Ink path system and printer

Abstract

The present application relates to an ink path system and a printer. The ink path system comprises an ink stack, a waste ink tank, and a negative pressure pump. The waste ink tank is separately connected to the ink stack and the negative pressure pump; during operation, the negative pressure pump pumps air out of the waste ink tank to create a negative pressure in the waste ink tank, such that the waste ink tank suctions the ink stack to draw waste ink from the ink stack into the waste ink tank; and a first connection port is provided on a first surface of the waste ink tank, and a second connection port is provided on a second surface of the waste ink tank. The negative pressure pump, the waste ink tank, the ink stack are provided, the waste ink tank is separately connected to the negative pressure pump and the ink stack, the negative pressure pump pumps air out of the waste ink tank to form a negative pressure, a negative pressure environment of the waste ink tank draws waste ink from the ink stack, and the first connection port connected to the negative pressure pump is higher than the second connection port connected to the ink stack in the vertical direction, such that during operation, unlike a diaphragm pump or a peristaltic pump, the negative pressure pump is not in direct contact with the waste ink.

Description

Ink system and printer

[0001] This application claims the full benefits of patent application No. 202520520710.0 entitled "Inkway System and Printer", filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China on March 21, 2025, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This application relates to the field of printer technology, and more particularly to an ink path system and a printer. Background Technology

[0003] A UV printer (Ultraviolet LED Inkjet Printer) is a high-tech, plate-free, full-color digital printer that is not limited by materials. It can perform photo-quality color printing on surfaces such as T-shirts, sliding doors, cabinet doors, glass, sheets, various signs, crystal, PVC, acrylic, metal, plastic, stone, and leather. Printing is completed in a single pass without the need for plate making, producing vibrant and rich colors that are wear-resistant, UV-resistant, easy to operate, and offer fast printing speeds, fully meeting industrial printing standards.

[0004] Currently, UV printers use diaphragm pumps, peristaltic pumps, and other ink pumps to remove waste ink. However, waste ink is corrosive, and the white ink in it can precipitate. The white ink precipitate inside the pump and the corrosive nature of the waste ink can affect the function of the ink pump, causing it to become unusable after a period of use. Therefore, frequent replacement of the ink pump is necessary, which not only delays the work progress but also increases the production costs of enterprises.

[0005] Therefore, traditional technologies have shortcomings and need to be improved. Summary of the Invention

[0006] This application provides an ink path system and printer to solve the problem that the characteristics of white ink sedimentation and waste ink corrosion affect the service life of the ink pump, causing the ink pump to become unusable after a period of use.

[0007] In a first aspect, this application provides an ink path system, including an ink stack, a waste ink cartridge, and a negative pressure pump. The waste ink cartridge is connected to both the ink stack and the negative pressure pump. When operating, the negative pressure pump evacuates the waste ink cartridge to create a negative pressure within it, causing the waste ink cartridge to draw air from the ink stack into the waste ink cartridge. A first connection port is provided on a first surface of the waste ink cartridge, and a second connection port is provided on a second surface. The waste ink cartridge is connected to the negative pressure pump through the first connection port and to the ink stack through the second connection port.

[0008] In the vertical direction of the waste ink cartridge, the first connection port is higher than the second connection port.

[0009] Optionally, it also includes a negative pressure detection device, which is connected to the pipeline connecting the waste ink cartridge and the negative pressure pump. The negative pressure detection device performs negative pressure detection when the ink stack is being pumped in a negative pressure environment inside the waste ink cartridge, and can judge the sealing condition of the printhead assembly and the ink stack based on the detected negative pressure.

[0010] Optionally, the first connection port is located on the top surface of the waste ink cartridge, or on the side adjacent to the top surface of the waste ink cartridge.

[0011] Optionally, an air pressure balancing pipe is connected to the ink stack. After the negative pressure pump stops working, the air pressure balancing pipe is connected to the outside air, and the outside air enters the waste ink box to change the negative pressure environment inside the waste ink box to a normal pressure environment.

[0012] Optionally, it also includes an alarm device connected to a negative pressure detection device. The negative pressure detection device sends an alarm signal to the alarm device when no negative pressure is detected, and the alarm device issues an alarm upon receiving the alarm signal.

[0013] Secondly, this application provides a printer that includes the aforementioned ink path system.

[0014] It also includes a liquid supply device, a first three-way valve, an ink cartridge, a second three-way valve assembly, and a printhead assembly. The first three-way valve is connected to both the liquid supply device and the second three-way valve assembly. The second three-way valve assembly is also connected to the ink cartridge and the printhead assembly. The liquid supply device supplies liquid to the printhead assembly through the first three-way valve and the second three-way valve assembly. The ink cartridge supplies ink to the printhead assembly through the second three-way valve assembly. The ink stack collects waste ink from the printhead assembly.

[0015] Optionally, the liquid supply device includes a liquid supply section, a liquid addition metering device, a liquid extraction section, and a third three-way valve. The liquid extraction section is connected to the liquid supply section and the third three-way valve, and the third three-way valve is also connected to the second three-way valve and the liquid addition metering device.

[0016] Optionally, the liquid supply unit is fixedly connected to the waste ink cartridge;

[0017] Optionally, the printer includes a container comprising a main cavity serving as the waste ink cartridge and an auxiliary cavity serving as the liquid supply unit, the main cavity and the auxiliary cavity being separated by a soft membrane.

[0018] Details of one or more embodiments of this application are set forth in the following drawings and description. Other features, objects, and advantages of this application will become apparent from the specification, drawings, and claims. Attached Figure Description

[0019] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this application.

[0020] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or in the conventional technology, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or in the conventional technology will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, for those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0021] One or more embodiments are illustrated by way of example with reference numerals in the accompanying drawings. These illustrations do not constitute a limitation on the embodiments. Elements with the same reference numerals in the drawings are denoted as similar elements. Unless otherwise stated, the figures in the drawings are not to be limited by scale.

[0022] Figure 1 is a three-dimensional structural diagram of an ink path system provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0023] Figure 2 is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the waste ink cartridge provided in the embodiment of this application.

[0024] Figure 3 is a simplified structural diagram of the ink path system provided in the embodiment of this application.

[0025] Figure 4 is a plan view of a liquid addition metering device provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0026] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional structural diagram of a liquid addition metering device provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0027] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid addition metering device provided in an embodiment of this application after liquid is injected.

[0028] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the container provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0029] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached drawings: 1. Ink system; 2. Ink stack; 3. Waste ink cartridge; 4. Negative pressure pump; 5. Negative pressure detection device; 6. First connection port; 7. Second connection port; 8. Air pressure balance pipe; 10. First three-way valve; 11. Ink cartridge; 12. Second three-way valve assembly; 13. Printhead assembly; 14. Liquid supply section; 15. Liquid addition metering device; 16. Liquid extraction section; 17. Third three-way valve; 18. Container body; 19. Piston assembly; 20. Receiving tank cover; 21. Limiting structure; 22. Receiving tank; 23. Liquid inlet; 24. Piston body; 25. Elastic hollow column; 26. Through port; 27. Piston column; 28. Piston head; 29. ​​Abutment part; 30. Container; 31. Soft membrane. Detailed Implementation

[0030] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0031] The following disclosure provides numerous different embodiments or examples for implementing various structures of this application. To simplify the disclosure, specific examples of components and arrangements are described below. These are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope of this application. Furthermore, reference numerals and / or letters may be repeated in different examples. Such repetition is for simplification and clarity and does not in itself indicate a relationship between the various embodiments and / or arrangements discussed.

[0032] For ease of description, spatial relative terms may be used in the text to describe the relative position or movement of one element or feature relative to another element or feature, as shown in the figure. These relative terms include, for example, "inside," "outside," "middle," "outer," "below," "below," "above," "front," "back," etc. Such spatial relative terms are intended to include different orientations of the device in use or operation, other than those depicted in the figure. For example, if the device in the figure undergoes a positional flip, orientation change, or change of motion, these directional indications will change accordingly. For instance, an element described as "below other elements or features" or "below other elements or features" will subsequently be oriented "above other elements or features" or "above other elements or features." Therefore, the example term "below" can include both upper and lower orientations. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or in other directions), and the spatial relative descriptors used in the text will be interpreted accordingly.

[0033] To address the technical problems of traditional technologies, this application provides an ink path system and printer that enables the installation of a negative pressure pump, a waste ink cartridge, and an ink stack. The waste ink cartridge is connected to both the negative pressure pump and the ink stack. The negative pressure pump draws air from the waste ink cartridge to create negative pressure, which in turn draws waste ink from the ink stack. The first connection port of the negative pressure pump is vertically higher than the second connection port, preventing the negative pressure pump from directly contacting the waste ink during operation, unlike diaphragm pumps or peristaltic pumps. This avoids corrosion and sedimentation of the negative pressure pump by the waste ink, effectively preventing a reduction in pump lifespan due to contact with waste ink, extending the lifespan of the negative pressure pump, and avoiding disruptions to the company's work schedule and production costs caused by frequent replacements of the negative pressure pump.

[0034] Figures 1 and 2 illustrate an ink path system 1 provided in an embodiment of this application, used for extracting waste ink from an ink stack 2 sealed to the printhead assembly 13. The system includes an ink stack 2, a waste ink cartridge 3, a negative pressure pump 4, and a negative pressure detection device 5. The waste ink cartridge 3 is connected to both the ink stack 2 and the negative pressure pump 4. The negative pressure detection device 5 is connected to the pipeline connecting the waste ink cartridge 3 and the negative pressure pump 4. During operation, the negative pressure pump 4 evacuates the waste ink cartridge 3 to create a negative pressure within it, causing the waste ink cartridge 3 to draw air from the ink stack 2, thus extracting the waste ink from the ink stack 2 into the waste ink cartridge 3. The ink stack 2 serves as a collection structure for waste ink at the printhead assembly 13. The negative pressure pump 4 does not directly contact the waste ink during operation, preventing corrosion of the pump and sedimentation of white ink within it. This effectively avoids a reduction in the pump's lifespan due to contact with waste ink, thereby extending the service life of the negative pressure pump 4. Preferably, the negative pressure pump 4 is an air pump; the negative pressure detection device 5 is a negative pressure sensor.

[0035] Specifically, the negative pressure detection device 5 performs negative pressure detection when the ink stack 2 is being drawn from the ink cartridge 3 under negative pressure. The detected negative pressure level can be used to determine the sealing condition between the printhead assembly 13 and the ink stack. The negative pressure detection device 5 detects whether the printhead assembly 13 and the ink stack 2 are sealed while the waste ink is being recycled. If a negative pressure environment is detected, it indicates that the printhead assembly 13 and the ink stack 2 are sealed, which is normal. If a normal pressure environment is detected, it indicates that the printhead assembly 13 and the ink stack 2 are not sealed, which is abnormal and will prevent subsequent ink extraction and prevent the printer from printing normally.

[0036] Please refer to Figure 2. A first connection port 6 is provided on the first surface of the waste ink cartridge 3, and a second connection port 7 is provided on the second surface of the waste ink cartridge 3. The first connection port 6 is connected to the negative pressure pump 4, and the second connection port 7 is connected to the ink stack 2. In the vertical direction, the first connection port 6 is higher than the second connection port 7. The first connection port 6 is designed to create a negative pressure environment inside the waste ink cartridge 3 by the negative pressure environment inside the waste ink cartridge 3, allowing the waste ink to flow into the waste ink cartridge 3 through the second connection port 7. By setting the first connection port 6 higher than the second connection port 7, even if the waste ink level in the waste ink cartridge 3 is high, it will not easily flow to the first connection port 6, which helps to avoid direct contact between the waste ink and the negative pressure pump 4, and helps to extend the service life of the negative pressure pump 4.

[0037] Furthermore, in this application, the first connection port 6 is located on the side adjacent to the top surface of the waste ink cartridge 3. Including but not limited to this, it can also be located on the top surface of the waste ink cartridge 3. The specific location of the first connection port 6 can be determined according to the actual location of the negative pressure pump 4, as long as the position of the waste ink cartridge 3 where the first connection port 6 is located is higher than the position of the waste ink cartridge 3 where the second connection port 7 is located.

[0038] Furthermore, the ink system 1 also includes an alarm device (not shown in the figure). The alarm device is connected to the negative pressure detection device 5. When the negative pressure detection device 5 does not detect a negative pressure, that is, when the air pressure environment inside the waste ink cartridge 3 is at normal pressure, it sends an alarm signal to the alarm device. After receiving the alarm signal, the alarm device sounds an alarm to remind the staff that the environment inside the waste ink cartridge 3 is not negative and needs to be checked and repaired.

[0039] Further, please refer to Figure 1. An air pressure balancing pipe 8 is connected to the ink stack 2. After the negative pressure pump 4 stops working, the air pressure balancing pipe 8 is connected to the outside air, allowing outside air to enter the waste ink cartridge 3 and change the negative pressure environment inside the waste ink cartridge 3 to a normal pressure environment. Specifically, this can be achieved manually by the operator or automatically by setting a solenoid valve to control the air pressure balancing pipe 8. The air pressure balancing pipe 8 prevents the waste ink cartridge 3 from being in a state of constant negative pressure. It is opened when negative pressure waste ink extraction is not required, allowing the interior of the waste ink cartridge 3 to connect with the outside air, reducing the possibility of damage to the waste ink cartridge 3 due to a prolonged negative pressure environment. This helps to extend the service life of the waste ink cartridge 3 and save on the company's maintenance costs.

[0040] Please refer to Figure 3. This application provides a printer, including the ink path system 1 described above, and also includes a liquid supply device, a first three-way valve 10, an ink cartridge 11, a second three-way valve assembly 12, and the printhead assembly 13 described above. The first three-way valve 10 is connected to the liquid supply device 9 and the second three-way valve assembly 12 respectively. The second three-way valve assembly 12 is also connected to the ink cartridge 11 and the printhead assembly 13. The printhead assembly 13 is connected to the ink stack 2. The liquid supply device provides liquid to the printhead assembly 13 through the first three-way valve 10 and the second three-way valve assembly 12, specifically providing cleaning fluid and moisturizing fluid. The ink cartridge 11 supplies ink to the printhead assembly 13 through the second three-way valve assembly 12. The ink stack 2 collects waste ink at the printhead assembly 13.

[0041] Furthermore, the liquid supply device includes a liquid supply section 14, a liquid addition metering device 15, a liquid extraction section 16, and a third three-way valve 17. The liquid extraction section 16 is connected to the liquid supply section 14 and the third three-way valve 17. The third three-way valve 17 is also connected to the second three-way valve and the liquid addition metering device 15. The liquid extraction section 16 extracts liquid from the liquid supply section 14 and supplies it to the liquid addition metering device 15 through the third three-way valve 17. Each time, the liquid addition metering device 15 supplies the same volume of liquid to the nozzle assembly 13 through the second three-way valve via the third three-way valve 17.

[0042] In this ink system 1, there are two liquid supply units 14, two liquid addition metering devices 15, two liquid extraction units 16 and two three-way valves 17, which correspond to each other. The liquid supply units 14 provide cleaning liquid and moisturizing liquid to the liquid addition metering devices 15 respectively. The liquid addition metering devices 15 provide cleaning liquid or moisturizing liquid according to the needs of the print head assembly 13.

[0043] Please refer to Figure 4. The two liquid supply sections 14 are fixedly installed at both ends of the waste ink box 3, providing a more stable environment for the smaller liquid supply sections 14. This helps reduce the possibility of the liquid supply sections 14 tipping over or spilling liquid. It also makes it easier for staff to monitor the remaining amount of cleaning fluid and / or moisturizing fluid and the amount of waste ink stored, reducing the occurrence of situations where the cleaning fluid and / or moisturizing fluid is used up and not replenished in time, or waste ink overflows, due to scattered installation and missed checks.

[0044] Alternatively, referring to Figure 7, in some embodiments, the printer includes a container 30, which includes a main cavity as a waste ink cartridge 3 and an auxiliary cavity as a liquid supply unit 14, the main cavity and the auxiliary cavity being separated by a soft membrane 31.

[0045] Specifically, the waste ink cartridge 3 and at least one liquid supply unit 14 are integrated into a container 30, meaning one or two liquid supply units 14 can be integrated with the waste ink cartridge 3 into a single container 30. The two liquid supply units 14 are used to hold cleaning fluid and humidifying fluid respectively. The flexible membrane 31 is expandable; when the cleaning fluid and humidifying fluid decrease, the volume of the liquid supply unit 14 decreases with pressure changes, allowing it to hold more waste ink. The container 30, printhead assembly 13, and ink stack 2 form a system. The cleaning fluid and humidifying fluid in the container 30 are drawn into the liquid addition metering device 15 via the extraction unit 16. The liquid addition metering device 15 supplies cleaning fluid or humidifying fluid according to the needs of the printhead assembly 13. The ink stack 2 extracts the cleaning fluid, humidifying fluid, and waste ink from the printhead assembly 13 and returns them to the waste ink cartridge 3.

[0046] Furthermore, the liquid addition metering device 15 includes a barrel 18, a piston assembly 19, a container cover 20, and a limiting structure 21. A container 22 is provided at one end of the barrel 18, and a liquid inlet 23 is provided at the bottom of the container 22. The piston assembly 19 is partially housed in the container 22 and partially extends out of the container 22. The piston assembly 19 located at the bottom of the container 22 matches the shape and size of the cross-section of the container 22. The piston assembly 19 located at the bottom of the container 22 can move along the inner wall of the container 22. The piston assembly 19, which matches the cross-section of the container 22, can also seal with the container 22 during movement to prevent liquid leakage from between the container 22 and the piston assembly 19. The container cover 20 seals the opening of the container 22 and is fixedly connected to the container 22. The limiting structure 21 is fixedly installed at the opening of the container 22, specifically on the side of the container cover 20 near the bottom of the container 22.

[0047] The working principle of this application is as follows: An external liquid supply mechanism injects liquid into the liquid adding metering device 15 through the liquid inlet 23. The liquid enters and provides thrust to the piston assembly 19, causing the piston assembly 19 to move away from the bottom of the receiving tank 22. When the piston assembly 19 has moved a distance A, it is stopped by the limiting structure 21 located at the opening and cannot continue to move. At this time, a certain amount of liquid has accumulated in the receiving tank 22, and the volume of the liquid is the volume of the receiving tank 22 from the bottom of the receiving tank 22 to a distance A from the bottom of the receiving tank 22. The liquid adding metering device 15 provides a precise amount of liquid by outputting the stored metered liquid. Precise metering is achieved through a simple constraint structure between the limiting structure 21 and the piston assembly 19, and there is no situation where the metered liquid cannot be accurately output due to the dimensional tolerance of the water pump components or the speed tolerance of the motor. Specifically, the specific value of the distance A can be determined according to the volume of the liquid to be metered and the shape and size of the receiving tank 22.

[0048] In this application, the barrel 18 is preferably cylindrical, which has the advantages of regular structure, easy volume determination, and smooth sidewalls that facilitate the movement of the piston assembly 19. It can also be prismatic, elliptical, or other regular shapes to facilitate the movement of the piston assembly 19 and volume calculation. The accommodating tank cover 20 can prevent stains from entering the inner wall of the accommodating tank 22 from the opening, which is beneficial to improving the cleanliness and service life of the product. The piston assembly 19 is used to push back the liquid after being pushed by the liquid, so as to realize the output of a quantitative liquid without the need for an additional push mechanism, which simplifies the structure and improves reliability.

[0049] Furthermore, the piston assembly 19 includes a piston body 24 and an elastic hollow column 25. The elastic hollow column 25 is sleeved on the piston body 24, with one end abutting against the piston body 24 and the other end abutting against the receiving groove cover 20. A passage 26, matching the shape and size of the end of the piston body 24 furthest from the bottom of the receiving groove 22, is provided in the middle of the receiving groove cover 20. A portion of the piston body 24 extends out of the receiving groove 22 through the passage 26. A limiting structure 21 is disposed around the periphery of the passage 26. When the piston body 24 contacts the bottom of the receiving groove 22, it is in a slightly compressed state, allowing for easy liquid injection and providing a certain rebound force to push the liquid out of the piston body 24. Preferably, the elastic hollow column 25 of this application is a spring structure, which has the advantages of stable performance and long-term use. However, it is not limited to this; a hollow column structure made of elastic rubber material can also be used.

[0050] Furthermore, the piston body 24 includes a piston rod 27 and a piston head 28. The piston head 28 is fixedly connected to one end of the piston rod 27. The shape and size of the cross-section of the piston head 28 match the shape and size of the cross-section of the receiving groove 22. The shape and size of the cross-section of the piston rod 27 match the shape and size of the through port 26. The piston head 28 is disposed within the receiving groove 22 and is sealed to the inner wall of the receiving groove 22. Part of the piston rod 27 extends out of the receiving groove 22 from the through port 26. The partially protruding piston rod 27 is used to restrict the direction of movement by cooperating with the through port 26 on the basis of the piston head 28, avoiding the possibility of structural loosening due to the deviation of the movement direction of the piston head 28 and the piston rod 27, which is beneficial to improving the service life of the product.

[0051] Furthermore, an abutment member 29 is fixedly provided on the side of the piston column 27. The abutment member 29 is used to abut against the elastic hollow column 25 and the limiting structure 21. Specifically, the dimension of the abutment member 29 in the cross-section of the piston column 27 is larger than the dimension of the elastic hollow column 25. One end of the elastic hollow column 25 abuts against the abutment member 29, and the other end abuts against the receiving groove cover 20. In this application, the limiting structure 21 is a hollow column structure covering the outside of the passage 26. The dimension of the limiting structure 21 in the cross-section of the piston column 27 is larger than the dimension of the elastic hollow column 25 and smaller than the dimension of the abutment member 29. That is, the limiting structure 21 can accommodate part of the elastic hollow column 25 at one end of the receiving groove cover 20, thus achieving abutment against the piston column 25. While the contact piece 29 abuts against the piston, it also protects the hollow elastic column 25, preventing damage caused by excessive deformation in the circumferential direction when compressed. This extends the service life of the hollow elastic column 25. Furthermore, the contact with the contact piece 29 helps to correct the movement of the piston body 24. This ensures that the piston body 24, which may have a slight tilt, is aligned after contact with the hollow cylindrical limiting structure 21. This aligns its retraction direction with the extension direction of the receiving groove 22, reducing the possibility of leakage and increased friction with the inner wall of the receiving groove 22, which could damage the piston head 28. This reduces maintenance costs and extends product life. It is understood that the limiting structure 21 can also be a single or multiple small cylindrical structures located outside the passage 26, including but not limited to these, as long as the limiting structure 21 abuts against the contact piece 29 when the piston column 27 moves away from the receiving groove 22.

[0052] In the above embodiments, the descriptions of each embodiment have different focuses. For parts that are not described in detail in a certain embodiment, please refer to the relevant descriptions in other embodiments.

[0053] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this application.

[0054] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this application, "multiple" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0055] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "joining," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0056] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can include direct contact between the first and second features, or contact between the first and second features through another feature between them. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature includes the first feature being directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature includes the first feature being directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0057] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of this application. The illustrative expressions of the above terms in this specification should not be construed as necessarily referring to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. In addition, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate the different embodiments or examples described in this specification.

[0058] Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations to this application without departing from the spirit and scope of this application. Since these modifications and variations fall within the scope of the claims and their equivalents, this application also intends to include these modifications and variations.

[0059] The above description describes specific embodiments of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can easily conceive of various equivalent modifications or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed in this application, and these modifications or substitutions should all be covered within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An ink path system characterized by: The system includes an ink stack, a waste ink cartridge, and a negative pressure pump. The waste ink cartridge is connected to both the ink stack and the negative pressure pump. When operating, the negative pressure pump evacuates the waste ink cartridge to create a negative pressure within it, causing the waste ink cartridge to draw the waste ink from the ink stack into the waste ink cartridge. A first connection port is provided on a first surface of the waste ink cartridge, and a second connection port is provided on a second surface. The waste ink cartridge is connected to the negative pressure pump through the first connection port and to the ink stack through the second connection port. In the vertical direction of the waste ink cartridge, the first connection port is higher than the second connection port.

2. The ink path system according to claim 1, characterized by: The ink path system also includes a negative pressure detection device, which is connected to the pipeline connecting the waste ink cartridge and the negative pressure pump. The negative pressure detection device performs negative pressure detection when the ink stack is being pumped out by the negative pressure environment inside the waste ink cartridge, and can determine the sealing condition of the printhead assembly and the ink stack based on the detected negative pressure.

3. The ink path system of claim 1, wherein: The first connection port is located on the top surface of the waste ink cartridge, or on the side adjacent to the top surface of the waste ink cartridge.

4. The ink path system of claim 1, wherein: An air pressure balancing pipe is connected to the ink stack. After the negative pressure pump stops working, the air pressure balancing pipe is connected to the outside air, and the outside air enters the waste ink box to change the negative pressure environment inside the waste ink box to a normal pressure environment.

5. The ink path system of claim 2, wherein: It also includes an alarm device, which is connected to the negative pressure detection device. When the negative pressure detection device does not detect a negative pressure condition, it sends an alarm signal to the alarm device, and the alarm device issues an alarm upon receiving the alarm signal.

6. A printer characterized by: Including the ink path system as described in any one of claims 1-5.

7. The printer of claim 6, wherein: It also includes a liquid supply device, a first three-way valve, an ink cartridge, a second three-way valve assembly, and a printhead assembly. The first three-way valve is connected to the liquid supply device and the second three-way valve assembly, and the second three-way valve assembly is also connected to the ink cartridge and the printhead assembly. The liquid supply device supplies liquid to the printhead assembly through the first three-way valve and the second three-way valve assembly. The ink cartridge supplies ink to the printhead assembly through the second three-way valve assembly. The ink stack collects waste ink from the printhead assembly.

8. The printer of claim 7, wherein: The liquid supply device includes a liquid supply section, a liquid addition metering device, a liquid extraction section, and a third three-way valve. The liquid extraction section is connected to the liquid supply section and the third three-way valve, and the third three-way valve is also connected to the second three-way valve and the liquid addition metering device.

9. The printer of claim 8, wherein: The liquid supply unit is fixedly connected to the waste ink cartridge.

10. The printer of claim 8, wherein, The liquid supply unit, the liquid addition metering device, the liquid extraction unit, and the third three-way valve are each provided in two separate units, and they correspond one-to-one.

11. The printer of claim 8, wherein, The liquid addition metering device includes a barrel, a piston assembly, a receiving tank cover, and a limiting structure. One end of the barrel has a receiving tank, and the bottom of the receiving tank has a liquid inlet. At least a portion of the piston assembly is housed in the receiving tank, and at least a portion of the piston assembly extends out of the receiving tank. The piston assembly located at the bottom of the receiving tank is configured to move along the inner wall of the receiving tank. The piston assembly matching the cross-section of the receiving tank is configured to seal against the receiving tank during movement. The receiving tank cover seals the opening of the receiving tank and is fixedly connected to the receiving tank. The limiting structure is fixedly installed at the opening of the receiving tank.

12. The printer of claim 11, wherein, The piston assembly includes a piston body and an elastic hollow column. The elastic hollow column is sleeved on the piston body and one end abuts against the piston body, while the other end abuts against the receiving groove cover. The receiving groove cover has a passage opening in the middle position that matches the shape and size of the end of the piston body away from the bottom of the receiving groove. The piston body extends at least partially out of the receiving groove through the passage opening.

13. The printer of claim 12, wherein, The piston body includes a piston rod and a piston head. The piston head is fixedly connected to one end of the piston rod. The shape and size of the cross-section of the piston head match the shape and size of the cross-section of the receiving groove. The shape and size of the cross-section of the piston rod match the shape and size of the through-hole. The piston head is disposed in the receiving groove and is sealed to the inner wall of the receiving groove. The piston rod portion extends out of the receiving groove from the through-hole.

14. The printer of claim 13, wherein, A stop member is fixedly provided on the side of the piston rod, and the stop member is used to abut against the elastic hollow rod and the limiting structure.

15. The printer of claim 8, wherein: The printer includes a container, which includes a main cavity serving as the waste ink cartridge and an auxiliary cavity serving as the liquid supply unit, the main cavity and the auxiliary cavity being separated by a soft membrane.

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