EP2532524A1 - Reinigungstechniken für Tintenstrahlpatronen - Google Patents

Reinigungstechniken für Tintenstrahlpatronen Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2532524A1
EP2532524A1 EP11169383A EP11169383A EP2532524A1 EP 2532524 A1 EP2532524 A1 EP 2532524A1 EP 11169383 A EP11169383 A EP 11169383A EP 11169383 A EP11169383 A EP 11169383A EP 2532524 A1 EP2532524 A1 EP 2532524A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
cartridge
inkjet cartridge
inkjet
print
head
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Withdrawn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
EP11169383A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Charalampos Michelakis
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.)
Rethink SA
Original Assignee
Rethink SA
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 Rethink SA filed Critical Rethink SA
Priority to EP11169383A priority Critical patent/EP2532524A1/de
Publication of EP2532524A1 publication Critical patent/EP2532524A1/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Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current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
    • B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
    • B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
    • B41J2/17503—Ink cartridges
    • B41J2/17559—Cartridge manufacturing

Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates to computer peripherals and more specifically to cleaning techniques used during remanufacturing computer printing consumables.
  • inkjet print cartridges also called inkjet cartridges or ink cartridges.
  • aspects of this invention relate to processes and devices for cleaning a used inkjet cartridge.
  • a method is provided for cleaning an inkjet cartridge by forcing circulation of ultra-clean water in the inkjet cartridge chamber.
  • ultra-clean water is used in the present disclosure to describe water that has a conductivity value that is lower than five micro Siemens (5 ⁇ S).
  • a device for causing the circulation of ultra-clean water in the inkjet chamber.
  • the proposed device has means for injecting ultra-clean water through the upper part of an inkjet cartridge, through ventilation holes of the inkjet chamber.
  • the proposed device further comprises means for sucking wastewater through the lower part of the cartridge, through the print-head nozzles. For the latter to take place, special adaptors have been developed that attach to the print-head and exercise negative pressure (suction) to the inkjet chamber.
  • the water flowing through the lower part is visually inspected as it flows through means for inspecting, such as transparent piping.
  • the pH value of the wastewater is measured and the cleaning process continues until the measured pH value is within a predefined range assuring that the inkjet cartridge has been sufficiently cleaned.
  • the measured pH value is fed to a controller that controls operation of the cleaning device and terminates the cleaning process when the measured pH value is within a predefined range.
  • atomised water i.e. a mix of water and compressed air resulting in water droplets of very small dimensions, is sprayed on the print-head, further contributing to a print-head completely free of ink or any other residues.
  • an inkjet cartridge is inserted in a spinner after being cleaned with ultra-clean water. It is spinned at 800 rpm with the print-head looking outwards so that the water is force-ejected through centrifugal power.
  • FIG. 1 is a lower perspective view of an inkjet cartridge.
  • FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the inkjet cartridge of FIG. 1 .
  • FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a method of cleaning an inkjet cartridge according to an exemplary embodiment.
  • FIG. 4 is a cross section view of a cartridge cleaning device according to another exemplary embodiment.
  • FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an inkjet cartridge cleaning system (ICCS) according to another exemplary embodiment.
  • ICCS inkjet cartridge cleaning system
  • FIG. 1 is a lower perspective view of inkjet cartridge 10.
  • Inkjet cartridge 10 includes print-head 12 located at the bottom of cartridge 10 below an ink holding chamber (not shown).
  • Print-head 12 includes a nozzle plate 16 with two arrays 18, 20 of ink ejection nozzles 22. In the embodiment shown, each array 18, 20 is a single row of nozzles 22.
  • Flexible circuit 28 carries electrical traces from external contact pads 30 to firing resistors (not shown) positioned behind ink ejection nozzles 22.
  • FIG. 2 is a top plan view of inkjet cartridge 10 of FIG. 1 . Openings 48 and 49 formed in cover 40 are covered by a label or other suitable adhesive sheet 50. Ventilation openings 48 are exposed to the atmosphere through circuitous tunnels 52. Each tunnel 52, commonly referred to as a labyrinth, is formed by a recess in the top of cover 40 that extends past the edge of label 50. Labyrinths, which are well known in the art of inkjet printing, are commonly used for venting ink cartridges to slow the rate of evaporation.
  • FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating method 100 of cleaning an inkjet cartridge according to an exemplary embodiment.
  • a water pump is connected to the upper part of the inkjet cartridge, the inkjet cartridge being placed in a cartridge cleaning configuration, through openings, such as openings 48 and/or 49 of FIG. 1 , and a draining apparatus, such as a negative low pressure pneumatic pump system, is attached to the print-head at the lower part of the inkjet cartridge.
  • ultra-clean water is injected from upper-part openings, such as openings 48 and/or 49 shown in FIG. 2 , with the use of the water pump.
  • wastewater is sucked through nozzles, such as nozzles 22 of FIG.
  • Transparent tex plastic piping may be used for that purpose.
  • both the water pump and the draining apparatus are removed from the inkjet cartridge cleaning configuration, as described in step 145.
  • atomized water is sprayed to the nozzles.
  • step 160 the inkjet cartridge is spinned at 800rpm to force wastewater out.
  • step 170 dry air is inserted in the cartridge until the cartridge is completely dry.
  • step 180 the cartridge is refilled.
  • FIG. 4 is a cross section view of cartridge cleaning device 200 according to another exemplary embodiment.
  • Cartridge cleaning device 200 includes cartridge cleaning configuration 205 and draining apparatus 250 connected with pipe 245.
  • Cartridge cleaning configuration 205 includes cartridge clip 220 secured to the surface of hard board 230.
  • Hard board 230 may be a wooden board although any hard penetratable material may be used.
  • bore 235 is opened with a piercing tool, such as a drill. Bore 235 is opened exactly where inkjet cartridge's print-head 237 is typically attached to cartridge clip 220 and is extended all the way through hard board 230. Any type of piercing tool that can open a bore, such as bore 235, may be used.
  • inkjet cartridge 210 is attached to cartridge clip 220.
  • Inkjet cartridge 210 includes cover 212 and openings 214. From at least one of the openings 214, needle 216, such as a syringe type needle, is inserted. Needle 216 is attached to one end of pipe 218. Pipe 218 is attached at the other end to a water pump (not shown). The water pump is attached to an ultra-clean water purification system that provides the water pump with ultra-clean water having a conductivity value that is less than 5 micro Siemens.
  • connector 240 is attached to hard board 230, at the opposite opening of bore 235.
  • Pipe 245 is attached to connector 240 at one end.
  • Pipe 245 may be a transparent pipe allowing visual inspection of wastewater flowing through the pipe.
  • draining apparatus 250 is attached. Compressed air is inserted through pipe 260 and wastewater is drained through pipe 265.
  • Ultra clean water having a conductivity value that is lower than five micro Siemens (5 ⁇ S) flows from the water pump to pipe 218. Then, through needle 216, ultra clean water floods inkjet cartridge 210. Wastewater is free to overflow inkjet cartridge 210 through openings 214. At the same time, draining apparatus 250 sucks wastewater. This creates a path that allows water to flow through the print-head. Pipe 245 may be used for wastewater visual inspection. Once the wastewater is sufficiently clean, then the cleaning process ends and inkjet cartridge 210 is removed from cartridge clip 220.
  • 5 ⁇ S five micro Siemens
  • a pH meter may be employed at some point either before the draining apparatus or after.
  • a pH value of ultra-clean water is substantially different from that of water contaminated with ink.
  • the pH meter may be stand alone or differential.
  • a reference value is compared and when deviation from the reference value is within a predefined acceptable range the cleaning process is considered complete.
  • differential reading a pH reading of the ultra-clean water is compared to a pH reading of the wastewater at the output. When the difference is within a predefined acceptable range the cleaning process is considered complete.
  • FIG. 5 is a block diagram of inkjet cartridge cleaning system (ICCS) 500 according to another exemplary embodiment.
  • ICCS 500 includes cartridge cleaning device 510, similar to cartridge cleaning device 200 of FIG. 4 .
  • Cartridge cleaning device 510 includes cartridge cleaning configuration 515 and draining apparatus 520, corresponding to cartridge cleaning configuration 205 and draining apparatus 250 of FIG. 4 , respectively.
  • Cartridge cleaning device 510 is connected at one end to water pump 530.
  • Water pump 530 is connected at one end to cartridge cleaning device 510 and at the other end to water purification system 540.
  • Water purification system 540 receives water from the tap and provides ultra clean water to water pump 530.
  • Water pump 530 and draining apparatus 520 are controlled by a controller, such as controller 560.
  • Cartridge cleaning device 510 is connected at the other end to a pH meter, such as pH meter 550.
  • pH meter 550 may be connected to controller 560 to provide pH values that correspond to the quality of the wastewater.
  • Controller 560 receives pH values from pH meter and instructs water pump 530 and draining apparatus 520 to terminate operation when a pH value received is within a predefined desired range suggesting that the quality of the wastewater is such as to assume that the inkjet cartridge has been sufficiently cleaned.
  • the method of and device for cleaning inkjet cartridges has been described in relation to an inkjet cartridge having one chamber, which is typically a one colour cartridge.
  • the same method and device can be used to clean a multi-colour, typically tri-colour, cartridge having a plurality of chambers, one for each colour.
  • the high-pressure pump system is connected to each chamber with at least one needle inserted in each chamber.
  • inkjet cartridge 10 is used as an example. Any other inkjet cartridge having substantially at least an inkjet chamber, a print-head with nozzles and a cover with ventilation openings may be cleaned with the proposed method.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Ink Jet (AREA)
EP11169383A 2011-06-09 2011-06-09 Reinigungstechniken für Tintenstrahlpatronen Withdrawn EP2532524A1 (de)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP11169383A EP2532524A1 (de) 2011-06-09 2011-06-09 Reinigungstechniken für Tintenstrahlpatronen

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP11169383A EP2532524A1 (de) 2011-06-09 2011-06-09 Reinigungstechniken für Tintenstrahlpatronen

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2532524A1 true EP2532524A1 (de) 2012-12-12

Family

ID=44802580

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP11169383A Withdrawn EP2532524A1 (de) 2011-06-09 2011-06-09 Reinigungstechniken für Tintenstrahlpatronen

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2532524A1 (de)

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5563636A (en) 1992-05-04 1996-10-08 Hewlett-Packard Company On-line/off-line primer for ink jet cartridge
US5933175A (en) * 1996-08-05 1999-08-03 Hewlett-Packard Company Bottom fill inkjet cartridge through bubble generator
EP1013446A2 (de) * 1998-12-22 2000-06-28 Seiko Epson Corporation Wiederverwertung einer Tintenpatrone
US20040066429A1 (en) * 2002-10-07 2004-04-08 Yoel Wazana Resealed ink cartridge and method of manufacture
EP1867454A1 (de) * 1999-05-14 2007-12-19 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Verfahren zur Wiederverwendung von Kunststoffen
US7802859B2 (en) 2006-10-30 2010-09-28 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Refilling a used ink cartridge

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5563636A (en) 1992-05-04 1996-10-08 Hewlett-Packard Company On-line/off-line primer for ink jet cartridge
US5933175A (en) * 1996-08-05 1999-08-03 Hewlett-Packard Company Bottom fill inkjet cartridge through bubble generator
EP1013446A2 (de) * 1998-12-22 2000-06-28 Seiko Epson Corporation Wiederverwertung einer Tintenpatrone
EP1867454A1 (de) * 1999-05-14 2007-12-19 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Verfahren zur Wiederverwendung von Kunststoffen
US20040066429A1 (en) * 2002-10-07 2004-04-08 Yoel Wazana Resealed ink cartridge and method of manufacture
US7802859B2 (en) 2006-10-30 2010-09-28 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Refilling a used ink cartridge

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