EP4454889B1 - Reinigungsvorrichtung für tintenstrahldruckköpfe und tintenstrahldrucker mit einer derartigen vorrichtung - Google Patents

Reinigungsvorrichtung für tintenstrahldruckköpfe und tintenstrahldrucker mit einer derartigen vorrichtung

Info

Publication number
EP4454889B1
EP4454889B1 EP24171798.2A EP24171798A EP4454889B1 EP 4454889 B1 EP4454889 B1 EP 4454889B1 EP 24171798 A EP24171798 A EP 24171798A EP 4454889 B1 EP4454889 B1 EP 4454889B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
cleaning device
print head
closing element
supply duct
abutment surface
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
EP24171798.2A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP4454889C0 (de
EP4454889A1 (de
Inventor
Gianpaolo Coin
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.)
Grafco Srl
Original Assignee
Grafco Srl
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 Grafco Srl filed Critical Grafco Srl
Publication of EP4454889A1 publication Critical patent/EP4454889A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP4454889C0 publication Critical patent/EP4454889C0/de
Publication of EP4454889B1 publication Critical patent/EP4454889B1/de
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

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
    • B41J2/16517—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
    • 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

  • the present invention relates to a cleaning device for inkjet print heads.
  • the present invention relates to a cleaning device for inkjet print heads both of industrial inkjet printers for large-size formats, so-called inkjet plotters, and of inkjet printers for small-size or reduced formats.
  • the present invention also relates to an inkjet printer comprising such a cleaning device.
  • Inkjet printing technology used to mark and decorate various surfaces, is well-known in the present state of the art. With said technology it is possible to obtain high-quality print-outs on a wide range of materials rapidly.
  • Inkjet printers use a "non-impact" process in order to release the ink onto the surface to be decorated.
  • the ink is in fact released from nozzles arranged on a print head which is mounted on a carriage usually movable in a direction transverse to the support on which printing is to be performed.
  • the ink may be taken from movable and replaceable containers, so-called cartridges. In the past these cartridges were fixed together with the print head.
  • the vacuum which is created inside the connection circuit between tanks and nozzles during the printing operations enables the ink to be sucked out of the various tanks and to be conveyed to the nozzles of the print head.
  • a first method for cleaning any ink residues from the nozzles is to disconnect the print head from the printer and immerse it in a cleaning solution. Such a method is described for example in JP2004-358667 .
  • the aforementioned method involves, however, a prolonged machine downtime. Moreover, after the cleaning operation, there is the risk that air may remain trapped inside the nozzles or in the connection system which conveys the ink from the tanks to the print head, with negative effects, at least initially, during the first print-outs after cleaning.
  • a second method involves using directly the ink contained in the various tanks in order to clean any residues from the nozzles and the connection system. With this method the ink is conveyed under pressure to the print head and the nozzles so as to remove any incrustations.
  • the disposal of the cleaning ink has a not insignificant environmental impact.
  • this cleaning method stresses the nozzles of the print head, increasing the wear thereof. Finally, during the cleaning operations, the print head may overheat and even break.
  • the general object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art.
  • a first task of the present invention is to provide a cleaning device for inkjet print heads, which allows easy and efficient cleaning of the print heads.
  • a further task of the present invention is to provide a cleaning device for inkjet print heads, which allows the cleaning operations to be performed in a rapid and efficient manner and with a low environmental impact.
  • a task of the present invention is to provide a cleaning device for inkjet print heads, which has small dimensions and a low weight and which may also be used with already existing printers having several colour tanks.
  • a task of the present invention is to provide a cleaning device for inkjet print heads, which does not result in stressing of the print heads and which does not require the print head to be disconnected from the printer.
  • the aforementioned object and tasks are achieved by a cleaning device for inkjet print heads according to Claim 1 and by an inkjet printer according to Claim 16.
  • a cleaning device according to the present invention is denoted overall by the reference number 10.
  • said cleaning device 10 is designed to be used in combination both with inkjet printers provided with print heads 100A of the conventional type, shown schematically in Figures 1-3 , 8 and 10 and with inkjet printers provided with ink recirculation print heads 100B, shown schematically in Figures 4-5 and 13-16 .
  • a first type of print head 100A of the conventional type comprises a plurality of nozzles 101 (see Figure 1A ) and is mounted on a carriage 102 movable forwards and backwards along a guide 103.
  • This print head configuration is commonly referred to in the technical jargon as a "scan" configuration.
  • the print head 100A is movable along a direction T, which is usually transverse to the direction of feeding S of the support on which the printing is performed.
  • the printing ink is removed from one or more tanks 104 arranged on the outside of the print head 100A and connected thereto by means of a supply system consisting of a plurality of flexible tubes 105.
  • These flexible tubes 105 convey the inks to the print heads 100A along the direction of flow C.
  • the tubes 105 are connected to respective inlet ports 106 provided in the carriage 102 and in turn connected to the nozzles 101.
  • Figure 1 schematically shows a print head 100A provided with four separate tanks 104 and designed, for example, to perform a four-colour print, using the CMYK method.
  • cyan, magenta, yellow and black coloured inks will be contained respectively inside the four tanks 104.
  • the cleaning device 10 may be used in combination with print heads 100A which also use several base colours, for example 8, 12, 16 or more colours.
  • a variant of the print head 100A described above and able to be used with the device 10 according to the present invention comprises a valve 107 with a small storage tank which is removably fixed to the print head 100A and referred to in the technical jargon as a "damper" (see Figure 2 ).
  • the damper is usually mounted between the tanks 104 and the print head 100A.
  • the function of the damper is to filter and ensure that a minimum amount of ink is always available for the nozzles 101 of the print head 100A such that the piezoelectric actuator is more readily able to respond and release the ink jet onto the support to be printed.
  • the printer comprises a printing unit 1000A which is composed of a plurality of print heads 100A positioned adjacent to each other so as to each cover a different portion of the printing area on the support onto which the image must be printed.
  • the printing unit 1000A is fixed, while the support is movable along the direction S.
  • the system for supplying the inks of the print heads 100A forming the unit 1000A is, for each head 100A, the same as that schematically shown in Figure 1 .
  • the configuration shown schematically in Figures is referred to in the technical jargon as a "single-pass" configuration and has the advantage that it allows a high printing speed.
  • the cleaning device 10 may advantageously be used also with inkjet printers which have ink recirculation print heads 100B, shown schematically in Figures 4 and 5 for example.
  • Ink recirculation print heads 100B are particularly useful for preventing sedimentation of the inks, if they are greatly pigmented, and for reducing the formation of air bubbles in the supply ducts.
  • This type of print head 100B comprises two separate connections - an outward connection 105A and a return connection 105B - which are provided between each tank 104 and the print head 100B (see Figure 4 ) or between each tank 104 and the damper 107 (see Figure 5 ).
  • the frame 102, or the damper 107 is therefore provided with inlet ports 106 for the connection tubes 105A, by means of which the ink flows inside the print head 100B, or inside the damper 107, along the direction of flow schematically indicated by the arrows C, and with outlet ports 108, by means of which the ink returns from the print head 100B, or the damper 107, to each tank 104 along the direction of flow schematically indicated by the arrows D.
  • the ink recirculation print heads 100B may be arranged in the scan configuration (see Figure 4 ), in the configuration with damper 107 (see Figure 5 ) and in the single-pass configuration (not shown, but well-known to the person skilled in the art).
  • the device 10 is designed to be advantageously positioned in-line between the tanks 104 and the print head 100A, 100B or between the tanks 104 and the dampers 107, such that the washing process involves in the cleaning process both the print head 100A, 100B and the damper 107, if present.
  • the reference number 100A will be used for the print heads of the conventional type and the reference number 100B will be used for the ink recirculation print heads, irrespective as to whether they are in the scan or single-pass configuration and with or without dampers 107.
  • the cleaning device 10 comprises a housing 12 and a container for a washing liquid 14.
  • the device 10 also comprises at least one first supply duct 16 and at least one second supply duct 18.
  • the first supply duct 16 has a first end 16A, designed to be connected to the washing liquid container 14, and a second end 16B, designed to be connected to the print head 100A, 100B.
  • the second supply duct 18 has a first end 18A, designed to be connected to a tank 104 for the printing ink, and a second end 18B, designed to be connected to the print head 100A, 100B.
  • connections of the supply ducts 16, 18 to the tanks 104, to the washing liquid container 14 and to the print head 100A, 100B may be direct or indirect.
  • a further element, such as a damper 107 may be provided between the supply ducts 16, 18 and the print head 100A, 100B.
  • the cleaning device 10 according to the invention is therefore intended to be inserted along the connections 105; 105A, 105B between the tanks 104 and the print heads 100A, 100B.
  • the second supply duct 18 in fact forms part of the connection 105; 105A, 105B between the tanks 104 and the print head 100A, 100B.
  • the first supply duct 18 and the second supply duct 18 are made of an elastically compressible material, where "elastically compressible", for the purposes of the present description, is understood as meaning a material suitable for being deformed when subjected to a compressive force and for recovering substantially its initial form once the compression force ceases.
  • the cleaning device 10 is characterized, moreover, in that it comprises at least one closing element 20.
  • Said closing element 20 is movable inside the housing 12 between a first position (see Figures 8, 9 , 13, 14 ) and a second position (see Figures 10, 11 , 12 , 15 and 16 ).
  • the closing element 20 transversely compresses the first supply duct 16, sealingly closing off a throughflow section thereof, and in said second position, the closing element 20 transversely compresses the second supply duct 19, sealingly closing off a throughflow section thereof.
  • the cleaning device 10 allows easy cleaning of the print heads 100A, 100B to which it is connected.
  • the first and second supply ducts 16, 18 it is possible to change simply and rapidly the supplying of the print head 100A, 100B from a mode where the print head 100A, 100B is supplied only with the printing ink taken from the various colour tanks 104 to a mode where the print head 100A, 100B is supplied only with the washing liquid taken from the container 14.
  • This change-over operation is made possible by the movement of the closing element 20 and by the provision of supply ducts 16, 18 made of elastically compressible material.
  • the print head 100A, 100B is supplied only with the printing ink, since the first supply duct 16 is closed, while with the closing element 20 in the second position, the print head 100A, 100B is supplied only with the washing liquid, since the second supply duct 18 is closed.
  • the closing element 20 During the normal printing operations the closing element 20 will be in the first position and during the cleaning or washing operations the closing element 20 will be in the second position.
  • the cleaning device according to the invention it is advantageously possible to use, both for the print heads of the conventional type and for the ink recirculation print heads, specific cleaning liquids instead of the ink itself, with advantages in terms of cost and efficiency of the cleaning operation.
  • the housing 12 may comprise a first abutment surface 22 and a second abutment surface 24 facing each other.
  • the closing element 20 when the closing element 20 is located in the first position, it compresses the supply duct 16 against the first abutment surface 22, while in the second position the closing element 20 compresses the second supply duct 18 against the second abutment surface 24.
  • the housing 12 has a box-shaped form.
  • the first abutment surface 22 and the second abutment surface 24 are rigid opposite walls of said box-shaped housing.
  • the housing may be made of metallic or rigid polymer material.
  • the housing 12 may be positioned alongside or above the print head 100A, 100B such that it is arranged between the print head 100A, 100B and the tanks 104 for the printing ink.
  • the supply ducts 16, 18 and the closing element 20 are positioned inside the housing 12, while the washing liquid container 14 may be positioned outside the housing 12 so as to facilitate the replacement thereof when needed.
  • the washing liquid container 14 is preferably supplied by means of a duct (not shown in the attached figures) which connects the container 14 to a tank for the washing liquid positioned close to the ink tanks 104. Supplying of the washing liquid container 14 may be performed by means of gravity or by means of a pump which is designed to be activated in the event where a drop in pressure inside the container 14 is detected.
  • the washing liquid container 14 is preferably formed by a flexible bag made of polymer material.
  • the flexible bag is made of polypropylene.
  • the bag has a rectangular shape.
  • the bag 14 when the closing device 20 is in its second position, the bag 14, since it is made of flexible material, may be deflated in a uniform manner such that the washing liquid flows freely towards the print head 100A, 100B, without the need for activation of a sucking action by the piezoelectric actuator and therefore without stressing and subjecting the print head 100A, 100B to wear during the cleaning process.
  • the container 14 is provided with at least one outlet 25 and at least one inlet 27.
  • the outlet 25 is connected to the first supply duct 16, while the inlet 27 is connected to a washing liquid tank.
  • the container 14 may be filled by means of the inlet 27.
  • the inlet 27 is preferably provided with a connector 28.
  • the outlet 25 may also be provided with a connector 26 intended to be connected directly or indirectly to the first end 16A of the first supply duct 16.
  • the container 14 is provided with a plurality of outlets 25. The number of said outlets 25 is equal to the number of ink tanks 104 of the print head 100A, 100B. In the case where the print head 100A, 100B uses the CMYK printing method, the container 14 will therefore be provided with four separate outlets 25, each outlet 25 being connected to a different first supply duct 16.
  • the container 14 may also be provided with a plurality of inlets 27.
  • the container 14 is provided with two separate inlets 27. In this way, the container 14 may be more easily topped up or filled.
  • the first and second supply ducts 16, 18 are preferably made of flexible polymer material.
  • the supply ducts 16, 18 are made of elastomer material, for example nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR), fluoroelastomer, silicone, ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber, polyurethane elastomer; in this way they may be easily compressed and at the same time may rapidly recover their initial form once the compressive force acting on them ceases.
  • NBR nitrile butadiene rubber
  • SBR styrene-butadiene rubber
  • HNBR hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber
  • fluoroelastomer silicone, ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber, polyurethane elastomer
  • the size of the throughflow sections of the supply ducts 16, 18 will be chosen depending on the flowrate of ink or washing liquid which must be conveyed to the print head.
  • the cleaning device 10 comprises a plurality of first ducts 16 and a plurality of second ducts 18.
  • the number of first supply ducts 16 is equal to the number of second supply ducts 18, so as to ensure efficient cleaning of the print head 100A.
  • first supply ducts 16 and second supply ducts 18 are equal to the number of ink tanks 14 which supply the print head 100A.
  • Figures 8 and 10 show schematically a single second supply duct 18 and a single first supply duct 16.
  • the supply ducts 16, 18 are connected to the connection tube 105 by means of which the ink flows from the tank 104 into the print head 100A.
  • the device 10 preferably comprises two second supply ducts 118A, 118B for each tank 104: an outward duct 118A and a return duct 118B.
  • the outward duct 118A is connected to the connection tube 105A by means of which the ink flows from the tank 104 into the print head 100B and the return duct 118B is connected to the connection tube 105B by means of which the ink returns from the print head 100B to the tank 104.
  • a single outward duct 118A is shown in Figures 13 and 15 and a single return duct 118B is shown in Figures 14 and 16 .
  • these ducts 118A, 118B are both present simultaneously in the case where the print head is of the ink recirculation type.
  • the device 10 comprises preferably, for each tank 104, in addition to a first supply duct 116A, a discharge duct 116B.
  • the first supply duct 116A is connected to the connection tube 105A and allows the introduction of the washing liquid taken from the container 14 into the print head 100B.
  • the discharge duct 116B is connected to the connection tube 105B and allows the washing liquid output from the print head 100B to be conveyed to a storage tank 114.
  • the discharge duct 116B has a first end connected to the connection tube 105B and a second end connected to an outlet duct 125 by means of which the washing liquid is conveyed to the storage tank 114.
  • a single first supply duct 116A is shown in Figures 13 and 15 and a single discharge duct 116B is shown in Figures 14 and 16 .
  • these ducts are both present simultaneously in the case where the print head is of the ink recirculation type.
  • the second end 16B of a first supply duct 16; 116A or of a discharge duct 116B and the second end 18B of a second supply duct 18; 118A, 118B are connected to a single connector 30 in turn intended to be directly or indirectly connected to the print head 100A, 100B by means of an outlet duct 105A, 105B.
  • the connector 30 is a Y-shaped connector, with the two inlets respectively connected to the second end 16B of the first supply duct 16; 116A and to the second end 18B of the second supply duct 18; 118A, 118B and with the outlet connected to the outlet duct 105A, 105B.
  • the connector 30 is preferably made of polymer material, for example polypropylene, polyethylene or polytetrafluoroethylene.
  • the cleaning device 10 will be provided with a number of connectors 30 equal to the number of first and second supply ducts 16, 18; 116A, 118A, 118B.
  • the closing element 20 is advantageously movable along a guide rail 34.
  • the guide rail 34 is arranged perpendicularly with respect to the first abutment surface 22 and to the second abutment surface 24.
  • the closing element 20 and the guide rail 34 define a transmission coupling of the worm screw/female thread type, wherein the closing element 20 corresponds to the female thread and the guide rail 34 corresponds to the worm screw.
  • the worm screw 24 is provided with an external thread intended to engage with a corresponding internal thread of the closing element 20 mounted thereon.
  • the pitch and the inclination of the external thread of the worm screw 34 and the pitch and the inclination of the internal thread of the closing element 20 may be selected so as to form an irreversible coupling, i.e. a coupling in which the closing element 20 remains locked on the worm screw 34 when the worm screw 34 is stationary, i.e. is not rotated.
  • the guide rail 34 is connected to a drive motor 36 which is preferably arranged outside of the housing 12.
  • the drive motor 36 may be an electric motor.
  • the closing element 20 may maintain its first position or its second position, without the motor 26 being continuously powered.
  • the electric motor 36 may be operated by means of a control device of the known type - not shown in the attached figures - which may cause reversal of the rotary movement of the screw 34 so as to allow the movement of the closing element 20 in either direction.
  • the closing element 20 is coupled to a single guide rail 34 positioned in a central portion of the closing element 20 (see Figures 9 and 11 ).
  • This solution is preferably adopted in the case where the print head 100 is supplied with 4, 6 or 8 colours.
  • the closing element 20 is preferably coupled to two guide rails 34 which are positioned along the side portions of the closing element 20.
  • the two guide rails 34 will be operated by two separate drive motors 36 (see Figure 12 ).
  • the cleaning device 10 is connected to a print head 100A of the conventional type, which is provided with a plurality of nozzles 101 and which uses the CMYK printing method and is therefore supplied with ink taken from four separate tanks 104.
  • These tanks in accordance with that shown in Figures 1 , 2 , 4 and 5 , are positioned outside the print head 100A.
  • the cleaning device 10 during use is intended to be arranged between the print head 100A provided with a plurality of nozzles, and the ink tanks 104.
  • the cleaning device is provided with four first supply ducts 16 and with four second supply ducts 18.
  • first ends 16A of each of the first supply ducts 16 are connected to the washing liquid container 14 at each outlet 27 and the second ends 16B of each of the second supply ducts are connected to a different connector 30.
  • first ends 18A of each of the second supply ducts 18 are connected to a different ink tank 104 and the second ends 18B of each of the second supply ducts 18 are connected to a different connector 30.
  • the closing element 20 is located in its first position (see Figures 8 and 9 ).
  • the closing element 20 transversely compresses each of the first supply ducts 16 against the first abutment surface 22, sealingly closing off the respective throughflow sections.
  • the washing liquid contained in the bag 14 is therefore blocked along the sections of the first supply ducts 16 closed by the closing element 20.
  • the print head 100A is supplied solely with the ink taken from the various colour tanks via the second supply ducts 18.
  • the closing element 20 When it is required to clean the nozzles, by starting the drive motor 36 the closing element 20 may be moved along the worm screw 34, so as to pass from its first position into its second position.
  • the closing element 20 may transversely compress each of the second supply ducts 16 against the second abutment surface 22, sealingly closing the respective throughflow sections.
  • the ink contained in each of the four tanks 104 is therefore blocked along the sections of the second supply ducts 18 closed by the closing element 20.
  • the closing element 20 no longer compresses the first supply ducts 16 and therefore the washing liquid contained inside them may flow towards the print head 100A.
  • the print head 100A is therefore supplied solely with the washing liquid taken from the bag 14 via the first supply ducts.
  • the washing liquid may be conveyed to all the nozzles of the print head, thereby performing cleaning thereof.
  • the closing element 20 may be brought back into its first position, so as to compress and block the flow of the washing liquid towards the print head and at the same time allow the latter to be supplied again with the ink taken from the tanks 104.
  • the cleaning device 10 is provided with two second supply ducts 118A, 118B for each colour tank 104.
  • the cleaning device 10 also is provided with a first supply duct 116A and a discharge duct 116B.
  • the closing element 20 transversely compresses at least the first supply duct 116A.
  • the closing element 20 may transversely compress also the discharge duct 116B.
  • the closing element 20 transversely compresses the outward duct 118A and the return duct 118B for the ink.
  • the ink via the outward duct 118A may flow inside the print head 100B (see Figure 13 ) and via the return duct 118B it may return from the print head 100B to the tank 104 (see Figure 14 ).
  • the washing liquid is in fact blocked by the closing element.
  • the washing liquid output from the print head may be conveyed via the discharge duct 116B to the storage tank 114 so as to prevent the washing liquid from contaminating the ink tank 104 (see Figure 16 ).
  • the cleaning device according to the invention is in fact able to ensure easy and efficient cleaning of the print head.
  • the printing inks which are being used inside the print head may be replaced with a washing liquid without the introduction of air and/or having to disconnect the existing connections.
  • the cleaning device moreover, is compact and has a limited weight and dimensions and may also be used in combination with print heads which are already installed and in use. It is sufficient to disconnect the tanks from the print head and connect the outlets of the tanks to the second supply ducts of the cleaning device on the one hand and, on the other hand, connect the outlet ducts of the device to the print head.
  • the cleaning device according to the invention owing to the flexible washing liquid container, does not subject the piezoelectric actuator of the print head to a stressing force during the cleaning operations and this allows the working life thereof to be increased.
  • the possibility of cleaning the print head without, in fact, disconnecting it from the ink tanks and via the Y connectors ensures that no air is introduced inside the supply circuit, even in the case of ink recirculation heads, thus ensuring a high printing quality.

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  • Ink Jet (AREA)

Claims (19)

  1. Reinigungsvorrichtung (10) für Tintenstrahldruckköpfe (100A, 100B), umfassend:
    - ein Gehäuse (12);
    - einen Behälter (14) für eine Waschflüssigkeit;
    - mindestens einen ersten Zufuhrkanal (16, 116A) mit einem ersten Ende (16A), das zum Anschluss an den Waschflüssigkeitsbehälter (14) vorgesehen ist, und einem zweiten Ende (16B), das zum Anschluss an den Druckkopf (100A, 100B) vorgesehen ist;
    - mindestens einen zweiten Zufuhrkanal (18; 118A, 118B) mit einem ersten Ende (18A), das zum Anschluss an einen Drucktintentank (104) vorgesehen ist, und einem zweiten Ende (18B), das zum Anschluss an den Druckkopf (100A, 100B) vorgesehen ist;
    wobei der mindestens eine erste Zufuhrkanal (16, 116A) und der mindestens eine zweite Zufuhrkanal (18; 118A, 118B) aus einem elastisch komprimierbaren Material bestehen und dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
    die Reinigungsvorrichtung (10) mindestens ein Verschlusselement (20) umfasst, das innerhalb des Gehäuses (12) zwischen einer ersten Position, in der das Verschlusselement (20) den mindestens einen ersten Zufuhrkanal (16, 116A) quer zusammendrückt und einen Durchflussabschnitt des mindestens einen ersten Zufuhrkanals (16, 116A) dichtend verschließt, und einer zweiten Position, in der das Verschlusselement (20) den mindestens einen zweiten Zufuhrkanal (18; 118A, 118B) quer zusammendrückt und einen Durchflussabschnitt des mindestens einen zweiten Zufuhrkanals (18; 118A, 118B) dichtend verschließt, bewegt.
  2. Reinigungsvorrichtung (10) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Gehäuse (12) eine erste Anlagefläche (22) und eine zweite Anlagefläche (24), die einander gegenüberliegen, umfasst, wobei in der ersten Position das Verschlusselement (20) den mindestens einen ersten Zufuhrkanal (16; 116A) gegen die erste Anlagefläche (22) drückt und in der zweiten Position das Verschlusselement (20) den mindestens einen zweiten Zufuhrkanal (18; 118A, 118B) gegen die zweite Anlagefläche (24) drückt.
  3. Reinigungsvorrichtung (10) nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Gehäuse (12) kastenförmig ist, wobei die erste Anlagefläche (22) und die zweite Anlagefläche (24) zwei gegenüberliegende Wände des kastenförmigen Gehäuses (12) sind.
  4. Reinigungsvorrichtung (10) nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Verschlusselement (20) entlang einer Führungsschiene (34) bewegbar ist.
  5. Reinigungsvorrichtung (10) nach Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Führungsschiene (34) senkrecht zu der ersten Anlagefläche (22) und der zweiten Anlagefläche (24) angeordnet ist.
  6. Reinigungsvorrichtung (10) nach Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Verschlusselement (20) und die Führungsschiene (34) eine Übertragungskupplung vom Typ Schneckenschraube/Innengewinde bilden, wobei das Verschlusselement (20) dem Innengewinde und die Führungsschiene (34) der Schneckenschraube entspricht.
  7. Reinigungsvorrichtung (10) nach Anspruch 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass eine Drehbewegung der Schneckenschraube (34) in Abhängigkeit von der Drehrichtung der Schneckenschraube (34) zu einer Bewegung des Verschlusselements (20) in Richtung der ersten Anlagefläche (22) oder in Richtung der zweiten Anlagefläche (24) des Gehäuses (12) führt.
  8. Reinigungsvorrichtung (10) nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Verschlusselement (20) entlang einer Führungsschiene (34) bewegbar ist; wobei das Verschlusselement (20) eine zylindrische Form aufweist, deren Längsachse senkrecht zur Führungsschiene (34) und parallel zur Erstreckungsrichtung der ersten Anlagefläche (22) und der zweiten Anlagefläche (24) angeordnet ist.
  9. Reinigungsvorrichtung (10) nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Waschflüssigkeitsbehälter (14) ein flexibler Beutel ist; wobei der flexible Beutel vorzugsweise aus Polymermaterial hergestellt ist.
  10. Reinigungsvorrichtung (10) nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Waschflüssigkeitsbehälter (14) mit mindestens einem Auslass (25) und mit mindestens einem Einlass (27) bereitgestellt ist; wobei der mindestens eine Auslass (25) dazu bestimmt ist, mit dem mindestens einen ersten Zufuhrkanal (16; 116A) verbunden zu werden, und der mindestens eine Einlass (27) dazu bestimmt ist, mit einem Tank für die Waschflüssigkeit verbunden zu werden.
  11. Reinigungsvorrichtung (10) nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass sie eine Vielzahl erster Zufuhrkanäle (16) und eine Vielzahl zweiter Zufuhrkanäle (18) umfasst, wobei die Anzahl der ersten Zufuhrkanäle (16) gleich der Anzahl der zweiten Zufuhrkanäle (18) ist.
  12. Reinigungsvorrichtung (10) nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das zweite Ende (16B) des mindestens einen ersten Zufuhrkanals (16, 116A) und das zweite Ende (18B) des mindestens einen zweiten Zufuhrkanals (18, 118A, 118B) mit einem einzigen Verbinder (30) verbunden sind; wobei der Verbinder (30) dazu bestimmt ist, direkt oder indirekt über einen Auslasskanal (105A, 105B) mit dem Druckkopf (100A, 100B) verbunden zu werden.
  13. Reinigungsvorrichtung (10) nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der mindestens eine erste Zufuhrkanal (16, 116A) und der mindestens eine zweite Zufuhrkanal (18, 118A, 118B) aus einem flexiblen Polymermaterial hergestellt sind.
  14. Reinigungsvorrichtung (10) nach Anspruch 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Steigung und die Neigung des Außengewindes der Schneckenschraube (34) und die Steigung und die Neigung des Innengewindes des Verschlusselements (20) so gewählt sind, dass sie eine irreversible Kupplung bilden, bei der das Verschlusselement (20) bei stillstehender Schneckenschraube (34) auf der Schneckenschraube (34) verriegelt bleibt.
  15. Reinigungsvorrichtung (10) nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass sie einen Abflusskanal (116B) umfasst, wobei der Abflusskanal (116B) ein erstes Ende aufweist, das dazu bestimmt ist, mit einem Verbindungsrohr (105B) verbunden zu werden, mittels dessen die Drucktinte vom Druckkopf (100B) zum Tank (104) zurückfließt, und ein zweites Ende aufweist, das mit einem Auslasskanal (125) verbunden ist, über den die Waschflüssigkeit zu einem Vorratstank (114) geleitet wird.
  16. Tintenstrahldrucker, umfassend:
    - einen Druckkopf (100A, 100B), der mit einer Vielzahl von Düsen (101) bereitgestellt ist;
    - eine Vielzahl von Tintentanks (104), die an der Außenseite des Druckkopfes (100A, 100B) angeordnet und mit dem Druckkopf (100A, 100B) über ein Versorgungssystem verbunden sind, das aus einer Vielzahl von flexiblen Röhren (105; 105A, 105B) besteht;
    dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass dieser eine Reinigungsvorrichtung (10) nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche umfasst, wobei die Reinigungsvorrichtung (10) zwischen dem Druckkopf (100A; 100B) und der Vielzahl von Tintentanks (104) angeordnet ist.
  17. Drucker nach Anspruch 16, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Druckkopf (100A, 100B) ein Ventil (107) umfasst, das abnehmbar an dem Druckkopf (100A, 100B) befestigt ist, wobei die Reinigungsvorrichtung (10) zwischen dem Ventil (107) und der Vielzahl von Tintentanks (104) angeordnet ist.
  18. Drucker nach einem der Ansprüche 16 oder 17, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Druckkopf (100A, 100B) auf einem Schlitten (102) montiert ist, der entlang einer Führung (103) in einer Richtung (T) vorwärts und rückwärts bewegbar ist, die senkrecht zur Vorschubrichtung (S) des Trägers verläuft, auf dem gedruckt wird.
  19. Drucker nach einem der Ansprüche 16 oder 17, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass dieser eine feststehende Druckeinheit (1000A) umfasst, die aus einer Vielzahl der Druckköpfe (100A, 100B) besteht, die nebeneinander angeordnet sind.
EP24171798.2A 2023-04-28 2024-04-23 Reinigungsvorrichtung für tintenstrahldruckköpfe und tintenstrahldrucker mit einer derartigen vorrichtung Active EP4454889B1 (de)

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IT102023000008394A IT202300008394A1 (it) 2023-04-28 2023-04-28 Dispositivo di pulizia per teste di stampa a getto di inchiostro e stampante a getto di inchiostro comprendente tale dispositivo

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2002347256A (ja) * 2001-05-24 2002-12-04 Sii Printek Inc インクジェット式記録装置
JP4503941B2 (ja) 2003-06-02 2010-07-14 東芝テック株式会社 インクジェットヘッド洗浄装置及びインクジェットヘッド洗浄方法
US8308278B2 (en) * 2010-04-02 2012-11-13 Xerox Corporation System and method for operating a conduit to transport fluid through the conduit
JP2015134486A (ja) * 2014-01-20 2015-07-27 セイコーエプソン株式会社 液体収容容器
JP6679174B2 (ja) * 2016-08-22 2020-04-15 住友重機械工業株式会社 インクジェット装置

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