An inorganic ink bottle with a quick-change liquid level switch and two-stage circulation.

Abstract

This utility model relates to a two-stage circulating inorganic ink bottle with a quick-change liquid level switch, applicable to inkjet printing equipment. The ink bottle includes a base, an ink bottle, and a top cover assembly. The top cover assembly consists of an upper ink bottle seat fixed to the base via a support rod, an upper ink bottle seat cover sealing the ink bottle opening (via an annular groove and sealing ring structure), and an ink bottle cover securing the liquid level switch. A fixing rod is attached to the tail of the liquid level switch, detachably connected to the retaining hole of the ink bottle cover. Replacing the liquid level switch only requires removing the ink bottle cover, avoiding the need to disassemble the upper ink bottle seat and upper seat cover, thereby simplifying maintenance steps, maintaining a stable installation reference, preventing ink leakage, improving maintenance efficiency, and reducing downtime.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of inkjet printing equipment technology, and in particular to an inorganic ink two-stage circulating ink bottle with a quick-change liquid level switch. Background Technology

[0002] In the field of industrial inkjet printing, especially in printing equipment using inorganic inks such as ceramic inks and glass inks, a two-stage circulating ink path system is typically used to prevent ink sedimentation and ensure stable print quality. The secondary ink bottle (also known as the auxiliary ink tank or day-use ink tank) is the core component of this system, responsible for storing ink and maintaining a stable ink supply pressure.

[0003] Ink bottles typically contain level switches to monitor the ink level in real time. When the level falls below a preset value, a signal is emitted to prompt for ink replenishment or to sound an alarm, preventing the printhead from burning out. However, due to prolonged immersion in chemically complex inks, level switches (especially float-type or electrode-type switches) are consumable components and require regular inspection or replacement.

[0004] In existing ink bottle designs, the level switch is typically mounted directly on the main seal of the ink bottle. Replacing the level switch requires removing the entire main seal along with the connected ink lines, gas lines, and signal cables. This process has several drawbacks:

[0005] 1. Complex operation and excessive time consumption: Disassembling and reinstalling multiple pipes and cables involves cumbersome steps, which greatly increases the downtime of equipment maintenance.

[0006] 2. Disruption of System Reference Standards: The positional accuracy of the main sealing cap directly affects the ink bottle's sealing performance and the stability of the ink circulation. Repeated disassembly and reassembly can easily cause the installation reference standard to shift, potentially leading to problems such as ink leakage and unstable ink supply. The equipment often needs to be recalibrated after maintenance.

[0007] 3. High risk of contamination: Disassembling the pipeline can easily cause ink leakage, contaminating the equipment and working environment.

[0008] Therefore, how to simplify the replacement steps of liquid level switches and achieve fast and convenient maintenance without affecting the original installation standards of the equipment is a technical problem that urgently needs to be solved in this field. Utility Model Content

[0009] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the shortcomings of existing technologies and provide a two-stage circulating inorganic ink bottle for quick-change of liquid level switches. This ink bottle structure is designed to allow for liquid level switch replacement with only a minimal number of components removed, thereby avoiding disassembly of piping, maintaining the installation baseline of the entire device, and improving maintenance efficiency.

[0010] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0011] An inorganic ink bottle with a quick-change liquid level switch and a two-stage circulation system includes a base, an ink bottle, and a top cover assembly disposed above the ink bottle. The top cover assembly includes: an ink bottle upper seat connected to the base via a support rod; an ink bottle upper seat cover detachably connected to the ink bottle upper seat and forming a seal with the mouth of the ink bottle; and an ink bottle cap detachably connected to the ink bottle upper seat cover. A liquid level switch is disposed inside the ink bottle, and a fixing rod is disposed at the tail of the liquid level switch. The fixing rod passes through the ink bottle upper seat cover and is detachably connected to the ink bottle cap.

[0012] Through the above structure, the upper cover assembly is functionally decomposed into three core parts: the ink bottle upper seat is responsible for connecting to the equipment base and establishing the overall installation benchmark; the ink bottle upper seat cover is responsible for sealing with the ink bottle; and the ink bottle cover independently is responsible for fixing the liquid level switch. When replacing the liquid level switch, neither the ink bottle upper seat that fixes the benchmark nor the ink bottle upper seat cover that is responsible for sealing needs to be disassembled. Only the outermost ink bottle cover needs to be removed, and the liquid level switch can be lifted out and replaced together, achieving functional decoupling and rapid maintenance.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the support rod is threaded to both the ink bottle holder and the base. This connection method allows for precise adjustment of the height and horizontal position of the ink bottle holder, ensuring a stable and reliable installation.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the bottom of the ink bottle upper cover is provided with an annular groove, and the edge of the ink bottle opening is provided with a sealing ring. When the ink bottle upper cover is connected to the ink bottle upper seat, the sealing ring is pressed into the annular groove, forming a reliable surface sealing structure, effectively preventing ink leakage or the ingress of outside air.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the ink bottle cap is provided with a retaining hole, and the fixing rod of the liquid level switch is threadedly connected to the retaining hole. During replacement, the liquid level switch can be quickly separated from the ink bottle cap simply by rotating the ink bottle cap or the fixing rod, making the operation extremely convenient.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the ink bottle cap has a threaded hole at one corner, and a screw passes through this threaded hole to connect it to the upper cover of the ink bottle. This multi-point fastening method ensures that the ink bottle cap is installed smoothly and securely.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, the ink bottle holder has a first through hole, and the ink bottle holder cover has a second through hole. The fixing rod passes through the first and second through holes in sequence. These two through holes provide a path for the fixing rod to reach the ink bottle cover.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment, the ink bottle holder is provided with a limiting groove, and the ink bottle holder cover is disposed within the limiting groove and connected to the ink bottle holder via a threaded pin. The limiting groove design ensures the precise positioning of the ink bottle holder cover during installation, prevents rotation or eccentricity, and guarantees the accuracy of its seal with the ink bottle opening.

[0019] (III) Beneficial Effects

[0020] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following significant advantages:

[0021] High maintenance efficiency: When replacing the level switch, only the ink bottle cap needs to be removed; there is no need to remove the ink bottle upper cover and ink bottle upper seat related to the ink and gas circuits. The operation steps are simplified from "removing the entire top cover and pipeline" to "removing a single small cover," greatly reducing maintenance time.

[0022] Maintaining stable system benchmarks: Since the core components that support the overall structure and are responsible for sealing remain in place during maintenance, key benchmarks such as the installation position and height of the ink bottles will not be damaged. After replacement, the equipment does not need to be recalibrated and can be put into use immediately.

[0023] Reduced contamination risk and maintenance difficulty: No need to disconnect ink lines, effectively preventing ink leaks and maintaining the cleanliness of equipment and the environment. Simple and intuitive operation reduces the skill requirements for maintenance personnel. Attached Figure Description

[0024] To more clearly illustrate the embodiments of this utility model, the present utility model will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0025] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of one embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 2 This is an exploded structural diagram of one embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the ink bottle cap in one embodiment of this utility model.

[0028] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the ink bottle upper cover in one embodiment of this utility model.

[0029] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the ink bottle holder in one embodiment of this utility model.

[0030] The markings in the diagram are as follows: 1-base; 2-ink bottle; 21-sealing ring; 3-top cover assembly; 31-ink bottle upper seat; 311-first through hole; 312-limiting groove; 32-ink bottle upper seat cover; 321-annular groove; 322-second through hole; 33-ink bottle cover; 331-fixing hole; 4-support rod; 5-liquid level switch; 51-fixing rod. Detailed Implementation

[0031] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this utility model clearer, the following detailed description of the inorganic ink two-stage circulation bottle with a quick-change liquid level switch, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments, provides further insight. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the scope of this utility model.

[0032] In the description of this utility model, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more; the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "inner," "outer," "front end," "rear end," "head," "tail," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this utility model. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," "third," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0033] In the description of this utility model, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "joining" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; they can refer to mechanical connections or electrical connections; they can refer to direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal communication between two components. Those skilled in the art will be able to understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model based on the specific circumstances.

[0034] The technical solution of this utility model will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0035] Please see Figures 1 to 5 This utility model provides an inorganic ink two-stage circulating ink bottle with quick-change liquid level switch, which mainly includes a base (1), an ink bottle (2) and a top cover assembly (3).

[0036] The base (1) is the mounting base of the entire device and is usually fixed to the frame of the printing equipment. The base (1) is provided with a mounting slot (not shown in the figure) for placing and positioning the ink bottle (2). The base (1) has a flow channel inside, which is connected to the mounting slot and the print head, so that the ink in the ink bottle (2) can flow to the print head. Since this structure is not protected and belongs to the prior art, it will not be described in detail here.

[0037] The ink bottle (2) is used to hold inorganic ink. Its mouth edge protrudes upward and a ring-shaped sealing ring (21) is installed at the top.

[0038] The core structure is the top cover assembly (3) located above the ink bottle (2), which is an innovative multi-layered modular structure. For example... Figure 2 As shown, the upper cover assembly (3) consists of an ink bottle upper seat (31), an ink bottle upper seat cover (32), and an ink bottle cover (33) from bottom to top.

[0039] The ink bottle holder (31) serves as the support and positioning reference for the entire upper cover assembly (3). It is connected to the base (1) via multiple (e.g., four) support rods (4). Specifically, both ends of the support rods (4) are externally threaded, achieving a rigid connection by screwing them into the corresponding threaded holes on the ink bottle holder (31) and the base (1). The installation height of the ink bottle holder (31) can be precisely adjusted by adjusting the depth of the support rods (4). After installation and debugging, the position of the ink bottle holder (31) is fixed, becoming the reference for the entire ink bottle system. A relatively large first through hole (311) is provided on the ink bottle holder (31) to accommodate the installation space of the components below. At the same time, an annular limiting groove (312) is provided around the first through hole (311) on the upper surface of the ink bottle holder (31).

[0040] The ink bottle upper cover (32) is a key component for achieving a seal on the ink bottle (2). Its shape matches the limiting groove (312) on the ink bottle upper seat (31), and it fits perfectly into the limiting groove (312) during installation, thus achieving precise radial positioning. The ink bottle upper cover (32) is fixed to the ink bottle upper seat (31) by several threaded pins (not shown in the figure). At the center of the ink bottle upper cover (32), there is a second through hole (322), the diameter of which is smaller than that of the first through hole (311). Figure 3As shown, an annular groove (321) is machined around the periphery of the second through hole (322) at the bottom of the ink bottle upper cover (32). After the height of the ink bottle upper seat (31) is adjusted by the support rod (4) and the ink bottle upper cover (32) is fixed, the annular groove (321) will accurately press against the sealing ring (21) at the edge of the ink bottle (2) mouth, forming a reliable seal. The ink bottle upper cover (32) usually also integrates interfaces for ink and air passages (not shown in the figure) for connecting external pipelines.

[0041] The ink bottle cap (33) is the core component for enabling quick replacement of the liquid level switch. It covers the upper cover of the ink bottle (32) and is detachably fixed to the upper cover of the ink bottle (32) by screws located at its four corners. A retaining hole (331) is provided at the center of the ink bottle cap (33), which is a threaded hole.

[0042] The liquid level switch (5) is located inside the ink bottle (2), and a slender fixing rod (51) is fixedly connected to its tail. The end of the fixing rod (51) is machined with an external thread that matches the retaining hole (331). During installation, the fixing rod (51) passes through the first through hole (311) of the ink bottle seat (31) and the second through hole (322) of the ink bottle seat cover (32) from bottom to top, and is finally screwed into and fixed in the retaining hole (331) of the ink bottle cover (33) by the thread.

[0043] Work process and maintenance procedures:

[0044] During normal operation, the ink bottle upper seat (31), ink bottle upper seat cover (32), and ink bottle cover (33) together form a closed whole, ensuring the airtightness of the ink bottle (2). The liquid level switch (5) is suspended at a predetermined height inside the ink bottle (2) by the fixing rod (51) and the ink bottle cover (33).

[0045] When it is necessary to replace the level switch (5), the maintenance procedure is as follows:

[0046] 1. Personnel do not need to disconnect any ink or air lines connected to the ink bottle seat cap (32).

[0047] 2. Use a tool to unscrew the screws at the four corners of the ink bottle cap (33) to separate the ink bottle cap (33) from the ink bottle upper cover (32).

[0048] 3. Lift the ink bottle cap (33) upwards. Since the liquid level switch (5) is connected to the ink bottle cap (33) through its fixing rod (51), the liquid level switch (5) will be lifted out of the ink bottle (2) along with the ink bottle cap (33).

[0049] 4. By rotating the ink bottle cap (33) or the retaining rod (51), unscrew the old liquid level switch (5) from the retaining hole (331) of the ink bottle cap (33).

[0050] 5. The liquid level switch (5) is screwed onto the ink bottle cap (33) in the same manner.

[0051] 6. After attaching the new liquid level switch, put the ink bottle cap (33) back in its original position, put the fixing rod (51) and liquid level switch (5) back into the ink bottle (2), and fix the ink bottle cap (33) to the ink bottle upper seat cover (32) with screws.

[0052] During the entire replacement process, only the ink bottle cap (33) and the liquid level switch (5) are moved, while the ink bottle seat (31) and ink bottle seat cap (32), which serve as the reference and sealing body, remain in their original positions, ensuring that the maintenance operation is quick, easy and accurate.

[0053] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present utility model and is not intended to limit the present utility model in any way. Although the present utility model has been disclosed above with reference to a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the present utility model. Any person skilled in the art can make some modifications or alterations to the above-disclosed technical content to create equivalent embodiments without departing from the scope of the present utility model. Any simple modifications, equivalent changes, and alterations made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present utility model without departing from the scope of the present utility model shall still fall within the scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. An inorganic ink secondary circulation ink bottle with quick replacement of a liquid level switch, characterized by, include: Base (1); Ink bottle (2), disposed on the base (1); and a top cover assembly (3), disposed above the ink bottle (2); the top cover assembly (3) includes: The ink bottle upper seat (31) is connected to the base (1) via a support rod (4); The ink bottle upper cover (32) is detachably connected to the ink bottle upper seat (31) and forms a seal with the bottle mouth of the ink bottle (2); And an ink bottle cap (33), which is detachably connected to the ink bottle upper seat cover (32); The liquid level switch (5) has a fixing rod (51) at its tail. The fixing rod (51) passes through the upper cover (32) of the ink bottle and is detachably connected to the ink bottle cover (33).

2. The ink bottle of claim 1, wherein The support rod (4) is connected to the ink bottle upper seat (31) and the base (1) respectively by threads.

3. The ink bottle according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bottom of the ink bottle upper cover (32) is provided with an annular groove (321), and the edge of the ink bottle (2) is provided with a sealing ring (21). When the ink bottle upper cover (32) is connected to the ink bottle upper seat (31), the sealing ring (21) is pressed into the annular groove (321).

4. The ink bottle according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ink bottle cap (33) is provided with a retaining hole (331), and the fixing rod (51) of the liquid level switch (5) is threadedly connected to the retaining hole (331).

5. The ink bottle according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ink bottle cap (33) has a threaded hole at the corner and is connected to the ink bottle upper cover (32) by a screw passing through the threaded hole.

6. The ink bottle according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ink bottle upper seat (31) is provided with a first through hole (311), the ink bottle upper seat cover (32) is provided with a second through hole (322), and the fixing rod (51) passes through the first through hole (311) and the second through hole (322) in sequence.

7. The ink bottle according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that, The ink bottle upper seat (31) is provided with a limiting groove (312), and the ink bottle upper seat cover (32) is disposed in the limiting groove (312) and connected to the ink bottle upper seat (31) by a threaded pin.

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