EP3450177B1 - Station de nettoyage pour une station d'impression directe - Google Patents

Station de nettoyage pour une station d'impression directe Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3450177B1
EP3450177B1 EP18170331.5A EP18170331A EP3450177B1 EP 3450177 B1 EP3450177 B1 EP 3450177B1 EP 18170331 A EP18170331 A EP 18170331A EP 3450177 B1 EP3450177 B1 EP 3450177B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
cleaning
heads
nozzle
head
direct printing
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
EP18170331.5A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP3450177A1 (fr
Inventor
Viktor Gette
Josef Schindler
Dr. Johannes Regensburger
Christian Hajek
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.)
Krones AG
Original Assignee
Krones AG
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Filing date
Publication date
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Publication of EP3450177A1 publication Critical patent/EP3450177A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
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Active 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
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/165—Prevention or detection of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
    • B41J2/16517—Cleaning of print head nozzles
    • B41J2/16552—Cleaning of print head nozzles using cleaning fluids
    • 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
    • B41J2/16505—Caps, spittoons or covers for cleaning or preventing drying out
    • B41J2/16508—Caps, spittoons or covers for cleaning or preventing drying out connected with the printer frame
    • B41J2/16511—Constructions for cap positioning
    • B41J2/16514—Constructions for cap positioning creating a distance between cap and printhead, e.g. for suction or pressurising
    • 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
    • B41J2/16532—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 vacuum 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
    • B41J2/16517—Cleaning of print head nozzles
    • B41J2/16535—Cleaning of print head nozzles using wiping constructions
    • 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
    • B41J3/00—Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed
    • B41J3/407—Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed for marking on special material
    • B41J3/4073—Printing on three-dimensional objects not being in sheet or web form, e.g. spherical or cubic objects
    • 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
    • B41J2/16552—Cleaning of print head nozzles using cleaning fluids
    • B41J2002/16555—Air or gas for cleaning

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a direct printing station according to the preamble of claim 1, as known from U.S. 2015/0062240 A1 .
  • Print heads for inkjet direct printing on containers generally have a large number of fine print nozzles which have to be cleaned at regular intervals to ensure perfect print images on the containers to be printed.
  • a cleaning station which is mounted in the area of a direct printing machine in order to clean print heads on the direct printing machine. Up to two print heads, which are mounted horizontally on top of each other, can be moved to the cleaning station and cleaned at the same time. The print heads are then sprayed with a cleaning fluid, for example, which is wiped off the print nozzles with a wiper lip and sucked off, and the cleaning fluid thus removed is collected with ink residues and finally pumped out.
  • a cleaning fluid for example, which is wiped off the print nozzles with a wiper lip and sucked off
  • the problem here is that, in particular when sucking off cleaning liquid and ink residues, a comparatively precise distance has to be used in order to avoid both damage to the printing nozzles and ink being sucked out of the printing nozzles. Furthermore, the spraying of the print heads usually leads to contamination in the vicinity of the cleaning station and/or print heads due to spray mist and/or splashes of ink residue.
  • a maintenance cap for an inkjet print head which is positioned under the downward-pointing array of nozzles of the print head and comprises a vacuum nozzle for sucking off ink residues present there and a drip tray arranged underneath.
  • the vacuum nozzle is pressed against the print head by means of a swivel mechanism and kept at a distance from the nozzle array by means of spacer rollers when the maintenance cap is pulled back along the print head at the end of a cleaning cycle.
  • a direct printing station comprises at least one cleaning head, which can be moved in particular vertically with respect to at least one print head of the direct printing station, for cleaning the print head
  • the cleaning head includes a cleaning nozzle for ejecting a cleaning liquid and a suction nozzle for sucking the cleaning liquid from the print head.
  • the cleaning head also comprises at least one spacer roller, which protrudes in particular beyond the suction nozzle towards the print head, for maintaining a minimum distance between the suction nozzle and the print head.
  • the suction nozzle is arranged above the cleaning nozzle.
  • the minimum distance can be set with the help of the spacer roller so that excess ink residues and cleaning liquid are sucked off at the edge of the print nozzles and/or in between without additionally sucking ink out of the print nozzles. Consequently, the cleaning effect can also be optimized.
  • the print head includes a nozzle plate, which may also be foil-like, with the printing nozzles and a dimensionally stable enclosure made of metal, in particular stainless steel, for the nozzle plate.
  • the print head also sits in a non-stick coated print head plate.
  • the spacer roll preferably rolls on the dimensionally stable frame and thus maintains a defined suction distance between the suction nozzle and the pressure nozzles. The defined extraction distance prevents damage and, in particular, scratching of the print head.
  • the minimum distance during suction is preferably 0.1 to 0.2 mm.
  • the maximum distance during suction is preferably 0.3 to 0.5 mm.
  • the spacer roller preferably protrudes beyond the suction nozzle.
  • the skirt could protrude beyond the nozzle plate of the printhead.
  • the print head can be moved with the print head plate preferably under a predetermined contact pressure against the spacer roller in the direction of the suction nozzle.
  • the spacer roller thus remains in constant contact with the print head during suction and simultaneous vertical movement of the cleaning head.
  • the cleaning head also includes an inwardly elastically flexible mounting for the suction nozzle and the spacer roller.
  • Suction nozzle and spacer roller are then preferably part of an assembly that is resiliently compressed into the cleaning head. This promotes constant contact of the spacer roller with the print head, even if the cleaning station is not ideally orthogonally adjusted with respect to the print head, if there are manufacturing tolerances or the like.
  • the flexible mounting facilitates the pressing of the print head against the spacer roller with a suitable pressing force, which also reliable contact of the spacer roller with the print head and a gentle relative movement of the cleaning station and the print head to each other.
  • the cleaning head preferably also comprises a linear guide for the suction nozzle and the spacer roller, which is aligned away from/towards the print head and in particular horizontally.
  • the suction nozzle and the spacer roller can then be displaced as part of a common assembly by means of the linear guide.
  • the suction nozzle can be moved over the pressure nozzles at a reproducible and controllable distance.
  • the cleaning head comprises a wiping lip for the cleaning liquid, which is arranged between the suction nozzle and the cleaning nozzle.
  • the wiper lip enables the printhead plate and the mechanically stable surround of the nozzle plate to be cleaned in a single operation.
  • the wiping off of the border serves in particular to keep contamination of the spacer roller with ink residues and/or cleaning fluid as low as possible or to avoid it entirely.
  • the wiper lip is preferably shaped in such a way that it does not touch the nozzle plate. This avoids unnecessary wear of the nozzle plate and, in particular, also prevents dirt particles, dried ink residues or the like from being pressed into the printing nozzles by the wiper lip.
  • the wiping lip is preferably designed in such a way that cleaning liquid with ink residues running off it is guided downwards in the direction of a drainage and/or collection trough.
  • a drainage channel can be integrated on the upper side of the wiping lip, so that cleaning liquid dripping down from above with ink residues in it is guided laterally to the drainage and/or collection trough.
  • the wiping lip is also preferably designed as a splash guard for the cleaning liquid and ink residues towards the top.
  • the wiper lip consists, for example, of a suitable elastic material such as silicone rubber, an elastic thermoplastic material or the like.
  • the spacer roller is preferably present at least twice and in particular at least four times on the cleaning head and is then arranged both above and below the suction nozzle. This allows the suction nozzle to be guided over the print head with a small and constant suction distance even if the cleaning station is not guided ideally parallel along the surface of the print head to be cleaned.
  • the cleaning nozzle is preferably arranged in a cleaning chamber which is open towards the print head.
  • the cleaning chamber then has, for example, a rear wall in which the cleaning nozzle is arranged, as well as side walls such that cleaning liquid and ink residues can drain from the side walls and the rear wall into a drainage and/or collection trough arranged underneath.
  • the ceiling of the cleaning chamber can be formed by a cover plate or by a drain pan of a further cleaning chamber arranged above it.
  • the cleaning nozzle is, for example, a hollow cone nozzle and/or a flat jet nozzle. Such nozzles can be arranged in any combination and number in the cleaning chamber.
  • Hollow cone nozzles are suitable for particularly fine wetting of the print head nozzles with low consumption of cleaning liquid.
  • Flat jet nozzles are particularly suitable for the directed wetting of the nozzle plate, its surround and/or the surrounding print head plate, if necessary from several, variably adjustable nozzles. Individual flat jet nozzles could be blocked using screw plugs, for example. Likewise, individual flat jet nozzles could be tilted and/or pivoted.
  • the number of jets, jet intensity and/or jet angle for wetting the nozzle plate, its skirt and/or the printhead plate can be flexibly adapted to specific printhead types, degrees of contamination or the like.
  • the cleaning chamber is preferably bordered on both sides by splash protection strips which reach down into a drainage and/or collection trough for the cleaning liquid and/or ink residues.
  • the splash protection strips are preferably made of a material that is resistant to the cleaning liquid and ink residues and are designed, for example, as elastic sealing lips.
  • the spray protection strips preferably engage in corresponding grooves on the print head, with play being provided between the spray protection strips and the grooves to compensate for tolerances and/or positioning inaccuracies. Due to the intervention of the splash protection strips, there is still sufficient splash protection in the lateral direction between the cleaning chamber and the print head.
  • Cleaning fluid and ink residue can then run down the inside of the splash guard strips and be caught by the drain and/or collection tray.
  • the spray protection strips preferably project downward beyond their attachment to the cleaning head. This makes it easier for the cleaning liquid and ink residues to drip off in a targeted manner into the drain and/or collection tray. Consequently, contamination from splashes, running cleaning liquid or the like can be reliably avoided.
  • the cleaning head preferably also comprises at least one compressed gas nozzle arranged between the cleaning nozzle and the suction nozzle for blowing off the cleaning liquid from the print head.
  • Compressed gas nozzles can also be suitably adjusted in terms of their jet angle with respect to the print head to be cleaned.
  • Compressed gas nozzles can also be present in a targeted manner for individual areas of the print head and can be switched on or off in a targeted manner.
  • the cleaning station further comprises a lifting device with a runner for lifting the cleaning head from a parked position into a cleaning area.
  • the cleaning area is then preferably above the parking position.
  • the print head to be cleaned can then be moved horizontally from its working position into the cleaning area.
  • the cleaning head can then be moved along the print head, preferably in a vertical direction, in order to spray the print head in a targeted manner and to blow off, wipe off and suck off liquids from wetted surfaces.
  • the print heads can then preferably also be moved into a parking position.
  • Print heads that are not required for a specific print image can thus be protected from potentially disadvantageous influences, such as UV light from pinning lamps, dust or the like.
  • Parking positions also allow the print heads to be positioned carefully at the end of production, overnight or the like.
  • the cleaning station preferably comprises two cleaning heads which are located one above the other on the runner.
  • the cleaning heads preferably have a modular structure and are fixedly mounted one above the other.
  • the cleaning chamber of the upper cleaning head can be closed off at the bottom by a drip tray, which at the same time serves as a cover for the cleaning chamber of the lower cleaning head.
  • Cleaning liquid and ink residue can then be routed from the collection tray of the upper cleaning head into the cleaning chamber of the lower cleaning head and there on the side walls and/or the Run the rear wall into a drain pan that closes at the bottom.
  • Both cleaning heads can otherwise have similar characteristics, so that two print heads can be cleaned simultaneously or overlapping.
  • the cleaning station preferably comprises a further lifting device with a runner for lifting a third cleaning head, which is laterally offset with respect to the first and second cleaning heads sitting one above the other, from a parking position into a cleaning area for a third print head.
  • the associated print head is also positioned for the third cleaning head as described above. Consequently, three print heads with a total of vertically overlapping print nozzles can be cleaned simultaneously at the cleaning station as previously described.
  • the third cleaning head then also essentially has the features described with regard to the first and second cleaning head.
  • All cleaning heads are preferably of modular design and preferably differ only in the covers and collection/drainage trays of their cleaning chambers.
  • the lifting device for the first and second cleaning head is then preferably designed as a pneumatically controlled multi-position cylinder, the further lifting device for the third cleaning head, for example, as a pneumatic cylinder with only one switching position.
  • the lifting devices are preferably designed with locking elements for the raised cleaning heads, for example to prevent them from sagging in the event of a power failure and/or pneumatic failure. This serves, among other things, to protect the print heads.
  • the lifting devices preferably also include linear guides for the cleaning heads, possibly in the form of telescopic rails.
  • the walls of the cleaning chamber, drainage and/or collection trays, splash protection strips, spacer rollers, wiper lips or similar surfaces that come into direct contact with the cleaning liquid and ink residues are preferably provided with a hydrophobic coating and/or a coating that is resistant to the cleaning liquid and printing ink.
  • the coating can have a lotus effect for improved cleaning of the coated surfaces.
  • a coating of the "Tufram 615P" type, for example, is particularly suitable.
  • the printhead plate is also preferably suitably coated to facilitate its cleaning.
  • cleaning stations with a plurality of cleaning heads
  • these are preferably arranged in such a way that they can be used to clean a plurality of print heads for overlapping printing in what is known as "stitching".
  • switching In their working positions, such print heads are generally offset from one another both vertically and horizontally. This results in a corresponding positioning of the print heads in their cleaning areas.
  • the print heads are preferably designed for purging while the associated direct printing machine is in operation, with the cleaning station then being designed to approach the cleaning area during purging.
  • the direct printing station preferably comprises print heads which can be moved horizontally towards the cleaning heads.
  • the cleaning head and print head assigned to each other can then be moved vertically or horizontally into a common cleaning area.
  • the print heads preferably include dimensionally stable surrounds for the printing nozzles and/or nozzle plate, with the spacer roller being arranged or the spacer rollers being arranged at a distance from one another in such a way that they can roll next to the printing nozzles on the frame. This enables contact-free cleaning of the pressure nozzles with a constant distance to the suction nozzles moving above them.
  • the printheads are seated in printhead plates having vertically extending grooves for engagement by anti-splash bars formed on the cleaning heads.
  • This enables reliable lateral splash protection with simultaneous play between the splash protection strips and the grooves of the cover plate. This ensures a reliable function with regard to the splash guard and the required relative movement between the cleaning head and the print head, even with dimensional tolerances and/or positioning tolerances.
  • the cleaning station 100 includes in a preferred embodiment, vertically movable cleaning heads 1, 2, 3 for cleaning horizontally movable print heads 4, 5, 6.
  • the print heads 4, 5, 6 are in FIG 1 partially covered by the cleaning heads 1, 2, 3.
  • the cleaning heads 1, 2, 3 are attached to lifting devices 7, 8 and can be lifted from parking positions 9, 10 into cleaning areas 11, 12, 13, ie essentially to the level of the associated print heads 4, 5, 6.
  • a first cleaning head 1 and a second cleaning head 2 are preferably arranged fixedly one above the other and can be moved together on a first lifting device 7 .
  • the first cleaning head 1 can be raised in the vertical direction 14 into a first cleaning area 11 shared with a first print head 4 and a second cleaning head 2 into a second cleaning area 12 shared with a second print head 5.
  • the first and second print heads 4, 5 can be moved in the horizontal direction 15 separately from their working positions into the first and second cleaning areas 11, 12. In their working positions, the first and second print heads 4, 5 are aligned one above the other for overlapping combination printing.
  • a third cleaning head 3 is preferably attached to a second lifting device 8 so that it can be moved vertically and is offset laterally in the printing direction.
  • the second lifting device 8 comprises, for example, a pneumatically operated adjustment cylinder 8a with a runner 8b and a second linear guide 8c for the third cleaning head 3. This allows the third cleaning head 3 to be raised into a third cleaning area 13 shared with a third print head 6.
  • the third print head 6 can also be moved horizontally from its working position into the third cleaning area 13 .
  • the third print head 6 In its operating position, the third print head 6 is preferably located vertically between and horizontally next to the first and second print heads 4, 5 for vertically overlapping combination printing using the three print heads 4, 5, 6.
  • the 2 shows an example of the third cleaning head 3 in an oblique view.
  • the first and second cleaning heads 1, 2 include corresponding technical features.
  • the cleaning head 3 accordingly comprises a cleaning nozzle 21 for ejecting a cleaning liquid, for example as a hollow cone-shaped jet. Furthermore, above the cleaning nozzle 21 there is a suction nozzle 22 for sucking off the cleaning liquid and the ink residues dissolved therein from the associated print head 6. With the suction nozzle 22, spacer rollers 23 are attached to a common support 24 and are mounted in the cleaning head 3 so that they can be displaced in the horizontal direction 25.
  • the elastically resilient mounting includes, for example, compression springs 26a ( 4 ) which allows the pinch rollers 23 to protrude by a projection 29 with respect to a rigid housing 28 of the cleaning head 3 .
  • a stop 30 is preferably formed in the cleaning head 3 for the holder 24, so that the overhang 29 of the spacer rollers 23 over the housing 28 does not fall below a minimum of, for example, 1 to 5 mm.
  • the spacer rollers 23 protrude on the holder 24, preferably in the direction of the print head 6 to be cleaned, over the suction nozzle 22, so that the suction nozzle 22 does not touch a nozzle plate formed on the print head 6 with its mechanically sensitive printing nozzles during suction.
  • the spacer rollers 23 preferably roll on a mechanically stable border of the nozzle plate.
  • a minimum value of the suction distance between the suction nozzle and the nozzle plate can also be maintained if the nozzle plate and its dimensionally stable surround have flush surfaces.
  • the dimensionally stable surround could protrude beyond the nozzle plate in order to maintain a minimum value for the suction distance (provided that the working function of the print head is not impaired as a result).
  • the spacer rollers 23 would then not have to protrude beyond the suction nozzle 22, or only to a lesser extent.
  • the suction nozzle 22 and the spacer rollers 23 are arranged relative to one another and are only mounted resiliently up to the stop 30 such that contact of the sensitive pressure nozzles with the suction nozzle 22 and the housing 28 is prevented at all times.
  • the wiper lip 31 serves to wipe off cleaning liquid and/or ink residues from the print head areas laterally next to the nozzle plate, in particular also from the area of the dimensionally stable frame on which the spacer rollers 23 roll. This avoids contamination of the spacer rollers 23 .
  • the area of the pressure nozzles should be left out.
  • the wiper lip 31 has, for example, a central recess 31a only for the area of the printing nozzles.
  • the compressed gas nozzles 33 are, for example, flat jet nozzles and are preferably directed obliquely downwards, so that cleaning liquid and/or ink residues are driven downwards from the print head 6 into a drain and/or collection tray 34 .
  • the compressed gas nozzles 33 can also be adjustable about a horizontal axis in order to adapt the direction of the discharged compressed gas jets to the respective requirements for blowing off the print head 6 .
  • the drainage and/or collection tray 34 is preferably designed on the third cleaning head 3 in such a way that the cleaning liquid and ink residues collected there can be pumped out. This also applies to the in the 1 illustrated lower first cleaning head 1.
  • the drain and/or collection tray 34 is preferably designed in such a way that cleaning liquid and ink residues are directed to the side walls and/or to the rear wall of the first cleaning head 1 underneath and there to its drain and/or or run down sump 34.
  • the housing 28 of the second and third cleaning heads 2, 3 comprises a cover plate 28a on its upper side, which in the case of the first (lower) cleaning head 1 is replaced by the collecting trough 34 of the second (upper) cleaning head 2 in order to prevent the flow of cleaning liquid and Allow ink residue down.
  • the side walls 28b, the rear wall 28c and the wiper lip 31 and the splash guard 32 delimit, together with the drain and/or collection tray 34, a cleaning chamber 35 in which the print head 6 to be cleaned is wetted by the cleaning nozzle 21.
  • additional splash protection and/or drainage walls 36 can be formed around the cleaning nozzle 21, which facilitate targeted drainage of cleaning liquid and/or ink residues downwards, for example.
  • the 4 12 clearly shows the print head 6 to be cleaned with the spacer rollers 23 rolling on it.
  • the print head 6 comprises a front print head plate 41 in which vertically running grooves 42 are formed. These serve to engage the lateral spray protection strips 32.
  • a defined play between the spray protection strips 32 and the grooves 42 is permitted in order to compensate for manufacturing tolerances and positioning tolerances during the cleaning process. Nevertheless, the engagement of the splash protection strips 32 prevents cleaning liquid and ink residue from spraying out laterally from the common cleaning area 13 of cleaning head 3 and print head 6.
  • the print head also includes a mechanically sensitive nozzle plate 43 with a large number of printing nozzles arranged in a grid pattern and a dimensionally stable frame 44 for the nozzle plate 43.
  • the frame 44 is preferably made of a metal and in particular of stainless steel.
  • the frame 44 serves as a rolling surface for the spacer rollers 23.
  • the spacer rollers 23 and the dimensionally stable frame 44 keep the suction nozzle 22 at the suction distance from the nozzle plate 43 while the print head is being cleaned.
  • the sensitive printing nozzles therefore come into contact neither with the spacer rollers 23 nor with the suction nozzle 22, nor with components of the housing 28.
  • a predetermined minimum distance MA between the suction nozzle 22 and the nozzle plate 43 of 0.2 mm is not fallen below.
  • the suction distance is preferably always between the minimum distance MA of 0.2 mm and a maximum distance of 0.5 mm, for example, for optimal suction of liquids from the surface of the nozzle plate 43. This can be achieved on the one hand by the relative arrangement of the suction nozzle 22 and the spacer rollers 23 and/or the relative arrangement of the nozzle plate 43 and the frame 44 in the horizontal direction 15, 25 and on the other hand by the elastic bearing 26.
  • the figure 5 clarifies the minimum distance MA to be maintained between the suction nozzle 22 and the nozzle plate 43 when the nozzle plate 43 is aligned with one another and the edging 44 is dimensionally stable (left) and when the edging 44 protrudes (right).
  • the minimum distance MA is exaggerated for clarity.
  • the minimum distance MA to the nozzle plate 43 can be increased by the overhang (in the figure 5 to the left) of the rollers 23 can be specified/adjusted via the suction nozzle 22.
  • the print head 6 is moved in the horizontal direction 15 until it comes into contact with the spacer rollers 23 so that the spacer rollers 23 and the suction nozzle 22 deflect in their common holder 24 by means of the elastically flexible bearing 26 .
  • the compression springs 26a specify a suitable contact pressure during the suction.
  • the adjustment range of the elastically flexible bearing 26 is then designed in such a way that, on the one hand, there is reliable contact between the spacer rollers 23 and the dimensionally stable mount 44, also taking into account dimensional tolerances and/or positioning inaccuracies during cleaning, and, on the other hand, there is contact between the print head 6 and the housing 28 of the cleaning head 3 is reliably avoided.
  • the approach of the print head 6 and the cleaning head 3 in the horizontal direction 15 is preferably carried out by means of an electrically controlled adjustment unit 45 for the print head 6, but would also be conceivable in principle by a corresponding linear unit on the cleaning head 3.
  • the approach of the cleaning head 3 to the print head 6 in the vertical direction 14 is preferably carried out by means of the lifting device 8 .
  • vertical adjustability of the print head 6 at least in the area of the cleaning head 3 would also be conceivable here.
  • the cleaning heads 1, 2, 3 can, for example, be raised to defined switch positions in the cleaning areas 11, 12, 13 by means of the lifting devices 7, 8 and lowered there again in a controlled manner during cleaning.
  • the features mentioned above are preferably formed on all cleaning heads 1 , 2 , 3 of the cleaning station 100 .
  • the cleaning heads 1, 2, 3 are of essentially modular design, so that they can be stacked on top of one another, for example by omitting the cover plate 28a and/or replacing them in the form of a suitable drainage and/or collection tray 34 let stack.
  • the compressed gas nozzles 33 can be accommodated in a separate blow-off module of the housing 28 and the blow-off module can only optionally be integrated into the cleaning station 1, 2, 3.
  • the individual cleaning heads 1, 2, 3 can be supplied via conventional hose and cable connections, optionally protected by so-called energy chains. These are particularly suitable for protecting pressure hoses for compressed air, vacuum and/or the cleaning liquid.
  • cleaning heads 1, 2, 3 The number and arrangement of the cleaning heads 1, 2, 3 described is only an example. Due to their modular design in particular, cleaning heads 1, 2, 3 can be combined in a flexible arrangement, for example as single cleaning stations, double cleaning stations or triple cleaning stations.
  • the cleaning station 100 with the cleaning heads 1, 2, 3 is also part of a direct printing station 200, as are the associated print heads 4, 5, 6.
  • a direct printing machine (not shown) then preferably has a plurality of direct printing stations 200 in the periphery of a container table for transporting the items to be printed Container arranged in a known manner.
  • the print heads 4, 5, 6 can be moved to the assigned cleaning heads 1, 2, 3 in any order and/or simultaneously in order to carry out the cleaning of the print heads 4, 5, 6 in a time-saving manner and without contamination of neighboring machine assemblies at the functional direct printing station 200 .

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Ink Jet (AREA)
  • Inking, Control Or Cleaning Of Printing Machines (AREA)

Claims (14)

  1. Station d'impression directe (200) permettant d'imprimer sur des récipients, avec des têtes d'impression (4, 5, 6) comprenant respectivement une plaque à buses (43) avec des buses d'impression et une monture indéformable (44) destinée à la plaque à buses (43), et avec une station de nettoyage (100) comprenant des têtes de nettoyage (1, 2, 3) pouvant être déplacées de manière verticale par rapport aux têtes d'impression (4, 5, 6) et permettant de nettoyer les têtes d'impression (4, 5, 6), dans laquelle les têtes de nettoyage (1, 2, 3) comprennent respectivement une buse de nettoyage (21) permettant d'éjecter un liquide de nettoyage et une buse d'aspiration (22) agencée au-dessus de ladite buse de nettoyage et permettant d'aspirer le liquide de nettoyage sur la tête d'impression (4, 5, 6) associée et une lèvre d'essuyage (31) permettant d'essuyer le liquide de nettoyage et/ou des résidus d'encre, caractérisée en ce que les têtes de nettoyage (1, 2, 3) comprennent respectivement en outre au moins un rouleau d'espacement (23) faisant saillie en particulier au-delà de la buse d'aspiration (22) et permettant de maintenir une distance minimale (MA) entre la buse d'aspiration (22) et la tête d'impression (4, 5, 6) et la lèvre d'essuyage (31) est agencée entre la buse d'aspiration (22) et la buse de nettoyage (21) et est conçue pour essuyer le liquide de nettoyage et/ou les résidus d'encre sur des régions de tête d'impression situées à côté de la plaque à buses (43).
  2. Station d'impression directe selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle la buse d'aspiration (22) et le rouleau d'espacement (23) font partie d'un ensemble trouvant sa place dans la tête de nettoyage (1, 2, 3).
  3. Station d'impression directe selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans laquelle la tête de nettoyage (1, 2, 3) comprend en outre un guide linéaire (27) destiné à la buse d'aspiration (22) et au rouleau d'espacement (23) et orienté horizontalement de manière à s'éloigner de la tête d'impression (4, 5, 6)/à aller vers la tête d'impression (4, 5, 6).
  4. Station d'impression directe selon au moins l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle la lèvre d'essuyage (31) est conçue pour essuyer le liquide de nettoyage et/ou des résidus d'encre sur une région de la monture indéformable (44) sur laquelle roulent les rouleaux d'espacement (23) et est en outre formée de manière à ne pas venir en contact avec la plaque à buses (43).
  5. Station d'impression directe selon au moins l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle le rouleau d'espacement (23) est présent au moins deux fois et en particulier au moins quatre fois et est agencé à la fois au-dessus et au-dessous de la buse d'aspiration (22).
  6. Station d'impression directe selon au moins l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle la buse de nettoyage (21) est agencée dans une chambre de nettoyage (35) ouverte vers au moins une tête d'impression (4, 5, 6).
  7. Station d'impression directe selon la revendication 6, dans laquelle la chambre de nettoyage (35) est encadrée de part et d'autre par des bandes de protection contre les projections (32) s'étendant dans un bac de drainage et/ou de collecte (34) destiné au liquide de nettoyage.
  8. Station d'impression directe selon au moins l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle la tête de nettoyage (1, 2, 3) comprend en outre au moins une buse à gaz comprimé (33) agencée entre la buse de nettoyage (21) et la buse d'aspiration (22) et permettant de souffler le liquide de nettoyage à partir de la au moins une tête d'impression (4, 5, 6).
  9. Station d'impression directe selon au moins l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, comprenant en outre un dispositif de levage (7) avec un rotor (7a) permettant de soulever la tête de nettoyage (1, 2) à partir d'une position de stationnement (9) jusqu'à une région de nettoyage (11, 12).
  10. Station d'impression directe selon au moins l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, comprenant deux têtes de nettoyage (1, 2) placées de manière superposée sur le rotor (7a).
  11. Station d'impression directe selon au moins l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, comprenant en outre un dispositif de levage (8) supplémentaire avec un rotor (8a) permettant de soulever une tête de nettoyage (3) décalée latéralement par rapport aux têtes de nettoyage (1, 2) placées de manière superposée à partir d'une position de stationnement (10) jusqu'à une région de nettoyage (13).
  12. Station d'impression directe selon au moins l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle les têtes d'impression (4, 5, 6) peuvent être déplacées horizontalement sur les têtes de nettoyage (1, 2, 3), de sorte que le rouleau d'espacement (23) reste en contact avec la tête d'impression (4, 5, 6) pendant l'aspiration lors d'un mouvement vertical simultané de la tête de nettoyage (1, 2, 3).
  13. Station d'impression directe selon au moins l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle la lèvre d'essuyage (31) est réalisée vers le haut sous la forme d'une protection contre les projections destinée au liquide de nettoyage et aux résidus d'encre et en particulier sous la forme d'une délimitation d'une chambre de nettoyage (35) au sein de laquelle la tête d'impression (4, 5, 6) à nettoyer est humectée par la buse de nettoyage (21).
  14. Station d'impression directe selon au moins l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle les têtes d'impression (4, 5, 6) comprennent en outre des plaques à tête d'impression frontales (41) munies de rainures (42) s'étendant verticalement et destinées à venir en prise avec des bandes de protection contre les projections (32) formées au niveau des têtes de nettoyage (1, 2, 3).
EP18170331.5A 2017-09-04 2018-05-02 Station de nettoyage pour une station d'impression directe Active EP3450177B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE102017215440.3A DE102017215440A1 (de) 2017-09-04 2017-09-04 Reinigungsstation für eine Direktdruckstation

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3450177A1 EP3450177A1 (fr) 2019-03-06
EP3450177B1 true EP3450177B1 (fr) 2022-05-25

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EP (1) EP3450177B1 (fr)
CN (1) CN109421379B (fr)
DE (1) DE102017215440A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AT16527U1 (de) * 2018-04-09 2019-12-15 Spgprints B V Druckkopfreinigungsvorrichtung zur Wartung eines Druckkopfes eines Tintenstrahldruckers
FR3094899B1 (fr) * 2019-04-15 2022-10-07 Exel Ind Installation d’application de produit de revêtement et procédé de nettoyage d’une telle installation
JP7370772B2 (ja) * 2019-09-06 2023-10-30 東芝テック株式会社 クリーニング装置及び液体吐出記録装置
DE102022129512A1 (de) * 2022-11-08 2024-05-08 Bundesdruckerei Gmbh Vorrichtung zur Reinigung eines Druckkopfes, Tintenstrahldrucker und Verfahren zur Reinigung eines Druckkopfes

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP4354786B2 (ja) * 2003-11-28 2009-10-28 富士フイルム株式会社 インク濃度検出方法およびインクジェット記録装置
CN100528573C (zh) * 2006-02-16 2009-08-19 虹创科技股份有限公司 喷墨头擦拭装置及喷墨头清洁方法
JP2010247360A (ja) * 2009-04-13 2010-11-04 Seiko Epson Corp ヘッドクリーニング装置、流体噴射装置、およびヘッドクリーニング方法
JP5498996B2 (ja) * 2011-02-18 2014-05-21 東芝テック株式会社 インクジェットヘッドの洗浄装置およびインクジェット記録装置
DE102013217685A1 (de) 2013-09-04 2015-03-05 Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Ag Behälterbehandlungsmaschine zur Bedruckung von Behältern
US9533506B2 (en) * 2013-09-04 2017-01-03 Krones Ag Container handling machine for printing onto container
EP2853400A1 (fr) * 2013-09-25 2015-04-01 Tonejet Limited Procédé de nettoyage de tête d'impression électrostatique
DE102015100537A1 (de) * 2015-01-15 2016-07-21 Océ Printing Systems GmbH & Co. KG Handwischer zum manuellen Reinigen von Druckköpfen

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE102017215440A1 (de) 2019-03-07
CN109421379A (zh) 2019-03-05
EP3450177A1 (fr) 2019-03-06
CN109421379B (zh) 2020-10-27

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