WO2012054951A1 - Système d'entretien de tête d'impression - Google Patents

Système d'entretien de tête d'impression Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2012054951A1
WO2012054951A1 PCT/AU2010/001418 AU2010001418W WO2012054951A1 WO 2012054951 A1 WO2012054951 A1 WO 2012054951A1 AU 2010001418 W AU2010001418 W AU 2010001418W WO 2012054951 A1 WO2012054951 A1 WO 2012054951A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
print head
nozzle
fluid
nozzles
suction nozzle
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/AU2010/001418
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Vesa Karppinen
Yazhuo Li
David William Jensen
Original Assignee
Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
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 Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd filed Critical Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
Priority to PCT/AU2010/001418 priority Critical patent/WO2012054951A1/fr
Publication of WO2012054951A1 publication Critical patent/WO2012054951A1/fr

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
    • B41J2/16585—Prevention or detection of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles for paper-width or non-reciprocating print heads
    • 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

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to ink-jet printing and, in particular, to a system for maintaining a full-width array ink-jet print head.
  • a print head of an ink-jet printer typically contains thousands of very small closely arranged nozzles.
  • the diameter of a typical nozzle opening is in the order of 15 ⁇ .
  • the print head is in close contact with a substrate, such as a sheet of paper, being printed on. Debris on the substrate, such as lint or stray paper fibers, is often picked up by the print head, causing such debris to block some of the nozzles thereby preventing proper operation.
  • nozzles Another cause for nozzles to cease proper operation is when the ink in the nozzles dries. Drying ink causes the pigments and dyes to dry out, thereby forming a viscous mass, or even a solid mass, that blocks the ink passageways and nozzles. Ink drying may affect the print head as a whole, for example when the entire print head has not been used for some time, or may also affect individual nozzles when such nozzles have not ejected ink for some time.
  • the maintenance station typically includes a flexible blade.
  • the print head slides into the maintenance station, and contacts the flexible blade which is arranged to wipe any contaminants off the front face of the print head.
  • the printer attempts to fire all nozzles at once. Some of the ink generally wicks across the print head.
  • the flexible blade is wiped across the print head to spread the ink evenly across the print head, thereby covering nozzles containing dried ink.
  • the dried ink in those nozzles is rehydrated by the ink swept across the print head, and the nozzles are again all fired to dislodge any ink clumps blocking the nozzles.
  • wiping the flexible blade across the print head may force some of the contaminants on the face of the print head into the nozzles, thereby blocking the nozzles.
  • a system for maintaining a stationary print head comprising:
  • a pump for supplying a below atmospheric pressure to the suction nozzle; and a positioning mechanism for moving the suction nozzle longitudinally past the print head.
  • system further comprises:
  • a further pump for supplying fluid to the ejection nozzle, wherein the positioning mechanism moves the ejection and suction nozzles longitudinally past the print head.
  • the fluid is ink.
  • the system further comprises a reservoir from which the fluid is pumped by the further pump, wherein fluid sucked from the print head by the suction nozzle is returned to the reservoir.
  • the system further comprises means for maintaining a constant distance between the suction nozzle during longitudinal movement of the suction nozzles past the print head.
  • the means for maintaining the constant distance is a wheel associated with the suction nozzle, the wheel contacting the print head during longitudinal movement.
  • Fig. 1 illustrates the principle of operation of a print head maintenance system according to the present invention
  • Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate two alternative fluid supply and return arrangements of the print head maintenance system
  • Fig. 4 illustrates the motion of a nozzle arrangement of the print head maintenance system relative to a print head being maintained
  • Fig. 5 shows a head portion of the print head maintenance system
  • Fig. 6 shows a slidable tray containing the print head maintenance system, a capper and a platen where the platen is underneath the print head;
  • Fig. 7 shows the slidable tray moved to a position where the capper is underneath the print head; and Fig. 8 shows the slidable tray moved to a position where the print head maintenance system is underneath the print head.
  • Fig. 1 illustrates the principle of operation of a print head maintenance system according to the present invention.
  • the print head maintenance system includes a nozzle arrangement 100 having a fluid ejection nozzle 110 and a vacuum nozzle 120.
  • the nozzles 1 10 and 120 are in close proximity to each other.
  • both the fluid ejection nozzle 110 and the vacuum nozzle 120 have circular cross-sections having diameters of 0.5 mm and 2 mm respectively.
  • Fig. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the nozzles 110 and 120.
  • the nozzles 1 10 and 120 are preferably coaxial, with the fluid ejection nozzle 110 inside the vacuum nozzle 120.
  • the nozzles 1 10 and 120 have rectangular cross-sections (not illustrated), with the fluid ejection nozzle 110 flanked by two vacuum nozzles 120.
  • a full-width array ink-jet print head 190 maintained by the print head maintenance system.
  • the full-width array ink-jet print head 190 which extend across the width of a sheet (not illustrated), remains stationary during printing.
  • the full-width array ink-jet print head 190 also remains stationary during priming and cleaning by the print head maintenance system.
  • the downward facing surface of the ink-jet print head 190 has arrays of selectively-actuable ink nozzles 195.
  • the vacuum nozzle 120 sucks air, debris and fluid from the surface of the print head 190.
  • the fluid ejection nozzle 110 ejects fluid onto the surface of the print head 190.
  • the fluid sucked by the vacuum nozzle 120 includes that ejected by the fluid ejection nozzle 1 10 and a small amount of ink from the ink nozzles 195.
  • the fluid ejected by the fluid ejection nozzle 110 is ink.
  • Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate two alternative fluid supply and return arrangements.
  • the fluid ejection nozzle 110 is supplied with fluid through a fluid supply tube 1 15.
  • a positive displacement pump 118 in the flow path of the fluid supply tube 115 pumps fluid from a fluid tank 180, through a micro filter 119 and to the fluid ejection nozzle 110.
  • the rate of flow of the fluid supplied by the positive displacement pump 118 to the fluid ejection nozzle 1 10 is 3 to 15 ml/min, and the density of the micro filter 119 is 4 microns.
  • a vacuum tube 125 supplies a vacuum to the vacuum nozzle 120.
  • the vacuum is provided by a further positive displacement pump 128.
  • the air, debris and fluid sucked from the surface of the print head 190 by the vacuum nozzle 120 are fed by the vacuum tube 125 to the fluid tank 180.
  • the rate of flow of the positive displacement pump 128 in the flow path of the vacuum tube 125 is 4 to 7 1/min at 500 mBar absolute.
  • Fluid tank 180 is separated into a supply part 182 and a return part 184 by a baffle structure 186.
  • the air, debris and fluid mixture returned by the vacuum tube 125 is returned to the return part 184 of the fluid tank 180 where air bubbles and foam are allowed to settle.
  • the fluid supply tube 115 draws fluid from the supply part 182 of the fluid tank 180.
  • the vacuum tube 125 directly connects the vacuum nozzle 120 to a settle tank 170.
  • the settle tank 170 is provided with a vacuum pump 172 or other vacuum source, which causes a low pressure in the settling tank 170.
  • the low pressure in the settling tank 170 causes the vacuum tube 125 to suck air, debris and fluid mixture from the vacuum nozzle 120 to a settle tank 170.
  • a vane pump 175 is also provided which pumps fluid from the settling pump 170 to the fluid tank 180.
  • the vane pump 175 prevents reverse flow during non-operational periods.
  • the low pressure caused by the vacuum pump 170 is 400 to 500 mb (millibar) absolute.
  • the fluid in supply tube 1 15 is heated, for example by heating the fluid in fluid tank 180.
  • Fig. 4 illustrates the motion of the nozzle arrangement 100 relative to the print head 190 during operation.
  • the tanks 170 and 180, filter 119 and pumps 118, 128 and 172 are preferably stationary, while flexible tubes 115 and 125 allows for the movement of the nozzle arrangement 100.
  • the tanks 170 and 180, filter 119 and pumps 1 18, 128 and 172 are omitted for simplification of the illustration.
  • the nozzle arrangement 100 is in a home position 201 distant from the print head 190.
  • a maintenance cycle of the print head 190 starts with the nozzle arrangement 100 moving in a direction parallel to the longitudinal extent of the print head 190 until the nozzle arrangement 100 is directly below a longitudinal end of the print head 190, in position 202.
  • the nozzle arrangement 100 is preferably 10 to 15 mm from the print head 190.
  • the nozzle arrangement 100 is moved towards the print head 190 to position 203.
  • both the pumps 1 18 and 128 are activated causing fluid to eject from fluid ejection nozzle 1 10 while vacuum nozzle 120 sucks air, fluid and debris.
  • the nozzle arrangement 100 is next moved along the print head 190, past position 204 until the opposite longitudinal end of the print head 190 is reached, at position 205.
  • the pumps 118 and 128 are deactivated.
  • suction is maintained slightly longer than fluid ejection, for example 1 s longer.
  • the nozzle arrangement 100 is then moved away from the print head 190 to position 206, before nozzle arrangement 100 is returned to the home position 201.
  • Fig. 5 shows a head portion 101 of the print head maintenance system.
  • the head portion 101 includes the nozzle arrangement 100 and a wheel 102. Movement of the head portion 101 is spring loaded.
  • the wheel 102 contacts the print head 190 next to the ink nozzles 195 of the print head 190.
  • the nozzle arrangement 100 is prevented from contacting the ink nozzles 195 of the print head 190 while maintaining a constant distance from the ink nozzles 195 by the wheel 102.
  • the distance between the nozzle arrangement 100 and the print head 190 is preferably maintained at a distance of 100 -150 ⁇ . It would be understood by a person skilled in the art that, due to any irregularities in the surface upon which the wheel 102 rolls, there would be a slight variation in the constant distance between the nozzle arrangement 100 and the print head 190.
  • the print head maintenance system may be operated to maintain specific nozzles 195.
  • the pumps 118 and 128 are activated when the head portion 101 is at a position 204 corresponding to blocked nozzles, after which the pumps 1 18 and 128 are deactivated.
  • the rate of flow of pumps 1 18 and 128 are separately controllable.
  • the ratio fluid ejection versus vacuum is increased in order to rehydrate a dry print head 190, or to reprime the print head 190. This may be achieved by either increasing the rate of flow of fluid ejection pump 1 18, or by decreasing the rate of flow of pump 128 (Fig. 2) or pump 172 (Fig. 3).
  • the print head maintenance system may also be operated in a mode where only suction is applied by the vacuum nozzle 120. Accordingly, pump 1 18 is stationary, and no fluid is ejected from the fluid ejection nozzle 1 10. In this mode of operation the distance between the vacuum nozzle 120 and the print head 190 is preferably maintained at a distance of 30 -80 ⁇ by the wheel 102.
  • the suction removes any debris and particles from the print head 190.
  • the suction also sucks air bubbles from the nozzles and ducts feeding ink to the nozzles, thereby priming dry nozzles. Any ink sucked by the vacuum nozzle 120 is fed to the fluid tank 180.
  • Figs. 6 to 8 show the stationary print head 190 in a printing position, a capped position and a cleaning/rehydration position respectively.
  • the head portion 101 of the print head cleaner, a capper 210 and a platen 220 are provided on a tray 230 slidable with respect to a printer frame 250.
  • the slidable tray 230 is moved to a position where the platen 220 is underneath the print head 190.
  • a sheet of paper (not illustrated) is moved through a paper feed path 240 which extends between the platen 220 and the print head 190.
  • the slidable tray 130 is moved to a position where the capper 210 is underneath the print head 190.
  • the capper 210 provides a seal over the ink nozzles 195 of the print head 190, thereby preventing the ink nozzles 195 from drying.
  • the slidable tray 130 is moved to a position where the head portion 101 is underneath the print head 190. More particular, the head portion 101 is shown in position 204 (Fig. 4).
  • the printer frame 250 has a vertical actuation mechanism (not illustrated) which lifts one of the head portion 101, the capper 210 and the platen 220, positioned underneath the print head 190 towards the print head 190.
  • a main advantage provided by the print head maintenance system according to the present invention is that the maintenance is performed without any direct contact between the print head maintenance system and the print head being maintained.
  • Prior art arrangements typically involve contact with the print head, which may force debris into nozzles.

Landscapes

  • Ink Jet (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un système d'entretien de tête d'impression pour l'entretien d'une tête d'impression stationnaire. L'entretien consiste à la fois à nettoyer et amorcer. Dans un mode de réalisation, le système comprend une buse d'aspiration, une pompe pour produire l'aspiration au niveau de la buse d'aspiration, et un mécanisme de positionnement pour déplacer la buse d'aspiration longitudinalement au-delà de la tête d'impression. Dans une variante de mode de réalisation, le système comprend également une buse d'éjection placée à proximité étroite de la buse d'aspiration, et une autre pompe servant à apporter le liquide à la buse d'éjection. Le mécanisme de positionnement déplace les buses d'éjection et d'aspiration longitudinalement au-delà de la tête d'impression.
PCT/AU2010/001418 2010-10-25 2010-10-25 Système d'entretien de tête d'impression WO2012054951A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/AU2010/001418 WO2012054951A1 (fr) 2010-10-25 2010-10-25 Système d'entretien de tête d'impression

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/AU2010/001418 WO2012054951A1 (fr) 2010-10-25 2010-10-25 Système d'entretien de tête d'impression

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2012054951A1 true WO2012054951A1 (fr) 2012-05-03

Family

ID=45992947

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/AU2010/001418 WO2012054951A1 (fr) 2010-10-25 2010-10-25 Système d'entretien de tête d'impression

Country Status (1)

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Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2015188877A (ja) * 2014-03-28 2015-11-02 芝浦メカトロニクス株式会社 インクジェット式塗布ヘッドの清掃装置及び塗布液塗布装置
GB2528468A (en) * 2014-07-22 2016-01-27 Mighton Products Ltd Window status sensor system
CN105798018A (zh) * 2016-03-30 2016-07-27 广东正业科技股份有限公司 一种喷头的清洁装置及其清洁工艺

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5138334A (en) * 1990-11-05 1992-08-11 Xerox Corporation Pneumatic surface cleaning method and apparatus for ink jet printheads
US6511151B1 (en) * 1998-12-28 2003-01-28 Eastman Kodak Company Ink jet printer and cleaning blade and method of cleaning
JP2003103804A (ja) * 2001-10-01 2003-04-09 Seiko Epson Corp プリンタ及びプリンタの印刷ヘッドクリーニング方法

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5138334A (en) * 1990-11-05 1992-08-11 Xerox Corporation Pneumatic surface cleaning method and apparatus for ink jet printheads
US6511151B1 (en) * 1998-12-28 2003-01-28 Eastman Kodak Company Ink jet printer and cleaning blade and method of cleaning
JP2003103804A (ja) * 2001-10-01 2003-04-09 Seiko Epson Corp プリンタ及びプリンタの印刷ヘッドクリーニング方法

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2015188877A (ja) * 2014-03-28 2015-11-02 芝浦メカトロニクス株式会社 インクジェット式塗布ヘッドの清掃装置及び塗布液塗布装置
GB2528468A (en) * 2014-07-22 2016-01-27 Mighton Products Ltd Window status sensor system
CN105798018A (zh) * 2016-03-30 2016-07-27 广东正业科技股份有限公司 一种喷头的清洁装置及其清洁工艺

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