Ink circuit with multiple modular units

Abstract

This invention relates to an ink circuit having multiple modular units. The ink circuit includes: a first portion including means for supplying ink and solvent to the printhead of a continuous inkjet printer; a second portion including a first monolithic assembly and a second monolithic assembly, the first monolithic assembly including at least a portion of at least one first pump, the second monolithic assembly including at least one filter, and each assembly further including: a housing having at least one fluid inlet and at least one fluid outlet; fluid connection means for enabling fluid to flow from at least one fluid inlet to at least a portion of the first pump or the filter, and then to at least one fluid outlet; and means for independently mounting the first monolithic assembly and the second monolithic assembly to and from the first receiving interface and the second receiving interface of the first portion of the ink circuit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of continuous inkjet (CIJ) printers.

[0002] This invention relates in particular to the structure (arrangement of ink circuits) of a CIJ printer, especially the arrangement of ink circuits, with the aim of increasing flexibility.

[0003] This invention also relates to a novel cleaning method for CIJ printers. Background Technology

[0004] Continuous inkjet (CIJ) printers are well-known in the industrial coding and labeling of various products, such as marking barcodes or expiration dates directly on food products at high production speeds on production lines. This type of printer also appears in some design fields, where the graphic printing possibilities of this technology are utilized.

[0005] The ink loop structure of this CIJ printer needs to minimize the number of components while ensuring great flexibility and reliability, facilitating maintenance for quick repairs, minimizing the risk of spills, and allowing for operator operation without any special training.

[0006] The following components are also required for this ink circuit: for example, these components can be easily removed from the ink circuit when they need to be repaired or replaced by other components.

[0007] The ink circuit structure of the CIJ printer is also required, which can be modulated or customized as needed and / or according to the type of printing that must be performed; preferably, the ink circuit structure has one or more components or modules that can be adapted or modified, particularly when manufacturing or constructing a CIJ printer that includes the ink circuit structure.

[0008] A method for cleaning the ink circuit of the CIJ printer is also required, enabling easy disassembly or removal of individual components or parts from the ink circuit (e.g., when a component or part needs repair or replacement), while minimizing the risk of spills or drips, especially ink spills or drips. This method must be operable by the operator without requiring any special training.

[0009] A particular problem arises when it is necessary to replace a component or part (such as a valve) in a known printer. Firstly, the component must be removed from the printer, and a stop must be installed on the hydraulic conduit from which the component is removed, and possibly also on the removed component itself – a time-consuming and expensive process. Alternatively, a check valve or one-way valve can be used in the circuit, but these are also expensive. Furthermore, the removed component is often still dirty and / or not dry, leading to significant ink and / or solvent spillage; sometimes, the removed component is introduced into a sealed bag for transport, which is unsatisfactory because the removed component is often still dirty and retains a significant amount of residual fluid.

[0010] For environmental reasons, it is also necessary to collect used components or parts of such machines and recycle or refurbish them, or move them to a waste disposal station while minimizing spills and drips. Therefore, a method for cleaning the ink circuits of CIJ printers must be found so that, after use, the clean individual components or parts of the circuits can be easily recycled and / or refurbished and / or transported to a repair station, collection station, or waste disposal station.

[0011] A method is also needed for cleaning the ink circuit of a CIJ printer, which would allow for the easy removal of clean and dry or nearly dry individual components or parts of the circuit, and then the transportation of these components or parts with minimal risk of ink and / or solvent spillage. Summary of the Invention

[0012] A first aspect of the invention relates to at least one removable monolithic component or removable module, said monolithic component comprising at least one fluid element, such as at least one pump and / or at least one filter and / or at least one damper and / or at least one valve.

[0013] The at least one removable monolithic component may further include means for mounting the monolithic component to and / or removing the monolithic component from the ink circuit of the CIJ printer, such as a fixing or fastening means.

[0014] The at least one removable monolithic component may include a housing having at least one fluid inlet and at least one fluid outlet, and a fluid connection device, such as a pipe, that allows fluid to flow from the at least one fluid inlet to the at least one fluid component and then to the at least one fluid outlet.

[0015] Several examples of different removable monolithic components (or removable blocks or removable modules) according to the invention are, as described below, a "first monolithic component" (or "first block or module"), a "second monolithic component" (or "second block or module"), and a "third monolithic component" (or "third block or module"). The adjectives "first," "second," and "third" do not indicate a priority or any order of importance, but are used merely for clarity. The different monolithic components can be used independently of each other in a printer.

[0016] The first monolithic component of the ink circuit for a continuous inkjet printer includes:

[0017] - A housing having at least one fluid inlet and at least one fluid outlet,

[0018] -The first pump or at least a portion thereof, such as at least a portion of the hydraulic components of the first pump.

[0019] - A fluid connection device, the fluid connection device being used to enable fluid to flow from the at least one fluid inlet to the at least one portion of the first pump, and then to the at least one fluid outlet.

[0020] - A means, fixing device or fastening device for installing the first monolithic component into and / or removing the first monolithic component from the ink circuit.

[0021] In one embodiment, the first monolithic assembly includes a hydraulic component of a pump and a coupling device for connecting the hydraulic component and a motor for driving the hydraulic component, the motor being located outside the first monolithic assembly in the ink circuit. For example, the coupling device of the first monolithic assembly includes the axis of the pump, which traverses the housing.

[0022] The second monolithic component of the ink circuit for a continuous inkjet printer includes:

[0023] - A housing having at least one fluid inlet and at least one fluid outlet,

[0024] -At least one first filter or main filter

[0025] - A fluid connection device, used to enable fluid to flow from the at least one fluid inlet to the at least one first filter and to the at least one fluid outlet.

[0026] - A means, fixing device or fastening device for installing the second monolithic assembly into and / or removing the second monolithic assembly from the ink circuit.

[0027] The third single-piece component of the ink circuit for a continuous inkjet printer includes:

[0028] - A housing having at least one or two fluid inlets and at least one or two fluid outlets.

[0029] -At least one recycling device

[0030] - A fluid connection device for enabling fluid to flow from the fluid inlet or one of the at least two fluid inlets to the recovery device, and to the fluid outlet or one of the at least two fluid outlets.

[0031] - A means, fixing device or fastening device for installing the third unit assembly into and / or removing the third unit assembly from the ink circuit.

[0032] The third monolithic component may further include at least one filter, and the fluid connection means allows fluid to flow from the fluid inlet or one of the at least two fluid inlets to the filter, then to the recovery device, and to the fluid outlet or the other of the at least two fluid outlets.

[0033] The recycling device of the third monolithic component may include at least one second pump or venturi tube.

[0034] The third monolithic assembly may further include at least one three-way valve.

[0035] Any of the removable monolithic components or removable modules (e.g., any of the first monolithic component, the second monolithic component, or the third monolithic component) may include an identifier, such as an electrical or magnetic type identifier.

[0036] An electrical identifier may have electrical properties, for example, having one of at least two or three values; for example, an electrical identifier may have more values ​​in the following cases:

[0037] - There are five different first monolithic components (e.g., as described above), the first monolithic components having, for example, five different pumps, in which case the electrical identifier of the first monolithic component has at least five different values;

[0038] - Alternatively, there are four different second monolithic components (e.g., as described above), which, for example, have four different filters, in which case the electrical identifier of the second monolithic component has at least four different values;

[0039] - Alternatively, there may be four different third unit components (e.g., as described above), which may have four different recycling devices, in which case the electrical identifier of the third unit component may have at least four different values.

[0040] A magnetic identifier may include at least one magnet located at one or more specific positions or locations within a monolithic component, said positions or locations depending on at least one technical feature of the monolith. A magnetic identifier including one magnet may have, for example, at least two or three different locations within the device, each location identifying, for example, a different type of pump, or a different type of filter, or a different type of recycling equipment. For example, the magnetic identifier may have more possible locations in the following cases:

[0041] - There are five different first monolithic components (e.g., as described above), the first monolithic components having, for example, five different pumps, in which case the magnetic identifier of the first monolithic component has at least five different positions;

[0042] - Alternatively, there are four different second monolithic components (e.g., as described above), which have different filters, and in this case, the magnetic identifiers of the second monolithic components have at least four different positions;

[0043] - Alternatively, there may be four different third unit components (e.g., as described above), which may have four different recycling devices, in which case the magnetic identifier of the third unit component may have at least four different locations.

[0044] Magnetic identifiers can be used in conjunction with devices in the circuit (such as switches, like "reed switches") to identify removable monolithic components or removable modules. Multiple switches can be positioned at different locations in the ink circuit. Depending on the position of the magnet within the module, which itself depends on one or more technical features of the module, one or more switches are activated when the printer or its controller detects that the module is connected to the circuit. This is how the module is identified.

[0045] The identifier of a module may include multiple magnets located at multiple locations within the module or monolith, each combination of locations depending on at least one technical feature of the module or monolith; for example, each combination of locations provides an identifier for a different type of pump, a different type of filter, or a different type of recycling device, and each magnet interacts with a device in the circuit (e.g., a switch, such as a "reed switch"). This multiplies the possible identifiers compared to an identifier with only one magnet.

[0046] Any of the removable monolithic components or removable modules (e.g., any of the first, second, or third monolithic components) may include means, preferably magnetic means, for guiding its positioning within the printer or relative to the ink circuit or a corresponding interface in the printer. Any removable component or part of the circuit may also be provided with such a magnetic guiding means.

[0047] In an embodiment, at least one of the removable monolithic components or removable modules (e.g., any one of the first monolithic component, the second monolithic component, or the third monolithic component) and a corresponding component in the printer that must be connected to at least one of the removable monolithic components or removable modules have magnetic devices that engage to attract each other when the monolithic component or module approaches a location in the printer that must be connected to the monolithic component or module, making it easier for the operator to install the component or module.

[0048] For example, each of the at least one monolithic component and the corresponding connecting part or surface in the printer that must be connected to the at least one monolithic component has a magnet, and the two magnets attract each other. Alternatively, one of the at least one monolithic component and the corresponding connecting part or surface has a magnet, while the other has a magnetic material, such that when the module approaches the connecting part, the printer component and the corresponding connecting part attract each other. Other components or parts of the circuit may be mounted on or in the circuit, assisted or guided by the magnetic device described above.

[0049] Other aspects and embodiments of the aforementioned single-piece components, modules, or blocks are disclosed in the following parts and figures of this application.

[0050] The present invention also relates to an ink circuit for a continuous inkjet printer, the ink circuit including one or more of the aforementioned removable single-piece components or removable modules, such as one or more of the first single-piece component, the second single-piece component, or the third single-piece component. Any of the removable single-piece components or removable modules (e.g., any of the first single-piece component, the second single-piece component, or the third single-piece component) may be installed in or on the ink circuit, or may be detached or removed from the ink circuit independently of each other.

[0051] In particular, the present invention relates to the ink circuit of a continuous inkjet printer, the ink circuit comprising:

[0052] - The first part includes means for supplying ink and solvent to the printhead of the CIJ printer, particularly one or more hydraulic components and / or at least a portion of a hydraulic circuit;

[0053] - The second part of the ink circuit includes at least one removable monolithic component or module according to the invention; the at least one removable monolithic component may be selected, for example, from the first monolithic component, the second monolithic component and the third monolithic component described above; in a more specific embodiment, the second part of the ink circuit includes three different monolithic components, namely the first monolithic component according to one of the above embodiments, the second monolithic component according to one of the above embodiments and the third monolithic component according to one of the above embodiments.

[0054] The circuit may further include means for mounting the at least one monolithic component or module to and / or removing the at least one monolithic component or module from the first portion of the ink circuit (e.g., mounting the at least one monolithic component or module to and / or removing the at least one monolithic component or module from the at least one corresponding receiving interface). The receiving interface may have at least one fluid inlet and / or at least one fluid outlet, the at least one fluid inlet and / or at least one fluid outlet corresponding to at least one fluid outlet and / or at least one fluid inlet of the monolithic component or module that must be mounted or assembled with the interface.

[0055] In cases where the ink circuit has multiple different individual components or modules, each of these components or modules can be independently removed from the ink circuit and then reinstalled in the ink circuit (e.g., after a rinsing, cleaning, or adjustment step) or replaced by a different, similar, or identical module. For example, a recycling module can be replaced by a recycling module with a different structure and / or one or more different components, particularly when different inks are used in the printer. Another example could be replacing the module with a technically updated module that has more advanced technological features or newer components.

[0056] Different or newer components may be, for example, different or more advanced filters (with a different pore size than the aforementioned filters, such as smaller pore size) and / or different pumps (with a different flow rate or power than the aforementioned pumps, such as greater flow rate or power) and / or pumps with different technologies (gear pumps, peristaltic pumps, or diaphragm pumps applicable to different types of ink) and / or different pumps or venturi tubes (with a different geometry than the aforementioned pumps or venturi tubes, such as larger geometry).

[0057] The ink circuit according to the invention is compatible with multiple of the aforementioned modules, for example, with two different third monolithic components; although at least two of the modules may be distinguished from each other by one or more technical features (e.g., different filters), at least two of the modules may be alternately mounted on the circuit or printer, or mounted on the same corresponding interface of the circuit. The circuit or interface has connectors (at least one fluid inlet and / or at least one fluid outlet) such that the at least two different modules (different modules having different structures and / or one or more different components as described above) may be alternately connected to the circuit or printer or to the corresponding interface, for example, after a rinsing or cleaning or repair step.

[0058] In particular, the present invention relates to the ink circuit of a continuous inkjet printer, the ink circuit comprising:

[0059] - The first part includes means for supplying ink and solvent to the printhead of the CIJ printer;

[0060] - The second portion of the ink circuit includes a first monolithic component or module and / or a second monolithic component or module, the first monolithic component or module including at least one first pump or at least a portion of the first pump, the second monolithic component or module being different from the first monolithic component or module, the second monolithic component or module including at least one filter, and one or each of the monolithic components or modules further including:

[0061] - A housing having at least one fluid inlet and at least one fluid outlet,

[0062] - A fluid connection device, which allows fluid to flow from the at least one fluid inlet to at least a portion of the first pump, or to the filter and to the at least one fluid outlet.

[0063] - An apparatus for mounting the first monolithic component and / or the second monolithic component to the first portion of the ink circuit and / or removing the first monolithic component and / or the second monolithic component from the first portion of the ink circuit (e.g., mounting the first monolithic component and / or the second monolithic component to a first receiving interface and / or a second receiving interface of the first portion and / or removing the first monolithic component and / or the second monolithic component from the first receiving interface and / or the second receiving interface of the first portion).

[0064] The ink circuit according to the invention may further include a third monolithic component or module as disclosed above.

[0065] As described above, any single component of the ink circuit according to one embodiment of the present invention (particularly any one of the first single component or module, the second single component or module, or the third single component or module) may include at least one identifier, such as an electrical or magnetic identifier. The identifier may cooperate with a corresponding device in the ink circuit to read the identifier.

[0066] As described above, the first single-unit assembly according to the present invention, or the first single-unit assembly of the ink circuit according to the present invention, may include a pump or at least one hydraulic component of the pump, and a coupling device for connecting the hydraulic component of the pump and a motor for driving the hydraulic component. The motor of the first single-unit assembly may be located outside the first single-unit assembly in the ink circuit, and the coupling device connects the motor and the pump.

[0067] The coupling device of the first monolithic assembly may include the shaft of the pump, which traverses the housing.

[0068] A device for installing and removing any of the single-unit components according to the invention or any single-unit component of the ink circuit according to the invention:

[0069] - Enables individual components to rotate around the pivot pin;

[0070] - and / or, may include means for locking the monolithic component in a fixed position relative to the loop or the receiving interface of the loop.

[0071] The present invention also relates to a continuous inkjet (CIJ) printer, which includes:

[0072] -The ink circuit according to any of the embodiments disclosed above,

[0073] - Printhead, which is connected to the ink circuit via a flexible umbilical cable. The flexible umbilical cable includes a hydraulic connection and an electrical connection. The hydraulic connection is used to bring printing ink from the ink circuit to the printhead and to deliver ink to be recovered from the printhead toward the ink circuit.

[0074] The present invention also relates to a method for rinsing or cleaning an ink circuit or hydraulic circuit, or at least a portion thereof, of a CIJ printer, wherein the ink circuit is, for example, as disclosed above or according to the present invention; such circuit may include at least one monolithic component or module, such as the monolithic component or module disclosed above and below.

[0075] In one embodiment, the method includes flushing or cleaning at least a portion of the circuit using a gas (e.g., air). The gas flows through the circuit or at least a portion of the circuit and removes ink from the portion through which the gas flows.

[0076] Therefore, there is no residual ink in the circuit or at least a portion of the circuit. This avoids the risk of ink spillage or dripping.

[0077] Ink can be recycled, for example, in a recycling bin or in the ink loop canister or main ink canister. Therefore, the ink can be reused without waste.

[0078] In another embodiment, the invention also relates to a method for rinsing or cleaning at least a portion of an ink circuit of a CIJ printer, such as an ink circuit as disclosed above, the ink circuit comprising at least one monolithic component or module, the method comprising rinsing or cleaning at least said portion of the circuit using a gas (e.g., using air) and a solvent (e.g., using a solvent from a solvent tank).

[0079] During the rinsing or cleaning method, the gas, or the gas and the solvent, may be pumped by at least one pump in the ink circuit.

[0080] Therefore, the flushing or cleaning method according to the invention may include, for example, pumping the solvent and / or the gas (e.g., a mixture of solvent between 80% and 95% and gas between 20% and 5%) alternately or simultaneously through at least a portion of the hydraulic circuit.

[0081] In embodiments where the flushing or cleaning method includes allowing gas and cleaning solvent to circulate or flow through at least a portion of the circuit or the hydraulic circuit, the flushing or cleaning method may include at least one of the following steps:

[0082] - Before allowing the gas and cleaning solvent to circulate or flow: At least a portion of the ink circuit or hydraulic circuit, or a preliminary step thereof, is flushed or cleaned using only gas (e.g., air); the gas flows through the circuit or at least a portion thereof, removing ink from the portion through which the gas flows; thus, no residual ink remains in the circuit or at least a portion thereof. This avoids the risk of ink spillage or dripping, and the ink can be recycled, for example, in a recycling bin or in the ink circuit's canister or main ink reservoir. Therefore, the ink can be reused without waste;

[0083] - After the gas and cleaning solvent have been circulated or flowed, or during further circulation or flow of the gas and cleaning solvent: the dirty fluid is recovered in the canister. When it is necessary to dilute the ink in the canister, the dirty fluid can be reused, for example, at least a portion of the dirty fluid can be re-injected into the canister.

[0084] In cases where the hydraulic circuit includes a solvent pump for pumping solvent and / or a pressure pump for pumping ink from the ink canister, the flow of gas or gas and solvent can enable the pumping of gas and / or solvent, and can be performed using one or both of the solvent pump and the pressure pump. Gas under pressure (at pressure above atmospheric pressure) can be directly introduced into the circuit, particularly directly into the solvent flow, without the need to pump the gas.

[0085] The cleaning method according to the invention may include a drying step of at least a portion or the entire circuit, for example, by circulating a gas stream, which may be a heated gas, through the at least a portion or the entire circuit. This drying step is particularly useful when the at least a portion of the circuit includes at least one single component, module, or member that must be removed from the circuit: the clean and dry or nearly dry single component, module, or member can be removed from the circuit, minimizing the risk of ink or solvent spillage and thus minimizing the risk of ink or solvent waste. The drying step of the single component, module, or member can achieve the removal of at least 85% or 90% of the fluid (mostly solvent) from the component, module, or member.

[0086] According to the cleaning method, a gas-solvent mixture can be formed and / or circulated in at least a portion of the ink circuit or hydraulic circuit of the CIJ printer, or in the entire circuit.

[0087] In an embodiment, the cleaning method according to the invention includes alternately circulating or conveying a volume of gas and solvent and / or forming a mixture of solvent and gas in at least a portion of the ink circuit or hydraulic circuit, forming or not forming a two-phase mixture or emulsion.

[0088] In the method according to the invention for rinsing or cleaning at least a portion of the ink circuit of a CIJ printer, the ink circuit is, for example, the ink circuit disclosed above, and the gas may be at atmospheric pressure (in which case the gas may be introduced upstream of the pump and / or pumped by one or more pumps in the circuit) or at a higher pressure, depending on the pressure of the solvent in the circuit. Compressed gas or gas under pressure may be introduced into the circuit by means of a compressor, for example, located downstream of the pump.

[0089] The gas can be mixed with the solvent, or even form a two-phase mixture or emulsion with the solvent, the mixture or emulsion comprising, for example, between 80% (or 85%) and 95% solvent and between 20% (or 15%) and 5% gas. Alternatively, a continuous solvent volume can be separated by gas volumes (so-called "slug flow" type), each of which is, for example, less than 1 cm. 3The fluids (especially solvents) used for cleaning can be recycled in canisters or recycling bins. A portion of the dirty fluid can be reused, for example, a portion of the dirty fluid can be re-sprayed into the ink canister in the loop.

[0090] The ink circuit may include an ink cartridge receiving section and a solvent cartridge receiving section, and the cleaning method may further include at least one of the following initial steps:

[0091] - Remove or pull out the solvent cartridge from the solvent cartridge receiving portion, and then allow gas to circulate or flow in at least a portion of the ink circuit, for example by pumping gas (e.g., air) from the solvent cartridge receiving portion.

[0092] Remove or pull out the ink cartridge from the cartridge receiving section and replace the ink cartridge with a recycling cartridge that can recycle the dirty fluid.

[0093] The cleaning method according to the invention may include a preliminary step of installing a device in a circuit for introducing gas (e.g., gas under pressure (above atmospheric pressure)) into the circuit, the cleaning method comprising allowing the gas and / or solvent to circulate in the circuit. The device for introducing the pressurized gas is preferably installed in the circuit downstream of the pump.

[0094] The present invention also relates to a method for repairing or maintaining an ink circuit or inkjet printer as defined above, the method comprising the rinsing or cleaning method as defined above, and further comprising: after the rinsing or cleaning, removing at least one single component or at least one of the single components in or on the ink circuit, repairing and reassembling the removed single component, or assembling another single component.

[0095] The present invention also relates to a method for maintaining an ink circuit of an inkjet printer as defined above, the method comprising:

[0096] a) Performing a flushing or cleaning method according to any of the embodiments defined above, thereby flushing or cleaning at least a portion of the hydraulic circuit (e.g., the at least one removable monolithic assembly), and after the flushing or cleaning, the method further includes:

[0097] b) Disassembling or removing at least one single-unit component or at least one of said single-unit components, and replacing at least one single-unit component or at least one of said single-unit components with another single-unit component; for example, in cases where the ink circuit includes at least one of a first single-unit component, a second single-unit component, and a third single-unit component (as defined above, the ink circuit includes a first single-unit component, a second single-unit component, and a third single-unit component), the method may include removing at least the first single-unit component and / or the second single-unit component or the third single-unit component, and replacing the first single-unit component and / or the second single-unit component or the third single-unit component with another first single-unit component and / or the second single-unit component or the third single-unit component, respectively. The replacement module may include, for example, different or newer components, such as at least one new filter or at least one new pump or at least one new recycling device. Each single-unit component may be removed from the ink circuit independently of the other single-unit components.

[0098] The removed single-unit component can be replaced with a different, similar, or identical module. For example, a recycling module can be replaced with a recycling module having a different structure and / or one or more different components, especially when different inks are used in the printer. Another example is replacing the module with a technically updated module having more advanced technical features or newer components. Different or newer components can be, for example, different or more advanced filters (with different pore sizes than the aforementioned filters, e.g., smaller pore sizes) and / or different pumps (with different flow rates or power than the aforementioned pumps, e.g., larger flow rates or power) and / or pumps with different technologies (gear pumps, peristaltic pumps, or diaphragm pumps, which can be adapted to different types of inks) and / or different pumps or venturi tubes (with different geometries than the aforementioned pumps or venturi tubes, e.g., larger geometries).

[0099] The continuous inkjet printer according to the present invention includes an ink circuit and a printhead. The printhead is connected to the ink circuit via a flexible umbilical cable. The flexible umbilical cable includes a hydraulic connection and an electrical connection. The hydraulic connection is used to carry printing ink from the ink circuit to the printhead and to deliver ink to be recovered from the printhead toward the ink circuit. The electrical connection may include a controller that controls the hydraulic circuit to implement a cleaning or rinsing method according to the present invention, or to allow the flow of gas or gas and solvent, for example, by pumping gas and / or solvent through at least a portion of the hydraulic circuit, or by controlling the introduction of compressed gas and the pumping of solvent. Ink can be recovered in a container, for example, in the main container of the circuit; dirty fluid can be recovered in a container, for example, in a can or cartridge.

[0100] The ink circuit may include an inlet for introducing gas (e.g., gas under pressure (at pressure above atmospheric pressure)) into the ink circuit. The hydraulic circuit may include at least one removable monolithic component, and the controller controls the hydraulic circuit so that:

[0101] - For example, by pumping gas and / or solvent alternately or simultaneously flow through at least the removable monolithic component;

[0102] - The drying step may also be performed by supplying gas via a loop. Attached Figure Description

[0103] Figure 1A This is a schematic diagram of a pump module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0104] Figure 1B and Figure 1C An embodiment of the pump module according to the present invention is shown.

[0105] Figure 2A and Figure 2B This is a schematic diagram of a filter module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0106] Figure 2C and Figure 2D An embodiment of the housing of the filter module according to the present invention is shown.

[0107] Figure 3A and Figure 3B This is a schematic diagram of a recovery (or vacuum) module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0108] Figure 3C and Figure 3D yes Figure 3A and Figure 3B Variations of the embodiments.

[0109] Figure 3E and Figure 3F An embodiment of the housing of the recovery (or vacuum) module according to the present invention is shown.

[0110] Figure 4A and Figure 4B Different groups of pump modules, filter modules, and recovery (or vacuum) modules according to embodiments of the present invention are shown, as well as their fluid interfaces with the fluid circuit and fluid connections with the printhead.

[0111] Figures 4C to 4F An embodiment of an interface for connecting a removable or detachable module to the ink circuit of an inkjet printer is shown.

[0112] Figure 5A and Figure 5BA fluid circuit is shown, each fluid circuit including a set of pump modules, filter modules and recovery (or vacuum) modules according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0113] Figure 6 The steps of a rinsing or cleaning method according to an embodiment of the present invention are shown to clean a fluid circuit, which may include, for example, a filter module, a pump module, and a vacuum module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0114] Figure 7A Another fluid circuit is shown that can be applied to the rinsing or cleaning method according to the present invention.

[0115] Figure 7B and Figure 7C An apparatus for implementing an embodiment of the rinsing or cleaning method according to the present invention is shown. Figure 7B The device shown does not have a pump. Figure 7C The device shown has a pump.

[0116] Figure 7D and Figure 7E This illustrates how an apparatus implementing an embodiment of the rinsing or cleaning method according to the invention can be installed in an ink circuit.

[0117] Figure 7F Another fluid circuit is shown that can be applied to the rinsing or cleaning method according to the present invention.

[0118] Figure 8A A front view of the inkjet printer cabinet is shown, illustrating the pump module, filter module, and vacuum module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0119] Figure 8B A rear view of the cabinet of an inkjet printer according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0120] Figure 9 This is a solution for the printhead of a deflection-type continuous jet printer that can be implemented in this invention.

[0121] Figure 10 An example of a CIJ printer box is shown.

[0122] Figure 11A and Figure 11B The diagram shows a mixture of different types of gases and solvents flowing through a pipe. Detailed Implementation

[0123] Figure 1AAn example of a pump module (or ink pressure pump module) 10 is shown. This pump module includes a housing or support 22, possibly including a front side or cover 13; the module includes a fluid inlet 14 and a fluid outlet 16; inside the module or its housing, at least a hydraulic component 12h of the pump 12 is connected to the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. Figure 1A As shown:

[0124] - The motor 21 of pump 12 can be located outside the pump module because the motor is robust and durable; in this case, the shaft 19 of the pump that connects the motor and hydraulic components extends through the cover 13 of the pump module 10, and only the hydraulic components of the pump are contained in the housing 22; in a variant, the pump (including its hydraulic components and its motor) is completely housed in the pump module.

[0125] - Pump inlet 18 and pump outlet 20 can be directly connected to fluid inlet 14 and fluid outlet 16 via pipes 24 and 26, respectively. Fluid flows from the fluid inlet 14 to the pump 20 and then from the pump 20 to the fluid outlet 16. Preferably, there are no other fluid elements between the fluid inlet 14 and the pump inlet 18, or between the fluid outlet 16 and the pump outlet 20.

[0126] Figure 1A The pump shown includes a hydraulic component 12h, a motor 21, and a shaft 19 connecting the hydraulic component 22h and the motor 21; the pump can be a magnetic pump. Such a magnetic pump includes a housing (a portion of the housing is in…) Figure 1C (marked as 12m), the housing includes a hydraulic component or impeller connected to a shaft carrying the inner magnetic ring; outside the housing, the outer magnetic ring is mounted on the drive shaft and magnetically coupled to the inner magnetic ring through the housing. A motor can drive the drive shaft and the outer magnetic ring (motor 21 and outer magnetic ring 190 are located in...). Figure 4C (As can be seen) rotation; consequently, the outer magnetic ring drives the inner magnetic ring and impeller to rotate due to magnetic coupling. In the case of a magnetic pump, Figure 1A Shaft 19 is the drive shaft, and the impeller and its shaft are housed in housing 22.

[0127] The ink circuit has a receiving portion, area, or interface to receive the pump module and connect the pump module to the printer's hydraulic circuit. The receiving portion, area, or interface has at least one fluid inlet corresponding to fluid outlet 16 and at least one fluid outlet corresponding to fluid inlet 14 of the first monolithic assembly, such that fluid can flow from the interface outlet into the first monolithic assembly and then out of the first monolithic assembly to the interface inlet.

[0128] An example of the receiving interface is described below.

[0129] The pump module can be installed in or on the ink circuit, or on the receiving portion, area, or interface; the pump module can be detached from the circuit or from the receiving portion, area, or interface of the ink circuit. For example, the module can be installed and removed using one or more screws, or one or more nuts, or one or more bolts, or one or more clips, or one or more clamps, or one or more hooks, or any other securing device.

[0130] Like any other module in this application, the pump module may be provided with an identifier, such as an electrical identifier, an RFID identifier, or a magnetic identifier, to identify which embodiment is implemented, for example, which pump is implemented in the module. Electrical identifiers, RFID identifiers, and magnetic identifiers are described below.

[0131] Figure 1B and Figure 1C An embodiment of a pump module (or ink pressure pump module) 10 according to the present invention is shown, wherein the motor 21 of the pump 12 is located outside the pump module. The hydraulic components 12h of the pump are held between the front cover 13 and the rear cover 13', as shown in... Figure 1C As can be seen, the rear cover 13' is removable. After removing the rear cover 13', the hydraulic components 12h of the pump can be easily removed. Reference numeral 12m refers, for example, to the external magnetic components of the pump, which are located outside the housing 22.

[0132] As in Figure 1B As can be seen, the rear side of the pump module housing is not completely sealed, allowing the pump 12 (or the portion of the pump contained in the housing 22) to be cooled by the air in the surrounding atmosphere.

[0133] The housing may be provided with slots or openings 22° to facilitate airflow around the pump.

[0134] Combined with the following text Figure 2C and Figure 2D As described, any embodiment of this module may include one or more components or devices 77 to enable installation and disassembly. The components or devices 77 are... Figures 1A to 1C Shown along axis 17 and positioned along the side of housing 22 or the side of the cover of housing 22. The remainder of the machine (or another component) may include means that engage with the retractable member or pins 772, 773 of said device 77 (e.g., in...). Figure 4D Holes 770 and 771 are visible in the image.

[0135] In another embodiment, the remainder of the machine (or another component) may include one or more components or pins 772, 773 (each component or pin engaging with a spring), and module 10 is equipped with corresponding holes to engage with said components or pins.

[0136] In both embodiments, the ink circuit has a receiving portion or area or interface to receive a module, which can be mounted on and detached from the receiving portion or area or interface, for example, by one or more screws, or one or more nuts, or one or more bolts, or one or more clips, or one or more clamps, or one or more hooks or any other fixing device. Holes 22h1, 22h2, and 22h3 are in... Figure 1C As can be seen, screws 22s1, 22s2, and 22s3 are accommodated, and a screw head 22s'3 is located within... Figure 1B As can be seen in the text.

[0137] Figure 2A An example of a filter module 30 is shown. This filter module includes a housing 32, possibly including a cover 33; the module includes one or more fluid inlets 36, 42 and one or more fluid outlets 38, 44; inside the module or its housing, one or two filters 34 (so-called "mesh filters") and 40 (so-called "main ink filters") are respectively connected to a corresponding set of fluid inlets 36 and fluid outlets 38 and a corresponding set of fluid inlets 42 and fluid outlets 44. Figure 2A As shown:

[0138] - The main filter inlet 45 and the main filter outlet 47 can be directly connected to the fluid inlet 42 and the fluid outlet 44 via one or two pipes 41, 43;

[0139] - Another filter 46 can be connected between the main filter outlet 47 and the fluid outlet 44;

[0140] - Preferably, there are no other fluid elements between fluid inlet 36 and filter inlet 31, between fluid inlet 42 and filter inlet 45, between fluid outlet 38 and filter outlet 33, and between fluid outlet 44 and filter outlet 47.

[0141] Another embodiment of filter module 30' is in Figure 2B As shown in the figure. Except that filter 46 is replaced by filter mesh 46' at the outlet 45 of the main filter, the reference numerals are the same as those in the figure. Figure 2A The reference numerals in the figures are the same and represent the same elements.

[0142] The ink circuit has a receiving portion, area, or interface for receiving a filter module and connecting it to the printer's hydraulic circuit. The receiving portion, area, or interface has at least two fluid inlets corresponding to fluid outlets 38 and 44 and at least two fluid outlets corresponding to fluid inlets 36 and 42 of the second monolithic assembly, allowing fluid to flow from the one or more interface outlets into the second monolithic assembly and then out of the second monolithic assembly to the one or more interface inlets. In a simpler embodiment, the module includes a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a filter; the corresponding receiving portion, area, or interface for receiving the filter module and connecting it to the printer's hydraulic circuit has a fluid inlet corresponding to the module's fluid outlet and a fluid outlet corresponding to the module's fluid inlet.

[0143] The following describes an example of the receiving interface. The filter module can be installed in or on the ink circuit, or on the receiving portion, area, or interface; the filter module can be removed from the circuit or from the receiving portion, area, or interface of the ink circuit. For example, the filter module can be installed and removed using one or more screws, or one or more nuts, or one or more bolts, or one or more clips, or one or more clamps, or one or more hooks, or any other fixing or fastening device. Holes 32h1, 32h2, 32h3, and 32h4 are... Figure 2D As can be seen, screws 32s1, 32s2, 32s3, and 32s4 are accommodated. Figure 2C The image shows three screw heads: 32s'1, 32s'2, and 32s'3.

[0144] Like any other module in this application, this filter module may be provided with identifiers, such as electrical identifiers, RFID identifiers, or magnetic identifiers, to identify which embodiment is implemented, for example, which filter is implemented in the module. Electrical identifiers, RFID identifiers, and magnetic identifiers are described below.

[0145] Figure 2C and Figure 2D An embodiment of the filter module 30 according to the invention is shown. Preferably, the module is pivotable or rotatable about axis (or hinge or pivot pin) 37.

[0146] Preferably, the module is provided with means 77 for mounting and dismounting the module 30. These means may define an axis (or hinge or pivot pin) around which the module can pivot. These means may take the form of a retractable member or pins 772, 773 that are reset by a spring 771.

[0147] According to one embodiment, the device 77 includes a cylinder aligned along axis 37 (axis of rotation) and containing the telescopic members or pins 772, 773 and the spring 771. The spring 771 is located between pins 772 and 773 and is compressible within the cylinder under the action of pins 772 and 773. Each pin can be as follows: Figure 2B The cylinder moves between the extended and retracted positions as shown. An opening is provided at each end of the cylinder through which components or pins 772 and 773 can easily enter and exit, thereby being in a fixed position along axis 37 (e.g., ...). Figure 2C or Figure 2D (as shown) and unlocked position, in which the retractable member or pins 772, 773 are at least partially engaged in the cylinder, and in which the module can be removed along the axis.

[0148] Components 772 and 773 mate with corresponding components (e.g., holes) on the rest of the machine.

[0149] In another embodiment, the remainder of the machine may include one or more components or pins 772, 773 (each component or pin engaging with a spring), and module 30 is equipped with corresponding holes to engage said components or pins. Therefore, the module can be installed and removed from the printer's hydraulic circuit.

[0150] Devices 77, 771 to 773 can also be used in combination Figures 1A to 1C and Figures 3A to 3D At least one of the other modules 10, 50 described, or a component applied to a circuit or printer that cooperates with the one or more modules. Figures 1A to 1C This schematically illustrates the positioning of such a component along the side of the housing 22 or the side of the cover of the housing. Figure 3E The diagram schematically illustrates a component positioned along the side of housing 52 or the side of the cover of housing 52. Thus, the module can pivot or rotate about axis 17 or 67, and can be locked in a fixed position along axis 17 or 67 and easily removed from said position.

[0151] Figure 3A and Figure 3B Two different examples of the recycling module 50 are shown, and Figure 3C and Figure 3D A variant of this recycling module is shown.

[0152] In one example, module 50 includes a housing 52, possibly including a cover 53; the module includes one or more fluid inlets 55, 59, 61 and one or more fluid outlets 57, 63; inside the housing, a recovery device (e.g., a venturi tube 54) is located. Figure 3A , Figure 3C) or diaphragm pump 54' ( Figure 3B , Figure 3D For recovering ink not used for printing from the printhead, the outlet of the recovery device is connected to one of the fluid outlets 57 and 63; a filter 56 may be connected between the fluid inlet 55 and the recovery device to filter the ink recovered from the printhead; as shown in these figures:

[0153] -exist Figure 3A and Figure 3C In the example, fluid inlet 55 is used for ink returning from the printhead, and fluid inlet 61 is used for solvent or air; this embodiment is preferred when the ink does not produce foam; in both figures, outlet 57 and inlet 59 are unused and can be omitted;

[0154] -exist Figure 3B and Figure 3D In the example, at least one three-way valve 66 may also be connected between the filter 56 and the pump 54' to select fluid from inlet 55 (typically ink returning from the printhead) or fluid from inlet 59 (typically solvent or air); this embodiment is preferred in cases where ink foaming occurs; in both figures, inlet 61, outlet 63 and venturi tube are unused and can be omitted.

[0155] Figure 3C and Figure 3D They are Figure 3A and Figure 3B Variations of the example are shown respectively with Figure 3A and Figure 3B The components are the same but located in different positions within the housing.

[0156] Like any other module in this application, module 50 may also be provided with an identifier, such as an electrical identifier, an RFID identifier, or a magnetic identifier, to identify which embodiment is implemented, for example, according to Figure 3A The embodiments (which include a venturi tube 54 as a recycling device) or according to Figure 3B An embodiment (which includes a pump 54' as a recycling device).

[0157] For example, when a module (e.g., module 50) is mounted in a circuit or interface, the electrodes or contacts of an electrical identifier (e.g., a resistor) can become visible or accessible through a window in the housing of any module and contact the corresponding electrical contacts in the circuit or interface. The identifier can be, for example, a resistor having features for... Figure 3A The first resistance value of the module and a value different from the first value, used for... Figure 3B The second resistance value of the module; the third resistance value may correspond to another case, such as the case where the module is not present (in the case where the module is not present, an infinite resistance value is detected), or it may be used to determine the second resistance value of the module. Figure 3C or Figure 3D The module.

[0158] Alternatively, any module or module type may have an RFID identifier or tag that stores identification information, and the printer may have means for reading the information stored in the RFID identifier or tag.

[0159] In this application, another identifier for any module or module type or monolithic component may be a magnetic identifier, such as an electrical switch based on an applied magnetic field, for example, a "reed switch".

[0160] For example, a module may include multiple possible positions of one or more magnets, each position corresponding to a specific module or monolith and / or corresponding to at least one technical feature of said module or monolith. Multiple switches are located at different positions in the ink circuit. Depending on the position of the one or more magnets in the module, one or more switches are activated, and the activation is detected by the printer or its controller. Thus, an identifier of the module and / or an identifier of one or more technical features of the module is obtained. Alternatively, multiple magnets may be located in the ink circuit, one or more of which interact with one or more electrical switches (e.g., "reed switches") of the module, depending on the position of the one or more switches, which in turn depends on one or more technical features of the module.

[0161] In a particular embodiment, the module identifier comprises multiple (N) magnets located at multiple (N or more) possible positions within the module. Each combination of magnet positions provides an identifier for a specific module or unit and / or an identifier for at least one technical feature of said module or unit; for example, each combination of positions identifies a different type of pump, or a different type of filter, or a different type of recycling equipment. Each magnet in the combination interacts with a device in the circuit (e.g., a switch, such as a "reed switch"), and this interaction is detected by a printer. This multiplies the possible identifiers compared to an identifier with only one magnet.

[0162] For example, in the case where the module has two possible magnet positions:

[0163] - Two identifiers can be formed by a magnet located at either of the two positions, while there is no magnet at the other position; these identifiers are specified by (1, 0) and (0, 1), where "1" indicates the presence of a magnet and "0" indicates the absence of a magnet;

[0164] - Another identifier is formed by two magnets, with one magnet at each of the two possible positions (1, 1).

[0165] With two possible positions, three identifiers can thus be created to identify three different modules or three variations of the same module.

[0166] Another example involves a module having three possible and distinct locations for one or more magnets:

[0167] - The three identifiers can be formed by a magnet located in any of the three positions, while there are no magnets in the other positions; these identifiers are specified by (1, 0, 0), (0, 1, 0), and (0, 0, 1), where "1" indicates the presence of a magnet and "0" indicates the absence of a magnet;

[0168] - Other identifiers are formed by three combinations of two magnets in three possible positions (1, 1, 0), (0, 1, 1), (1, 0, 1) and three magnets in three possible positions (1, 1, 1).

[0169] With three possible positions, seven identifiers can thus be created to identify seven different modules or seven variations of the same module.

[0170] Of course, when n>3, more identifiers are possible.

[0171] Each magnet can interact with a device in the circuit (e.g., a switch, such as a "reed switch"), which is located at a specific position in the circuit or in an interface to interact with a magnet located at a specific position in the module. For example, for three positions of three different magnets in the module, three switches are provided in the circuit, and each switch can interact with one magnet when it is located in a specific position in the module. Any module and ink circuit, or the corresponding interface of a module in the circuit, may be provided with means for implementing at least one of the aforementioned identifiers. For example, the main filter 40 of the filter module (see...) Figure 2A and Figure 2B The characteristics of a pump module can be identified by such an identifier. Alternatively, pump 12 of the pump module (see...) Figures 1A to 1C The characteristics of ) can be identified by such identifiers.

[0172] The ink circuit has a receiving portion, area, or interface to receive the recycling module and connect it to the printer's hydraulic circuit. The recycling module may be installed in or on the ink circuit, or on the receiving portion, area, or interface; the recycling module may be detached from the circuit or from the receiving portion, area, or interface of the ink circuit. For example, the module may be installed and removed using one or more screws, or one or more nuts, or one or more bolts, or one or more clips, or one or more clamps, or one or more hooks, or any other securing device (see [link to relevant documentation]). Figure 3E and Figure 3F (Example).

[0173] The receiving portion or area or interface has at least two corresponding to fluid inlets 55 and 61. Figure 3A ) or fluid inlets 55 and 59 ( Figure 3B The fluid outlet of the third monolithic component and at least one fluid outlet 63 corresponding to the third monolithic component. Figure 3A ) or fluid outlet 57 ( Figure 3B The fluid inlet allows fluid to flow from the interface outlet into the third monolithic assembly and then out of the third monolithic assembly to the interface inlet.

[0174] Preferably, the receiving portion or area or interface has at least three corresponding fluid inlets 55, 59. Figure 3A ) and fluid inlet 61 ( Figure 3B The fluid outlet of the third monolithic assembly and at least two fluid outlets 63 corresponding to the third monolithic assembly. Figure 3A ) and fluid outlet 57 ( Figure 3B The fluid inlet is the same receiving section, area, or interface; therefore, different types of recycling modules can be connected to the same receiving section, area, or interface.

[0175] An example of the receiving interface is described below.

[0176] As mentioned above Figure 2C and Figure 2D As described, any embodiment of the module 50 may be provided with one or more means 77. Such means are... Figure 3E As shown, it is positioned along the side of housing 52 or the side of cover 53 of the housing. Conversely, the remainder of the machine may include one or more devices 77, with module 50 equipped with corresponding means (e.g., holes) that mate with said devices 77. In both cases, module 50 may be positioned along an axis ( Figure 3E The module is installed along axis 67 and can be disassembled and removed along said axis. The module is capable of pivoting or rotating about axis 67 and can be easily locked and unlocked.

[0177] Figure 3E and Figure 3F An embodiment of the vacuum or recovery module 50 according to the present invention is shown. The cover 53 contains all fluid inlets / outlets.

[0178] The electrical contacts 51 of the electrical identifier are visible through the opening in cover 53; as described above, these electrical contacts can engage with corresponding contacts in the circuit used to identify embodiments of the module, through which the printer controller measures the resistance value. In a variant (not shown), as described above, the identifier may include a device located in the ink circuit and operable by a magnetic field generated by one or more magnets located in the module, such as one or more electrical switches, such as one or more "reed switches".

[0179] The ink circuit has a receiving portion or area or interface to receive a vacuum or recovery module 50, which can be installed in or removed from the ink circuit, for example by one or more screws, or one or more nuts, or one or more bolts, or one or more clips, or one or more clamps, or one or more hooks or any other fixing device. Figure 3E and Figure 3F Holes 52h1, 52h2, 52h3, 52h4, 52h'1, 52h'2, 52h'3, and 52h'4 are shown for accommodating screws.

[0180] As described above, each module in modules 10, 30, and 50 is held in the loop by a suitable fixing device, allowing each module to be installed on and removed from a corresponding receiving area, portion, or interface of the loop. This possibility of installing or removing any module provides an inkjet printer with modular features: for example, during the manufacture or construction of the inkjet printer and / or during use, the inkjet printer can be adapted to have different pump modules, and / or one or more different filter modules, and / or one or more different recycling modules. For example, similar to... Figure 3A The recycling module shown can be based on Figure 3B The recycling module replacement in the embodiment is similar to Figure 3C The recycling module shown can be based on Figure 3DThe embodiments of the recycling module can be replaced; more generally, any pump module and filter or recycling module can be replaced by pump modules and filter or recycling modules with different technical features and possibly having one or more different inlets and / or outlets. As described above, this can be achieved by at least one interface portion or area or surface having all fluid inlets / outlets to make it compatible with different modules. Furthermore, one or more of the modules may include a device 77 for positioning the module along a rotation axis and rotating the module about said axis. Such a device can be combined with the aforementioned fixing device: after fixing the module relative to the rotation axis, the module is rotated and contacts a corresponding receiving portion or area or interface of the printer's hydraulic circuit. In this position, the module can be locked with the corresponding fixing device and used in conjunction with the hydraulic circuit. When the module must be removed, for example for replacement, repair, or cleaning purposes, the module is unlocked, rotated about the axis, and then removed from the printer along said axis.

[0181] Figure 4A A set of pump modules 10, filter modules 30 and recovery modules 50 as disclosed above are shown, along with their fluid interfaces to the fluid circuit and fluid connections to the printhead.

[0182] As can be understood from the diagram, each module can be removed from the loop independently of other modules and can be reinstalled in the loop (e.g., after a cleaning step) or replaced by a similar or identical module. For example, according to Figure 3A or Figure 3C The recycling module can be based on Figure 3B or Figure 3D The recycling module is replaced, especially when different inks are used in the printer. In another example, any module is replaced by a technically newer module with more advanced features.

[0183] Specifically, the three-way valve 70 can be connected to the inlet 14 of the ink pressure pump module 10. Depending on the printer's operating phase, the valve 70 selects between a first fluid (ink supplied through the first conduit 71) and a second fluid (air and / or solvent supplied through the second conduit 72) to be introduced into the module 10. Thus, for example, when the printer is printing, the first fluid is pumped by the pump 24 and then delivered to the printhead through the fluid circuit, particularly through the filter module 30. For example, when the circuit is being cleaned, the second fluid is pumped by the pump 24. An example of implementing a cleaning method using air (or gas) and solvent is given below.

[0184] The damper 74 can be connected in the fluid path to the inlet 36 of the filter module 30 (located between the fluid outlet 16 of module 10 and the fluid inlet 36 of module 30) to suppress pressure variations or oscillations in the ink before it is delivered to the printhead. These pressure variations or oscillations are generated by the pump and degrade print quality. The fluid then flows through the filter 34 and then through a portion of the fluid circuit (e.g., via...). Figure 4A and Figure 4B The fluid manifold (indicated by the arrow in the diagram) delivers fluid to the printhead, specifically through filter 40.

[0185] A three-way valve 76 can be connected to the outlet 44 of the filter module 30. Depending on the phase of printer operation, fluid flowing out of the filter module 30 can be delivered via valve 76 to the print head 100 (possibly via an additional filter 77) or to the main reservoir in the loop (via the recovery module 50). A sensor 75 can be implemented to measure the pressure and / or temperature of the fluid flowing out of the filter module 30.

[0186] In the example shown, the fluid flowing from the filter module 30 through outlet 44 and into the main storage of the ink return loop first flows through the recovery module 50, specifically through inlet 55, filter 56, recovery device 54 and outlet 57.

[0187] A portion of the fluid supplied to filter module 30 can also be returned to a portion of the fluid loop, for example, returned to the fluid manifold. Figure 4A As shown (see arrow 201); fluid returning from the portion of the loop (see arrow 203), for example fluid returning from the fluid manifold, is divided into a first stream delivered to filter module 30 and a second stream delivered to recovery module 50.

[0188] Figure 4B Another set of pump modules 10, filter modules 30, and recovery modules 50, as disclosed above, are shown, with the vacuum module being combined with the above. Figure 3D The types disclosed.

[0189] Modules 10 and 30 with Figure 4A Modules 10 and 30 are identical, and the above description applies to modules 10 and 30 as well as other components having the same reference numerals.

[0190] Module 50 implements diaphragm pump 54' and includes relative to Figure 4A Another fluid inlet and another fluid outlet. Pump 54' pumps the first fluid through fluid inlet 55 (and through filter 56) or pumps the second fluid through second fluid inlet 59.

[0191] The fluid flowing from the filter module 30 and into the main storage for the ink return circuit first flows through the recovery module 50, specifically through the inlet 55, the filter 56, and the diaphragm pump 54'.

[0192] A three-way valve 66 can be connected to the outlet of filter 56. Depending on the phase of printer operation, the fluid pumped by pump 54' can be selected between a first fluid and a second fluid via valve 66. The fluid then flows through outlet 57 and into the main reservoir.

[0193] and Figure 4A Similar to the embodiment, a portion of the fluid supplied to the filter module 30 can also be returned to a portion of the fluid loop, for example, returned to the manifold. Figure 4B As shown; fluid returning from the portion of the loop, such as fluid returning from the manifold, is divided into a first stream delivered to filter module 30 and a second stream delivered to recovery module 54'.

[0194] exist Figure 4A and Figure 4B In the hydraulic circuit, fluid interfaces 11, 31, and 51 are further included. Figures 4C to 4E An example of such an interface is shown. Each interface forms a fluid interface between one of modules 10, 30, and 50 and the rest of the loop or other components. Each of the interfaces has one or more fluid inlets / outlets 14', 16', 36', 38', 44', 57', 63', 61', 59', 55' corresponding to one or more outlets / inlets of modules 10, 30, and 50. Each of the interfaces also has one or more inlets / outlets 14a, 16a, 38a, 57a, 63a corresponding to one or more outlets / inlets of the rest of the loop or other components. Each of the interfaces includes a suitable conduit connecting its one or more fluid inlets and one or more outlets.

[0195] Figure 4C This is an example of interface 11, which includes a substantially flat surface 110 and one or more inlets / outlets 14', 16' corresponding to one or more outlets / inlets of module 10. The other side of interface 11 (not visible in this figure) has one or more outlets / inlets connected to the portion of the loop that is connected to said module 10 (see [reference]). Figure 4A or Figure 4B One or more corresponding inlets / outlets.

[0196] The figure also shows the magnetic pump located below interface 11, held in housing 22 (see figure). Figure 1A External components, including an outer magnetic ring 190 and a motor 21; housing component 12m (see...) Figure 1A and Figure 1CEnter the cylindrical section surrounded by the outer magnetic ring 190.

[0197] Interface 11 may include means for interacting with an identifier of the pump module. For example, as described above, interface 11 includes electrical contacts for contacting an electrical identifier of the pump module 10. In a variant (not shown), as described above, the identifier may include means located in the ink circuit and operable by a magnetic field generated by one or more magnets located in the module, such as one or more electrical switches, such as one or more "reed switches".

[0198] Holes 22h'1, 22h'2, and 22h'3 correspond to Figure 1C Holes 22h1, 22h2, and 22h3.

[0199] Figure 4D This is an example of interface 31, which includes a substantially flat surface 310 and one or more inlets / outlets 36', 38', 42', 44' corresponding to one or more outlets / inlets of module 30. The other side of interface 31 (not visible in this figure) has one or more outlets / inlets connected to the portion of said module 31 via a loop (see [reference]). Figure 4A or Figure 4B One or more corresponding inlets / outlets.

[0200] The figure also shows holes 770 and 771, and holes 770 and 771 are related to the aforementioned device 77 ( Figure 2B The retractable components or pins 772 and 773 are used in conjunction.

[0201] Interface 31 may include means for interacting with an identifier of the filter module. For example, interface 31 may include electrical contacts for contacting an electrical identifier of the filter module 10, or interface 31 may include multiple electrical switches, such as reed switches, for cooperating with a magnet located in the filter module, the multiple electrical switches being located in different positions depending on the characteristics of the filter module.

[0202] Figure 4E This is an example of interface 51, which includes a substantially flat surface 510 and one or more inlets / outlets 59', 61', 63' corresponding to one or more outlets / inlets of module 50. The other side of interface 51 (not visible in this figure) has one or more outlets / inlets connected to the portion of said module 51 via a loop (see [reference]). Figure 4A or Figure 4B One or more corresponding inlets / outlets.

[0203] Each of the interfaces includes suitable conduit connecting one or more fluid inlets and one or more outlets. In particular, when multiple possible alternative modules can be connected to the same interface, the interface includes conduit (fluid inlets and / or outlets) and / or electrical contacts to ensure compatibility with multiple modules.

[0204] For example, interface 51 has multiple inlets / outlets to enable connection. Figure 3A recycling module or Figure 3B The recycling module. Figure 3A The module has unused inlets 55 and 59, through which fluid enters the module and exits through outlet 63; Figure 3B The module has all three inlets 55, 59, and 61 in use. Fluid enters the module through any one of these three inlets and exits the module through outlet 57 or 63.

[0205] This also applies to other interfaces used to connect any of the other monolithic components: therefore, any interface preferably includes all necessary inlets / outlets and / or one or more electrical contacts and / or magnetic devices, so that any version or technically updated first monolithic component, second monolithic component and third monolithic component can be connected to interface 11, interface 31 and interface 51 respectively.

[0206] Figure 4E An electrical connector 511 is also shown for connecting the electrical contact 51 of the electrical identifier (see also...). Figure 3E In a variant (not shown in the figure), as described above, the identifier may include a device located in the ink circuit (e.g., in the interface) and operable by a magnetic field generated by one or more magnets located in the module, such as one or more electrical switches, such as one or more "reed switches".

[0207] One or more modules (especially the modules mentioned above) and components of the circuit, or the corresponding interfaces that must be connected to such components, may be provided with magnetic devices to assist in positioning the modules relative to the ink circuit or the corresponding interfaces. Figure 4F Module 150 and a corresponding interface 152 to which it must be connected are shown. Module 150 can be any of the first, second, or third modules described above. Each of the module and the interface has magnets 151 and 153, which are positioned and oriented such that when the module is correctly positioned relative to the interface, the two magnets attract each other.

[0208] Alternative:

[0209] - Module 150 has a magnet 151 and interface 152 has a piece of magnetic material, such as ferromagnetic material;

[0210] - Interface 152 has a magnet 153, and module 150 has a piece of magnetic material, such as ferromagnetic material; this solution is preferred because the magnet in the module will interfere with one or more sensors implemented in the loop for measuring, for example, pressure.

[0211] Module 150 can be any of the modules described above. Other components or parts can be mounted on the circuit by being guided by the magnetic device described above.

[0212] The modules mentioned and described above can be found in, for example... Figure 5A This is implemented in the fluid circuit shown. The cleaning method for this circuit will be described below.

[0213] like Figure 5A As shown, the circuit includes a main storage unit 80, an ink cartridge 82, a solvent cartridge 84 (both ink cartridges and solvent cartridges can be removed from the circuit), a hydraulic module 90 (or manifold), and multiple pipes for connecting cartridges 82, 84, storage unit 80, and different modules 10, 30, 50.

[0214] Figure 10 Examples of boxes 82 and 84 are shown.

[0215] Cartridges 82 and 84 include a portion 120 (the most rigid portion, but slightly deformable when the cartridge is empty) and a semi-rigid or flexible portion 140. The rigid portion 120 is provided with a rigid connector (or mouthpiece, also referred to as a "nose" or "nozzle") 160, which allows for hydraulic connection to the ink circuit. Initially, the connector is sealed by a capsule made of a rubber-type material (e.g., EPDM) or other material (chemically compatible with the fluid in question) via an airtight press-fit or seal. During cartridge setup, a hollow needle connected to the ink circuit strikes the capsule, establishing a hydraulic circuit between the cartridge and the ink circuit. A capsule made of an elastic material is selected to ensure a seal at the needle-capsule junction.

[0216] Another example of the box has a storage chamber and a distal portion that is cylindrical in shape and closed by a lid.

[0217] Figure 8AExamples of cartridge retainers 82a and 84a are shown. Each cartridge retainer includes fluid connection devices 112c and 114c, to which a cartridge connector 160 is connected when the cartridge is inserted into the cartridge retainer; these devices 112c and 114c include, for example, sleeves that fit into the capsule of the closure connector 160, and these devices 112c and 114c are connected to a circuit for supplying, for example, solvent or ink to the printer; alternatively, each of these devices 112c and 114c includes a cylindrical portion that fits into the cylindrical shape of a distal portion of the cartridge. The sleeve or cylinder pierces or penetrates into the cartridge connector 160 or cap to provide fluid communication between the interior of the cartridge and the supply circuit. The hydraulic connection connector or distal portion of each cartridge is in communication with the ink (or solvent) circuit via devices 112c and 114c.

[0218] Hydraulic module 90 preferably has an ink section and a solvent section. The ink section includes an ink pump 92 for pumping ink from ink cartridge 82, and the solvent section includes a pump 94 for pumping solvent from solvent cartridge 84. The hydraulic module may also include multiple three-way valves 931, 932, 933, 99 to deliver appropriate fluids to appropriate modules 10, 30, 50 and / or to reservoir 80. As shown in FIG. 5, conduits 96 to 98 connect the ink section and solvent section of hydraulic module 90 to reservoir 80; conduits 102 to 104 connect the ink section and solvent section of hydraulic module 90 to different modules 10 to 50.

[0219] Each of modules 10, 30, and 50 is held in the circuit by appropriate fastening or securing means as described above, such that each module can be installed on and removed from the circuit.

[0220] The main storage unit 80 may be of the type comprising two compartments as disclosed in EP 3466697, namely an upper compartment 801 for storing ink and a lower compartment 802 for storing solvent.

[0221] Ink from cartridge 82 can be supplied to upper part 801 via one or more of valves 931, 932, 933 and one or more of pipes 96; ink can be pumped from upper part via one or more pipes 110 via pump of module 10;

[0222] Solvent from cartridge 84 can be supplied to lower section 802 via one or more valves in valve 99 and one or more pipes in pipe 97; solvent can be pumped from lower section via pump 94 through one or more pipes 98.

[0223] Flushing or cleaning methods can be implemented to clean the aforementioned circuit (especially cleaning the three different modules 10, 30, and 50), or to clean only a portion of the aforementioned circuit (e.g., cleaning only one of modules 10, 30, and 50), particularly in cases where only one of modules 10, 30, and 50 is removed or disassembled from the circuit and repaired or replaced. If such cleaning methods are not performed, ink will leak from any of modules 10, 30, and 50 when any of them is removed or disassembled from the printer, resulting in ink and solvent loss. This, in turn, causes ink and solvent to drip onto the rest of the system or other components, and to leak from the printer and modules.

[0224] In this embodiment, solvent cartridge 84 and ink cartridge 82 are first removed from the circuit, and ink cartridge 82 is used as a replacement for a recovery cartridge to recover dirty or clean fluid from the circuit. Removing solvent cartridge 84 allows a gas, such as air (at atmospheric pressure), to be pumped from the fluid connection device 114c by activating one or more pumps 94, 24 and valves (specifically valves 931, 932, 933) in the circuit, just as when the solvent cartridge is connected to the ink circuit and solvent must be pumped.

[0225] Pump 94 is activated, thereby pumping air throughout the circuit or through a portion of the circuit (particularly through one or more of modules 10, 30, 50) as described above. Consequently, ink present in the circuit is returned to ink tank 80 through the appropriate position of each of valves 99, 933, 70, 76.

[0226] In the following steps, the ink present in the circuit is delivered to the recycling box through the appropriate position of each of valves 99, 933, 70, and 76.

[0227] Then, for valve 99 ( Figure 5A ) or 339 ( Figure 7A The process is controlled (as described below) so that alternating or simultaneous steps of cleaning one or more modules of modules 10, 30, and 50 with gas (e.g., air) and solvent (in this order or in reverse order) are performed multiple times, for example, between 3 and 10 times. The cleaning solvent can be pumped from the lower portion 802 of tank 80 (or from...) by pump 94. Figure 7A The pump is used for pumping in tank 314.

[0228] This produces a gas-solvent mixture, such as alternating gas volumes 401 and solvent volumes 402 flowing through pipe 400. Figure 11A (or "slug flow"), where each volume in the volume is less than 1 cm³. 3This can potentially form a two-phase or biphase mixture of the gas and the solvent (e.g., between 80% and 95% solvent and between 20% and 5% gas), which is effective for cleaning the circuit; alternatively, it can be as follows: Figure 11B The solvent shown is a mixture of gas types (gas bubbles 404 suspended in solvent stream 406 or "emulsion").

[0229] Pumps that alternately pump solvent and air have pressure fluctuations, pulses, or shocks in the piping that help to effectively clean the circuit.

[0230] Following cleaning, a solvent rinsing step may be performed to remove any residual ink that may remain in or within the circuit (e.g., in one or more of the three modules 10, 30, and 50). In a preferred embodiment, a drying step may be performed after cleaning by circulating gas through all or part of the circuit, thereby ensuring that substantially all residual solvent present in the circuit is removed, e.g., at least 85% or 90% of the residual solvent is removed. Therefore, one or more of modules 10, 30, and 50 can be removed from the circuit, reducing the risk of ink or solvent spillage.

[0231] Therefore, in the above method, the solvent flows through the same path as the gas.

[0232] The above rinsing or cleaning steps can be performed only on a portion of the circuit (e.g., only on one of modules 10, 30, or 50). Cleaning only the parts or components that must be removed from the circuit saves solvent.

[0233] After performing the rinsing or cleaning method described above, one or more of the cleaned modules 10, 30, and 50 can be removed from the printer for repair or replacement. The above method can also be performed in the following situations:

[0234] -Assuming none of the aforementioned removable modules have been removed from the circuit;

[0235] - Alternatively, in the case where the circuit does not contain any removable modules or blocks and all components other than the box, as well as one or more individual fluid components (e.g., one or more valves, and / or one or more pumps, and / or one or more filters) are fixed relative to the circuit.

[0236] In both cases:

[0237] - Even without disassembling any modules, components, or parts, it is advantageous to keep the circuit clean and, if possible, dry.

[0238] - Alternatively, individual fluid components (such as one or more valves, and / or one or more pumps, and / or one or more filters) can be removed from the circuit, which has the same advantages as those described above for removable modules.

[0239] Figure 6 The steps of a flushing or cleaning method according to the present invention are shown:

[0240] - Step S1: Remove the solvent cartridge;

[0241] - Step S2: Remove the ink cartridge and replace it with a cartridge for recycling dirty fluid;

[0242] - Step S3: Set n = 0;

[0241] - Step S2: Remove the ink cartridge and replace it with a cartridge for recycling dirty fluid;

[0242] - Step S3: Set n = 0;

[0243] - Step S4: Increment n: n → n + 1;

[0244] - Step S5: Select the valve position to pump gas;

[0245] - Step S6: Pump a gas such as air through at least a part of the circuit or through the entire circuit;

[0246] - Step S7: Then pump a solvent (such as the solvent from the solvent tank or compartment 802) through a part of the circuit or through the entire circuit;

[0247] - Step S8: Compare n and N (such as N < 10); if n < N, return to Step S4, increment n: n → n + 1, and repeat Steps S5 to Step S7;

[0248] - Step S9: If n = N: It is possible to dry all or part of the circuit;

[0249] - Step S10: Remove one or more modules 10, 30, 50 from the circuit.

[0250] In a variant, the order of the gas and the solvent can be reversed, and Steps S5 to Step S7 are replaced by the following Steps S'5 to Step S'7:

[0251] - Step S'5: Select the valve position to pump the solvent;

[0252] - Step S'6: Pump a solvent (such as the solvent from the solvent tank or compartment 802) through at least a part of the circuit or through the entire circuit;

[0253] - Step S'7: Pump a gas such as air through at least a part of the circuit or through the entire circuit.

[0254] In the example, gas and solvent are pumped alternately through only one of modules 10, 30, and 50 according to steps S5 to S7 or steps S'5 to S'7, because only one module (e.g., pump module 10) must be removed from the loop. More generally, gas and solvent can be pumped alternately through at least one component or part (e.g., valve, filter, or pump) according to steps S5 to S7 or steps S'5 to S'7, because said component or part must be replaced. Alternating pumping can be performed by activating one or more valves. As described above, the pump that alternately pumps solvent and air has pressure fluctuations or pulses or shocks that help to effectively clean the piping of the loop.

[0255] In a preferred embodiment, the initial step of allowing gas to circulate in at least a portion of the circuit enables the gas to be delivered to the main tank ( Figure 5A The ink (marked 80 in the attached diagram) is recycled.

[0256] Other steps in the rinsing or cleaning method include circulating gases and solvents in at least a portion of the circuit and recovering the dirty fluid into a cassette for recovering the dirty fluid via adaptive control of valves in the circuit.

[0257] This produces a gas-solvent mixture, such as alternating gas volumes 401 and solvent volumes 402 flowing through pipe 400. Figure 11A (or "slug flow"), where each volume in the volume is, for example, less than 1 cm³. 3 This can potentially form a two-phase or biphase mixture of the gas and the solvent (e.g., between 80% and 95% solvent and between 20% and 5% gas), which is effective for cleaning the circuit; alternatively, it can be as follows: Figure 11B The solvent shown is a mixture of gas types (gas bubbles 404 suspended in solvent stream 406 or "emulsion").

[0258] exist Figure 6 In a variation of the method shown, compressed gas is introduced into the circuit. In this case, it is not necessary to pump the compressed gas, and the volume of the introduced gas is controlled, for example, by a valve.

[0259] As described above, a drying step can be performed at the end of the cleaning method, for example by circulating gas (e.g., compressed gas and / or heated gas) through all or part of the circuit. For example, the gas can be heated by circulating it through a heating device (e.g., one or more resistors) before it is injected into the circuit. The drying step makes it possible to disassemble one or more of modules 10, 30, and 50 by reducing the risk of ink or solvent spillage.

[0260] The above method can also be implemented in the following situations:

[0261] -Assuming none of the aforementioned removable modules have been removed from the circuit;

[0262] - Alternatively, in the case where the circuit does not contain any removable modules or blocks (which specifically applies to the circuit of Figure 7, see below) and all components other than the box, as well as one or more individual fluid components (e.g., one or more valves, and / or one or more pumps, and / or one or more filters) are fixed relative to the circuit.

[0263] In both cases:

[0264] - Even without disassembling any modules, components, or parts, it is advantageous to keep the circuit clean and, if possible, dry.

[0265] -Will Figure 6 The method or one of the above variations may be adapted to exclude the final step S10 (but may include step S9);

[0266] - Individual fluid components (e.g., one or more valves, and / or one or more pumps, and / or one or more filters) can be removed from the loop, which has the same advantages as described above for removable modules.

[0267] In another embodiment, the loop may include a removable box, but the method may not involve removing the box, i.e., steps S1 and S2 are not performed (see the example below).

[0268] In another embodiment, if the loop does not include a removable box (see example below), then steps S1 and S2 are not performed.

[0269] Figure 7A Another example of a fluid circuit is shown to illustrate another flushing or cleaning method according to the invention. Apart from a housing that can be detached or removed from the circuit and some fluid components (e.g., one or more valves, and / or one or more pumps, and / or one or more filters or dampers), the circuit does not contain any removable modules or blocks.

[0270] The fluid circuit is described in detail in EP 3085541.

[0271] Specifically, the fluid circuit includes:

[0272] - Ink tank 80, ink can be pumped from the ink tank by pump 320, the ink pumped by said pump flows through damper module 323, and then flows through filter before being delivered to printhead; a portion of the ink can be returned to ink tank 80 through pipe 325, three-way valve 337 and pipe 318;

[0273] - Solvent reservoir 314, to which solvent is supplied from solvent cartridge 84, pump 341 and limiting unit 345;

[0274] - Pump 331 is used to pump ink from ink cartridge 82 through three-way valve 335; the ink is then delivered to ink tank 80 through three-way valve 333; the pump can also pump solvent from storage tank 314 through three-way valve 342.

[0275] As specifically combined above Figure 6 The rinsing or cleaning method described herein, or any of its variations, may be applied to Figure 7A The loop (except for step S10).

[0276] Specifically, boxes 82 and 84 can be removed, and box 82 can be replaced with a recycling box.

[0277] Three-way valve 339 can be controlled to allow gases such as air (at atmospheric pressure) and solvents to be alternately pumped and delivered to at least a portion of the circuit by pumps 341 and 331, while dirty solvents are recovered to a recovery cassette by controlling three-way valves 333 and 337 (the valve on the printhead, not shown in the figure, is closed so that no solvent flows to the printhead). The pumps that alternately pump solvent and air have pressure fluctuations, pulses, or shocks that help to effectively clean the piping of the circuit.

[0278] Therefore, a gas-solvent mixture is formed, for example, alternating gas volumes 401 and solvent volumes 402 flow in pipe 400. Figure 11A (or "slug flow"), where each volume in the volume is, for example, less than 1 cm³. 3 This can potentially form a two-phase or biphase mixture of the gas and the solvent (e.g., between 80% and 95% solvent and between 20% and 5% gas), which is effective for cleaning the circuit; alternatively, it can be as follows: Figure 11B The solvent shown is a mixture of gas types (gas bubbles 404 suspended in solvent stream 406 or "emulsion").

[0279] In a preferred embodiment, the initial step of circulating gas (e.g., air) in at least a portion of the circuit enables the recovery of ink delivered to the main tank. Other steps of the cleaning method include circulating air and solvent in at least a portion of the circuit and adaptively controlling the dirty fluid to be recovered into a recovery container via valves in the circuit.

[0280] As described above, a drying step can be performed at the end of the cleaning method, for example by circulating air (e.g., compressed gas and / or heated air) through all or part of the circuit. For example, the air can be heated by circulating it through a heating device (e.g., one or more resistors) before it is injected into the circuit. The drying step allows for the removal of one or more fluid components (e.g., one or more valves, and / or one or more pumps, and / or one or more filters or dampers) by reducing the risk of ink or solvent spillage.

[0281] It must be noted that after cleaning and drying, some residual amount of solvent may remain in at least a portion of the circuit, but the residual amount is small (less than 15% or 10% of the initial volume, a value that can be significantly reduced even by compressed and / or heated air) and will not prevent the disassembly of one or more of the aforementioned fluid components under good conditions, thereby minimizing the risk of spills or drips.

[0282] Another cleaning method can be applied Figure 7A The loop, without removing boxes 82 and 84.

[0283] Air (or more generally, gas) can be introduced into the ink circuit at specific locations, such as the following:

[0284] -Upstream of one or more pumps 320, 341, such as Figure 7A The figures are indicated by reference numerals 147 and 149 in the accompanying drawings;

[0285] -Or, downstream or at the outlet of one or more pumps, respectively, as Figure 7A Arrows 360 and 370 indicate this, particularly when the gas is compressed, for example, when the gas is supplied by a compressor. To prevent any interference with the gas by pumps 320 or 341, a check valve can be installed at the outlet of each of the pumps.

[0286] Gas can be introduced into the circuit at any of the aforementioned locations, for example, via a side pipe laterally connected to the main pipe (or where the main pipe has a "T" shape) and possibly an additional valve (not shown). The following description... Figures 7B to 7E Examples of tools for introducing gas directly into the circuit are given, particularly without removing the solvent cartridge.

[0287] Gas can be introduced into a clean solvent stream flowing in the ink circuit at pressures higher than atmospheric pressure.

[0288] In all the cases discussed above, a gas-solvent mixture is formed, for example, with alternating gas volumes 401 and solvent volumes 402 flowing through pipe 400. Figure 11A(or "slug flow"), where each volume in the volume is less than 1 cm³. 3 This can potentially form a two-phase or biphase mixture of the gas and the solvent (e.g., 90% solvent and 10% gas, or between 80% and 95% solvent and between 20% and 5% gas), which is effective for cleaning the circuit; alternatively, it can be as follows: Figure 11B The solvent shown is a mixture of gas types (gas bubbles 404 suspended in solvent stream 406 or "emulsion").

[0289] The alternating pumping of solvent and air generates pressure fluctuations, pulses, or shocks in one or more pumps, which helps to effectively clean the piping of the loop.

[0290] Dirty solvent can be recovered to a separate tank 390 via an additional valve 391. When it is necessary to dilute the ink contained in the main tank 80, for example, a portion of the solvent can be pumped through an additional pipe 392 and an additional valve 393 via a pump 331, so that the dirty solvent can be reused in the main tank 80.

[0291] Without removing boxes 82 and 84, this other cleaning method can be applied to, for example... Figure 5B The circuit shown, wherein, with Figure 5A The same reference numerals in the accompanying drawings indicate the same technical devices.

[0292] Gas is directed upstream of pump 94, for example, via side conduit 147. Alternatively, compressed gas can be directed downstream of pump 94, for example, via a combination of... Figures 7B to 7E The device described below.

[0293] The contaminated solvent can be recovered into a separate tank 390. Relative to... Figure 5A , Figure 5B The circuit includes additional valves 393a and 397a to recover the dirty fluid back into tank 390 and to pump the dirty fluid from tank 390 and reuse it in main tank 80 (in cases where dilution of the ink contained in main tank 80 is required).

[0294] Without removing boxes 82 and 84 Figure 7A and Figure 5B A preferred embodiment of the method for cleaning the circuit may include at least one of the following features:

[0295] - An initial step of allowing gas to circulate in at least a portion of the circuit, which enables the ink to be recovered into the main tank 80; other steps of the cleaning method include, as described above, allowing gas and solvent to circulate in at least a portion of the circuit, and recovering dirty fluid into tank 390 by adaptive control of valves in the circuit.

[0296] - A drying step, which may be performed at the end of the cleaning method, for example by circulating gas (e.g., compressed gas and / or heated gas) through all or part of the circuit; for example, the gas may be heated by circulating it through a heating device (e.g., one or more resistors) before it is injected into the circuit. The drying step enables the removal of one or more flow components (e.g., one or more valves, and / or one or more pumps, and / or one or more filters or dampers) by reducing the risk of ink or solvent spillage.

[0297] Figure 7B An embodiment of an apparatus 380 is shown that can be used to perform the cleaning method according to the invention without removing the solvent cartridge 84.

[0298] The device 380 includes a valve 381 and a check valve 382 connected in series, with both valve 381 and check valve 382 installed parallel to check valve 383.

[0299] For example, gas from a compressor (not shown) can be introduced through end 386 and then through valves 381 and 382; the other end 384 of the device, located upstream of check valve 383, can be connected to a pump (e.g. Figure 7A The outlet of pump 320 or pump 339.

[0300] Therefore, a gas (e.g., compressed gas) can be introduced into the circuit alternately or simultaneously with a solvent flow, thereby forming an alternating flow of gas and solvent or a mixture of solvent and gas, possibly forming a two-phase mixture of gas and solvent. The gas can be air.

[0301] Device 380 can be permanently positioned in the circuit, for example, downstream of pump 320 or at the outlet (e.g.) Figure 7C As shown), end 386 is closed by a removable plug 387, and ends 384 and 388 are connected to the circuit.

[0302] Alternatively, such as Figure 7D and Figure 7E As shown, device 380 can be temporarily installed in the circuit for cleaning purposes and removed from the circuit after cleaning; for example, device 380 replaces a removable pipe portion 389 of the circuit. The removable portion is connected by connecting flanges 3891 and 3892, which can be detached and replaced by device 380 having similar connecting flanges 3891' and 3892'. Compressor 391 can be connected to the free end 386 of device 380 to inject compressed gas, such as compressed air. After cleaning, device 380 can be detached and removed from the circuit and replaced by portion 389.

[0303] This other cleaning method and / or Figure 7B or Figure 7C The equipment can be applied to Figure 5A or Figure 5B or Figure 7A or Figure 7F The circuit (described below) allows for the alternating introduction of gas (e.g., compressed gas) into the solvent or into the solvent stream at different locations in the circuit (preferably downstream or at the outlet of one or more pumps) to form a solvent-gas mixture. Therefore, any circuit shown in the above figures (especially...) can be implemented... Figure 5A , Figure 5B and Figure 7A A cleaning method for the circuit without removing solvent cartridge 84.

[0304] After manufacturing or building a new printer, any of the cleaning methods described above can be applied to the preparation of the new inkjet printer. In fact, the ink circuit of a new printer may contain residual solid particles that can be removed by the cleaning methods described above. The solvent containing the solid particles is then either conveyed to a waste liquid tank or filtered and reused in the ink circuit.

[0305] Any of the cleaning methods described above can also be applied to circuits that do not include removable boxes 82, 84, for example... Figure 7A The circuit shown is in which the operator replenishes the solvent tank 314 and the ink tank 80.

[0306] Figure 7F An example of such a circuit is shown in the figure. Figure 7F The attached figures and Figure 7A The reference numerals are the same in the accompanying drawings; the circuit further includes three-way valves 173, 175 to deliver solvent downstream of the reservoir, the solvent being pumped by pump 320; gas (e.g., air) may be pumped from a lateral conduit (or the main conduit may have a "T" shape) and possibly an additional valve (not shown), which is located, for example, at... Figure 7F At 147, 360, or 370 (or upstream of pump 341), or at a pressure (above atmospheric pressure), the gas can... Figure 7F The solvent is introduced into the circuit at point 147, 360, or 370; solvent is pumped from solvent tank or reservoir 314, and dirty solvent used for cleaning the circuit can be collected in an additional tank 390 after opening three-way valve 391. When it is necessary to dilute the ink contained in the main ink tank 80, the dirty solvent can be reused by injecting a portion of the dirty solvent into the main ink tank.

[0307] Air (or more generally, gas) may be supplied at a specific location upstream of one or more pumps 320, 341 (e.g., from a side pipe 147) or at a specific location at the outlet or downstream of one or more of the pumps, respectively. Figure 7F Arrows 360 or 370 are introduced into Figure 7F In the ink circuit, especially when gas is introduced under pressure. Compressed gas can be supplied by a compressor. Figures 7B to 7E Device 380 can be connected with Figure 7F The circuits can be used in combination, for example, downstream of either pump 320 or 341.

[0308] The introduction of gas creates a gas-solvent mixture, for example, alternating gas volumes 401 and solvent volumes 402 flow in pipe 400. Figure 11A (or "slug flow"), where each volume in the volume is, for example, less than 1 cm³. 3 This can potentially form a two-phase or biphase mixture of the gas and the solvent (e.g., between 80% and 95% solvent and between 20% and 5% gas), which is effective for cleaning the circuit; alternatively, it can be as follows: Figure 11B The solvent shown is a mixture of gas types (gas bubbles 404 suspended in solvent stream 406 or "emulsion"). The alternating pumping of solvent and air generates pressure fluctuations, pulses, or shocks in one or more pumps, which helps to effectively clean the piping of the loop.

[0309] Preferably, any interference from pumps 320 or 341 with the pressurized gas is avoided; for this purpose, check valves can be installed at the outlets of the one or more pumps. Thus, gas can be introduced into the clean solvent flow circulating in the ink circuit at pressures above atmospheric pressure. This produces a gas-solvent mixture, which can be a two-phase mixture of the gas and the solvent (e.g., 90% solvent and 10% gas, or between 80% and 95% solvent and between 20% and 5% gas), which is effective for cleaning the circuit.

[0310] exist Figure 7F In a preferred embodiment of the method for cleaning the circuit:

[0311] - The initial step of allowing gas to circulate in at least a portion of the circuit enables the recovery of ink delivered to the main tank 80; other steps of the cleaning method include, as described above, allowing gas and solvent to circulate in at least a portion of the circuit, and recovering dirty fluid to tank 390 by adaptive control of valves in the circuit.

[0312] - and / or, a drying step may be performed at the end of the cleaning method, for example by circulating a gas (e.g., compressed gas and / or heated gas) through all or part of the circuit; for example, the gas may be heated by circulating it through a heating device (e.g., one or more resistors) before it is injected into the circuit. The drying step makes it possible to disassemble one or more fluid components (e.g., one or more valves, and / or one or more pumps, and / or one or more filters or dampers) without any ink or solvent spillage.

[0313] like Figure 7F The circuit shown (without a removable box) may contain removable monolithic components or modules (such as modules 10, 30, 50 described above), in which case the advantages already mentioned (especially the advantages in terms of clean disassembly of the modules) apply.

[0314] Another embodiment of the rinsing or cleaning method according to the invention can be applied to the ink circuit of a CIJ printer, for example, the ink circuit according to the invention, particularly the circuit described above. Figure 5A , Figure 5B , Figure 7A , Figure 7F Any loop in ).

[0315] The rinsing or cleaning method includes the step of circulating gas in at least a portion of the circuit or the entire circuit; thus, the ink is rinsed and removed from the portion of the circuit or from the circuit, and can be recycled, for example, in the main tank 80.

[0316] According to the circuit:

[0317] - Air can be introduced by removing the cartridge (e.g., solvent cartridge) and pumping air through the solvent cartridge connection device or receiving device;

[0318] - Alternatively, air (or more generally, gas) can be introduced into the ink circuit at a specific location, such as the following:

[0319] *One or more pumps 94( Figure 5A , Figure 5B ), 320, 341 ( Figure 7A , Figure 7F Upstream of ), for example in Figure 5A , Figure 5B , Figure 7A or Figure 7F The figures are indicated by reference numerals 147 and 149.

[0320] *Or, downstream or at the outlet of one or more pumps, for example, by... Figure 7A or Figure 7FArrows 360 and 370 indicate, particularly when the gas is compressed, such as when the gas is supplied by a compressor. To prevent any interference with the gas by pump 320 or 341, a check valve can be installed on the pump near the outlet where the compressed gas is introduced.

[0321] Gas can be introduced into the circuit at any of the aforementioned locations, for example, through a side pipe laterally connected to the main pipe (or the main pipe having a "T" shape) and possibly an additional valve (not shown). Figures 7B to 7E Examples of tools for introducing gas directly into a circuit are given, particularly without removing the box.

[0322] Therefore, ink is removed from one or more components of the cleaned circuit.

[0323] Following this process, at least one component that has been cleaned according to the above process may be detached or removed from the circuit, such as:

[0324] - One or more removable modules or monolithic components or parts as described above, such as the first removable module or monolithic component 10, and / or the second removable module or monolithic component 30 and / or the third removable module or monolithic component 50 described in this application;

[0325] - and / or one or more valves, and / or one or more pumps, and / or one or more filters or dampers.

[0326] Preferably, the flushing or cleaning method of the present invention concludes with a drying step of the components of the cleaned hydraulic or fluid circuit. For example, the cleaning method may include a final step of pumping gas and using the gas to sweep the components of the circuit.

[0327] In particular, in cases where it is necessary to disassemble and remove a module (such as any of the first, second, or third modules described above), a cleaning method for the fluid paths within the module can be performed according to the invention, the cleaning method ending with a drying step of the fluid paths. The dried module can then be removed without any fluid dripping from the device.

[0328] The “drying” module or component of the fluid circuit according to the invention also includes any module or component that has been cleaned and contains less than the maximum fluid volume.

[0329] In reality, after cleaning and drying, some residual solvent may remain in any of the removable modules 10, 30, and 50, but the residual amount is small and may be trapped in one or more filters of modules 30 and 50 (especially where the filters include absorbent material), or will not prevent the modules from being disassembled under good conditions with minimal spillage or dripping.

[0330] For example, the module may have a diameter between 20cm. 3 Up to 150cm 3 The internal fluid volume between them. Utilizing Figure 5A The circuit is tested, which includes a cleaning method for the entire circuit according to the invention, followed by a drying step.

[0331] The remaining volume of the liquid (solvent) is as follows:

[0332] - 3.5cm was measured in module 24. 3 (The maximum internal fluid volume of this module is approximately 50 cm³) 3 );

[0333] - 13cm was measured in module 30. 3 (The maximum internal fluid volume of this module is approximately 150 cm³) 3 );

[0334] - 2cm was measured in module 50 3 (The maximum internal fluid volume of this module is approximately 20 cm³) 3 ).

[0335] Therefore, after cleaning and drying, more than 85% or 90% of the initial volume of solvent has been removed, and less than about 15% or 10% of the initial volume remains in the module or component. Most of the liquid remaining in module 30 or 50 is captured in one or more filters within that module.

[0336] Figure 8A (From the front) is shown a cabinet (also called the printer's console or body) for an inkjet printer, which includes a fluid circuit as described in this application.

[0337] The rack can contain three sub-components:

[0338] - Ink circuit 4, preferably located in the lower part of the cabinet, specifically includes circuits for regulating ink and solvent, and reservoirs for ink and solvent (particularly reservoirs for ink recovered from the gutter to be transported back); the ink circuit is firstly capable of supplying ink to the printhead with stable pressure and sufficient quality, and secondly responsible for recovering ink from printheads not used for printing; for the circuits implementing cartridges 82, 84, the aforementioned fluid connection devices 112c, 114c are used for connecting the cartridges, these devices 112c, 114c including, for example, sleeves;

[0339] - Controller 5, which may be located in the upper part of the cabinet, includes command and control electronics or a controller capable of managing the sequence of actions and execution processes to allow actuation of different functions of the ink circuit and printhead; specifically, controller 5 can control the opening and closing of valves and / or pumping steps to implement the cleaning method disclosed above.

[0340] - Interface 6, which may include a visualization device or screen and provide the operator with a means to set the printer to be operational and to be informed of the printer's functions.

[0341] In other words, the main body 3 may include two sub-components: electronics, power supply and operator interface located at the top; and ink circuit located at the bottom, which supplies pressurized ink to the printhead and provides negative pressure for recycling unused ink from the printhead.

[0342] As in Figure 8A As can be seen, the lower part of the cabinet may include a suitable ink cartridge receiving section 82a and a solvent cartridge receiving section 84a (in Figure 8A (In the middle, both boxes are pulled out); the lower part of the cabinet also includes at least a portion of the ink circuit 4, including the pump module 10, the filter module 30 and the recycling module 50. Figure 5A and Figure 5B The rest of the circuit is located at the back of the rack and cannot be accessed from there. Figure 8A I saw it in the middle.

[0343] As in Figure 8A As can be seen, the filter module 30 is preferably tilted relative to the horizontal plane so that the pigment from the pigment ink will not settle.

[0344] These three modules are accessible from the front of the printer, allowing the operator to easily remove them from the circuit independently of each other.

[0345] Figure 8B A rear view of the cabinet is shown, revealing a portion of the main storage unit 80 and the pump module 10.

[0346] The circuit piping, valves, and other pumps were not in Figure 8A and Figure 8B It is shown in the diagram, but is also included in the hydraulic circuit.

[0347] The control console is hydraulically and electrically connected to the printhead (not shown in the figure) via an umbilical line.

[0348] The rack, not shown, allows the printhead to be mounted facing the printing substrate 800 (see...). Figure 9 The printing substrate moves in one direction. This direction is, for example, perpendicular to the alignment axis of the nozzle of the printhead or perpendicular to the deflection axis of the droplet (see...). Figure 9 (9) Deflected jet in the middle. The substrate moves along the X direction. The position of the substrate relative to the printhead can be detected by a detector.

[0349] This printer can be integrated into packaging machines.

[0350] Figure 9 Specifically shown is a printhead that can be implemented in a CIJ printer according to the invention, such as a multi-deflection type printhead. The printhead comprises:

[0351] - Devices 121 and 123 for generating droplet jets are referred to as droplet generators or excitation bodies;

[0352] - A device 164 (typically one or more electrodes) for charging droplets;

[0353] - A device 162 (or "gutter") for recycling ink that is not used for printing;

[0354] - A device 165 (typically one or more electrodes) for deflecting charged droplets for printing;

[0355] - The printhead may include devices for monitoring and controlling the droplet deflection process (synchronizing droplet formation using deflection commands).

[0356] In the droplet generator 121, conductive ink is supplied to the cavity. The ink is kept under pressure by the ink circuit 4 outside the printhead, and the ink escapes from the cavity through at least one nozzle 6, thereby forming at least one ink jet.

[0357] A periodic excitation device 123 is associated with a cavity upstream of the nozzle 6 that contacts the ink; this device transmits periodic modulation (pressure) to the ink, which causes modulation of the velocity and jet radius from the nozzle. When the element is appropriately sized, this modulation is amplified in the jet by the surface tension that causes capillary instability in the jet until the jet breaks down. This break is periodic and occurs at a precise distance from the nozzle (at the so-called “break” point 113 of the jet), the distance of which depends on the excitation energy.

[0358] In cases where the excitation device, referred to as the actuator, comprises a piezoelectric ceramic in contact with ink in a cavity upstream of the nozzle, the excitation energy is directly related to the amplitude of the electrical signal used to drive the ceramic. Other jet excitation devices (thermal, electro-hydrodynamic, acoustic, etc.) can also be implemented within the framework of this invention. Due to its efficiency and relative machinability, the use of piezoelectric ceramics for excitation remains the preferred embodiment.

[0359] At its break point 113, the continuous jet from the nozzle transforms into a series 111 of identical and uniformly spaced ink droplets. The droplets form at the same time frequency as the excitation signal; for a given excitation energy, stabilizing any other parameter (especially ink viscosity) in other ways, there exists a precise (invariant) phase relationship between the periodic excitation signal and the break point, which itself is periodic and has the same frequency as the excitation signal. In other words, the precise moment of the period of the excitation signal corresponds to the precise moment in the separation dynamics of the jet droplets.

[0360] Without further action (where the droplets are not used for printing), the droplet stream travels along trajectory 7 (the nominal trajectory of the jet) collinear with the droplet ejection axis. Trajectory 7 is connected to the recovery gutter 162 via the geometry of the printhead. This gutter 162, used for recovering non-printing droplets, absorbs unused ink, which is returned to the ink circuit 4 for recycling.

[0361] For printing, droplets are deflected and offset from the nominal trajectory 7 of the jet. Thus, these droplets follow inclined trajectories 9 that intersect the substrate 800 at different desired impact points. All these trajectories are in the same plane. For example, placing droplets on an impact matrix of droplets to be printed on the substrate to form characters is achieved by combining the individual deflection of droplets in the printhead deflection plane with the relative motion between the printhead and the substrate (typically perpendicular to the deflection plane). In offset continuous inkjet printing, deflection is achieved by charging the droplets and introducing them into an electric field. In practice, the means for deflecting droplets includes at least one charged electrode 164 for each jet located near the jet breakpoint 113. This means for deflecting droplets is designed to selectively charge each droplet formed with a predetermined charge value, typically different for one droplet from another. For this purpose, in the droplet generator 121, ink is held at a fixed potential, and a voltage slot with a defined value driven by a control signal is applied to the charged electrode 164, the value of which is different in each droplet cycle.

[0362] In the control signal for the charged electrode, the voltage is applied shortly before jet separation to utilize the electrical continuity of the jet and attract a given amount of charge at the jet tip, which is a function of the voltage value. This variable charged voltage providing deflection is typically between 0 and 300 volts. The voltage is then maintained during separation to stabilize the charge until the separated droplets become electrically insulating. After droplet separation, the applied voltage is maintained for a certain period to account for the timing of disconnection.

[0363] A droplet deflection device typically comprises a set of two deflecting plates 165, positioned on either side of the droplet trajectory upstream of a charged electrode. Placing these plates under a high, fixed relative potential generates an electric field Ed, substantially perpendicular to the droplet trajectory, which deflects the charged droplet bonded between the two plates. The deflection amplitude is a function of the droplet's charge, mass, and velocity.

[0364] The CIJ printhead may also include multiple ink jet cavities for generating multiple ink jets, each cavity having its own nozzle and actuation device, or the same cavity may include multiple nozzles to generate multiple ink jets. Charged electrodes and offset electrodes may be associated with each jet as described above.

[0365] Instructions can be sent via a control device (also referred to as a “controller”) to activate the devices 121, 123 for generating ink jets and / or to activate the pumping devices (e.g., the pumping devices of module 10 or 50), and / or to open and close valves in the paths of different fluids (ink, solvent, gas), and / or to apply voltage to charged electrodes and / or one or more offset electrodes. These instructions also enable ink to flow under pressure along the directions of devices 121, 123, and then generate a jet according to the pattern to be printed on the substrate 800.

[0366] These control devices or controllers are implemented, for example, in the form of processors or microprocessors or in the form of suitably programmed electrical or electronic circuits, for example, to implement the rinsing or cleaning method according to the invention. In particular, these control devices can be programmed to control one or more pumps and / or valves to allow gas or gas and solvent to flow in or at least a portion of the circuit.

[0367] These control devices can be programmed to control one or more pumps and / or valves to allow gas or gas and solvent to flow in or at least a portion of a circuit.

[0368] The control device can also be programmed to ensure the storage of data (such as measurement data of ink height in one or more storage devices) and the potential processing of this data.

[0369] These control devices or controllers can also be programmed to read one or more identifiers of one or more modules or monolithic components according to the invention, and to identify the one or more modules or monolithic components, the information of which can be displayed or processed.

[0370] The printer according to the invention is an industrial printer, such as a printer capable of printing on uneven surfaces (e.g., cables, bottles, or cans). Another aspect of this printer is that the distance between the printhead and the substrate to be printed is greater than the distance between the printhead and the substrate in a conventional desktop printer. For example, this distance is at least 5 mm, and for example, between 10 mm and 30 mm.

Claims

1. An ink circuit for a continuous inkjet printer, the ink circuit comprising: - A first portion of the ink circuit, the first portion including means for supplying ink and solvent to the printhead of the continuous inkjet printer; - A second portion of the ink circuit, the second portion comprising a first monolithic assembly and a second monolithic assembly, the first monolithic assembly comprising at least a portion of at least one first pump, the second monolithic assembly comprising at least one filter, and each of the first monolithic assembly and the second monolithic assembly further comprising: - A housing having at least one fluid inlet and at least one fluid outlet. - A fluid connection device for enabling fluid to flow from the at least one fluid inlet to at least a portion of the first pump or the filter, and then to the at least one fluid outlet. - A means for independently mounting the first monolithic component and the second monolithic component to a first receiving interface and a second receiving interface of a first portion of the ink circuit, and for independently removing the first monolithic component and the second monolithic component from the first receiving interface and the second receiving interface of the first portion of the ink circuit.

2. The ink circuit according to claim 1, wherein, The ink circuit further includes a third monolithic assembly, the third monolithic assembly including at least one recycling device, and: - A housing having at least one fluid inlet and at least one fluid outlet. - A fluid connection device, wherein the fluid connection device of the third monolithic assembly is used to enable fluid to flow between at least one fluid inlet of the third monolithic assembly, the recovery device, and at least one fluid outlet of the third monolithic assembly. - A means for installing the third monolithic assembly to a third receiving interface of the first portion of the ink circuit and for removing the third monolithic assembly from the third receiving interface of the first portion of the ink circuit.

3. The ink circuit according to claim 2, wherein, The third monolithic assembly includes at least one second pump or venturi tube.

4. The ink circuit according to claim 2 or 3, wherein, The ink circuit includes means for mounting and dismounting the third monolithic assembly on the ink circuit such that the third monolithic assembly can rotate about a pivot pin, and / or includes means for locking the third monolithic assembly in a fixed position relative to the third receiving interface.

5. The ink circuit according to claim 2 or 3, wherein, At least one of the first monolithic component, the second monolithic component, or the third monolithic component includes at least one identifier.

6. The ink circuit according to claim 5, wherein, The identifier is an electrical or magnetic identifier.

7. The ink circuit according to claim 2 or 3, wherein, The first monolithic assembly includes at least one hydraulic component of a first pump, and a coupling device for connecting the hydraulic component of the first pump and a motor for driving the hydraulic component.

8. The ink circuit according to claim 7, wherein, The motor is located outside the first monolithic assembly, and the coupling device connects the motor and the first pump.

9. The ink circuit according to claim 8, wherein, The connecting device includes the axis of the first pump, which traverses the housing of the first monolithic assembly.

10. The ink circuit according to claim 2 or 3, wherein, The ink circuit includes at least one of means for mounting and dismounting the first monolithic component on the ink circuit such that the first monolithic component can rotate about a pivot pin and means for mounting and dismounting the second monolithic component on the ink circuit such that the second monolithic component can rotate about a pivot pin, and / or includes means for locking the first monolithic component or the second monolithic component in a fixed position relative to the first receiving interface or relative to the second receiving interface.

11. The ink circuit according to claim 2 or 3, wherein, At least one of the following: - The first monolithic assembly and means for mounting the first monolithic assembly on the ink circuit and removing the first monolithic assembly from the ink circuit; - The second single-unit assembly and means for mounting the second single-unit assembly on the ink circuit and removing the second single-unit assembly from the ink circuit; - Alternatively, the third single-unit assembly and the means for mounting the third single-unit assembly on the ink circuit and removing the third single-unit assembly from the ink circuit, It includes a magnetic device for guiding the first monolithic component, the second monolithic component, or the third monolithic component to a fixed position relative to the first receiving interface, the second receiving interface, or the third receiving interface.

12. The ink circuit according to claim 2 or 3, wherein, The third monolithic assembly includes at least one three-way valve.

13. A continuous inkjet printer, the continuous inkjet printer comprising: - Ink circuit according to any one of claims 2 to 12, - A printhead connected to the ink circuit via a flexible umbilical cable, the flexible umbilical cable including a hydraulic connection and an electrical connection, the hydraulic connection being used to bring printing ink from the ink circuit to the printhead and to deliver ink to be recovered from the printhead toward the ink circuit.

14. A method for flushing or cleaning at least a portion of the ink circuit of a continuous inkjet printer, said continuous inkjet printer being the continuous inkjet printer of claim 13, said method comprising flushing said at least a portion of the ink circuit using a gas and a solvent.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein, The ink circuit includes an ink cartridge receiving portion and a solvent cartridge receiving portion, and prior to the step of flushing the ink circuit with gas and solvent, the method further includes at least one of the following steps: - Remove the solvent cartridge from the solvent cartridge receiving section; - Remove the ink cartridge from the ink cartridge receiving section and replace the ink cartridge with a recycling cartridge.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein, The method further includes drying at least a portion of the ink circuit.

17. A method for cleaning, repairing, or adjusting a continuous inkjet printer, said continuous inkjet printer being a continuous inkjet printer according to claim 13, the method comprising the method for rinsing or cleaning at least a portion of the ink circuit of the continuous inkjet printer according to claim 14, and after said rinsing or cleaning, the method further comprising removing at least one of the first single-piece assembly, the second single-piece assembly, and the third single-piece assembly from the ink circuit, and repairing or adjusting the removed single-piece assembly and reassembling it, or assembling another single-piece assembly.

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