EP1310369A1 - Verfahren zur Reinigung eines Tintenstrahldruckkopfes unter Verwendung von einem schrägstehenden Wischer - Google Patents

Verfahren zur Reinigung eines Tintenstrahldruckkopfes unter Verwendung von einem schrägstehenden Wischer Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1310369A1
EP1310369A1 EP02100559A EP02100559A EP1310369A1 EP 1310369 A1 EP1310369 A1 EP 1310369A1 EP 02100559 A EP02100559 A EP 02100559A EP 02100559 A EP02100559 A EP 02100559A EP 1310369 A1 EP1310369 A1 EP 1310369A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
print head
wiper
ink
wiping
nozzle array
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Withdrawn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
EP02100559A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Paul Wouters
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.)
Agfa Gevaert NV
Agfa Gevaert AG
Original Assignee
Agfa Gevaert NV
Agfa Gevaert AG
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
Priority claimed from EP01000604A external-priority patent/EP1310367A1/de
Application filed by Agfa Gevaert NV, Agfa Gevaert AG filed Critical Agfa Gevaert NV
Priority to EP02100559A priority Critical patent/EP1310369A1/de
Publication of EP1310369A1 publication Critical patent/EP1310369A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current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
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/165—Preventing or detecting of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
    • B41J2/16517—Cleaning of print head nozzles
    • B41J2/16535—Cleaning of print head nozzles using wiping constructions

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to inkjet printing mechanisms, such as printers or plotters.
  • the present invention relates to a mechanism for cleaning a print head.
  • inkjet printing systems are used in a wide array of apparatuses in a wide array of applications such as fax, colour photo printing, industrial applications etc.
  • inks possibly of various colours, is ejected out of at least one array of nozzles located in a print head to the receiving material.
  • a long known problem in inkjet printers is that the nozzles through which the ink is projected to the receiving material are blocked by clogging of ink inside the nozzles and on the print head. This renders certain nozzles inoperable and results in a defective print or deteriorated print quality.
  • recent research has been focused to improvement of the used inks.
  • pigment based inks have been developed. These pigment-based inks have a higher solid content than the earlier dye-based inks. Both types of ink dry quickly, which allows inkjet printing mechanisms to forms high quality images. In some industrial applications, such as making of printing plates using ink-jet processes, inks having special characteristics causing specific problems. E.g. UV curable inks exist to allow rapid hardening of inks after printing. The combination of small nozzles and quick drying ink leaves the print heads susceptible to clogging, not only from dried ink and minute dust particles or paper fibres, but also from the solids within the new ink themselves.
  • the ink can be drained from the capping enclosure by the same vacuum source which provides the vacuum for purging. Also alternative systems for removing the ink from the capping enclosure can be provided. After purging an excess amount of ink remains on the exterior side of the print head, especially on the nozzle plate.
  • a wiping action is performed before printing is started. A wiper passes along the printing surface of the print head.
  • the drawbacks are avoided by wiping the print head using a wiper having a slanted position.
  • the direction of the wiper and the direction of the nozzle array are not parallel.
  • Fig. 1A and 1B After purging large drops and blobs of ink which have accumulated on the print head as shown in Fig. 1A and 1B. These are removed by a skimmer slowly skimming the print head thereby making contact with drops of ink on the surface of the print head, but without making contact with the surface of the print head itself.
  • the skimming action is illustrated in Fig. 2.
  • the distance d between the print head and the skimmer needs to be smaller than the size of the drops hanging from the surface of the print head.
  • Fig. 3 when the skimmer makes contact with a drop on the surface it will, due to surface tension characteristics and the effect of gravity, be drained downwards along the skimmer.
  • the distance d between the bottom side of the print head and the skimmer is in the range of 0-5mm. Skimming alternatively can be performed by just touching the print head without exerting force to the print head. Preferably a clearance is kept between the print head and the skimmer. Preferably the minimum distance at which the skimmer passes the print head is between 0.5 and 5mm.
  • a mechanism is provided which is coupled to the mechanism for moving the wiper. Then a skimmer having the size of the print head is used.
  • Fig. 2 shows the situation wherein the skimming direction is perpendicular to the direction on the nozzle array.
  • the skimmer has an angled position to the direction of the nozzle array.
  • Direction of movement is not critical. Possibly the skimming movement is along the direction of the nozzle array.
  • a small skimmer can then be used having a size of the broadness of the nozzle array.
  • the wiper itself serves as skimmer. This is most cost effective as no separate system has to be provided for skimming.
  • By lowering the wiper so that is just clears the print head during wiping causes it to skim the surface of the print head to serve as skimmer for removing excess of ink.
  • the speed of translation of the wiper is reduced as to provide enough time to allow the drop to drain slowly to the bottom as can be seen in Fig 3.
  • Distance d of the skimmer or wiper from the print head and speed during sweeping can be chosen arbitrarily. Depending upon characteristics of the ink in use and its surface tension, the property op the outer surface of the inkjet print head, constitution, size of the wiper, etc... Skimming distance d and speed can be chosen to obtain optimal result, if possible in combination with the subsequent wiping action.
  • skimming can be performed using a wick for draining ink from the print head. Also a foil can be used for skimming the print head. Normally the skimmer is an elastomeric element having a hardness of 30 to 80 Shore A.
  • the skimming action is followed by a normal wiping action. This can be done using a single or a double wiper as shown in Fig. 4. During wiping the wiper is pressed against the print head.
  • the wiper is placed, as illustrated in Fig. 5 for a dual wiper system, at a small angle ⁇ regarding the direction perpendicular to the translation direction.
  • the angle ⁇ can be any angle between 1 and 99 degrees but the range is practically between 1 and 10 degrees.
  • Preferably the angle ⁇ is in the range between 1 and 3 degrees.
  • the wiping direction is usually perpendicular to the direction of the nozzle array this means that the wiper blades also are at a small angle ⁇ to the nozzle array.
  • An inkjet printer having a shuttling print head having a length of 72mm is used for printing images using an oil based ink.
  • the inkjet print head has a dual array of nozzles having a length of 54 mm.
  • the print head is capped by the capping unit having a seal around the nozzle array. This is done by placing the print head over the capping unit and raising the maintenance station so the capping unit now holds the print head.
  • a vacuum is applied inside the capping unit and at the same time the nozzles are driven in order to clear clogged nozzles. Released ink is drained from the capping unit. After purging the print head, the maintenance unit is lowered so the print head clears the capping unit.
  • the print head is now brought near the wiper system mounted on the maintenance station.
  • the wiper has at least a length of the print head which is about 54mm.
  • the maintenance station is raised so that the edge of the wiper is brought to a height corresponding to 0.5mm clearance with the bottom edge of the print head.
  • the wiper is used as skimmer by translating it underneath the print head at a speed of 0.02m/s. Drops hanging from the print head are thus captured and flow downwards along the wiper. After the skimming action the wiper is repositioned and is further raised and a wiping action is started.
  • the wiper has a hardness of 70 ShoreA and the direction of the wiper makes an angle of 2 degrees relatively to the direction of the nozzle array. Wiping is performed at a speed between 0.1 to 0.5m/sec. Preferably the speed is about 0.2m/sec. Wiping speed can be adjusted according to ink and wiper characteristics, e.g. surface tension, density of the ink, hardness or length of the wiper etc... An empirical approach can be used determining the optical speed, constitution and pressure force/contact angle of the wiper.
  • the skimming step is hereinbefore described as a treatment of the print head after purging. It can be understood that the skimming step can be performed at any moment if necessary during the printing process. The wiping action can also be performed at any moment if the need exists. Also a periodical wiping can be provided. It is clear that the slanted position of the wiper relative to the nozzle array is also advantageous during each wiping action.
EP02100559A 2001-11-08 2002-05-24 Verfahren zur Reinigung eines Tintenstrahldruckkopfes unter Verwendung von einem schrägstehenden Wischer Withdrawn EP1310369A1 (de)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP02100559A EP1310369A1 (de) 2001-11-08 2002-05-24 Verfahren zur Reinigung eines Tintenstrahldruckkopfes unter Verwendung von einem schrägstehenden Wischer

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP01000604 2001-11-08
EP01000604A EP1310367A1 (de) 2001-11-08 2001-11-08 Wartestation für Tintenstrahldrucksystem
EP02100559A EP1310369A1 (de) 2001-11-08 2002-05-24 Verfahren zur Reinigung eines Tintenstrahldruckkopfes unter Verwendung von einem schrägstehenden Wischer

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1310369A1 true EP1310369A1 (de) 2003-05-14

Family

ID=26076422

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP02100559A Withdrawn EP1310369A1 (de) 2001-11-08 2002-05-24 Verfahren zur Reinigung eines Tintenstrahldruckkopfes unter Verwendung von einem schrägstehenden Wischer

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1310369A1 (de)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2004106041A3 (en) * 2003-05-23 2005-08-18 Z Corp Apparatus and methods for 3d printing
US7037382B2 (en) 1996-12-20 2006-05-02 Z Corporation Three-dimensional printer
US7686995B2 (en) 1996-12-20 2010-03-30 Z Corporation Three-dimensional printer
US7824001B2 (en) 2004-09-21 2010-11-02 Z Corporation Apparatus and methods for servicing 3D printers
US7828022B2 (en) 2006-05-26 2010-11-09 Z Corporation Apparatus and methods for handling materials in a 3-D printer
US9469112B2 (en) 2009-03-09 2016-10-18 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Rotary wiper assembly for fluid-ejection printhead

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH0747679A (ja) * 1993-06-29 1995-02-21 Canon Inc インクジェット記録装置
WO1996015908A1 (en) * 1994-11-21 1996-05-30 Techniku B.V. Cleaning and sealing station for a printing head
JPH1178039A (ja) * 1997-09-02 1999-03-23 Canon Inc インクジェット記録装置
US5946009A (en) * 1996-04-08 1999-08-31 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Service station for ink-jet printer
EP1018430A1 (de) 1999-01-08 2000-07-12 Hewlett-Packard Company System zum Zuführen von Tintenlösungsmittel für Tintenstrahldrucker
US6193353B1 (en) 1995-03-06 2001-02-27 Hewlett-Packard Company Translational inkjet servicing module with multiple functions

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH0747679A (ja) * 1993-06-29 1995-02-21 Canon Inc インクジェット記録装置
WO1996015908A1 (en) * 1994-11-21 1996-05-30 Techniku B.V. Cleaning and sealing station for a printing head
US6193353B1 (en) 1995-03-06 2001-02-27 Hewlett-Packard Company Translational inkjet servicing module with multiple functions
US5946009A (en) * 1996-04-08 1999-08-31 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Service station for ink-jet printer
JPH1178039A (ja) * 1997-09-02 1999-03-23 Canon Inc インクジェット記録装置
EP1018430A1 (de) 1999-01-08 2000-07-12 Hewlett-Packard Company System zum Zuführen von Tintenlösungsmittel für Tintenstrahldrucker

Non-Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 1995, no. 05 30 June 1995 (1995-06-30) *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 1999, no. 08 30 June 1999 (1999-06-30) *

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7037382B2 (en) 1996-12-20 2006-05-02 Z Corporation Three-dimensional printer
US7686995B2 (en) 1996-12-20 2010-03-30 Z Corporation Three-dimensional printer
US8017055B2 (en) 1996-12-20 2011-09-13 Z Corporation Three-dimensional printer
WO2004106041A3 (en) * 2003-05-23 2005-08-18 Z Corp Apparatus and methods for 3d printing
US7824001B2 (en) 2004-09-21 2010-11-02 Z Corporation Apparatus and methods for servicing 3D printers
US8167395B2 (en) 2004-09-21 2012-05-01 3D Systems, Inc. Apparatus and methods for servicing 3D printers
US7828022B2 (en) 2006-05-26 2010-11-09 Z Corporation Apparatus and methods for handling materials in a 3-D printer
US7971991B2 (en) 2006-05-26 2011-07-05 Z Corporation Apparatus and methods for handling materials in a 3-D printer
US7979152B2 (en) 2006-05-26 2011-07-12 Z Corporation Apparatus and methods for handling materials in a 3-D printer
US8185229B2 (en) 2006-05-26 2012-05-22 3D Systems, Inc. Apparatus and methods for handling materials in a 3-D printer
US9469112B2 (en) 2009-03-09 2016-10-18 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Rotary wiper assembly for fluid-ejection printhead
US10518540B2 (en) 2009-03-09 2019-12-31 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Rotary wiper assembly for fluid-ejection printhead

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