Driving unit for row ink-jet device and row ink-jet device

Abstract

The utility model provides a driving unit for a row ink jet device and the row ink jet device. The driving unit comprises a master control board and a plurality of driving boards, the master control board comprises a plurality of communication modules and a plurality of synchronization modules, and the plurality of driving boards are electrically connected to the plurality of groups of spray heads respectively so as to drive the plurality of spray heads respectively to realize printing; the plurality of communication modules are electrically connected to the plurality of driving boards respectively, so that communication between the master control board and the plurality of driving boards is realized; and the plurality of synchronization modules are electrically connected to the plurality of driving boards respectively, so that the synchronization of the printing time sequence of the plurality of driving boards by the master control board is realized. The driving unit for the row ink-jet device can realize the effect of splicing printing, and ensures the stability and accuracy of the row ink-jet device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of inkjet devices, and more particularly, to a driving unit for a row of inkjet devices, its method, and a row of inkjet devices. Background Art

[0002] As the application scenarios of inkjet devices become more and more extensive, the market's requirements for the printing scale and efficiency of inkjet devices are also getting higher and higher. Therefore, the traditional single 32 - point inkjet device has been difficult to meet the growing market demand and higher - level requirements.

[0003] In contrast, a row of inkjet devices supports a larger number of driver boards and nozzles, can complete a large number of printing tasks at one time, and can achieve printing over a larger area without additional movement operations. At the same time, a row of inkjet devices supports higher printing accuracy and faster printing speed.

[0004] Therefore, a driving unit for a row of inkjet devices is needed to achieve high - precision splicing and coordinated operation of multiple inkjet devices. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application aims to provide a driving unit for a row of inkjet devices, its method, and a row of inkjet devices, which can achieve the linkage control of multiple groups of nozzles of a row of inkjet devices.

[0006] According to one aspect of the present application, there is provided a driving unit for a row of inkjet devices. The driving unit includes a master control board and a plurality of driver boards. The master control board includes a plurality of communication modules and a plurality of synchronization modules, wherein:

[0007] The plurality of driver boards are respectively electrically connected to multiple groups of nozzles to respectively drive the multiple groups of nozzles to perform printing;

[0008] The plurality of communication modules are respectively electrically connected to the plurality of driver boards to realize the communication between the master control board and the plurality of driver boards;

[0009] The plurality of synchronization modules are respectively electrically connected to the plurality of driver boards to realize the synchronization of the printing timings of the master control board to the plurality of driver boards. According to some embodiments, the master control board further includes an Ethernet port, and the master control board is connected to a host computer through the Ethernet port.

[0010] According to some embodiments, the master control board sends TTL synchronization signals to the plurality of driver boards through the plurality of synchronization modules.

[0011] According to some embodiments, each driver board includes at least two pulse width modulators, a plurality of waveform switching circuits, a plurality of driving circuit modules, and a control signal output circuit, wherein:

[0012] The at least two pulse width modulators are respectively electrically connected to all of the plurality of waveform switching circuits;

[0013] The plurality of waveform switching circuits are respectively connected to one of the plurality of drive circuit modules;

[0014] The plurality of drive circuit modules are respectively electrically connected to the plurality of nozzle groups, so as to drive the plurality of nozzle groups to perform printing;

[0015] The outputs of the control signal output circuit are respectively electrically connected to the plurality of waveform switching circuits, so as to respectively provide independent control signals to the plurality of waveform switching circuits.

[0016] According to some embodiments, the plurality of drive circuit modules respectively output amplified waveform signals according to the waveforms provided by the plurality of waveform switching circuits.

[0017] According to some embodiments, the at least two pulse width modulators include a first pulse width modulator, a second pulse width modulator, and a third pulse width modulator.

[0018] According to some embodiments, the first pulse width modulator, the second pulse width modulator, and the third pulse width modulator output three different waveforms, so as to be applicable to different stages of driving.

[0019] According to some embodiments, the plurality of waveform switching circuits include a plurality of multiplexers.

[0020] According to some embodiments, the plurality of nozzle groups include thirty-two nozzle groups, and the thirty-two nozzle groups form a nozzle array.

[0021] According to another aspect of the present application, a row of inkjet devices is provided, and the row of inkjet devices includes a plurality of nozzle groups, and the driving unit described in any one of the above is electrically connected to the plurality of nozzle groups.

[0022] According to another aspect of the present application, a method for a driving unit is provided, including:

[0023] The main control board communicates with the plurality of driving boards through the plurality of communication modules, and real-time collects the working states of the plurality of driving boards;

[0024] According to the working states of the plurality of driving boards, the main control board issues a printing command through the plurality of communication modules;

[0025] The main control board issues a synchronization signal to the plurality of driving boards through the plurality of synchronization modules;

[0026] The plurality of driving boards execute the printing command according to the synchronization signal, so as to achieve mosaic printing.

[0027] According to some embodiments, the multiple communication modules perform data verification with the multiple drive boards irregularly.

[0028] According to some embodiments, if the fluctuation of data verification exceeds a threshold, the master control board sends an alarm signal to the host computer.

[0029] According to some embodiments, each drive board provides different waveforms to the nozzles at different stages of driving, wherein the duty cycle and / or cycle time of the different waveforms are set separately.

[0030] According to some embodiments, the different waveforms include:

[0031] A first waveform, which is a start waveform for starting the nozzle.

[0032] A second waveform, which is a hold waveform for maintaining the operation of the nozzle.

[0033] A third waveform, which is a release waveform for releasing the nozzle.

[0034] According to an exemplary embodiment, for a drive unit of a multi-row inkjet device, the master control board can effectively manage and coordinate the printing tasks of each drive board, ensuring that each drive board controls multiple groups of nozzles to complete the same printing task within the same time interval, thereby achieving an accurate and efficient printing effect.

[0035] According to an embodiment of the present application, the drive unit uses the synchronization signal sent by the synchronization module to synchronize the clock signals on each drive board, ensuring that all drive boards complete their respective tasks within the same time, ensuring that multiple groups of nozzles work at a unified speed and time, avoiding misalignment of the printing positions, and improving the printing quality and accuracy.

[0036] It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are only exemplary and do not limit the present application. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, the following will briefly introduce the drawings required for the description of the embodiments.

[0038] Figure 1 Shows a block diagram of a drive unit according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application.

[0039] Figure 2 Shows a flowchart of a method of a drive unit according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application.

[0040] Figure 3 Shows a block diagram of a drive board according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application.

[0041] Figure 4 A method flow chart showing a driving board according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application.

[0042] Figure 5 A schematic waveform diagram showing the output of a pulse width modulator according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application. Detailed implementation manners

[0043] Exemplary embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the exemplary embodiments can be implemented in various forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this application will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the concept of the exemplary embodiments to those skilled in the art. Like reference numerals in the figures denote like or similar parts, and thus their repeated description will be omitted.

[0044] In addition, the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided to give a thorough understanding of the embodiments of this application. However, those skilled in the art will realize that the technical solutions of this application can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or other methods, components, devices, steps, etc. may be used. In other cases, well-known methods, devices, implementations, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of this application.

[0045] The block diagrams shown in the drawings are only functional entities and do not necessarily correspond to physically independent entities. That is, these functional entities can be implemented in software form, or in one or more hardware modules or integrated circuits, or in different networks and / or processor devices and / or microcontroller devices.

[0046] The flow charts shown in the drawings are only illustrative and not necessarily include all the contents and operations / steps, nor are they necessarily executed in the order described. For example, some operations / steps can be decomposed, and some operations / steps can be combined or partially combined, so the actual execution order may change according to the actual situation.

[0047] It should be understood that although terms such as first, second, and third may be used herein to describe various components, these components should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used to distinguish one component from another. Thus, the first component discussed below may be referred to as the second component without departing from the teachings of the concept of this application. As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any one and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0048] Those skilled in the art can understand that the drawings are only schematic diagrams of exemplary embodiments, and the modules or processes in the drawings are not necessarily essential for implementing the present application. Therefore, they cannot be used to limit the protection scope of the present application.

[0049] In the field of inkjet devices, the valve type row jet inkjet device adopts the principle of pressure fluctuation, and compresses air through an electromagnetic valve to drive the ink to be printed on the product surface. Compared with other types of row jet inkjet devices that require inks corresponding to their own principles, the valve type row jet inkjet device has less demanding requirements for inks. Even the inks used in other principle row jet inkjet devices can also be used for the operation of the valve type row jet inkjet device. Therefore, the valve type row jet inkjet device has stronger applicability to inks, and can achieve high-speed printing in a smaller space, with higher accuracy in the position where the ink droplets fall.

[0050] Valve type inkjet devices are widely used in different industries such as cement, wood, fertilizers, and feeds. However, when a single valve type inkjet device works independently, the maximum width of the characters it can print is 32 dots. If wider characters need to be printed, a single valve type inkjet device needs to be horizontally translated and move repeatedly to achieve a large-area printing effect.

[0051] For this reason, the present application proposes a drive unit for a row jet inkjet device. Based on the valve type inkjet device, by adding a master control board, the communication and signal synchronization schemes are optimized to achieve high-precision splicing and coordinated operation of multiple inkjet devices. At the same time, a drive waveform suitable for different working conditions is output through a pulse width modulator, and software settings are used to control the waveform switching circuit to provide independent control signals to each nozzle respectively. Through pulse width modulation, more precise control of the valve type row jet inkjet device is achieved.

[0052] Before describing the embodiments of the present application, some terms or concepts related to the embodiments of the present application are explained.

[0053] DOD (Drop-On-Demand) is an inkjet technology used in row jet inkjet devices. The DOD row jet inkjet device uses an electromagnetic valve to eject ink on demand, so it has higher precision and faster speed, and can achieve high-speed printing.

[0054] PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) is pulse width modulation, which is a common analog control method. The basic principle of PWM is to control the change of current or voltage by changing the pulse width. In the DOD row jet inkjet device, it is used to control the action time of the electromagnetic valve.

[0055] TTL (Transistor-Transistor Logic) is a logic standard widely used in the microelectronics industry. TTL is an integrated circuit design standard that uses two transistors to form logic gates and can constitute various logic functions.

[0056] According to an exemplary embodiment, a method for an inline inkjet device communicates with a plurality of communication modules through a master control board, and real-time collects the working states of the plurality of drive boards. According to the working states of the plurality of drive boards, the master control board issues a printing command through the plurality of communication modules, and the master control board issues a synchronization signal to the plurality of drive boards through the plurality of synchronization modules. The plurality of drive boards execute the printing command according to the synchronization signal, thereby realizing mosaic printing. The plurality of communication modules periodically perform data verification with the plurality of drive boards. If the fluctuation of the data verification exceeds a threshold value, the master control board sends an alarm signal to the host computer.

[0057] The exemplary embodiments of the present application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0058] Figure 1 A block diagram showing the composition of a drive system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application.

[0059] See Figure 1 , the drive system includes a master control board 1, a host computer 6, drive boards 2-N, and nozzles 3-N. The master control board 1 includes communication modules 4-N and synchronization modules 5-N. The drive unit for the inline inkjet device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application includes a master control board, a plurality of communication modules, a plurality of synchronization modules, and a plurality of drive boards.

[0060] Below, taking Figure 1 the sixteen groups of nozzles shown as an example for description.

[0061] According to an exemplary embodiment, the plurality of communication modules 4-1, 4-2... 4-16 are respectively electrically connected to the plurality of drive boards 2-1, 2-2... 2-16, thereby realizing communication between the master control board 1 and the plurality of drive boards 2-1, 2-2... 2-16. The plurality of drive boards 2-1, 2-2... 2-16 are respectively electrically connected to multiple groups of nozzles 3-1, 3-2... 3-16, thereby respectively driving the multiple groups of nozzles 3-1, 3-2... 3-16 to perform printing. The plurality of synchronization modules 5-1, 5-2... 5-16 are respectively electrically connected to the plurality of drive boards 2-1, 2-2... 2-16, thereby realizing synchronization of the printing timings of the master control board 1 for the plurality of drive boards 2-1, 2-2... 2-16.

[0062] In the driving unit of the row-jet inkjet device, in order to coordinate the printing operations among multiple groups of nozzles 3-1, 3-2... 3-16, the main control board 1 uses multiple communication modules 4-1, 4-2... 4-16 and multiple synchronization modules 5-1, 5-2... 5-16 for communication and synchronization. The main control board 1 sends commands to the multiple communication modules 4-1, 4-2... 4-16, and these commands will instruct the multiple driving boards 2-1, 2-2... 2-16, thereby controlling multiple groups of nozzles 3-1, 3-2... 3-16 connected to the multiple driving boards 2-1, 2-2... 2-16 to perform printing tasks. The main control board 1 sends TTL synchronization signals to the multiple driving boards 2-1, 2-2... 2-16 through the multiple synchronization modules 5-1, 5-2... 5-16, and the TTL synchronization signals are high-frequency TTL signals. In order to ensure the timing synchronization and efficient operation among the multiple driving boards 2-1, 2-2... 2-16, the multiple communication modules 4-1, 4-2... 4-16 in the main control board 1 will regularly send instructions to the multiple driving boards 2-1, 2-2... 2-16 to guide them to complete predetermined operations. The driving unit further includes a power supply module, and the power supply module is responsible for providing the working power required by the driving unit to ensure the stable operation of the system. The power supply module provides power for the logic and control components required for the operation of the main control board 1. In addition, the power supply module also provides the voltage and current for driving the nozzles for the multiple driving boards 2-1, 2-2... 2-16.

[0063] According to the exemplary embodiment, each communication module 4-N will send the received command to the respective connected driving boards 2-N, and after receiving the command, the respective driving boards 2-N will start the corresponding respective nozzles 3-N to start the printing task. The synchronization module 5-N will adjust the printing timing of the respective driving boards 2-N according to the command sent by the main control board 1. The adjustment of the printing timing can ensure that the respective driving boards 2-N start and end the printing task at the same time, thereby avoiding problems such as misalignment of the printing of multiple groups of nozzles caused by time asynchronization. The respective driving boards 2-N will control the corresponding respective nozzles 3-N to complete their respective printing tasks according to the set timing, and then wait for a new command from the main control board 1 again. During the whole process, real-time communication and synchronization are maintained between the main control board 1 and the respective driving boards 2-N to ensure the performance and stability of the entire row-jet inkjet device.

[0064] According to some embodiments, the main control board 1 further includes an Ethernet port. The main control board 1 is connected to the host computer 6 through the Ethernet port to implement functions such as parameter setting, picture downloading, and data reading of the system. The main control board 1 is connected to the host computer 6 and communicates with the host computer 6 through the Ethernet interface, receiving instructions and data from the host computer 6, such as picture files. The main control board 1 can also feedback the current working status and results to the host computer 6 to facilitate data analysis and operation control by the host computer 6. The main control board 1 can implement parameter setting of the system through the Ethernet interface. The host computer 6 can send various parameter configuration information to the main control board 1, such as printing speed, printing mode, font size, etc. The main control board 1 will control each driver board 2-N according to the settings of the host computer 6 to ensure the smooth completion of the printing task. The main control board 1 can also implement the functions of picture downloading and data reading. The host computer 6 can send picture files to the main control board 1. The main control board 1 will transmit these picture files to each driver board 2-N and store them in the local cache. When executing the printing task, the main control board 1 can read the required pictures and data from the local cache to achieve efficient data processing and printing.

[0065] According to the driving unit for the row jet inkjet device described in the exemplary embodiment, the effective communication and data exchange between the main control board and the host computer can effectively improve the flexibility and usability of the row jet inkjet device. The main control board can effectively manage and coordinate the printing tasks of each driver board, ensuring that each driver board controls each nozzle to complete the same printing task within the same time interval, thereby achieving accurate and efficient printing effects.

[0066] In the driving unit, the synchronization module on the main control board can accurately control the printing timings of each driver board by emitting high-frequency TTL signals, thereby ensuring the synchronous progress of the printing tasks between the driver boards. Concentrating all the TTL signals on one main control board is beneficial to ensuring the stability and reliability of the row jet inkjet device, and further improving the printing quality of the row jet inkjet device.

[0067] Figure 2 Shows a flowchart of a method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application.

[0068] In S101, the main control board communicates with the multiple driver boards through the multiple communication modules and real-time collects the working statuses of the multiple driver boards.

[0069] According to the exemplary embodiment, during the working process of the row jet inkjet device, the main control board communicates with the multiple driver boards through the multiple communication modules and real-time collects the working status information of each driver board, so as to better control the operation of the entire system.

[0070] The master control board sends control commands and data, such as printing task instructions, picture files, etc., to the multiple communication modules. The multiple communication modules receive the commands and data sent by the master control board, and then transmit the commands and data sent by the master control board to the corresponding driver boards. The multiple driver boards perform related operations according to the received commands and data, and send the working status information back to the corresponding communication modules. The communication modules summarize the working status information sent back by the multiple driver boards and transmit it back to the master control board. The master control board monitors the operation of the entire system based on the collected working status information, and adjusts parameters or takes corresponding actions as needed.

[0071] In S103, according to the working status of the multiple driver boards, the master control board issues a printing command through the multiple communication modules.

[0072] According to the exemplary embodiment, the master control board sends a printing command according to the working status information of the multiple driver boards. First, the master control board monitors the status of each driver board in real time, and judges whether each driver board is ready according to the received status information. When all the driver boards are ready, the master control board issues a printing command and sends the specific task instructions and data to each communication module. Subsequently, each communication module forwards the task instructions and data sent by the master control board to the corresponding driver board and controls when the driver board starts to execute the task. Each driver board starts to execute the printing task according to the received task instructions and sends the printing result back to the master control board for inspection.

[0073] In S105, the master control board issues a synchronization signal to the multiple driver boards through the multiple synchronization modules.

[0074] The master control board sends a synchronization signal to the multiple driver boards through the multiple synchronization modules to ensure that all driver boards can complete the specified operations in the correct order. The synchronization signal is a high-frequency TTL synchronization signal. The waveform frequency of the high-frequency TTL synchronization signal is relatively high, which is suitable for timing and synchronization functions in real-time control systems. Using the high-frequency TTL synchronization signal can also solve problems such as delay or blockage in communication.

[0075] According to some embodiments, before starting printing, the master control board sends a high-frequency TTL synchronization signal to each driver board to ensure that all driver boards start the printing operation at the same moment. The master control board controls the multiple driver boards through the synchronization signal, thereby ensuring the stability and accuracy of the entire system.

[0076] In S107, the multiple driver boards execute the printing command according to the synchronization signal, thereby realizing stitching printing.

[0077] According to an exemplary embodiment, the plurality of driving boards receive a synchronization signal sent from a master control board to execute a printing command, so as to achieve mosaic printing. After receiving the synchronization signal, each of the plurality of driving boards starts to execute the printing command on the same thread and completes the task according to the set printing speed and length.

[0078] After completing one printing, each driving board automatically switches to the next task to be printed until all tasks are completed. During the printing process, the master control board monitors the working status of each driving board in real time and adjusts the printing speed and length of each driving board in a timely manner to ensure that all driving boards can perform high-quality printing according to industry standards. In addition, in order to reduce the errors and misalignments in the operation of the row printer, the master control board also sets a certain safety distance between each group of nozzles to allow each driving board to have a certain buffer time, so as to ensure a satisfactory effect of mosaic printing.

[0079] As described above, the communication module periodically collects working data from each driving board, including printing parameters, device status, etc., and conducts data comparison and analysis with the master control board. To further avoid interference to the high-frequency TTL signal, the plurality of communication modules conduct data verification with the plurality of driving boards irregularly. If the fluctuation of the data verification exceeds the threshold, the master control board sends an alarm signal to the host computer.

[0080] According to some embodiments, the plurality of communication modules conduct data verification with the plurality of driving boards irregularly. If it is found that the data verification value of a certain driving board fluctuates beyond a certain threshold, an alarm signal will be sent to the host computer to remind the host computer to pay attention to this problem. If it is found that there is a large difference between the data of a certain driving board and the data of the master control board, the alarm mechanism will be triggered. Then, the communication module sends the alarm signal to the host computer to notify the host computer to detect whether there is a fault or instability in the driving board and handle it immediately. The host computer will adjust and optimize the master control board according to the actual situation to ensure that each driving board can obtain the best working state and performance.

[0081] In this exemplary embodiment, the method for the row inkjet device controls each driving board to complete the printing task according to the specified order and time through the synchronization signal sent by the master control board, which not only achieves the effect of mosaic printing but also ensures the stability and accuracy of the entire system.

[0082] The master control board monitors the working status of each driving board in real time, conducts data verification through a plurality of communication modules and sends an alarm signal to the host computer, which helps to reduce the failure rate of the row inkjet device and can effectively ensure the reliability and safety of the entire system.

[0083] Figure 3 The block diagram showing the composition of the driving board according to the exemplary embodiment of the present application.

[0084] The row - jetting device provides different waveforms to the nozzles at different stages of driving, where the duty cycle and / or cycle time of the different waveforms are set separately. According to some embodiments, the different waveforms may include a first waveform, a second waveform, and a third waveform. For example, the first waveform is a startup waveform for starting the nozzle; the second waveform is a holding waveform for maintaining the operation of the nozzle; and the third waveform, the third waveform is a release waveform for releasing the nozzle. According to some embodiments, the duty cycle of the first waveform is greater than the duty cycle of the second waveform, that is, the duty cycle of the second waveform is less than the duty cycle of the first waveform. In this example, three different waveforms respectively output by three pulse - width modulators, waveform 1 is a waveform with a duty cycle greater than or equal to 80% and less than or equal to 98%, waveform 2 is a waveform with a duty cycle greater than or equal to 12% and less than or equal to 28%, waveform 3 is a waveform with a duty cycle greater than or equal to 12% and less than or equal to 29%, and waveform 3 is a reverse waveform. The negative voltage accelerates the reset of the nozzle. By the proportion of different waveform spaces, at least one of the effects such as energy conservation, reduction of energy consumption, reduction of power consumption with a lower duty cycle, reduction of heat generation, and increase of service life can be achieved.

[0085] See Figure 3 For the row - driver according to the exemplary embodiment, the driver board in the driving unit includes at least two pulse - width modulators, a plurality of waveform switching circuits, and a plurality of driving circuit modules.

[0086] Following is an example description with Figure 3 three pulse - width modulators and thirty - two driving circuit modules shown.

[0087] According to the exemplary embodiment, the at least two pulse - width modulators include a first pulse - width modulator 9 - 1, a second pulse - width modulator 9 - 2, and a third pulse - width modulator 9 - 3. The first pulse - width modulator 9 - 1, the second pulse - width modulator 9 - 2, and the third pulse - width modulator 9 - 3 are respectively electrically connected to the plurality of waveform switching circuits 7 - 1, 7 - 2... 7 - 32, and the plurality of waveform switching circuits 7 - 1, 7 - 2... 7 - 32 are respectively connected to the plurality of driving circuit modules 8 - 1, 8 - 2... 8 - 32.

[0088] The outputs of the control signal output circuit 10 are respectively electrically connected to the plurality of waveform switching circuits 7 - 1, 7 - 2... 7 - 32, so as to provide independent control signals to the plurality of waveform switching circuits 7 - 1, 7 - 2... 7 - 32 respectively.

[0089] According to some embodiments, in the driving unit, the first pulse - width modulator 9 - 1, the second pulse - width modulator 9 - 2, and the third pulse - width modulator 9 - 3 respectively provide waveforms at different stages of the driving signal, and finally are used to control the driving of the solenoid valve of the row - jetting device, thereby controlling the ink jet volume and the printing speed.

[0090] The control signal output circuit 10 can respectively provide thirty-two different control signals to a plurality of waveform switching circuits 7-1, 7-2... 7-32 to achieve independent control of thirty-two waveforms. The plurality of waveform switching circuits 7-1, 7-2... 7-32 switch different waveforms provided by the pulse width modulator at different time points according to the set parameters.

[0091] According to some embodiments, the first pulse width modulator 9-1, the second pulse width modulator 9-2, and the third pulse width modulator 9-3 provide three different waveforms to a plurality of waveform switching circuits 7-1, 7-2... 7-32, so as to be applicable to different stages of driving. For example, the three different waveforms include: the first waveform output by the first pulse width modulator 9-1, which is a start waveform for starting the nozzle; the second waveform output by the second pulse width modulator 9-2, which is a hold waveform for maintaining the operation of the nozzle; and the third waveform output by the third pulse width modulator 9-3, which is a release waveform for releasing the nozzle.

[0092] According to some embodiments, the duty cycles and cycle times of the three different waveforms are set independently; the duty cycle of the first waveform is greater than the duty cycle of the second waveform.

[0093] According to some embodiments, the plurality of waveform switching circuits 7-1, 7-2... 7-32 include a plurality of multiplexers for selecting one of the three different waveforms and connecting it to the plurality of drive circuit modules 8-1, 8-2... 8-32.

[0094] The plurality of drive circuit modules 8-1, 8-2... 8-32 respectively output amplified waveform signals according to the waveforms provided by the plurality of waveform switching circuits 7-1, 7-2... 7-32.

[0095] For example, the front end of the drive circuit module 8 is a fast switching transistor, which can withstand a large power in the DOD serial inkjet device. Through the fast switching transistor, the opening or closing of the solenoid valve can be controlled, thereby realizing the control of the ink ejection state.

[0096] According to some embodiments, the plurality of drive circuits 8-M amplify the voltage of the waveforms provided by the plurality of waveform switching circuits 7-M to generate a large enough current to drive the solenoid valve. At the same time, a control signal is output, which controls the first Darlington tube. After high-magnification current amplification, it is connected to the positive electrode of the nozzle. The role of the first Darlington tube is to amplify the output signal of the drive circuit so that it can drive the nozzle, and then achieve high-magnification current amplification to effectively drive the solenoid valve to achieve a better printing effect.

[0097] The nozzle includes a solenoid valve type nozzle. In order to disconnect the power supply in time after each inkjet cycle, the drive circuit module is connected to the negative electrode of the nozzle and the ground through a second Darlington tube. When the waveform switching circuit provides a switching signal, the second Darlington tube conducts, grounding the nozzle, thereby preventing the solenoid valve from continuing to operate. The nozzle stops working and waits for the next start signal.

[0098] The row-jet inkjet device controlled by the drive board can provide independent control signals to multiple nozzles of a single inkjet device, which can simplify the system design and reduce the production cost of the equipment.

[0099] Figure 4 The flowchart showing the operation of the drive board according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application is shown.

[0100] In S201, the pulse width modulator provides different waveforms to a plurality of waveform switching circuits respectively.

[0101] According to the exemplary embodiment, during the operation of the row-jet inkjet device, different waveforms are provided by the pulse width modulator at different stages of driving. For example, the pulse width modulator may include a first pulse width modulator, a second pulse width modulator, and a third pulse width modulator, and the first pulse width modulator, the second pulse width modulator, and the third pulse width modulator provide different waveforms to a plurality of waveform switching circuits respectively.

[0102] For example, the first pulse width modulator outputs a first waveform, and the first waveform is a start waveform for starting the nozzle; the second pulse width modulator 9-2 outputs a second waveform, and the second waveform is a hold waveform for maintaining the operation of the nozzle; the third pulse width modulator 9-3 outputs a third waveform, and the third waveform is a release waveform for releasing the nozzle. According to some embodiments, the duty cycles and cycle times of the three different waveforms are set independently; the duty cycle of the second waveform is less than the duty cycle of the first waveform.

[0103] In S203, the control signal output circuit provides independent control signals to the plurality of waveform switching circuits respectively.

[0104] The control signal output circuit receives the instruction of the system and transmits the instruction to the corresponding waveform switching circuit. The plurality of waveform switching circuits are connected in parallel with each other, and the control signal output circuit can provide different control signals to the plurality of waveform switching circuits to independently control the plurality of waveform switching circuits.

[0105] In S205, the plurality of waveform switching circuits provide waveforms to the plurality of drive circuit modules respectively.

[0106] According to an exemplary embodiment, the plurality of waveform switching circuits transmit the corresponding waveforms provided by a pulse width modulator to the plurality of driving circuit modules according to the control signals provided by the control signal output circuit, and the plurality of driving circuit modules respectively output amplified waveform signals according to the waveforms provided by the plurality of waveform switching circuits.

[0107] In S207, the plurality of driving circuit modules respectively drive a plurality of nozzles.

[0108] The plurality of driving circuit modules respectively control the solenoid valves in the plurality of nozzles. The driving circuit modules amplify the voltage of the waveforms provided by the waveform switching circuits to generate a sufficiently large current to drive the solenoid valves. Thus, the plurality of driving circuit modules respectively drive the plurality of nozzles to complete the printing work.

[0109] According to an exemplary embodiment, the working process of the driving unit of the entire row of inkjet devices is that the pulse width modulator provides waveforms in different stages, and transmits the driving signals of the waveforms in different stages to the plurality of waveform switching circuits. The control signal output circuit selects appropriate driving waveforms for the plurality of waveform switching circuits, and then controls the nozzles through the driving circuit modules to achieve printing.

[0110] In this exemplary embodiment, a more precise control of the nozzles is achieved by combining the PWM method with the driving unit to open ports for embedded software control. The software control method of the open ports can make the driving circuit more flexible, easier to update and improve, and match the row of inkjet devices in various usage scenarios without the need to replace hardware devices.

[0111] Figure 5 A waveform schematic diagram output by a pulse width modulator according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application is shown.

[0112] According to an exemplary embodiment, the first pulse width modulator 9-1, the second pulse width modulator 9-2, and the third pulse width modulator 9-3 respectively output three different waveforms, which are applicable to different stages of the row of inkjet devices, thereby driving the plurality of nozzles of the row of inkjet devices.

[0113] See Figure 5 , the first pulse width modulator 9-1 outputs a first waveform, the second pulse width modulator 9-2 outputs a second waveform, and the third pulse width modulator 9-3 outputs a third waveform. The duty cycles and cycle times of the three different waveforms are set independently, and the duty cycle of the second waveform is less than the duty cycle of the first waveform.

[0114] For example, the first waveform is a start waveform for starting the nozzles. The first waveform has a relatively high duty cycle and provides relatively high energy, so it is easier to eject ink droplets.

[0115] The second waveform is a holding waveform, which is a pulse waveform that exists continuously after the row-connected inkjet device starts inkjetting and is used to maintain the operation of the printhead. The duty cycle of the second waveform is relatively low, which can reduce power consumption, reduce heat generation, and at the same time extend the service life of the printhead and maintain long-term stability.

[0116] The third waveform is a release waveform, which is a pulse waveform when the row-connected inkjet device stops inkjetting and is used to release the printhead so that it can return to its original state before the next inkjet cycle. The negative voltage in the third waveform helps to accelerate the reset process of the printhead, thereby increasing the operating frequency of the row-connected inkjet device.

[0117] According to the exemplary embodiment, the first pulse width modulator 9-1, the second pulse width modulator 9-2, and the third pulse width modulator 9-3 provide three different waveforms to a plurality of waveform switching circuits 7-1, 7-2... 7-32. The plurality of waveform switching circuits 7-1, 7-2... 7-32 include a plurality of multiplexers for selecting one of the three different waveforms and connecting it to the plurality of driver circuit modules 8-1, 8-2... 8-32.

[0118] During the operation of the row-connected inkjet device, independent control signals are respectively provided to the plurality of waveform switching circuits 7-1, 7-2... 7-32 through the control signal output circuit 10, and the required waveforms are provided to the plurality of driver circuit modules 8-1, 8-2... 8-32, thereby driving the printhead to act and completing the high-precision control of the row-connected inkjet device.

[0119] According to the exemplary embodiment, by adjusting the duty cycle, cycle time, and bias voltage in the output waveform through the pulse width modulator, the driving waveform can be flexibly adjusted according to the actual situation, effectively improving the printing effect, enhancing the printing precision and accuracy, and improving the printing quality while saving energy. By adjusting the pulse width to control the ink volume of the printhead, the number and size of ink dots are controlled, thereby achieving a more delicate printing effect. Through the custom configuration of different waveforms, the operation of the printhead is made smoother, thereby improving the printing quality.

[0120] In this exemplary embodiment, the synchronization signal sent by the master control board controls each driver board to complete the printing task in a specified order and time, not only achieving the effect of seamless printing but also ensuring the stability and accuracy of the entire system. The master control board monitors the working status of each driver board in real time, performs data verification through multiple communication modules, and sends an alarm signal to the host computer, which helps to reduce the failure rate of the row-connected inkjet device and can effectively ensure the reliability and safety of the entire system.

[0121] The driving unit for the row - jet inkjet device proposed in this application can precisely control the printing timing of each driving board by using the high - frequency TTL signal sent by the synchronization module on the master control board, thereby ensuring the synchronization of printing tasks among the driving boards. At the same time, the effective communication and data exchange between the master control board and the host computer can effectively improve the flexibility and usability of the row - jet inkjet device.

[0122] It should be noted that for the foregoing method embodiments, for the sake of simple description, they are all expressed as a series of action combinations. However, those skilled in the art should know that this application is not limited by the described action sequence, because according to this application, certain steps can be performed in other sequences or simultaneously. Secondly, those skilled in the art should also know that the embodiments described in the specification are all preferred embodiments, and the actions and modules involved are not necessarily essential to this application.

[0123] In the above embodiments, the descriptions of each embodiment have their own focuses. For the parts not detailed in a certain embodiment, reference can be made to the relevant descriptions of other embodiments.

[0124] In several embodiments provided by this application, it should be understood that the disclosed device can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are only illustrative. For example, the division of units is only a logical function division. In actual implementation, there can be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. Another point is that the displayed or discussed coupling or direct coupling or communication connection between each other can be through some service interfaces. The indirect coupling or communication connection of the device or unit can be in an electrical or other form.

[0125] The unit described as a separated component may or may not be physically separated, and the component displayed as a unit may or may not be a physical unit, that is, it can be located in one place or distributed to multiple network units. Some or all of the units can be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the solution of this embodiment.

[0126] In addition, in each embodiment of this application, the functional units can be integrated in a processing unit, or each unit can exist physically alone, or two or more units can be integrated in one unit. The above - mentioned integrated unit can be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of a software functional unit.

[0127] When the integrated unit is implemented in the form of a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a computer-readable memory. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present application, in essence, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or all or part of this technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a memory and includes several instructions to enable a computer device (which can be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods of the various embodiments of the present application.

[0128] In the above embodiments, the descriptions of the various embodiments each have their own emphases. For the parts not detailed in a certain embodiment, reference can be made to the relevant descriptions of other embodiments.

[0129] The above specifically shows and describes the exemplary embodiments of the present application. It should be understood that the present application is not limited to the detailed structures, setting manners, or implementation methods described here; on the contrary, the present application intends to cover various modifications and equivalent settings included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A driving unit for an inkjet device in series, characterized in that, The driving unit includes a main control board and a plurality of driving boards. The main control board includes a plurality of communication modules and a plurality of synchronization modules, where: The plurality of driving boards are respectively electrically connected to multiple groups of nozzles, so as to drive the multiple groups of nozzles respectively to achieve printing; The plurality of communication modules are respectively electrically connected to the plurality of driving boards, so as to realize the communication between the main control board and the plurality of driving boards; The plurality of synchronization modules are respectively electrically connected to the plurality of driving boards, so as to realize the synchronization of the printing timing of the main control board to the plurality of driving boards.

2. The drive unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The main control board further includes an Ethernet port, and the main control board is connected to a host computer through the Ethernet port.

3. The drive unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The main control board sends TTL synchronization signals to the plurality of driving boards through the plurality of synchronization modules.

4. The drive unit according to claim 1, characterized in that Each driving board includes at least two pulse width modulators, a plurality of waveform switching circuits, a plurality of driving circuit modules and a control signal output circuit, where: The at least two pulse width modulators are respectively electrically connected to all of the plurality of waveform switching circuits; The plurality of waveform switching circuits are respectively connected to one of the plurality of driving circuit modules; The plurality of driving circuit modules are respectively electrically connected to the multiple groups of nozzles, so as to drive the multiple groups of nozzles to achieve printing; The outputs of the control signal output circuit are respectively electrically connected to the plurality of waveform switching circuits, so as to provide independent control signals to the plurality of waveform switching circuits respectively.

5. The drive unit according to claim 4, characterized in that The plurality of driving circuit modules respectively output amplified waveform signals according to the waveforms provided by the plurality of waveform switching circuits.

6. The drive unit according to claim 4, characterized in that The at least two pulse width modulators include a first pulse width modulator, a second pulse width modulator and a third pulse width modulator.

7. The drive unit according to claim 6, characterized in that The first pulse width modulator, the second pulse width modulator and the third pulse width modulator output three different waveforms, so as to be applicable to different stages of driving.

8. The drive unit according to claim 4, characterized in that, The plurality of waveform switching circuits include a plurality of multiplexers.

9. The drive unit according to claim 4, characterized in that The multiple groups of nozzles include thirty-two groups of nozzles, and the thirty-two groups of nozzles form a nozzle array.

10. A row jet printing device, characterized in that, Including: Multiple groups of nozzles; The driving unit according to any one of claims 1-9, electrically connected to the multiple groups of nozzles.

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