A printer ink supply and cleaning system and a method of cleaning a printer ink supply system

Abstract

The present application relates to a kind of printer ink supply and cleaning system and the cleaning method of printer ink supply system, including: ink supply system and ink replacement cleaning system;The ink supply system includes sequentially connected by pipeline ink storage tank, liquid supply pump, print head ink cartridge and print head cleaning unit;The ink replacement clean system includes ink cleaning water tank, bypass replacement valve, print head replacement ink cartridge, drainage replacement valve, drainage pump and cleaning waste liquid collection tank;When the ink supply system ink replacement cleaning, connect the ink cleaning water tank and the ink storage tank, the print head replacement ink cartridge replaces the print head ink cartridge, the bypass replacement valve connects the liquid supply pump, the inlet of the drainage replacement valve connects the print head replacement ink cartridge, the outlet of the drainage replacement valve connects the print head cleaning unit, the inlet of the drainage pump connects the print head cleaning unit, and the outlet of the drainage pump connects the cleaning waste liquid collection tank.The system can be suitable for the cleaning of multiple 3DP printer pipelines, and reduce cost and save resources.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the field of 3DP printers, and more particularly, to a printer ink supply and cleaning system. BACKGROUND

[0002] 3DP printing technology is to print by using piezoelectric inkjet principle, through the print head to spray ink on the powder surface for curing, after a layer of printing, the workbench is lowered by a layer thickness, the powder spreading device continues to spread the powder on the workbench, then sprays ink and cures, and repeats the above process, and finally generates the required product. The commonly used ink supply device is composed of a liquid storage tank, a liquid supply pump, a filter, a print head, a cleaning and recycling tank, a waste liquid tank and a pipeline. After all the elements and pipelines are installed, they are basically fixed. When the liquid is replaced, the above elements need to be removed and cleaned separately. The pipeline needs to be replaced completely. The whole process of disassembly and replacement is complicated, inconvenient to operate and high in cleaning cost.

[0003] In addition, the commonly used ink for 3DP printing includes furan resin, phenolic resin and inorganic resin, etc. Each type of ink has different properties, and chemical reactions may occur when mixed with each other, even burning or exploding. Therefore, before replacing the ink, the printer must clean all the parts in contact with the original ink. Some pipelines are difficult to clean due to internal liquid accumulation and can only be replaced completely, which increases the labor cost and material cost. SUMMARY

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to provide a printer ink supply and cleaning system to solve the problem of cost increase caused by the need to remove all the parts in contact with the original ink and replace some pipelines completely due to internal liquid accumulation when replacing the ink in the prior art. The system can clean the original ink in the ink supply system completely without changing the original ink supply circuit by only installing the cleaning system on the circuit of the ink supply system and starting the cleaning program.

[0005] A printer ink supply and cleaning system, comprising: an ink supply system and an ink replacement and cleaning system;

[0006] The ink supply system comprises an ink storage tank, a liquid supply pump, a print head ink cartridge and a print head cleaning unit connected in sequence by pipelines;

[0007] The ink replacement and cleaning system comprises an ink cleaning water tank, a bypass replacement valve, a print head replacement ink cartridge, a liquid discharge replacement valve, a liquid discharge pump and a cleaning waste liquid collection tank;

[0008] The ink supply system is connected with the ink cleaning water tank, the print head replacement ink cartridge replaces the print head ink cartridge, the bypass replacement valve is connected with the liquid supply pump, the inlet of the liquid discharge replacement valve is connected with the print head replacement ink cartridge, the outlet of the liquid discharge replacement valve is connected with the print head cleaning unit, the inlet of the liquid discharge pump is connected with the print head cleaning unit, and the outlet of the liquid discharge pump is connected with the cleaning waste liquid collection tank.

[0009] Further, a secondary filter element is arranged between the liquid supply pump and the print head ink cartridge.

[0010] Further, the print head cleaning unit comprises a cleaning recovery tank connected with the print head ink cartridge, and a waste liquid pump connected with the cleaning recovery tank, which recycles the waste liquid in the cleaning recovery tank to a waste liquid tank.

[0011] Further, the print head ink cartridge is divided into a printing cavity and a circulation cavity, the printing cavity is connected with the circulation cavity through a hose, and a circulation pump is arranged between the circulation cavity and the ink storage tank.

[0012] Further, the ink replacement and cleaning system further comprises a circulation replacement valve, and when the ink supply system is replaced and cleaned, the circulation replacement valve is connected with the outlet of the circulation pump.

[0013] A cleaning method of a printer ink supply system, which adopts the printer ink supply and cleaning system as described above, and the cleaning method comprises the following steps:

[0014] S1, when the ink supply system is replaced, a cleaning program is started;

[0015] S2, the ink in the ink storage tank is emptied;

[0016] S3, the ink replacement and cleaning system is connected to the ink supply system, and cleaning liquid is pumped from the ink cleaning water tank to the ink storage tank;

[0017] S4, the liquid supply pump is started, and cleaning liquid is injected from the ink storage tank into the print head replacement ink cartridge through the bypass replacement valve;

[0018] S5, the liquid discharge replacement valve is opened, and the print head cleaning unit is cleaned;

[0019] S6, the liquid discharge pump is opened, and the waste liquid in the print head cleaning unit is collected into the cleaning waste liquid collection tank.

[0020] Further, in the steps S5-S6, the liquid replacement valve is opened, the cleaning liquid first flows into the cleaning recovery tank, the cleaning recovery tank is soaked and cleaned, then the waste liquid pump is opened, the waste liquid in the cleaning recovery tank and the pipeline is completely discharged into the waste liquid tank, the waste liquid in the waste liquid tank is collected into the cleaning waste liquid collection tank.

[0021] Further, before the step S5, the following steps are further included:

[0022] The circulation replacement valve is opened and the circulation pump is started, the cleaning liquid is returned to the ink storage tank through the circulation pipeline, and after multiple continuous circulation, the cleaning of the ink supply system and the circulation pipeline is completed.

[0023] The circulation pump and the circulation replacement valve are closed.

[0024] A 3DP printing device adopts the printer ink supply and cleaning system.

[0025] The printer ink supply and cleaning system and the cleaning method of the printer ink supply system provided by the application can clean the pipeline and the liquid supply element of the ink supply system without changing the structure of the original ink supply system of the print head, but adding a set of ink replacement and cleaning system, using the same interface, making the cleaning liquid flow through the entire liquid path, and cleaning the pipeline and the liquid supply element of the ink supply system; the storage and discharge of the cleaning liquid can still use the liquid adding pump and the liquid discharging pump provided by the device. The ink replacement and cleaning system is simple to operate, the device interface is convenient to replace, can be reused, can be applied to the pipeline cleaning of various 3DP printers, optimizes the structure of the liquid supply system, reduces the cost, and saves materials. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0026] Figure 1 The structure diagram of the one-way ink supply system in the first embodiment of the application;

[0027] Figure 2 The structure diagram of the ink replacement and cleaning system in the first embodiment of the application;

[0028] Figure 3 The structure diagram of the circulation ink supply system in the second embodiment of the application;

[0029] Figure 4 The structure diagram of the ink replacement and cleaning system in the second embodiment of the application;

[0030] Figure 5 The flow chart of the cleaning method of the printer ink supply system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] To facilitate understanding of the present invention, a more complete description will be given below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings. However, the invention can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided to provide a thorough and complete understanding of the disclosure of the invention.

[0032] It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being "set on" another element, it can be directly on the other element or there may be an intervening element. When an element is referred to as being "connected to" another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intervening element. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "left," "right," "top," "bottom," "end," "top," and similar expressions used herein are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only possible implementation.

[0033] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. The terminology used herein in the description of the invention is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. The term "and / or" as used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0034] The following description, in conjunction with specific embodiments, illustrates a printer ink supply and cleaning system and a method for cleaning the printer ink supply system, in order to further understand the inventive concept of the printer ink supply and cleaning system and the method for cleaning the printer ink supply system.

[0035] like Figures 1-2 As shown, a printer ink supply and cleaning system according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes an ink supply system and an ink replacement and cleaning system. Figure 1 As shown, in the first embodiment, the ink supply system is a unidirectional ink supply system, which includes an ink storage tank 1, a liquid supply pump 2, a printhead ink cartridge 4, and a printhead cleaning unit connected in sequence. These components are connected sequentially via pipes to form the unidirectional ink supply system. During ink supply, the liquid supply pump 2 draws ink from the ink storage tank 1 and supplies it to the printhead of the printhead ink cartridge 4. The printhead cleaning unit is used to clean the printhead.

[0036] Preferably, a secondary filter element 3 is also provided between the liquid supply pump 2 and the printhead ink cartridge 4. The ink from the ink storage tank 1 is filtered by the secondary filter element 3 for use by the printhead ink cartridge 4, thereby preventing impurities in the ink from entering the printhead ink cartridge 4 and clogging the nozzles of the printhead.

[0037] The aforementioned printhead cleaning unit specifically includes a cleaning and recovery tank 6 connected to the printhead ink cartridge 4 and a waste liquid pump 7 connected to the cleaning and recovery tank 6. The waste liquid pump 7 recovers the waste liquid in the cleaning and recovery tank to the waste liquid tank 8. When the printhead cleaning unit cleans the printhead, some ink is discharged into the cleaning and recovery tank 6 as waste liquid for treatment. The waste liquid flows through the waste liquid pump 7 into the waste liquid tank 8 for unified treatment.

[0038] like Figure 2 As shown, in the first embodiment, the ink replacement and cleaning system includes an ink cleaning tank 11, a bypass replacement valve 14, a printhead replacement ink cartridge 13, a drain replacement valve 15, a drain pump 17, and a cleaning waste liquid collection tank 16. The outlet of the ink cleaning tank 11 is connected to a one-way ink supply system, the inlet of the bypass replacement valve 14 is connected to the one-way ink supply system, and the outlet of the bypass replacement valve 14 is connected to the printhead replacement ink cartridge 13. The inlet of the drain replacement valve 15 is connected to the outlet of the printhead replacement ink cartridge 13, and the outlet of the drain replacement valve 15 is connected to the one-way ink supply system. The two ends of the drain pump 17 are connected to the one-way ink supply system and the cleaning waste liquid collection tank 16, respectively.

[0039] In the above ink supply system ink replacement cleaning, first, the ink storage tank 1, cleaning and recycling pool 6 and waste liquid tank 8 all empty the ink, and the secondary filter element 3 and the print head cartridge 4 are removed for cleaning, removing the impurities inside, the remaining one-way ink supply system pipeline, liquid supply pump 2, liquid pump 7 can not be excluded, part of the liquid remaining can be cleaned by the ink replacement cleaning system of the present embodiment, that is, the ink replacement cleaning system is connected to the one-way ink supply system for cleaning program. Specifically, first open the emptying valve at the bottom of the ink storage tank 1 to empty the residual ink, then connect the ink cleaning water tank 11 and the ink storage tank 1, that is, the ink cleaning water tank 11 in the ink replacement cleaning system is connected to the interface of the printer ink liquid pump through the pipeline, and the liquid pump is started to draw the cleaning liquid from the ink cleaning water tank 11 into the ink storage tank 1; then replace the print head cartridge 4 with a print head replacement cartridge 13, that is, the print head cartridge 4 is removed for special treatment, and the print head replacement cartridge 13 is installed in the position of the original print head cartridge 4; the bypass replacement valve 14 is connected to the liquid supply pump 2, the inlet of the liquid discharge replacement valve 15 is connected to the print head replacement cartridge 13, the outlet of the liquid discharge replacement valve 15 is connected to the print head cleaning unit, the inlet of the liquid pump 17 is connected to the print head cleaning unit, and the outlet of the liquid pump 17 is connected to the cleaning waste liquid collection tank 16. After the above pipeline connection is completed, the liquid supply pump 2 is started to draw the cleaning liquid from the ink storage tank 1 into the print head replacement cartridge 13 through the bypass replacement valve 14, the liquid discharge replacement valve 15 is opened, and the print head cleaning unit is cleaned, that is, the liquid discharge replacement valve 15 is opened, the cleaning liquid flows from the print head replacement cartridge 13 into the cleaning and recycling pool 6, the cleaning and recycling pool 6 is soaked and cleaned, then the waste liquid pump 7 is opened, and the waste liquid in the cleaning and recycling pool 6 and the pipeline is discharged into the waste liquid tank 8. After the cleaning of the cleaning and recycling pipeline is completed, the emptying valve at the bottom of the waste liquid tank 8 is opened, and the waste liquid in the waste liquid tank 8 can be completely recycled into the cleaning waste liquid collection tank 16 for centralized treatment.

[0040] In the present embodiment, the structure of the original ink supply system of the print head is not changed, but a new ink replacement cleaning system is added, which uses the same interface to make the cleaning liquid flow through the entire liquid path, thereby cleaning the pipeline and liquid supply element of the ink supply system; the storage and discharge of the cleaning liquid can still use the liquid pump and the liquid pump provided by the equipment. The ink replacement cleaning system is simple to operate, the equipment interface is convenient to replace, can be reused, can be used for cleaning the pipeline of various 3DP printers, optimizes the structure of the liquid supply system, and reduces the cost and materials.

[0041] In the second embodiment of the present application, as Figure 3As shown, the print head cartridge 4 in the ink supply system is divided into a printing chamber and a circulation chamber, the printing chamber and the circulation chamber are connected by a hose, and the circulation chamber and the ink storage tank 1 are provided with a circulation pump 5. The ink supply system is a circulation ink supply system. Compared with the one-way ink supply system, the circulation ink supply system increases the circulation loop as described above. In the circulation ink supply system, the vacuum degree in the circulation chamber is higher than that in the printing chamber, and the ink automatically flows from the printing chamber into the circulation chamber. The liquid in the circulation chamber is sucked out by the circulation pump 5 and then returned to the ink storage tank 1 for continuous use.

[0042] Accordingly, when cleaning the circulation ink supply system in the present embodiment, the ink replacement and cleaning system should also include a circulation replacement valve 12. When the circulation system is replaced and cleaned, the circulation replacement valve 12 is connected to the outlet of the circulation pump 5. During cleaning, first, the residual ink in the ink storage tank 1 is emptied through the emptying valve at the bottom of the ink storage tank 1. Then, the pipeline of the ink cleaning tank 11 is connected to the ink filling pump interface of the printer, and the filling pump is started to pump the cleaning liquid from the ink cleaning tank 11 into the ink storage tank 1. Then, the print head cartridge 4 is removed, and a print head replacement cartridge 13 is installed at the position of the original print head cartridge 4. The bypass replacement valve 14 is connected to the liquid supply pump 2, the circulation replacement valve 12 is connected to the circulation pump 5, and the outlet of the liquid discharge replacement valve 15 is connected to the cleaning and recycling tank 6. The liquid supply pump 2 is started to pump the cleaning liquid from the ink storage tank 1 into the print head replacement cartridge 13 through the bypass replacement valve 14. The circulation replacement valve 12 is opened, and the circulation pump 5 is started. The cleaning liquid flows through the circulation pipeline and returns to the ink storage tank 1. After several cycles of continuous circulation, the print head liquid supply and the circulation pipeline are cleaned. Then, the circulation pump 2 and the circulation replacement valve 12 are closed. Then, the liquid discharge replacement valve 15 is opened, and the cleaning liquid flows into the cleaning and recycling tank 6. The cleaning and recycling tank 6 is soaked with the cleaning liquid, and then the waste liquid pump 7 is started to pump all the waste liquid in the cleaning and recycling tank 6 and the pipeline into the waste liquid tank 8. After the cleaning and recycling pipeline is cleaned, the emptying valve at the bottom of the waste liquid tank 8 is opened and connected to the liquid discharge pump 17. The waste liquid in the waste liquid tank 8 can be completely recycled into the cleaning waste liquid collection tank 16 for centralized treatment. Similarly, the circulating backflow cleaning liquid in the ink storage tank 1 is also emptied in this way. The emptying valve at the bottom of the ink storage tank 1 is opened and connected to the liquid discharge pump 17. The circulating backflow cleaning liquid in the ink storage tank 1 can be completely recycled into the cleaning waste liquid collection tank 16 for centralized treatment.

[0043] The cleaning method of the printer ink supply system of the present application, when cleaning the one-way ink supply system in the first embodiment, includes the following steps:

[0044] S1, starting the cleaning program when the ink supply system is replaced with ink;

[0045] S2, emptying the ink in the ink storage tank;

[0046] S3, connecting the ink replacement and cleaning system to the ink supply system;

[0047] S4, start the liquid supply pump to inject the cleaning liquid from the ink storage tank into the print head replacement cartridge through the bypass replacement valve;

[0048] S5, open the liquid discharge replacement valve to clean the print head cleaning unit;

[0049] S6, open the liquid discharge pump to collect the waste liquid in the print head cleaning unit into the waste liquid collection tank.

[0050] In the above steps S5-S6, the liquid discharge replacement valve is opened, the cleaning liquid first flows into the cleaning recovery pool, the cleaning recovery pool is soaked and cleaned, then the waste liquid pump is opened, the waste liquid in the cleaning recovery pool and the pipeline is completely discharged into the waste liquid tank, the waste liquid in the waste liquid tank is collected into the waste liquid collection tank by opening the liquid discharge pump.

[0051] The cleaning method of the printer ink supply system of the present application, when cleaning the circulating ink supply system in the second embodiment, further includes the following steps:

[0052] Before the above step S5, the following steps are further included:

[0053] The circulating replacement valve is opened and the circulating pump is started, the cleaning liquid is returned to the ink storage tank through the circulating pipeline, and after continuous circulation for multiple times, the cleaning of the print head liquid supply and the circulating pipeline is completed;

[0054] The circulating pump and the circulating replacement valve are closed.

[0055] Specifically, the cleaning process of the printer ink supply system is as follows Figure 5As shown, when the ink supply system needs to be replaced, the cleaning process is started, the residual ink in the ink storage tank 1 is emptied, the pipe connected to the ink cleaning water tank 11 is connected to the interface of the liquid filling pump, the liquid filling pump is started, the ink storage tank 1 is filled with cleaning liquid, the printhead ink cartridge 4 is removed, the printhead replacement ink cartridge 13 is installed, the liquid supply pump 2 is started, the cleaning liquid is added to the printhead replacement ink cartridge 13, the circulation replacement valve 12 is opened, the circulation pump 5 is started, the cleaning liquid is circulated back to the ink storage tank 1, and the cleaning liquid is circulated multiple times in sequence, then the liquid outlet of the ink storage tank 1 is connected to the liquid discharge pump 17, the cleaning liquid in the ink storage tank is emptied, and the circulation replacement valve 12 is closed. The liquid discharge replacement valve 15 is opened, the printhead cleaning unit is started, the cleaning liquid first flows into the cleaning and recycling tank 6, the cleaning and recycling tank 6 is soaked and cleaned, then the waste liquid pump 7 is opened, the waste liquid in the cleaning and recycling tank and the pipe is completely discharged into the waste liquid tank 8, the liquid discharge pump 17 is opened, the waste liquid in the waste liquid tank 8 is collected into the waste liquid collection tank 16, and thus the cleaning of the printhead cleaning unit is completed. Finally, the printhead replacement ink cartridge 13 is removed, the ink cleaning water tank 11 is removed, the cleaning waste liquid collection tank 16 is removed, and the entire ink supply system is restored for subsequent printing.

[0056] In a third embodiment of the present application, a 3D printing device comprises the printer ink supply and cleaning system of the first and second embodiments.

[0057] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. To make the description concise, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described, but as long as the combinations of the technical features do not contradict, they should be considered within the scope of the present application.

[0058] The above embodiments only express several embodiments of the present application, and the description is more specific and detailed, but it should not be understood as limiting the scope of the patent. It should be noted that for ordinary skilled in the art, without departing from the concept of the present application, a number of modifications and improvements can be made, which are within the scope of the present application. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present application should be subject to the appended claims.

Claims

1. A printer ink supply and cleaning system, characterized by, The printer ink supply and cleaning system comprises an ink supply system and an ink replacement and cleaning system. The ink supply system comprises an ink storage tank, a liquid supply pump, a print head ink cartridge and a print head cleaning unit connected in sequence by pipes. The ink replacement and cleaning system comprises an ink cleaning water tank, a bypass replacement valve, a print head replacement ink cartridge, a liquid discharge replacement valve, a liquid discharge pump and a cleaning waste liquid collection tank. When the ink supply system is replaced and cleaned, the ink cleaning water tank is connected to the ink storage tank, the print head replacement ink cartridge replaces the print head ink cartridge, the bypass replacement valve is connected to the liquid supply pump, the liquid discharge replacement valve is connected to the print head replacement ink cartridge, the liquid discharge replacement valve is connected to the print head cleaning unit, the liquid discharge pump is connected to the print head cleaning unit, and the liquid discharge pump is connected to the cleaning waste liquid collection tank. The print head cleaning unit comprises a cleaning recovery tank connected to the print head ink cartridge and a waste liquid pump connected to the cleaning recovery tank.

2. A printer ink supply and cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein, A secondary filter element is arranged between the liquid supply pump and the print head ink cartridge.

3. A printer ink supply and cleaning system according to claim 1 wherein, The print head ink cartridge is divided into a printing chamber and a circulation chamber, the printing chamber is connected to the circulation chamber by a hose, and a circulation pump is arranged between the circulation chamber and the ink storage tank.

4. A printer ink supply and cleaning system according to claim 3, wherein, The ink replacement and cleaning system further comprises a circulation replacement valve, and when the ink supply system is replaced and cleaned, the circulation replacement valve is connected to the outlet of the circulation pump.

5. A method of cleaning a printer ink supply system, characterised in that, The printer ink supply and cleaning system of claim 4 is adopted. The cleaning method comprises the following steps: S1, starting a cleaning program when the ink supply system is replaced; S2, emptying the ink in the ink storage tank; S3, connecting the ink replacement and cleaning system to the ink supply system and pumping cleaning liquid from the ink cleaning water tank to the ink storage tank; S4, starting the liquid supply pump and pumping cleaning liquid from the ink storage tank to the print head replacement ink cartridge through the bypass replacement valve; S5, opening the liquid discharge replacement valve and cleaning the print head cleaning unit; S6, opening the liquid discharge pump and collecting the waste liquid in the print head cleaning unit into the cleaning waste liquid collection tank; In steps S5-S6, the cleaning liquid first flows into the cleaning recovery tank, the cleaning recovery tank is soaked and cleaned, then the waste liquid in the cleaning recovery tank and the pipes is discharged into the waste liquid tank by opening the waste liquid pump, and the waste liquid in the waste liquid tank is collected into the cleaning waste liquid collection tank by opening the liquid discharge pump.

6. The cleaning method of the printer ink supply system according to claim 5, wherein Before step S5, the following steps are further included: opening the circulation replacement valve and starting the circulation pump, and pumping cleaning liquid back to the ink storage tank through the circulation pipeline, and after continuous circulation for multiple times, the cleaning of the print head liquid supply and the circulation pipeline is completed; closing the circulation pump and the circulation replacement valve.

7. A 3DP printing apparatus characterized by comprising: The printer ink supply and cleaning system of any one of claims 1-4 is included.

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