Printer ink supply system with cleaning function

Abstract

The utility model discloses a printer ink supply system with a cleaning function, which comprises a spray head, an ink bottle, a cleaning agent bottle, a control valve and a controller, the control valve comprises an outlet and at least two inlets, the spray head is communicated with the outlet of the control valve through a pipeline, and the ink bottle and the cleaning agent bottle are respectively communicated with the inlet of the control valve through pipelines; an ink stack is arranged below the motion path of the nozzle and is communicated with the pump through a pipeline; the control valve and the pump are in signal connection with the controller, and the controller enables the inlet and the outlet of the control valve to be communicated asynchronously; a water return pipe is arranged at the outlet end of the pump, one end of the water return pipe is communicated with the pipeline at the outlet end of the pump, and the other end of the water return pipe is communicated with the pipeline between the control valve and the ink bottle. The automatic cleaning device is reasonable in structural design, and an ink supply system of the printer can be automatically cleaned quickly and efficiently; the utilization efficiency of the cleaning agent can be improved through the water return pipeline, and the consumption of the cleaning agent is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of air purification, in particular to an ink supply system for a printer with a cleaning function. Background Art

[0002] In the use of digital inkjet printers, according to factors such as the characteristics of the ink and the print head, it is sometimes necessary to clean the ink supply system and the print head. Especially in the printing process of thermal transfer films, after printing a pattern with color ink, a layer of white ink needs to be covered on the pattern for powder adhesion. Since the white ink has a relatively high viscosity and is prone to depositing particles when not flowing, it is necessary to clean the print head in time after printing to avoid the deposition of white ink blocking the ink supply system channels including the print head.

[0003] In the prior art, cleaning the ink supply system is a time-consuming and laborious task. First, the pipeline needs to be removed, then connected to the cleaning agent bottle, and then the ink stack is brought into contact with the print head, and a pump is used to extract the cleaning agent for cleaning. When restarting the printing work, the white ink bottle needs to be reconnected and the same steps need to be done again, seriously affecting the operation efficiency.

[0004] Therefore, there is an urgent need to design an ink supply system for a printer with a cleaning function, which can achieve fast and efficient automatic cleaning. Content of the Utility Model

[0005] The technical solution adopted by the utility model is as follows:

[0006] An ink supply system for a printer with a cleaning function, characterized in that it includes a print head (10), an ink bottle (30), a cleaning agent bottle (40), a control valve (20) and a controller (90). The control valve (20) includes an outlet and at least two inlets. The print head (10) is connected to the outlet of the control valve (20) through a pipeline. The ink bottle (30) and the cleaning agent bottle (40) are respectively connected to the inlets of the control valve (20) through pipelines;

[0007] A ink stack (50) is arranged below the movement path of the print head (10), and the ink stack (50) is connected to a pump (60) through a pipeline;

[0008] The control valve (20) and the pump (60) are respectively connected to the controller (90) in a signal manner, and the controller (90) makes the inlets of the control valve (20) not communicate with the outlet simultaneously.

[0009] Preferably, a return water pipe (70) is arranged at the outlet end of the pump (60). One end of the return water pipe (70) is connected to the pipeline at the outlet end of the pump (60), and the other end of the return water pipe (70) is connected to the pipeline between the control valve (20) and the ink bottle (30);

[0010] A first switching valve (80) is provided on the return pipe (70), a second switching valve (81) is provided on the pipe at the outlet end of the pump (60) far from the return pipe (70), and a third switching valve (82) is provided on the pipe between the return pipe (70) and the ink bottle (30).

[0011] Preferably, an air pipe is further provided on the return pipe (70), and a fourth switching valve (83) is provided on the air pipe.

[0012] Preferably, a filter is provided on the air pipe.

[0013] Preferably, an ink sac (11) is provided between the control valve (20) and the nozzle (10).

[0014] Preferably, a temperature control device is provided on the ink sac (11).

[0015] Preferably, the control valve (20) is a two-position three-way solenoid valve, and the pump (60) is a diaphragm pump.

[0016] Preferably, the first switching valve (80), the second switching valve (81), the third switching valve (82) and the fourth switching valve (83) are electrically controlled valves respectively signal-connected to the controller (90).

[0017] Preferably, all the pipes are made of Teflon.

[0018] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present utility model are as follows:

[0019] The structure is reasonably designed, and the ink supply system of the printer can be automatically cleaned quickly and efficiently. Moreover, the utilization efficiency of the cleaning agent can be improved through the return water pipeline, and the amount of the cleaning agent used can be reduced. Description of the Drawings

[0020] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present utility model;

[0021] Wherein: nozzle 10, ink sac 11, control valve 20, ink bottle 30, cleaning agent bottle 40, ink stack 50, pump 60, return pipe 70, first switching valve 80, second switching valve 81, third switching valve 82, fourth switching valve 83, controller 90. Detailed Embodiments

[0022] In order to facilitate the understanding of the present utility model, the present utility model will be described more comprehensively below with reference to the relevant drawings. Preferred embodiments of the present utility model are shown in the drawings. However, the present utility model can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. On the contrary, these embodiments are provided so that the understanding of the disclosure of the present utility model can be more thorough and comprehensive.

[0023] It should be noted that when an element is referred to as "fixed to" another element, it can be directly on the other element or there may also be an intermediate element. When an element is considered to be "connected" to another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intermediate element at the same time. The terms "vertical", "horizontal", "left", "right", "up", "down", "front", "rear" and similar expressions used herein are only for illustrative purposes.

[0024] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those of ordinary skill in the technical field to which this utility model belongs. The terms used herein in the specification of this utility model are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit this utility model. The term "and / or" used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more of the related listed items.

[0025] Next, in conjunction with the drawings and specific embodiments, the present utility model will be further described:

[0026] As Figure 1 shown, an ink supply system for a printer with a cleaning function includes a nozzle 10, an ink bottle 30, a cleaning agent bottle 40, a control valve 20 and a controller 90. The control valve 20 includes an outlet and at least two inlets. The nozzle 10 is communicated with the outlet of the control valve 20 through a pipeline. The ink bottle 30 and the cleaning agent bottle 40 are respectively communicated with the inlets of the control valve 20 through pipelines;

[0027] A ink stack 50 is arranged below the movement path of the nozzle 10, and the ink stack 50 is communicated with a pump 60 through a pipeline;

[0028] The control valve 20 and the pump 60 are respectively signal-connected to the controller 90, and the controller 90 makes the inlets of the control valve 20 not communicate with the outlet simultaneously.

[0029] When this embodiment is in use, first, ink and a cleaning agent are respectively placed into the ink bottle 30 and the cleaning agent bottle 40. During printing, the outlet of the control valve 20 is only communicated with the ink bottle 30 and isolated from the cleaning agent bottle 40, and the nozzle 10 uses the ink in the ink bottle 30 to perform printing operations.

[0030] After printing is completed, the nozzle 10 moves above the ink stack 50 and is airtight-connected to the ink stack 50. The outlet of the control valve 20 is only communicated with the cleaning agent bottle 40 and isolated from the ink bottle 30. Then, the pump 60 extracts the cleaning agent in the cleaning agent bottle 40 to clean the ink supply system including the nozzle.

[0031] Further, a water return pipe 70 is provided at the outlet end of the pump 60. One end of the water return pipe 70 is communicated with the pipeline at the outlet end of the pump 60, and the other end is communicated with the pipeline between the control valve 20 and the ink bottle 30.

[0032] A first on-off valve 80 is provided on the water return pipe 70, a second on-off valve 81 is respectively provided on the pipeline at the outlet end of the pump 60 away from the water return pipe 70, and a third on-off valve 82 is provided on the pipeline between the water return pipe 70 and the ink bottle 30.

[0033] Further, in order to avoid the residue of the cleaning agent in the ink supply pipeline after cleaning, an air pipe is also provided on the water return pipe 70, and a fourth on-off valve 83 is provided on the air pipe.

[0034] Further, in order to prevent external dust and sundries from entering the ink supply pipeline, a filter is provided on the air pipe.

[0035] The water return pipe 70 provided in this embodiment can perform rapid cleaning, precision cleaning and drying operations on the ink supply system, as follows:

[0036] A. Rapid cleaning: The first on-off valve 80 and the fourth on-off valve 83 are closed, the second on-off valve 81 is opened, the outlet of the control valve 20 is communicated with the cleaning agent bottle 40, and the pump 60 extracts the cleaning agent in the cleaning agent bottle 40 to perform rapid cleaning on the ink supply system.

[0037] B. Precision cleaning: After extracting the cleaning agent according to the rapid cleaning steps, the outlet of the control valve 20 is communicated with the ink bottle 30. The second on-off valve 81, the third on-off valve 82 and the fourth on-off valve 83 are closed, and the first on-off valve 80 is opened to make the cleaning agent circulate and clean in the ink supply system. At regular intervals, by opening and closing the on-off valve, new cleaning agent is replaced and the next cleaning is carried out. By setting the parameters of the pump 60, cleaning with different flow rates and pressures can also be achieved.

[0038] C. Drying: In order to avoid the residue of the cleaning agent in the ink supply system, after rapid cleaning or precision cleaning, the outlet of the control valve 20 is communicated with the ink bottle 30, the first on-off valve 80 and the fourth on-off valve 83 are opened, the third on-off valve 82 and the first on-off valve 80 are closed, and the pump 60 extracts external air through the fourth on-off valve 83 to air-dry the ink supply system.

[0039] Further, in order to improve the stability of ink supply, an ink sac 11 is provided between the control valve 20 and the nozzle 10.

[0040] Further, in order to reduce the use stability of the ink in high and low temperature environments, a constant temperature device is provided on the ink sac 11.

[0041] Further, in order to improve the versatility and maintainability, the control valve 20 is a two-position three-way solenoid valve, and the pump 60 is a diaphragm pump.

[0042] The diaphragm pump has good no-load operation characteristics and can well adapt to the ink supply, cleaning and drying purposes in this patent.

[0043] Furthermore, in order to achieve full-automatic cleaning, the first switching valve 80, the second switching valve 81, the third switching valve 82 and the fourth switching valve 83 are electrically controlled valves respectively signal-connected to the controller 90.

[0044] Furthermore, in order to achieve a better balance among flexibility, corrosion resistance and easy cleanability, the pipes are all made of Teflon.

[0045] For those skilled in the art, various corresponding changes and deformations can be made according to the technical solutions and concepts described above, and all such changes and deformations should fall within the protection scope of the claims of this utility model patent.

Claims

1. A printer ink supply system with a cleaning function, characterized in that: The invention comprises a nozzle (10), an ink bottle (30), a cleaning agent bottle (40), a control valve (20) and a controller (90), wherein the control valve (20) comprises an outlet and at least two inlets, the nozzle (10) is connected to the outlet of the control valve (20) through a pipeline, and the ink bottle (30) and the cleaning agent bottle (40) are respectively connected to the inlet of the control valve (20) through pipelines; An ink stack (50) is arranged below the movement path of the nozzle (10), and the ink stack (50) is connected to a pump (60) through a pipeline; The control valve (20) and the pump (60) are respectively connected to the controller (90) by signals, and the controller (90) enables the inlet and outlet of the control valve (20) to be connected at different times.

2. The printer ink supply system with cleaning function as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The outlet end of the pump (60) is provided with a water return pipe (70), one end of the water return pipe (70) is connected to the pipeline at the outlet end of the pump (60), and the other end of the water return pipe (70) is connected to the pipeline between the control valve (20) and the ink bottle (30); A first switch valve (80) is arranged on the water return pipe (70), a second switch valve (81) is arranged on a pipe at an outlet end of the pump (60) away from the water return pipe (70), and a third switch valve (82) is arranged on a pipe between the water return pipe (70) and the ink bottle (30).

3. The printer ink supply system with cleaning function as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that: The water return pipe (70) is also provided with an air duct, and the air duct is provided with a fourth switch valve (83).

4. The printer ink supply system with cleaning function as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that: The air duct is provided with a filter.

5. The printer ink supply system with cleaning function as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: An ink bag (11) is arranged between the control valve (20) and the nozzle (10).

6. The printer ink supply system with cleaning function as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that: The ink bag (11) is provided with a constant temperature device.

7. The printer ink supply system with cleaning function as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The control valve (20) is a two-position three-way solenoid valve, and the pump (60) is a diaphragm pump.

8. The printer ink supply system with cleaning function as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that: The first switch valve (80), the second switch valve (81), the third switch valve (82) and the fourth switch valve (83) are electrically controlled valves respectively connected to the controller (90) by signals.

9. The printer ink supply system with cleaning function as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that: The fourth switch valve (83) is an electrically controlled valve connected to the controller (90) by signal.

10. The printer ink supply system with cleaning function as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The pipes are all made of Teflon.

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