EP3403829A1 - Procédé d'ouverture d'une buse obstruée - Google Patents

Procédé d'ouverture d'une buse obstruée Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3403829A1
EP3403829A1 EP18172746.2A EP18172746A EP3403829A1 EP 3403829 A1 EP3403829 A1 EP 3403829A1 EP 18172746 A EP18172746 A EP 18172746A EP 3403829 A1 EP3403829 A1 EP 3403829A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
print
print element
nozzle
liquid
electric
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Withdrawn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
EP18172746.2A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Guido J.M. LEJEUNE
Johannes A.T. Gollatz
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 Holding BV
Original Assignee
Oce Holding BV
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 Oce Holding BV filed Critical Oce Holding BV
Publication of EP3403829A1 publication Critical patent/EP3403829A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current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
    • B41J2/015—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process
    • B41J2/04—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand
    • B41J2/045—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand by pressure, e.g. electromechanical transducers
    • B41J2/04501—Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits
    • B41J2/0451—Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits for detecting failure, e.g. clogging, malfunctioning actuator
    • 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
    • B41J2/015—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process
    • B41J2/04—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand
    • B41J2/045—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand by pressure, e.g. electromechanical transducers
    • B41J2/04501—Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits
    • B41J2/04581—Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits controlling heads based on piezoelectric elements
    • 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
    • B41J2/1652—Cleaning of print head nozzles by driving a fluid through the nozzles to the outside thereof, e.g. by applying pressure to the inside or vacuum at the outside of the print head
    • B41J2/16526—Cleaning of print head nozzles by driving a fluid through the nozzles to the outside thereof, e.g. by applying pressure to the inside or vacuum at the outside of the print head by applying pressure only
    • 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
    • B41J2/16579—Detection means therefor, e.g. for nozzle clogging
    • 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
    • B41J2002/1657—Cleaning of only nozzles or print head parts being selected
    • 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
    • B41J2002/16573—Cleaning process logic, e.g. for determining type or order of cleaning processes

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method for actuating a print element in a print head comprising an array of print elements, a print element comprising a liquid, a nozzle, from which a drop of liquid is separable and a piezo-electric transducer for both converting an electric signal into an acoustic wave in the liquid and for converting an acoustic wave in the liquid into an electric signal to determine a status of the print element.
  • Print systems comprising an inkjet print process are known in a large number of varieties.
  • the generation of a drop of ink from a nozzle of a print element is substantial in these processes, whether a thermal or a piezo-electric type of print head is used, a print head comprising an array of print elements for discharging ink drops resulting in a row of ink dots parallel to the array of print elements when landing on a receiving medium.
  • a scanning print head or a page wide-array of print elements may be applied. In either case the print elements are moving relative to the receiving medium such that a row of ink dots in a direction of the movement occurs, in general perpendicular to the array of print elements.
  • a further important difference between the various inkjet print processes is in the type of ink that is used, which is e.g. water or solvent based, UV curable, hotmelt or any material that can be applied in a liquid form and solidifies after application, either spontaneously or advanced by a local physical condition, such as ultraviolet or infrared radiation, elevated or lowered temperature, air flow, etc.
  • a local physical condition such as ultraviolet or infrared radiation, elevated or lowered temperature, air flow, etc.
  • a print head may be flushed to open the clogged nozzles by increasing the ink pressure in the channels of the print head, but this takes time and wastes ink. Therefore a flushing operation is limited as much as possible.
  • the method according to the invention comprises the steps of: a) tracing a print element that does not generate a drop of liquid, despite being controlled to do so; b) actuating said print element with an electric signal that is adapted to an acoustic characteristic of the print element to deliver acoustic energy in the nozzle by using a frequency that is lower than a resonance frequency of the print element in an operable condition, and c) determining if said print element is operable.
  • a list is drawn up of print elements that do not generate an ink drop upon actuation to do so. It has been found that a prolonged actuation of a print element on the list with a signal that is not aiming to generate an ink drop, but to increase an amount of acoustic energy in the print element, helps to break down a possible obstruction in the print element. It is noted that this obstruction often affects the acoustic properties of the print element. Therefore, the electric signal is adapted in order to optimally apply acoustic energy in the nozzle. This actuation uses a lower frequency than a resonance frequency of the print element in an operable condition, since the acoustic properties of the print element are affected by an obstruction in the nozzle.
  • the amplitude of the actuation signal may be raised.
  • diminishing a frequency of the actuation signal thereby approaching a resonance frequency of the clogged print element advances the provision of acoustic energy at the obstruction and its gradual removal.
  • the tracing of a print element in step a occurs by actuating a number of nozzles according to a predetermined pattern and determining if the actuation has resulted in a dot on a receiving medium.
  • Optical means and image processing for finding a dot on a position associated with an actuated print element provide a reliable method for determining if a print element is operable. If no dot is found in the pattern, the print element is added to the list of failing print elements.
  • the predetermined pattern comprises any image wherein an amount of ink of a single print element can be discerned, including images in a print job.
  • the tracing of a print element in step a occurs by actuating a nozzle and determining its status from an electric response signal in the piezo-electric transducer as caused by an acoustic wave in the liquid of the print element. Analyzing the electric response pertaining an oscillation time or a damping factor indicates whether or not a nozzle is clogged. Typically, a clogged nozzle increases the damping of an acoustic wave and reduces its oscillation time relative to an open nozzle.
  • the actuation of a print element in step b occurs when the print head is capped in a maintenance station.
  • the actuation takes place over a prolonged time in order to gradually break down the obstruction in the nozzle. At some moment a nozzle may open and ink will come out of the print element. If the print head is capped, it will not pollute the print system.
  • the present invention may also be embodied in a print system comprising an inkjet print process and a control unit for controlling electric signals that are applied to a print head in said process, wherein the control unit is configured for executing a method as indicated above.
  • Figure 1 shows a schematic drawing of a print element 53, wherein the invented method is applied.
  • a nozzle 51 from which an ink drop is to be generated, is the end of an ink chamber 52, which is filled with ink.
  • An acoustic wave is generated in the ink when a piezo-electric element 58 is activated by providing an electric signal to electrode 57. If this acoustic wave is sufficiently strong, an ink drop is formed at the nozzle 51.
  • a membrane 56 separates the piezo-electric element 58 from the ink chamber 52.
  • the ink chamber 52 is connected to the ink channel 55 with restrictor 54, for separating an acoustic wave in the ink chamber 52 from the ink channel 55.
  • Print element 53 is one of an array of print elements connected to the ink channel 55.
  • Figure 2 shows an example of an electric signal 6 that is provided to electrode 57.
  • a voltage across the piezo-electric element is raised with a slope 7 up to a plateau 8.
  • the ink chamber expands.
  • the voltage is lowered with a slope 9 back to the rest situation voltage.
  • the height of the voltage, the steepness of the slope and the timing of the electric signal depend on the piezo-electric element and the acoustic properties of the ink chamber. If properly selected, an acoustic wave in the ink will result in an ink drop from the nozzle 51.
  • Whether or not a drop has emerged from the nozzle may be established by monitoring a corresponding ink dot on a substrate.
  • the condition of the nozzle is established by monitoring a response signal from the piezo-electric element 58, after the actuation signal 6 is finished.
  • Figure 3 shows an example of such response signal 10.
  • the response signal is much smaller than the actuation signal. It is a damped oscillation with a frequency close to the natural acoustic resonance frequency of the ink in the ink chamber 52. The damping and frequency of this signal characterize the condition of the nozzle.
  • Figure 4 shows two response signals 12 and 13.
  • Response signal 12 is the same as the one in Figure 3 and is shown for comparison.
  • Response signal 13 is characteristic for a clogged nozzle and has a lower frequency and a higher damping factor. Thus, a discrimination between the various conditions of a nozzle may be made based on this difference.
  • Figure 5 shows an actuation signal 15 that can be used to remove an obstruction in a clogged nozzle.
  • the signal has a lower frequency than the actuation signal and is adjusted to deliver a maximum energy at the obstruction in the nozzle.
  • the obstruction is gradually broken down.
  • this signal is applied when the print head is capped in a maintenance station (not shown), because in that case no ink will be spoiled when the nozzle opens.
  • a signal with a lower amplitude may also be used outside of the maintenance station, although it may take more time to remove the obstruction. In both cases, a regular verification of the nozzle condition is appropriate to determine if further activation is necessary.

Landscapes

  • Ink Jet (AREA)
  • Particle Formation And Scattering Control In Inkjet Printers (AREA)
EP18172746.2A 2017-05-18 2018-05-16 Procédé d'ouverture d'une buse obstruée Withdrawn EP3403829A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP17171782 2017-05-18

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3403829A1 true EP3403829A1 (fr) 2018-11-21

Family

ID=58715131

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP18172746.2A Withdrawn EP3403829A1 (fr) 2017-05-18 2018-05-16 Procédé d'ouverture d'une buse obstruée

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP3403829A1 (fr)

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1688261A1 (fr) * 2005-02-03 2006-08-09 Océ-Technologies B.V. Procédé pour la prévention de bulles d'air dans une imprimante par jet d'encre et imprimante par jet d'encre adaptée pour l'application du procédé
US20120206532A1 (en) * 2011-02-15 2012-08-16 Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. Error detection apparatus of inkjet printer head and error detection method thereof
US20150343763A1 (en) * 2014-05-28 2015-12-03 Seiko Epson Corporation Liquid ejecting apparatus, control method of liquid ejecting head, and control method of liquid ejecting apparatus
WO2016066728A1 (fr) * 2014-10-30 2016-05-06 Oce-Technologies B.V. Procédé de détection d'un état de fonctionnement d'une buse de tête d'impression à jet d'encre
WO2016113232A1 (fr) * 2015-01-13 2016-07-21 Oce-Technologies B.V. Procédé de détection d'un état de fonctionnement d'une buse à jet d'encre

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1688261A1 (fr) * 2005-02-03 2006-08-09 Océ-Technologies B.V. Procédé pour la prévention de bulles d'air dans une imprimante par jet d'encre et imprimante par jet d'encre adaptée pour l'application du procédé
US20120206532A1 (en) * 2011-02-15 2012-08-16 Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. Error detection apparatus of inkjet printer head and error detection method thereof
US20150343763A1 (en) * 2014-05-28 2015-12-03 Seiko Epson Corporation Liquid ejecting apparatus, control method of liquid ejecting head, and control method of liquid ejecting apparatus
WO2016066728A1 (fr) * 2014-10-30 2016-05-06 Oce-Technologies B.V. Procédé de détection d'un état de fonctionnement d'une buse de tête d'impression à jet d'encre
WO2016113232A1 (fr) * 2015-01-13 2016-07-21 Oce-Technologies B.V. Procédé de détection d'un état de fonctionnement d'une buse à jet d'encre

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