Automatic ink adding device for external ink cabinet

Abstract

The application relates to an automatic ink adding device of an external ink cabinet, and belongs to the technical field of ink cartridges. The automatic ink adding device comprises an external ink cabinet, an ink barrel, a liquid level sensor arranged on the outer wall of the ink barrel and used for monitoring the liquid level in the ink barrel and an electric control system. The electric control system controls the ink in the external ink cabinet to enter the ink barrel. The liquid level sensor is in communication connection with the electric control system. A driving part rotates through driving a double roller shaft belt transmission part. The belt of the double roller shaft belt transmission part is in friction with a comb part to generate electricity, so that a metal protection part forms a positive electricity output body. The positive electricity output body formed by the metal protection part reduces the oscillation of the ink entering the ink barrel. When the added ink is close to a ball, positive charges gather in the ink, so that the ball repels the ink like a magnet, finally bends the originally vertically flowing ink, and makes the ink flow down along the ink barrel wall after entering the ink barrel, so that the problem that the ink will oscillate in the ink barrel and affect the monitoring result of the liquid level sensor is solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of ink cartridge technology, specifically relating to an external ink cabinet automatic ink filling device. Background Technology

[0002] Modern digital printers typically use built-in ink refills. These refills have small capacities and don't automatically alert the printer when the ink is low. The ink depletion is only detected when printing photos with insufficient color, which can be wasteful, especially with expensive paper. Alternatively, you can open the printer to check the ink level, but this is cumbersome. To address this, automatic ink refill devices have emerged. These devices pre-set the desired ink level in the ink tank, and a level sensor, placed close to the tank, detects the level. When the ink level is low, an external ink dispenser automatically adds ink until the set level is reached. This system is convenient and quick to use.

[0003] However, current automatic ink refill devices for digital printing presses still have some problems: when adding ink, it is always added from the top of the ink tank. As the newly added ink falls vertically from the top to the bottom of the ink tank, it will oscillate inside the tank, and the amplitude or frequency of the oscillation is constantly changing. This can easily cause fluctuations in the liquid level sensor's measurement value, affecting the monitoring results of the liquid level sensor. Inaccurate monitoring results from the liquid level sensor will result in the ink level in the ink tank being lower or higher than the preset level. Ultimately, this can lead to problems such as too much ink in the ink tank, resulting in high printing costs, or too little ink in the ink tank, resulting in problems such as stripes during printing. To address this, an external ink cabinet automatic ink refill device is proposed, which improves the accuracy of the liquid level sensor measurement by solving the problem of ink oscillation inside the ink tank. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the aforementioned problems in the existing technology, this invention provides an external ink tank automatic ink refill device, which solves the problem that ink will oscillate inside the ink tank, and the amplitude or frequency of the oscillation is constantly changing, which can easily cause the liquid level sensor measurement value to fluctuate, thus affecting the monitoring results of the liquid level sensor.

[0005] The objective of this invention can be achieved through the following technical device: an external ink cabinet automatic ink filling device, comprising an external ink cabinet, an ink tank, a liquid level sensor installed on the outer wall of the ink tank for monitoring the liquid level inside the ink tank, and an electronic control system. The electronic control system controls the ink in the external ink cabinet to enter the ink tank, and the liquid level sensor is communicatively connected to the electronic control system. It also includes an electrostatic generating mechanism installed on the inner wall of the top of the ink tank. The electrostatic generating mechanism includes a metal protective part, a dual-roller belt drive part, a drive part for driving the rollers to rotate, and comb teeth respectively installed on both sides of the dual rollers and in contact with the belt. The drive part drives the dual-roller belt drive part to rotate, and the belt of the dual-roller belt drive part generates static electricity through friction with the comb teeth, causing the metal protective part to form a positively charged output body. The positively charged output body formed by the metal protective part reduces the oscillation of the ink entering the ink tank.

[0006] As a further embodiment of the present invention, the metal protective part includes a base, a connecting tube, and a sphere. Both the base and the sphere are hollow structures, and the two ends of the connecting tube communicate with the cavities of the base and the sphere respectively to form channels.

[0007] As a further embodiment of the present invention, the two rollers of the dual roller belt drive unit are respectively located in the cavity of the base and the cavity of the sphere, and the two rollers are connected by belt drive, and the belt is located in the channel formed by the connecting pipe, the cavity of the base and the cavity of the sphere.

[0008] As a further embodiment of the invention, the roller located inside the cavity of the sphere is made of aluminum.

[0009] As a further embodiment of the invention, the roller located in the cavity of the base is made of polytetrafluoroethylene.

[0010] As a further embodiment of the present invention, the belt of the dual-roller belt drive is made of neutral cotton.

[0011] As a further embodiment of the present invention, both the metal protective part and the comb teeth are made of iron.

[0012] As a further embodiment of the present invention, the tips of the comb teeth on both sides of the double roller shaft are in contact with the belt.

[0013] As a further embodiment of the present invention, the drive unit and the electronic control system are communicatively connected.

[0014] As a further embodiment of the present invention, the electrostatic generating mechanism disposed on the inner wall of the top of the ink tank is higher than the preset liquid level.

[0015] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows:

[0016] 1. By setting an electrostatic generating mechanism on the inner wall of the top of the ink tank, the drive unit drives the double roller belt drive unit to rotate. The belt of the double roller belt drive unit generates electricity through friction with the comb tooth part, so that the metal protection part forms a positively charged output body. The electrostatic generating mechanism here must be coordinated by the metal protection part, the double roller belt drive unit, the drive unit and the comb tooth part to make the metal protection part form a positively charged output body. When the added ink approaches the ball, the positive charge accumulates in the ink, which makes the ball and the ink repel each other like a magnet. In the end, the ink that was originally flowing vertically bends, so that the ink flows down the ink tank wall after entering the ink tank. This can greatly reduce the oscillation of the ink entering the ink tank, thus solving the problem that the ink will oscillate in the ink tank when adding ink, which will affect the monitoring results of the liquid level sensor.

[0017] 2. The electrostatic generator reduces ink oscillation within the ink tank, preventing oscillation from affecting the level sensor's monitoring results. This ensures more accurate ink levels, guaranteeing that the ink is added to the specified amount. This avoids excessive ink, which can lead to high printing costs and reduced economic efficiency. It also prevents ink overflow, which could contaminate the printer body and printing platform, increasing cleaning difficulty or exceeding cleaning limits and causing machine damage. Attached Figure Description

[0018] To facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art, the present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the ink tank of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the electrostatic generating mechanism of the present invention;

[0022] Explanation of key component symbols:

[0023] In the diagram: 1. External ink cabinet; 2. Ink tank; 3. Liquid level sensor; 4. Static electricity generation mechanism; 41. Metal protection part; 411. Base; 412. Connecting pipe; 413. Ball; 42. Double roller belt drive part; 421. Roller; 422. Belt; 43. Drive part; 44. Comb part. Detailed Implementation

[0024] To further illustrate the technical means and effects of the present invention in achieving its intended purpose, the following detailed description of the specific implementation methods, structures, features, and effects of the present invention, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and preferred embodiments, is provided.

[0025] Please see Figure 1-3 This embodiment provides an automatic ink filling device for an external ink cabinet 1, including an external ink cabinet 1, an ink tank 2, a liquid level sensor 3 installed on the outer wall of the ink tank 2 for monitoring the liquid level inside the ink tank 2, and an electronic control system. The electronic control system controls the ink in the external ink cabinet 1 to enter the ink tank 2, and the liquid level sensor 3 is communicatively connected to the electronic control system. Here, the ink tank 2 is the main ink tank 2 in the digital printing press. The ink tank 2 described below refers to the main ink tank 2 in the digital printing press. An ink holding device is also placed inside the external ink cabinet 1, such as... Figure 1As shown, there are two liquid level sensors 3 here. The first liquid level sensor 3 is in close contact with the ink holding device of the external ink tank 1 under the action of spring force, and is used to sense the liquid level of the ink in the ink holding device of the external ink tank 1. When the ink in the ink holding device of the external ink tank 1 is insufficient, the machine will sound an alarm. At this time, the ink will be manually replaced. The main ink tank 2 inside the digital printing machine is also equipped with a liquid level sensor 3, that is, the second liquid level sensor 3. When this second liquid level sensor 3 detects that the ink in the main ink tank 2 is insufficient, the ink in the ink tank 2 of the external ink tank 1 will be automatically added to the main ink tank 2 under the control of the electronic control system until the set liquid level is reached. The ink adding method here and how the electronic control system controls it are matters of the art. As is readily apparent to those skilled in the art, in addition to the above, the automatic ink refill device of the external ink tank 1 of this application also includes an electrostatic generating mechanism 4 disposed on the inner wall of the top of the ink tank 2. The electrostatic generating mechanism 4 includes a metal protective part 41, a double roller belt drive part 42, a drive part 43 for driving the roller 421 to rotate, and comb teeth 44 respectively disposed on both sides of the double roller 421 and in contact with the belt 422. The drive part 43 drives the double roller belt drive part 42 to rotate, and the belt 422 of the double roller belt drive part 42 generates static electricity through friction with the comb teeth 44, so that the metal protective part 41 forms a positively charged output body. Here, the electrostatic generating mechanism 4 must consist of a metal protective part 41, a double roller belt drive part 42, and a drive part 43. The metal protective part 41 and the comb tooth part 44 must cooperate to form a positively charged output body. Furthermore, the positions of the metal protective part 41, the dual-roller belt drive part 42, the drive part 43, and the comb tooth part 44 must be arranged according to this design. Because static electricity is involved, any misalignment will prevent the desired effect, affecting the degree of oscillation of the ink entering the ink tank 2. The positively charged output body formed by the metal protective part 41 reduces the oscillation of the ink entering the ink tank 2. This design involves the principle of static electricity causing water to bend, i.e., static electricity causing ink to bend. The principle of static electricity causing ink to bend mainly involves the concepts of electrostatic attraction and molecular polarity. The following is a detailed explanation: When a... When an object gains additional positive charge through friction, it becomes positively charged. Since water molecules in ink are polar molecules with positive and negative charges, when a positively charged object approaches the water flow, the negative charges in the water molecules are attracted to the positively charged object, causing the water flow to move away from the charged object. This phenomenon is caused by electrostatic induction, where a charged object induces uncharged objects around it to generate charges with opposite polarities. Static electricity attracts the negative charges in the water molecules, causing the ink to bend towards the inner wall of the ink container 2 and flow down along it. This allows the ink to flow down the wall of the ink container 2 after entering it, greatly reducing the oscillation of the ink entering the ink container 2.

[0026] Currently, most automatic ink refill devices for digital printing presses on the market work by pre-setting the required ink level in the ink tank 2. A level sensor 3, placed close to the ink tank 2, senses the ink level. When the ink in the ink tank 2 is insufficient, ink from an external ink cabinet 1 is automatically added until the set level is reached. However, these automatic ink refill devices for digital printing presses also have some problems. For example, when adding ink, because it is always added from the top of the ink tank 2, the newly added ink falls vertically from the top to the bottom, causing oscillations within the ink tank 2. The amplitude or frequency of these oscillations constantly changes, easily causing fluctuations in the readings of the level sensor 3. This affects the monitoring results of the level sensor 3. Inaccurate readings from the level sensor 3 can result in the ink level in the ink tank 2 being either below or above the preset level. This can lead to either too much ink in the ink tank 2, resulting in high ink consumption, or too little ink in the ink tank 2, causing streaks during printing.

[0027] To solve the above problems, in this embodiment, an electrostatic generating mechanism 4 is provided on the inner wall of the top of the ink tank 2. The electrostatic generating mechanism 4 is divided into a metal protection part 41, a double roller belt drive part 42, a drive part 43 for driving the roller 421 to rotate, and comb teeth 44 respectively arranged on both sides of the double roller 421 and in contact with the belt 422. In addition, the drive part 43 drives the double roller belt drive part 42 to rotate, and the belt 422 of the double roller belt drive part 42 generates static electricity through friction with the comb teeth 44, so that the metal protection part 41 forms a positively charged output body. The electrostatic generating mechanism 4 here must consist of a metal protection part 41, a double roller belt drive part 42, and a drive part 43. The cooperation between part 43 and comb part 44 allows the metal protective part 41 to form a positive charge output. When the added ink approaches the ball 413, the positive charge accumulates in the ink, causing the ball 413 and the ink to repel each other like a magnet. This causes the ink, which was originally flowing vertically, to bend, so that the ink flows down the wall of the ink tank 2 after entering the ink tank 2. This greatly reduces the oscillation of the ink entering the ink tank 2, thus solving the problem that when ink is added to the ink tank 2, the ink will oscillate inside the ink tank 2, and the amplitude or frequency of the oscillation is constantly changing, which can easily cause the liquid level sensor 3 to fluctuate and affect the monitoring results of the liquid level sensor 3.

[0028] Since this application uses the electrostatic generator 4 to make the added ink approach the sphere 413, positive charges accumulate in the ink, causing the sphere 413 and the ink to repel each other like a magnet. This causes the ink, which was originally flowing vertically, to bend and flow down the wall of the ink tank 2 after entering the ink tank 2. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the static electricity generated inside the electrostatic generator 4 and the influence of external dust on the components inside the electrostatic generator 4. In this regard, in one embodiment, the metal protection part 41 includes a base 411, a connecting pipe 412 and a sphere 413. The base 411 and the sphere 413 are both hollow structures. The two ends of the connecting pipe 412 are respectively connected to the cavities of the base 411 and the cavities of the sphere 413 to form channels. The channels formed between the base 411, the connecting pipe 412 and the sphere 413 facilitate the movement of the double roller belt drive part 42 mentioned below, and also prevent external dust from entering the electrostatic generator 4 and affecting the generation of static electricity.

[0029] During the static electricity generation process, the transfer of electrons needs to be considered to enable the metal protection part 41 to form a positively charged output body. There are various methods for electron transfer, but for the transfer within the channel formed between the base 411, the connecting tube 412, and the sphere 413 as described in this application, specifically, in one embodiment, the two rollers 421 of the dual-roller belt drive part 42 are located in the cavity of the base 411 and the cavity of the sphere 413, respectively. The two rollers 421 are connected by a belt 422, which is located within the channel formed by the connecting tube 412, the cavity of the base 411, and the cavity of the sphere 413. Here, the transfer of electrons is achieved by the belt 422 located within the channel formed by the connecting tube 412, the cavity of the base 411, and the cavity of the sphere 413 in conjunction with the two rollers 421, ultimately enabling the metal protection part 41 to form a positively charged output body.

[0030] In order for the cavity of sphere 413 to ultimately become a positively charged output, in one embodiment, the roller 421 located inside the cavity of sphere 413 is made of aluminum, because aluminum roller 421 is more likely to lose electrons. When the positively charged belt 422 rubs against it, electrons are transferred from aluminum roller 421 to belt 422, making roller 421 positively charged. This positively charged roller 421 attracts electrons to the tips of the comb teeth above the top roller 421, which can form an electric field.

[0031] To better facilitate charge exchange between the hollow roller 421 of the base 411 and the belt 422, in one embodiment, the hollow roller 421 located on the base 411 is made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Because the roller 421 made of PTFE is more likely to attract electrons, when the bottom roller 421 starts to move, it rubs against the belt 422, causing the belt 422 to start moving. When friction occurs between the two components, electrons jump from the belt 422 to the roller 421, making the roller 421 negatively charged and the belt 422 positively charged, thus completing the charge exchange.

[0032] In practical use, to make the ink, which is originally flowing vertically, bend so that it flows down the wall of the ink tank 2 after entering the ink tank 2, electrostatic discharge is used to make the ink bend. Therefore, the amount of static charge must be considered. The greater the charge, the more obvious the bend. To make the ink flow down the wall of the ink tank 2 after entering the ink tank 2, a sufficiently large amount of charge must be provided. In this regard, in one embodiment, the belt 422 of the dual roller belt drive unit 42 is made of neutral cotton. Neutral cotton is used here because it is easier to generate static electricity when the comb teeth rub against the neutral cotton, thereby increasing the amount of charge.

[0033] In order to ensure that the generated charge is more easily transferred, so that the cavity of the sphere 413 eventually becomes a positive charge output body, in one embodiment, the metal protection part 41 and the comb part 44 are both made of iron. The iron metal protection part 41 and the comb part 44 are easy to transfer charge. In addition, the iron material is relatively inexpensive and widely available, making it easy to mass-produce.

[0034] To ensure better triboelectric effect, in one embodiment, the tips of the comb teeth 44 on both sides of the double roller shaft 421 are in contact with the belt 422. The reason for choosing to have the tips of the comb teeth in contact with the belt 422 is twofold: first, to generate triboelectricity, and second, to achieve electron transfer between the tips of the comb teeth and the belt 422.

[0035] It is worth noting that during the static electricity generation process of the static electricity generating mechanism 4, the influence of the final ink level in the ink tank 2 on the static electricity generating mechanism 4 needs to be considered. At least it must be ensured that the final ink level in the ink tank 2 does not come into contact with the static electricity generating mechanism 4. In this regard, in one embodiment, the drive unit 43 is communicatively connected to the electronic control system. The drive unit 43 is a small motor. The use of a small motor here is designed according to the size of the ink tank 2 to avoid the presence of the static electricity generating mechanism 4 affecting the size of the ink tank 2. The motor is communicatively connected to the electronic control system. The static electricity generating mechanism 4, which is set on the inner wall of the top of the ink tank 2, is higher than the preset liquid level. By ensuring that the static electricity generating mechanism 4 on the inner wall of the top of the ink tank 2 is higher than the preset liquid level, the final ink level in the tank will not affect the static electricity generating mechanism 4.

[0036] Working principle and usage process of this invention:

[0037] When in use, the machine will sound an alarm when the ink in the ink container of the external ink cabinet 1 is insufficient. At this time, the ink will be replaced manually. The main ink tank 2 in the digital printing machine is also equipped with a liquid level sensor 3, that is, the second liquid level sensor 3. When this second liquid level sensor 3 detects that the ink in the main ink tank 2 is insufficient, the ink in the ink tank 2 of the external ink cabinet 1 will be automatically added to the main ink tank 2 under the control of the electronic control system until the set liquid level is reached.

[0038] When ink is added to the main ink tank 2, the electronic control system starts the motor, which drives the bottom roller 421 to rotate. The roller 421 drives the belt 422, which in turn causes the top roller 421 to rotate. The metal comb teeth are in close contact with the belt 422, one at the top and one at the bottom. The top of the entire device is covered by a large metal ball. The belt 422 is made of neutral cotton, and the bottom roller 421 is made of polytetrafluoroethylene, which is more likely to attract electrons. When the bottom roller 421 starts to move, it rubs against the belt 422, causing the belt 422 to move. When friction occurs between the two parts, electrons jump from the belt 422 to the roller 421, causing the roller 421 to rotate. The belt 422 carries a negative charge, while the belt itself carries a positive charge. This exchange of charges is called the triboelectric effect. Meanwhile, other changes are occurring in the metal comb teeth below the bottom roller 421. Since metal is a good conductor, electrons move very easily within the metal comb teeth. Due to the repulsion of like charges, the large number of electrons accumulated in the roller 421 will repel electrons from the tips of the metal comb teeth. At this point, the electric field formed between the positively charged comb teeth and the negatively charged roller 421 causes electrons in the nearby air to detach from molecules and move to the positively charged comb teeth. Only positively charged ions flow down into the nearby air. However, the positively charged air... Ions cannot reach roller 421 because belt 422 blocks them. Instead, they coat the surface of belt 422 and are carried to the top. The upper roller 421, made of aluminum, easily loses electrons. When the positively charged belt 422 rubs against it, electrons transfer from the aluminum roller 421 to the belt 422, making the roller 421 positively charged. This positively charged roller 421 attracts electrons to the tips of the comb teeth above the top roller 421, creating another electric field. This field removes electrons from molecules in the nearby air, causing them to move towards the positively charged roller 421. Positively charged ions flowing down from the air are attracted to the negatively charged comb teeth because the top... The comb teeth are connected to the metal ball, so these positive charges begin to diffuse towards the ball and accumulate there. When the added ink approaches the ball 413, a discharge phenomenon occurs. Simply put, the comb teeth carry away the electrons generated by friction and diffuse them to the iron ball for storage, forming a positive charge output. Therefore, when the added ink approaches the ball 413, the positive charges accumulate in the ink, causing the ball 413 and the ink to repel each other like a magnet. This causes the ink, which was originally flowing vertically, to bend, so that the ink flows down the wall of the ink tank 2 after entering the ink tank 2. This greatly reduces the oscillation of the ink entering the ink tank 2 and avoids the oscillation of the ink affecting the monitoring results of the liquid level sensor 3.

[0039] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention in any way. Although the present invention has been disclosed above with reference to preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any person skilled in the art can make some modifications or alterations to the above-disclosed technical content to create equivalent embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Any simple modifications, equivalent changes and alterations made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention without departing from the scope of the present invention shall still fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An external ink cabinet automatic ink filling device, characterized in that, The device includes an external ink cabinet, an ink tank, a liquid level sensor mounted on the outer wall of the ink tank for monitoring the liquid level inside the ink tank, and an electronic control system. The electronic control system controls the flow of ink from the external ink cabinet into the ink tank, and the liquid level sensor is communicatively connected to the electronic control system. It also includes an electrostatic generating mechanism mounted on the inner wall of the top of the ink tank. The electrostatic generating mechanism includes a metal protective section, a dual-roller belt drive section, a drive section for driving the rollers to rotate, and comb teeth respectively mounted on both sides of the dual rollers and in contact with the belt. The drive section drives the dual-roller belt drive section to rotate, and the belt of the dual-roller belt drive section generates static electricity through friction with the comb teeth, causing the metal protective section to form a positively charged output body. The positively charged output body formed by the metal protective section reduces the oscillation of the ink entering the ink tank. The metal protective part includes a base, a connecting tube, and a sphere. Both the base and the sphere are hollow structures. The two ends of the connecting tube communicate with the cavities of the base and the sphere, respectively, forming channels. The two rollers of the dual-roller belt drive part are located in the cavities of the base and the sphere, respectively. The two rollers are connected by a belt drive, and the belt is located in the channel formed by the connecting tube, the cavity of the base, and the cavity of the sphere. The roller located in the cavity of the sphere is made of aluminum. The roller located in the cavity of the base is made of polytetrafluoroethylene. The belt of the dual-roller belt drive part is made of neutral cotton. The metal protective part and the comb tooth part are both made of iron.

2. The automatic ink filling device for an external ink cabinet according to claim 1, characterized in that, The tips of the comb teeth on both sides of the double roller shaft are in contact with the belt.

3. The automatic ink filling device for an external ink cabinet according to claim 1, characterized in that, The drive unit and the electronic control system are connected in communication.

4. The automatic ink filling device for an external ink cabinet according to claim 1, characterized in that, The electrostatic generating mechanism, located on the inner wall of the top of the ink tank, is higher than the preset liquid level.

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