ink reservoir

Abstract

An ink reservoir (201) for holding ink (202) for an inkjet printing device (100) is described, wherein the ink reservoir (201) has a dispensing opening (209) configured for connecting a line (219) for dispensing ink (202) from the ink reservoir (201), and wherein the ink reservoir (201) has a machine-readable code (305). The ink reservoir (201) is configured such that the code (305) is damaged when access is gained to the dispensing opening (209) to connect a line (219) to the dispensing opening (209), and / or when a line (219) is connected to the dispensing opening (209).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an ink reservoir for providing ink for an inkjet printing device according to the preamble of claim 1, which can be taken from publication JP 2019 - 188 736 A.

[0002] An inkjet printing device for printing onto a recording medium may comprise a print bar with one or more printheads, each with one or more nozzles. The nozzles are each configured to eject ink droplets to print pixels of an image onto the recording medium. The individual printheads of a print bar are supplied with ink by an ink supply system, which typically includes an ink reservoir from which ink is provided for the operation of the inkjet printing device. The ink reservoir may be tampered with, for example, by being filled with ink unsuitable for the printing device, which could impair the print quality of the inkjet printing device.

[0003] This document addresses the technical problem of providing efficient and reliable protection for an ink reservoir against tampering, in particular to ensure consistently high print quality of an inkjet printing device. This problem is solved by the features of independent claim 1.

[0004] According to one aspect, an ink reservoir for holding ink for an inkjet printing device is described. The ink reservoir has a dispensing opening designed for connecting a line for drawing ink from the reservoir. Furthermore, the ink reservoir has a machine-readable code. The ink reservoir is designed such that the code is damaged, and in particular must be damaged, when access is gained to the dispensing opening to connect a line to it, and / or when a line is connected to the dispensing opening.

[0005] The ink reservoir has a cover that covers the dispensing opening and / or blocks access to it. The code is located on the cover. Furthermore, the ink reservoir is designed such that the cover must be damaged or removed to access the dispensing opening and / or to connect a line to it. The ink reservoir also includes an inner sleeve for holding the ink, with the dispensing opening located on the inner sleeve. Finally, the ink reservoir includes an outer sleeve that encloses the inner sleeve, with the cover located on the outer sleeve.

[0006] Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the schematic drawing. These show: Fig. 1 a block diagram of an exemplary inkjet printing device; Fig. 2 an exemplary ink supply system for a print bar of an inkjet printing device; Fig. 3a an exemplary ink reservoir in a front view; Fig. 3b an exemplary ink reservoir in a side view; and Fig. 4 A flowchart of an exemplary procedure for operating a printing device with an ink reservoir.

[0007] The in Fig. The printing device 100 shown in Figure 1 is designed for printing onto a sheet-shaped, flat, plate-shaped, or web-shaped recording medium 120. The recording medium 120 can be made of paper, cardboard, carton, metal, plastic, textiles, a combination thereof, and / or other suitable and printable materials. The recording medium 120 is guided through the printing unit 140 of the printing device 100 along the transport direction 1, indicated by an arrow.

[0008] In the illustrated example, the printing unit 140 of the printing device 100 comprises two printing bars 102, each printing bar 102 being usable for printing with ink of a specific color, e.g., black, cyan, magenta, and / or yellow, and optionally MICR ink. Different printing bars 102 can be used for printing with different inks. Furthermore, the printing device 100 typically includes at least one fuser or drying unit, which is not integrated into Fig. 1 is shown and is set up to fix a printed image printed on the recording medium 120.

[0009] A print bar 102 can comprise one or more print heads 103, which may be arranged side by side in several rows to print the pixels of different columns 31, 32 of a print image onto the recording medium 120. In the Fig. In the example shown, a print bar 102 comprises five printheads 103, each printhead 103 printing the pixels of a group of columns 31, 32 of a print image onto the recording medium 120. The number of printheads 103 of a print bar 102 can be, for example, 5, 10 or more.

[0010] Each printhead 103 of the printing unit 140 comprises in the Fig. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, several nozzles 21, 22 are provided, each nozzle 21, 22 being configured to fire or propel ink droplets onto the recording medium 120. For example, a printhead 103 of the printing unit 140 can comprise several thousand effectively used nozzles 21, 22 arranged along several rows transverse to the transport direction 1 of the recording medium 120. By means of the nozzles 21, 22 of a printhead 103 of the printing unit 140, pixels of a line of a printed image can be printed onto the recording medium 120 transverse to the transport direction 1, i.e., along the width of the recording medium 120.

[0011] The printing device 100 further comprises a control device 101, e.g. a control hardware and / or a controller, which is configured to control the actuators of the individual nozzles 21, 22 of the individual printheads 103 of the printing unit 140 in order to apply the printed image to the recording medium 120 depending on print data.

[0012] The printing unit 140 of the printing device 100 thus comprises at least one printing bar 102 with K nozzles 21, 22, which can be arranged in one or more printheads 103 and which can be controlled with a specific line rate to print one line at a time, running transversely to the transport direction 1 of the recording medium 120, with K pixels or K columns 31, 32 of a printed image onto the recording medium 120, e.g. with K>1000. In the illustrated example, the nozzles 21, 22 are fixed in the printing device 100, and the recording medium 120 is moved past the stationary nozzles 21, 22 at a specific transport speed.

[0013] Fig. Figure 2 shows an exemplary ink supply system 200 configured to supply one or more printheads 103 of a print bar 102 of the printing device 100 with ink 202. The ink supply system 200 includes an ink reservoir 201 configured to store ink 202. The ink reservoir 201 can, for example, be configured to store and / or receive 100 liters or more of ink 202. The ink 202 can be dispensed from the ink reservoir 201 via a dispensing opening 209, which is, for example, located at the bottom of the ink reservoir 201. For this purpose, a line 219 can be connected to the dispensing opening 209 of the ink reservoir 201. Furthermore, a pump 214 configured to pump ink 202 from the ink reservoir 201 can be arranged on the line 219.

[0014] The ink 202 taken from the ink reservoir 201 can be conveyed via line 219 to an intermediate reservoir 217, from where the ink 202 can be pumped by means of a further pump 218 to the one or more printheads 103 of the print bar 102. A filter unit 212 can be arranged on line 219, which is configured to filter the ink 202 taken from the ink reservoir 201 in order to filter out impurities and / or sediment from the ink 202. This reliably prevents the nozzles 21, 22 of the one or more printheads 103 of the print bar 102 from becoming clogged due to contaminated ink 202.

[0015] The ink 202 provided in the ink reservoir 201 may have one or more properties that are matched to the one or more printheads 103 of the print bar 102 in order to ensure high print quality of the print bar 102. Examples of such properties are the chemical composition of the ink 202, the viscosity of the ink 202, and / or the drying rate of the ink 202.

[0016] The ink reservoir 201 can be designed such that manipulation of the ink reservoir 201, particularly with regard to the ink 202 stored in the ink reservoir 201, can be efficiently and reliably avoided and / or prevented. The ink reservoir 201 can, in particular, be designed such that • the ink reservoir 201 can only be used once with the original ink 202; and / or • the ink reservoir 201 cannot be used multiple times, e.g. with refilled ink 202.

[0017] Fig. Figure 3a shows an exemplary ink reservoir 201 in a front view of the front of the ink reservoir 201, where the dispensing opening 209 for dispensing ink 202 is located. Fig. Figure 3b shows the exemplary ink reservoir 201 in a side view.

[0018] The ink reservoir 201 can have an outer shell 301 that encloses an inner shell 302 of the ink reservoir 201. The inner shell 302 can be designed as a container, particularly a closed one, for receiving ink 202. The inner shell 302 can, for example, be formed by a flexible bag, the bag being made of, for example, plastic. The use of a flexible inner shell 302 makes it possible to store the ink 202 essentially without air entrapment, thereby preventing or at least reducing deterioration of the ink 202 during storage over a relatively long period. Furthermore, the flexible inner shell 302 can contract when ink 202 is withdrawn, so that the ink 202 can be reliably and completely removed from the inner shell 302, in particular by pumping.

[0019] The dispensing opening 209 is preferably arranged directly on the inner shell 302. The dispensing opening 209 can, for example, have a valve that can be opened to dispense ink 202 and that can be closed as needed to prevent the dispensing of ink 202. Furthermore, the dispensing opening 209 can have a coupling designed to connect to a complementary coupling of the line 219 in order to connect the line 219 fluidically to the ink reservoir 201, in particular to the inner shell 302 of the ink reservoir 201. The dispensing opening 209 can, in particular, be designed as a hose coupling, optionally with a valve.

[0020] The inner shell 302, which is particularly flexible, can be arranged in a preferably rigid outer shell 301 of the ink reservoir 201. The outer shell 301 can form a supporting structure for the inner shell 302. In particular, the outer shell 302 can ensure that the ink reservoir 201 can be placed stably, e.g., on a table or on the floor. The outer shell 301 can, for example, be made of cardboard, preferably cubic, in particular a cardboard box. The ink reservoir 201 can, for example, be designed as a so-called "bag-in-box".

[0021] A cover 309 can be arranged on the outer casing 301 of the ink reservoir 201, the cover being configured to cover the dispensing opening 209 for dispensing ink 202. The cover 309 is preferably configured such that a user is required to remove, and preferably destroy, the cover 309 to gain access to the dispensing opening 209. For example, the user may need to remove or pierce the cover 309 to gain access to the dispensing opening 209.

[0022] A code 305, in particular a machine-readable code such as a barcode or a QR (Quick Response) code, can be arranged on the cover 309 of the dispensing opening 209. The code 305 is preferably designed such that the user is required to destroy the code 305, possibly together with the cover 309, in order to gain access to the dispensing opening 209. This ensures that the code 305 can no longer be read, in particular no longer be read and / or scanned by a reading device, after access to the dispensing opening 209 has been gained and / or after the ink reservoir 201 has been connected to the line 219 of the ink supply system 200 via the dispensing opening 209.This ensures that the code 305 can only be read, especially by machine, as long as no access to the extraction opening 209 has been created and / or as long as no line 219 has been connected to the extraction opening 209.

[0023] A code 305, in particular a QR code, can thus be printed on a perforated cover 309, e.g. on a perforated label, above the dispensing opening 209 of an ink reservoir 201, whereby the cover 309 must be removed so that the line 219 of the ink supply system 200 can be connected to the ink reservoir 201.

[0024] The code 305 on the cover 309 of an ink reservoir 201 can indicate an identifier for the ink 202 contained in the ink reservoir 201. The code 305 can be read by a reader of the printer 100 and / or the ink supply system 200. The ink supply system 200 of the printer 100 can have a tray for the ink reservoir 201. The reader for the code 305 can be located on the tray for the ink reservoir 201.

[0025] The (control) device 101 of the ink supply system 200 and / or the printing device 100 can be configured to check, based on the read code 305 of the ink reservoir 201, in particular based on the ink 202 identifier, whether an ink reservoir 201 containing the correct ink 202, in particular the correct ink color, has been placed on the tray of the ink supply system 200. Furthermore, the device 101 can be configured to issue an error message and / or to prevent the operation of the printing device 100. • if it is detected that the wrong ink 202 is contained in the ink reservoir 201; and / or • if, in particular as long as, no code 305 of the ink reservoir 201 located on the shelf of the ink supply system 200 has been read.

[0026] The device 101 can be configured to allow the operation of the printing device 100 only if • a code 305 of the ink reservoir 201 located on the shelf of the ink supply system 200 was read, in particular only if the code 305 was read before the ink reservoir 201 was connected to the line 219 of the ink supply system 200; and / or • the code 305 indicates that the correct ink 202 is contained in the ink reservoir 201.

[0027] This ensures high print quality for the printing device 100.

[0028] Optionally, a code, in particular a QR code, may be provided on the shelf for an ink reservoir 201, indicating information regarding the ink 202 that should be contained in an ink reservoir 201 placed on this shelf. The device 101 may also be configured to check, based on the code on the shelf, whether the correct ink 202 is contained in the ink reservoir 201 placed on the shelf.

[0029] As previously explained, the ink reservoir 201 is preferably designed such that, after the code 305 of the ink reservoir 201 has been scanned, the code 305 and / or the cover 209 must be damaged and / or destroyed to gain access to the dispensing opening 209 of the ink reservoir 201 and / or to connect the ink reservoir 201 to the line 219. This prevents the code 305 from being scanned again, for example, to reuse the ink reservoir 201 with refilled, possibly unsuitable, ink 202. In this way, tampering with the ink reservoir 201, for example, for multiple uses with refilled ink, can be prevented efficiently and reliably.Furthermore, this provides reliable protection for the dispensing opening 209, in particular the coupling, of the ink reservoir 201, since the dispensing opening 209 is typically only accessible when the ink reservoir 201 is located on the shelf of the ink supply system 200.

[0030] Fig. Figure 4 shows a flowchart of a method 400, which may be computer-implemented, for operating an inkjet printing device 100 with an ink reservoir 201. The ink reservoir 201 can be designed as described in this document.

[0031] In particular, the ink reservoir 201 can contain ink 202, which can be withdrawn from the ink reservoir 201, specifically from the inner lining 302 of the ink reservoir 201, via a dispensing opening 209. Furthermore, the ink reservoir 201 can have a code 305, in particular a QR code. The code 305 can provide information relating to the ink 202 contained in the ink reservoir 201, such as the color, type, and / or manufacturer. The code 305 can be designed such that it can be detected, e.g., scanned, by a reader of the printing device 100 in order to determine the information provided by the code 305 relating to the ink 202.

[0032] Method 400 comprises detecting 401 that a line 219 of the ink supply system 200 of the inkjet printing device 100 has been connected to the dispensing opening 209 of the ink reservoir 201 (in order to draw ink 202 from the ink reservoir 201 for the operation of the printing device 100). This can be detected, for example, based on sensor data from a sensor (e.g., a pressure sensor) of the ink supply system 200.

[0033] Furthermore, the method 400 comprises operating 402 the inkjet printing device 100 depending on whether or not the code 305 of the ink reservoir 201 has been detected. In particular, the operation of the printing device 100 can be prevented depending on whether or not the code 305 of the ink reservoir 201 has been detected. The operation of the printing device 100 can be prevented if the code 305 has not been detected, or if the code 305 has not been detected before the connection of the line 219 to the dispensing opening 209 of the ink reservoir 201 has been detected. On the other hand, the operation of the printing device 100 can be enabled if the code 305 has been detected. The operation of the printing device 100 may only be possible if code 305 has been detected before the connection of line 219 to the dispensing opening 209 of the ink reservoir 201 has been detected.This efficiently and reliably prevents the operation of the printing device 100 with a manipulated ink reservoir 201, thereby ensuring a consistently high print quality of the printing device 100.

[0034] This document describes an ink reservoir 201 for holding ink 202 for an inkjet printing device 100, in particular for the operation of an inkjet printing device 100. The ink reservoir 201 can be designed to be placed on a shelf of the ink supply system 200 of the printing device 100. The ink reservoir 201 can have an inner shell 302 for holding the ink 202. The inner shell 302 can be flexible. Alternatively or additionally, the inner shell 302 can be made of a flexible material, in particular plastic. Furthermore, the ink reservoir 201 can have an outer shell 301 that encloses the inner shell 302, preferably completely. The outer shell 301 can be designed as a support structure for the inner shell 302. Alternatively or additionally, the outer shell 301 can be made of a rigid material, in particular cardboard.

[0035] The ink reservoir 201 has a dispensing opening 209, which is designed for connecting a line 219 for dispensing ink 202 from the ink reservoir 201. The dispensing opening 209 can be arranged on the inner shell 302, in particular such that the dispensing opening 209 is covered by the outer shell 301, and / or that access to the dispensing opening 209 is blocked by the outer shell 301. Thus, when the ink reservoir 201 is unopened, access to the dispensing opening 209 can be blocked, e.g., by the outer shell 301.

[0036] The dispensing opening 209 can include a coupling, in particular a hose coupling, configured to be connected to a complementary coupling of a line 219 of the ink supply system 200 of the printing device 100. Alternatively or additionally, the dispensing opening 209 can include a valve. The dispensing opening 209 can be configured such that the valve opens automatically when a line 219 is connected to the dispensing opening 209 in order to withdraw ink 202 from the ink reservoir 200, in particular from the inner lining 302 of the ink reservoir 200, and supply it to a printing bar 102 of the printing device 100.

[0037] The ink reservoir 201 has a machine-readable code 305. The code 305 can be located on the outer casing 301 of the ink reservoir 201 so that the code 305 is visible from the outside. The ink reservoir 201 can have a cover 309, for example as part of the outer casing 301, which covers the dispensing opening 209 and / or blocks access to the dispensing opening 209. The cover 309 can thus be located on the outer casing 301. The cover 309 can, for example, be designed as a perforated section of the outer casing 301. The code 305 can be located on the cover 309.

[0038] Code 305 can provide information relating to the ink 202 contained in the ink reservoir 201, such as the color of the ink 202, the manufacturer of the ink 202, the type of ink 202 from a list of different ink types, and / or an expiration date or a manufacturing date of the ink 202. Code 305 can, for example, include or be a QR code.

[0039] The ink reservoir 201 is designed in such a way that the code 305 is damaged, in particular must be damaged, if • access to the extraction opening 209 is created in order to connect a line 219 to the extraction opening 209; and / or • a line 219 is connected to the extraction opening 209.

[0040] Alternatively or additionally, the ink reservoir 201 can be designed such that the cover 309 with the code 305 is damaged or removed, in particular must be damaged or removed in order to • to create access to the extraction port 209; and / or • to connect a line 219 to the extraction opening 209.

[0041] The described ink reservoir 201 efficiently and reliably prevents the ink reservoir 201 from being tampered with, potentially filled with unsuitable ink, and reused multiple times. This ensures consistently high print quality from the printer 100.

[0042] Furthermore, this document describes a (control) device 101 for operating an inkjet printing device 100 with an ink reservoir 201. The ink reservoir 201 can be configured as described in this document. The device 101 can be part of the printing device 100.

[0043] The device 101 is designed to detect that a line 219 of the ink supply system 200 of the inkjet printing device 100 has been connected to the dispensing opening 209 of the ink reservoir 201, in particular to dispense ink 202 from the ink reservoir 201.

[0044] Furthermore, the device 101 can be configured to operate the inkjet printing device 100 in response to detection, depending on whether, in particular before connecting the line 219 to the ink reservoir 201, the code 305 of the ink reservoir 201 has been detected, in particular by a reader of the printing device 100 or not.

[0045] The device 101 can be configured to prevent the withdrawal of ink 202 from the ink reservoir 201 and / or the operation of the inkjet printer 100 if the code 305 of the ink reservoir 201 has not been detected, in particular not before the line 219 has been connected to the dispensing port 209. Alternatively or additionally, the device 101 can be configured to allow the withdrawal of ink 202 from the ink reservoir 201 and / or the operation of the inkjet printer 100 only if the code 305 of the ink reservoir 201 has been detected beforehand, in particular before the line 219 has been connected to the dispensing port 209. Alternatively or additionally, the device 101 can be configured to display a message via the user interface of the inkjet printer 100, e.g.in the form of an error message if the code 305 of the ink reservoir 201 was not detected, especially not before connecting the line 219 to the dispensing opening 209.

[0046] This ensures, efficiently and reliably, that the ink reservoir 201 is not filled with, for example, unauthorized ink 202 and reused multiple times. As a result, consistently high print quality from the printer 100 can be guaranteed.

[0047] Furthermore, this document describes a printing device 100 which includes the device 101 described in this document. Reference symbol list 1. Transport direction (of the recording medium) 21, 22 nozzle Columns 31 and 32 (of the printed image) 100 printing device 101 (Control) device 102 pressure bars 103 Printhead 120 recording media 140 printed works 200 ink supply system 201 storage containers 202 ink 209 Extraction opening (coupling) 212 Filter unit 214 Pump 217 intermediate containers 218 Pump 219 Management 301 Outer shell 302 Inner sleeve 305 Code 309 Cover 400 Methods for operating a printing device with an ink reservoir 401-402 Procedure steps

Claims

Ink reservoir (201) for receiving ink (202) for an inkjet printing device (100); wherein: - the ink reservoir (201) has a dispensing opening (209) designed for connecting a line (219) for dispensing ink (202) from the ink reservoir (201); - the ink reservoir (201) has a machine-readable code (305); and - the ink reservoir (201) is designed such that the code (305) is damaged if access to the dispensing opening (209) is created to connect a line (219) to the dispensing opening (209); and / or-- a line (219) is connected to the dispensing opening (209), characterized in that- the ink reservoir (201) has a cover (309) that covers the dispensing opening (209) and / or that blocks access to the dispensing opening (209);- the code (305) is arranged on the cover (309);- the ink reservoir (201) is designed such that the cover (309) must be damaged or removed in order to:-- provide access to the dispensing opening (209); and / or-- connect a line (219) to the dispensing opening (209); and- wherein the ink reservoir (201)-- comprises an inner shell (302) for receiving the ink (202); wherein the dispensing opening (209) is arranged on the inner shell (302); and-- comprises an outer shell (301) that encloses the inner shell (302); wherein the cover (309) is arranged on the outer shell (301).; Ink reservoir container (201) according to claim 1, wherein the inner shell (302) is flexible and / or is made of a flexible material, in particular plastic; and / or the outer shell (301) is designed as a support structure for the inner shell (302) and / or is made of a rigid material, in particular cardboard. ink reservoir (201) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein- the code (305) indicates information relating to the ink (202) contained in the ink reservoir (201); and / or- the code (305) comprises a QR code. ink reservoir (201) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the dispensing opening (209) comprises a coupling, in particular a hose coupling, which is configured to be connected to a complementary coupling of a line (219). ink reservoir (201) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the dispensing opening (209) comprises a valve; and the dispensing opening (209) is in particular designed such that the valve is automatically opened when a line (219) is connected to the dispensing opening (209).

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