A cooling device for high covering black ink

Abstract

The utility model relates to a cooling device for high covering special black ink, including drawing cylinder, circulation system, main pipeline, agitator, temperature sensor group and PLC controller. The drawing cylinder inner wall is provided with at least two annular cooling cavities that are independent of each other along the height direction, and each cavity is communicated with the main pipeline through an independent inlet and return liquid branch, and a partition control valve is arranged on the branch. The temperature sensor is arranged on the drawing cylinder inner wall near each cooling cavity. The PLC controller independently adjusts the opening of the corresponding partition control valve according to the temperature signals of each region, and controls the speed of the agitator in parallel, realizes the accurate partition temperature control of the ink in different height regions in the drawing cylinder, effectively reduces the temperature difference in the vertical direction, and solves the viscosity fluctuation and quality problem caused by uneven temperature of high viscosity ink.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of ink preparation equipment technology, specifically to a cooling device for high-coverage ultra-black ink, which is particularly suitable for temperature control and temperature field uniformity control of high-solids-content, high-viscosity ultra-black ink in the cylinder drawing process. Background Technology

[0002] High-coverage extra-black inks typically feature high pigment content, high carbon black ratio, high solids content, and high viscosity, making them highly sensitive to temperature during preparation and use. On one hand, excessively high ink temperatures can lead to a significant decrease in viscosity, easily causing problems such as sagging, ink splatter, and dot gain. On the other hand, excessively low temperatures can cause abnormally high viscosity, affecting pumping, stirring, and transfer, and may also cause localized deposition, coarsening, and color instability within the ink tank. In existing technologies, temperature control in ink tanks and reaction vessels often employs the following methods: 1. External jacket or single annular cooling chamber: A jacket or single annular cooling chamber is installed on the outer wall of the container, and overall cooling is achieved through the circulation of cooling medium or heat transfer oil. This type of structure offers simple temperature control, but for high-viscosity inks, due to poor internal fluidity, there are often significant temperature differences between the top and bottom and between the wall and center within the ink tank, easily forming heat island areas and resulting in uneven ink performance. 2. Simple coils or cooling pipes: Single or multiple coils / cooling pipes are arranged inside the container to enhance the cooling effect through internal heat exchange. However, cooling pipes typically employ a single-loop structure, making it difficult to precisely adjust the cooling medium flow rate for different height zones. This still fails to effectively address the issue of inconsistent ink temperatures across the upper, middle, and lower layers. 3. Single-point temperature detection + overall flow regulation: Existing devices often use single-point temperature sensors to detect the temperature inside the container or jacket, then adjust the overall cooling medium flow rate via simple valves. This control method cannot reflect the temperature field distribution characteristics inside the drawing cylinder, nor can it specifically enhance the cooling intensity of a particular height zone, making it difficult to guarantee temperature uniformity. For high-octane extra-black inks, due to their poor thermal conductivity, high viscosity, and slow flow, a complex temperature distribution is particularly prone to form inside the drawing cylinder, with the upper layer exhibiting higher temperatures and the wall-side areas exhibiting lower or higher temperatures. This leads to deviations in ink viscosity, opacity, and hue at different heights, severely affecting the consistency and printability of the final product.

[0003] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a cylinder cooling device that can balance precise temperature control and temperature field uniformity control, so as to achieve zoned cooling and zoned temperature control of high-coverage black ink, thereby improving the temperature distribution of ink in the cylinder and enhancing the stability of ink quality. Utility Model Content

[0004] To address the problems existing in the prior art, the purpose of this utility model is to provide a cooling device for high-octane ultra-black ink, which is specifically achieved through the following technical solution: A cooling device for high-octane extra-black ink includes a cylinder for storing the ink, a circulation system connected to the cylinder, a main pipeline, a stirrer disposed within the cylinder body, a temperature sensor group, and a PLC controller. The inner wall of the cylinder has at least two independent annular cooling chambers along its height direction. Each annular cooling chamber includes an upper cooling chamber and a lower cooling chamber, and each annular cooling chamber is a closed annular flow channel continuously arranged circumferentially around the cylinder. The upper and lower cooling chambers are respectively connected to the main pipeline via corresponding inlet and return branch pipes. The inlet branch pipes are respectively equipped with a first zone control valve and a second zone control valve for independently adjusting the flow rate. The temperature sensor group includes at least a first temperature sensor and a second temperature sensor. The first temperature sensor is located within the ink height zone of the upper cooling chamber and near the inner wall of the cylinder, and the second temperature sensor is located within the ink height zone of the lower cooling chamber and near the inner wall of the cylinder. The PLC controller is electrically connected to the temperature sensor group, the circulation system, the first zone control valve, the second zone control valve, and the agitator. Based on the temperature signals fed back by the first and second temperature sensors, the PLC controller independently adjusts the opening of the first and second zone control valves to regulate the liquid flow rate of the upper and lower cooling chambers in zones, and controls the rotation speed of the agitator in conjunction with these zones, so that the ink temperature in different height zones within the cylinder is maintained within a preset range, and the temperature difference between zones does not exceed a preset threshold.

[0005] Furthermore, the inner wall of the cylinder is provided with a central cooling chamber along its height direction. The central cooling chamber is also a closed annular flow channel arranged continuously in the circumferential direction and is connected to the main pipeline through a third liquid inlet branch pipe and a third liquid return branch pipe. A third zone control valve is provided on the third liquid inlet branch pipe. The corresponding temperature sensor group also includes a third temperature sensor arranged in the ink height zone corresponding to the central cooling chamber and close to the inner wall of the cylinder. This ensures that only one temperature sensor is provided in the ink height zone corresponding to each of the lower cooling chamber, the central cooling chamber and the upper cooling chamber, so as to realize the zone temperature detection of the upper, middle and lower layers.

[0006] The PLC controller is further electrically connected to the third zone control valve and the third temperature sensor, and is used to independently adjust the liquid flow rate of the upper cooling chamber, the middle cooling chamber and the lower cooling chamber according to the temperature signals of the first, second and third temperature sensors, so as to reduce the temperature difference between the upper, middle and lower layers of ink in the cylinder.

[0007] Furthermore, the upper cooling chamber, middle cooling chamber, and lower cooling chamber form a partitioned cooling module. The partitioned cooling module is detachably connected to the main pipeline via a quick-connect coupling, so that the partitioned cooling module can be completely removed from the cylinder or cleaned on-site, reducing the deposition and blockage of dirt and impurities in the cooling chamber.

[0008] Furthermore, the circulation system includes a heat exchanger, a circulation pump, and a liquid storage tank connected in sequence by pipelines. The inlet of the heat exchanger is connected to the main pipeline. The circulation pump delivers the cooling medium from the main pipeline and the liquid outlet branch pipes of each zone to the heat exchanger for cooling. The cooled medium returns to the liquid storage tank and then enters each cooling chamber through the main pipeline and the liquid inlet branch pipes of each zone, forming a closed loop.

[0009] Furthermore, the device also includes a human-machine interface, which is connected to the PLC controller for displaying temperature data and setting control parameters.

[0010] Furthermore, the device also includes an audible and visual alarm, which is electrically connected to the PLC controller. When the temperature exceeds the limit or a system malfunction occurs, the audible and visual alarm is activated to prompt the operator to handle the situation promptly.

[0011] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects: 1) Through multiple independent annular cooling chambers and corresponding independent temperature control systems, the cooling intensity of different height areas can be adjusted in a targeted manner, effectively eliminating the temperature difference between the top and bottom, and making the ink performance more uniform; 2) The PLC controller, combined with temperature feedback and zoned valve regulation, and linked with the agitator, forms a highly efficient and precise closed-loop control system, which is particularly suitable for the complex working conditions of high-viscosity inks. 3) The modular cooling chamber design, combined with quick-change connectors, makes cleaning and maintenance simple and quick, effectively preventing ink residue and cooling channel blockage. 4) Good temperature uniformity ensures the viscosity stability and hue consistency of high-coverage extra-black ink throughout the entire drawing cylinder, fundamentally reducing quality defects such as roughness and color difference. Attached Figure Description

[0012] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of this utility model; Figure 2 This is a schematic block diagram of the control system of this utility model; In the diagram, 1-Cylinder scoring, 2-Sectional cooling module, 21-Upper cooling chamber, 22-Lower cooling chamber, 23-Middle cooling chamber, 211-Upper inlet branch pipe, 212-Upper return branch pipe, 221-Lower inlet branch pipe, 222-Lower return branch pipe, 231-Middle inlet branch pipe, 232-Middle return branch pipe, 213-First zone control valve, 223-Second zone control valve, 233-Third zone control valve, 3-Main pipeline, 4-Circulation system, 41-Storage tank, 42-Circulation pump, 43-Heat exchanger, 5-Temperature sensor group, 51-First temperature sensor, 52-Second temperature sensor, 53-Third temperature sensor, 6-PLC controller, 7-Human machine interface, 8-Quick-change connector, 9-Agitator, 10-Audible and visual alarm. Detailed Implementation

[0013] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings to provide a better understanding of the technical solution.

[0014] Example 1

[0015] like Figure 1-2 As shown, this utility model discloses a cooling device for high-octane extra-black ink, including a drawing cylinder 1, an annular cooling chamber 2 located inside the drawing cylinder, a main pipeline 3, a circulation system 4, a temperature sensor group 5, a PLC controller 6, a human-machine interface 7, a quick-change connector 8, a stirrer 9, and an audible and visual alarm 10.

[0016] The cylinder 1 is used to store high-coverage extra-black ink to be cooled, and is preferably a vertical cylindrical structure. Its inner wall is fitted with a partitioned cooling module along the ink height direction. The partitioned cooling module includes at least two annular cooling chambers 2 arranged at intervals along the height direction, namely an upper cooling chamber 21 and a lower cooling chamber 22. Each cooling chamber is a closed annular flow channel continuously arranged along the circumference of the cylinder, and its lower or upper end is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the cylinder 1 by a number of reinforcing ribs.

[0017] The upper cooling chamber 21 is connected to the upstream of the main pipeline 3 via an upper inlet branch pipe 211 and to the downstream of the main pipeline 3 via an upper return branch pipe 212. A first zone control valve 213 is installed on the inlet branch pipe 211 to regulate the flow rate of the cooling medium entering the upper cooling chamber 21. Similarly, the lower cooling chamber 22 is connected to the main pipeline 3 via a lower inlet branch pipe 221 and a lower return branch pipe 222. A second zone control valve 223 is installed on the inlet branch pipe 221 to regulate the flow rate of the cooling medium entering the lower cooling chamber 22.

[0018] The temperature sensor group 5 includes temperature sensors arranged in different height zones within the cylinder 1, near the inner wall. Specifically, the first temperature sensor 51 is arranged in the ink height area corresponding to the upper cooling chamber 21, and is mounted on the side wall of the cylinder 1 via a threaded or flanged structure, with its probe extending into the ink near the inner wall. The second temperature sensor 52 is arranged in the ink height area corresponding to the lower cooling chamber 22, and is installed in a similar manner to the first temperature sensor. In this embodiment, there is one temperature sensor for the lower layer and one for the upper layer, which can respectively reflect the actual temperature of the lower and upper ink layers.

[0019] The circulation system 4 includes a liquid storage tank 41, a circulation pump 42, a heat exchanger 43, and a main pipeline 3 connected in sequence by pipelines. The circulation pump 42 delivers the cooling medium, which has been cooled by the heat exchanger 43, to the liquid storage tank 41. The cooling medium then enters the liquid inlet branch pipes of each section through the main pipeline 3, and then enters the lower cooling chamber 22 and the upper cooling chamber 21 respectively to exchange heat with the inner wall of the cylinder 1 and the ink. The medium after heat exchange returns to the heat exchanger 43 through the return branch pipe, forming a closed loop circulation.

[0020] A stirrer 9 is installed inside the cylinder 1 and includes a vertical stirring shaft and stirring blades arranged at an appropriate height. The upper end of the stirring shaft is connected to a drive motor via a coupling. The drive motor of the stirrer 9 is connected to the output of a PLC controller 6, and the PLC can adjust the start / stop and speed of the stirrer 9 according to the temperature signal.

[0021] The input terminals of the PLC controller 6 are connected to the first temperature sensor 51 and the second temperature sensor 52, respectively, to collect the temperature signals of the upper and lower layers of ink. The output terminals are connected to the circulation pump 42, the first zone control valve 213, the second zone control valve 223, and the drive motor of the stirrer 9. The PLC controller 6 runs a preset control program: when the temperature of the upper layer of ink is detected to be rising, the opening of the zone control valve 213 corresponding to the upper cooling chamber 21 is increased, and the speed of the stirrer 9 is increased if necessary; when the temperature of the lower layer of ink is too low, the flow rate of the lower cooling chamber 22 is appropriately reduced or the stirring intensity is reduced, thereby reducing the temperature difference between the upper and lower layers while ensuring the overall temperature range.

[0022] The human-machine interface 7, for example a touch screen, is connected to the PLC controller 6 for real-time display of temperature curves from various temperature sensors, as well as operating parameters such as the opening degree of valves in each zone and the stirring speed. It also allows operators to set target temperatures, allowable temperature difference thresholds, and control parameters. The control terminal of the audible and visual alarm 10 is connected to the PLC controller 6. When any zone temperature exceeds the preset safety limit, or when fault signals such as the circulation pump 42 stopping or the zone control valve jamming are detected, the PLC controller 6 outputs an alarm signal to the audible and visual alarm 10 to remind the operator to handle the situation promptly.

[0023] In this embodiment, by independently detecting the temperature of the upper and lower cooling zones and adjusting the cooling flow rate, the temperature difference between the lower and upper ink layers can be controlled within a range of, for example, 2 to 3°C, which significantly improves temperature uniformity compared to the traditional overall cooling method.

[0024] Example 2

[0025] This embodiment is basically the same as embodiment 1, except that: The inner wall of cylinder 1 has three annular cooling chambers along its height: an upper cooling chamber 21, a middle cooling chamber 23, and a lower cooling chamber 22. The middle cooling chamber 23 is located between the upper cooling chamber 21 and the lower cooling chamber 22. It is connected to the upstream of the main pipeline 3 through a third liquid inlet branch pipe 231 and to the downstream of the main pipeline 3 through a third liquid return branch pipe 232. A third zone control valve 233 is installed on the third liquid inlet branch pipe 231.

[0026] Temperature sensor group 5 is supplemented with a third temperature sensor 53, which is arranged in the ink height area corresponding to the intermediate cooling chamber 23 and close to the inner wall. PLC controller 6 adjusts the opening degrees of the first zone control valve 213, the third zone control valve 233, and the second zone control valve 223 respectively based on the ink temperatures of the upper, middle, and lower layers reflected by the first temperature sensor 51, the second temperature sensor 52, and the third temperature sensor 53, thereby achieving independent cooling control for the three height zones. Under the conditions of high flow rate and long cylinder scoring during the preparation of high-coverage extra-black ink, this embodiment can further reduce the temperature difference between the upper, middle, and lower ink layers and improve the overall temperature field uniformity.

Claims

1. A cooling device for high-octane extra-black ink, comprising a cylinder (1) for storing ink, a circulation system (4) connected to the cylinder (1), a main pipeline (3), a stirrer (9) disposed within the cylinder (1), a temperature sensor group (5), and a PLC controller (6), characterized in that: The inner wall of the cylinder (1) is provided with at least two independent annular cooling chambers (2) along its height direction. The at least two annular cooling chambers (2) include an upper cooling chamber (21) located at the top and a lower cooling chamber (22) located at the bottom. Each annular cooling chamber (2) is a closed annular flow channel continuously arranged along the circumference of the cylinder (1). The upper cooling chamber (21) and the lower cooling chamber (22) are connected to the main pipeline (3) through corresponding liquid inlet branch pipes (211, 221) and liquid return branch pipes (212, 222), respectively. The liquid inlet branch pipes (211, 221) are respectively equipped with a first zone control valve (213) and a second zone control valve (223) for independently adjusting the flow rate. The temperature sensor group (5) includes at least a first temperature sensor (51) and a second temperature sensor (52). The first temperature sensor (51) is arranged in the ink height partition corresponding to the upper cooling chamber (21) and close to the inner wall of the cylinder (1). The second temperature sensor (52) is arranged in the ink height partition corresponding to the lower cooling chamber (22) and close to the inner wall of the cylinder (1). The PLC controller (6) is electrically connected to the temperature sensor group (5), the circulation system (4), the first zone control valve (213), the second zone control valve (223), and the stirrer (9) respectively. The PLC controller (6) independently adjusts the opening of the first zone control valve (213) and the second zone control valve (223) according to the temperature signals fed back by the first temperature sensor (51) and the second temperature sensor (52), thereby adjusting the liquid flow rate of the upper cooling chamber (21) and the lower cooling chamber (22) in zones, and controlling the rotation speed of the stirrer (9) in conjunction with the temperature signal fed back by the first temperature sensor (51) and the second temperature sensor (52), so that the ink temperature in different height areas in the cylinder (1) is maintained within a preset range, and the temperature difference between each area does not exceed a preset threshold.

2. The cooling device for high-octane extra-black ink according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner wall of the cylinder (1) is also provided with a middle cooling chamber (23) located in the middle along its height direction. The middle cooling chamber (23) is also a closed annular flow channel arranged continuously in the circumferential direction, and is connected to the main pipeline (3) through the third liquid inlet branch pipe (231) and the third liquid return branch pipe (232). The third liquid inlet branch pipe (231) is provided with a third zone control valve (233). The temperature sensor group (5) also includes a third temperature sensor (53) arranged in the ink height partition corresponding to the intermediate cooling chamber (23) and close to the inner wall of the cylinder (1). The PLC controller (6) is further electrically connected to the third partition control valve (233) and the third temperature sensor (53) to independently adjust the liquid flow rate of the upper cooling chamber (21), the middle cooling chamber (23) and the lower cooling chamber (22) according to the temperature signals of the first, second and third temperature sensors (51, 52, 53) in order to reduce the temperature difference between the upper, middle and lower layers of ink in the drawing cylinder (1).

3. A cooling device for high-octane extra-black ink according to claim 1, characterized in that, The upper cooling chamber (21), the middle cooling chamber (23) and the lower cooling chamber (22) form a partitioned cooling module, which is detachably connected to the main pipeline (3) via a quick-connect coupling (8).

4. A cooling device for high-octane extra-black ink according to claim 1, characterized in that, The circulation system (4) includes a storage tank (41), a circulation pump (42) and a heat exchanger (43) connected in sequence by pipelines.

5. A cooling device for high-octane extra-black ink according to claim 1, characterized in that, The device also includes a human-machine interface (7), which is communicatively connected to the PLC controller (6) and is used to display temperature data and set control parameters.

6. A cooling device for high-octane extra-black ink according to claim 1, characterized in that, The device also includes an audible and visual alarm (10), which is electrically connected to the PLC controller (6) and activates the alarm when the temperature exceeds the limit or the system malfunctions.

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