EP3452292B1 - Système de distribution d'encre pour acheminer de l'encre vers de multiples têtes d'impression à une pression constante - Google Patents

Système de distribution d'encre pour acheminer de l'encre vers de multiples têtes d'impression à une pression constante Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3452292B1
EP3452292B1 EP17720382.5A EP17720382A EP3452292B1 EP 3452292 B1 EP3452292 B1 EP 3452292B1 EP 17720382 A EP17720382 A EP 17720382A EP 3452292 B1 EP3452292 B1 EP 3452292B1
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European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ink
line
positive
negative
module
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Application number
EP17720382.5A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP3452292A1 (fr
Inventor
Jason Thelander
Mark Profaca
Stuart Wheatley
Craig Meyer
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Memjet Technology Ltd
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Memjet Technology Ltd
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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

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an ink delivery system for an inkjet printer. It has been developed primarily for supplying ink to multiple printheads at a relatively constant pressure.
  • Memjet® printers employing Memjet® technology are commercially available for a number of different printing formats, including small-office-home-office (“SOHO") printers, label printers and wideformat printers.
  • Memjet® printers typically comprise one or more stationary inkjet printheads, which are user-replaceable.
  • SOHO printer comprises a single user-replaceable multi-colored printhead
  • high-speed label printer comprises a plurality of user-replaceable monochrome printheads aligned along a media feed direction
  • a wideformat printer comprises a plurality of user-replaceable printheads in a staggered overlapping arrangement so as to span across a wideformat pagewidth.
  • Printheads furthest from the accumulator tank are affected by pressure drops across printheads closer to the accumulator tank. Hence, there is a tendency for printheads to experience difference ink pressures, especially when printing at full bleed or when different printheads in the system have different ink demands.
  • ink delivery system which supplies ink to multiple printheads at a reliable and highly controlled hydrostatic ink pressure. It would further be desirable to provide a scalable ink delivery system, which can be adapted to supply ink to multiple printheads, the number of which may vary from printing system to printing system.
  • an ink delivery system for an inkjet printer as defined hereinbelow in the claims appended hereto.
  • the present invention advantageously provides local pressure control for each printhead in the system. In this way, increasing the number of printheads does not affect the degree of pressure control in the system.
  • the present invention interconnects printheads between a positive ("high") and negative ("low") pressure ink lines. This enables excellent local control of pressure using a relatively low tolerance valve at the high pressure side of the printhead; all valve adjustments are dynamically modulated by feedback from the ink pressure sensor.
  • the use of a positive pressure line provides a sufficient head of pressure for multiple printheads without being affected by pressure drops across any of the printheads in the system during printing.
  • FIG. 1 there is shows schematically an ink delivery system 1 comprising a positive ink line 3 ("positive rail”) and a negative ink line 5 (“negative rail”) connected to an ink delivery module 7, which regulates the ink pressure in each of the positive and negative ink lines.
  • a plurality of print modules 9 are interconnected between the positive ink line 3 and the negative ink line 5 via respective inlet and outlet lines 10 and 12. Although three print modules 9 are shown in Figure 1 , it will be appreciated that any number of print modules may be interconnected between the positive ink line 3 and the negative ink line 5.
  • Print modules 9 may be physically positioned in a staggered overlapping arrangement so as to extend across a print zone media wider than an individual print module. In this way, multiple print modules 9 may be employed for printing onto print media having widths of more than about 8 inches ( e.g. at least 16 inches, at least 32 inches or at least 40 inches).
  • an individual print module 9 is comprised of a supply module 14 and a printhead cartridge 16 releasably connected to the supply module.
  • the printhead cartridge 16 comprises an inkjet printhead 17 for printing onto print media and may be a color or monochrome printhead (e.g. two color or four color printhead), as known in the art.
  • the printhead may of the type described in the Applicant's co-filed application entitled "MONOCHROME INKJET PRINTHEAD CONFIGURED FOR HIGH-SPEED PRINTING" (Attorney Docket No. RRG00 US).
  • an ink delivery system for one color of ink is described herein, although it will be appreciated that multiple ink delivery systems may be used for supply of multiple colors of ink.
  • the supply module 14 comprises a body 20 housing drive and logic circuitry (e.g. one or more PCBs having a print engine controller chip, drive transistors etc ) for the printhead 17, as well as an inlet module 22 and an outlet module 24.
  • the inlet module 22 has an inlet port 26 connected to the inlet line 10
  • the outlet module 24 has an outlet port 28 connected to the outlet line 12.
  • Suitable print module couplings 29 allow convenient replacement of entire print modules, when required.
  • the printhead cartridge 16 is fluidically connected to the supply module 14 by means of printhead inlet and outlet couplings 30 and 32.
  • the printhead inlet and outlet couplings 30 and 32 are typically quick-connect couplings which enable convenient removal of a spent printhead cartridge 16 from each print module 9 and replacement with a new printhead cartridge by the user.
  • the inlet module 22 contains all the necessary components for providing local control of ink pressure in the printhead 17 for a respective print module 9.
  • each print module 9 provides local, independent control of ink pressure in its respective printhead 17, so that local ink pressures can be fine-tuned automatically and in response to localized pressure fluctuations.
  • the inlet module 22 contains a control valve 33, which regulates ink pressure dynamically in response to feedback from an ink pressure sensor 35 sensing ink pressure downstream of the control valve.
  • the ink pressure sensor 35 provides feedback to a controller 37 (e.g. microprocessor), which in turn controls a variable position of the control valve 33 so as to regulate ink pressure in the printhead 17 within a predetermined backpressure range.
  • the control valve 33 allows fine control of ink pressure with minimal hysteresis by virtue of being connected between the positive and negative ink lines 3 and 5, which already provide gross control of ink pressure.
  • relatively large adjustments of the control valve 33 produce only relatively small changes in ink pressure in the print module 9.
  • the inlet module 22 comprises an air inlet 40 for introducing air into the printhead and a corresponding air valve 42, which can shut off air flow into the printhead.
  • the air valve 42 is typically a solenoid valve, which may be controlled by the controller 37. For most operations the air valve 42 is closed. However, when it is necessary to de-prime the printhead 16 ( e.g. for replacement of a printhead cartridge 17), the air valve 42 is opened with the control valve 33 fully closed so as to draw air into the printhead 16 and remove ink.
  • the outlet module 24 comprises a shut-off valve 44 for isolating the print module 9, in combination with the control valve 33, when required.
  • the shut-off valve 44 incorporates a flow restrictor in the form an orifice which restricts ink flow and controls backpressure in the printhead 17 in combination with the negative ink line 5.
  • both the inlet module 22 and the outlet module 24 each comprises a compliance 45 (e.g. an air chamber or flexible-walled chamber) proximal the respective inlet and outlet ports 26 and 28 for dampening ink pressure fluctuations or 'spikes'.
  • a compliance 45 e.g. an air chamber or flexible-walled chamber
  • the ink delivery module 7 comprises an intermediary ink reservoir 50 which is connected to the positive ink line 3 via a positive pressure regulating system in the form of a positive pressure circuit 52.
  • the intermediary ink reservoir 50 is connected to the negative ink line via a negative pressure regulating system in the form of a negative pressure circuit 54.
  • the intermediary ink reservoir is vented to atmosphere via, for example, a serpentine vent path (not shown).
  • the positive pressure circuit 52 regulates a positive ink pressure in the positive ink line 3, while the negative pressure circuit 54 regulates a negative ink pressure in the negative ink line 5.
  • ink circulates from the intermediary ink reservoir 50 into the positive ink line 3, through each print module, 8 and returns to the intermediary ink reservoir via the negative ink line 5.
  • the intermediary ink reservoir 50 is replenished with ink from a bulk ink supply tank 56 via a refill pump 58 in the ink delivery module 7.
  • the intermediary ink reservoir 50 has suitable ink sensors (not shown) for detecting a low ink level and providing feedback for actuating the refill pump 58 when required.
  • the ink delivery module 7 is typically a self-contained unit with various external couplings: a supply coupling 61 for connecting the refill pump 58 to the bulk ink supply tank 56; an overflow coupling 63 for connecting the refill pump to an overflow tank (now shown); a positive line coupling 65 for connecting the positive ink line 3 to the positive pressure circuit 52; and a negative line coupling 67 for connecting the negative ink line 5 to the negative pressure circuit 54.
  • the positive pressure circuit 52 comprises a positive circuit pump 70, which pumps ink from the intermediary ink reservoir 50 towards a positive pressure regulator 72.
  • Ink between the positive circuit pump 70 and the positive pressure regulator 72 is maintained at a regulated positive pressure, and the positive ink line 3 is tapped from this regulated portion 75 of the positive pressure circuit 52 via the positive line coupling 65.
  • Downstream of the positive pressure regulator 72, ink is at unregulated pressure and returns to the intermediary ink reservoir 50 in the direction indicated by the arrow P in Figure 4 .
  • the negative pressure circuit 54 comprises a negative circuit pump 80, which pumps ink from the intermediary ink reservoir 50, through a negative pressure regulator 82 and into a pump inlet of the negative circuit pump. Ink between the negative pressure regulator 82 and the negative circuit pump 80 and is maintained at a regulated negative pressure, and the negative ink line 5 is tapped from this regulated portion 85 of the negative pressure circuit 54 via the negative line coupling 67. Downstream of the negative circuit pump 80, ink is at unregulated pressure and returns to the intermediary ink reservoir 50 in the direction indicated by the arrow N in Figure 4 .
  • a pressure sensor 91 provides feedback to the respective positive and negative pressure regulators 72 and 82. Therefore, the regulated portions 75 and 85 of each circuit are maintained at optimum positive and negative pressures, respectively.
  • Each of the positive and negative pressure circuits 52 and 54 further comprises a filter for filtering particulates from ink and a compliance for dampening ink pressure fluctuations.
  • the ink delivery module 7 may also comprise a degasser, as known in the art, for removing air bubbles from the ink before it is delivered to the print modules 9.
  • the ink delivery module 7 may comprise alternative positive and negative pressure regulating systems.
  • the positive and negative pressure circuits 52 and 54 may be absent and the ink delivery module 7 may provide inline regulation of ink pressures between the intermediary ink reservoir 50 and the positive and negative line couplings 65 and 67.
  • each print module 9 draws ink from the positive ink line 3 and the ink is fed back to the ink delivery module 7 at a regulated negative pressure via the negative ink line 5.
  • a relatively constant backpressure is provided at each print module 9. Additional local control of backpressure in each printhead 17 is provided by the control valve 33 in the input module 22 of each print module 9.
  • the control valve 33 is adjustable using feedback from the ink pressure sensor 35 to maintain optimum backpressure. When the pressure is too high, the control valve 33 is closed somewhat; when the pressure is too low, the control valve 33 is opened somewhat.
  • the present invention provides excellent control of printhead backpressures in a number of printheads 17 which are supplied with ink from a common ink reservoir.
  • the combination of bulk pressure regulation via the ink delivery module 7 and local pressure regulation via the control valve 33 in each print module 9 ensures that each printhead 17 has sufficient ink pressure for different ink demands and, further, that each printhead in the system is maintained at a relatively constant backpressure.
  • the ink delivery system 1 is scalable for use with any number of print modules 9 ( e.g. from 1 to 50 print modules).

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  • Ink Jet (AREA)

Claims (11)

  1. Système de distribution d'encre (1) pour une imprimante à jet d'encre, comprenant :
    (a) un réservoir d'encre (50) ;
    (b) une conduite d'encre positive (3) raccordée au réservoir d'encre, la conduite d'encre positive ayant une pression d'encre positive commandée par une pompe de régulation respective (70) ;
    (c) une conduite d'encre négative (5) raccordée au réservoir d'encre, la conduite d'encre négative ayant une pression d'encre négative commandée par une pompe de régulation respective (80) ; et
    (d) une pluralité de modules d'impression (9) mutuellement raccordés entre la conduite d'encre positive et la conduite d'encre négative par l'intermédiaire de conduites d'entrée et de sortie respectives (10, 12), chaque module d'impression comprenant :
    un orifice d'entrée (26) raccordé à la conduite d'entrée ;
    un orifice de sortie (28) raccordé à la conduite de sortie ;
    une tête d'impression (17) mutuellement raccordée entre l'orifice d'entrée et l'orifice de sortie ;
    une valve de commande (33) positionnée à l'orifice d'entrée pour dynamiquement commander une pression d'encre dans une tête d'impression respective ;
    un capteur de pression d'encre (35) pour détecter une pression d'encre dans un module d'impression respectif ; et
    un dispositif de commande (37) répondant à une retour d'informations provenant du capteur de pression et configuré pour commander la valve de commande en utilisant le retour d'information provenant du capteur de pression ;
    dans lequel, durant l'impression, le capteur de pression d'encre, le dispositif de commande et la valve de commande sont configurés pour dynamiquement commander une contre-pression dans la tête d'impression respective au sein d'une plage de contre-pression prédéterminée.
  2. Système de distribution d'encre selon la revendication 1, dans lequel chaque module d'impression (9) comprend :
    un module d'alimentation (14) ayant l'orifice d'entrée (26) et l'orifice de sortie (28) ; et
    la tête d'impression (17).
  3. Système de distribution d'encre selon la revendication 2, dans lequel la tête d'impression (17) est contenue dans une cartouche de tête d'impression remplaçable (16) raccordée de façon libérable au module d'alimentation (14).
  4. Système de distribution d'encre selon la revendication 2 ou la revendication 3, dans lequel le module d'alimentation (14) comprend :
    un module d'entrée (22) comprenant l'orifice d'entrée (26), la valve de commande (33) et le capteur de pression (35) ; et
    un module de sortie (24) comprenant l'orifice de sortie (28).
  5. Système de distribution d'encre selon la revendication 4, dans lequel le module d'entrée (22) comprend en outre une entrée d'air (40) pour introduire de l'air dans la tête d'impression et une valve d'air correspondante (42).
  6. Système de distribution d'encre selon la revendication 4 ou la revendication 5, dans lequel le module de sortie (24) comprend en outre une valve d'arrêt et/ou un réducteur de débit (44).
  7. Système de distribution d'encre selon la revendication l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, comprenant en outre un module de distribution d'encre (7) ayant un couplage de conduite positive (65) raccordé à la conduite d'encre positive (3), un couplage de conduite négative (67) raccordé à la conduite d'encre négative (5) et un couplage d'alimentation (61) pour le raccordement à un réservoir d'alimentation en encre en vrac (56).
  8. Système de distribution d'encre selon la revendication 8, dans lequel le module de distribution d'encre (7) comprend en outre un ou plusieurs composants sélectionnés parmi le groupe constitué de :
    un capteur de pression positive (91) pour détecter une pression d'encre positive dans le système de régulation de pression positive ;
    une capteur de pression négative pour détecter une pression d'encre négative dans le système de régulation de pression négative ; et
    une pompe de réapprovisionnement (58) positionnée entre le couplage d'alimentation et le réservoir d'encre.
  9. Système de distribution d'encre selon la revendication 7, comprenant en outre le réservoir d'alimentation en encre en vrac (56) raccordé au couplage d'alimentation (61).
  10. Système de distribution d'encre selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel la conduite d'encre positive (3) est une conduite d'encre positive commune pour chaque tête d'impression (17) et la conduite d'encre négative (5) est une conduite d'encre négative commune pour chaque tête d'impression.
  11. Imprimante à jet d'encre, comprenant un système de distribution d'encre (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes.
EP17720382.5A 2016-05-02 2017-04-12 Système de distribution d'encre pour acheminer de l'encre vers de multiples têtes d'impression à une pression constante Active EP3452292B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US201662330785P 2016-05-02 2016-05-02
PCT/EP2017/058893 WO2017190934A1 (fr) 2016-05-02 2017-04-12 Système de distribution d'encre pour acheminer de l'encre vers de multiples têtes d'impression à une pression constante

Publications (2)

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EP3452292A1 EP3452292A1 (fr) 2019-03-13
EP3452292B1 true EP3452292B1 (fr) 2021-06-16

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EP17720382.5A Active EP3452292B1 (fr) 2016-05-02 2017-04-12 Système de distribution d'encre pour acheminer de l'encre vers de multiples têtes d'impression à une pression constante

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EP (1) EP3452292B1 (fr)
JP (1) JP2019514732A (fr)
CN (1) CN109153265B (fr)
AU (1) AU2017259594B2 (fr)
SG (1) SG11201807298VA (fr)
WO (1) WO2017190934A1 (fr)

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KR102191837B1 (ko) * 2019-01-08 2020-12-17 주식회사 고산테크 잉크젯 프린터의 압력 조절 장치 및 그 제어방법
ES2964037T3 (es) * 2020-03-13 2024-04-03 United Barcode Systems S L Sistema de regulación de la alimentación de los inyectores de tinta de un cabezal de impresión y equipo de impresión que lo incluye
WO2022066171A1 (fr) * 2020-09-25 2022-03-31 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Systèmes de distribution d'agent d'impression

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US5880748A (en) * 1994-09-20 1999-03-09 Hewlett-Packard Company Ink delivery system for an inkjet pen having an automatic pressure regulation system
US20070081052A1 (en) * 2005-10-12 2007-04-12 Lebron Hector J Back pressure control in inkjet printing
EP2050572A2 (fr) * 2007-10-19 2009-04-22 Fujifilm Corporation Appareil d'enregistrement par jet d'encre et appareil d'enregistrement
JP2011068033A (ja) * 2009-09-25 2011-04-07 Fujifilm Corp 液体供給装置のバルブ動作確認方法および液体供給装置、インクジェット記録装置
US20130169710A1 (en) * 2010-10-19 2013-07-04 Brian J. Keefe Dual regulator print module
US20160089897A1 (en) * 2014-09-29 2016-03-31 Riso Kagaku Corporation Ink circulation type inkjet printer

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JP5121767B2 (ja) * 2009-03-27 2013-01-16 富士フイルム株式会社 液滴吐出装置
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JP5404498B2 (ja) * 2010-03-30 2014-01-29 理想科学工業株式会社 印刷装置
CN201712257U (zh) * 2010-05-07 2011-01-19 童舟 数码喷印机无级自动循环供墨装置
KR101808358B1 (ko) * 2010-05-17 2017-12-12 멤젯 테크놀로지 엘티디 프린터 내에서 유체 및 가스를 분배하기 위한 시스템
JP5577388B2 (ja) * 2012-08-30 2014-08-20 富士フイルム株式会社 液滴吐出装置、及び、そのメンテナンス方法
JP6139099B2 (ja) * 2012-10-30 2017-05-31 エスアイアイ・プリンテック株式会社 液体噴射ユニット、液体噴射ユニットの使用方法及び液体噴射装置
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US5880748A (en) * 1994-09-20 1999-03-09 Hewlett-Packard Company Ink delivery system for an inkjet pen having an automatic pressure regulation system
US20070081052A1 (en) * 2005-10-12 2007-04-12 Lebron Hector J Back pressure control in inkjet printing
EP2050572A2 (fr) * 2007-10-19 2009-04-22 Fujifilm Corporation Appareil d'enregistrement par jet d'encre et appareil d'enregistrement
JP2011068033A (ja) * 2009-09-25 2011-04-07 Fujifilm Corp 液体供給装置のバルブ動作確認方法および液体供給装置、インクジェット記録装置
US20130169710A1 (en) * 2010-10-19 2013-07-04 Brian J. Keefe Dual regulator print module
US20160089897A1 (en) * 2014-09-29 2016-03-31 Riso Kagaku Corporation Ink circulation type inkjet printer

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2017190934A1 (fr) 2017-11-09
AU2017259594A1 (en) 2018-10-25
JP2019514732A (ja) 2019-06-06
SG11201807298VA (en) 2018-11-29
AU2017259594B2 (en) 2019-05-09
CN109153265B (zh) 2020-08-21
EP3452292A1 (fr) 2019-03-13
CN109153265A (zh) 2019-01-04

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