A negative pressure adjusting device for an ink supply system

Abstract

The utility model discloses a kind of negative pressure adjusting device of ink supply system, it include: negative pressure gas tank, several float ink bottles, several first solenoid valve, second solenoid valve and second air pump.Under normal circumstances, first solenoid valve, second solenoid valve are all electromagnet power off, float ink bottle is connected with spray head and negative pressure gas tank.When spray head is blocked: first solenoid valve, second solenoid valve are all switched from electromagnet power off to electromagnet power on, correspondingly, the connection of negative pressure gas tank is disconnected with float ink bottle, second air pump is connected to float ink bottle, second air pump starts to apply positive pressure to float ink bottle, so that ink is pressed out of spray head, and spray head is dredged;After spray head is dredged, second air pump stops working, second solenoid valve is first restored to electromagnet power off, and pressure relief is carried out, second solenoid valve is then restored to electromagnet power off, and negative pressure gas tank is reconnected with float ink bottle.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to an ink supply system for inkjet printers, and in particular to a negative pressure adjustment device for an ink supply system. Background Technology

[0002] In inkjet printers, ink is typically supplied to the printhead via a float ink bottle. A negative pressure adjustment device acts on the float ink bottle, providing an upward pull on the ink through negative pressure, allowing the ink to overcome its own weight and preventing it from dripping from the printhead when there is no ink flow. Therefore, the negative pressure adjustment device is crucial for inkjet printers. Too low a negative pressure may cause ink to drip from the printhead, while too high a negative pressure may interrupt the ink supply from the float ink bottle to the printhead. A stable ink supply connection between the float ink bottle and the printhead is necessary to adapt to the inkjet printer's printing frequency. However, existing negative pressure adjustment devices lack precise control over negative pressure and also lack corresponding unclogging functions when the printhead is blocked. Utility Model Content

[0003] This application provides a negative pressure adjustment device for an ink supply system, which can solve the problems mentioned in the background art.

[0004] This application provides a negative pressure adjustment device for an ink supply system, comprising: a negative pressure air tank, a plurality of float ink bottles, a plurality of first solenoid valves, a second solenoid valve, and a second air pump; The negative pressure tank is connected to a first air pump for generating negative pressure and a pressure relief valve for replenishing air. The number of float ink bottles is the same as the number of first solenoid valves; both the first and second solenoid valves are two-position three-way valves; the COM port of the first solenoid valve is connected to the float ink bottle, the C port of the first solenoid valve is connected to the negative pressure gas tank, the B port of the first solenoid valve is connected to the COM port of the second solenoid valve, the C port of the second solenoid valve is connected to the outside air, and the B port of the second solenoid valve is connected to the second air pump.

[0005] In some embodiments, the system further includes: a touchscreen module; the control board of the touchscreen module is connected to a first air pump, a pressure relief valve, a plurality of first solenoid valves, a second solenoid valve, and a second air pump.

[0006] In some embodiments, the second solenoid valve and the second air pump are connected to the same output pin; the first air pump, the pressure relief valve, and each first solenoid valve are each connected to their respective output pins.

[0007] In some embodiments, there are four float ink bottles and four first solenoid valves.

[0008] In some embodiments, the float ink bottle is equipped with a manual valve.

[0009] In some embodiments, it further includes: a safety gas cylinder; the safety gas cylinder is connected in the gas path between the negative pressure gas tank and the C port of the first solenoid valve.

[0010] In summary, this application discloses a negative pressure adjustment device for an ink supply system, comprising: a negative pressure tank, several float ink bottles, several first solenoid valves, a second solenoid valve, and a second air pump. Under normal conditions, both the first and second solenoid valves are de-energized, and the float ink bottles are connected to the printhead and the negative pressure tank. When the printhead is clogged: both the first and second solenoid valves switch from de-energizing to energizing the solenoids. Correspondingly, the negative pressure tank disconnects from the float ink bottles, and the second air pump connects to the float ink bottles. The second air pump starts, applying positive pressure to the float ink bottles, causing ink to be forced out of the printhead and clearing the blockage. After the printhead is cleared, the second air pump stops working, the second solenoid valves first return to de-energizing to release pressure, and then return to de-energizing, reconnecting the negative pressure tank to the float ink bottles. Its beneficial effects include: negative pressure is controlled within a suitable range, ensuring a continuous and stable ink supply from the float ink bottle to the printhead; when a printhead is clogged, applying positive pressure can clear the blockage of the corresponding printhead without affecting other printheads. Attached Figure Description

[0011] To better illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the background art, the accompanying drawings used in the embodiments of this application or the background art will be described below.

[0012] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of this application showing a float ink bottle as one unit; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the present application when there are four float ink bottles.

[0013] In the picture, 1. Negative pressure air tank; 1A. First air pump; 1B. Pressure relief valve; 2. Float ink bottle; 3. First solenoid valve; 4. Second solenoid valve; 5. Second air pump; 6. Touchscreen module; 7. Safety gas cylinders. Specific Implementation

[0014] The following description is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only and not strictly to scale. Unless otherwise defined, the technical or scientific terms used in this disclosure should be understood in their ordinary sense by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. The terms "first," "second," and similar terms used in this disclosure do not indicate any order, quantity, or importance, but are merely used to distinguish different components. Terms such as "comprising" or "including" mean that the element or object preceding the word encompasses the elements or objects listed following the word and their equivalents, without excluding other elements or objects. Terms such as "connected" or "linked" are not limited to physical or mechanical connections, but can include electrical connections, whether direct or indirect. Terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," and "right" are used only to indicate relative positional relationships, and these relative positional relationships may change accordingly when the absolute position of the described object changes. Unless otherwise specified, the embodiments in this application can be combined with each other.

[0015] Please see Figure 1 A negative pressure adjustment device for an ink supply system includes: a negative pressure tank 1, several float ink bottles 2, several first solenoid valves 3, second solenoid valves 4, and a second air pump 5.

[0016] The negative pressure gas tank 1 is connected to a first air pump 1A and a pressure relief valve 1B. More specifically, the negative pressure gas tank 1 and the first air pump 1A, and the negative pressure gas tank 1 and the pressure relief valve 1B, are connected by pipes. The first air pump 1A is used to generate negative pressure, and the pressure relief valve 1B is used to replenish gas. More specifically, the negative pressure gas tank 1 is equipped with a pressure sensor to detect the gas pressure inside the negative pressure gas tank 1. The PLC is equipped with a matching analog module. The pressure sensor input is sent to the analog module, and the analog module outputs data according to a linear relationship and stores it in the PLC. The PLC edits the corresponding program to control the first air pump 1A and the pressure relief valve 1B, forming a feedback regulation. When the gas pressure inside the negative pressure gas tank 1 is lower than the program-set range, the pressure relief valve 1B opens to replenish gas. When the gas pressure inside the negative pressure gas tank 1 is higher than the program-set range, the first air pump 1A starts to extract gas from the negative pressure gas tank 1.

[0017] The number of float ink bottles 2 is the same as the number of first solenoid valves 3, meaning they are paired one-to-one.

[0018] Both the first solenoid valve 3 and the second solenoid valve 4 are two-position three-way valves, meaning that both the first solenoid valve 3 and the second solenoid valve 4 have three ports: port B, port C, and port COM. They have two states: when the electromagnet is energized, port B is connected to port COM, and when the electromagnet is de-energized, port C is connected to port COM.

[0019] The first solenoid valve 3COM port is connected to the float ink bottle 2, the first solenoid valve 3C port is connected to the negative pressure air tank 1, the first solenoid valve 3B port is connected to the second solenoid valve 4COM port, the second solenoid valve 4C port is connected to outside air, and the second solenoid valve 4B port is connected to the second air pump 5. More specifically, the first solenoid valve 3, the float ink bottle 2, the second solenoid valve 4, and the second air pump 5 are all connected by pipes. The second solenoid valve 4 is used as a pressure relief solenoid valve.

[0020] Under normal circumstances, both the first solenoid valve 3 and the second solenoid valve 4 are de-energized, and the float ink bottle 2 is connected to the printhead and the negative pressure air tank 1. When the printhead is clogged: both the first solenoid valve 3 and the second solenoid valve 4 switch from de-energizing to energizing the solenoid. Correspondingly, the negative pressure air tank 1 is disconnected from the float ink bottle 2, and the second air pump 5 is connected to the float ink bottle 2. The second air pump 5 starts to apply positive pressure to the float ink bottle 2, causing ink to be forced out of the printhead and clearing the printhead. After the printhead is cleared, the second air pump 5 stops working, the second solenoid valve 4 first returns to de-energizing to release pressure, and then the second solenoid valve 4 returns to de-energizing, and the negative pressure air tank 1 is reconnected to the float ink bottle 2.

[0021] In some embodiments, the negative pressure adjustment device for the ink supply system further includes a touchscreen module 6. The control board of the touchscreen module 6 is connected to a first air pump 1A, a pressure relief valve 1B, several first solenoid valves 3, a second solenoid valve 4, and a second air pump 5. More specifically, the first air pump 1A, the pressure relief valve 1B, the several first solenoid valves 3, the second solenoid valve 4, and the second air pump 5 are connected to the output pins of the control board, and corresponding virtual buttons are provided on the touchscreen and connected to the input pins of the control board.

[0022] The control of the first air pump 1A, the pressure relief valve 1B, several first solenoid valves 3, the second solenoid valve 4, and the second air pump 5 are all concentrated on the touch screen of the touch screen module 6, making operation more convenient.

[0023] Furthermore, the second solenoid valve 4 and the second air pump 5 are connected to the same output pin. The first air pump 1A, the pressure relief valve 1B, and each of the first solenoid valves 3 are each connected to their respective output pins.

[0024] When the nozzle is clogged, the second solenoid valve 4 switches from de-energizing the electromagnet to energizing it, and the second air pump 5 starts simultaneously. After the nozzle is cleared, the second air pump 5 stops working, and the second solenoid valve 4 returns to de-energizing. In other words, the second solenoid valve 4 and the second air pump 5 can be energized and de-energized synchronously, using the same output pin to control both, making operation simpler and more convenient.

[0025] Please see Figure 2 In some embodiments, there are four float ink bottles 2 and four first solenoid valves 3.

[0026] Corresponding to the inkjet printer, the four float ink bottles 2 correspond to the four colors: K (black), C (cyan), M (magenta), and Y (yellow). Correspondingly, there are also four first solenoid valves 3, each individually controlled by its own electromagnet. Considering the aforementioned "the ink supply system negative pressure adjustment device also includes: touchscreen module 6," each first solenoid valve 3's electromagnet is individually connected to an input pin of the control board.

[0027] In some embodiments, the float ink bottle 2 is equipped with a manual valve.

[0028] The connection and disconnection between the float ink bottle 2 and the printhead can be manually controlled via a manual valve. After the printhead is cleared, the connection between the float ink bottle 2 and the printhead can be disconnected via the manual valve to allow the residual ink in the printhead to flow out; then the second solenoid valve 4 is de-energized, the negative pressure tank 1 is reconnected to the float ink bottle 2, and the float ink bottle 2 and the printhead are reconnected via the manual valve.

[0029] Please see Figure 1 In some embodiments, the negative pressure adjustment device for the ink supply system further includes a safety gas cylinder 7. The safety gas cylinder 7 is connected in the gas path between the negative pressure gas tank 1 and the port of the first solenoid valve 3C.

[0030] Adding a safety gas cylinder 7 as a buffer makes the float ink bottle 2 more stable.

Claims

1. A negative pressure adjustment device for an ink supply system, characterized in that, include: Negative pressure gas tank (1), several float ink bottles (2), several first solenoid valves (3), second solenoid valves (4), and second air pump (5); The negative pressure tank (1) is connected to a first air pump (1A) for generating negative pressure and a pressure relief valve (1B) for replenishing air; The number of float ink bottles (2) is the same as the number of first solenoid valves (3); both the first solenoid valve (3) and the second solenoid valve (4) are two-position three-way valves; the COM port of the first solenoid valve (3) is connected to the float ink bottle (2), the C port of the first solenoid valve (3) is connected to the negative pressure gas tank (1), the B port of the first solenoid valve (3) is connected to the COM port of the second solenoid valve (4), the C port of the second solenoid valve (4) is connected to the outside air, and the B port of the second solenoid valve (4) is connected to the second air pump (5).

2. The negative pressure adjustment device for an ink supply system according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: Touch screen module (6); The control board of the touch screen module (6) is connected to the first air pump (1A), the pressure relief valve (1B), several first solenoid valves (3), second solenoid valves (4) and second air pump (5).

3. The negative pressure adjustment device for an ink supply system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The second solenoid valve (4) and the second air pump (5) are connected to the same output pin; the first air pump (1A), the pressure relief valve (1B), and each first solenoid valve (3) are each connected to their respective output pins.

4. The negative pressure adjustment device for an ink supply system according to claim 1, characterized in that, There are four float ink bottles (2) and four first solenoid valves (3).

5. The negative pressure adjustment device for an ink supply system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The float ink bottle (2) is equipped with a manual valve.

6. The negative pressure adjustment device for an ink supply system according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: Safety gas cylinder (7); The safety gas cylinder (7) is connected in the gas path between the negative pressure gas tank (1) and the C port of the first solenoid valve (3).

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