GB2620344A - Cleaning head for inkjet printing apparatus - Google Patents
Cleaning head for inkjet printing apparatus Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2620344A GB2620344A GB2316326.4A GB202316326A GB2620344A GB 2620344 A GB2620344 A GB 2620344A GB 202316326 A GB202316326 A GB 202316326A GB 2620344 A GB2620344 A GB 2620344A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- cleaning head
- nozzle
- head according
- tapered
- opposed
- 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.)
- Pending
Links
- 238000004140 cleaning Methods 0.000 title claims abstract 40
- 238000007641 inkjet printing Methods 0.000 title claims 9
- 238000007639 printing Methods 0.000 claims 4
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 claims 2
- 230000000541 pulsatile effect Effects 0.000 claims 1
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
- B41J2/1652—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
- B41J2/16585—Prevention or detection of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles for paper-width or non-reciprocating print heads
- B41J2/16588—Print heads movable towards the cleaning unit
Landscapes
- Ink Jet (AREA)
Abstract
A cleaning head (80) for cleaning an exposed exterior nozzle orifice surface of a nozzle plate of an inkjet print head, the cleaning head (80) comprising: a body (110) defining a vacuum port (130) configured to be coupled to a vacuum source, the body (110) having an exterior surface profiled to deflect the trajectory of air drawn into the vacuum port (130) against the exposed exterior nozzle orifice surface of the nozzle plate as the nozzle plate moves relative to the cleaning head along a path substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the body (110) so as to dislodge ink and accumulated debris from the exposed exterior nozzle orifice surface, said ink and debris dislodged from the orifice surface being drawn into the vacuum port (130); wherein: the body (110) comprises: a nozzle portion (120); and a base portion (140) supporting the nozzle portion (120); and the vacuum port (130) comprises an inlet slot (132) extending laterally between opposed first and second laterally spaced side walls (122A, 122B) of the nozzle portion (120); characterised in that the nozzle portion (120) defines: a tapered nozzle body (150) defining an external airflow guide surface; and a tapered nozzle tip (160) surrounding the inlet slot (132), wherein the tapered nozzle body (150) has an uppermost tapered section (150') inclined to vertical at a steeper taper angle than a corresponding taper angle of a lowermost tapered section of the tapered nozzle tip (160).
Claims (32)
1. A cleaning head for cleaning an exposed exterior nozzle orifice surface of a nozzle plate of an inkjet print head, the cleaning head comprising: a body defining a vacuum port configured to be coupled to a vacuum source, the body having an exterior surface profiled to deflect the trajectory of air drawn into the vacuum port against the exposed exterior nozzle orifice surface of the nozzle plate as the nozzle plate moves relative to the cleaning head along a path substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the body so as to dislodge ink and accumulated debris from the exposed exterior nozzle orifice surface, said ink and debris dislodged from the orifice surface being drawn into the vacuum port; wherein: the body comprises: a nozzle portion; and a base portion supporting the nozzle portion; and the vacuum port comprises an inlet slot extending laterally between opposed first and second laterally spaced side walls of the nozzle portion; characterised in that the nozzle portion defines: a tapered nozzle body defining an external airflow guide surface; and a tapered nozzle tip surrounding the inlet slot, wherein the tapered nozzle body has an uppermost tapered section inclined to vertical at a steeper taper angle than a corresponding taper angle of a lowermost tapered section of the tapered nozzle tip.
2. A cleaning head according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning head is a contactless cleaning head.
3. A cleaning head according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein: the tapered nozzle body comprises first and second opposed nozzle body end walls inclined relative to vertical and first and second opposed nozzle body side walls inclined relative to vertical; and the nozzle tip comprises first and second opposed nozzle tip end walls inclined relative to vertical and first and second opposed nozzle tip side walls inclined relative to vertical.
4. A cleaning head according to claim 3, wherein one or more of the first and second opposed nozzle body end walls have an uppermost tapered section inclined by a first taper angle Ai .
5. A cleaning head according to claim 4, wherein taper angle Ai = 25-37°.
6. A cleaning head according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein one or more of the first and second opposed nozzle body side walls have an uppermost tapered section inclined by a second taper angle A2.
7. A cleaning head according to claim 6, wherein Ai > A2.
8. A cleaning head according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein taper angle A2 = 17-25° .
9. A cleaning head according to any of claims 3-8, wherein one or more of the first and second opposed nozzle tip end walls are inclined by a first taper angle Bi.
10. A cleaning head according to claim 9, wherein taper angle Bi = 39-59° .
11. A cleaning head according to any of claims 3-10, wherein one or more of the first and second opposed nozzle tip side walls are inclined by a second taper angle B2.
12. A cleaning head according to claim 11, wherein Bi > B2 .
13. A cleaning head according to claim 11 or claim 12, wherein taper angle B2 = 27-41°.
14. A cleaning head according to any of claims 3-13, wherein one or more of the first and second opposed nozzle body side walls have a concave curved surface profile .
15. A cleaning head according to any of claims 3-14, wherein one or more of the first and second opposed nozzle body end walls have a concave curved surface profile.
16. A cleaning head according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the nozzle portion defines a passageway defining a tapered internal chamber section and an elongate entrance section connecting the inlet slot to the tapered internal chamber section.
17. A cleaning head according to claim 16, wherein the base portion defines a vacuum source connection chamber and the tapered internal chamber section connects the elongate entrance section to the vacuum source connection chamber.
18. A cleaning head according to claim 16 or claim 17, wherein the tapered internal chamber section is profiled to act as an internal airflow guide surface.
19. A cleaning head according to any of claims 16-18, wherein the internal tapered chamber section comprises first and second opposed internal end walls and first and second opposed internal side walls .
20. A cleaning head according to claim 19, wherein one or more of the first and second opposed internal end walls have a convex curved surface profile.
21. A cleaning head according to claim 19 or claim 20, wherein one or more of the first and second internal side walls have a convex curved surface profile.
22. A cleaning head according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the inlet slot has a slot length SL and a slot width Sw, wherein the ratio of the slot length SL to the slot width Sw is > 20 .
23. A cleaning head according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the inlet slot has a cross-sectional area SA < 2.6 mm2 .
24. An inkj et printing apparatus having a printhead assembly, movable between a printing position and a maintenance position, comprising a plurality of printing heads each of the type having a nozzle plate on which there is defined an exposed exterior nozzle orifice surface, the orifice surface being formed with a row of nozzle orifices through which ink is ejected under microprocessor control; wherein the printing apparatus includes, at the maintenance position of the printhead assembly, a cleaning station comprising a plurality of laterally spaced cleaning heads; and at least one vacuum source in communication with the plurality of cleaning heads; wherein each cleaning head is a cleaning head in accordance with any of claims 1-23 .
25. An inkjet printing apparatus according to claim 24, the inlet slot has a vacuum flow rate (Fs) >13 litres/min.
26. An inkjet printing apparatus according to claim 24 or claim 25, wherein spacing between an uppermost surface of the cleaning head and the exposed exterior nozzle orifice surface of the nozzle plate is in the range of 0.145mm - 0.435mm.
27. An inkjet printing apparatus according to claim 26, wherein spacing between an uppermost surface of the cleaning head and the exposed exterior nozzle orifice surface of the nozzle plate is substantially 0.225mm.
28. An inkjet printing apparatus according to any of claims 24-27, wherein the at least one vacuum source is a non-pulsatile vacuum pump.
29. An inkjet printing apparatus according to any of claims 24-28, wherein the at least one vacuum source is a constant-velocity vacuum pump.
30. An inkjet printing apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the at least one vacuum source is a rotary vane vacuum pump .
31. An inkjet printing apparatus according to any of claims 24-30, wherein the at least one vacuum source has a vacuum source inlet flow rate (Fi) > 18 litres/min.
32. An inkjet printing apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the vacuum source inlet flow rate (Fi) is substantially 36 litres/min.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBGB2106001.7A GB202106001D0 (en) | 2021-04-27 | 2021-04-27 | Cleaning head for inkjet printing apparatus |
| PCT/GB2022/050992 WO2022229602A1 (en) | 2021-04-27 | 2022-04-20 | Cleaning head for inkjet printing apparatus |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB202316326D0 GB202316326D0 (en) | 2023-12-06 |
| GB2620344A true GB2620344A (en) | 2024-01-03 |
Family
ID=76193512
Family Applications (2)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBGB2106001.7A Ceased GB202106001D0 (en) | 2021-04-27 | 2021-04-27 | Cleaning head for inkjet printing apparatus |
| GB2316326.4A Pending GB2620344A (en) | 2021-04-27 | 2022-04-20 | Cleaning head for inkjet printing apparatus |
Family Applications Before (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBGB2106001.7A Ceased GB202106001D0 (en) | 2021-04-27 | 2021-04-27 | Cleaning head for inkjet printing apparatus |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (2) | GB202106001D0 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2022229602A1 (en) |
Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JP2003039710A (en) * | 2001-08-03 | 2003-02-13 | Hitachi Koki Co Ltd | Nozzle cleaning mechanism of ink jet head |
| JP2011201308A (en) * | 2011-05-24 | 2011-10-13 | Ishii Hyoki Corp | Inkjet head wiping apparatus |
| US20150144709A1 (en) * | 2013-11-22 | 2015-05-28 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Liquid discharge apparatus and method for controlling the same |
| WO2020058879A1 (en) * | 2018-09-18 | 2020-03-26 | Industrial Injket Limited | Printing apparatus with multi-head cleaning of inkjet printface and method of cleaning thereof |
| WO2021008955A1 (en) * | 2019-07-12 | 2021-01-21 | Weidmüller Interface GmbH & Co. KG | Printer for printing plate-like print media, cleaning device for the printer and method for maintaining the printer |
-
2021
- 2021-04-27 GB GBGB2106001.7A patent/GB202106001D0/en not_active Ceased
-
2022
- 2022-04-20 GB GB2316326.4A patent/GB2620344A/en active Pending
- 2022-04-20 WO PCT/GB2022/050992 patent/WO2022229602A1/en active Application Filing
Patent Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JP2003039710A (en) * | 2001-08-03 | 2003-02-13 | Hitachi Koki Co Ltd | Nozzle cleaning mechanism of ink jet head |
| JP2011201308A (en) * | 2011-05-24 | 2011-10-13 | Ishii Hyoki Corp | Inkjet head wiping apparatus |
| US20150144709A1 (en) * | 2013-11-22 | 2015-05-28 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Liquid discharge apparatus and method for controlling the same |
| WO2020058879A1 (en) * | 2018-09-18 | 2020-03-26 | Industrial Injket Limited | Printing apparatus with multi-head cleaning of inkjet printface and method of cleaning thereof |
| WO2021008955A1 (en) * | 2019-07-12 | 2021-01-21 | Weidmüller Interface GmbH & Co. KG | Printer for printing plate-like print media, cleaning device for the printer and method for maintaining the printer |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| WO2022229602A1 (en) | 2022-11-03 |
| GB202316326D0 (en) | 2023-12-06 |
| GB202106001D0 (en) | 2021-06-09 |
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