle initially remains connected to the feed opening, but a vacuum is formed in the area in front of the valve, which ensures that the ink still remaining in this area is sucked into the ink print head becomes.
Der volumenveränderliche Hohlkörper kann wahlweise als kompressibler Ballon aus elastischem Kunststoff, als Fal- tenbalg oder auch als eine Kolben- /Zylinderanordnung ausgebildet sein.The volume-variable hollow body can optionally be designed as a compressible balloon made of elastic plastic, as a bellows or also as a piston / cylinder arrangement.
Nachfolgend wird die Erfindung an Hand eines Ausführungsbeispiels in Verbindung mit den beigefügten Zeichnungen erläutert. Es zeigen dieThe invention is explained below using an exemplary embodiment in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. They show
Fig. 1 bis 3 eine schematische Vorderansicht eines1 to 3 is a schematic front view of a
Tintendruckers während verschiedener Betriebszustände . Fig. 1 zeigt einen allgemein mit 10 bezeichneten Tintendrucker in schematischer Vorderansicht . Ein Tintendruckkopf 12 ist zwischen einer linken Seitenwand 14 und einer rechten Seitenwand 16 eines Druckergestells auf einer Parallelführung 18 entlang einer Druckzeile in beiden Richtungen verschieblich geführt . Die Verschiebung des Tintendruckkopfes 12 erfolgt durch ein von einem Schrittmotor 20 antreibbares Riemengetriebe 22. Der Tintendruk- ker 10 hat einen Druckbereich P, der maximal von einem Aufzeichnungsträger eingenommen werden kann. In Fig. 1 links schließt sich an den Druckbereich P ein Tintenfüll- bereich F an, in dem sich eine insgesamt mit 23 bezeichnete Tintenfülleinrichtung befindet .Ink printer during various operating conditions. Fig. 1 shows a generally designated 10 ink printer in a schematic front view. An ink print head 12 is slidably guided in both directions between a left side wall 14 and a right side wall 16 of a printer frame on a parallel guide 18 along a print line. The ink print head 12 is displaced by a belt drive 22 which can be driven by a stepping motor 20. The ink printer 10 has a printing area P which can be occupied by a maximum of one recording medium. In FIG. 1 on the left, the print area P is followed by an ink fill area F in which there is an ink fill device, designated overall by 23.
Die Tintenfülleinrichtung 23 ist wie nachfolgend be- schrieben aufgebaut: An der Innenseite der linken Seitenwand 14 ist ein Faltenbalg 24 befestigt. Dieser ist durch seine eigene Elastizität mit einer in Richtung seiner maximalen Längenausdehnung a wirkenden Rückstellkraft beaufschlagt. Der Faltenbalg 24 ist parallel zur Druckzeile in Pfeilrichtung A gegen seine Rückstellkraft zusammendrückbar. In den Faltenbalg 24 mündet eine Verbindungs- leitung 26 ein, deren anderes Ende mit einem Tintenreservoir 28 verbunden ist. In die Verbindungsleitung 26 ist ein in seine Schließstellung federbelastetes erstes Ven- til 30 eingebaut. Dieses öffnet, wenn der Druck in dem Faltenbalg 24 um einen vorgegebenen Wert niedriger als der Druck in dem Tintenreservoir 28 ist.The ink filling device 23 is constructed as described below: A bellows 24 is attached to the inside of the left side wall 14. Due to its own elasticity, this is subjected to a restoring force acting in the direction of its maximum longitudinal expansion a. The bellows 24 can be compressed parallel to the pressure line in the direction of arrow A against its restoring force. A connecting line 26 opens into the bellows 24, the other end of which is connected to an ink reservoir 28. A first valve 30 spring-loaded into its closed position is installed in the connecting line 26. This opens when the pressure in the bellows 24 is lower than the pressure in the ink reservoir 28 by a predetermined value.
Auf die dem Tintendruckkopf 12 zugewandte Stirnfläche 32 des Faltenbalgs 24 ist senkrecht ein rohrförmiger Stutzen 34 aufgesetzt, der sich in einer düsenförmigen Abgabeöffnung 36 fortsetzt. In den Stutzen 34 ist ein in seine Schließstellung federbelastetes zweites Ventil 38 eingebaut. Dieses öffnet, wenn der Druck in dem Faltenbalg 24 einen vorgegebenen Wert übersteigt. Die Abgabeöffnung 36 ist in koaxialer Ausrichtung zu einer Zuführöffnung 40 angeordnet, die in eine der Tintenfülleinrichtung 23 zugewandte Seitenwand 42 des Tintendruckkopfes 12 eingebracht ist.On the end face 32 of the bellows 24 facing the ink print head 12, a tubular connecting piece 34 is placed vertically, which continues in a nozzle-shaped delivery opening 36. A second valve 38 which is spring-loaded in its closed position is installed in the connecting piece 34. This opens when the pressure in the bellows 24 exceeds a predetermined value. The discharge opening 36 is in coaxial alignment with a feed opening 40 arranged, which is introduced into a side wall 42 of the ink print head 12 facing the ink filling device 23.
Die Zuführöffnung 40 ist durch Verschieben des Tinten- druckkopfes 12 in Pfeilrichtung A gegen die Abgabeöffnung 36 mit dieser flüssigkeitsdicht verbindbar. In Fig. 2 ist dieser Betriebszustand des Tintendruckers 10 dargestellt, wobei der Faltenbalg 24 bereits um ein geringes Maß gegenüber seiner maximalen Länge a zusammengedrückt ist . Die in dem Faltenbalg 24 befindliche Tinte steht damit unter einem so weit erhöhten Druck, daß das erste Ventil 30 geschlossen und das zweite Ventil 38 geöffnet ist. Wird der Tintendruckkopf 12 weiter in Richtung des Pfeils A bewegt, wird der Faltenbalg 24 in zunehmendem Maße zu- sammengedrückt und die Tinte strömt durch die Abgabeöffnung 36 und die Zuführöffnung 40 in eine im Tintendruckkopf 12 befindliche Tintenkammer 44. Durch die Tintenabgabe vermindert sich der Druck in dem Faltenbalg 24 so weit, daß das zweite Ventil 38 schließt.The feed opening 40 can be connected to the discharge opening 36 in a liquid-tight manner by displacing the ink print head 12 in the direction of arrow A. This operating state of the ink printer 10 is shown in FIG. 2, the bellows 24 having already been compressed by a small amount compared to its maximum length a. The ink in the bellows 24 is thus under such an increased pressure that the first valve 30 is closed and the second valve 38 is open. If the ink print head 12 is moved further in the direction of arrow A, the bellows 24 is compressed to an increasing extent and the ink flows through the discharge opening 36 and the feed opening 40 into an ink chamber 44 located in the ink print head 12. The pressure is reduced by the ink discharge in the bellows 24 so far that the second valve 38 closes.
Fig. 3 zeigt diesen Betriebszustand, wobei der Tintendruckkopf 12 bereits um ein geringes Maß entgegen der Richtung des Pfeils A von der linken Seitenwand 14 wegbewegt worden ist. In diesem Moment beginnt sich der Faltenbalg 24 wieder auszudehnen, so daß in ihm ein Unter- druck entsteht. Dieser öffnet das erste Ventil 30, so daß Tinte aus dem Tintenreservoir 28 in den Faltenbalg 24 strömen kann. Dieser Betriebszustand ist in Fig. 1 dargestellt. FIG. 3 shows this operating state, the ink print head 12 having already been moved away from the left side wall 14 by a small amount against the direction of the arrow A. At this moment, the bellows 24 begins to expand again, so that a vacuum is created in it. This opens the first valve 30, so that ink can flow from the ink reservoir 28 into the bellows 24. This operating state is shown in Fig. 1.

Claims

Patentansprüche claims
1. Tintenfülleinrichtung (23) für einen in Druckzeilenrichtung (A) zwischen Seitenwänden (14, 16) eines Druckergestells eines Tintendruckers (10) verschieb- liehen und mit der Tintenfülleinrichtung (23) im in den Tintendrucker (10) eingebauten Zustand befüllba- ren Tintendruckkopf (12) , wobei1. The ink filling device (23) for a printing line direction (A) between side walls (14, 16) of a printer frame of an ink printer (10) can be moved and filled with the ink filling device (23) in the state installed in the ink printer (10) (12) where
- die Tintenfülleinrichtung (23) ein Tintenreservoir- The ink filling device (23) an ink reservoir
(28) sowie eine Abgabeöffnung (36) und der Tinten- druckkopf (12) eine Tintenkammer (44) mit einer Zuführöffnung (40) für Tinte aufweist,(28) and a discharge opening (36) and the ink print head (12) has an ink chamber (44) with a feed opening (40) for ink,
- die Abgabeöffnung (36) an einem volumenveränderlichen Hohlkörper (24) angebracht ist, der bei Volumenvergrößerung Tinte aus dem Tintenreservoir (28) entnimmt und bei Volumenverkleinerung Tinte durch die Abgabeöffnung (36) abgibt,- The dispensing opening (36) is attached to a variable-volume hollow body (24) which takes out ink from the ink reservoir (28) when the volume is increased and releases ink through the dispensing opening (36) when the volume is reduced,
- die Zuführöffnung (40) an einer Seitenwand (42) des Tintendruckkopfes (12) angeordnet ist,- The feed opening (40) is arranged on a side wall (42) of the ink print head (12),
- die Abgabeöffnung (36) an einer Seitenwand (14) des Druckergestells in koaxialer Ausrichtung zu der Zuführöffnung (40) angeordnet ist,- The discharge opening (36) is arranged on a side wall (14) of the printer frame in a coaxial orientation to the feed opening (40),
- die Zuführöffnung (40) durch Verschieben des Tintendruckkopfes (12) in Druckzeilenrichtung (A) gegen die Abgabeöffnung (36) mit dieser flüssigkeits- dicht verbindbar ist, d a du r c h g e k e nn z e i c h n e t , daß der Hohlkörper (24) auf der Innenseite der Seitenwand (14) des Druckergestells angeordnet ist und die Volumenverkleinerung durch eine weitere Verschiebung des Tintendruckkopfes (12) gegen die Seitenwand über den Punkt der Verbindung der Zuführöffnung (40) des Tintendruckkopfes (12) mit der Abgabeöffnung (36) hinaus erfolgt und vice versa. - The feed opening (40) by moving the ink print head (12) in the print line direction (A) against the discharge opening (36) with this liquid-tightly connectable, since you rchgeke nn draws that the hollow body (24) on the inside of the side wall ( 14) of the printer frame and the volume reduction takes place by a further displacement of the ink print head (12) against the side wall beyond the point of connection of the feed opening (40) of the ink print head (12) to the discharge opening (36) and vice versa.
2. Anordnung nach Anspruch 1, d a du r c h g e k e nn z e i c h n e t , daß die von der Tintenfülleinrichtung (23) an den Tintendruckkopf (12) abgegebene Tintenmenge durch die Größe der Verstellung oder der weiteren Verschiebung bestimmt wird.2. Arrangement according to claim 1, so that the amount of ink delivered by the ink filling device (23) to the ink print head (12) is determined by the size of the adjustment or the further displacement.
3. Anordnung nach Anspruch 2, d a du r c h g e k e nn z e i c hn e t , daß der Zeitpunkt und/oder die Tintenmenge einer Tintenfüllung abhängig von einer vorgebbaren Anzahl seit dem Einsetzen des Tinten- druckkopfes (12) in den Tintendrucker (10) und danach seit der letzten Tintenfüllung gedruckter Druckpunkte oder Druckzeichen steuerbar ist .3. Arrangement according to claim 2, since you rchgeke nn zeic hn et that the time and / or the amount of ink of an ink filling depending on a predetermined number since the insertion of the ink printhead (12) in the ink printer (10) and then since last ink filling of printed pressure dots or printed characters is controllable.
4. Anordnung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t , daß die Volu- menverkleinerung und -Vergrößerung mehrfach unmittelbar nacheinander durchführbar ist .4. Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 3, so that the volume reduction and enlargement can be carried out several times in succession immediately.
5. Anordnung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4, d a du r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t , daß die Abgabeöffnung (36) an einem rohrförmiger Stutzen (34) ausgebildet ist, welcher beim Verschieben des Tintendruckkopfes (12) gegen die Abgabeöffnung (36) in die Zuführöffnung (40) des Tintendruckkopfes (12) eintaucht, und daß in den Stutzen (34) ein in seine Schließstellung federbelastetes Ventil (38) eingebaut ist, welches öffnet, wenn der Druck in dem Hohlkörper (24) einen vorgegebenen Wert übersteigt.5. Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 4, since you rchgek characterized in that the discharge opening (36) is formed on a tubular nozzle (34) which when moving the ink print head (12) against the discharge opening (36) in the feed opening (40 ) of the ink print head (12), and that in the nozzle (34) a spring-loaded valve (38) is installed in its closed position, which opens when the pressure in the hollow body (24) exceeds a predetermined value.
6. Anordnung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 5, d a du r c h g e k e nn z e i c hn e t , daß der volumenveränderliche Hohlkörper ein kompressibler Ballon aus elastischem Kunststoff ist.6. Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 5, so that the volume-variable hollow body is a compressible balloon made of elastic plastic.
7. Anordnung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 5, d a du r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t , daß der volumenveränderliche Hohlkörper ein Faltenbalg (24) ist. 7. Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 5, since you rchgek characterized that the volume-variable hollow body is a bellows (24).
8. Anordnung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 5, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t , daß der volumenveränderliche Hohlkörper eine Kolben- /Zylinderanordnung ist . 8. Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 5, so that the volume-changing hollow body is a piston / cylinder arrangement.
EP98931892A 1997-07-24 1998-04-09 Ink filling device for an ink print head and ink print head which can be filled therewith Expired - Lifetime EP1019252B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

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DE19731959 1997-07-24
DE19731959A DE19731959A1 (en) 1997-07-24 1997-07-24 Ink filling device for an ink print head
PCT/DE1998/001027 WO1999004977A1 (en) 1997-07-24 1998-04-09 Ink filling device for an ink print head and ink print head which can be filled therewith

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EP1019252A1 true EP1019252A1 (en) 2000-07-19
EP1019252B1 EP1019252B1 (en) 2001-10-04

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US (1) US6199975B1 (en)
EP (1) EP1019252B1 (en)
JP (1) JP2001510751A (en)
DE (2) DE19731959A1 (en)
ES (1) ES2165686T3 (en)
WO (2) WO1999004977A1 (en)

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DE19731959A1 (en) 1999-02-04
ES2165686T3 (en) 2002-03-16
US6199975B1 (en) 2001-03-13
WO1999004975A2 (en) 1999-02-04
DE59801663D1 (en) 2001-11-08
WO1999004977A1 (en) 1999-02-04
WO1999004975A3 (en) 1999-04-22
EP1019252B1 (en) 2001-10-04
JP2001510751A (en) 2001-08-07

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