System for converting connections of an injection head

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for converting connections that connect an injection head (1) to a control board of a printing machine for controlling the injection head (1), the injection head (1) comprising at least one electronic connection to which at least one electronic board (2) is connected, which is in turn connected via a connection cable to the control board, the system comprising a casing (3) which can be fitted externally to the injection head (1), wherein the geometry of the casing (3) corresponds to the outer surface of the injection head (1), the casing (3) comprising at least one first housing (3.1) therein configured for attaching the electronic board (2), which is housed between the injection head (1) and the casing (3) in the operational assembly position.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] INJECTION HEAD CONNECTION CONVERSION SYSTEM

[0003] Technology sector

[0004] The invention relates to a system for injection heads, more specifically to a system for converting the connections of an injection head.

[0005] State of the art

[0006] Currently, printing machines are known where a decorative and / or relief design is printed on at least one surface of a substrate, where said printing machines comprise at least one injection head for printing said decorative and / or relief design by means of a printing product.

[0007] Typically, the print head comprises at least one electronic connection for connection to a printer control board, usually via a connecting cable, to control said print head.

[0008] Furthermore, to allow the printing of the printing product, for example, ink, onto the surface of the substrate, the ink head comprises at least one fluid connection, which is connected to at least one printing product transport tube connected in turn to the printing machine.

[0009] These inkjet printheads have the problem that each inkjet printhead manufacturer produces them with a different electronic connection, which means that in many cases printer manufacturers have to adapt the electronic connection of each printhead to the corresponding printer.

[0010] To solve this problem, it is common practice to connect at least one electronic conversion board to the printhead's electronic connection. This board is configured to convert the electronic connection to a format compatible with the printer's control board. Typically, this electronic board is attached to the printhead by connecting it to an electronic connection on the printhead. The electronic board also includes a connector to which the printer's control board is connected via a connecting cable.

[0011] As just explained, the electronic board is typically mounted on the respective printhead in a self-supporting manner, via the printhead's electronic connection. Therefore, this electronic board is highly susceptible to any leakage of printing material (e.g., ink) and / or unnecessary stress when handling (e.g., during printer maintenance) any component in its vicinity, especially considering the limited space inside the printer when multiple printheads are mounted side-by-side. Any of the aforementioned potential incidents—ink spillage or movement of the electronic board and / or connector—can cause accidents (e.g., short circuits, etc.).) that cause damage to the printer's control board (this control board being a high-cost element), and / or to the electronic board itself and / or connector (producing a bad connection if there is movement or accumulated printing product, etc.).

[0012] This configuration has the problem that during the connection and / or disconnection of at least one printing product transport tube from the fluid connection of the printhead (due, for example, to printhead replacement, routine maintenance, small leaks that may exist, etc.), printing product from at least one printing product transport tube can be deposited onto at least one electronic board (for example, in the form of drops), which can cause accidents, such as short circuits (interconnection of connection terminals) and / or open circuits (isolation of one or more connection terminals due to dirt or even oxidation) that cause errors in the instructions sent from the printer's control board, generating errors in the printing of the decorative design, short circuits of the electronic board, or short circuits of the printer's control board.

[0013] It is also possible that during the operation of the printing machine, printing product in the form of suspension generated during printing may fall onto the print head, and therefore onto the electronic board, causing accidents, such as those mentioned above.

[0014] Generally, in relation to the fluid connections of the printheads, the printheads can be classified as printheads without product recirculation or with recirculation of the printing product.

[0015] Non-recirculating printheads comprise one or more fluid inlet connections (usually located on one side of the printhead) and no fluid outlet connections (the print product only needs to reach the printhead). The reason these printheads may have multiple fluid inlet connections is that the printhead is sometimes designed with a divided feed area or due to the use of different print products, such as inks of different colors.

[0016] Recirculating printheads have one or more fluid inlet connections (usually located on one side of the printhead) and one or more fluid outlet connections (even when no print material is being injected, it is always circulating between the inlet and outlet). As mentioned for non-recirculating printheads, recirculating printheads may have multiple fluid inlet connections for the same print material and / or multiple fluid inlet connections for different print materials (for example, different colors).

[0017] This adds complexity to the installation of the respective ink printheads to the printing machine, since depending on the type of ink printhead and the number and type of fluid connections for the ink printhead's input and output, it will need to be connected to a plurality of very different printing product transport tubes.

[0018] Therefore, a connection conversion system for an inkjet printhead is necessary to prevent the deposition of printing product on the electronic board and / or prevent unnecessary movements between the electronic board and the inkjet printhead, preventing damage to the connection between the electronic board and the inkjet printhead, as well as facilitating the installation of the inkjet printhead in the printing machine.

[0019] Object of the invention: In order to achieve this objective and solve the technical problems discussed so far, as well as provide additional advantages that may be derived later, the present invention provides a system for converting connections from an injection head to a control board of a printing machine for controlling said injection head, the injection head comprising at least one electronic connection to which at least one electronic board is connected, which in turn is connected via a connection cable to the control board, the system comprising a housing that can be externally fitted onto the injection head, where the housing comprises a geometry corresponding to the outer surface of the injection head,and the housing comprising within it at least a first housing configured for fixing the electronic board that is housed between the print head and the housing in the operational mounting position, said first housing having a through hole for the passage of a connector of the at least electronic board to which the connection cable is connected, and the housing comprising within it at least one lateral housing, independent of the first housing, configured to fix at least one coupling adapter of at least one print product transport tube to at least one fluid connection of the print head.

[0020] In this way, in the operational mounting position, the first housing of the casing covers the electronic board, isolating the electronic board from the outside of the casing and reducing the possibility of possible leaks of printing product from the printing product transport tubes and / or deposits of the printing product suspension generated by the injection itself falling, or being deposited, on the electronic board.

[0021] Furthermore, since there is at least one side housing independent of the first housing, where the electronic board is located in the operational mounting position, the electronic board is further isolated from the printing product flowing through the printing product transport tube, preventing once again the printing product from falling onto the electronic board.

[0022] Furthermore, thanks to this configuration, the electronic board itself is also "isolated" from possible shocks or movements that may exist on it, with the casing itself acting as a protective shield.

[0023] It should be mentioned that "operational mounting position" is understood as the position of the housing with respect to the injection head after its attachment to it, and that it will be the position in which the housing is found during the operation of the printing machine in which the injection head is installed.

[0024] Preferably, the fixing of at least one electronic board and / or at least one adapter to the housing is by clipping, which makes the assembly and / or disassembly procedure of the electronic board and / or adapter in the housing simpler, reducing the time required for the assembly of the housing, and therefore the cost of the same.

[0025] Additionally, thanks to this ease of assembly, the present injection head connection conversion system can be easily adapted to the number and type of fluidic connections of the injection head, by changing the specific adapter used in the conversion system.

[0026] Likewise, if the electronic board is first attached to the injection head, when the electronic board is subsequently attached to the housing by clipping, the injection head would also be attached to the housing, without needing to attach the injection head directly to the housing.

[0027] Preferably, the through-hole in the housing includes a sealing gasket for the connector, thus improving the connector's fit within the through-hole and preventing the printed material, whether in droplet or suspended form, from passing through any gap that might exist between the housing's through-hole and the circuit board connector once installed. This effectively prevents the printed material from reaching the circuit board and / or its connections, thereby avoiding the aforementioned problems.

[0028] Preferably, the at least one adapter comprises at least one connection protrusion projecting outwards from the housing in the operational mounting position, for coupling the at least one print product transport tube configured for a watertight coupling between the print product transport tube and the at least one fluid connection of the print head, thereby achieving a watertight connection of the print product transport tube to the adapter and consequently to the at least one fluid connection of the print head.Preferably, the at least one adapter comprises at least one connection recess at an end opposite the end where the at least one connection protrusion is located, wherein said connection recess is fluidly connected to the at least one connection protrusion and wherein said connection recess houses a gasket configured for the airtight coupling of the at least one fluid connection of the printhead, thereby achieving, by virtue of the adapter comprising both the aforementioned at least one connection protrusion and the at least one connection recess, an airtight connection between the print product transport tube and the fluid connection of the printhead, preventing the print product from escaping and entering the first housing, and thus being deposited on the electronic board.Furthermore, a quick assembly is achieved that allows a direct connection of the printing product transport tubes, and the fluidic connection of the injection head itself.

[0029] Preferably, at least one connection recess comprises a gasket fitting flange, thereby preventing the gasket from accidentally coming out of the connection recess.

[0030] Preferably, at least one connection recess comprises a self-closing mechanism, configured to prevent the fall of print product from the connection recess while the connection recess is not connected to the respective fluidic connection of the printhead, thereby preventing the accidental fall of print product during the mounting and / or dismounting of the printhead to the housing.

[0031] Preferably, at least one connection protrusion is screw-fixable to an adapter body, allowing for easy assembly and disassembly of the connection protrusion. This provides versatility that facilitates the exchange of one connection protrusion for another, with each connection protrusion adapted to specific printing product transport tubes, which in turn allows for a more secure and watertight connection between the printing product transport tube and the adapter.

[0032] According to a feature of the invention, the adapter comprises at least one connection protrusion at one end and connected to at least two connection recesses at the opposite end for respective fluidic connections of the injection head, wherein the at least two connection recesses are connected in a bifurcation with the connection protrusion, thereby making it possible to adapt the system to injection heads with at least two fluidic connections for the same printing product transport tube.

[0033] According to another feature of the invention, the adapter comprises at least two connection protrusions at one end and connected respectively to one of at least two connection recesses at the opposite end for respective fluidic connections of the injection head, where the connection recesses are independent of each other, thereby making it possible to adapt the system to injection heads with at least two fluidic connections and connect them to their respective printing product transport tubes.

[0034] It should be noted that, although only adapters comprising a connection protrusion at one end and one or two connection recesses at the opposite end have been mentioned, it is intended that at least one adapter (i.e., the system may comprise a plurality of adapters depending on the configuration of the print head and the printing machine) may comprise a plurality of connection protrusions at one end and a plurality of connection recesses at the opposite end, with some connection recesses (or all connection recesses) being connected in a bifurcation with a connection protrusion (or several connection protrusions).

[0035] Preferably, the housing is intended to be fixed to the injection head, thereby securing the housing to the injection head in the operational mounting position, ensuring a leak-proof and secure connection.

[0036] Preferably, the housing is attached to the injection head by screwing, thus achieving a stable attachment of the housing to the injection head in the operating mounting position.

[0037] In addition to or as an alternative to fixing the housing to the injection head by screwing, the housing is fixed to the injection head by clipping, thus achieving easy and simple fixing of the housing to the injection head in the operating mounting position.

[0038] Preferably, the housing comprises a marking on the outer surface of the housing, which allows for easy identification of the properties (or history) of said housing.

[0039] Description of the figures Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an example embodiment of the housing of the present invention.

[0040] Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the inside of the housing in Figure 1.

[0041] Figure 3 shows a perspective view of an example embodiment of the connection conversion system of the present invention comprising both the injection head and the housing.

[0042] Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the underside of the connection conversion system in Figure 3.

[0043] Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the connection conversion system from Figures 3 and 4.

[0044] Figure 6 shows a more detailed cross-sectional view of the coupling adapter in Figure 5.

[0045] Detailed description of the invention

[0046] The present invention relates to a system for converting connections from an injection head (1) to a control board of a printing machine, as well as at least one fluidic connection (1.1) of the injection head (1).

[0047] As mentioned above, a printhead (1) normally comprises an electronic connection for connection, via a connecting cable, to a control board of a printing machine, so that the control board can send data to and receive data from said printhead (1).

[0048] However, to adapt the electronic connection of the printhead (1) to different control boards, it is known to connect at least one electronic conversion board (2) to the electronic connection of the printhead (1), so that the electronic connection is converted to a format compatible with the printer's control board. It should be noted that, although in the present example of the system of the present invention, a printhead (1) with a single electronic connection, and therefore connected to a single electronic board (2), is mentioned, it is not ruled out that the printhead (1) may comprise a plurality of electronic connections and therefore be connected to a plurality of electronic boards (2), or that at least one electronic board (2) may be connected to a plurality of electronic connections of the printhead (1).

[0049] Furthermore, it should be noted that although in the present example of the embodiment of the system of the present invention an injection head (1) with two fluidic connections (1.1) is mentioned, it is not ruled out that the injection head (1) comprises a single fluidic connection (1.1) or a plurality of fluidic connections (1.1), both at the same end of the injection head (1) and at different ends of the injection head (1).

[0050] As can be seen in Figure 1, the present system comprises a housing (3) comprising an internal geometry corresponding to the injection head (1), so that it can be externally fitted into the injection head (1), as can be seen in Figure 3.

[0051] To this end, as can be seen in Figure 2, the housing (3) comprises a first housing (3.1) configured for fixing the electronic board (2) preferably by clipping, even more preferably by means of locking projections (3.1.1), so that, in a preferred embodiment of the assembly procedure of the connection conversion system of the present invention, the electronic board (2) is first fixed to the first housing by clipping in the operational mounting position, so that when subsequently inserting the injection head (1), the injection head (1) automatically connects with the electronic board (2) in the operational mounting position.

[0052] In another example of implementing the assembly procedure for the connection conversion system of the present invention, the electronic board (2) is first attached to the injection head (1) by means of the electronic connection of the injection head (1), and subsequently the assembly of injection head (1) and electronic board (2) is inserted into the first housing (3.1) until the electronic board (2) is secured by clipping to the first housing (3.1) by means of the snap-on projections (3.1.1). In this way, in the operational mounting position, the electronic board (2) is housed between the injection head (1) and the housing (3), as can be seen in Figure 5, where it can also be verified that the electronic board (2) is attached to the housing (3) substantially horizontally to the injection head (1) in the operational mounting position.

[0053] Likewise, said first housing (3.1) of the casing (3) comprises the aforementioned through hole (3.2) for the passage of a connector (2.1) of the electronic board (2), where said connector (2.1) is configured to fix the connection cable that would subsequently be connected to the control board of the printing machine.

[0054] To more safely prevent particles located on the outside of the housing (3) in the operating mounting position from entering the first housing (3.1) through the through hole (3.2) and being deposited on the electronic board (2) or on the electronic connection of the injection head (1), the through hole (3.2) comprises a sealing gasket (3.3) configured to prevent the passage of unwanted particles through the through hole (3.2) once the connector (2.1) of the electronic board (2) passes through said through hole (3.2).

[0055] It should be mentioned that, although in the example of the realization of the figures it is shown that the electronic board (2) is fixed to the housing (3) without the injection head (1), it is not ruled out that the electronic board (2) is first fixed to the injection head (1), and subsequently the injection head (1) is inserted into the first housing (3.1) so that the electronic board (2) is fixed to the housing (3), for example, by means of the aforementioned locking protrusions (3.1.1).

[0056] Furthermore, the housing (3) comprises at least one side housing (3.4), "side" being understood to be at least at one end of the housing (3), which has an elongated configuration as shown in the figures. This side housing (3.4) is independent of the first housing (3.1), as shown in Figure 2, for example, by means of a partition separating the two housings (3.1, 3.4). In the practical embodiment, it comprises two side housings (3.4) configured to secure a corresponding adapter (4) by means of a clip.

[0057] Specifically, the adapter (4) allows the coupling of at least one printing product transport tube from the printing machine to be adapted to at least one fluid connection (1.1) of the printhead (1). This allows the connection point between the at least one printing product transport tube and the at least one fluid connection (1.1) of the printhead (1) to be moved to the outside of the housing. This also facilitates the assembly and disassembly of the printhead (1), electronic board (2), and housing (3), shifting the likelihood of potential print product leaks to the outside of the housing (3) in the operating assembly position.

[0058] For this purpose, the adapter comprises at least one connection protrusion (4.1) (it is not ruled out that the adapter (4) comprises several connection protrusions (4.1)) projecting outwards from the housing (3) in the operational mounting position, where the connection protrusion (4.1) is configured for coupling the printing product transport tube.

[0059] Likewise, the connection protrusion (4.1) may comprise a tapered connection hole descending in diameter towards the inside of the housing (3) in its operational mounting position, for the correct coupling of the printing product transport tube, and to facilitate the insertion of the printing product transport tube into the connection protrusion (4.1).

[0060] In an embodiment of the present invention, the connection protrusion (4.1) is fixable to the adapter body (4) by screwing it to the adapter body (4), so that depending on the type of printing product transport tube to be connected to the connection protrusion (4.1), one type of connection protrusion (4.1) can be exchanged for another type of connection protrusion (4.1).

[0061] Likewise, at the opposite end of the adapter (4) to the connection protrusion (4.1) the adapter (4) comprises at least one connection recess (4.2) that houses a gasket (4.4) configured for coupling the fluidic connection (1.1) of the injection head (1).

[0062] Specifically, as can be seen in Figure 5, the adapter (4) comprises two connection recesses (4.2) that are connected in a bifurcation to the connection protrusion (4.1), where each connection recess (4.2) is coupled to respective fluidic connections (1.1) of the injection head (1).

[0063] Furthermore, the connection recess (4.2) may comprise a self-closing mechanism, configured to prevent the fall of print product from the connection recess (4.2) while the connection recess (4.2) is not connected to the respective fluid connection of the injection head (1) (for example by means of some type of plastic cam that plugs the connection recess (4.2)), thereby preventing the accidental fall of print product during the mounting and / or dismounting of the injection head (1) to the housing (3).

[0064] As can be seen in Figure 6, the connection recess (4.2) comprises a flange (4.3) for fitting the gasket (4.4) which ensures a watertight connection.

[0065] Furthermore, as can be seen in figures 1 to 6, the housing (3) is configured to be screwed to the injection head (1) by means of screws (5) which are fixed to a lateral projection (3.5) of the housing (3), thus ensuring a secure and watertight connection that prevents possible leaks of printing product from accessing the electronic board (2).

[0066] With all this, thanks to the connection conversion system of the present invention, the handling of the injection head is made easier and safer, both during the assembly of the injection head, when assembling the printing machine during its manufacturing process, and during any handling of the injection head during its maintenance.

[0067] Furthermore, thanks to the connection conversion system of the present invention, a marking can be placed on the outer surface of the housing (3) in the operational mounting position (for example, by means of the color thereof), which would inform of the assembly sequence of the injection heads (1) or to know events that occurred to a specific connection conversion system.

[0068] For example, the printheads (1) of a printing press may all be arranged in the same orientation. However, depending on the position of the printheads (1) inside the printing press, each printhead (1) would be connected to a different printer control board, where these printer control boards may be oriented (due to design requirements) so that the connection of the control board to the connecting cable (which is subsequently connected to the electronic board (2)) is either closer to the printhead (1) or further away (in the opposite direction) from the printhead (1).

[0069] This implies that the corresponding connectors (2.1) of the electronic boards (2), (where normally the electronic boards (2) are arranged in the housing (3.1) of the casing (3) in the same position), must be of one type or another, in this case depending on the orientation of the corresponding control board the connector (2.1) could be rotated 180°.

[0070] Therefore, and to avoid assembly errors, it is specified that the casing (3) according to the electronic board (2) that it has fixed, for this purpose the casing (3) may include a marking on the outer surface of the casing (3), for example, the casing (3) may be made of a plastic material (or other material) with a color different from the rest of the casings (3).

Claims

CLAIMS 1.- System for converting connections of an injection head (1) to a control board of a printing machine for controlling said injection head (1), the injection head (1) comprising at least one electronic connection to which at least one electronic board (2) is connected, which in turn is connected via a connection cable to the control board, the system comprising a housing (3) externally attachable to the injection head (1), the housing (3) comprising a geometry corresponding to the outer surface of the injection head (1), and the housing (3) comprising within it at least a first housing (3.1) configured for fixing the electronic board (2) which is housed between the injection head (1) and the housing (3) in the operational mounting position, said first housing (3.1) having a through hole (3.2) for the passage of a connector (2).1) of the at least one electronic board (2) to which the connection cable is connected, and the housing (3) comprising within it at least one side housing (3.4), independent of the first housing (3.1), configured to fix at least one coupling adapter (4) of at least one printing product transport tube to at least one fluid connection (1.1) of the injection head (1). 2.- System according to the previous claim, wherein the fixing of the at least one electronic board (2) and / or the at least one adapter (4) in the housing (3) is by clipping. 3.- System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the through hole (3.2) of the housing (3) comprises a sealing gasket (3.3) for fitting the connector (2.1). 4.- System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one adapter (4) comprises at least one connection projection (4.1) extending outwards from the housing (3) in the operational mounting position, for coupling the at least one print product transport tube configured for a leak-proof coupling between the print product transport tube and the at least one fluid connection (1.1) of the injection head (1). 5.- System according to the preceding claim, wherein the at least one adapter (4) comprises at least one connection recess (4.2) at an end opposite the end where the at least one connection protrusion (4.1) is located, wherein said connection recess (4.2) is fluidly connected to the at least one connection protrusion (4.1) and wherein said connection recess (4.2) houses a gasket (4.4) configured for the leak-tight coupling of the at least one fluid connection (1.1) of the injection head (1). 6.- System according to the previous claim, wherein the at least one connection recess (4.2) comprises a flange (4.3) for fitting the gasket (4.4). 7.- System according to any one of claims 5 to 6, wherein the at least one connection pocket (4.2) comprises a self-closing mechanism, configured to prevent the fall of print product from the connection pocket (4.2) while the connection pocket (4.2) is not connected to the respective fluidic connection (1.1) of the ink head (1). 8.- System according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the at least one connection protrusion (4.1) is fixable by threading to an adapter body (4). 9.- System according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the adapter (4) comprises at least one connection protrusion (4.1) at one end and connected to at least two connection recesses (4.2) at the opposite end for respective fluidic connections (1.1) of the injection head (1), wherein the at least two connection recesses (4.2) are connected in a bifurcation with the connection protrusion (4.1). 10.- System according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the adapter (4) comprises at least two connection protrusions (4.1) at one end and connected respectively to one of the at least two connection recesses (4.2) at the opposite end for respective fluidic connections (1.1) of the injection head (1), wherein the connection recesses (4.2) are independent of each other. 11.- System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing (3) is fixed to the injection head (1). 12.- System according to the previous claim, wherein the housing (3) is fixed to the injection head (1) by screwing. 13.- System according to any one of claims 11 or 12, wherein the housing (3) is fixed to the injection head (1) by clipping. 14.- System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing (3) comprises a marking on the outer surface of the housing (3).

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