Spring clamp block ink pipe ink breaking secondary ink cartridge

Abstract

The utility model discloses a kind of spring clamp block ink pipe ink breaking secondary ink cartridge, belong to digital jet printing equipment technical field.The secondary ink cartridge includes secondary ink cartridge main body, ink inlet, ink outlet hose and ink clamping mechanism.Ink clamping mechanism is composed of upper ink clamping block, lower ink clamping block, linear drive mechanism and ink clamping spring.Linear drive mechanism is driven to move up when energized, loosen ink outlet hose by overcoming spring force;When power off, spring drives upper ink clamping block to move down, cooperate with lower ink clamping block and clamp to realize reliable ink breaking.The mechanism can also integrate liquid level and temperature monitoring, heating and heat preservation, hose guide and sealing structure, further improve reliability.The utility model realizes power-off automatic ink breaking by pure mechanical structure, without heating, no scale, little damage to hose, support large-flow ink passing, simple structure, low in cost, applicable to multi-jet industrial jet printing equipment, effectively solve the problem of traditional mechanical valve operation cumbersome and electromagnetic valve heating blockage.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of digital inkjet printing equipment technology, and in particular to a two-stage ink cartridge for inkjet printers that automatically cuts off ink when the ink path system is interrupted due to power failure. Background Technology

[0002] In existing technology, the secondary ink cartridge is suspended approximately 300mm above the printhead. During startup, the negative pressure system creates a negative pressure environment inside the cartridge, drawing ink upwards and preventing it from flowing naturally down the printhead nozzles. However, the printhead can still eject ink during operation, achieving a balance. But when the machine is powered off (e.g., during a power outage, transportation, etc.), the negative pressure system stops working. Because the secondary ink cartridge is higher than the printhead and the negative pressure is lost, ink will flow out of the printhead nozzles. This can result in ink loss and machine contamination, or even ink crystallization and blockage of the printhead, damaging it. Traditional solutions include two methods. The first is to add a manual mechanical valve, which is manually closed during power outages. This method offers advantages such as high flow rate and no heat generation, but it's difficult to implement on large printing presses, which can have over 100 printheads, making manually closing over 100 valves extremely cumbersome. The second solution is to use a normally closed solenoid valve. The valve closes when power is off and opens when power is on. (If a normally open solenoid valve is used, ink will abnormally flow out of the printhead during power outages or other power / gas interruptions.) The disadvantages are that in actual use, we found that the solenoid valve's coil generates heat, which is conducted to the ink. This causes the ink, especially water-based ink, to clump inside the solenoid valve, producing solid residue. This can range from minor blockages requiring replacement of the solenoid valve to severe clumps that travel with the ink to the printhead, damaging it. Furthermore, the solenoid valve has a relatively low ink flow rate, which may not be sufficient for high-flow printheads. In summary, existing mechanical valves are cumbersome to operate, especially on large machines where there can be hundreds of them; solenoid valves have low flow rates, the coil heats up when energized, causing ink clumps and blockages; and solenoid valves are also relatively expensive. Utility Model Content

[0003] This utility model aims to provide a simple, heat-free, and low-cost two-stage ink cartridge that automatically cuts off ink upon power failure. It achieves reliable ink cut-off through a purely mechanical tube clamping method, effectively solving the problems of cumbersome mechanical valve operation, ink clumping caused by solenoid valve overheating, limited flow, and high cost in the prior art.

[0004] This utility model provides a two-stage ink cartridge with a spring-loaded clamp to cut off ink flow. Its core lies in a mechanical clamping structure combining a spring and a linear drive mechanism. This allows for automatic clamping of the ink delivery hose to cut off the ink supply when power is off, and release of the hose to restore ink supply when power is on. Specifically, the two-stage ink cartridge includes a cartridge body, an ink inlet, an ink delivery hose, and a clamping mechanism. The clamping mechanism consists of an upper clamping block, a lower clamping block, a linear drive mechanism, and a clamping spring. When power is on, the linear drive mechanism overcomes the spring force of the clamping spring, driving the upper clamping block upwards to release the ink delivery hose. When power is off, the linear drive mechanism loses its force, and the clamping spring drives the upper clamping block downwards, cooperating with the lower clamping block to clamp the ink delivery hose, achieving reliable ink cutoff.

[0005] Furthermore, the linear drive mechanism can be any one of a cylinder, linear motor, voice coil motor, or electromagnet. Its principle is to provide controllable linear motion output to drive the upper ink block to move up and down, thereby achieving on / off control of the ink path. This design has the advantages of flexible structure, fast response, and high reliability.

[0006] Furthermore, a spring fixing block is set up to fix the ink clamping spring between the spring fixing block and the upper ink clamping block. The principle is to provide stable spring support and guidance, ensure the accuracy and consistency of spring force transmission, and improve the reliability of ink clamping action.

[0007] Furthermore, the linear drive mechanism is connected to a PLC controller, which can independently control the working status of multiple linear drive mechanisms. The principle behind this is to achieve independent on / off switching of multiple ink paths through programmed control, making it suitable for multi-printhead systems and improving the system's intelligence and ease of operation.

[0008] Furthermore, a liquid level sensor is installed inside the secondary ink cartridge to monitor the ink level in real time. The principle is to prevent ink overflow or insufficient ink supply by sensing changes in the liquid level, thereby improving the safety and stability of the system.

[0009] Furthermore, the secondary ink cartridge also contains a heating rod and a temperature sensor to heat the ink and monitor its temperature. The principle is to keep the ink within a suitable temperature range to avoid viscosity changes or crystallization due to temperature variations, thus ensuring printing quality.

[0010] Furthermore, an ink outlet tube guide block is set up, through which the ink outlet hose passes and is positioned. The principle is to guide and fix the ink outlet hose, preventing it from shifting or twisting during clamping, and ensuring the accuracy and repeatability of the ink clamping action.

[0011] Furthermore, the upper and lower ink clamping blocks are provided with arc-shaped or U-shaped clamping grooves that are adapted to the shape of the ink outlet hose on their opposite surfaces. The principle is to increase the clamping area, apply force evenly, avoid excessive local stress on the ink outlet hose, and extend the service life of the hose.

[0012] Furthermore, it also includes a secondary ink cartridge cover and a sealing ring. The secondary ink cartridge cover is sealed to the main body of the secondary ink cartridge through the sealing ring. Its principle is to ensure the airtightness of the ink cartridge, prevent ink leakage or the entry of external contaminants, and ensure the cleanliness of the ink path.

[0013] Furthermore, the ink clamping mechanism is located at the bottom or side of the secondary ink cartridge body. Its principle is to flexibly design according to the actual installation space and ink path layout requirements, thereby improving the product's adaptability and integration.

[0014] Compared with existing technologies, this utility model achieves automatic ink cut-off upon power failure through a purely mechanical structure, eliminating electromagnetic heating issues and preventing ink clumping and clogging; it provides uniform clamping force with minimal damage to the hose; it can achieve multi-channel independent control via PLC, making operation simple; the overall structure is simple, low-cost, and highly reliable, making it suitable for various digital inkjet printing equipment and demonstrating significant practicality and economy. Attached Figure Description

[0015] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0016] Figure 1 This is an overall schematic diagram of an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0017] Figure 2 An exploded view diagram provided for an embodiment of this utility model;

[0018] Figure 3 A front view diagram provided for an embodiment of this utility model;

[0019] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the AA cross-sectional structure provided for an embodiment of the present utility model.

[0020] The following are the labeling elements in the figure:

[0021] 1. Secondary ink cartridge cover; 2. Sealing ring; 3. Liquid level sensor; 4. Secondary ink cartridge body; 5. Heating rod; 6. Ink outlet tube guide block; 7. Ink outlet hose; 8. Lower ink clamp block; 9. Upper ink clamp block; 10. Ink clamp cylinder; 11. Ink clamp spring; 12. Spring fixing block; 13. Ink inlet tube interface; 14. Negative pressure tube interface; 15. Side temperature sensor; 16. Intermediate temperature sensor.

[0022] The accompanying drawings have illustrated specific embodiments of the present invention, which will be described in more detail below. These drawings and descriptions are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any way, but rather to illustrate the concept of the present invention to those skilled in the art through reference to specific embodiments. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0024] To make the technical solution and advantages of this utility model clearer, the embodiments of this utility model will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0025] Please see Figures 1-4 As shown in the figure, the two-stage ink cartridge with spring clamp block for cutting off ink from the ink tube provided in this embodiment of the utility model is specifically implemented as follows. This two-stage ink cartridge is mainly used in digital inkjet printing equipment, especially in multi-printhead, high-precision industrial inkjet printing scenarios, to automatically and reliably cut off the ink path when power is lost, preventing pollution and waste caused by ink self-flow. It also has the advantages of simple structure, no heat generation, low cost, and convenient maintenance.

[0026] The core components of this secondary ink cartridge include the secondary cartridge body 4, the ink inlet interface 13, the ink outlet hose 7, and the ink clamping mechanism. The secondary cartridge body 4 is typically made of corrosion-resistant, well-sealed engineering plastic or metal, forming a sealed ink-containing cavity. The ink inlet interface 13 is located at the top or side of the cartridge and connects to the ink supply line from the main cartridge, ensuring a continuous and stable injection of ink into the secondary cartridge. The ink outlet hose 7 is connected to the bottom or lower side of the cartridge and is responsible for delivering ink to the printhead.

[0027] The ink clamping mechanism, a key component for achieving the ink cut-off function, consists of an upper ink clamping block 9, a lower ink clamping block 8, a linear drive mechanism (such as an ink clamping cylinder 10), and an ink clamping spring 11. The lower ink clamping block 8 is fixedly installed on the outside of the secondary ink cartridge body 4, typically near the outlet of the ink outlet hose 7, and its installation position must ensure alignment with the upper ink clamping block 9. The upper ink clamping block 9 is connected to the output end of the linear drive mechanism via a connector, allowing it to move vertically under its drive. The linear drive mechanism can be a device capable of providing precise linear motion, such as the ink clamping cylinder 10, a linear motor, a voice coil motor, or an electromagnet. In this embodiment, the ink clamping cylinder 10 is preferred as the drive source. The ink clamping spring 11 is positioned between the upper ink clamping block 9 and the spring fixing block 12, and is normally in a compressed state. Its function is to provide a downward elastic force, causing the upper ink clamping block 9 to move downwards.

[0028] Under normal operating conditions, the ink clamping cylinder 10 is ventilated, generating an upward thrust that overcomes the elasticity of the ink clamping spring 11, pushing the upper ink clamping block 9 upward and separating it from the lower ink clamping block 8. At this time, the ink outlet hose 7 is in a naturally relaxed state, allowing ink to flow freely and be delivered to the printhead via the ink outlet hose 7, supporting continuous printing operations. When the system loses power or requires active ink cutoff, the ink clamping cylinder 10 loses pressure and can no longer provide upward support. At this time, the elasticity of the ink clamping spring 11 is released, driving the upper ink clamping block 9 to move downward rapidly, working in conjunction with the lower ink clamping block 8 to clamp the ink outlet hose 7, thereby cutting off the ink path and achieving reliable ink cutoff.

[0029] To further enhance the functionality and reliability of this secondary ink cartridge, various auxiliary structures and sensors can be integrated. For example, a liquid level sensor 3 can be installed inside the main body 4 of the secondary ink cartridge to monitor the ink level in real time. The liquid level sensor 3 can transmit signals to an external control system to automatically alarm or adjust when the liquid level is too high or too low, preventing ink overflow or ink supply interruption. In addition, a heating rod 5 and temperature sensors (such as side temperature sensor 15 and center temperature sensor 16) can be installed inside the cartridge to heat the ink and precisely control its temperature, ensuring that the ink viscosity is at its optimal state and preventing decreased fluidity or crystallization blockage caused by temperature changes. This is particularly suitable for use in low-temperature environments or with high-viscosity inks.

[0030] The routing and fixing of the ink outlet hose 7 are managed by the ink outlet tube guide block 6. The ink outlet tube guide block 6 is usually provided with guide holes or channels that match the outer diameter of the hose. The hose passes through them, which can ensure its accurate positioning, avoid displacement or twisting during clamping, reduce fatigue damage to the hose caused by repeated clamping, and extend its service life.

[0031] The opposing working surfaces of the upper ink clamp 9 and the lower ink clamp 8 are designed as arc-shaped or U-shaped grooves, whose shapes are adapted to the shape of the ink outlet hose 7. This design can increase the clamping contact area, make the clamping force distribution more uniform, avoid excessive local stress on the hose leading to damage, and at the same time ensure the effectiveness and consistency of each clamping action.

[0032] The sealing performance of the secondary ink cartridge is achieved through the combination of the secondary ink cartridge cover 1 and the sealing ring 2. The secondary ink cartridge cover 1 is connected to the secondary ink cartridge body 4 by screws or clips, and the sealing ring 2 is set in between to form a reliable static seal, preventing ink leakage or intrusion of external contaminants, keeping the ink path clean, and reducing maintenance frequency.

[0033] The installation position of the ink clamping mechanism can be flexibly adjusted according to actual application needs. It can be set at the bottom of the secondary ink cartridge body 4 to save space, or it can be set on the side for easy installation and maintenance. The linear drive mechanism (such as cylinder 10) can be connected to the PLC controller via air or electricity, so that the PLC can realize independent control of multiple ink paths. This is particularly useful in multi-head systems. For example, when pressing ink, cleaning, or replacing printheads, specific ink paths can be selectively cut off, improving the intelligence and convenience of system operation.

[0034] In summary, this utility model achieves automatic ink cut-off upon power failure through a purely mechanical structure, completely avoiding the ink clumping problem caused by the heating of the solenoid valve; the method of clamping the hose with clamping blocks minimizes damage to the hose and supports high flow rates of ink; the overall structure is simple, the manufacturing cost is low, and the reliability is high, making it suitable for various industrial inkjet printing equipment such as corrugated cardboard digital printing machines, roll-to-roll digital pre-printing machines, and label printing machines, and has broad application prospects.

[0035] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present utility model and does not limit the patent scope of the present utility model. Any equivalent structural or procedural transformations made based on the content of the present utility model specification and drawings, or direct or indirect applications in other related technical fields, are similarly included within the patent protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A two-stage ink cartridge with a spring clamp to prevent ink from being cut off from the ink tube, characterized in that, include: The main body of the secondary ink cartridge (4) is equipped with an ink inlet interface (13) and an ink outlet hose (7). The ink clamping mechanism includes an upper ink clamping block (9), a lower ink clamping block (8), a linear drive mechanism, and an ink clamping spring (11). The output end of the linear drive mechanism is connected to the upper ink clamp (9); The linear drive mechanism is configured to overcome the elastic force of the ink clamping spring (11) in the energized state and drive the upper ink clamping block (9) to move upward to release the ink outlet hose (7). In the power-off state, the linear drive mechanism loses power, and the ink clamping spring (11) drives the upper ink clamping block (9) to move down, cooperating with the lower ink clamping block (8) to clamp the ink outlet hose (7) to achieve ink cut-off.

2. The two-stage ink cartridge with spring clamp block for ink tube ink interruption according to claim 1, characterized in that: The linear drive mechanism is any one of a cylinder, a linear motor, a voice coil motor, or an electromagnet.

3. A two-stage ink cartridge with a spring clamp to prevent ink tube breakage according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a spring fixing block (12), and the ink clamping spring (11) is disposed between the spring fixing block (12) and the upper ink clamping block (9).

4. A two-stage ink cartridge with a spring clamp to prevent ink tube breakage according to claim 1, characterized in that: The linear drive mechanism is connected to a PLC controller, which can independently control the working state of multiple linear drive mechanisms.

5. A two-stage ink cartridge with a spring clamp to prevent ink loss in the ink tube, as described in claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a liquid level sensor (3) disposed in the secondary ink cartridge body (4).

6. A two-stage ink cartridge for cutting off ink flow by a spring clamping block, as described in claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a heating rod (5) and a temperature sensor disposed within the secondary ink cartridge body (4).

7. A two-stage ink cartridge with a spring clamp to clamp the ink tube and cut off ink as described in claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes an ink outlet tube guide block (6), in which the ink outlet hose (7) passes and is positioned.

8. A two-stage ink cartridge for interrupting ink flow by a spring clamping block, as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The upper ink block (9) and the lower ink block (8) are provided with arc-shaped or U-shaped clamping grooves that are adapted to the shape of the ink outlet hose (7) on their opposite surfaces.

9. A two-stage ink cartridge for cutting off ink flow by a spring clamping block, as described in claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a secondary ink cartridge cover (1) and a sealing ring (2), wherein the secondary ink cartridge cover (1) is sealed to the secondary ink cartridge body (4) through the sealing ring (2).

10. A two-stage ink cartridge with a spring clamp to prevent ink loss in the ink tube, as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The ink clamping mechanism is located at the bottom or side of the secondary ink cartridge body (4).

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