EP1661712B1 - Appareil et procédé pour contrôler la pression d'une cartouche d'encre d'une imprimante à jet d'encre - Google Patents

Appareil et procédé pour contrôler la pression d'une cartouche d'encre d'une imprimante à jet d'encre Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1661712B1
EP1661712B1 EP20050111015 EP05111015A EP1661712B1 EP 1661712 B1 EP1661712 B1 EP 1661712B1 EP 20050111015 EP20050111015 EP 20050111015 EP 05111015 A EP05111015 A EP 05111015A EP 1661712 B1 EP1661712 B1 EP 1661712B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
pressure
ink
ink reservoir
reservoir
pump
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.)
Active
Application number
EP20050111015
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP1661712A1 (fr
Inventor
Frank J.H. Nottelman
Jeroen J.M. Hennissen
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.)
Canon Production Printing Netherlands BV
Original Assignee
Oce Technologies BV
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Publication date
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Priority to EP20050111015 priority Critical patent/EP1661712B1/fr
Publication of EP1661712A1 publication Critical patent/EP1661712A1/fr
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Publication of EP1661712B1 publication Critical patent/EP1661712B1/fr
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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
    • B41J2/17—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

Definitions

  • the invention relates to an apparatus for controlling pressure in an ink reservoir of an ink jet printer.
  • the invention also relates to an ink jet printer comprising a printhead with an ink reservoir containing liquid ink and a gas volume above the level of the ink.
  • the invention further relates to a method for controlling pressure in an ink reservoir of an ink jet printer.
  • An ink jet printer typically comprises printheads having one or more nozzle arrays and an ink reservoir from which liquid ink is supplied to the nozzles of the nozzle arrays, so that ink droplets may be ejected from the nozzles by thermal or piezoelectric action, as is generally known in the art.
  • the ink reservoir should be kept at subatmospheric pressure in order to avoid ink from leaking out through the nozzles. Since the difference between the internal pressure in the ink reservoir and the atmospheric pressure has an influence on the process of droplet generation and hence on the quality of the printed image, it is desirable to keep this pressure difference constant. Since, however, the internal pressure in the ink reservoir may vary in response to changes of the ink volume contained therein, thermal expansion and the like, it is necessary to control the internal pressure in the ink reservoir.
  • pressure regulating valves coupled to a pump for allowing compensation of an excessive pressure drop monitored by the detecting means in order to maintain the underpressure in the ink reservoir within a certain predetermined pressure range.
  • Pressure regulating valves are however commonly relatively expensive and sensitive. Withal, relatively large membranes are required to achieve a relatively high degree of precision of the regulation of the pressure within the ink reservoir. Furthermore, commonly other critical components are required, often resulting in a relatively high mutual friction and are therefore often subjected to a considerable amount of wear. Rubber parts commonly used in the known apparatus to control the pressure within the ink reservoir become fatigued relatively quickly, resulting in a decreased capacity to counteract loads during operation of the apparatus. Thus, the known device is from a constructive point of view relatively complex and hence relatively expensive. Moreover, the components used in the known device are commonly subjected to a considered amount of wear during operational use.
  • US6290343A shows an apparatus for controlling pressure in an ink reservoir of an ink jet printer, comprising:
  • an apparatus for controlling pressure in an ink reservoir of an ink jet printer comprising: pressure applying means for applying a certain pressure in said ink reservoir, detecting means for monitoring the actual pressure in said ink reservoir, the detecting means comprising at least one electronic pressure sensor and controlling means for controlling the pressure applying means dependent on the actual pressure monitored by said detecting means.
  • the electronic pressure sensor can electronically detect an underpressure and/or overpressure in a relatively simple though painstaking manner. To this end, no complex and moving components are required to accurately measure the pressure over a gaseous fraction in the ink reservoir. This omission reduces wear by friction of the apparatus and hence increases the life span of the low-maintenance apparatus.
  • each electronic pressure sensor is in communication with a printhead provided with a specific coloured ink. It is also imaginable to apply multiple electronic pressure sensors, wherein a second electronic pressure sensor forms a backup sensor for a first electronic pressure sensor in case the first electronic pressure sensors fails.
  • the pressure applying means can be adapted to generate a certain underpressure and/or a certain overpressure within the ink reservoir.
  • said pressure applying means can be formed in various ways.
  • said pressure applying means comprises at least one pump, more preferably a pump of which the capacity is adjustable.
  • the capacity of the pump can be adjusted by applying variable frequencies and/or voltages, wherein by means of an electromagnet the moving speed of a plunger of the pump can be adjusted.
  • Said pump is preferably formed by a membrane pump or any other pump of which the output can be regulated electronically.
  • the specifications of the pump can be chosen by a person skilled in the art dependent on the situational conditions of the apparatus according to the invention.
  • a (membrane) pump can be applied with a pump discharge of about one litre per minute to achieve a pressure from 0 to 300 millibar.
  • the underpressure in the ink reservoir during operational use is rather critical and is normally lain at between 5 and 50 millibar with an allowed deviation of certain millibars dependent on the desired underpressure in the ink reservoir.
  • said pressure applying means comprises at least one buffer reservoir.
  • Said buffer reservoir is adapted to enclose a (gaseous) medium with a certain (under)pressure which communicates with the gaseous volume within the ink reservoir.
  • the volume of the buffer reservoir can be either constant, preferably of between 1 and 20 litre, or can be adjustable. In the latter embodiment the capacity of the buffer reservoir can be adjusted, for example by means of a plunger.
  • said buffer reservoir is positioned between said ink reservoir and said pump.
  • the buffer reservoir can be applied to absorb pumping pulses generated by the pump to avoid (extreme) fluctuation of the internal pressure within the ink reservoir.
  • the buffer reservoir can act as surrogate pump in case the actual pump is turned off for example due to a power breakdown, or in case the actual pump is temporary switched to a standby mode, for example between two print sessions.
  • said buffer reservoir is isolatable from the communication between the pump and the ink reservoir, for example in case a temporary overpressure needs to be applied to the ink reservoir for rinsing the ink reservoir. Isolation of the buffer reservoir from the pump and the ink reservoir can be realised by means of a switch, in particular a pneumatic or eventually hydraulic or electronic switch.
  • each printhead may be in communication with a separate buffer reservoir.
  • the pressure per printhead can be regulated more precisely and even independent of the pressures prevailing in the other printheads.
  • the invention also relates to an ink jet printer according to the preamble, characterized in that said gas volume is connected to an apparatus according to the invention.
  • the pressure control apparatus is preferably mounted on a stationary frame of the printer and is preferably connected to the ink reservoir on the printhead through a flexible hose.
  • Application of a flexible hose commonly increases the degree of freedom of design of the inkjet printer, whereas the deformation of the hose will easily be adapted to the mutual orientation of the printhead(s) on one side and the apparatus according to the invention on the other side.
  • the printhead comprises a plurality of ink reservoirs, for example in a colour printer, all ink reservoirs may, however not necessarily, be connected to same pressure control apparatus.
  • the pressure control apparatus is mounted on a moving carriage of the printer, and the pressure applying means for withdrawing or adding gas from respectively to the ink reservoir is driven by the relative movement of the carriage and supporting structure of the printer carrying said moving carriage. In this manner a relatively advantageous printer construction can be obtained.
  • the invention further relates to a method for controlling pressure in an ink reservoir of an ink jet printer, comprising the steps of : A) applying a certain pressure to an ink reservoir by a pressure applying means communicating with said ink reservoir, B) electronically monitoring the actual pressure in the ink reservoir by a electronic pressure sensor, and C) adjusting the pressure monitored by the electronic pressure sensor in case this monitored pressure exceeds a certain value.
  • Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a preferred embodiment of an assembly 1 of multiple printheads 2 and an apparatus 3 for controlling the pressure in said printheads according to the invention.
  • the apparatus 3 comprises a membrane pump 4, the capacity of which can be adjusted by way of applying variable frequencies to the pump 4.
  • the pump 4 is adapted for generating an overpressure and/or an underpressure and is in communication with ink reservoirs incorporated in said printheads 2.
  • Both an overpressure conduit 5 and an underpressure conduit 6 are coupled to a diverter valve 7, the latter being adapted to apply either an overpressure or an underpressure in said ink reservoirs.
  • a critical underpressure in the ink reservoirs is required of about between 5 and 20 millibar, wherein the diverter valve 7 is switched such, that the ink reservoirs are in communication with the underpressure conduit 6, and wherein the overpressure conduit 5 is dead-ended (not connected).
  • an electronic pressure sensor 8 is provided to electronically detect the pressure in the ink reservoirs. Electronically detecting the internal pressure within the ink reservoirs electronically is constructively relatively simple, relatively durable, and therefore relatively cheap.
  • the apparatus 3 further comprises a control unit (not shown) for controlling the pump capacity of the membrane pump 4 dependent on the pressure in the ink reservoir monitored by the electronic pressure sensor 8.
  • the underpressure conduit 6 is in communication with a buffer chamber 9 with a predetermined volume of preferably between 1 and 20 litre.
  • the buffer chamber 9 encloses a (vacuous) space having a multilateral functionality.
  • the buffer chamber 9 is adapted to absorb substantially (under)pressure pulses generated by the membrane pump 4, such that undesired pressure fluctuations in the ink reservoirs can be prevented.
  • said buffer chamber 9 can act as autonomous suction device for, at least temporarily, maintaining the critical underpressure in the ink reservoirs in case the membrane pump 4 is not running, for example due to a power breakdown.
  • the buffer chamber 9 can be fully isolated by means of the diverter valve 7 on the one side and an non-leakage valve 10, the latter being positioned in the underpressure conduit 6 between the pump 4 and the buffer chamber 9.
  • the non-leakage valve 10 can be switched, thereby disconnecting the membrane pump 4 from the printheads 2, and hence preventing leakage of gas, preferably air, from the buffer chamber 9 to the membrane pump 4.
  • the diverter valve 7 is already switched towards the underpressure conduit 6, as a result of which the critical underpressure in the ink reservoirs can be maintained at least temporary. Switching the diverter valve 7 and the non-leakage valve 10 can be realised either pneumatically, hydraulically or electronically by the control unit.
  • the apparatus 3 further comprises an underpressure restriction 11 to prevent excessive underpressure in the ink reservoirs during printing, and an overpressure restriction 12 to prevent excessive overpressure in the ink reservoirs during purging.

Landscapes

  • Ink Jet (AREA)

Claims (8)

  1. Appareil (3) pour régler la pression dans un réservoir d'encre d'une imprimante à jet d'encre, comprenant :
    - des moyens d'application de pression (4) pour appliquer une pression dans le réservoir d'encre, les moyens d'application de pression communiquant avec le réservoir d'encre via un premier conduit (5, 6) ;
    - un réservoir tampon (9) faisant communiquer un milieu gazeux avec le réservoir d'encre via un second conduit différent du premier conduit,
    - des moyens de détection (8) pour contrôler la pression réelle dans le réservoir d'encre, les moyens de détection comprenant au moins un capteur de pression électronique, et
    - des moyens de réglage pour régler les moyens d'application de pression en fonction de la pression réelle contrôlée par les moyens de détection.
  2. Appareil selon la revendication 1, dans lequel les moyens d'application de pression comprennent au moins une pompe, dont la capacité peut être ajustée.
  3. Appareil selon la revendication 2, dans lequel la pompe est formée par une pompe à membrane.
  4. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le second conduit raccorde le réservoir tampon au premier conduit à un emplacement entre les moyens d'application de pression et le réservoir d'encre.
  5. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le volume dudit réservoir tampon peut être ajusté.
  6. Imprimante à jet d'encre comprenant une tête d'impression à réservoir d'encre contenant de l'encre liquide et un volume de gaz au-dessus du niveau de l'encre, caractérisée en ce que ledit volume de gaz est raccordé à un appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes.
  7. Imprimante à jet d'encre selon la revendication 6, dans laquelle l'appareil est monté sur un châssis fixe de l'imprimante et est raccordé à la tête d'impression mobile par un tuyau souple.
  8. Imprimante à jet d'encre selon la revendication 7, dans laquelle l'appareil de réglage de pression est monté sur un chariot mobile de l'imprimante et les moyens d'application de pression pour respectivement retirer du gaz du réservoir d'encre ou lui en ajouter sont entraînés par le mouvement relatif du chariot et la structure de support de l'imprimante portant ledit chariot mobile.
EP20050111015 2004-11-25 2005-11-21 Appareil et procédé pour contrôler la pression d'une cartouche d'encre d'une imprimante à jet d'encre Active EP1661712B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP20050111015 EP1661712B1 (fr) 2004-11-25 2005-11-21 Appareil et procédé pour contrôler la pression d'une cartouche d'encre d'une imprimante à jet d'encre

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP04106060 2004-11-25
EP20050111015 EP1661712B1 (fr) 2004-11-25 2005-11-21 Appareil et procédé pour contrôler la pression d'une cartouche d'encre d'une imprimante à jet d'encre

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1661712A1 EP1661712A1 (fr) 2006-05-31
EP1661712B1 true EP1661712B1 (fr) 2012-04-25

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EP20050111015 Active EP1661712B1 (fr) 2004-11-25 2005-11-21 Appareil et procédé pour contrôler la pression d'une cartouche d'encre d'une imprimante à jet d'encre

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Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1932671A1 (fr) * 2006-12-11 2008-06-18 Agfa Graphics N.V. Dispositif pour régler la pression dans une imprimante à navette

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6290343B1 (en) * 1996-07-15 2001-09-18 Hewlett-Packard Company Monitoring and controlling ink pressurization in a modular ink delivery system for an inkjet printer
GB9910313D0 (en) * 1999-05-05 1999-06-30 Cambridge Consultants Fluid-pressure controlled ink pressure regulator
DE60119597T2 (de) * 2000-01-21 2007-04-26 Seiko Epson Corp. Tintenpatrone und Tintenstrahldruckvorrichtung mit einer derartigen Tintenpatrone
US6811249B2 (en) * 2002-10-30 2004-11-02 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Method and apparatus for determining a minimum pressure to print

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EP1661712A1 (fr) 2006-05-31

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