Inkjet head ink supply system and inkjet printer comprising the same

Abstract

The present invention relates to an ink jet head ink supply system equipped with a steam cleaning function, comprising: an ink jet head; an ink storage device; a gas pressure control device; a cleaning liquid storage section; and a steam generating device; the ink storage device and the ink jet head are cleaned by injecting the cleaning liquid or cleaning liquid steam stored in the cleaning liquid storage section into the ink storage device. The present invention also relates to an ink jet printer comprising the ink supply system. The present invention cleans the ink storage device and the ink jet head and the ink moving pipe by steamizing the cleaning liquid, thereby quickly and completely cleaning the traces of the previously used ink and thereby preventing contamination during the ink replacement process, and by steamizing the cleaning liquid and cleaning the ink storage device and the ink jet head and the ink moving pipe when performing ink jet printing for a long time, the ink jet head and the ink supply system can be maintained in the initial state.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a system for supplying ink to an inkjet head, and more particularly to a system for supplying ink to an inkjet head in an industrial inkjet printer in which the ink storage device is separate from the inkjet head. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, devices that dispense liquids for various purposes are widely used in industry. For example, liquids are protruded into desired locations to form patterns in order to draw specific shapes such as circuits; liquids are dispensed at a thin thickness to manufacture thin fibers; or liquids are dispensed onto the surface of an object to be coated.

[0003] Inkjet printing, which sprays liquid ink into droplets onto a media surface based on shape signals, is used not only for printing documents or advertising flyers, but also for solution engineering in the semiconductor or display industry.

[0004] Inkjet printing, which can form complex patterns on a substrate or accurately eject ink to specific locations, is becoming increasingly widely applicable. Small inkjet printers used for printing documents employ a design where ink is stored in an inkjet head that ejects ink droplets. However, large-format document printers or industrial inkjet printers, which require large quantities of ink, use a structure where the ink storage section is separated from the inkjet head.

[0005] Furthermore, in order to accurately dispense the required amount of ink during inkjet printing, the ink in the printhead, in its dispensing preparation state, needs to maintain a meniscus state, a concave shape relative to the nozzle inlet, achieved through capillary action. To achieve this, the ink reservoir for the printhead supply is typically positioned higher than the printhead, and a vacuum is maintained within the reservoir to create negative pressure, preventing ink from flowing out of the printhead and thus maintaining the meniscus state.

[0006] As described above, industrial inkjet printers have evolved to be suitable for mass production while maintaining the fundamental characteristic of inkjet printing—precision. This is achieved by equipping them with large-capacity ink reservoirs for the printhead supply or by continuously supplying ink to these reservoirs. However, recently, with the shift in industrial environments from high-volume, low-variety production to low-volume, high-variety production, new requirements have emerged for industrial inkjet printers. While the primary purpose in the past was to repeatedly perform the same tasks over long periods using the same type of ink in a single industrial inkjet printer, the demand is increasingly for printers capable of performing multiple tasks simultaneously with ink changes. Currently, changing the ink used in an industrial inkjet printer requires thoroughly cleaning all currently used ink before thoroughly cleaning the ink reservoir, printhead, and piping to prevent problems caused by previously used ink. Therefore, it is impossible to perform operations using multiple inks within a single inkjet printer. In addition, during the mass production of products using inkjet printers, in order to improve the reliability of products during long-term use, it is necessary to keep the ink supply and printhead in their initial state, and people have made a lot of attempts to achieve this.

[0007] Therefore, the demand for industrial inkjet printers that can be used while maintaining the characteristics of inkjet printing is increasing.

[0008] Prior technology documents

[0009] Patent documents

[0010] Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 10-2021-0070281 Summary of the Invention

[0011] The present invention aims to solve the problems existing in the prior art as described above by providing an ink supply system that can quickly and thoroughly clean traces of previously used ink during the process of changing the type of ink used, thereby shortening the time required for ink replacement while ensuring that the new ink is not contaminated, or maintaining the ink head and ink supply system in an initial state during long inkjet printing, and an inkjet printer including said ink supply system.

[0012] To achieve the objectives described above, the inkjet head ink supply system equipped with a steam cleaning function according to the present invention is characterized by comprising: an inkjet head equipped with a nozzle for dispensing ink; an ink storage device for storing the ink supplied to the inkjet head; a gas pressure control device for applying positive or negative pressure to the ink storage device; a cleaning liquid storage section for storing cleaning liquid; and a steam generating device for converting at least a portion of the cleaning liquid stored in the cleaning liquid storage section into steam; and cleaning the ink storage device and the inkjet head by introducing the cleaning liquid or cleaning liquid steam stored in the cleaning liquid storage section into the ink storage device.

[0013] The cleaning fluid storage section may be a buffer storage section for supplying ink to the ink storage device.

[0014] The present invention may further include: a buffer storage section for supplying ink to the ink storage device; the cleaning liquid storage section is connected to the buffer storage section.

[0015] The cleaning fluid storage unit is connected to the gas pressure control device, so that the cleaning fluid or cleaning fluid vapor can be transferred to the ink storage device by means of the positive pressure generated in the gas pressure control device.

[0016] The present invention may further include: an ink recovery section located at the lower part of the inkjet head for recovering ink discharged from the inkjet head; and a reuse flow path for returning the ink recovered by the recovery section to the ink storage device.

[0017] According to another aspect of the present invention, an inkjet printer comprising an ink supply system for an inkjet head equipped with a steam cleaning function is characterized in that it includes: an inkjet head equipped with nozzles for dispensing ink; an ink storage device for storing ink supplied to the inkjet head; a gas pressure control device for applying positive or negative pressure to the ink storage device; a cleaning fluid storage section for storing cleaning fluid; and a steam generating device for converting at least a portion of the cleaning fluid stored in the cleaning fluid storage section into steam; and cleaning the ink storage device and the inkjet head by introducing the cleaning fluid or cleaning fluid steam stored in the cleaning fluid storage section into the ink storage device.

[0018] The cleaning fluid storage section may be a buffer storage section for supplying ink to the ink storage device.

[0019] The present invention may further include: a buffer storage section for supplying ink to the ink storage device; the cleaning liquid storage section is connected to the buffer storage section.

[0020] The cleaning fluid storage unit is connected to the gas pressure control device, so that the cleaning fluid or cleaning fluid vapor can be transferred to the ink storage device by means of the positive pressure generated in the gas pressure control device.

[0021] The present invention may further include: an ink recovery section located at the lower part of the inkjet head for recovering ink discharged from the inkjet head; and a reuse flow path for returning the ink recovered by the recovery section to the ink storage device.

[0022] The present invention, as described above, cleans the ink reservoir, the inkjet head, and the piping through which the ink can move by vaporizing the cleaning fluid, thereby quickly and thoroughly cleaning traces of previously used ink and preventing contamination during ink replacement.

[0023] Furthermore, since the components do not need to be separated, but are cleaned using the components provided by the ink supply system itself, the time required to clean traces of previously used ink can be shortened, and the time required for ink replacement can be significantly reduced.

[0024] Furthermore, by equipping the unit with an ink recovery section, the stored ink can be quickly discharged even when the unit is only cleaned without replacing the ink, and the discharged ink can be reused after cleaning with steam.

[0025] Furthermore, by vaporizing the cleaning fluid and cleaning the ink reservoir, printhead, and ink supply lines during prolonged inkjet printing, the printhead and ink supply system can be maintained in their initial state. Attached Figure Description

[0026] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of an ink supply system for an inkjet head equipped with a steam cleaning function according to the first embodiment.

[0027] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of an ink supply system for an inkjet head equipped with a steam cleaning function according to the second embodiment.

[0028] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of an ink supply system for an inkjet head equipped with a steam cleaning function according to the third embodiment.

[0029] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of an ink supply system for an inkjet head equipped with a steam cleaning function according to the fourth embodiment.

[0030] [Symbol Explanation]

[0031] 100: Inkjet head

[0032] 110: Supply Flow

[0033] 120: Recycling Flow Path

[0034] 130: Circulating Flow Path

[0035] 132: Pump

[0036] 200: Ink storage device

[0037] 300: Gas pressure control device

[0038] 310: Pressure regulating pipe

[0039] 320: Second pressure regulating pipe

[0040] 330: Third pressure regulating pipe

[0041] 400: Buffer Storage Section

[0042] 410: Additional supply pipe

[0043] 500: Steam generating device

[0044] 510: Temperature sensor

[0045] 600: Cleaning solution storage section

[0046] 610: Cleaning solution supply pipe

[0047] 700: Ink Recycling Department

[0048] 710: Reuse flow path Detailed Implementation

[0049] The embodiments to which the present invention is applied will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0050] However, embodiments of the present invention can be modified into many other forms, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below. The shapes and sizes of the elements in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity of illustration, and elements represented by the same numbers in the drawings represent the same elements.

[0051] Furthermore, throughout the specification, when a part is described as being "connected" to other parts, this includes not only "direct connection" but also "electrical connection" where other elements are present between them. Additionally, when a part is described as "comprising" or "equipped" with a certain constituent element, unless otherwise expressly stated to the contrary, this does not mean the exclusion of other constituent elements, but rather that other constituent elements may be included or equipped.

[0052] Furthermore, terms such as "first" and "second" are merely used to distinguish one constituent element from other constituent elements, and the scope of the claims is not limited by these terms. For example, a first constituent element can be named a second constituent element, and similarly, a second constituent element can be named a first constituent element.

[0053] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of an ink supply system for an inkjet head equipped with a steam cleaning function according to the first embodiment.

[0054] According to a first embodiment of the present invention, an inkjet head ink supply system equipped with a steam cleaning function includes an inkjet head 100, an ink storage device 200, a gas pressure control device 300, a buffer storage section 400, and a steam generating device 500.

[0055] The inkjet head 100 is a portion equipped with nozzles for dispensing ink. The inkjet printer illustrated is an industrial configuration, in which the inkjet head 100 is separated from the ink storage device 200. Regarding the specific configuration of the inkjet head 100, all technical configurations of inkjet heads used in the past can be applied to the extent that they do not impair the characteristics of the present invention, and in particular, configurations for discharging air bubbles to the outside of the inkjet head 100 to prevent the nozzles in the inkjet head 100 from being clogged by microbubbles.

[0056] The ink storage device 200 is a part for storing ink to supply ink to the inkjet head 100. It is connected to one end of the supply flow path 110 for supplying ink to the inkjet head 100 and the recovery flow path 120 for recycling at least a portion of the ink supplied to the inkjet head 100, and is also connected to one end of the pressure regulating pipe 310 for maintaining the state of the meniscus.

[0057] One end of the supply flow path 110 and the return flow path 120 of the ink storage device 200 are connected to the other end of the inkjet head 100. The inkjet head 100 receives ink through the supply flow path 110 and performs inkjet printing through the nozzles. At least a portion of the supplied ink is returned to the ink storage device 200 through the return flow path 120, thereby achieving ink circulation. A circulation pump can be installed to circulate the ink through the supply flow path 110 and the return flow path 120. The circulation pump is typically installed in the return flow path 120, thus returning at least a portion of the ink supplied to the inkjet head 100 to the ink storage device 200. However, the location of the circulation pump is not limited to the return flow path 120; it can also be installed in the supply flow path. By continuously circulating the ink between the ink storage device 200 and the inkjet head 100 using the circulation pump, ink dispersion can be maintained. It is advisable to avoid the operation of the circulation pump affecting the meniscus state.

[0058] In addition to maintaining continuous ink flow using the supply flow path 110 and the return flow path 120 connected to the inkjet head 100, a circulation flow path 130 may be included to allow ink to flow out of the ink storage device 200 and then return to the ink storage device 200. In the illustrated embodiment, the ink stored in the ink storage device 200 is prevented from remaining stagnant by connecting the circulation flow path 130, equipped with a pump 132, to the ink storage device 200. Simultaneously, its fluidity is maintained by continuously moving it along the circulation flow path 130, thereby maintaining the ink's dispersibility. During the ink flow process via the circulation flow path 130 as described above, it is also necessary to adjust the flow path to maintain the ink's meniscus state.

[0059] The gas pressure control device 300 regulates the pressure of the ink storage device 200 by connecting to the other end of the pressure regulating pipe 310, thereby creating a negative pressure inside the ink storage device 200 and maintaining the ink inside the inkjet head 100 in a curved state. As a result, because the device employs a configuration that continuously draws in air through the pressure regulating pipe 310 except in special circumstances, ink droplets that diffuse upwards when bubbles formed in the ink storage device 200 burst may move through the pressure regulating pipe 310. Since ink droplets flowing into the pressure regulating pipe 310 can induce a malfunction in the gas pressure control device 300, a configuration can be applied to prevent ink or ink droplets from flowing into the pressure regulating pipe 310.

[0060] The buffer reservoir 400 is connected to the ink reservoir 200 and the additional supply pipe 410, allowing ink to be injected into the ink reservoir without disrupting the meniscus. When adding ink to the buffer reservoir 400, the meniscus can be added directly without considering it. If printing is stopped while replenishing ink consumed during printing, losses will occur; however, by replenishing ink through the buffer reservoir 400, ink can be replenished without stopping the printing process. The buffer reservoir 400 described above can be applied almost without limitation to techniques used in general inkjet printers; however, a feature of this invention is that the buffer reservoir 400 can also be used as a space for generating and supplying cleaning fluid vapor.

[0061] The present invention is characterized in that the steam of the cleaning liquid can be used to clean the inkjet head and ink storage device. In this embodiment, the buffer storage unit 400 can also store the cleaning liquid used to generate cleaning steam and convert the cleaning liquid into steam and supply it to the space such as the ink storage device.

[0062] The function of storing cleaning fluid can be achieved by injecting cleaning fluid into the empty buffer storage section 400 after all the ink stored in the buffer storage section 400 has been put into the ink storage device 200, without needing to change the original configuration of the buffer storage section 400 for storing cleaning fluid.

[0063] To fulfill the function of generating cleaning fluid vapor, a steam generating device 500 is required, which heats or sprays the cleaning fluid to generate vapor, and it is necessary to ensure that the steam generating device 500 can operate normally. When the steam generating device 500 generates cleaning fluid vapor by heating, a structure that can transfer the heat generated in the steam generating device 500 to the cleaning fluid is required; for example, a buffer storage section 400 can be constructed using a material with high thermal conductivity. When the steam generating device 500 generates cleaning fluid vapor by spraying, a structure such as an ultrasonic oscillator is required, with the spray generation structure exposed inside the buffer storage section 400.

[0064] To function as a conduit for supplying cleaning fluid vapor to devices such as ink storage units, it is necessary to connect to such devices. Since the additional ink supply pipe 410 is connected to the ink storage unit 200, it can be used as a connecting pipe for supplying cleaning fluid vapor. Furthermore, to function as a conduit for supplying cleaning fluid vapor to devices such as ink storage units, a power source capable of moving the cleaning fluid vapor is required. Positive pressure can be applied to push and supply the cleaning fluid vapor generated inside the buffer storage unit 400 to devices such as ink storage units. Therefore, in this embodiment, the second pressure regulating pipe 320 of the gas pressure control device 300 can be connected to the buffer storage unit 400. Using the positive pressure generated in the gas pressure control device 300, the cleaning fluid vapor generated in the buffer storage unit 400 can be supplied to devices such as ink storage units 200.

[0065] As described above, the buffer storage section 400 can be used as a space for generating cleaning liquid vapor, i.e., a cleaning liquid storage section, but it is not limited to this. It can be a separate cleaning liquid storage section independent of the buffer storage section 400, or it can be added as an additional cleaning liquid storage section without using the buffer storage section 400. However, in the illustrated embodiment, by employing a configuration that can generate cleaning liquid vapor while using the configuration of the buffer storage section 400, it simultaneously functions as a cleaning liquid storage section, thus simultaneously serving as a buffer storage section for easy addition of ink and generating cleaning liquid vapor, thereby further improving the space efficiency of the device.

[0066] The steam generating device 500 is an apparatus for generating cleaning liquid steam by heating or spraying the cleaning liquid. The steam generating device 500 is installed in a buffer storage section 400 containing the cleaning liquid, and components such as a heating plate for heating or an ultrasonic oscillator for generating the spray are exposed inside the buffer storage section 400. The illustrated embodiment corresponds to the case where cleaning liquid steam is generated by heating, and to prevent overheating, a temperature sensor 510 is also installed in the buffer storage section 400.

[0067] Next, we will focus on... Figure 1 The process of performing steam cleaning in the ink supply system of the inkjet head equipped with steam cleaning function according to the first embodiment, as illustrated in the figure, will be described.

[0068] First, because the supply of additional ink needs to be stopped during steam cleaning, no further ink is added to the buffer reservoir 400, and cleaning fluid is supplied to the buffer reservoir 400 only after it has been completely emptied. The cleaning fluid is not particularly limited and can be any liquid suitable for cleaning inkjet printer components such as ink reservoirs and printheads. For example, plain water or a cleaning fluid containing cleaning agents can be used.

[0069] With cleaning fluid supplied to the buffer reservoir 400 and all ink in the ink storage device 200 and inkjet head 100 cleared, cleaning fluid vapor is generated using the cleaning fluid supplied to the buffer reservoir 400. At this time, cleaning fluid vapor can be supplied to the ink storage device 200 simultaneously with its generation; however, to allow for a large supply of cleaning fluid vapor for cleaning at once, it is preferable to generate the cleaning fluid vapor with the additional supply pipe 410 closed. Furthermore, to prevent the cleaning fluid vapor from flowing into the gas pressure control device 300, it is preferable to generate the cleaning fluid vapor with the second pressure regulating pipe 320 closed simultaneously.

[0070] After sufficient cleaning liquid vapor is generated in the buffer storage section 400, the gas pressure control device 300 applies positive pressure through the second pressure regulating pipe 320 and opens the supplementary supply pipe 410, thereby supplying the cleaning liquid vapor to the ink storage device 200 through the supplementary supply pipe 410.

[0071] After the cleaning fluid vapor is supplied to the ink storage device 200 through the additional supply pipe 410, it is then supplied to the inkjet head 100 through the supply flow path 110 and / or the recovery flow path 120, and further supplied to the circulation flow path 130. At this time, to ensure sufficient cleaning time for the ink storage device 200 and the circulation flow path 130, the supply flow path 110 and the recovery flow path 120 can be closed for a certain period of time to prevent the cleaning fluid vapor from moving and being discharged through the inkjet head 100. As described above, while the cleaning fluid vapor is moving, the ink storage device 200, the inkjet head 100, and the connected supply flow path, recovery flow path 120, and circulation flow path 130 are cleaned.

[0072] Next, a second cleaning can be performed by interrupting the vaporization of the cleaning fluid and supplying the cleaning fluid itself under high pressure. After the cleaning process using the cleaning fluid vapor and the cleaning fluid is completed, the interior can be dried by injecting dry air from the gas pressure control device 300.

[0073] As described above, an inkjet printer with an ink supply system equipped with a steam cleaning function can clean the ink reservoir and inkjet head by generating cleaning fluid vapor, thereby easily removing any condensed, deposited, or adhered ink or particles. Furthermore, the ink reservoir and inkjet head can be thoroughly cleaned using high-pressure cleaning fluid. Therefore, not only is contamination of new ink prevented when changing ink, but even when using the same ink, cleaning during use prevents problems such as ink residue.

[0074] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of an ink supply system for an inkjet head equipped with a steam cleaning function according to the second embodiment.

[0075] According to a second embodiment of the present invention, an inkjet head ink supply system equipped with a steam cleaning function includes an inkjet head 100, an ink storage device 200, a gas pressure control device 300, a buffer storage section 400, a steam generating device 500, and a cleaning liquid storage section 600.

[0076] The inkjet head 100 is a portion equipped with nozzles for dispensing ink. The inkjet printer illustrated is an industrial configuration, in which the inkjet head 100 is separated from the ink storage device 200. Regarding the specific configuration of the inkjet head 100, all technical configurations of inkjet heads used in the past can be applied to the extent that they do not impair the characteristics of the present invention, and in particular, configurations for discharging air bubbles to the outside of the inkjet head 100 to prevent the nozzles in the inkjet head 100 from being clogged by microbubbles.

[0077] The ink storage device 200 is a part for storing ink to supply ink to the inkjet head 100. It is connected to one end of the supply flow path 110 for supplying ink to the inkjet head 100 and the recovery flow path 120 for recycling at least a portion of the ink supplied to the inkjet head 100, and is also connected to one end of the pressure regulating pipe 310 for maintaining the state of the meniscus.

[0078] One end of the supply flow path 110 and the return flow path 120 of the ink storage device 200 are connected to the other end of the inkjet head 100. The inkjet head 100 receives ink through the supply flow path 110 and performs inkjet printing through the nozzles. At least a portion of the supplied ink is returned to the ink storage device 200 through the return flow path 120, thereby achieving ink circulation. A circulation pump can be installed to circulate the ink through the supply flow path 110 and the return flow path 120. The circulation pump is typically installed in the return flow path 120, thus returning at least a portion of the ink supplied to the inkjet head 100 to the ink storage device 200. However, the location of the circulation pump is not limited to the return flow path 120; it can also be installed in the supply flow path. By continuously circulating the ink between the ink storage device 200 and the inkjet head 100 using the circulation pump, ink dispersion can be maintained. It is advisable to avoid the operation of the circulation pump affecting the meniscus state.

[0079] In addition to maintaining continuous ink flow using the supply flow path 110 and the return flow path 120 connected to the inkjet head 100, a circulation flow path 130 may be included to allow ink to flow out of the ink storage device 200 and then return to the ink storage device 200. In the illustrated embodiment, the ink stored in the ink storage device 200 is prevented from remaining stagnant by connecting the circulation flow path 130, equipped with a pump 132, to the ink storage device 200. Simultaneously, its fluidity is maintained by continuously moving it along the circulation flow path 130, thereby maintaining the ink's dispersibility. During the ink flow process via the circulation flow path 130 as described above, it is also necessary to adjust the flow path to maintain the ink's meniscus state.

[0080] The gas pressure control device 300 regulates the pressure of the ink storage device 200 by connecting to the other end of the pressure regulating pipe 310, thereby creating a negative pressure inside the ink storage device 200 and maintaining the ink inside the inkjet head 100 in a curved state. As a result, because the device employs a configuration that continuously draws in air through the pressure regulating pipe 310 except in special circumstances, ink droplets that diffuse upwards when bubbles formed in the ink storage device 200 burst may move through the pressure regulating pipe 310. Since ink droplets flowing into the pressure regulating pipe 310 can induce a malfunction in the gas pressure control device 300, a configuration can be applied to prevent ink or ink droplets from flowing into the pressure regulating pipe 310.

[0081] The buffer reservoir 400 is connected to the ink reservoir 200 and the additional supply pipe 410, allowing ink to be injected into the ink reservoir without disrupting the meniscus. When adding ink to the buffer reservoir 400, the meniscus can be added directly without considering it. If printing is stopped while replenishing ink consumed during printing, loss will occur; however, by replenishing ink through the buffer reservoir 400, ink can be replenished without stopping the printing process. The buffer reservoir 400 can be applied almost without limitation to technologies used in general inkjet printers.

[0082] The cleaning fluid storage unit 600 is connected to the buffer storage unit 400 and is configured to store the cleaning fluid, generate cleaning fluid vapor, and supply cleaning fluid vapor. This embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that it is equipped with a separate cleaning fluid storage unit 600.

[0083] To perform the function of generating cleaning fluid vapor, a configuration is adopted that incorporates a steam generating device 500 for heating or spraying the cleaning fluid to generate vapor, and ensures the normal operation of the steam generating device 500. When the steam generating device 500 generates cleaning fluid vapor by heating, a configuration is needed that can transfer the heat generated in the steam generating device 500 to the cleaning fluid; for example, a buffer storage section 400 can be constructed using a material with high thermal conductivity. When the steam generating device 500 generates cleaning fluid vapor by spraying, a configuration is needed where a spray generating structure, such as an ultrasonic oscillator, is exposed inside the cleaning fluid storage section 600.

[0084] To supply cleaning fluid vapor to devices such as ink storage units, a connection to such devices is required. When connected to the buffer storage unit 400 via the cleaning fluid supply pipe 610, the additional ink supply pipe 410 of the buffer storage unit 400 is connected to the ink storage unit 200, thereby supplying cleaning fluid vapor. Furthermore, to function as a supplier of cleaning fluid vapor to devices such as ink storage units, a power source capable of moving the cleaning fluid vapor is needed. Positive pressure can be applied to push and supply the cleaning fluid vapor generated inside the buffer storage unit 400 to devices such as ink storage units. Therefore, in this embodiment, the third pressure regulating pipe 330 of the gas pressure control device 300 can be connected to the cleaning fluid storage unit 600. Utilizing the positive pressure generated in the gas pressure control device 300, the cleaning fluid vapor generated in the cleaning fluid storage unit 600 can be supplied to devices such as ink storage units 200 via the buffer storage unit 400.

[0085] As illustrated in the embodiment, by equipping a separate buffer reservoir 400 and a cleaning fluid reservoir 600, the time required to refill the cleaning fluid after emptying the buffer reservoir 400 can be saved. Furthermore, the system can be configured by adding a component for steam cleaning to a configuration that utilizes an existing buffer reservoir 400.

[0086] The steam generating device 500 is an apparatus for generating cleaning liquid steam by heating or spraying the cleaning liquid. The steam generating device 500 is installed in the cleaning liquid storage section 600, and components such as a heating plate for heating or an ultrasonic oscillator for generating the spray are exposed inside the cleaning liquid storage section 600. The illustrated embodiment corresponds to the case where cleaning liquid steam is generated by heating, and to prevent overheating, a temperature sensor 510 is also installed in the cleaning liquid storage section 600.

[0087] Next, we will focus on... Figure 2 The process of performing steam cleaning in the ink supply system of the inkjet head equipped with steam cleaning function according to the second embodiment, as illustrated in the figure, will be described.

[0088] In this embodiment, even before the buffer reservoir 400 is completely emptied, the system can be prepared by supplying cleaning fluid to the cleaning fluid reservoir 600. The cleaning fluid is not particularly limited; any liquid suitable for cleaning inkjet printer components such as ink reservoirs and printheads can be used. For example, plain water or a cleaning fluid containing cleaning agents can be used.

[0089] With all ink removed from the buffer storage section 400, ink storage device 200, and inkjet head 100, cleaning fluid vapor is generated using the cleaning fluid supplied to the cleaning fluid storage section 600. While the cleaning fluid vapor can be supplied to the buffer storage section 400 simultaneously, it is preferable to generate it while the cleaning fluid supply pipe 610 is closed to allow for a large supply of cleaning fluid vapor at once. Furthermore, to prevent the cleaning fluid vapor from flowing into the gas pressure control device 300, it is preferable to generate it while the third pressure regulating pipe 330 is simultaneously closed.

[0090] After sufficient cleaning fluid vapor is generated in the cleaning fluid storage section 600, the gas pressure control device 300 applies positive pressure through the third pressure regulating pipe 330 and opens the cleaning fluid supply pipe 610, thereby allowing the cleaning fluid vapor to be supplied to the buffer storage section 400 through the cleaning fluid supply pipe 610.

[0091] The cleaning fluid vapor is supplied to the buffer storage unit 400 through the cleaning fluid supply pipe 610, and then to the ink storage device 400 through the additional supply pipe 410. Next, it is supplied to the inkjet head 100 through the supply flow path 110 and / or the recovery flow path 120, and further supplied to the circulation flow path 130. At this time, to ensure sufficient cleaning time for the ink storage device 200 and the circulation flow path 130, the supply flow path 110 and the recovery flow path 120 can be closed for a certain period to prevent the cleaning fluid vapor from moving and being discharged through the inkjet head 100. As described above, while the cleaning fluid vapor is moving, the ink storage device 200, the inkjet head 100, and the connected supply flow path, recovery flow path 120, and circulation flow path 130 are cleaned.

[0092] Next, a second cleaning can be performed by interrupting the vaporization of the cleaning fluid and supplying the cleaning fluid itself under high pressure. After the cleaning process using the cleaning fluid vapor and the cleaning fluid is completed, the interior can be dried by injecting dry air from the gas pressure control device 300.

[0093] As described above, an inkjet printer with an ink supply system equipped with a steam cleaning function can clean the ink reservoir and inkjet head by generating cleaning fluid vapor, thereby easily removing any condensed, deposited, or adhered ink or particles. Furthermore, the ink reservoir and inkjet head can be thoroughly cleaned using high-pressure cleaning fluid. Therefore, not only is contamination of new ink prevented when changing ink, but even when using the same ink, cleaning during use prevents problems such as ink residue.

[0094] Figure 3This is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of an ink supply system for an inkjet head equipped with a steam cleaning function according to the third embodiment.

[0095] According to a third embodiment of the present invention, an inkjet head ink supply system equipped with a steam cleaning function includes an inkjet head 100, an ink storage device 200, a gas pressure control device 300, a buffer storage section 400, a steam generating device 500, and an ink recovery section 700.

[0096] The inkjet head 100 is a portion equipped with nozzles for dispensing ink. The inkjet printer illustrated is an industrial configuration, in which the inkjet head 100 is separated from the ink storage device 200. Regarding the specific configuration of the inkjet head 100, all technical configurations of inkjet heads used in the past can be applied to the extent that they do not impair the characteristics of the present invention, and in particular, configurations for discharging air bubbles to the outside of the inkjet head 100 to prevent the nozzles in the inkjet head 100 from being clogged by microbubbles.

[0097] The ink storage device 200 is a part for storing ink to supply ink to the inkjet head 100. It is connected to one end of the supply flow path 110 for supplying ink to the inkjet head 100 and the recovery flow path 120 for recycling at least a portion of the ink supplied to the inkjet head 100, and is also connected to one end of the pressure regulating pipe 310 for maintaining the state of the meniscus.

[0098] One end of the supply flow path 110 and the return flow path 120 of the ink storage device 200 are connected to the other end of the inkjet head 100. The inkjet head 100 receives ink through the supply flow path 110 and performs inkjet printing through the nozzles. At least a portion of the supplied ink is returned to the ink storage device 200 through the return flow path 120, thereby achieving ink circulation. A circulation pump can be installed to circulate the ink through the supply flow path 110 and the return flow path 120. The circulation pump is typically installed in the return flow path 120, thus returning at least a portion of the ink supplied to the inkjet head 100 to the ink storage device 200. However, the location of the circulation pump is not limited to the return flow path 120; it can also be installed in the supply flow path. By continuously circulating the ink between the ink storage device 200 and the inkjet head 100 using the circulation pump, ink dispersion can be maintained. It is advisable to avoid the operation of the circulation pump affecting the meniscus state.

[0099] In addition to maintaining continuous ink flow using the supply flow path 110 and the return flow path 120 connected to the inkjet head 100, a circulation flow path 130 may be included to allow ink to flow out of the ink storage device 200 and then return to the ink storage device 200. In the illustrated embodiment, the ink stored in the ink storage device 200 is prevented from remaining stagnant by connecting the circulation flow path 130, equipped with a pump 132, to the ink storage device 200. Simultaneously, its fluidity is maintained by continuously moving it along the circulation flow path 130, thereby maintaining the ink's dispersibility. During the ink flow process via the circulation flow path 130 as described above, it is also necessary to adjust the flow path to maintain the ink's meniscus state.

[0100] The gas pressure control device 300 regulates the pressure of the ink storage device 200 by connecting to the other end of the pressure regulating pipe 310, thereby creating a negative pressure inside the ink storage device 200 and maintaining the ink inside the inkjet head 100 in a curved state. As a result, because the device employs a configuration that continuously draws in air through the pressure regulating pipe 310 except in special circumstances, ink droplets that diffuse upwards when bubbles formed in the ink storage device 200 burst may move through the pressure regulating pipe 310. Since ink droplets flowing into the pressure regulating pipe 310 can induce a malfunction in the gas pressure control device 300, a configuration can be applied to prevent ink or ink droplets from flowing into the pressure regulating pipe 310.

[0101] The buffer reservoir 400 is connected to the ink reservoir 200 and the additional supply pipe 410, allowing ink to be injected into the ink reservoir without disrupting the meniscus. When adding ink to the buffer reservoir 400, the meniscus can be added directly without considering it. If printing is stopped while replenishing ink consumed during printing, losses will occur; however, by replenishing ink through the buffer reservoir 400, ink can be replenished without stopping the printing process. The buffer reservoir 400 described above can be applied almost without limitation to techniques used in general inkjet printers; however, a feature of this invention is that the buffer reservoir 400 can also be used as a space for generating and supplying cleaning fluid vapor.

[0102] The present invention is characterized in that the steam of the cleaning liquid can be used to clean the inkjet head and ink storage device. In this embodiment, the buffer storage unit 400 can also store the cleaning liquid used to generate cleaning steam and convert the cleaning liquid into steam and supply it to the space such as the ink storage device.

[0103] The function of storing cleaning fluid can be achieved by injecting cleaning fluid into the empty buffer storage section 400 after all the ink stored in the buffer storage section 400 has been put into the ink storage device 200, without needing to change the original configuration of the buffer storage section 400 for storing cleaning fluid.

[0104] To fulfill the function of generating cleaning fluid vapor, a steam generating device 500 is required, which heats or sprays the cleaning fluid to generate vapor, and it is necessary to ensure that the steam generating device 500 can operate normally. When the steam generating device 500 generates cleaning fluid vapor by heating, a structure that can transfer the heat generated in the steam generating device 500 to the cleaning fluid is required; for example, a buffer storage section 400 can be constructed using a material with high thermal conductivity. When the steam generating device 500 generates cleaning fluid vapor by spraying, a structure such as an ultrasonic oscillator is required, with the spray generation structure exposed inside the buffer storage section 400.

[0105] To function as a conduit for supplying cleaning fluid vapor to devices such as ink storage units, it is necessary to connect to such devices. Since the additional ink supply pipe 410 is connected to the ink storage unit 200, it can be used as a connecting pipe for supplying cleaning fluid vapor. Furthermore, to function as a conduit for supplying cleaning fluid vapor to devices such as ink storage units, a power source capable of moving the cleaning fluid vapor is required. Positive pressure can be applied to push and supply the cleaning fluid vapor generated inside the buffer storage unit 400 to devices such as ink storage units. Therefore, in this embodiment, the second pressure regulating pipe 320 of the gas pressure control device 300 can be connected to the buffer storage unit 400. Using the positive pressure generated in the gas pressure control device 300, the cleaning fluid vapor generated in the buffer storage unit 400 can be supplied to devices such as ink storage units 200.

[0106] As described above, the buffer storage section 400 can be used as a space for generating cleaning liquid vapor, i.e., a cleaning liquid storage section, but it is not limited to this. It can be a separate cleaning liquid storage section independent of the buffer storage section 400, or it can be added as an additional cleaning liquid storage section without using the buffer storage section 400. However, in the illustrated embodiment, by employing a configuration that can generate cleaning liquid vapor while using the configuration of the buffer storage section 400, it simultaneously functions as a cleaning liquid storage section, thus simultaneously serving as a buffer storage section for easy addition of ink and generating cleaning liquid vapor, thereby further improving the space efficiency of the device.

[0107] The steam generating device 500 is an apparatus for generating cleaning liquid steam by heating or spraying the cleaning liquid. The steam generating device 500 is installed in a buffer storage section 400 containing the cleaning liquid, and components such as a heating plate for heating or an ultrasonic oscillator for generating the spray are exposed inside the buffer storage section 400. The illustrated embodiment corresponds to the case where cleaning liquid steam is generated by heating, and to prevent overheating, a temperature sensor 510 is also installed in the buffer storage section 400.

[0108] The ink recovery unit 700 is located at the lower part of the inkjet head 100 and is connected to the ink storage device 200 through the reuse flow path 710. It is configured to collect the ink discharged through the inkjet head 100 and return it to the ink storage device 200 for reuse.

[0109] With the ink recovery unit 700, when the device is cleaned and reused without replacing the ink, it is not necessary to wait for the ink in the ink storage device 200 to be emptied. Instead, all the ink can be emptied through the inkjet head 100, and the collected ink can be returned to the ink storage device 200 after cleaning.

[0110] Next, we will focus on... Figure 3 The process of performing steam cleaning in the ink supply system of the inkjet head equipped with steam cleaning function according to the third embodiment is illustrated in the figure.

[0111] First, without replacing the ink, but only performing cleaning, all the ink stored in the buffer storage section 400 and the ink storage device 200 is discharged through the inkjet head 100, and the discharged ink is collected in the ink recovery section 700.

[0112] With the buffer reservoir 400 completely emptied, cleaning fluid is supplied to the buffer reservoir 400. The cleaning fluid is not particularly limited; any liquid suitable for cleaning inkjet printer components such as ink reservoirs and printheads can be used. For example, plain water or a cleaning fluid containing cleaning agents can be used.

[0113] With cleaning fluid supplied to the buffer reservoir 400 and all ink in the ink storage device 200 and inkjet head 100 cleared, cleaning fluid vapor is generated using the cleaning fluid supplied to the buffer reservoir 400. At this time, cleaning fluid vapor can be supplied to the ink storage device 200 simultaneously with its generation; however, to allow for a large supply of cleaning fluid vapor for cleaning at once, it is preferable to generate the cleaning fluid vapor with the additional supply pipe 410 closed. Furthermore, to prevent the cleaning fluid vapor from flowing into the gas pressure control device 300, it is preferable to generate the cleaning fluid vapor with the second pressure regulating pipe 320 closed simultaneously.

[0114] After sufficient cleaning liquid vapor is generated in the buffer storage section 400, the gas pressure control device 300 applies positive pressure through the second pressure regulating pipe 320 and opens the supplementary supply pipe 410, thereby supplying the cleaning liquid vapor to the ink storage device 200 through the supplementary supply pipe 410.

[0115] After the cleaning fluid vapor is supplied to the ink storage device 200 through the additional supply pipe 410, it is then supplied to the inkjet head 100 through the supply flow path 110 and / or the recovery flow path 120, and further supplied to the circulation flow path 130. At this time, to ensure sufficient cleaning time for the ink storage device 200 and the circulation flow path 130, the supply flow path 110 and the recovery flow path 120 can be closed for a certain period of time to prevent the cleaning fluid vapor from moving and being discharged through the inkjet head 100. As described above, while the cleaning fluid vapor is moving, the ink storage device 200, the inkjet head 100, and the connected supply flow path, recovery flow path 120, and circulation flow path 130 are cleaned.

[0116] Next, a second cleaning can be performed by interrupting the vaporization of the cleaning fluid and supplying the cleaning fluid itself under high pressure. After the cleaning process using the cleaning fluid vapor and the cleaning fluid is completed, the interior can be dried by injecting dry air from the gas pressure control device 300.

[0117] After the ink storage device 200 is cleaned and dried, the ink collected in the ink recovery unit 700 is returned to the ink storage device 200 through the reuse flow path 710, so that inkjet printing can continue to be performed using the same ink.

[0118] As described above, an inkjet printer with an ink supply system equipped with a steam cleaning function can clean the ink reservoir and inkjet head by generating cleaning fluid vapor, thereby easily removing any condensed, deposited, or adhered ink or particles. Next, the ink reservoir and inkjet head can be thoroughly cleaned using high-pressure cleaning fluid. This not only prevents contamination of new ink when changing ink, but also prevents problems such as ink residue when using the same ink, as cleaning is performed during use. In particular, the ink recovery unit makes cleaning during the use of the same ink even easier.

[0119] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of an ink supply system for an inkjet head equipped with a steam cleaning function according to the fourth embodiment.

[0120] According to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, an inkjet head ink supply system equipped with a steam cleaning function includes an inkjet head 100, an ink storage device 200, a gas pressure control device 300, a buffer storage unit 400, a steam generating device 500, a cleaning liquid storage unit 600, and an ink recovery unit 700.

[0121] The inkjet head 100 is a portion equipped with nozzles for dispensing ink. The inkjet printer illustrated is an industrial configuration, in which the inkjet head 100 is separated from the ink storage device 200. Regarding the specific configuration of the inkjet head 100, all technical configurations of inkjet heads used in the past can be applied to the extent that they do not impair the characteristics of the present invention, and in particular, configurations for discharging air bubbles to the outside of the inkjet head 100 to prevent the nozzles in the inkjet head 100 from being clogged by microbubbles.

[0122] The ink storage device 200 is a part for storing ink to supply ink to the inkjet head 100. It is connected to one end of the supply flow path 110 for supplying ink to the inkjet head 100 and the recovery flow path 120 for recycling at least a portion of the ink supplied to the inkjet head 100, and is also connected to one end of the pressure regulating pipe 310 for maintaining the state of the meniscus.

[0123] One end of the supply flow path 110 and the return flow path 120 of the ink storage device 200 are connected to the other end of the inkjet head 100. The inkjet head 100 receives ink through the supply flow path 110 and performs inkjet printing through the nozzles. At least a portion of the supplied ink is returned to the ink storage device 200 through the return flow path 120, thereby achieving ink circulation. A circulation pump can be installed to circulate the ink through the supply flow path 110 and the return flow path 120. The circulation pump is typically installed in the return flow path 120, thus returning at least a portion of the ink supplied to the inkjet head 100 to the ink storage device 200. However, the location of the circulation pump is not limited to the return flow path 120; it can also be installed in the supply flow path. By continuously circulating the ink between the ink storage device 200 and the inkjet head 100 using the circulation pump, ink dispersion can be maintained. It is advisable to avoid the operation of the circulation pump affecting the meniscus state.

[0124] In addition to maintaining continuous ink flow using the supply flow path 110 and the return flow path 120 connected to the inkjet head 100, a circulation flow path 130 may be included to allow ink to flow out of the ink storage device 200 and then return to the ink storage device 200. In the illustrated embodiment, the ink stored in the ink storage device 200 is prevented from remaining stagnant by connecting the circulation flow path 130, equipped with a pump 132, to the ink storage device 200. Simultaneously, its fluidity is maintained by continuously moving it along the circulation flow path 130, thereby maintaining the ink's dispersibility. During the ink flow process via the circulation flow path 130 as described above, it is also necessary to adjust the flow path to maintain the ink's meniscus state.

[0125] The gas pressure control device 300 regulates the pressure of the ink storage device 200 by connecting to the other end of the pressure regulating pipe 310, thereby creating a negative pressure inside the ink storage device 200 and maintaining the ink inside the inkjet head 100 in a curved state. As a result, because the device employs a configuration that continuously draws in air through the pressure regulating pipe 310 except in special circumstances, ink droplets that diffuse upwards when bubbles formed in the ink storage device 200 burst may move through the pressure regulating pipe 310. Since ink droplets flowing into the pressure regulating pipe 310 can induce a malfunction in the gas pressure control device 300, a configuration can be applied to prevent ink or ink droplets from flowing into the pressure regulating pipe 310.

[0126] The buffer reservoir 400 is connected to the ink reservoir 200 and the additional supply pipe 410, allowing ink to be injected into the ink reservoir without disrupting the meniscus. When adding ink to the buffer reservoir 400, the meniscus can be added directly without considering it. If printing is stopped while replenishing ink consumed during printing, loss will occur; however, by replenishing ink through the buffer reservoir 400, ink can be replenished without stopping the printing process. The buffer reservoir 400 can be applied almost without limitation to technologies used in general inkjet printers.

[0127] The cleaning fluid storage unit 600 is connected to the buffer storage unit 400 and is configured to store the cleaning fluid, generate cleaning fluid vapor, and supply cleaning fluid vapor. This embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that it is equipped with a separate cleaning fluid storage unit 600.

[0128] To perform the function of generating cleaning fluid vapor, a configuration is adopted that incorporates a steam generating device 500 for heating or spraying the cleaning fluid to generate vapor, and ensures the normal operation of the steam generating device 500. When the steam generating device 500 generates cleaning fluid vapor by heating, a configuration is needed that can transfer the heat generated in the steam generating device 500 to the cleaning fluid; for example, a buffer storage section 400 can be constructed using a material with high thermal conductivity. When the steam generating device 500 generates cleaning fluid vapor by spraying, a configuration is needed where a spray generating structure, such as an ultrasonic oscillator, is exposed inside the cleaning fluid storage section 600.

[0129] To supply cleaning fluid vapor to devices such as ink storage units, a connection to such devices is required. When connected to the buffer storage unit 400 via the cleaning fluid supply pipe 610, the additional ink supply pipe 410 of the buffer storage unit 400 is connected to the ink storage unit 200, thereby supplying cleaning fluid vapor. Furthermore, to function as a supplier of cleaning fluid vapor to devices such as ink storage units, a power source capable of moving the cleaning fluid vapor is needed. Positive pressure can be applied to push and supply the cleaning fluid vapor generated inside the buffer storage unit 400 to devices such as ink storage units. Therefore, in this embodiment, the third pressure regulating pipe 330 of the gas pressure control device 300 can be connected to the cleaning fluid storage unit 600. Utilizing the positive pressure generated in the gas pressure control device 300, the cleaning fluid vapor generated in the cleaning fluid storage unit 600 can be supplied to devices such as ink storage units 200 via the buffer storage unit 400.

[0130] As illustrated in the embodiment, by equipping a separate buffer reservoir 400 and a cleaning fluid reservoir 600, the time required to refill the cleaning fluid after emptying the buffer reservoir 400 can be saved. Furthermore, the system can be configured by adding a component for steam cleaning to a configuration that utilizes an existing buffer reservoir 400.

[0131] The steam generating device 500 is an apparatus for generating cleaning liquid steam by heating or spraying the cleaning liquid. The steam generating device 500 is installed in the cleaning liquid storage section 600, and components such as a heating plate for heating or an ultrasonic oscillator for generating the spray are exposed inside the cleaning liquid storage section 600. The illustrated embodiment corresponds to the case where cleaning liquid steam is generated by heating, and to prevent overheating, a temperature sensor 510 is also installed in the cleaning liquid storage section 600.

[0132] The ink recovery unit 700 is located at the lower part of the inkjet head 100 and is connected to the ink storage device 200 through the reuse flow path 710. It is configured to collect the ink discharged through the inkjet head 100 and return it to the ink storage device 200 for reuse.

[0133] With the ink recovery unit 700, when the device is cleaned and reused without replacing the ink, it is not necessary to wait for the ink in the ink storage device 200 to be emptied. Instead, all the ink can be emptied through the inkjet head 100, and the collected ink can be returned to the ink storage device 200 after cleaning.

[0134] Next, we will focus on... Figure 4 The process of performing steam cleaning in the ink supply system of the inkjet head equipped with steam cleaning function according to the fourth embodiment is illustrated in the figure.

[0135] In this embodiment, even before the buffer reservoir 400 is completely emptied, the system can be prepared by supplying cleaning fluid to the cleaning fluid reservoir 600. The cleaning fluid is not particularly limited; any liquid suitable for cleaning inkjet printer components such as ink reservoirs and printheads can be used. For example, plain water or a cleaning fluid containing cleaning agents can be used.

[0136] When cleaning is performed without replacing the ink, all the ink stored in the buffer storage section 400 and the ink storage device 200 is discharged through the inkjet head 100, and the discharged ink is collected in the ink recovery section 700. With all the ink in the buffer storage section 400, the ink storage device 200, and the inkjet head 100 cleared, cleaning fluid vapor is generated using the cleaning fluid supplied to the cleaning fluid storage section 600. At this time, the cleaning fluid vapor can be supplied to the buffer storage section 400 simultaneously, but to allow for a large supply of cleaning fluid vapor for cleaning at once, it is preferable to generate the cleaning fluid vapor while the cleaning fluid supply pipe 610 is closed. Furthermore, to prevent the cleaning fluid vapor from flowing into the gas pressure control device 300, it is preferable to generate the cleaning fluid vapor while the third pressure regulating pipe 330 is simultaneously closed.

[0137] After sufficient cleaning fluid vapor is generated in the cleaning fluid storage section 600, the gas pressure control device 300 applies positive pressure through the third pressure regulating pipe 330 and opens the cleaning fluid supply pipe 610, thereby allowing the cleaning fluid vapor to be supplied to the buffer storage section 400 through the cleaning fluid supply pipe 610.

[0138] The cleaning fluid vapor is supplied to the buffer storage unit 400 through the cleaning fluid supply pipe 610, and then to the ink storage device 400 through the additional supply pipe 410. Next, it is supplied to the inkjet head 100 through the supply flow path 110 and / or the recovery flow path 120, and further supplied to the circulation flow path 130. At this time, to ensure sufficient cleaning time for the ink storage device 200 and the circulation flow path 130, the supply flow path 110 and the recovery flow path 120 can be closed for a certain period to prevent the cleaning fluid vapor from moving and being discharged through the inkjet head 100. As described above, while the cleaning fluid vapor is moving, the ink storage device 200, the inkjet head 100, and the connected supply flow path, recovery flow path 120, and circulation flow path 130 are cleaned.

[0139] Next, a second cleaning can be performed by interrupting the vaporization of the cleaning fluid and supplying the cleaning fluid itself under high pressure. After the cleaning process using the cleaning fluid vapor and the cleaning fluid is completed, the interior can be dried by injecting dry air from the gas pressure control device 300.

[0140] After the ink storage device 200 is cleaned and dried, the ink collected in the ink recovery unit 700 is returned to the ink storage device 200 through the reuse flow path 710, so that inkjet printing can continue to be performed using the same ink.

[0141] As described above, an inkjet printer with an ink supply system equipped with a steam cleaning function can clean the ink reservoir and inkjet head by generating cleaning fluid vapor, thereby easily removing any condensed, deposited, or adhered ink or particles. Next, the ink reservoir and inkjet head can be thoroughly cleaned using high-pressure cleaning fluid. This not only prevents contamination of new ink when changing ink, but also prevents problems such as ink residue when using the same ink, as cleaning is performed during use. In particular, the ink recovery unit makes cleaning during the use of the same ink even easier.

[0142] The present invention has been described above with reference to preferred embodiments. However, these embodiments are merely illustrative examples of the technical concept of the invention. Those skilled in the art should understand that various modifications can be made to the invention without departing from its technical concept. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be interpreted through the matters recorded in the claims rather than the specific embodiments, and should be interpreted as including all technical concepts within the equivalent scope within the scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. An ink supply system for an inkjet head equipped with a steam cleaning function, characterized by, An ink jet head equipped with nozzles for discharging ink; An ink storage device for storing ink supplied to the ink jet head; A gas pressure control device for applying positive pressure or negative pressure to the ink storage device; A cleaning liquid storage portion for storing a cleaning liquid; and A vapor generating device for converting at least a portion of the cleaning liquid stored in the cleaning liquid storage portion into a vapor; The ink storage device and the ink jet head are cleaned by introducing the cleaning liquid or the cleaning liquid vapor stored in the cleaning liquid storage portion into the ink storage device; The cleaning liquid storage portion is connected to the gas pressure control device so that the cleaning liquid or the cleaning liquid vapor is transferred to the ink storage device by means of the positive pressure generated in the gas pressure control device.

2. The ink jet head ink supply system equipped with a vapor cleaning function according to claim 1, wherein: The cleaning liquid storage portion is a buffer storage portion for supplying ink to the ink storage device. Further comprising:

3. The ink supply system for an inkjet head equipped with a steam cleaning function according to claim 1, characterized by, A buffer storage portion for supplying ink to the ink storage device; and Further comprising:

4. The ink supply system for an inkjet head equipped with a steam cleaning function according to claim 1, characterized by, An ink recovery portion located in a lower portion of the ink jet head for recovering ink discharged from the ink jet head; and a recycling flow path for returning the ink recovered by the recovery portion to the ink storage device. An ink jet head equipped with nozzles for discharging ink; 5. An inkjet printer comprising an ink supply system for an inkjet head equipped with a steam cleaning function, characterized by, An ink storage device for storing ink supplied to the ink jet head; A gas pressure control device for applying positive pressure or negative pressure to the ink storage device; A cleaning liquid storage portion for storing a cleaning liquid; and A vapor generating device for converting at least a portion of the cleaning liquid stored in the cleaning liquid storage portion into a vapor; The ink storage device and the ink jet head are cleaned by introducing the cleaning liquid or the cleaning liquid vapor stored in the cleaning liquid storage portion into the ink storage device; The cleaning liquid storage portion is connected to the gas pressure control device so that the cleaning liquid or the cleaning liquid vapor is transferred to the ink storage device by means of the positive pressure generated in the gas pressure control device.

6. The ink jet printer containing the ink jet head ink supply system equipped with a vapor cleaning function according to claim 5, wherein: The cleaning liquid storage portion is a buffer storage portion for supplying ink to the ink storage device. Further comprising: A buffer storage portion for supplying ink to the ink storage device; and 7. The inkjet printer comprising the ink supply system for an inkjet head equipped with a steam cleaning function according to claim 5, characterized by, Further comprising: An ink recovery portion located in a lower portion of the ink jet head for recovering ink discharged from the ink jet head; and a recycling flow path for returning the ink recovered by the recovery portion to the ink storage device.

8. The inkjet printer comprising the ink supply system for an inkjet head equipped with a steam cleaning function according to claim 5, characterized by, ​ ​

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