Sample jet printing equipment and operation method thereof

Abstract

The invention relates to a sample jet printing device and an operation method thereof. The sample jet printing apparatus comprises: a base (110); the jet printing unit (120) is installed on the base table (110) and comprises a jet printing assembly (122), and the jet printing assembly (122) comprises a jet printing liquid cavity (124) suitable for containing jet printing liquid and a plurality of jet needles (126) communicated with the jet printing liquid cavity (124); a plurality of ink cartridges (140) configured to respectively contain jet printing liquids of different jet printing liquid formulas for jet printing samples; a jet printing liquid supply system (150) configured to suck the jet printing liquid from one ink cartridge (140) of the plurality of ink cartridges (140) and supply the sucked jet printing liquid to the jet printing assembly (122); and a first cleaning system located outside the jet printing assembly (122) and configured to clean at least the jet printing assembly (122) from the outside of the jet printing assembly (122).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The embodiments of this disclosure generally relate to digital inkjet printing, and more specifically to sample printing equipment and a method for printing samples using the sample printing equipment. Background Technology

[0002] In the digital printing industry, such as fabric development, apparel design, home textile production, and personalized customization, color prototyping is a crucial step. Traditionally, before large-scale dyeing or printing, small-scale trial printing is essential to confirm color accuracy, pattern effect, fabric-dye compatibility, and the final feel and appearance. Digital printing technology, with its advantages of eliminating the need for plate making, rich colors, natural gradations, and rapid output of personalized patterns, has become a core technology for modern textile prototyping and small-batch production.

[0003] While there are inkjet printing devices available for large-format media, they are complex in structure, bulky, and expensive, making them unsuitable for proofing scenarios requiring small sizes, diverse products, and quick changes. There is a need to improve traditional digital inkjet printing equipment to meet the specific requirements of sample printing. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This disclosure provides a sample printing apparatus and a method for printing samples using a sample printing device, which aims to solve or mitigate one or more of the above-mentioned problems.

[0005] According to a first aspect of this disclosure, a sample printing apparatus is provided. The sample printing apparatus includes: a base; a printing unit mounted on the base and including a printing assembly, the printing assembly including a printing liquid chamber adapted to contain printing liquid and a plurality of nozzles communicating with the printing liquid chamber; a plurality of ink cartridges configured to respectively contain printing liquids of different printing liquid formulations for printing samples; a printing liquid supply system configured to draw printing liquid from one of the plurality of ink cartridges and supply the drawn printing liquid to the printing assembly; and a first cleaning system located outside the printing assembly and configured to clean at least the printing assembly from the outside of the printing assembly.

[0006] According to this disclosure, it is possible to realize multi-variety, quick-change sampling scenarios for samples, and to achieve cleaning of printing components to prevent cross-contamination between different samples.

[0007] In some embodiments, the base includes a front side and a rear side, the base including a base adapted to be placed on the ground and a mounting portion that protrudes upward from the base recessed from the front side at the rear side, the printing assembly being mounted to the mounting portion at the front side; the sample printing apparatus further includes a water tank with a top opening located at the front side of the mounting portion and positioned below the printing assembly, wherein the water tank is configured to recycle wastewater from the first cleaning system. According to this disclosure, the layout of the sample printing apparatus can be optimized in a user-friendly manner, enabling coordination of different functional modules and improving sample printing throughput.

[0008] In some embodiments, the sample printing apparatus includes a first water source, and the first cleaning system includes a roller brush mounted in the water tank, a first motor adapted to drive the roller brush, and an overflow pipe in communication with the first water source for supplying water to the roller brush, wherein the first motor is configured to move the roller brush to clean the printing assembly from the printing assembly. Thus, the roller brush can be used to tilt the printing assembly and provides good maintainability.

[0009] In some embodiments, the roller brush is arranged across the water tank, and the overflow pipe is adjacent to and side-by-side with the roller brush, the overflow pipe including a plurality of overflow holes arranged along the length of the overflow pipe such that water from the overflow pipe is sprayed onto the roller brush.

[0010] In some embodiments, the sample printing apparatus further includes a second water source and a second cleaning system. The second cleaning system includes a cleaning pump adapted to communicate with the second water source and a cleaning pipe in fluid communication with the printing liquid chamber. When the second cleaning system is in operation, the cleaning pump operates to supply water from the second water source to the printing liquid chamber to clean the printing assembly from the inside. This allows for rapid and efficient internal cleaning of the printing assembly.

[0011] In some embodiments, the inkjet ink supply system includes a supply pump, a first conduit adapted to fluidly connect the supply pump to one of the plurality of ink cartridges, and a second conduit adapted to fluidly connect the supply pump to the inkjet ink chamber of the printing assembly. During a printing operation performed by the printing assembly, the supply pump is configured to draw inkjet ink from one of the plurality of ink cartridges via the first conduit and supply the inkjet ink to the inkjet ink chamber of the printing assembly via the second conduit.

[0012] In some embodiments, the second cleaning system is arranged on the second pipe, and the cleaning pipe is connected to the second channel via a multi-way valve, the multi-way valve including at least a first station and a second station. At the first station, the liquid supply pump is in communication with the spraying assembly and the second water source is disconnected from the spraying assembly. At the second station, the liquid supply pump is disconnected from the spraying assembly and the second water source is in communication with the spraying assembly. When the spraying assembly performs a printing operation, the multi-way valve is in the first station. When the spraying assembly cleans the printing assembly from inside the printing assembly, the multi-way valve is in the second station.

[0013] In some embodiments, the supply pump includes a single injection pump shared by the plurality of ink cartridges, and the first conduit is selectively switched among the plurality of ink cartridges to selectively fluidly connect the injection pump to one of the plurality of ink cartridges; wherein the injection pump further includes a second motor for driving a piston of the injection pump, and for each sample work cycle, the injection pump includes an aspiration mode and a supply mode, wherein in the aspiration mode, the second motor rotates in a first direction to draw the inkjet ink from one of the plurality of ink cartridges into the pump chamber, and in the supply mode, the second motor rotates in a second direction opposite to the first direction to cause the inkjet ink drawn into the pump chamber to flow out of the pump chamber and be supplied to the inkjet ink chamber of the printing assembly.

[0014] In some embodiments, the sample printing apparatus further includes a third cleaning system configured for cleaning the injection pump. The third cleaning system is implemented as control logic for controlling the second motor. The control logic includes: when the first conduit is switched to be in communication with air and / or clean water, causing the second motor to rotate in the first direction to draw air and / or clean water into the injection pump, and then rotating in the second direction to expel the drawn-in air and / or clean water from the injection pump. This facilitates the cleaning of the injection pump.

[0015] In some embodiments, the sample printing apparatus further includes a third water source and a fourth cleaning system. The fourth cleaning system includes a faucet detachably fixed to the base and a flexible tube connecting the faucet to the third water source. The length of the flexible tube is configured to cover at least one of the areas containing the plurality of ink cartridges and the area containing the printing assembly. This further improves the cleanability of the sample printing apparatus.

[0016] In some embodiments, the sample printing equipment further includes a clean water tank and a piping system connected to the clean water tank, wherein the clean water tank serves as a common water source for the first water source and / or the second water source and / or the third water source, and the piping system is configured to connect the clean water tank to the first cleaning system, the second cleaning system, and / or the fourth cleaning system, respectively; and / or wherein the clean water tank includes a water inlet connected to an external water source via a filter; and / or the sample printing equipment further includes a wastewater tank connected to the drain of the water tank via a wastewater pipe and configured to collect water from the water tank.

[0017] In some embodiments, the sample printing apparatus further includes a lifting device mounted on the base and used for raising and lowering the printing assembly, the lifting device being configured to move the printing assembly at least between a first printing assembly station corresponding to a printing operation position of the printing assembly and a second printing assembly station corresponding to a cleaning operation position of the printing assembly, at the second printing assembly station, where the first cleaning system is activated to clean the printing assembly from at least the outside of the printing assembly.

[0018] According to a second aspect of this disclosure, a method for operating a sample printing apparatus is provided. The method includes: connecting a first conduit to a first ink cartridge among a plurality of ink cartridges; performing a first print, including activating a syringe pump to draw first printing liquid from the first ink cartridge via the first conduit and supplying the first printing liquid to a printing liquid chamber of a printing assembly via a second conduit, to print the first printing liquid onto a first sample passing below the printing assembly; after the first print, activating a first cleaning system to perform a first cleaning, the first cleaning being configured to clean at least the printing assembly from the outside of the printing assembly, the first cleaning system including a roller brush mounted in a water tank located below the printing assembly and a... The roller brush provides a water supply component for cleaning; after performing the first cleaning, the second conduit is connected to the second ink cartridge among the plurality of ink cartridges; a second printing is performed, including restarting the injection pump to draw second printing liquid from the second ink cartridge via the first conduit and supplying the second printing liquid to the printing liquid chamber of the printing assembly via the second conduit to print the second printing liquid onto a second sample passing below the printing assembly; and after the second printing, the first cleaning system is activated to perform the first cleaning a second time, cleaning at least the printing assembly again from the outside of the printing assembly.

[0019] In some embodiments, activating the first cleaning system further includes: lowering the printing assembly to a predetermined cleaning position using a lifting device, at the predetermined cleaning position, where the printing assembly at least partially abuts against the roller brush; and in response to the printing assembly at least partially abutting against the roller brush, rotating the roller brush and providing cleaning water to the roller brush to clean the printing assembly using the roller brush.

[0020] In some embodiments, the method further includes: activating a second cleaning system after the first printing and before performing the second printing, the second cleaning system including a cleaning pump and a cleaning conduit in fluid communication with the printing liquid chamber, wherein during operation of the second cleaning system, the cleaning pump operates to supply cleaning water from the printing liquid chamber to clean the printing assembly from the inside of the printing assembly.

[0021] In some embodiments, the method further includes: connecting the first conduit to air and / or cleaning water after the first printing and before connecting the second conduit to the second ink cartridge among the plurality of ink cartridges; and activating a third cleaning system, wherein the third cleaning system is implemented as control logic for controlling the motor of the injection pump, the control logic including: rotating the motor in a first direction to draw air and / or cleaning water into the injection pump while the first conduit is switched to be connected to air and / or cleaning water, and then rotating it in a second direction to expel the drawn air and / or cleaning water from the injection pump. Attached Figure Description

[0022] The above and other objects, features, and advantages of embodiments of the present disclosure will become readily apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Several embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated in the drawings by way of example and not limitation.

[0023] Figure 1 A three-dimensional schematic diagram of a sample printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown, viewed from a frontal oblique upper view.

[0024] Figure 2 The diagram shows an overall perspective view of a sample printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, viewed from a rear-side obliquely upward, wherein a portion of the base housing has been removed to expose its internal components;

[0025] Figure 3 A partial schematic diagram of a first cleaning system of a sample printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0026] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the ink supply system and the second cleaning system of the sample printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0027] Figure 5 The diagram shows an overall perspective view of a sample printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, viewed from a front obliquely upward, wherein a portion of the base housing has been removed to expose its internal components;

[0028] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the water supply system and wastewater system of a sample printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown from the front.

[0029] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the water supply system and wastewater system of the sample printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, viewed from the rear.

[0030] Figure 8 A schematic diagram of the structure of a lifting device for lifting the printing assembly in a sample printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0031] Figure 9 and Figure 10 Schematic diagrams are shown showing the printing assembly of the sample printing apparatus according to embodiments of the present disclosure at different positions along the vertical direction; and

[0032] Figure 11 A flowchart illustrating a method for operating a sample printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0033] Throughout the accompanying drawings, identical or similar parts are indicated by the same and similar reference numerals. Detailed Implementation

[0034] Preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. While preferred embodiments of the present disclosure are shown in the drawings, it should be understood that the present disclosure may be implemented in various forms and should not be limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that the present disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art.

[0035] The term "comprising" and its variations as used herein signify an open-ended inclusion, i.e., "including but not limited to". Unless otherwise stated, the term "or" means "and / or". The term "based on" means "at least partially based on". The terms "one example embodiment" and "one embodiment" mean "at least one example embodiment". The term "another embodiment" means "at least one additional embodiment". Terms such as "upper", "lower", "front", and "rear", indicating placement or positional relationship, are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings and are used only for the purpose of describing the principles of this disclosure, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the elements referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed or operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as limiting this disclosure.

[0036] Sample printing differs from large-format printing. Sample printing primarily facilitates real-time observation of the printing effect by the user, allowing them to assess whether the print meets design requirements. Samples are typically small in size, such as 100mm×100mm, 150mm×150mm, or 50mm×200mm, and their shapes can vary, including square, rectangular, or circular. This necessitates sample printing equipment capable of handling small-sized samples. Considering the small size of the samples, the sample printing equipment is expected to meet requirements such as miniaturization, high efficiency, and high user-friendliness.

[0037] The types of samples to be printed are usually quite diverse, requiring printing with various inkjet inks of different color formulations. Sample printing equipment must be capable of rapidly printing samples with different color formulations while maintaining high-quality printing requirements, such as preventing color mixing due to interference between different colors. Furthermore, given the variety of sample types, styles, and colors, the sample printing equipment needs a user-friendly interface. For example, the equipment should have a well-designed layout for easy sample placement and removal, facilitating multi-color printing. This layout should meet high throughput requirements while remaining user-friendly.

[0038] Furthermore, sample printing equipment needs to be highly maintainable, ensuring it is always ready for use. Given that the printing equipment uses various inkjet liquid formulations, these formulations may be sprayed around and / or onto the equipment itself during printing. If dried samples to be printed and / or already printed samples come into contact with these sprayed inks, contamination will occur, which is undesirable. Managing the inkjet liquid supply system to avoid color bleeding between different inkjet liquid formulations is a significant challenge in designing printing equipment.

[0039] Furthermore, the supply of different inkjet ink formulations for sample printing equipment needs to be isolated from each other to prevent color mixing between inkjet ink formulations used for printing one sample and inkjet ink formulations used for printing another. Considering the miniaturization requirements of printing equipment, how to set up the inkjet ink supply system to meet miniaturization while avoiding color mixing between different inkjet ink formulations is also a significant challenge in the design of printing equipment.

[0040] The aforementioned challenges place extremely high technical demands on the design of sample printing equipment. This disclosure provides a sample printing device and a method for operating the sample printing device, which solves one or more of the aforementioned problems or other potential problems to meet the needs of sample printing scenarios such as equipment miniaturization, multi-variety printing, high-efficiency printing, and good user interactivity. The inventive concept according to embodiments of this disclosure is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0041] Figure 1This is a general perspective view of a sample printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, viewed from a frontal oblique upper view. Figure 2 This diagram shows a general perspective view of a sample printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, viewed from a rear-side obliquely upward perspective, with a portion of the base housing removed to expose its internal components. Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the sample printing equipment 100 includes a base 110, a printing unit 120 mounted on the base 110, multiple ink cartridges 140 placed on the base 110, and a printing liquid supply system 150 (see [reference]). Figure 4 The sample to be printed can be, for example, in the form of a sample carrier 200. The sample carrier 200 can be arranged on the support stage 112 (see...). Figure 9 On the platform, the support platform 112 can be movably installed onto the base platform 110.

[0042] The base 110 forms the basic framework of the sample printing equipment 100, and various functional modules can be assembled onto the base 110. In some embodiments, the base 110 may include a front side and a rear side. The front side may correspond to the user operation side. The base 110 may include a base 116 and a mounting portion 118. The base 116 forms a support, for example, it can be placed on the ground, and can be configured as a housing, in which various functional components of the sample printing equipment 100 can be arranged. The mounting portion 118 may protrude upward from the base 116, and printing units such as the printing unit 120 and / or other functional components can be arranged in the mounting portion 118. This vertical arrangement of the printing unit 120 has advantages in terms of printing flow rate and maintenance of the printing unit (described in detail later).

[0043] Considering that the mounting section 118 can be directly exposed to the customer, functional components that can be used as user interfaces can be arranged at or near the mounting section 118. The mounting section 118 can also be formed in the form of a box, for example, the box can define a housing space, and related functional components can be arranged inside, such as the control components of the sample printing equipment 100, the motor and other power components can be housed inside the box of the mounting section 118.

[0044] In some embodiments, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the mounting section 118 is arranged at the rear of the base 110 and protrudes upward from the base 116 in a recessed manner from the front to the rear. This layout is beneficial for increasing user interactivity and facilitating user operation. Considering that the mounting section 118 occupies the rear position, the space in the base 116 located in front of the mounting section 118 can be used as a user interaction area, where users can perform operations such as sample handling and cleaning of the printing components.

[0045] The printing unit 120 is a functional module that performs printing operations. The printing unit 120 can be mounted to the base 110 (e.g., mounting section 118). The printing unit 120 may include a printing assembly 122. In some embodiments, such as... Figure 4 As shown, the printing assembly 122 includes a printing liquid chamber 124 adapted to contain printing liquid and a plurality of nozzles 126 communicating with the printing liquid chamber 124. During operation of the printing unit 120, printing liquid is supplied to the printing liquid chamber 124 of the printing assembly 122, and the printing liquid flows out through the plurality of nozzles 126 arranged side by side to be printed onto the sample to be printed. Considering that such a printing assembly 122 is well known in the art, a detailed description thereof is omitted. In some embodiments, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the printing unit 120 may include a housing formed in the form of a box, within which the printing assembly 122 can be housed. This improves the aesthetics of the printing unit 120 and facilitates cleaning and maintenance of the equipment. It should be understood that the illustrated printing unit 120 is merely exemplary, and the printing unit 120 can be implemented in any other suitable form.

[0046] In some embodiments, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the printing unit 120 can be mounted to the mounting portion 118 at the front side of the base 110. This facilitates the formation of an upper and lower printing layout, allowing for convenient printing by placing the sample under the printing unit 120. Furthermore, this layout of the printing unit 120 also allows for convenient maintenance operations (such as cleaning and upkeep) of the printing unit 120. For example, the front and lower spaces of the printing unit 120 can easily provide working space for tasks such as cleaning.

[0047] In some embodiments, the sample printing apparatus further includes a first cleaning system, which may be located outside the printing assembly 122 and configured to clean at least the printing assembly 122 from the outside. As previously mentioned, the sample printing apparatus is used to print different ink formulations for multiple samples. During the printing of one sample, the ink for that sample inevitably splashes onto the apparatus, for example, near the nozzle 126 or the sample carrier 200. When ink formulation for that sample remains on the apparatus, these ink formulations can contaminate the other sample when printing another sample is performed, thus affecting the printing performance of the apparatus. According to this disclosure, by providing a first cleaning system located outside the printing assembly 122 and cleaning the printing assembly 122 from the outside, for example, the above-mentioned problems can be solved or mitigated.

[0048] The first cleaning system can be implemented in various ways. For example... Figure 1As shown, the sample printing apparatus 100 may include a water tank 160. The water tank 160 may be mounted to the base 110, and may be installed on the front side of the mounting portion 118 and positioned below the printing unit 120. This water tank position is beneficial for optimizing the structural layout of the sample printing apparatus 100. In some embodiments, the water tank 160 may have a top-side opening, which is very convenient for arranging cleaning devices and carrying out cleaning; moreover, the water tank can be conveniently configured to concentrate the water used for cleaning, preventing water from spraying everywhere during the cleaning operation.

[0049] In some embodiments, such as Figure 1 and Figure 3 As shown, the first cleaning system may include a roller brush 162 mounted within a water tank 160. The roller brush 162 may be positioned appropriately within the water tank 160. The roller brush 162 may, for example, perform linear and / or rotational movements, thereby performing cleaning operations, for example, when the printing assembly 120 is near the roller brush 162.

[0050] In some embodiments, such as Figure 3 As shown, the roller brush 162 is arranged across the water tank 160, an arrangement that facilitates miniaturization of the entire device. A motor for driving the roller brush 162 can be mounted, for example, inside the base 110 (e.g., in the mounting section 118) and configured to drive the roller brush 162. The first cleaning system may also include an overflow pipe 164 for supplying water to the roller brush 162. In the illustrated embodiment, the overflow pipe 164 is adjacent to and arranged side-by-side with the roller brush 162. The overflow pipe 164 includes a plurality of overflow holes arranged along its length to allow water from the overflow pipe 164 to be sprayed onto the roller brush 162. This arrangement offers the advantage of ease of maintenance. It should be understood that the illustrated embodiment is merely exemplary, and in other embodiments, the overflow pipe 164 may be arranged in other suitable locations. The motor and water lines may be arranged in the mounting section 118 and / or the base 116 of the base 110.

[0051] In some embodiments, the sample printing apparatus may further include a first water source for supplying water to the overflow pipe 164. Considering the water quality requirements of the sample printing apparatus, the first water source may, for example, be an internal water source dedicated to the sample printing apparatus.

[0052] Multiple ink cartridges 140 can be positioned on or near the sample printing equipment 100 at any suitable location. In some embodiments, the multiple ink cartridges 140 can be numbered to distinguish them from each other; for example, ink cartridges with different numbers can be used to hold inkjet liquid formulations for printing different samples. These inkjet liquid formulations can be pre-configured as needed and correspond to different design colors. Users can conveniently and instantly observe and confirm the printing effect of the inkjet liquid formulations by printing samples using different inkjet liquid formulations from different ink cartridges 140. Users can determine whether to use the inkjet liquid formulations for large-scale printing based on the printing effect.

[0053] In some embodiments, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, multiple ink cartridges 140 can be placed on the top side of the housing of the printing unit 120. This location is closer to the user and ensures uninterrupted operation of the ink cartridges 140, which improves user convenience. It should be understood that the illustrated embodiment is merely exemplary. The multiple ink cartridges 140 can be positioned in any other suitable location, such as on the top and / or sides of the mounting portion 118.

[0054] In some embodiments, multiple ink cartridges 140 can be placed on a tray 142. This allows for batch movement of the multiple ink cartridges 140. For example, after a user has configured a batch of inkjet ink formulations, printing operations can be performed on the configured batch of inkjet ink formulations simultaneously to facilitate comparison or contrast of printing results. In the illustrated embodiment, nine ink cartridges 140 are provided on the tray 142. It should be understood that the illustrated embodiment is merely exemplary, and the tray 142 can be provided with any other number of ink cartridges. In some embodiments, the tray 142 can also be detachably secured to the base 110 and / or components fixedly mounted to the base 110 by an attachment device. This prevents accidental movement of the ink cartridges 140. The attachment device can be implemented in various forms. In some embodiments, the attachment device can be, for example, a magnetic fixing device. It should be understood that this is merely exemplary, and the attachment device can be any other suitable form.

[0055] In some embodiments, the sample printing apparatus 100 may also include an internal cleaning system for performing internal cleaning of the nozzle assembly 122 and / or the pump. Figure 4 A schematic diagram of a printing ink supply system and an internal cleaning system of a sample printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. The printing ink supply system 150 is configured to supply printing ink from the ink cartridge 140 to the printing unit 120. In some embodiments, Figure 4 As shown, further reference Figure 2The ink supply system 150 may include a pump 152 and a corresponding piping system. During a printing operation, the pump 152 is configured to draw ink from one of a plurality of ink cartridges 140 via the corresponding piping system and supply the drawn ink to the printing assembly 122.

[0056] In some of the illustrated embodiments, such as Figure 2 As shown, the pump 152 can be arranged, for example, within the internal space of the mounting portion 118. As an example, the mounting portion 118 may be provided with a mounting plate 132, on which the pump 152 can be mounted. In the illustrated embodiment, the mounting plate 132 is arranged in a vertical direction. The pump 152 is mounted to one vertical side of the mounting plate 132. This is beneficial for optimizing the internal layout within the mounting portion 118. In some embodiments, other components, such as a motor, can be mounted on the other vertical side of the mounting plate 132. It should be understood that the illustrated embodiment is merely exemplary, and the pump 152 can be arranged in any other suitable manner.

[0057] The inkjet ink supply system 150 can be implemented in various forms. In some embodiments, such as Figure 4 As shown, the inkjet ink supply system 150 may include a pump 152, a first conduit 154 adapted to fluidly connect the pump 152 to a plurality of ink cartridges 140, and a second conduit 156 adapted to fluidly connect the pump 152 to the inkjet ink chamber 124 of the printing assembly 122. During a printing operation performed by the printing assembly 122, the pump 152 is configured to draw inkjet ink from one of the plurality of ink cartridges 140 via the first conduit 154 and supply inkjet ink to the inkjet ink chamber 124 of the printing assembly 122 via the second conduit 156.

[0058] In some embodiments, such as Figure 4 As shown, pump 152 may include a single pump 152, and multiple ink cartridges 140 may share the single pump 152. Sharing the single pump 152 can significantly reduce the cost and overall size of the equipment, which is particularly suitable for scenarios involving small-batch sample processing. In some embodiments, a first conduit 154 may be connected to the single pump 152. During sample printing operations, the first conduit 154 can be selectively connected to one of the multiple ink cartridges 140 in fluid connection. After a printing operation for one ink cartridge is completed, the first conduit 154 can be switched to another ink cartridge 140 to perform a printing operation for another sample. The above process can be performed automatically or manually.

[0059] In some embodiments, the first conduit 154 can be a single conduit. This single conduit can be exposed on the outside of the device and can be moved by the user to switch between different ink cartridges 140. In some embodiments, the ink cartridge 140 can be in the form of an open cup, allowing the user to move the first conduit 154 inserted into one ink cartridge 140 to another, thereby facilitating fluid connection of the single pump 152 to one of the multiple ink cartridges 140. This implementation is cost-effective and simple to operate. It should be understood that this is merely exemplary. In other embodiments, instead of manual operation, the above-described switching can be implemented, for example, automatically.

[0060] The single pump 152 can be implemented in various suitable pump forms. In some embodiments, such as Figure 3 As shown, a single pump 152 may include a syringe pump 152. The syringe pump 152 offers advantages in sample printing. It allows for convenient pressure regulation during printing operations, reducing pressure pulsations that can affect print quality. Furthermore, the performance of the syringe pump 152 remains unaffected even after prolonged use, making it particularly suitable for delivering small volumes of printing ink. When using the syringe pump, printing quality can be ensured, for example, by appropriately controlling the movement speed of the syringe pump 152.

[0061] In some embodiments, the single pump 152 includes a pumpable chamber and a single opening communicating with the pump chamber. Printing ink from one of a plurality of ink cartridges 140 enters the pump chamber through the single opening, and printing ink contained in the pump chamber flows out of the pump chamber through the single opening to be supplied to the printing ink chamber 124 of the printing assembly 122. This structure simplifies the flow path design of the single pump 152 and reduces the cost of the device.

[0062] In some embodiments, the single pump 152 may further include a motor for driving the piston of the injection pump 152. For each printing cycle of a sample, the single pump 152 includes a suction mode and a supply mode. In suction mode, the motor rotates in a first direction to draw ink from one of the plurality of ink cartridges 140 into the pump chamber. In supply mode, the motor rotates in a second direction opposite to the first direction to allow the ink drawn into the pump chamber to flow out of the pump chamber and be supplied to the ink chamber 124 of the printing assembly 122. According to this disclosure, no complex design is required for the structure of the injection pump 152; printing operations can be easily achieved simply by applying appropriate control to the injection pump.

[0063] In some embodiments, such as Figure 4As shown, the first pipe 154 and the second pipe 156 are connected in series. The ink supply system 150 may include a third pipe 158 at the junction of the first pipe 154 and the second pipe 156. The third pipe 158 is fluidly connected to a single opening of the single pump 152. The first pipe 154 also includes a first check valve 151 located upstream of the third pipe 158 and allowing ink from one of the plurality of ink cartridges 140 to flow to the single pump 152. The second pipe 156 also includes a second check valve 153 located downstream of the third pipe 158 and allowing ink from the single pump 152 to flow to the printing assembly 122. Thus, decoupled control of the suction mode and the supply mode can be achieved through a simple flow path structure. In addition, such a flow path structure is also beneficial for cleaning the pump and / or the printing assembly.

[0064] In some embodiments, such as Figure 4 As shown, a filter 163 and a solenoid valve 165 located upstream of the printing assembly 122 can be installed on the second pipe 156. The filter 163 can filter the liquid entering the printing assembly 122 to prevent particles from entering the printing assembly 122 and clogging it. The solenoid valve 165 can be used to control the on / off state of the second pipe 156.

[0065] In some embodiments, such as Figure 4 As shown, the sample printing apparatus also includes a second cleaning system and a second water source 170 for supplying clean water to the second cleaning system. The second water source 170 may, for example, be in the form of a clean water tank disposed within the base 110 (base 116). The second cleaning system includes a cleaning pump 176 adapted to communicate with the second water source 170 and a cleaning conduit 178 in fluid communication with the printing liquid chamber 124. During operation of the second cleaning system, the cleaning pump 176 operates to supply water from the second water source 170 to the printing liquid chamber 124 to clean the printing assembly 122 from within. Considering that the printing assembly 122 prints multiple printing liquid formulations from different ink cartridges 140, cross-contamination can occur when these different printing liquid formulations are present simultaneously in the printing assembly 122. The second cleaning system performs a second cleaning operation before printing operations are performed for different inkjet ink formulations. This cleans the printing assembly 122 from within, preventing cross-contamination caused by inkjet ink residue from previous printing operations remaining in the printing assembly 122. According to this disclosure, the pressure fluid provided by the cleaning pump 176 can significantly improve cleaning efficiency. Considering the water quality requirements of the sample printing equipment, the second water source 170 may be, for example, an internal water source dedicated to the sample printing equipment. In some embodiments, the second water source 170 and the first water source used in the first cleaning system may be the same source.

[0066] In some embodiments, such as Figure 4As shown, a second cleaning system is arranged on a second pipe 156, and a cleaning pipe 178 is connected to the second pipe 156 via a multi-way valve 161. The multi-way valve 161 may be, for example, a three-way valve, and defines a first station 2-3 and a second station 1-3. At the first station, which corresponds to the inkjet assembly 122 performing the printing operation, ports 2 and 3 are connected, and ports 1 and 3 are disconnected. The ink supply pump 152 is connected to the inkjet assembly 122, and the second water source is disconnected from the inkjet assembly 122, thereby allowing the ink supply pump 152 to supply inkjet ink to the inkjet assembly 122 to perform the printing operation. At the second station, which corresponds to the internal cleaning operation of the spray assembly 122, ports 1 and 3 are connected, while ports 2 and 3 are disconnected. The liquid supply pump 152 is disconnected from the spray assembly 122, and the second water source is connected to the spray assembly 122, thereby allowing cleaning water from the second water source 170 to enter the spray assembly 122 to clean its interior. The cleaned water can be concentrated in the water tank 160, for example, through the spray needle 126.

[0067] exist Figure 4 In the illustrated embodiment, the second cleaning system is arranged on the second conduit 156 and shares a portion with the second channel 156. It should be understood that this is merely exemplary, and the second cleaning system can be implemented in any other suitable manner, such as by using a separate conduit connected to the printing assembly.

[0068] In some embodiments, the sample printing apparatus further includes a fourth cleaning system configured for cleaning the injection pump 152. In some embodiments, the fourth cleaning system is implemented as control logic for controlling the motor of the injection pump 152. The control logic may include: rotating the motor in a first direction to draw air and / or clean water into the injection pump 152 when the first conduit 154 is switched to be in communication with air and / or clean water, and then rotating it in a second direction to expel the drawn-in air and / or clean water from the injection pump 152. In some embodiments, the first conduit 154 may be switched to be in communication with air and / or clean water after each printing job is performed on each ink cartridge, and then the above control logic may be executed. In some embodiments, the first conduit 154 may be moved manually. Thus, cleaning of the injection pump 152 can be achieved with only simple control logic, preventing cross-contamination problems caused by ink residues from previous printing jobs remaining in the injection pump 152.

[0069] In some embodiments, the sample printing apparatus 100 further includes a movable rinsing system as a fourth cleaning system. For example... Figure 1As shown, the rinsing system includes a faucet 171 detachably fixed to the base 110 and a flexible tube connecting the faucet 171 to a third water source. In some embodiments, the length of the flexible tube may be configured to cover at least one of the areas where the plurality of ink cartridges 140 are located and at least one of the areas where the printing assembly 122 is located. By providing an additional faucet, the sample printing equipment 100 can be manually cleaned, for example, selectively as needed after the sample printing equipment 100 has finished printing a batch of samples or after printing a single sample. This can cover cleaning blind spots of other cleaning modules or provide additional supplementation to the functionality of other cleaning modules of the sample printing equipment 100. As an example, the faucet can be used to clean areas not covered by other cleaning systems, such as for cleaning ink cartridges, cleaning exposed first channels 154, cleaning the surface of the water tank 160, etc. Considering the water quality requirements of the sample printing equipment, the third water source may be, for example, an internal water source dedicated to the sample printing equipment. In some embodiments, the third water source and / or the second water source 170 and / or the first water source may be the same water source.

[0070] According to the embodiments disclosed herein, water source systems and / or wastewater systems may include a variety of implementations. Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the water supply system and wastewater system of a sample printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown from the front. Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the water source system and wastewater system of the sample printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, viewed from the rear.

[0071] In some embodiments, such as Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, the sample printing apparatus 100 may include a clean water tank 170 and a piping system connected to the clean water tank 170. The clean water tank 170 and the piping system connected to the clean water tank 170 may be arranged, for example, within the base 116 of the base 110. In some embodiments, the clean water tank 170 serves as a common water source for a first water source and / or a second water source and / or a third water source. The piping system is configured to connect the clean water tank 170 to a first cleaning system, a second cleaning system, and / or a fourth cleaning system, respectively. This common water source simplifies the structure of the sample printing apparatus 100 and provides space efficiency, reducing the maintenance costs of the sample printing apparatus 100.

[0072] In some embodiments, the clean water tank 170 may include a water inlet connected to an external water source via a filter 172, thereby providing clean water to the clean water tank 170 from the external water source. In some embodiments, the water in the clean water tank 170 may be deionized water. In some embodiments, such as Figure 6 and Figure 7As shown, functional components for the clean water tank 170, such as filter 172, can be arranged on mounting bracket 174 and fixed to the clean water tank 170 by the mounting bracket to form a clean water tank module. This modular design optimizes the internal space arrangement of the base 110, improves space efficiency, and facilitates the maintenance and / or installation of the facility.

[0073] In some embodiments, the sample printing apparatus further includes a wastewater tank 180. The wastewater tank 180 is connected to the drain of a water tank 160 via a wastewater pipe 184 and is configured to collect water from the water tank 160. By providing a wastewater tank, the printing capacity of the sample printing apparatus can be significantly enhanced. Even when printing large quantities of samples, the wastewater after washing can be effectively collected to prevent splashing. The wastewater tank 180 is connected to the drain of a water tank 160 via a wastewater pipe 184 and is configured to collect water from the water tank 160. In some embodiments, such as Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, it may also include a pump 182 in communication with the sewage tank 180, which can be operated, for example, according to the water level in the sewage tank 180 to empty the sewage tank 180 as needed.

[0074] In some embodiments, the printing assembly 122 of the printing unit 120 is configured to be able to move up and down in the vertical direction. By allowing the printing assembly 122 to move up and down, multifunctional coordination of the printing assembly 122 (e.g., sample loading and unloading, printing operations, maintenance of the printing assembly, etc.) can be achieved with a simple and compact structure.

[0075] Figure 8 A schematic diagram of a lifting device for raising and lowering a printing assembly in a sample printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. In some embodiments, such as Figure 8As shown, the printing unit 12 may include a housing (not shown) and a printing assembly 122 housed within the housing. The printing unit 120 also includes a lifting device 126 for vertically raising and lowering the printing assembly 122. As an example, the lifting device 126 may be a scissor lift, and the lifting device 12 may include a plurality of scissor arms 126 hinged together by a rotating shaft and a power mechanism for driving the rotating shaft horizontally. The power mechanism may be a pneumatic, hydraulic, or electric mechanism. Each scissor arm 126 may include a fixed end and a lifting end. The fixed end may be fixed to a frame 128, and the frame 128 and / or the fixing components of the power mechanism may then be fixed together to the housing of the printing unit 120. The power mechanism can push the rotating shaft to extend, causing the scissor arms 126 to unfold, thereby lowering the printing assembly 122; similarly, the power mechanism can push the rotating shaft to retract, causing the scissor arms 126 to fold, thereby raising the printing assembly 122. It should be understood that the lifting device 126 shown in the figure is merely exemplary, and the lifting device 126 can be implemented in any other suitable manner.

[0076] In some embodiments, the lifting device is configured to move the printing assembly 122 between multiple positions in the vertical direction. Specifically, the printing assembly 122 is at least in a first printing assembly station corresponding to a printing operation position and a second printing assembly station corresponding to a cleaning operation position. At the first printing assembly station, the printing assembly 122 is located above the support table 112 and vertically spaced from the support table 112 by a distance suitable for performing the printing operation. At the second printing assembly station, the printing assembly 122 is located vertically below the support table 112 and vertically adjacent to the roller brush 162 of the cleaning device.

[0077] Figure 9 and Figure 10 Schematic diagrams are shown of the printing components of a sample printing apparatus according to embodiments of the present disclosure, positioned at different stations along the vertical direction. For example... Figure 9 As shown, the printing assembly 122 is positioned at the first printing assembly station. At this first printing assembly station, the printing assembly 122 is located above the carrier stage 112 and vertically spaced from it by a distance, for example, corresponding to the printing interval. As an example, when the carrier stage 112 moves horizontally to a position below the printing assembly 122, the printing assembly 122 should be at the first printing assembly station and controlled to allow the nozzles to eject liquid. As the carrier stage 112 moves horizontally, the nozzles continuously eject printing liquid, thereby achieving a printing operation on the sample on the carrier stage 112.

[0078] When the sample on the stage 112 has completely left the printing assembly 122 in the horizontal direction, the printing assembly 122 stops printing and prepares to print another sample. Considering that the same printing assembly 122 needs to print for different formulations of inkjet inks, it needs to be cleaned to prevent color interference. For example... Figure 10 As shown, the printing assembly 122 is located at the second printing assembly station. At this second printing assembly station, the printing assembly 122 is vertically positioned below the support platform 112 and vertically adjacent to the roller brush 162 of the cleaning device. Here, water can be supplied to the roller brush 162, and cleaning operations can be performed on the printing assembly 122 by rotating the roller brush 162. According to this disclosure, coordination between different functional modules of the printing assembly 122 can be achieved in a simple manner.

[0079] In some embodiments, the printing assembly 122 may further include a third printing assembly station, which may correspond, for example, to the initial position of the lifting device. It should be understood that the illustrated embodiments are merely exemplary, and the printing assembly 122 may be moved vertically to any other suitable location.

[0080] According to this disclosure, a method 1100 for operating a sample printing apparatus is also provided. At 1102, a first conduit 154 is connected to a first ink cartridge among a plurality of ink cartridges 140. At 1104, a first printing is performed, including activating a syringe pump 152 to draw first printing liquid from the first ink cartridge via the first conduit 154 and supply the first printing liquid to a printing liquid chamber 124 of a printing assembly 122 via a second conduit 156 to print the first printing liquid onto a first sample passing below the printing assembly 122. At 1106, after the first printing, a first cleaning system is activated to perform a first cleaning, the first cleaning being configured to clean at least the printing assembly 122 from the outside of the printing assembly 122, the first cleaning system including a roller brush 62 mounted in a water tank located below the printing assembly 122 and a water supply component for supplying cleaning water to the roller brush 62. At 1110, after performing the first cleaning, the first conduit 154 is connected to a second ink cartridge among the plurality of ink cartridges 140. At 1108, a second printing is performed, including restarting the injection pump 152 to draw second ink from the second cartridge via the first conduit 154 and supply the second ink to the ink chamber 124 of the printing assembly 122 via the second conduit 156, so as to print the second ink onto the second sample passing below the printing assembly 122. At 1110, after the second printing, the first cleaning system is activated to perform the first cleaning a second time, cleaning at least the printing assembly 122 again from the outside.

[0081] In some embodiments, activating the first cleaning system further includes: lowering the printing assembly 122 to a predetermined cleaning position using a lifting device 126, at which the printing assembly 122 at least partially abuts against the roller brush 62; and in response to the printing assembly 122 at least partially abutting against the roller brush 62, rotating the roller brush 62 and providing cleaning water to the roller brush 62 to clean the printing assembly 122 using the roller brush 62.

[0082] In some embodiments, the method may further include: after the first printing and before performing the second printing, activating a second cleaning system, the second cleaning system including a cleaning pump 176 and a cleaning conduit 178 in fluid communication with the printing liquid chamber 124, wherein during operation of the second cleaning system, the cleaning pump 176 operates to supply cleaning water from the printing liquid chamber 124 to clean the printing assembly 122 from the inside of the printing assembly 122.

[0083] In some embodiments, the method may further include: connecting the first conduit 154 to air and / or cleaning water after the first printing and before connecting the first conduit 154 to a second ink cartridge among a plurality of ink cartridges 140; and activating a third cleaning system, wherein the third cleaning system is implemented as control logic for controlling the motor of the syringe pump 152, the control logic including: rotating the motor in a first direction to draw air and / or cleaning water into the syringe pump 152 when the first conduit 154 is switched to a state of communication with air and / or cleaning water, and then rotating it in a second direction to expel the drawn air and / or cleaning water from the syringe pump 152.

[0084] Although the operations are described in a specific order, this should be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the specific order shown or in sequential order, or requiring that all illustrated operations be performed to achieve the desired result. In certain environments, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Similarly, while several specific implementation details are included in the above discussion, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of this disclosure. Certain features described in the context of individual embodiments may also be implemented in combination in a single implementation. Conversely, various features described in the context of a single implementation may also be implemented individually or in any suitable sub-combination in multiple implementations.

[0085] Although the subject matter has been described using language specific to structural features and / or methodological logic, it should be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or actions described above. Rather, the specific features and actions described above are merely illustrative examples of implementing the claims.

[0086] The various embodiments of this disclosure have been described above. These descriptions are exemplary and not exhaustive, nor are they limited to the disclosed embodiments. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein is chosen to best explain the principles, practical application, or technical improvements to the embodiments in the market, or to enable others skilled in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A sample printing device, comprising: abutment(110); The printing unit (120) is mounted to the base (110) and includes a printing assembly (122), the printing assembly (122) including a printing liquid chamber (124) adapted to contain printing liquid and a plurality of nozzles (126) communicating with the printing liquid chamber (124). Multiple ink cartridges (140) are configured to hold inks with different ink formulations for printing samples. The inkjet ink supply system (150) is configured to draw inkjet ink from one of the plurality of ink cartridges (140) and supply the drawn inkjet ink to the printing assembly (122); and A first cleaning system is located outside the printing assembly (122) and is configured to clean at least the printing assembly (122) from the outside of the printing assembly (122).

2. The sample printing equipment according to claim 1, wherein... The base (110) includes a front side and a rear side, the base (110) includes a base (116) adapted to be placed on the ground and a mounting portion (118) that protrudes upward from the base (116) from the front side at the rear side, the printing assembly (122) being mounted to the mounting portion (118) on the front side. The sample printing equipment also includes a water tank (160) with a top opening located on the front side of the mounting part (118) and positioned below the printing assembly (122), wherein the water tank (160) is configured to recycle wastewater from the first cleaning system.

3. The sample printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the sample printing apparatus includes a first water source, and the first cleaning system includes a roller brush (162) installed in the water tank (160), a first motor adapted to drive the roller brush (162) to move, and an overflow pipe (164) in communication with the first water source and for supplying water to the roller brush (162), wherein the first motor is configured to move the roller brush (162) to be able to clean the printing assembly (122) from the printing assembly (122).

4. The sample printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the roller brush (162) is arranged across the water tank (160), the overflow pipe (164) is adjacent to the roller brush (162) and arranged side by side with the roller brush (162), the overflow pipe (164) including a plurality of overflow holes arranged along the length direction of the overflow pipe (164) such that water from the overflow pipe (164) is sprayed onto the roller brush (162).

5. The sample printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the sample printing apparatus further comprises a second water source and a second cleaning system, the second cleaning system comprising a cleaning pump (176) adapted to communicate with the second water source and a cleaning pipe (178) in fluid communication with the printing liquid chamber (124), wherein when the second cleaning system is in operation, the cleaning pump (176) operates to supply water from the second water source to the printing liquid chamber (124) to clean the printing assembly (122) from the inside of the printing assembly (122).

6. The sample printing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the ink supply system (150) comprises a supply pump (152), a first conduit (154) adapted to fluidly connect the supply pump (152) to one of the plurality of ink cartridges (140), and a second conduit (156) adapted to fluidly connect the supply pump (152) to the ink chamber (124) of the printing assembly (122), wherein during a printing operation performed by the printing assembly (122), the supply pump (152) is configured to draw ink from one of the plurality of ink cartridges (140) via the first conduit (154) and supply the ink to the ink chamber (124) of the printing assembly (122) via the second conduit (156).

7. The sample printing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the second cleaning system is arranged on the second pipe (156), and the cleaning pipe (178) is connected to the second channel (156) via a multi-way valve (161), wherein the multi-way valve (161) includes at least a first station and a second station, wherein at the first station, the liquid supply pump (152) is connected to the liquid spraying assembly (122) and the second water source is disconnected from the liquid spraying assembly (122), wherein at the second station, the liquid supply pump (152) is disconnected from the liquid spraying assembly (122) and the second water source is connected to the liquid spraying assembly (122), wherein the multi-way valve (161) is in the first station when the liquid spraying assembly (122) performs a printing operation, and wherein the multi-way valve (161) is in the second station when the liquid spraying assembly (122) cleans the printing assembly (122) from the inside of the printing assembly (122).

8. The sample printing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the liquid supply pump (152) comprises a single injection pump (152), the plurality of ink cartridges (140) share the injection pump (152), and the first conduit (154) is selectively switched among the plurality of ink cartridges (140) to selectively fluidly connect the injection pump (152) to one of the plurality of ink cartridges (140); The injection pump (152) further includes a second motor for driving the piston of the injection pump (152). For each sample work cycle, the injection pump (152) includes a suction mode and a supply mode. In the suction mode, the second motor rotates in a first direction to draw the inkjet liquid from one of the plurality of ink cartridges (140) into the pump chamber. In the supply mode, the second motor rotates in a second direction opposite to the first direction to cause the inkjet liquid drawn into the pump chamber to flow out of the pump chamber and be supplied to the inkjet liquid chamber (124) of the printing assembly (122).

9. The sample printing apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a third cleaning system configured for cleaning the injection pump (152), the third cleaning system being implemented as control logic for controlling the second motor, the control logic comprising: When the first conduit (154) is switched to be in communication with air and / or clean water, the second motor is rotated in the first direction to draw air and / or clean water into the injection pump (152) and then rotated in the second direction to discharge the drawn air and / or clean water from the injection pump (152).

10. The sample printing apparatus according to any one of claims 5-9, wherein the sample printing apparatus further comprises a third water source and a fourth cleaning system, the fourth cleaning system comprising a faucet (171) detachably fixed to the base (110) and a flexible tube connecting the faucet (171) to the third water source, wherein the length of the flexible tube is configured to cover at least one of the areas where the plurality of ink cartridges (140) are located and the area where the printing assembly (122) is located.

11. The sample printing apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a clean water tank (170) and a piping system connected to the clean water tank (170), wherein the clean water tank (170) serves as a common water source for the first water source and / or the second water source and / or the third water source, and the piping system is configured to connect the clean water tank (170) to the first cleaning system, the second cleaning system, and / or the fourth cleaning system respectively; and / or The clean water tank (170) includes an inlet, which is connected to an external water source via a filter (172); and / or The sample printing equipment also includes a wastewater tank (180), which is connected to the drain of the water tank (160) via a wastewater pipe (184) and is configured to collect water from the water tank (160).

12. The sample printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1-9, 11, further comprising a lifting device (126) mounted to the base (110) and used for lifting the printing assembly (122), the lifting device (126) being configured to move the printing assembly (122) at least between a first printing assembly station corresponding to a printing operation position of the printing assembly (122) and a second printing assembly station corresponding to a cleaning operation position of the printing assembly (122), at the second printing assembly station, where the first cleaning system is activated to clean the printing assembly (122) at least from the outside of the printing assembly (122).

13. A method for operating a sample printing device, comprising: Connect the first conduit (154) to the first ink cartridge among the plurality of ink cartridges (140); Performing the first printing includes operating the injection pump (152) to draw the first printing liquid from the first ink cartridge via the first conduit (154) and supply the first printing liquid to the printing liquid chamber (124) of the printing assembly (122) via the second conduit (156) to print the first printing liquid onto a first sample passing under the printing assembly (122). After the first printing, a first cleaning system is activated to perform a first cleaning, the first cleaning being configured to clean at least the printing assembly (122) from the outside of the printing assembly (122), the first cleaning system including a roller brush (162) installed in a water tank located below the printing assembly (122) and a water supply component for supplying cleaning water to the roller brush (162); After performing the first cleaning, the first conduit (154) is connected to the second ink cartridge among the plurality of ink cartridges (140); Performing a second printing includes activating the injection pump (152) again to draw a second printing liquid from the second ink cartridge via the first conduit (154) and supplying the second printing liquid to the printing liquid chamber (124) of the printing assembly (122) via the second conduit (156) to print the second printing liquid onto a second sample passing below the printing assembly (122); as well as After the second printing, the first cleaning system is activated to perform the first cleaning for the second time, cleaning at least the printing assembly (122) again from the outside.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein activating the first cleaning system further comprises: The printing assembly (122) is lowered to a predetermined cleaning position using a lifting device (126), at which the printing assembly (122) at least partially abuts against the roller brush (162). as well as In response to the printing assembly (122) at least partially abutting against the roller brush (162), the roller brush (162) is rotated and cleaning water is provided to the roller brush (162) to clean the printing assembly (122) using the roller brush (162).

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising: After the first printing and before the second printing, a second cleaning system is started, the second cleaning system including a cleaning pump (176) and a cleaning pipe (178) in fluid communication with the printing liquid chamber (124). During the operation of the second cleaning system, the cleaning pump (176) operates to supply cleaning water to the printing liquid chamber (124) to clean the printing assembly (122) from the inside.

16. The method according to any one of claims 13-15, further comprising: After the first printing and before connecting the first conduit (154) to the second ink cartridge among the plurality of ink cartridges (140), the first conduit (154) is connected to air and / or clean water; and A third cleaning system is activated, wherein the third cleaning system is implemented as control logic for controlling the motor of the injection pump (152), the control logic comprising: when the first conduit (154) is switched to be in communication with air and / or clean water, causing the motor to rotate in the first direction to draw air and / or clean water into the injection pump (152) and then rotating in the second direction to discharge the drawn air and / or clean water from the injection pump (152).

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