Automatic ink supply and cleaning system and method for inkjet printer

Abstract

The present application relates to the field of inkjet equipment, and discloses an automatic ink supply and cleaning system for inkjet printers and a method thereof, which includes an ink supply system and a cleaning system; the ink supply system includes an ink cartridge and a nozzle, a secondary ink cartridge is arranged between the nozzle and the ink cartridge, the secondary ink cartridge includes an ink inlet end, an atmospheric connectivity end and an ink outlet end, an ink pump is arranged between the ink inlet end of the secondary ink cartridge and the ink cartridge, and the atmospheric connectivity end of the secondary ink cartridge is connected to a pump air unit; the ink outlet end of the secondary ink cartridge is connected to the nozzle, and the ink in the secondary ink cartridge flows to the nozzle by siphoning; the cleaning system includes a cleaning liquid box, the cleaning liquid box is connected to the ink inlet end of the ink pump, and the ink outlet end of the ink pump is connected to the nozzle. The present application has a one-button start of a constant pressure automatic cleaning nozzle to achieve the purpose of protecting the nozzle.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of inkjet equipment, and in particular to an automatic ink supply and cleaning system and method for an inkjet printer. Background Art

[0002] The UV in UV inkjet printer is the abbreviation of ultraviolet light in English. UV inkjet printer is a printer that uses ultraviolet rays to cure the corresponding UV ink. It does not require plate making and dries immediately after printing.

[0003] In the related art, UV inkjet ink supply system, refer to Figure 1 , including a UV nozzle 1, a UV ink cartridge 2, an ink pump 5, a secondary ink cartridge 3, a three-way solenoid valve V4 and an air pump 4. The UV ink is first pumped to the secondary ink cartridge 3 by the ink pump 5, one end of the three-way solenoid valve V4 is provided with an air port connected to the air, one end is connected to the air pump, and the other end is connected to the secondary ink cartridge 3 through a pipeline. The bottom of the secondary ink cartridge 3 is also connected to the UV nozzle through a pipeline.

[0004] In the process of implementing the relevant technology, the inventors found that there are at least the following problems in the relevant technology: when manually cleaning the nozzle, the secondary ink cartridge is unscrewed to flow to the nozzle, and the cleaning liquid is sucked in with a syringe, and then injected into the ink tube to flow to the nozzle. The flushing cannot ensure constant pressure, which can easily damage the nozzle, and the operation is cumbersome, time-consuming and labor-intensive. Summary of the invention

[0005] In order to achieve a constant pressure of cleaning liquid for cleaning the nozzle to protect the nozzle and improve operating efficiency, the present application provides an automatic ink supply and cleaning system and method for an inkjet printer.

[0006] The present application provides an automatic ink supply and cleaning system for inkjet printers and a method thereof, which adopts the following technical solutions:

[0007] On the one hand, an automatic ink supply and cleaning system for an inkjet printer includes an ink supply and ink pressing system and a cleaning system;

[0008] The ink supply and ink pressing system comprises an ink cartridge and a nozzle, a secondary ink cartridge is arranged between the nozzle and the ink cartridge, the secondary ink cartridge comprises an ink inlet end, an atmospheric connection end and an ink outlet end, an ink pump is arranged between the ink inlet end of the secondary ink cartridge and the ink cartridge, and the atmospheric connection end of the secondary ink cartridge is connected to a pump air unit; the ink outlet end of the secondary ink cartridge is connected to the nozzle, and the ink in the secondary ink cartridge flows to the nozzle by siphoning;

[0009] The cleaning system comprises a cleaning liquid box, the cleaning liquid box is connected to the ink inlet end of the ink pump, and the ink outlet end of the ink pump is connected to the nozzle.

[0010] By adopting the above technical scheme, in the ink supply system, the ink in the ink cartridge is first pumped to the secondary ink cartridge by an ink pump, and then the ink is made to flow to the nozzle for printing by siphoning. When the nozzle has been used for a long time, primary cleaning is required, and a pump air unit can be used to generate a high-speed flow medium to clean the nozzle. When the nozzle is clogged due to long-term disuse, it is difficult to clean it with a pump air unit, and it is necessary to clean it with a cleaning fluid. The cleaning fluid in the cleaning fluid box is pumped to the nozzle by an ink pump, and in the cleaning system, the secondary ink cartridge is bypassed and the nozzle is directly cleaned by an ink pump, thereby achieving a constant pressure of the cleaning fluid for cleaning the nozzle, so as to protect the nozzle and improve operating efficiency.

[0011] Preferably, a control valve is arranged between the cleaning liquid cartridge and the ink cartridge and the ink inlet end of the ink pump, and a parallel pipeline with the secondary ink cartridge is connected between the ink pump and the nozzle via a control valve group, and the control valve and the control valve in the control valve group each include at least two input ports and one output port.

[0012] By adopting the above technical solution, a control valve is used to switch the lines, which reduces the connection of multiple pipelines, optimizes the lines, or reduces the trouble of repeatedly connecting or disassembling the pipelines.

[0013] Preferably, the control valve is configured as a solenoid valve.

[0014] By adopting the above technical solution, the solenoid valve can improve the degree of automation of control, facilitate control, and improve work efficiency.

[0015] Preferably, the ink cartridge and the cleaning liquid cartridge are connected to the ink inlet end of the ink pump via a three-way solenoid valve V1, the first port of the three-way solenoid valve V1 is connected to the ink cartridge, the second port of the three-way solenoid valve V1 is connected to the cleaning liquid cartridge, and the third port of the three-way solenoid valve V1 is connected to the ink inlet end of the ink pump; the three-way solenoid valve V1 is electrically connected to the control unit of the inkjet printer.

[0016] By adopting the above technical solution, the ink cartridge and the cleaning liquid cartridge are switched through the three-way solenoid valve, which reduces the need to disassemble and reassemble the pipeline, facilitates operation, and helps improve work efficiency.

[0017] Preferably, a parallel pipeline of the secondary ink cartridge is connected between the ink pump and the nozzle via a three-way solenoid valve V2 and a three-way solenoid valve V3, the ink outlet end of the ink pump is connected to the first port of the three-way solenoid valve V2, the second port of the three-way solenoid valve V2 is connected to the ink inlet end of the secondary ink cartridge, the third port of the three-way solenoid valve V2 is connected to the first port of the three-way solenoid valve V3, the second port of the three-way solenoid valve V3 is connected to the ink outlet end of the secondary ink cartridge, and the third port of the three-way solenoid valve V3 is connected to the nozzle; the three-way solenoid valve V2 and the three-way solenoid valve V3 are electrically connected to a control unit of the inkjet printer.

[0018] By adopting the above technical solution, the ink pump is directly connected to the nozzle through the three-way solenoid valve; changing the conduction state of the three-way solenoid valve does not affect the normal operation of the ink supply system of the inkjet printer; the switching of the ink supply and cleaning pipelines can be conveniently achieved with one button, which is beneficial to improve work efficiency, protect the nozzle and extend the service life.

[0019] Preferably, the air pump unit includes an air pump and a three-way solenoid valve V4, the output end of the air pump is connected to the first port of the three-way solenoid valve V4, the second port of the three-way solenoid valve V4 is set as an air port and connected to the atmosphere, and the third port of the three-way solenoid valve V4 is connected to the atmospheric connectivity end; the three-way solenoid valve V4 is electrically connected to the control unit of the inkjet printer.

[0020] By adopting the above technical solution, the ink pressing operation of the secondary ink cartridge is realized through the air pump and the three-way solenoid valve.

[0021] On the other hand, an automatic ink supply cleaning method for an inkjet printer, using the above-mentioned automatic ink supply cleaning system for an inkjet printer, comprises the following steps:

[0022] Ink supply for printing: the three-way solenoid valve V1, the three-way solenoid valve V2 and the three-way solenoid valve V3 are energized, and the IO ports of the three-way solenoid valve V1, the three-way solenoid valve V2 and the three-way solenoid valve V3 are all connected; the ink pump works, and the IN port of the three-way solenoid valve V4 is connected to the air port, and the ink enters the secondary ink cartridge through the three-way solenoid valve V1-ink pump-three-way solenoid valve V2, and flows into the nozzle through the IO port of the three-way solenoid valve V3 by siphoning for printing;

[0023] Ink pressure cleaning: the ink pump does not work, the three-way solenoid valve V1 and the three-way solenoid valve V2 are not energized; the three-way solenoid valve V3 is energized, and the I end and the O end are connected; the three-way solenoid valve V4 is energized, and the IO port is connected; the air pump works, squeezing air into the secondary ink cartridge, and the ink flows into the nozzle through the IO port of the three-way solenoid valve V3.

[0024] By adopting the above technical solution, the ink in the ink cartridge is first pumped to the secondary ink cartridge, and then the nozzle is printed by siphoning; when preliminary cleaning is required, the nozzle is unblocked by using an air pump to pressurize the ink.

[0025] Preferably, it also includes a cleaning step with cleaning liquid: the three-way solenoid valve V1, the three-way solenoid valve V2 and the three-way solenoid valve V3 are powered off, the ink pump works, and the cleaning liquid enters the nozzle through the three-way solenoid valve V1-ink pump-three-way solenoid valve V2-three-way solenoid valve V3 to clean the nozzle.

[0026] By adopting the above technical solution and changing the on-off state of the solenoid valve, the pipeline can be quickly switched to improve efficiency, and the existing pipeline design can be relied on to reduce redundant pipelines and optimize the pipelines.

[0027] In summary, the present application includes at least one of the following beneficial technical effects:

[0028] 1. The existing ink supply system is optimized to achieve the function of automatic cleaning, and the constant pressure of the ink pump is used to clean the nozzle, which protects the nozzle structure and is conducive to extending the service life;

[0029] 2. The air pump unit helps to ensure the ink pressure while preventing the ink from flowing back to the air port;

[0030] 3. One-button switching between inkjet and cleaning status helps improve work efficiency. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] Figure 1 It is an ink pipeline diagram of the related art;

[0032] Figure 2 It is a system piping diagram of an embodiment of the present application.

[0033] Figure numerals: 1, nozzle; 2, ink cartridge; 3, secondary ink cartridge; 4, air pump; 5, ink pump; 6, air port; 7, cleaning liquid box. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] The following is combined with Figure 2 This application is described in further detail.

[0035] The present application embodiment discloses an automatic ink supply and cleaning system for an inkjet printer. Figure 2An automatic ink supply and cleaning system for an inkjet printer includes an ink cartridge 2, a cleaning liquid cartridge 7, a secondary ink cartridge 3, an ink pump 5, an air pump 4, and a nozzle 1, as well as a pipeline connecting the above components and a control valve electrically connected to a control unit of the inkjet printer, forming an ink supply and ink pressing system and a cleaning system respectively. The multiple control valves in this embodiment include a three-way solenoid valve V1, a three-way solenoid valve V2, a three-way solenoid valve V3, and a three-way solenoid valve V4, and each of the three-way solenoid valves includes an N port, an O port, and an I port.

[0036] The ink outlet of the ink cartridge 2 is connected to the O port of the three-way solenoid valve V1 through a pipeline, the liquid outlet of the cleaning liquid cartridge 7 is connected to the N port of the three-way solenoid valve V1 through a pipeline, and the I port of the three-way solenoid valve V1 is connected to the ink inlet of the ink pump 5 through a pipeline. The ink outlet of the ink pump 5 is connected to the I port of the three-way solenoid valve V2 through a pipeline, the O port of the three-way solenoid valve V2 is connected to the ink inlet of the secondary ink cartridge 3 through a pipeline, and the N port of the three-way solenoid valve V2 is connected to the N port of the three-way solenoid valve V3 through a pipeline. The O port of the three-way solenoid valve V3 is connected to the ink outlet of the secondary ink cartridge 3 through a pipeline; the I port of the three-way solenoid valve V3 is connected to the nozzle 1 through a pipeline. The atmospheric communication end of the secondary ink cartridge 3 is connected to the I port of the three-way solenoid valve V4 through a pipeline, the O port of the three-way solenoid valve V4 is connected to the air supply end of the air pump 4 through a pipeline, and the N port of the three-way solenoid valve V4 is connected to the air port 6 through a pipeline. The height of the secondary ink cartridge 3 is higher than the height of the nozzle 1 .

[0037] In this embodiment, the three-way solenoid valve has a fast response speed, does not require manual operation, can switch the pipeline with one key, and multiple three-way solenoid valves can switch states synchronously. Among them, the three-way solenoid valve can also be a four-way solenoid valve, and the remaining ports can be blocked. Alternatively, the three-way solenoid valve can also be replaced by a manual three-way control valve. Although the efficiency is not as fast as the response of electromagnetic control, it can also reduce the complex design of the pipeline.

[0038] The present application also discloses an automatic ink supply and cleaning method for an inkjet printer. Operation description of the new automatic ink supply and cleaning system for an inkjet printer:

[0039] 1. When the machine is turned on to supply ink, the three-way solenoid valve V1, the three-way solenoid valve V2 and the three-way solenoid valve V3 are energized, so that the corresponding IO ports are connected and the ink pump 5 works; the IN port of the three-way solenoid valve is connected to the air port 6, and the ink enters the secondary ink cartridge 3 through the three-way solenoid valve V1-ink pump 5-three-way solenoid valve V2, and flows into the nozzle 1 through the OI port of the solenoid valve V3 by siphoning for printing.

[0040] 2. During ink pressure cleaning, the ink pump 5 does not work, the three-way solenoid valve V1 and the three-way solenoid valve V2 are not energized; the three-way solenoid valve V3 is energized, the I end and the O end are connected; the three-way solenoid valve V4 is energized, the IO port is connected, the air pump 4 works, and the air is squeezed into the secondary ink cartridge 3, and the ink flows into the nozzle 1 through the IO port of the three-way solenoid valve V3.

[0041] 3. When the cleaning liquid cleans the nozzle 1, the three-way solenoid valve V1, the three-way solenoid valve V2 and the three-way solenoid valve V3 are powered off, the IN ports are connected, the ink pump 5 works, and the cleaning liquid enters the nozzle 1 through the three-way solenoid valve V1-ink pump 5-three-way solenoid valve V2-three-way solenoid valve V3 to clean the nozzle 1.

[0042] The implementation principle of the automatic ink supply and cleaning system and method of the inkjet printer in the embodiment of the present application is as follows: the existing ink supply system is optimized, the original manual cleaning nozzle 1 is changed, and a new automatic nozzle cleaning system 1 is developed and designed to improve stability. The pump air unit is conducive to ensuring the pressure when pressing the ink, and at the same time, the ink does not flow back into the air port 6 for discharge. An automatic cleaning device is provided, and the switching of the pipeline is realized with one button, which is convenient for operation and improves work efficiency. In addition, the constant pressure can protect the nozzle 1 structure and extend the service life.

[0043] The above are all preferred embodiments of the present application, and the protection scope of the present application is not limited thereto. Therefore, any equivalent changes made according to the structure, shape, and principle of the present application should be included in the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. An automatic ink supply and cleaning system for an inkjet printer, characterized in that: Including ink supply and ink pressing system and cleaning system; The ink supply and ink pressing system comprises an ink cartridge (2) and a nozzle (1); a secondary ink cartridge (3) is arranged between the nozzle (1) and the ink cartridge (2); the secondary ink cartridge (3) comprises an ink inlet end, an atmospheric connection end and an ink outlet end; an ink pump (5) is arranged between the ink inlet end of the secondary ink cartridge (3) and the ink cartridge (2); the atmospheric connection end of the secondary ink cartridge (3) is connected to a pump air unit; the ink outlet end of the secondary ink cartridge (3) is connected to the nozzle (1), and the ink in the secondary ink cartridge (3) flows to the nozzle (1) by means of a siphon; The cleaning system comprises a cleaning liquid box (7), the cleaning liquid box (7) is connected to the ink inlet end of the ink pump (5), and the ink outlet end of the ink pump (5) is connected to the nozzle (1); A control valve is provided between the cleaning liquid cartridge (7) and the ink cartridge (2) and the ink inlet end of the ink pump (5); a parallel pipeline connected in parallel with the secondary ink cartridge (3) is connected between the ink pump (5) and the nozzle (1) via a control valve group; the control valve includes a three-way solenoid valve V1, and the control valve group includes a three-way solenoid valve V2 and a three-way solenoid valve V3; The ink cartridge (2) and the cleaning liquid cartridge (7) are connected to the ink inlet end of the ink pump (5) via a three-way solenoid valve V1, the O port of the three-way solenoid valve V1 is connected to the ink cartridge (2), the N port of the three-way solenoid valve V1 is connected to the cleaning liquid cartridge (7), and the port I of the three-way solenoid valve V1 is connected to the ink inlet end of the ink pump (5); the three-way solenoid valve V1 is electrically connected to a control unit of the inkjet printer; A parallel pipeline connected in parallel with the secondary ink cartridge (3) is connected between the ink pump (5) and the nozzle (1) via a three-way solenoid valve V2 and a three-way solenoid valve V3; the ink outlet of the ink pump (5) is connected to the I port of the three-way solenoid valve V2, the O port of the three-way solenoid valve V2 is connected to the ink inlet of the secondary ink cartridge (3), the N port of the three-way solenoid valve V2 is connected to the N port of the three-way solenoid valve V3, the O port of the three-way solenoid valve V3 is connected to the ink outlet of the secondary ink cartridge (3), and the I port of the three-way solenoid valve V3 is connected to the nozzle (1); the three-way solenoid valve V2 and the three-way solenoid valve V3 are electrically connected to a control unit of the inkjet printer; The air pump unit comprises an air pump (4) and a three-way solenoid valve V4, wherein the output end of the air pump (4) is connected to the O port of the three-way solenoid valve V4, the N port of the three-way solenoid valve V4 is set as an air port (6) and is connected to the atmosphere, and the I port of the three-way solenoid valve V4 is connected to the atmospheric connection end; the three-way solenoid valve V4 is electrically connected to the control unit of the inkjet printer.

2. An automatic ink supply cleaning method for an inkjet printer, using the automatic ink supply cleaning system for an inkjet printer according to claim 1, characterized in that: The steps include: Ink supply for printing: the three-way solenoid valve V1, the three-way solenoid valve V2 and the three-way solenoid valve V3 are energized, and the IO ports of the three-way solenoid valve V1, the three-way solenoid valve V2 and the three-way solenoid valve V3 are all connected; the ink pump (5) is working, the IN port of the three-way solenoid valve V4 is connected to the air port (6), and the ink enters the secondary ink cartridge (3) through the three-way solenoid valve V1-ink pump (5)-three-way solenoid valve V2, and flows into the nozzle (1) through the IO port of the three-way solenoid valve V3 by siphoning for printing; Ink pressure cleaning: the ink pump (5) does not work, the three-way solenoid valve V1 and the three-way solenoid valve V2 are not energized; the three-way solenoid valve V3 is energized, the I end and the O end are connected; the three-way solenoid valve V4 is energized, the IO port is connected, the air pump (4) works, and the air is squeezed into the secondary ink cartridge (3), and the ink flows into the nozzle (1) through the IO port of the three-way solenoid valve V3.

3. The automatic ink supply and cleaning method of an inkjet printer according to claim 2, characterized in that: The method also includes a cleaning step of: the three-way solenoid valve V1, the three-way solenoid valve V2 and the three-way solenoid valve V3 are powered off, the ink pump (5) is operated, and the cleaning liquid passes through the three-way solenoid valve V1-ink pump (5)-three-way solenoid valve V2-three-way solenoid valve V3, and enters the nozzle (1) to clean the nozzle (1).

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