EP1366907B1 - Method and apparatus for removing excess ink from inkjet nozzle plates - Google Patents

Method and apparatus for removing excess ink from inkjet nozzle plates Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1366907B1
EP1366907B1 EP20020100558 EP02100558A EP1366907B1 EP 1366907 B1 EP1366907 B1 EP 1366907B1 EP 20020100558 EP20020100558 EP 20020100558 EP 02100558 A EP02100558 A EP 02100558A EP 1366907 B1 EP1366907 B1 EP 1366907B1
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.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
EP20020100558
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1366907A1 (en
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
Original Assignee
Agfa Gevaert NV
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 Agfa Gevaert NV filed Critical Agfa Gevaert NV
Priority to EP20020100558 priority Critical patent/EP1366907B1/en
Priority to DE2002610210 priority patent/DE60210210T2/de
Priority to JP2003133047A priority patent/JP2003341078A/ja
Priority to US10/438,611 priority patent/US6921146B2/en
Publication of EP1366907A1 publication Critical patent/EP1366907A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1366907B1 publication Critical patent/EP1366907B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related 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—Prevention or detection 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
    • B41J2/16538—Cleaning of print head nozzles using wiping constructions with brushes or wiper blades perpendicular to the nozzle plate
    • 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
    • B41J2/16517—Cleaning of print head nozzles
    • B41J2/16535—Cleaning of print head nozzles using wiping constructions
    • B41J2/16544—Constructions for the positioning of wipers

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 after it has been purged in order to clear obstructed nozzles.
  • 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 removing excess of ink on the print head before wiping is performed.
  • a method is used to remove the excess by use of a skimmer draining the ink drops from the nozzle plate.
  • 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.
  • Possible skimming can be performed using a wick for draining ink from the print head.
  • a foil can be used for skimming the print head.
  • the use of a wick or foil as the skimmer is not part of the present invention. 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.

Landscapes

  • Ink Jet (AREA)
EP20020100558 2002-05-24 2002-05-24 Method and apparatus for removing excess ink from inkjet nozzle plates Expired - Fee Related EP1366907B1 (en)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP20020100558 EP1366907B1 (en) 2002-05-24 2002-05-24 Method and apparatus for removing excess ink from inkjet nozzle plates
DE2002610210 DE60210210T2 (de) 2002-05-24 2002-05-24 Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Entfernung von überschüssiger Tinte von der Düsenplatte eines Tintenstrahldruckkopfes
JP2003133047A JP2003341078A (ja) 2002-05-24 2003-05-12 インクジェットノズルプレートから過剰なインクを除去する方法と装置
US10/438,611 US6921146B2 (en) 2002-05-24 2003-05-15 Method and apparatus for removing excess ink from inkjet nozzle plates

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP20020100558 EP1366907B1 (en) 2002-05-24 2002-05-24 Method and apparatus for removing excess ink from inkjet nozzle plates

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1366907A1 EP1366907A1 (en) 2003-12-03
EP1366907B1 true EP1366907B1 (en) 2006-03-29

Family

ID=29414799

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP20020100558 Expired - Fee Related EP1366907B1 (en) 2002-05-24 2002-05-24 Method and apparatus for removing excess ink from inkjet nozzle plates

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1366907B1 (ja)
JP (1) JP2003341078A (ja)
DE (1) DE60210210T2 (ja)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7159962B2 (en) 2003-01-23 2007-01-09 Agfa-Gevaert N.V. Wiper assembly for inkjet printer

Families Citing this family (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6921146B2 (en) 2002-05-24 2005-07-26 Agfa-Gevaert Method and apparatus for removing excess ink from inkjet nozzle plates
US7695093B2 (en) * 2005-10-11 2010-04-13 Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd Method of removing flooded ink from a printhead using a disposable sheet
JP2007168355A (ja) * 2005-12-26 2007-07-05 Sharp Corp 吐出面清掃機構及び吐出面清掃方法
KR101309791B1 (ko) * 2006-06-19 2013-10-14 삼성전자주식회사 화상형성장치 및 화상형성장치의 구동 제어방법
JP5899968B2 (ja) * 2012-01-31 2016-04-06 株式会社リコー 画像形成装置
JP6432263B2 (ja) * 2014-09-30 2018-12-05 ブラザー工業株式会社 液体吐出装置
JP6379949B2 (ja) * 2014-09-30 2018-08-29 ブラザー工業株式会社 液体吐出装置
JP2021054021A (ja) 2019-10-02 2021-04-08 セイコーエプソン株式会社 液体噴射装置、液体噴射装置のメンテナンス方法
EP4043220A1 (en) * 2021-02-16 2022-08-17 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Liquid discharge device and image forming apparatus

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS62101447A (ja) * 1985-10-30 1987-05-11 Canon Inc インクジエツト記録装置
JP3110151B2 (ja) * 1992-04-14 2000-11-20 キヤノン株式会社 インクジェット記録装置
JPH06234221A (ja) * 1993-02-12 1994-08-23 Fuji Xerox Co Ltd インクジェット記録ヘッドのメインテナンス装置
JPH06320744A (ja) * 1993-04-19 1994-11-22 Xerox Corp 全巾インクジェットプリンタ用の湿式拭い保守装置
US6193353B1 (en) * 1995-03-06 2001-02-27 Hewlett-Packard Company Translational inkjet servicing module with multiple functions
JP2000203040A (ja) * 1999-01-08 2000-07-25 Hewlett Packard Co <Hp> プリントヘッド・クリ―ニング・システム
US6350012B1 (en) * 1999-06-28 2002-02-26 Xerox Corporation Method and apparatus for cleaning/maintaining of an AIP type printhead
US6343850B1 (en) * 1999-09-28 2002-02-05 Xerox Corporation Ink jet polyether urethane wiper blade

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7159962B2 (en) 2003-01-23 2007-01-09 Agfa-Gevaert N.V. Wiper assembly for inkjet printer

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JP2003341078A (ja) 2003-12-03
EP1366907A1 (en) 2003-12-03
DE60210210D1 (de) 2006-05-18
DE60210210T2 (de) 2006-12-28

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