EP1944169B1 - Improvements in or relating to continuous inkjet printers - Google Patents

Improvements in or relating to continuous inkjet printers Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1944169B1
EP1944169B1 EP08250146.1A EP08250146A EP1944169B1 EP 1944169 B1 EP1944169 B1 EP 1944169B1 EP 08250146 A EP08250146 A EP 08250146A EP 1944169 B1 EP1944169 B1 EP 1944169B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
solenoid valve
solenoid
printer
continuous inkjet
current draw
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.)
Revoked
Application number
EP08250146.1A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1944169A3 (en
EP1944169A2 (en
Inventor
Andrew Robert Lester
Alexander Hadley
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.)
Domino Printing Sciences PLC
Original Assignee
Domino Printing Sciences PLC
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
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Application filed by Domino Printing Sciences PLC filed Critical Domino Printing Sciences PLC
Publication of EP1944169A2 publication Critical patent/EP1944169A2/en
Publication of EP1944169A3 publication Critical patent/EP1944169A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1944169B1 publication Critical patent/EP1944169B1/en
Revoked legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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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
    • B41J2/17596—Ink pumps, ink valves
    • 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
    • B41J2/18—Ink recirculation systems
    • 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
    • B41J29/00—Details of, or accessories for, typewriters or selective printing mechanisms not otherwise provided for
    • B41J29/38—Drives, motors, controls or automatic cut-off devices for the entire printing mechanism

Definitions

  • This invention relates to continuous inkjet (CIJ) printers and more particularly, though not necessarily solely, to CIJ printers used in industrial and/or commercial marking and coding applications.
  • CIJ continuous inkjet
  • a typical CIJ printer has an ink supply system having a number of functions.
  • the system provides for ink to be drawn from a reservoir and supplied to the printhead. It also provides for unprinted ink to be re-circulated and, if necessary, supplemented with make-up fluid to maintain the ink at the correct viscosity for printing.
  • the system may also provide for make-up fluid to be circulated through the system for cleaning or flushing purposes.
  • solenoid valves It is both convenient and typical to control the flow of fluids through the ink supply system by means of solenoid valves, and a typical CIJ printer will have up to eight solenoid valves controlling various printer functions.
  • the correct operation of these solenoid valves is critical to the performance of the printer and thus checks must be incorporated in the system to ensure the solenoid valves are operational as signalled by the controlling electronics. These checks also play their part in diagnosing faults in the printer.
  • checks on solenoid valve operation have typically been conducted by monitoring various downstream parameters. For example, by monitoring ink pressure it is possible to establish if an ink supply valve is open or not. Similarly monitoring the presence of wet ink in the gutter at particular times can indicate if a valve is open at the correct time, and monitoring ink viscosity can indicate whether a valve which operates to mix ink and make-up fluid, is functioning correctly.
  • EP 0 065 103 A discloses a continuous inkjet printer having a solenoid. Current flowing through the coil is measured to set the value of a variable resistor.
  • the invention provides a method of monitoring solenoid valve operation in a continuous inkjet printer, said method being characterised in that it includes the step of detecting the presence of current draw by said solenoid valve.
  • said method comprises detecting the presence of current draw as said solenoid valve is opened.
  • said method is applied to a printer having a plurality of solenoid valves, said method including using a single sensing circuit to detect the current draw as any of said plurality of solenoid valves is opened.
  • said method further comprises identifying the operation of a particular one of said plurality of solenoid valves by associating the timing of a detection of current draw by said sensing circuit with the timing of a particular operating command associated with said particular solenoid valve.
  • Said method may also further comprise monitoring current flow in said solenoid valve to thereby determine when said valve is closed.
  • the invention provides a continuous inkjet printer having at least one solenoid valve to control a function within said printer, said printer being characterised in that it includes sensing means operable to detect the presence of current draw by said solenoid valve.
  • said sensing means is operable to detect the presence of current draw as said solenoid valve is opened.
  • said printer includes a plurality of solenoid valves, said sensing means including a single sensing circuit to detect the current draw as any of said plurality of solenoid valves is opened.
  • said printer further includes identification means operable to identify the operation of a particular one of said plurality of solenoid valves by associating the timing of a detection of current draw by said sensing circuit with the timing of a particular operating command associated with said particular solenoid valve.
  • Said printer may further include a facility to monitor current flow in said solenoid valve to thereby determine when said valve is closed.
  • the present invention provides a low-cost effective means of determining solenoid valve operation in a CIJ printer.
  • the essence of the invention is that solenoid valve operation is monitored directly by the solenoid driver electronics, in contrast to monitoring parameters downstream of the solenoid valve which could indicate if the valve is defective.
  • the invention relies on the assumption that a solenoid valve will be operating correctly providing the solenoid coil draws a current. In most instances this assumption will be true.
  • a CIJ printer has a number of solenoid valves, each of which controls or influences different machine functions. Whilst the inventive concept described herein could be applied to each individual solenoid valve, in the preferred embodiment described, all solenoid valves are driven from a single source having a single detection circuit. In this way the invention can be implemented efficiently and at low cost.
  • FIG. 1 a control circuit is shown having two solenoid valves incorporated therein. It will be appreciated, however, that more than two solenoid valves can be incorporated and, indeed, a CIJ printer manufactured by the applicant typically has eight solenoid valves driven and controlled in the manner described.
  • Solenoid valves 1, 2 etc are turned on via the 24V supply and thereafter maintained on via the 12V supply. The extra power provided by the 24V supply is required to bring the solenoids into operation but the 12V supply is sufficient to hold the solenoid on once pulled in.
  • a sense resistor R sense is placed in circuit from the 24V supply such that when turned on via the 24V supply all solenoid valves derive their power via this resistor.
  • Each solenoid valve only needs to be powered for a short duration via the 24V supply for it to operate. Opening of each solenoid valve is effected by biasing on the appropriate HIT ENABLE transistor, and also the appropriate LOW SIDE ENABLE to sink current to ground. Typically a period of 30mS is sufficient to operate each solenoid.
  • the solenoid valve is maintained on by maintaining the LOW side enable transistor on. In this configuration current is drawn only from the 12V supply through the diode D.
  • An identical control (HOLD) circuit is provided for each solenoid.
  • the diodes (D1 etc) are provided to prevent connection between the 12V and 24V supplies (the 24V would otherwise connect directly to the 12V supply via the hit enable transistors and result in possible damage to the power supplies).
  • R sense circuit Details of the R sense circuit are not shown in the circuit diagram but will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Various well known methods may be used for this function and these include the use of a comparator or the use of a transistor biased on by the voltage drop across the current sense resistor.
  • the R sense circuit monitors current in the 24v supply and preferably outputs a pulse every time the total draw increases, as occurs when a solenoid valve is opened.
  • the timing of these output pulses can be compared with expected events within the printer operation to identify a particular solenoid valve either operating correctly, or malfunctioning. This is advantageously effected digitally with each pulse being latched into a register within the operating device, e.g. an FPGA, which can be read by the operating software. So when the software commands a solenoid valve to open, it can then look to the register to see if a pulse of current was drawn by the R sense circuit.
  • a further enhancement of this system could include current sensing which would detect too much current as well as no (or not sufficient) current. This would use two current sensing circuits each of which are configured to sense either more than or less than a predicted voltage drop across R sense .
  • the present invention provides a method and/or apparatus which provides an effective low-cost means of monitoring solenoid valve operation in a continuous inkjet printer.

Landscapes

  • Ink Jet (AREA)
  • Magnetically Actuated Valves (AREA)

Description

    Field of the Invention
  • This invention relates to continuous inkjet (CIJ) printers and more particularly, though not necessarily solely, to CIJ printers used in industrial and/or commercial marking and coding applications.
    • Background to the Invention
  • A typical CIJ printer has an ink supply system having a number of functions. The system provides for ink to be drawn from a reservoir and supplied to the printhead. It also provides for unprinted ink to be re-circulated and, if necessary, supplemented with make-up fluid to maintain the ink at the correct viscosity for printing. The system may also provide for make-up fluid to be circulated through the system for cleaning or flushing purposes.
  • It is both convenient and typical to control the flow of fluids through the ink supply system by means of solenoid valves, and a typical CIJ printer will have up to eight solenoid valves controlling various printer functions. The correct operation of these solenoid valves is critical to the performance of the printer and thus checks must be incorporated in the system to ensure the solenoid valves are operational as signalled by the controlling electronics. These checks also play their part in diagnosing faults in the printer.
  • In the past, checks on solenoid valve operation have typically been conducted by monitoring various downstream parameters. For example, by monitoring ink pressure it is possible to establish if an ink supply valve is open or not. Similarly monitoring the presence of wet ink in the gutter at particular times can indicate if a valve is open at the correct time, and monitoring ink viscosity can indicate whether a valve which operates to mix ink and make-up fluid, is functioning correctly.
  • Systems which monitor these downstream parameters require the provision of various sensors. In the examples outlined above the system would require a pressure sensor, a capacitive or conductive sensor, and a viscometer. Providing these sensors adds cost and complexity and the sensors, in themselves, comprise further components which can malfunction.
  • It is an object of this invention to provide a method and/or apparatus which will go at least some way in addressing the aforementioned problems; or which will at least offer a novel and useful alternative.
  • EP 0 065 103 A discloses a continuous inkjet printer having a solenoid. Current flowing through the coil is measured to set the value of a variable resistor.
    • Summary of the Invention
  • Accordingly, in one aspect, the invention provides a method of monitoring solenoid valve operation in a continuous inkjet printer, said method being characterised in that it includes the step of detecting the presence of current draw by said solenoid valve.
  • Preferably said method comprises detecting the presence of current draw as said solenoid valve is opened.
  • Preferably said method is applied to a printer having a plurality of solenoid valves, said method including using a single sensing circuit to detect the current draw as any of said plurality of solenoid valves is opened.
  • Preferably said method further comprises identifying the operation of a particular one of said plurality of solenoid valves by associating the timing of a detection of current draw by said sensing circuit with the timing of a particular operating command associated with said particular solenoid valve.
  • Said method may also further comprise monitoring current flow in said solenoid valve to thereby determine when said valve is closed.
  • In a second aspect the invention provides a continuous inkjet printer having at least one solenoid valve to control a function within said printer, said printer being characterised in that it includes sensing means operable to detect the presence of current draw by said solenoid valve.
  • Preferably said sensing means is operable to detect the presence of current draw as said solenoid valve is opened.
  • Preferably said printer includes a plurality of solenoid valves, said sensing means including a single sensing circuit to detect the current draw as any of said plurality of solenoid valves is opened.
  • Preferably said printer further includes identification means operable to identify the operation of a particular one of said plurality of solenoid valves by associating the timing of a detection of current draw by said sensing circuit with the timing of a particular operating command associated with said particular solenoid valve.
  • Said printer may further include a facility to monitor current flow in said solenoid valve to thereby determine when said valve is closed.
  • Many variations in the way the present invention can be performed will present themselves to those skilled in the art. The description which follows is intended as an illustration only of one means of performing the invention and the lack of description of variants or equivalents should not be regarded as limiting. Wherever possible, a description of a specific element should be deemed to include any and all equivalents thereof whether in existence now or in the future.
    • Brief Description of the drawings
  • An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:
    • Figure 1:
    shows, schematically, a circuit for determining solenoid valve operation in a continuous inkjet printer
    Description of Working Embodiment
  • The present invention provides a low-cost effective means of determining solenoid valve operation in a CIJ printer. The essence of the invention is that solenoid valve operation is monitored directly by the solenoid driver electronics, in contrast to monitoring parameters downstream of the solenoid valve which could indicate if the valve is defective.
  • The invention relies on the assumption that a solenoid valve will be operating correctly providing the solenoid coil draws a current. In most instances this assumption will be true.
  • Typically a CIJ printer has a number of solenoid valves, each of which controls or influences different machine functions. Whilst the inventive concept described herein could be applied to each individual solenoid valve, in the preferred embodiment described, all solenoid valves are driven from a single source having a single detection circuit. In this way the invention can be implemented efficiently and at low cost.
  • Referring now to Figure 1, a control circuit is shown having two solenoid valves incorporated therein. It will be appreciated, however, that more than two solenoid valves can be incorporated and, indeed, a CIJ printer manufactured by the applicant typically has eight solenoid valves driven and controlled in the manner described.
  • Two voltages are used in the solenoid control circuit shown. Solenoid valves 1, 2 etc are turned on via the 24V supply and thereafter maintained on via the 12V supply. The extra power provided by the 24V supply is required to bring the solenoids into operation but the 12V supply is sufficient to hold the solenoid on once pulled in.
  • A sense resistor Rsense is placed in circuit from the 24V supply such that when turned on via the 24V supply all solenoid valves derive their power via this resistor. Each solenoid valve only needs to be powered for a short duration via the 24V supply for it to operate. Opening of each solenoid valve is effected by biasing on the appropriate HIT ENABLE transistor, and also the appropriate LOW SIDE ENABLE to sink current to ground. Typically a period of 30mS is sufficient to operate each solenoid.
  • Once pulled in, the solenoid valve is maintained on by maintaining the LOW side enable transistor on. In this configuration current is drawn only from the 12V supply through the diode D.
  • It will be appreciated that current is only drawn via Rsense during the tum-on period of the solenoid and hence sensing of the solenoid current may only be made during the turn-on period. This feature allows the same sensing circuit to be used to sense current for all solenoids as they are each turned on during different time slots.
  • An identical control (HOLD) circuit is provided for each solenoid. The diodes (D1 etc) are provided to prevent connection between the 12V and 24V supplies (the 24V would otherwise connect directly to the 12V supply via the hit enable transistors and result in possible damage to the power supplies).
  • Details of the Rsense circuit are not shown in the circuit diagram but will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Various well known methods may be used for this function and these include the use of a comparator or the use of a transistor biased on by the voltage drop across the current sense resistor.
  • The Rsense circuit monitors current in the 24v supply and preferably outputs a pulse every time the total draw increases, as occurs when a solenoid valve is opened. The timing of these output pulses can be compared with expected events within the printer operation to identify a particular solenoid valve either operating correctly, or malfunctioning. This is advantageously effected digitally with each pulse being latched into a register within the operating device, e.g. an FPGA, which can be read by the operating software. So when the software commands a solenoid valve to open, it can then look to the register to see if a pulse of current was drawn by the Rsense circuit.
  • Further routines may be included in the printer operating system which would check the state of the solenoid valves at various times and compare them to their expected states.
  • If a malfunction in any of the solenoid valves is detected this is signalled to the operator and possibly used to initiate a shut-down of the printing system, depending on the significance of the malfunction.
  • A further enhancement of this system could include current sensing which would detect too much current as well as no (or not sufficient) current. This would use two current sensing circuits each of which are configured to sense either more than or less than a predicted voltage drop across Rsense.
  • It will thus be appreciated that the present invention, at least in the case of the working embodiment herein described, provides a method and/or apparatus which provides an effective low-cost means of monitoring solenoid valve operation in a continuous inkjet printer.

Claims (10)

  1. A method of monitoring solenoid valve operation in a continuous inkjet printer, said method being characterised in that it includes the step of detecting the presence of current draw by said solenoid valve.
  2. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising detecting the presence of current draw as said solenoid valve is opened.
  3. A method as claimed in claim 2 when applied to a printer having a plurality of solenoid valves, said method including using a single sensing circuit to detect the current draw as any of said plurality of solenoid valves is opened.
  4. A method as claimed in claim 3 further comprising identifying the operation of a particular one of said plurality of solenoid valves by associating the timing of a detection of current draw by said sensing circuit with the timing of a particular operating command associated with said particular solenoid valve.
  5. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 further comprising monitoring current flow in said solenoid valve to thereby determine when said valve is closed.
  6. A continuous inkjet printer having at least one solenoid valve to control a function within said printer, said printer being characterised in that it includes sensing means operable to detect the presence of current draw by said solenoid valve, in order to monitor operation of said solenoid valve.
  7. A continuous inkjet printer as claimed in claim 6 wherein said sensing means is operable to detect the presence of current draw as said solenoid valve is opened.
  8. A continuous inkjet printer as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7 including a plurality of solenoid valves, said sensing means including a single sensing circuit to detect the current draw as any of said plurality of solenoid valves is opened.
  9. A continuous inkjet printer as claimed in claim 8 further including identification means operable to identify the operation of a particular one of said plurality of solenoid valves by associating the timing of a detection of current draw by said sensing circuit with the timing of a particular operating command associated with said particular solenoid valve.
  10. A continuous inkjet printer as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 9 further including a facility to monitor current flow in said solenoid valve to thereby determine when said valve is closed.
EP08250146.1A 2007-01-12 2008-01-11 Improvements in or relating to continuous inkjet printers Revoked EP1944169B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0700582A GB0700582D0 (en) 2007-01-12 2007-01-12 Improvements in or relating to continuous inkjet printers

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1944169A2 EP1944169A2 (en) 2008-07-16
EP1944169A3 EP1944169A3 (en) 2009-03-11
EP1944169B1 true EP1944169B1 (en) 2015-07-08

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EP08250146.1A Revoked EP1944169B1 (en) 2007-01-12 2008-01-11 Improvements in or relating to continuous inkjet printers

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GB (1) GB0700582D0 (en)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8649150B2 (en) 2010-11-01 2014-02-11 Videojet Technologies Inc. Solenoid protection circuit

Citations (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0065103A2 (en) 1981-05-15 1982-11-24 International Business Machines Corporation Methods of operating an electro-magnetic transducer and apparatus therefor
EP0080785A2 (en) 1981-12-02 1983-06-08 Western Electric Company, Incorporated Parallel/series error correction circuit
US4661766A (en) 1985-12-23 1987-04-28 Caterpillar Inc. Dual current sensing driver circuit
GB2206754A (en) 1987-07-01 1989-01-11 Printronix Inc Protection circuit for printer
US4848725A (en) 1988-01-04 1989-07-18 Interface, Inc. Valve construction
US4928111A (en) 1988-12-01 1990-05-22 Willett International Limited Method for operating a valve
US5021955A (en) 1987-12-25 1991-06-04 Aisin Aw Kabushiki Kaisha Electronic controller for automatic transmission
US5204802A (en) 1988-11-23 1993-04-20 Datacard Corporation Method and apparatus for driving and controlling an improved solenoid impact printer
US5621604A (en) 1993-01-12 1997-04-15 Siliconix, Inc. PWM multiplexed solenoid driver
US20010023876A1 (en) 2000-03-23 2001-09-27 Nordson Corporation Electrically operated viscous fluid dispensing apparatus and method
GB2367962A (en) 2000-10-14 2002-04-17 Trw Ltd A single current sensor for several solenoids in a hydraulic braking system
US20060098060A1 (en) 2002-07-11 2006-05-11 Horsnell David A Device and method of operation

Patent Citations (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0065103A2 (en) 1981-05-15 1982-11-24 International Business Machines Corporation Methods of operating an electro-magnetic transducer and apparatus therefor
EP0080785A2 (en) 1981-12-02 1983-06-08 Western Electric Company, Incorporated Parallel/series error correction circuit
US4661766A (en) 1985-12-23 1987-04-28 Caterpillar Inc. Dual current sensing driver circuit
GB2206754A (en) 1987-07-01 1989-01-11 Printronix Inc Protection circuit for printer
US5021955A (en) 1987-12-25 1991-06-04 Aisin Aw Kabushiki Kaisha Electronic controller for automatic transmission
US4848725B1 (en) 1988-01-04 1990-09-25 Interface Inc
US4848725A (en) 1988-01-04 1989-07-18 Interface, Inc. Valve construction
US5204802A (en) 1988-11-23 1993-04-20 Datacard Corporation Method and apparatus for driving and controlling an improved solenoid impact printer
US4928111A (en) 1988-12-01 1990-05-22 Willett International Limited Method for operating a valve
US5621604A (en) 1993-01-12 1997-04-15 Siliconix, Inc. PWM multiplexed solenoid driver
US20010023876A1 (en) 2000-03-23 2001-09-27 Nordson Corporation Electrically operated viscous fluid dispensing apparatus and method
GB2367962A (en) 2000-10-14 2002-04-17 Trw Ltd A single current sensor for several solenoids in a hydraulic braking system
US20060098060A1 (en) 2002-07-11 2006-05-11 Horsnell David A Device and method of operation

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
NOTICE DE ST L 298, 2000

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0700582D0 (en) 2007-02-21
EP1944169A3 (en) 2009-03-11
EP1944169A2 (en) 2008-07-16

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