JP3046244U - Ink supply system for inkjet printer - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide an ink supply system for an ink jet printer that effectively eliminates bubbles in ink. SOLUTION: One valve is provided between the ink control cylinder and the ink storage cylinder, and between the ink control cylinder and the print head,
The ink supply pipe is connected, and a return valve is provided at the outlet of the print head so that it can be selectively opened. The return valve is connected to the ink storage cylinder to introduce ink back into the ink storage cylinder. One air pipe is connected upward to the ink storage cylinder to maintain the air pressure in the ink storage cylinder, a pressure air source is connected to the ink control cylinder, and a three-way valve is used. When the ink in the ink control cylinder is pressurized to increase the flow rate from the ink supply pipe to the print head and the return valve opens,
The bubbles in the ink supply tube can be forcibly discharged to the ink return tube together with the ink, so that the bubbles and the ink can be separated.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

[Technical field to which the invention belongs]

 The present invention relates to an ink supply system for an ink jet printer, and more particularly, to an improved ink supply system for an ink jet printer for industrial use. The present invention relates to an ink supply system capable of efficiently eliminating the ink.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 Industrial inkjet printers are commonly used to print identifying symbols, bar codes, or marks on product packaging. Such an ink jet printer usually includes a print head, and an ink supply system is connected to the print head so that necessary ink can be supplied at the time of printing. The ink supply system includes a single ink supply, such as an ink bottle, which is moved and opened according to the printer, and the ink in the ink bottle is introduced into a print head and ejected by a pipeline. An ink control tube is further provided between the ink bottle and the printhead, which is used to flow ink to the printhead regularly.

[0003] There are various design styles of industrial printers on the market that have good use effects, but most of them have a problem that the ink supply system is blocked by bubbles. That is, air bubbles were generated in the ink supply system, which prevented the ink from flowing to the print head. The bubbles usually caused a "leak point" problem in the printed result, ie, the printed lines became discontinuous. Traditionally designed ink supply systems for printers, such as the ULTRAJET Large Ink Supply System (LISS) ink supply system, registered as a trademark of TRIDENT, eliminates air bubbles in the ink supply system. At the time, remove the ink bottle and replace it with the lid, then apply pressure to the ventilation pipe, that is, usually blow air into the ventilation pipe, blow into the LISS to act on the ink, and force the bubbles to pass And discharged from the system. At this time, the outlet cap is removed to allow the pressurized ink to flow out together with the bubbles.

[0004] However, the above-mentioned well-known operation method requires operation by a specialized technician, the operation takes time, and air bubbles cannot be eliminated unless more ink is discharged from the system. Large amounts of ink were wasted, polluting the system and the environment. Furthermore, such an air bubble elimination method is said to be capable of eliminating air bubbles from the ink supply system, but cannot actually completely eliminate the air bubbles and must be further eliminated in a subsequent operation. I had to. As described above, the air bubble elimination method of the known ink supply system requires time, cost and cost to eliminate air bubbles, and also causes contamination, which has been a problem for printer users.

[0005] In addition, known ink supply systems, such as the above-mentioned LISS of Trident Co., Ltd., increase the internal pressure as the temperature rises, thereby causing ink to overflow the print head and generate contamination, Occasionally, the system caused the ink to overflow from the vent above the LISS, originally provided for pressure equilibration, due to increased temperature.

[0006] Because of the above-mentioned drawbacks of the ink supply system of the ink jet printer, there is a need for a new ink supply system structure that can eliminate air bubbles in an effective and economical manner and solve other drawbacks. .

[0007]

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a kind of ink supply system for an ink jet printer which can effectively and quickly eliminate bubbles.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a kind of ink supply system of an ink jet printer which can reduce the outflow of ink when bubbles are discharged from the ink supply system.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a kind of ink supply system for an ink jet printer which can reduce environmental pollution generated when bubbles are eliminated.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a kind of ink supply system for an ink jet printer which can prevent the ink from overflowing from a print head due to a temperature rise.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a kind of ink supply system for an ink jet printer which can prevent the ink from overflowing from a ventilation pipe due to a temperature rise.

[0012]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 The invention according to claim 1 is an ink supply system attached to an ink jet printer, supplies ink from an ink supply source to a print head of the ink jet printer, and receives the ink supplied by the ink supply system to the ink jet printer. The ink supply system is provided as an ink storage cylinder for receiving and storing ink provided by an ink supply source, and an ink control cylinder is provided for the ink supply system. Then, one ink replenishment pipe is connected to the ink storage cylinder, and the ink replenishment pipe is provided with one valve for controlling the flow of ink from the ink storage cylinder to the ink control cylinder, and the inside of the ink control cylinder is specified. The ink control cylinder where one ink level is formed, and one ink supply pipe, from which the ink control cylinder is fed to the print head. It is extended to the ink inlet end to introduce the ink inside the ink control cylinder to the print head, and as one return valve, connected to the print head ink sending end, selectively opened and spilled out of the print head In addition to collecting collected ink, it is also used to circulate and collect the ink released in connection with the ink storage cylinder. .

[0013] In the invention of claim 2, one low liquid level sensor and one high liquid level sensor are provided inside the ink storage cylinder, and the ink liquid level inside the ink control cylinder can be detected. An ink supply system for an inkjet printer according to the first aspect is provided.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the low liquid level sensor and the high liquid level sensor are connected to a valve in an electronic manner to control the flow of ink from the ink storage cylinder to the ink control cylinder. The ink supply system for an inkjet printer according to claim 2, wherein the control of the ink level is performed.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the ink control cylinder is one closed container, the ink supply system is further provided with one compressed air source, and the compressed air source is selectively connected to the ink control cylinder. Pressurizes the ink inside the ink control cylinder, forms a rapid flow of ink in the ink supply pipe and the print head by opening the return valve, eliminates air bubbles in the ink supply pipe and the print head, and accelerates the ink. The ink supply system according to claim 1, wherein the flow is returned to the inside of the ink storage cylinder by the guide of the return valve.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, the compressed air source is connected to the ink control cylinder via one valve, one end of the valve is connected to the compression source, and the other end is connected to the ink control cylinder. An ink supply system for an ink-jet printer according to claim 4, characterized in that:

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the valve connected between the compressed air source and the ink control cylinder is a three-way valve, and one outlet of the three-way valve is used to provide normal pressure. 5 is an ink supply system for an ink jet printer.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink supply system for an ink jet printer according to the first aspect, wherein a filtration device is provided between the ink storage cylinder and the ink control cylinder.

The invention according to claim 8 is the ink supply system for an ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein a filtration device is provided between the ink control cylinder and the print head.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink supply system for an inkjet printer according to the fourth aspect, wherein the compressed air source is a compressed air source operated by power.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink jet printer, comprising: an ink supply source; and an ink control tube for receiving ink supplied from the ink supply source. A kind of ink supply system in which the liquid level is kept constant, wherein the ink control tube is connected to the print head via the ink supply tube, and the print head is connected to the ink supply tube. A printhead ink introduction end and a printhead ink delivery end that is used to selectively eject ink from the printhead, wherein the printhead ink delivery end is connected to one return valve, and the return valve is selected. The ink released from the print head is opened when the ink is released, and the ink inside the ink control cylinder is pressurized. A rapid flow is formed, which passes through the ink supply pipe and the print head, forcibly eliminates bubbles in the ink supply pipe and the print head, and passes through the return valve. Ink supply system for inkjet printers.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an ink return tube is connected to the return valve, the ink return tube is connected to the ink storage tube, and the ink discharged from the print head is circulated and returned to the ink storage tube. An ink supply system for an ink jet printer according to claim 10, wherein

[0023]

[Embodiment of the invention]

 The ink supply system of the ink jet printer according to the present invention includes one ink storage cylinder and one ink control cylinder. The ink control cylinder is used for receiving and storing ink. An intervening valve is provided for controlling the flow of ink from the ink storage cylinder to the ink control cylinder, and for providing the ink required by the print head between the ink control cylinder and the print head. One ink supply pipe is connected, and one return valve is provided at the outlet of the print head.The return valve can be selectively opened, and the return valve is used for collecting ink, that is, The return valve is connected to the ink storage cylinder, and is used to introduce and return ink to the ink storage cylinder. One vent pipe is connected to the ink storage cylinder upward, and the pressure inside the ink storage cylinder is reduced. But And a pressure air source operated by the ink control cylinder is connected to the ink control cylinder, and the ink in the ink control cylinder is selectively pressurized by the three-way valve, whereby the ink is supplied from the ink supply pipe to the print head. When the flow rate is increased and the return valve is opened, the bubbles in the ink supply tube are forcibly discharged to the ink return tube together with the ink, and the bubbles and the ink are separated.

[0024]

【Example】

 FIG. 1 shows the ink supply system of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the system of the present invention supplies ink from an ink supply source, for example, an ink bottle (not shown) to the print head device 12. Used to supply.

The ink supply system of the present invention includes one ink storage cylinder 1, and the ink storage cylinder 14 has one inlet 15, and the ink 10 is introduced from the ink bottle through the inlet 15. Alternatively, the ink bottle is removed and the ink is directly charged, and one ink control cylinder 16 is provided between the ink storage cylinder 14 and the print head device 12. The ink control cylinder 16 is located below the ink storage cylinder 14. Thus, the ink flows from the ink storage cylinder 14 to the ink control cylinder 16 by gravity. The ink is supplied from the ink storage cylinder 14 to the ink control cylinder 16 via one valve 18, and one ink supply pipe 22 is provided on the valve 18, and the ink supply pipe 22 extends from the ink storage cylinder 14. Then, the ink is connected to the ink control cylinder 16, whereby a specific liquid level in the ink control cylinder 16 is formed (as indicated by reference numeral 19 in FIG. 1). The valve 18 is used to control the flow of ink into the ink control tube 16 and thereby to determine the amount of ink in the ink control tube 16.

The ink storage cylinder 14 is provided with one low liquid level sensor 52 and one high liquid level sensor 54, which are used to control the high liquid level and the low liquid level of the ink in the ink storage cylinder 14. Used.

A filtering device 24 is provided between the ink replenishing tube 22 and the ink storage tube 14, so that when the ink enters the ink control tube 16 from the ink storage tube 14, the foreign matter or foreign matter in the ink is filtered. Can be removed.

The ink control cylinder 16 is provided with one ink level sensor 25, and the ink level sensor 25 is connected to the valve 18 by either an electronic type or a mechanical type. The flow rate from the storage cylinder 14 to the ink control cylinder 16 is controlled, whereby the liquid level in the ink control cylinder 16 is made to be constant, and the stability of the supply of the ink to the print head device 12 is ensured. .

The valve 18 can be closed alone to isolate the ink passage formed by the ink supply tube 22 between the ink storage tube 14 and the ink control tube 16, and is used when pressurizing the inside of the ink control tube 16. However, this will be described later in detail.

The ink is supplied from the ink control tube 16 to the print head device 12 via the ink supply pipe 26, and in a preferred embodiment of the ink supply pipe 26, one filter 27 is provided. The ink flowing out of the ink control cylinder 16 can be filtered.

The print head device 12 includes one print head 28 for a printing operation. The print head 28 introduces ink at a print head ink inlet end 30 connected to the ink supply pipe 26, The printer further includes a printhead ink delivery end 32, which can selectively collect ink from the printhead.

The printhead ink delivery end 32 of the printhead 28 is connected to one return valve 34, which is normally closed and ink is provided to the printhead 28 to allow the printhead 28 Prints in an ink jet system. The print head ink delivery end 32 is connected to the ink storage tube 14 by one ink return tube 36, and one ventilation tube 42 is connected to the ink storage tube 14 so that air in the outside world communicates with the liquid inside. To maintain the normal pressure of the liquid inside. According to the design of the present invention, the return valve 34 and the ink return pipe 36 are used in place of the print head cap provided in the well-known UL TRAJET, which only allows ink to flow out of the print head. It does not have a function to return ink to the ink storage cylinder and solves the problem that air bubbles could not be completely eliminated. The ink return tube 36 of the present invention is used to return the ink containing bubbles in the print head 28 to the ink storage cylinder 14. As a result, the present invention not only can prevent waste of ink, but also does not cause environmental pollution due to discharged ink.

In the present invention, the power source of the compressor or air pump 38 is connected to the ink supply system via one valve, preferably a three-way valve 44, which is connected to the air supply end 46 at one compressed air inlet end 46. It is connected to the pump, the compressed air port 48 is connected to the ink control cylinder 16, and the air port 50 is used to maintain the pressure normally.

When the printer is operated normally, the three-way valve 44 is closed, and no compressed air is supplied to the ink control cylinder 16. Therefore, ink is introduced from the ink control cylinder 16 to the print head 28 at a normal flow rate via the ink supply pipe 26. If air bubbles occur in the ink supply system and blockage occurs, the ink supply pipe 26 and the three-way valve 44 are immediately opened, and the compressed air introduced through the compressed air passage 48 enters the ink control cylinder 16. The ink control cylinder 16 is a closed container, and compressed air acts on the upper surface of the ink inside the ink control cylinder 16. When the valve 18 closes, the passage between the ink storage cylinder 14 and the ink control cylinder 16 is shut off. The compressed air supplied to the ink control cylinder 16 pressurizes the ink in the ink control cylinder 16 and forcibly causes the ink to pass through the ink supply pipe 26 to reach the print head 28, thus supplying the ink. The flow velocity of the ink flowing through the tube 26 is increased, and the increased speed ink effectively removes bubbles from the ink supply tube 26 and the print head 28. At this time, the return valve 34 is opened to print the ink containing bubbles. The ink is introduced into the ink return tube 36 from the head 28, and thereafter, the ink is returned to the ink storage tube 14, and the air bubbles in the ink storage tube 14 are released into the atmosphere via the ventilation tube 42, and the subsequent ink is discharged. Click to inflows in the ink control cylinder 16 again.

[0035]

[Effect of the invention]

 The present invention relates to an ink supply system for an ink jet printer, and more particularly, to an improved ink supply system for an ink jet printer for industrial use. Is an ink supply system that can efficiently eliminate the ink.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an ink supply system according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 12 Print Head Device 14 Ink Storage Tube 15 Inlet 16 Ink Storage Tube 18 Valve 19 Liquid Level 10 Ink 22 Ink Refill Tube 24 Filtration Device 25 Ink Level Sensor 26 Ink Supply Tube 27 Filter 28 Print Head 30 Print Head Ink Inlet 32 Print head ink sending end 34 Return valve 36 Ink return tube 38 Air pump 42 Vent tube 44 Three-way tube 46 Compressed air introduction end 48 Compressed air inlet 50 Atmospheric outlet 52 Low liquid level sensor 54 High liquid level sensor

Claims (11)

[Utility model registration claims] 1. An ink supply system attached to an ink jet printer, which supplies ink from an ink supply source to a print head of the ink jet printer,
The ink jet printer is provided with an inlet port and an ink outlet port for receiving ink supplied by the ink supply system, and the ink supply system is a single ink storage cylinder, and the ink supplied by the ink supply source is provided. And an ink control cylinder, which is connected to the ink storage cylinder by one ink replenishing pipe, and controls the ink replenishment pipe to flow ink from the ink storage cylinder to the ink control cylinder. One valve is provided to form a specific ink level in the ink control cylinder, and the ink control cylinder and one ink supply pipe are extended from the ink control cylinder to the print head ink introduction end. The ink inside the ink control cylinder is introduced into the print head, and one return valve is connected to the print head ink delivery end and selectively opened. In addition to collecting ink that has flowed out of the print head, it is also used to circulate and collect the ink released in connection with the ink storage cylinder. Feeding system. 2. The ink storage device according to claim 1, wherein one low liquid level sensor and one high liquid level sensor are provided inside the ink storage cylinder so that the ink liquid level inside the ink control cylinder can be detected. Ink supply system for inkjet printer. 3. The control of the ink level in the ink control cylinder by controlling the flow of ink from the ink storage cylinder to the ink control cylinder by connecting the low liquid level sensor and the high liquid level sensor to the valve in an electronic manner. The ink supply system for an inkjet printer according to claim 2, wherein the following is performed. 4. The ink control cylinder is a closed container,
The ink supply system further includes one compressed air source, and the compressed air source is selectively connected to the ink control cylinder to pressurize the ink inside the ink control cylinder, and the ink supply pipe and the print head are opened by opening a return valve. 2. The ink according to claim 1, wherein a rapid flow of the ink is formed, bubbles in the ink supply pipe and the print head are eliminated, and the rapid flow of the ink is returned in the ink storage cylinder by the guide of the return valve. 3. The ink supply system for an ink jet printer according to claim 1. 5. A compressed air source is connected to the ink control cylinder via one valve, one end of the valve is connected to the compression source, and the other end is connected to the ink control cylinder. An ink supply system for an ink jet printer according to claim 4. 6. The ink jet according to claim 5, wherein the valve connected between the compressed air source and the ink control cylinder is a three-way valve, and one outlet of the three-way valve is used to provide normal pressure. Printer ink supply system. 7. The ink supply system for an ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein a filtration device is provided between the ink storage cylinder and the ink control cylinder. 8. The ink supply system according to claim 1, wherein a filtration device is provided between the ink control cylinder and the print head. 9. The ink supply system according to claim 4, wherein the compressed air source is a power-operated compressed air source. 10. An ink jet printer, comprising: one ink supply source; and an ink control cylinder for receiving ink supplied from the ink supply source, wherein the ink level in the ink control cylinder is kept constant. The ink control cylinder is connected to a print head via an ink supply pipe, and the print head is selectively connected to a print head ink introduction end connected to the ink supply pipe. A printhead ink delivery end that is used to eject ink from the printhead, the printhead ink delivery end being connected to a return valve, the return valve being selectively opened and ejected from the printhead. Ink, and pressurizes the ink inside the ink control cylinder. When the valve is opened, a rapid flow of ink is formed, which An ink supply system for an ink jet printer having the above configuration, wherein air bubbles in the ink supply tube and the print head are forcibly removed by passing through the ink supply tube and the print head, and are passed through the return valve. 11. An ink return tube is connected to the return valve, the ink return tube is connected to the ink storage tube, and the ink discharged from the print head circulates back to reach the ink storage tube. An ink supply system for an ink jet printer according to claim 10.