EP1038677A1 - Procédé et dispositif pour déboucher une tête d'impression à jet d'encre - Google Patents

Procédé et dispositif pour déboucher une tête d'impression à jet d'encre Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1038677A1
EP1038677A1 EP00200824A EP00200824A EP1038677A1 EP 1038677 A1 EP1038677 A1 EP 1038677A1 EP 00200824 A EP00200824 A EP 00200824A EP 00200824 A EP00200824 A EP 00200824A EP 1038677 A1 EP1038677 A1 EP 1038677A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
print head
unclogging
voltage pulse
ink jet
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP00200824A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Anthony R. Lubinsky
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 EP1038677A1 publication Critical patent/EP1038677A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current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
    • B41J2/015—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process
    • B41J2/04—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand
    • B41J2/045—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand by pressure, e.g. electromechanical transducers
    • B41J2/04501—Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits
    • B41J2/0451—Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits for detecting failure, e.g. clogging, malfunctioning actuator
    • 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
    • B41J2/015—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process
    • B41J2/04—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand
    • B41J2/045—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand by pressure, e.g. electromechanical transducers
    • B41J2/04501—Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits
    • B41J2/04541—Specific driving circuit
    • 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
    • B41J2/015—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process
    • B41J2/04—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand
    • B41J2/045—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand by pressure, e.g. electromechanical transducers
    • B41J2/04501—Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits
    • B41J2/04581—Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits controlling heads based on piezoelectric elements
    • 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
    • B41J2/015—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process
    • B41J2/04—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand
    • B41J2/045—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand by pressure, e.g. electromechanical transducers
    • B41J2/04501—Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits
    • B41J2/04588—Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits using a specific waveform
    • 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 present invention relates generally to ink jet printing apparatus and, in particular to an ink jet printer having a piezoelectrically actuated print head with means for unclogging the print head.
  • the ink starts to solidify. This clogs the nozzles and prevents the proper amount of ink from being ejected from those nozzles. Additionally, a small solid particle such as a dirt particle may cause a nozzle to be clogged. In this case the print head may be moved to a cleaning station, and the orifice plate is cleaned or vacuumed to unclog the nozzles. The print head may also be removed and cleaned manually.
  • U. S. Patent No. 3,925,789, issued December 9, 1975 to Kashio, entitled “Ink Jet Recording Apparatus” discloses an ink jet printer wherein, during normal printing a timer is employed to count the elapsed time between ink ejections from each of the ink nozzles. Then, if elapsed time between ejections for any nozzle exceeds a preselected time, the control unit is triggered which in turn activates a pump which ejects ink from the unused nozzle.
  • An alternative method used in some ink jet printers is washing the nozzles after a selected number of pages are printed.
  • the nozzles are transported to a washing station where they are washed or wiped using different means.
  • the above discussed methods provide ways of preventing clogs from forming in nozzles, or provide ways of removing clogs from nozzles. All of the above methods include some shortcomings. In the case of washing the nozzles to remove ink, it can damage the orifice plate. Use of suction cups and vacuum or pressure pumps can add to the complexity of and hence the cost of a printer apparatus. Firing drops at timed intervals to prevent clogs requires timing circuitry, and is wasteful of ink. There is a need therefore for an improved declogging mechanism which can provide nozzle declogging and print head priming feature without a large added cost.
  • an ink jet printer having a piezoelectric print head adapted to eject ink in response to the application of a voltage pulse to a piezoelectric element in the print head.
  • a signal generator produces a printing voltage pulse of a first magnitude for ejecting a printing drop of ink from the print head, and an unclogging voltage pulse of a second magnitude greater than the first for unclogging the print head.
  • a controller selectively applies the printing voltage pulse or the unclogging voltage pulse to the print head.
  • a piezoelectric print head used for drop on demand printing uses a piezoelectric element located in the print head to create a pressure wave or volume displacement to expel a drop of ink from an orifice in the print head.
  • the piezoelectric element is driven by a voltage pulse waveform having a magnitude V .
  • the voltage V is fairly small, in the range of 10 - 100 volts.
  • a larger voltage ( V + ⁇ V volts), which is larger than the printing voltage, but smaller than a limit voltage V stress (above which the piezoelectric element is damaged or stressed) or the voltage V ingest (above which air may be ingested into the print head on the fill portion of the print cycle), is applied to the piezoelectric element, it can create a larger pressure wave that can declog the nozzles in the print head.
  • Fig. 1 shows a general structure for an array of piezoelectric elements and drivers as is found in a piezoelectric print head. This structure is well known in prior art and is comprised of an array of switching transistors 10 connected to an array of capacitors 12 corresponding to piezoelectric elements.
  • Digital image data is input one line at a time into the digital logic module 14 which consists of shift registers and latches.
  • the digital logic module clocks a line of digital print data into a set of shift registers.
  • a controller module 16 sets the timing and synchronizes the functions of the printer.
  • the print signal generator 18 provides voltage V from power source 20 to the switching transistor array 10 which apply a voltage to actuate the piezoelectric elements 12 , shown as an array of capacitors. Print signal generator 18 supplies the optimal shape signal to the piezoelectric elements for printing.
  • a print cycle 21 is comprised of a fill period 22 wherein a negative voltage is applied to a piezoelectric element 12 , causing the nozzle to fill with ink; a print period 23 wherein a positive voltage is applied to a piezoelectric element 12 , causing the nozzle to eject ink; and a rest period 24 where the voltage on the piezoelectric element is returned to zero prior to the nozzle being re-filled with ink for a next print cycle.
  • the wave form shown in Fig. 2 is merely an example of wave forms used in driving piezoelectric ink jet heads.
  • the print cycle pulse can be designed to have different shapes, so as to achieve different functions.
  • the piezoelectric actuator typically has two electrodes attached to it, which receive the electrical signal which is convened to mechanical energy by the actuator.
  • one electrode would be connected to ground, and one would receive the electrical signal shown in Fig. 2.
  • the positive and negative voltage polarities are chosen such that a negative voltage causes a mechanical expansion of the chamber holding the ink, and a positive voltage causes a mechanical compression of the chamber holding the ink.
  • the chamber size is held constant.
  • the first (downward) transition 25 of the waveform in Fig. 2 causes the chamber to fill with additional ink, and we refer to its magnitude as V fill.
  • the second (upward) transition 26 of the waveform causes the firing of a drop, and we refer to its magnitude as V fire, or simply as V.
  • the third (downward) transition 27 returns the chamber to its original size, and may be chosen so as to help cancel any remaining meniscus motion at outlet of the nozzle. We refer to it as V cancel.
  • an unclogging pulse 28 is generated in which the second (upward) transition 26 in the signal is not V but rather V + ⁇ V , where V + ⁇ V is the unclogging voltage V unclog.
  • an unclog pulse control unit 30 is capable of receiving an input signal from any one of several input sources, including a manual unclog button 32 , an off time counter 34 which monitors the elapsed time since the last previous print head actuation, and an optical sensor 36 , which detects clogged nozzles by the absence of printed dots in a printed test pattern 37 .
  • the test pattern is stored in image memory 38 in the printer.
  • An example of a test pattern 37 is shown in Fig. 5, indicating that some of the nozzles at locations indicated as 39 are clogged.
  • the unclogging pulse controller unit 30 contains a logic unit 40 and a look up table (LUT) 42 based on the results of prior experiments, which enable it to choose an unclogging pulse strength index n and an unclogging pulse shape index m, based on the elapsed time, optical error results, or operator input.
  • the output of the unclog pulse controller unit 30 is supplied to the print signal generator 44 via a switch 46 .
  • One of the output components is the strength index n which signals the switch 46 to supply any one of the several voltages available to the print signal generator 44 from variable power source 48 .
  • This embodiment advantageously uses a print signal generator 44 to generate the unclog signal. This feature minimizes the costs of manufacturing and maintenance of the printing system of the present invention.
  • the outputs of the unclog pulse controller unit 30 which are the shape index (m) and the strength index (n) are supplied to an unclog signal generator 50 , which is capable of producing any one of several pulse shapes particularly tailored to the unclogging function.
  • the unclogging pulse shape may be chosen to be the same as the drop firing pulse shape, except that the magnitude V of the firing transition is chosen to be larger, by an amount specified by the strength index n.
  • the shape of the unclogging pulse may be chosen to be different, as specified by the shape index m.
  • the slope of the canceling transition 27 ( V cancel) is chosen to be less, to minimize the probability of air ingestion into the nozzle.
  • the unclogging pulses are preferably applied to the print head when the print head is parked in a capping station, or cleaning station, or ink receiving station, and not during the action of printing a page, since the unclogging drops produced may be quite larger than the normal printing drops, and may be noticeable, if deposited on a page.
  • the unclogging signal is generated by operator intervention, or by an optical sensor, or by a timer, the print head is preferably moved to a specified unclogging station before unclogging pulses are applied.

Landscapes

  • Ink Jet (AREA)
  • Particle Formation And Scattering Control In Inkjet Printers (AREA)
EP00200824A 1999-03-19 2000-03-09 Procédé et dispositif pour déboucher une tête d'impression à jet d'encre Withdrawn EP1038677A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US27317799A 1999-03-19 1999-03-19
US273177 1999-03-19

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1038677A1 true EP1038677A1 (fr) 2000-09-27

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EP00200824A Withdrawn EP1038677A1 (fr) 1999-03-19 2000-03-09 Procédé et dispositif pour déboucher une tête d'impression à jet d'encre

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EP (1) EP1038677A1 (fr)
JP (1) JP2000272146A (fr)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2003052025A1 (fr) * 2001-12-18 2003-06-26 Nanosolutions Gmbh Liquide et procede d'impression de securite utilisant des nanoparticules
US7073878B2 (en) 2002-09-30 2006-07-11 Seiko Epson Corporation Liquid ejecting apparatus and controlling unit of liquid ejecting apparatus
DE102007035805A1 (de) 2007-07-31 2009-02-05 OCé PRINTING SYSTEMS GMBH Verfahren zum mehrfarbigen Tintendruck
US20110069101A1 (en) * 2009-09-18 2011-03-24 Stefan Buschmann Device and method to improve the print quality of an inkjet printer
EP2334497A1 (fr) * 2008-10-14 2011-06-22 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Dispositif de distribution de jet de fluide
CN102189801A (zh) * 2010-03-11 2011-09-21 精工爱普生株式会社 液体喷射装置及液体喷射装置的控制方法
US9757776B2 (en) 2014-10-16 2017-09-12 The Boeing Company Clearing of apertures by plasma jets
US9764561B2 (en) 2012-04-04 2017-09-19 Xerox Corporation System and method for clearing weak and missing inkjets in an inkjet printer

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3925789A (en) 1971-12-16 1975-12-09 Casio Computer Co Ltd Ink jet recording apparatus
US4484199A (en) * 1982-03-30 1984-11-20 Konishiroku Photo Industry Co., Ltd. Method and apparatus for detecting failure of an ink jet printing device
US4540997A (en) 1984-03-26 1985-09-10 Tektronix, Inc. Method and apparatus for avoiding the drying of ink in the ink jets of ink jet printers
US4577203A (en) 1981-09-30 1986-03-18 Epson Corporation Ink jet recording apparatus
US4806955A (en) 1982-10-14 1989-02-21 Epson Corporation Ink jet printer of the ink-on-demand type
US4907013A (en) * 1989-01-19 1990-03-06 Pitney Bowes Inc Circuitry for detecting malfunction of ink jet printhead
EP0562786A2 (fr) * 1992-03-23 1993-09-29 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Appareil d'enregistrement à jet d'encre et méthode pour détecter la décharge de l'encre
EP0661162A2 (fr) * 1993-12-28 1995-07-05 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Couche de base pour une tête à jet d'encre, tête et dispositif à jet d'encre
US5619232A (en) 1992-12-16 1997-04-08 Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. Maintenance station of ink jet printer and cap and pump included therein

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3925789A (en) 1971-12-16 1975-12-09 Casio Computer Co Ltd Ink jet recording apparatus
US4577203A (en) 1981-09-30 1986-03-18 Epson Corporation Ink jet recording apparatus
US4484199A (en) * 1982-03-30 1984-11-20 Konishiroku Photo Industry Co., Ltd. Method and apparatus for detecting failure of an ink jet printing device
US4806955A (en) 1982-10-14 1989-02-21 Epson Corporation Ink jet printer of the ink-on-demand type
US4540997A (en) 1984-03-26 1985-09-10 Tektronix, Inc. Method and apparatus for avoiding the drying of ink in the ink jets of ink jet printers
US4907013A (en) * 1989-01-19 1990-03-06 Pitney Bowes Inc Circuitry for detecting malfunction of ink jet printhead
EP0562786A2 (fr) * 1992-03-23 1993-09-29 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Appareil d'enregistrement à jet d'encre et méthode pour détecter la décharge de l'encre
US5619232A (en) 1992-12-16 1997-04-08 Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. Maintenance station of ink jet printer and cap and pump included therein
EP0661162A2 (fr) * 1993-12-28 1995-07-05 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Couche de base pour une tête à jet d'encre, tête et dispositif à jet d'encre

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2003052025A1 (fr) * 2001-12-18 2003-06-26 Nanosolutions Gmbh Liquide et procede d'impression de securite utilisant des nanoparticules
US7699456B2 (en) 2001-12-18 2010-04-20 Centrum Fur Angewandte Nanotechnologie (Can) Gmbh Security printing liquid and method using nanoparticles
US7073878B2 (en) 2002-09-30 2006-07-11 Seiko Epson Corporation Liquid ejecting apparatus and controlling unit of liquid ejecting apparatus
DE102007035805A1 (de) 2007-07-31 2009-02-05 OCé PRINTING SYSTEMS GMBH Verfahren zum mehrfarbigen Tintendruck
EP2334497A1 (fr) * 2008-10-14 2011-06-22 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Dispositif de distribution de jet de fluide
EP2334497A4 (fr) * 2008-10-14 2012-03-14 Hewlett Packard Development Co Dispositif de distribution de jet de fluide
DE102009042209A1 (de) 2009-09-18 2011-04-14 OCé PRINTING SYSTEMS GMBH Vorrichtung und Verfahren zum Verbessern der Druckqualität eines Tintenspritzdruckers
US20110069101A1 (en) * 2009-09-18 2011-03-24 Stefan Buschmann Device and method to improve the print quality of an inkjet printer
US8668298B2 (en) * 2009-09-18 2014-03-11 OCé PRINTING SYSTEMS GMBH Method to improve the print quality of an inkjet printer
DE102009042209B4 (de) 2009-09-18 2018-08-02 Océ Printing Systems GmbH & Co. KG Vorrichtung und Verfahren zum Verbessern der Druckqualität eines Tintenspritzdruckers
CN102189801A (zh) * 2010-03-11 2011-09-21 精工爱普生株式会社 液体喷射装置及液体喷射装置的控制方法
US9764561B2 (en) 2012-04-04 2017-09-19 Xerox Corporation System and method for clearing weak and missing inkjets in an inkjet printer
US9757776B2 (en) 2014-10-16 2017-09-12 The Boeing Company Clearing of apertures by plasma jets

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