Automatic cleaning and moisturizing device and method for ink-jet printing

Abstract

The invention discloses an automatic cleaning and moisturizing device and method for ink-jet printing. The device comprises an ink-jet printing module, an ink-jet driving mechanism and a cleaning auxiliary mechanism. The ink-jet printing module comprises a printing shell and a printing head; the ink jet driving mechanism comprises a vertical driving mechanism and a transverse driving mechanism; the cleaning auxiliary mechanism comprises a cleaning protection box, an elastic sealing strip and a scraping strip; the cleaning protection box is of a structure with the top open, the multiple elastic sealing strips are arranged and form a circle in a surrounding mode, and the tops of the elastic sealing strips are higher than the top of the cleaning protection box. The scraping strip is horizontally arranged, the top of the scraping strip is higher than the top of the elastic sealing strip, and the length direction of the scraping strip is perpendicular to the driving direction of the transverse driving mechanism. According to the invention, protection can be provided during cleaning, ink is prevented from being sprayed to other device modules, ink remaining on the surface of the printing head can be automatically removed, manual intervention is not needed, and the automation degree is high.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to inkjet printing technology, and in particular to an automatic cleaning and moisturizing device and method for inkjet printing. Background Art

[0002] Smart card products include, for example, credit cards, identification cards, driver's licenses, passports, and other card products. Such card products typically include printed information, such as a photo, account number, identification number, and other personal information. Credentials may also include data encoded in, for example, a smart card chip, a magnetic stripe, or a barcode. Card production systems include processing devices that process card substrates to form the final card product. Such processes may include printing processes, lamination or transfer processes, data reading processes, data writing processes, and / or other processes used to form the desired credentials.

[0003] Inkjet printing is a form of card production system that uses an inkjet print head to print images onto cards, such as using a DOD inkjet printing module for inkjet printing. Existing DOD inkjet printers have a self-cleaning function that flushes the nozzles of their own print heads by ejecting pulsed ink. Although this can flush the internal nozzles, it still has the following shortcomings:

[0004] 1. After the pulse self-cleaning, ink will be left on the surface of the print head, which needs to be wiped off manually, wasting manpower.

[0005] 2. There is a lack of protective mechanism. During self-cleaning, part of the pulse ink will spray onto other device modules around it, causing a greater impact. Summary of the invention

[0006] The purpose of the present invention is to overcome the above-mentioned problems and provide an automatic cleaning and moisturizing device for inkjet printing, which can not only provide protection during cleaning to prevent ink from spraying onto other device modules, but also automatically remove the ink remaining on the surface of the print head without the need for human intervention and with a high degree of automation.

[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic cleaning and moisturizing method for inkjet printing.

[0008] The purpose of the present invention is achieved through the following technical solutions:

[0009] An automatic cleaning and moisturizing device for inkjet printing, comprising an inkjet printing module, an inkjet driving mechanism and a cleaning auxiliary mechanism;

[0010] The inkjet printing module comprises a printing housing and a printing head, wherein the printing head is arranged in the printing housing and a printing surface of the printing head is located at the bottom of the printing housing;

[0011] The inkjet drive mechanism includes a vertical drive mechanism for driving the inkjet printing module to move vertically and a horizontal drive mechanism for driving the inkjet printing module to move horizontally;

[0012] The cleaning auxiliary mechanism comprises a cleaning and cleaning protective box, an elastic sealing strip and a scraper strip; the cleaning and cleaning protective box is a top-open structure, a plurality of elastic sealing strips are provided and arranged in a circle, and the top of the elastic sealing strip is higher than the top of the cleaning and cleaning protective box; in the cleaning state, the bottom surface of the printing housing is respectively in contact with the top of the plurality of elastic sealing strips, and the printing surface of the print head is located between the plurality of elastic sealing strips;

[0013] The scraper bar is arranged horizontally and the top of the scraper bar is higher than the top of the elastic sealing strip. The length direction of the scraper bar is perpendicular to the driving direction of the transverse driving mechanism. In the driving direction of the transverse driving mechanism, the length of the scraper bar is greater than the total length of the printing surface of the print head.

[0014] A preferred solution of the present invention, wherein the cleaning and protective box comprises four side panels and a bottom panel, the four side panels are fixedly connected end to end in sequence to form a rectangular structure, and the bottom panel is provided with drainage holes for discharging the collected ink.

[0015] Furthermore, the bottom plate is formed by a top plate of an inkjet printer frame.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the elastic sealing strip is located in the inner cavity of the cleaning and protection box to form a circle.

[0017] Furthermore, a plurality of elastic sealing strips are fixedly connected to the inner wall of the cleaning and protection box via a mounting plate.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the scraper strip is integrally arranged on the top of one of the elastic sealing strips, which is conducive to simplifying the structure.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the scraper scrapes the printing surface of the printer when the lateral driving mechanism drives the inkjet printing module to move lateral return, so that the two operations are completed synchronously and more efficiently.

[0020] A preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the transverse driving mechanism includes a transverse moving frame, a transverse driving motor and a transverse transmission assembly, the transverse transmission assembly includes a transverse transmission screw and a transverse transmission screw nut, and the transverse transmission screw nut is fixedly connected to the transverse moving frame.

[0021] Furthermore, the lateral transmission assembly further includes a synchronous belt and two synchronous wheels, and the two synchronous wheels are coaxially arranged on the output shaft of the lateral drive motor and the lateral transmission screw respectively. Through the above structure, the lateral drive motor can be arranged above or below the lateral transmission screw to form an up-and-down layout structure, which can reduce the space occupied horizontally.

[0022] Furthermore, the vertical drive mechanism is arranged on the horizontal moving frame, and the vertical drive mechanism includes a vertical moving plate, a vertical driving motor and a vertical transmission assembly, wherein the vertical moving plate is fixedly connected to the inkjet printing module; the vertical transmission assembly includes a vertical transmission screw and a vertical transmission screw nut, wherein the vertical transmission screw is connected to the vertical driving motor through a coupling, and the vertical transmission screw nut is fixedly connected to the vertical moving plate. Through the above structure, under the drive of the vertical driving motor, the vertical moving plate drives the inkjet printing module to move vertically.

[0023] Furthermore, the transverse movable frame is provided with a vertical guide rod, and the vertical guide rod is connected to the vertical movable plate through a vertical guide sleeve.

[0024] An automatic cleaning and moisturizing method for inkjet printing comprises the following steps:

[0025] The inkjet printing module is driven to move to the top of the cleaning and protection box by the vertical driving mechanism and the horizontal driving mechanism, and then the inkjet printing module is driven to move downward by the vertical driving mechanism until the bottom surface of the printing shell is attached to the top of the multiple elastic sealing strips and the scraper strips, at which time the printing surface of the print head is located between the multiple elastic sealing strips, and the area below the printing surface is surrounded by the cleaning and protection box and the elastic sealing strips;

[0026] The print head sprays pulse ink to clean or moisturize the internal nozzles. At this time, the cleaning protection box and elastic sealing strip are used to protect the ink from splashing to other device modules around.

[0027] After cleaning or moisturizing is completed, the inkjet printing module is driven upward by the vertical driving mechanism to move a small distance so that the bottom surface of the printing shell is away from the top of the multiple elastic sealing strips but still fits with the top of the scraper strip. The inkjet printing module is then driven horizontally by the horizontal driving mechanism, and the scraper strip scrapes off the ink remaining on the printing surface of the print head, thus completely completing the cleaning of the print head.

[0028] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0029] 1. The automatic cleaning and moisturizing device for inkjet printing of the present invention is provided with a cleaning protective box and an elastic sealing strip, so that the bottom surface of the printing shell is attached to the top of multiple elastic sealing strips and scraper strips. At this time, the lower area of ​​the printing surface is surrounded by the cleaning protective box and the elastic sealing strip; the internal nozzle holes are cleaned or moisturized by ejecting pulse ink through the print head, and the cleaning protective box and the elastic sealing strip are used for protection to prevent ink from splashing to other device modules around.

[0030] 2. By setting a scraper bar, after cleaning or moisturizing is completed, the inkjet printing module is driven to move upward a short distance through the vertical driving mechanism, and the inkjet printing module is driven to move horizontally through the vertical driving mechanism, and the scraper bar scrapes off the ink remaining on the printing surface of the print head, without manual intervention, and with a high degree of automation.

[0031] 3. By setting up a cleaning protection box and an elastic sealing strip, the print head can also be moisturized by ink in the non-cleaning state to prevent the ink from drying and solidifying. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] Figure 1 It is a side view of the automatic cleaning and moisturizing device for inkjet printing of the present invention.

[0033] Figure 2-3 The three-dimensional structural schematic diagrams are from two different perspectives of the automatic cleaning and moisturizing device for inkjet printing of the present invention.

[0034] Figure 4 It is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the cleaning auxiliary mechanism of the present invention.

[0035] Figure 5-6 The figures are side views of the cleaning auxiliary mechanism of the present invention in two different working states. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] In order to enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solution of the present invention, the present invention is further described below in conjunction with embodiments and drawings, but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto.

[0037] See also Figure 1-3 The inkjet printing automatic cleaning and moisturizing device of this embodiment includes an inkjet printer frame 1, an inkjet printing module, an inkjet driving mechanism and a cleaning auxiliary mechanism; the inkjet printing module includes a printing shell 2 and a print head 3, the print head 3 is arranged in the printing shell 2 and the printing surface of the print head 3 is located at the bottom of the printing shell 2; the inkjet driving mechanism includes a vertical driving mechanism for driving the inkjet printing module to move vertically and a horizontal driving mechanism for driving the inkjet printing module to move horizontally.

[0038] See also Figure 4-6 The cleaning auxiliary mechanism includes a cleaning and cleaning protective box 4, an elastic sealing strip 5 and a scraper strip 6; the cleaning and cleaning protective box 4 is a top-open structure, and the elastic sealing strip 5 is provided with multiple and arranged in a circle, and the top of the elastic sealing strip 5 is higher than the top of the cleaning and cleaning protective box 4; in the cleaning state, the bottom surface of the printing shell 2 is respectively in contact with the top of multiple elastic sealing strips 5, and the printing surface of the print head 3 is located between multiple elastic sealing strips 5; the scraper strip 6 is horizontally arranged and the top of the scraper strip 6 is higher than the top of the elastic sealing strip 5, and the length direction of the scraper strip 6 is perpendicular to the driving direction of the horizontal driving mechanism; in the driving direction of the horizontal driving mechanism, the length of the scraper strip 6 is greater than the total length of the printing surface of the print head 3.

[0039] See also Figure 4-6 The cleaning and protection box 4 includes four side panels and a bottom panel. The four side panels are fixedly connected end to end in sequence to form a rectangular structure. The bottom panel is provided with drainage holes for discharging the collected ink.

[0040] Furthermore, the bottom plate is formed by the top plate of the inkjet printer frame 1 .

[0041] See also Figure 4-6 The elastic sealing strip 5 is located in the inner cavity of the cleaning and protection box 4 and forms a circle.

[0042] Furthermore, the plurality of elastic sealing strips 5 are fixedly connected to the inner wall of the cleaning and protection box 4 via the mounting plate 7 .

[0043] See also Figure 4-6 The scraper strip 6 is integrally arranged on the top of one of the elastic sealing strips 5, which is beneficial to simplifying the structure.

[0044] See also Figure 4-6 The scraper bar 6 scrapes the printing surface of the printer when the lateral driving mechanism drives the inkjet printing module to move lateral return, so that the two operations are completed synchronously and more efficiently.

[0045] See also Figure 1-3 The transverse driving mechanism includes a transverse moving frame 8, a transverse driving motor 9 and a transverse transmission assembly. The transverse transmission assembly includes a transverse transmission screw and a transverse transmission screw nut. The transverse transmission screw nut is fixedly connected to the transverse moving frame 8.

[0046] Furthermore, the lateral transmission assembly further includes a synchronous belt and two synchronous wheels, which are coaxially arranged on the output shaft of the lateral drive motor 9 and the lateral transmission screw. Through the above structure, the lateral drive motor 9 can be arranged above or below the lateral transmission screw to form an up-and-down layout structure, which can reduce the space occupied in the lateral direction.

[0047] Furthermore, the vertical drive mechanism is arranged on the horizontal moving frame 8, and the vertical drive mechanism includes a vertical moving plate 10, a vertical driving motor 11 and a vertical transmission assembly, wherein the vertical moving plate 10 is fixedly connected to the inkjet printing module; the vertical transmission assembly includes a vertical transmission screw and a vertical transmission screw nut, wherein the vertical transmission screw is connected to the vertical driving motor 11 through a coupling, and the vertical transmission screw nut is fixedly connected to the vertical moving plate 10. Through the above structure, under the drive of the vertical driving motor 11, the vertical moving plate 10 drives the inkjet printing module to move vertically.

[0048] Furthermore, a vertical guide rod 12 is provided on the transverse moving frame 8 , and the vertical guide rod 12 is connected to the vertical moving plate 10 via a vertical guide sleeve 13 .

[0049] See also Figure 1-6 The automatic cleaning and moisturizing method for inkjet printing of this embodiment comprises the following steps:

[0050] When working, the inkjet printing module is first driven by the vertical driving mechanism and the horizontal driving mechanism to move to the top of the cleaning and protection box 4, and then the inkjet printing module is driven by the vertical driving mechanism to move downward until the bottom surface of the printing shell 2 is attached to the top of the multiple elastic sealing strips 5 and the scraper strips 6. Figure 5 At this time, the printing surface of the print head 3 is located between the multiple elastic sealing strips 5, and the lower area of ​​the printing surface is surrounded by the cleaning and protection box 4 and the elastic sealing strip 5; the print head 3 sprays pulse ink to clean or moisturize the internal nozzle holes, and at this time, the cleaning and protection box 4 and the elastic sealing strip 5 are used for protection to prevent ink from splashing to other device modules around; when the cleaning or moisturizing is completed, the inkjet printing module is driven to move upward for a small distance by the vertical driving mechanism, so that the bottom surface of the printing shell 2 is away from the top of the multiple elastic sealing strips 5 but still in contact with the top of the scraper 6, and then the inkjet printing module is driven to move horizontally by the horizontal driving mechanism, and the scraper 6 scrapes off the ink remaining on the printing surface of the print head 3, as shown in FIG. Figure 6 , and completely complete the cleaning work of the print head 3.

[0051] The above is a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the above content. Any other changes, modifications, substitutions, combinations, and simplifications made without departing from the spirit and principles of the present invention should be equivalent replacement methods and are included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An automatic cleaning and moisturizing device for inkjet printing, characterized in that: It includes an inkjet printing module, an inkjet driving mechanism and a cleaning auxiliary mechanism; The inkjet printing module comprises a printing housing and a printing head, wherein the printing head is arranged in the printing housing and a printing surface of the printing head is located at the bottom of the printing housing; The inkjet drive mechanism includes a vertical drive mechanism for driving the inkjet printing module to move vertically and a horizontal drive mechanism for driving the inkjet printing module to move horizontally; The cleaning auxiliary mechanism comprises a cleaning and cleaning protective box, an elastic sealing strip and a scraper strip; the cleaning and cleaning protective box is a top-open structure, a plurality of elastic sealing strips are provided and arranged in a circle, and the top of the elastic sealing strip is higher than the top of the cleaning and cleaning protective box; in the cleaning state, the bottom surface of the printing housing is respectively in contact with the top of the plurality of elastic sealing strips, and the printing surface of the print head is located between the plurality of elastic sealing strips; The scraper bar is arranged horizontally and the top of the scraper bar is higher than the top of the elastic sealing strip. The length direction of the scraper bar is perpendicular to the driving direction of the transverse driving mechanism. In the driving direction of the transverse driving mechanism, the length of the scraper bar is greater than the total length of the printing surface of the print head.

2. The automatic cleaning and moisturizing device for inkjet printing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cleaning and protection box comprises four side panels and a bottom panel. The four side panels are fixedly connected end to end in sequence to form a rectangular structure. The bottom panel is provided with drainage holes for discharging collected ink.

3. The automatic cleaning and moisturizing device for inkjet printing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The elastic sealing strip is located in the inner cavity of the cleaning and protection box and forms a circle.

4. The automatic cleaning and moisturizing device for inkjet printing according to claim 3, characterized in that: A plurality of elastic sealing strips are fixedly connected to the inner wall of the cleaning and protection box through the mounting plate.

5. The automatic cleaning and moisturizing device for inkjet printing according to claim 3, characterized in that: The scraper strip is integrally arranged on the top of one of the elastic sealing strips.

6. The automatic cleaning and moisturizing device for inkjet printing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The scraper scrapes the printing surface of the printer when the lateral driving mechanism drives the inkjet printing module to move lateral return.

7. The automatic cleaning and moisturizing device for inkjet printing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The transverse driving mechanism comprises a transverse moving frame, a transverse driving motor and a transverse transmission assembly. The transverse transmission assembly comprises a transverse transmission screw and a transverse transmission screw nut. The transverse transmission screw nut is fixedly connected to the transverse moving frame.

8. The automatic cleaning and moisturizing device for inkjet printing according to claim 7, characterized in that: The transverse transmission assembly also includes a synchronous belt and two synchronous wheels, and the two synchronous wheels are coaxially arranged on the output shaft of the transverse drive motor and the transverse transmission screw rod respectively.

9. The automatic cleaning and moisturizing device for inkjet printing according to claim 7, characterized in that: The vertical drive mechanism is arranged on the horizontal moving frame, and the vertical drive mechanism includes a vertical moving plate, a vertical drive motor and a vertical transmission assembly. The vertical moving plate is fixedly connected to the inkjet printing module; the vertical transmission assembly includes a vertical transmission screw and a vertical transmission screw nut. The vertical transmission screw is connected to the vertical drive motor through a coupling, and the vertical transmission screw nut is fixedly connected to the vertical moving plate.

10. A method for applying the automatic cleaning and moisturizing device for inkjet printing according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: The following steps are involved: The inkjet printing module is driven to move to the top of the cleaning and protection box by the vertical driving mechanism and the horizontal driving mechanism, and then the inkjet printing module is driven to move downward by the vertical driving mechanism until the bottom surface of the printing shell is attached to the top of the multiple elastic sealing strips and the scraper strips, at which time the printing surface of the print head is located between the multiple elastic sealing strips, and the area below the printing surface is surrounded by the cleaning and protection box and the elastic sealing strips; The print head sprays pulse ink to clean or moisturize the internal nozzles. At this time, the cleaning protection box and elastic sealing strip are used to protect the ink from splashing to other device modules around. After cleaning or moisturizing is completed, the inkjet printing module is driven upward by the vertical driving mechanism to move a small distance, so that the bottom surface of the printing shell is away from the top of the multiple elastic sealing strips but still fits with the top of the scraper strip, and then the inkjet printing module is driven to move horizontally by the horizontal driving mechanism, and the scraper strip scrapes off the ink remaining on the printing surface of the print head, completing the cleaning of the print head.

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