A self-cleaning mechanism for the printhead of an inkjet printer

Abstract

This utility model belongs to the field of inkjet printing equipment, and in particular, it relates to a self-cleaning mechanism for the printhead of an inkjet printer. Addressing the problem that existing printheads are prone to accumulating dust, dried ink residue, and other impurities at the inkjet end, which affect the normal ejection of ink droplets and lead to decreased print quality, such as blurry prints and broken lines, the present invention proposes the following solution: It includes a printhead body, with an inkjet end located on one side of the bottom of the printhead body. Two mounting plates for easy installation are fixedly connected to one side of the printhead body. Both mounting plates have mounting holes, and each mounting plate has a triangular plate at its bottom for stability. This allows for precise control of the distance between the adsorption plate and the inkjet end. Combined with the negative pressure generated by a micro-air pump, it can effectively adsorb dust and ink residue around the inkjet end, ensuring the cleanliness of the printhead, thereby improving print quality and reducing problems such as blurry prints and broken lines caused by an unclean printhead.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of inkjet printing equipment technology, and in particular to a self-cleaning mechanism for the printhead of an inkjet printing equipment. Background Technology

[0002] The printhead of an inkjet printer is the core component of the inkjet printer. It is responsible for accurately spraying ink onto paper or other media to form images or text. The inkjet printhead is a technology-intensive component, and its performance directly determines the application scenarios and cost-effectiveness of the printer. It generally uses thermal inkjet technology, the principle of which is to heat a resistor to generate bubbles in the ink chamber. The bubbles expand and push the ink droplets out of the nozzle.

[0003] During the use of inkjet printers, dust, dried ink residue, and other impurities can easily accumulate on the ink jet end of the printhead. The presence of these impurities can affect the normal ejection of ink droplets, leading to a decline in print quality and problems such as blurriness and broken lines. Therefore, a more effective cleaning mechanism is needed to solve the problem of cleaning the printhead. Utility Model Content

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to solve the problem that the inkjet head of the existing technology is prone to dust and dried ink residue, which can affect the normal ejection of ink droplets, resulting in a decrease in print quality and the appearance of blurry or broken lines. Therefore, this invention proposes a self-cleaning mechanism for the print head of an inkjet printer.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0006] A self-cleaning mechanism for the printhead of an inkjet printer includes a printhead body, an inkjet end on one side of the bottom of the printhead body, two mounting plates for easy installation fixedly connected to one side of the printhead body, each mounting plate having a mounting hole, and a triangular plate for stabilization at the bottom of each mounting plate, and a cleaning component for cleaning on the printhead body.

[0007] In one possible design, the cleaning assembly includes a U-shaped frame, an adsorption plate, a sponge layer, a housing, an air outlet pipe, two hoses, an electric telescopic rod, and a connecting plate. A miniature air pump is bolted to the top of the U-shaped frame. The housing is fixed to the top of the U-shaped frame and covers the miniature air pump. One end of the air outlet pipe is located at the air outlet of the miniature air pump. One end of each of the two hoses is connected to the air inlet of the miniature air pump via a T-junction. The other ends of each hose are connected to the same adsorption plate. The top of the adsorption plate has an adsorption end for cleaning the inkjet end. The sponge layer is fixed to the top of the adsorption plate. The housing is fixedly connected to one side of the printhead body. The fixed end of the electric telescopic rod is bolted to the inner wall of the U-shaped frame. One side of the connecting plate is fixedly connected to one side of the adsorption plate, and the telescopic end of the electric telescopic rod is fixedly connected to the other side of the connecting plate.

[0008] In one possible design, a second connecting plate is fixedly connected to the outer side of the outer shell, a second electric telescopic rod is fixedly connected to the top of the second connecting plate, a side plate is fixedly connected to the fixed end of the second electric telescopic rod, one side of the side plate is fixedly connected to one side of the print head body, and positioning rods for stability are fixedly connected to both sides of the top of the U-shaped frame, with the top ends of the two positioning rods sliding through the bottom sides of the same side plate and fixedly connected to limit plates.

[0009] In one possible design, a filter screen is fixedly installed on the inner wall of the air outlet pipe, and the gap between the filter screen and the inner wall of the air outlet pipe is sealed with sealant.

[0010] In one possible design, the lengths of the two hoses are greater than the distance the suction plate moves to the bottom of the inkjet end to facilitate cleaning of the inkjet end.

[0011] In one possible design, a hook and loop fastener is fixedly provided at the top edge of the adsorption plate, and a loop and loop fastener that fits the hook and loop fastener is fixedly provided at the bottom edge of the sponge layer, with the hook and loop fasteners being adhered together.

[0012] In this application, the printhead body is the core, and the inkjet end on one side of its bottom is responsible for spraying ink onto the printing medium to complete the printing task. During operation, ink is transported through the internal ink channel, and under the control of electrical signals, the ink is sprayed out in the form of tiny droplets to form images or text.

[0013] When the printhead needs cleaning, the printer's internal controller activates the electric telescopic rod. Since the fixed end of the electric telescopic rod is fixed to the inner wall of the U-shaped frame, and the telescopic end is fixedly connected to the connecting plate, which in turn is connected to the suction plate, the extension and retraction of the electric telescopic rod will move the suction plate, causing it to move closer to or further away from the inkjet head.

[0014] After the adsorption plate is moved to the appropriate position, the controller controls the micro air pump to start. The micro air pump draws air through two hoses at the air inlet. Because the other end of the hose is connected to the adsorption plate, a negative pressure is generated at the adsorption end of the adsorption plate. At this time, dust, ink residue and other impurities around the inkjet end will be adsorbed onto the sponge layer on the top of the adsorption plate. One end of the air outlet pipe is connected to the air outlet of the micro air pump. The filter screen on the inner wall of the air outlet pipe can prevent dust and other impurities from entering the micro air pump and ensure that the micro air pump works normally.

[0015] After a period of use, the sponge layer needs to be replaced or cleaned regularly. The second electric telescopic rod then comes into play. Its fixed end connects to a side plate, which is fixed to one side of the printhead body. Its telescopic end connects to a second connecting plate, which is connected to the outer casing. The outer casing is associated with the cleaning assembly. The extension and retraction of the second electric telescopic rod moves the U-shaped frame and the entire cleaning assembly, moving the sponge layer away from the printhead body. This facilitates the removal and installation of the sponge layer using the adhesive relationship between the hook and loop sides of the Velcro. The positioning rod and limiting plate work together to restrict the movement range of the U-shaped frame, ensuring the stability of the cleaning assembly during movement.

[0016] The beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows:

[0017] In this invention, the electric telescopic rod moves the adsorption plate, which can precisely control the distance between the adsorption plate and the inkjet end. Combined with the negative pressure generated by the micro air pump, it can effectively adsorb dust and ink residue around the inkjet end, ensuring the cleanliness of the print head, thereby improving print quality and reducing problems such as blurry printing and broken lines caused by an unclean print head.

[0018] The sponge layer and the suction plate are detachably connected by hook and loop fasteners. When the sponge layer has absorbed too much impurity and needs to be replaced or cleaned, the operation is simple and convenient. At the same time, the electric telescopic rod can move the cleaning component to move the sponge layer away from the print head body, which further facilitates the disassembly and assembly of the sponge layer and improves maintenance efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the main structure of this utility model;

[0020] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the cleaning component of this utility model;

[0021] Figure 3 This is an exploded view of the adsorption plate structure of this utility model;

[0022] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the lifting structure of this utility model.

[0023] In the diagram: 1. Printhead body; 2. Mounting plate; 3. Absorption plate; 4. U-shaped frame; 5. Sponge layer; 6. Outer shell; 7. Air outlet pipe; 8. Hose; 9. Electric telescopic rod one; 10. Connecting plate one; 11. Positioning rod; 12. Limiting plate; 13. Velcro rough surface; 14. Velcro hook surface; 15. Electric telescopic rod two; 16. Side plate; 17. Connecting plate two. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present utility model. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments.

[0025] In one embodiment: Refer to Figures 1-4 A self-cleaning mechanism includes a printhead body 1, mounting plates 2, cleaning components, and related auxiliary structures. The printhead body 1 is the core component of the entire mechanism. It has an inkjet end on one side of its bottom, which is responsible for spraying ink onto the printing medium to complete the printing task. When the printhead body 1 is working, it delivers ink to the inkjet end through the internal ink channel. Under the control of an electrical signal, the inkjet end precisely sprays the ink in the form of tiny droplets to form the desired image or text on the printing medium. Two mounting plates 2 are fixedly connected to one side of the printhead body 1. Both mounting plates 2 have mounting holes to facilitate the installation of the entire printhead self-cleaning mechanism onto the inkjet printing equipment. At the same time, triangular plates are provided at the bottom of both mounting plates 2 to stabilize the structure and enhance its stability after installation.

[0026] The cleaning assembly is a key component for achieving the self-cleaning function of this device. The assembly includes a U-shaped frame 4, an adsorption plate 3, a sponge layer 5, a housing 6, an air outlet pipe 7, two flexible hoses 8, an electric telescopic rod 9, and a connecting plate 10. A miniature air pump is bolted to the top of the U-shaped frame 4. The housing 6 is fixed to the top of the U-shaped frame 4 and covers the miniature air pump, protecting it. One end of the air outlet pipe 7 is connected to the air outlet of the miniature air pump. A filter screen is fixed to the inner wall of the air outlet pipe 7, and the gap between the filter screen and the inner wall of the air outlet pipe 7 is sealed with sealant to prevent dust and other impurities from entering the miniature air pump and affecting its normal operation. One end of each of the two flexible hoses 8 is connected to the air inlet of the miniature air pump via a T-junction. One end of each hose is connected to the same adsorption plate 3. The length of the two hoses 8 is greater than the distance the adsorption plate 3 moves to the bottom of the inkjet end, ensuring that the hoses 8 will not be damaged due to excessive stretching during the movement of the adsorption plate 3, and ensuring smooth airflow for easy cleaning of the inkjet end. The adsorption plate 3 is provided with an adsorption end at the top, and the sponge layer 5 is fixed to the top of the adsorption plate 3. The top edge of the adsorption plate 3 is fixed with a hook and loop fastener 14, and the bottom edge of the sponge layer 5 is fixed with a hook and loop fastener 13 that fits the hook and loop fastener 14. The hook and loop fastener 14 are bonded together to achieve a detachable connection between the sponge layer 5 and the adsorption plate 3, which facilitates the replacement or cleaning of the sponge layer 5 in the future.

[0027] The outer shell 6 is fixedly connected to one side of the printhead body 1. The fixed end of the electric telescopic rod 9 is fixed to the inner wall of the U-shaped frame 4 by bolts. One side of the connecting plate 10 is fixedly connected to one side of the adsorption plate 3. The telescopic end of the electric telescopic rod 9 is fixedly connected to the other side of the connecting plate 10. Through the telescopic movement of the electric telescopic rod 9, the adsorption plate 3 can be moved, so that the adsorption plate 3 is close to or away from the inkjet end, thereby realizing the cleaning operation of the inkjet end.

[0028] This application can be used in the field of printhead cleaning for inkjet printing equipment, or in other fields applicable to this application.

[0029] In another embodiment: Reference Figures 1-4 A self-cleaning mechanism for the printhead of an inkjet printer includes:

[0030] To facilitate the disassembly and assembly of the sponge layer 5, a connecting plate 17 is fixedly connected to the outer side of the outer shell 6. An electric telescopic rod 15 is fixedly connected to the top of the connecting plate 17. The fixed end of the electric telescopic rod 15 is fixedly connected to the side plate 16. One side of the side plate 16 is fixedly connected to one side of the printhead body 1. Positioning rods 11 are fixedly connected to both sides of the top of the U-shaped frame 4. The top ends of the two positioning rods 11 slide through the bottom sides of the same side plate 16 and are fixedly connected to the limiting plate 12. The cooperation of the positioning rods 11 and the limiting plate 12 can limit the movement range of the U-shaped frame 4 and ensure the stability of the cleaning component during movement. By moving the sponge layer 5 away from the printhead body 1, it is convenient to regularly disassemble and replace the sponge layer 5 using Velcro.

[0031] However, as is well known to those skilled in the art, the working principles and wiring methods of the printhead body 1, the micro air pump, the electric telescopic rod 9, and the electric telescopic rod 15 are all conventional methods or common knowledge, and will not be described in detail here. Those skilled in the art can make any selections according to their needs or convenience. The printhead body 1, the micro air pump, the electric telescopic rod 9, and the electric telescopic rod 15 are all connected to the controller fixedly installed inside the printer through wiring and are powered by an external power source.

[0032] The accompanying drawings in this application are for illustrative purposes only. The dimensions and shapes of the components shown are not actual limitations, but are merely schematic representations. In actual implementation, the components can be reasonably configured and adjusted according to specific needs and actual conditions.

[0033] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present utility model, but the protection scope of the present utility model is not limited thereto. Any equivalent substitutions or changes made by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present utility model, based on the technical solution and the inventive concept of the present utility model, should be included within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A printhead self-cleaning mechanism for an inkjet printer, characterized in that, The device includes a printhead body (1), with an inkjet end provided on one side of the bottom of the printhead body (1). Two mounting plates (2) for easy installation are fixedly connected to one side of the printhead body (1). Both mounting plates (2) have mounting holes. Both mounting plates (2) have triangular plates for stabilization at their bottoms. The printhead body (1) is equipped with a cleaning component for cleaning.

2. The self-cleaning mechanism for the printhead of an inkjet printer according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cleaning assembly includes a U-shaped frame (4), an adsorption plate (3), a sponge layer (5), a shell (6), an air outlet pipe (7), two hoses (8), an electric telescopic rod (9), and a connecting plate (10). A miniature air pump is bolted to the top of the U-shaped frame (4). The shell (6) is fixed to the top of the U-shaped frame (4) and covers the miniature air pump. One end of the air outlet pipe (7) is located at the air outlet of the miniature air pump. One end of each of the two hoses (8) is connected to the air inlet of the miniature air pump via a T-junction. The two hoses (8)... The other end is connected to the same adsorption plate (3). The top of the adsorption plate (3) is provided with an adsorption end for cleaning the inkjet end. The sponge layer (5) is fixedly set on the top of the adsorption plate (3). The outer shell (6) is fixedly connected to one side of the printhead body (1). The fixed end of the electric telescopic rod (9) is fixedly set on the inner wall of the U-shaped frame (4) by bolts. One side of the connecting plate (10) is fixedly connected to one side of the adsorption plate (3). The telescopic end of the electric telescopic rod (9) is fixedly connected to the other side of the connecting plate (10).

3. The self-cleaning mechanism for the printhead of an inkjet printer according to claim 2, characterized in that, A connecting plate two (17) is fixedly connected to the outer side of the outer shell (6). An electric telescopic rod two (15) is fixedly connected to the top of the connecting plate two (17). A side plate (16) is fixedly connected to the fixed end of the electric telescopic rod two (15). One side of the side plate (16) is fixedly connected to one side of the print head body (1). Positioning rods (11) for stability are fixedly connected to both sides of the top of the U-shaped frame (4). The top ends of the two positioning rods (11) slide through the bottom sides of the same side plate (16) and are fixedly connected to limit plates (12).

4. The self-cleaning mechanism for the printhead of an inkjet printer according to claim 2, characterized in that, A filter screen is fixedly installed on the inner wall of the air outlet pipe (7), and the gap between the filter screen and the inner wall of the air outlet pipe (7) is sealed with sealant.

5. The self-cleaning mechanism for the printhead of an inkjet printer according to claim 2, characterized in that, The length of the two hoses (8) is greater than the distance from the adsorption plate (3) to the bottom of the inkjet end, which facilitates cleaning of the inkjet end.

6. The self-cleaning mechanism for the printhead of an inkjet printer according to claim 2, characterized in that, The top edge of the adsorption plate (3) is fixedly provided with a hook and loop fastener (14), and the bottom edge of the sponge layer (5) is fixedly provided with a hook and loop fastener (13) that matches the hook and loop fastener (14). The hook and loop fastener (14) and the hook and loop fastener (13) are bonded together.

Images