Ink Circuit Cleaning via Solvent Pressure and Flow Reversal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Continuous ink jet printers face issues with ink clogging in the ink supply ducts and connections due to sedimentation of pigment particles, leading to supply difficulties and loss of opacity in markings, requiring technician intervention and resulting in downtime and costs.
Innovation Solution
A method and ink circuit design that involves sending solvent under pressure through the fluidic connections between the ink cartridge and reservoir to dissolve and remove ink residues, with a controller detecting clogs and managing the cleaning process to prevent blockages and maintain ink flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If ink is supplied through ducts and connections in continuous ink jet printers, then printing operation is enabled, but pigment particles sediment and clog the ducts and connections
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of clogging conditions by monitoring pressure differential across the ink supply system. When clogging is detected, a cleaning operation is automatically initiated before the clog completely blocks ink flow, preventing printing interruptions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the pressure differential between the ink cartridge and reservoir to detect clogging conditions. This feedback mechanism triggers automatic cleaning operations when clogs are detected, maintaining reliable ink flow throughout printing operation.
2Ease of repair
If technician intervention is used to clear clogs, then blockages are removed, but printer downtime increases and costs rise
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects clogging conditions through pressure monitoring and performs self-cleaning by reversing ink flow direction to flush out sediment. This eliminates the need for technician intervention and prevents printer downtime, reducing operational costs.
3Productivity
If ink flows through connection means between cartridge and reservoir, then ink supply is maintained, but sedimentation occurs causing clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The system periodically reverses the direction of ink flow through the connection means to prevent sediment accumulation. This periodic flow reversal disrupts the sedimentation process and keeps pigment particles suspended, maintaining clear ink flow without interrupting printing operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses hydraulic pressure differential monitoring to detect clogging conditions and employs fluid flow reversal to clean the ink supply path. By manipulating ink flow dynamics, the system prevents sedimentation-related clogging while maintaining continuous ink supply.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method effectively prevents clogging and maintains ink flow, reducing downtime and costs by automatically detecting and resolving blockages without operator intervention, ensuring consistent printing performance.
Implementation Method 1
sending solvent under pressure through the fluidic connections between the ink cartridge and reservoir to dissolve and remove ink residues
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 3A
Figure 3B
AI summary
The invention concerns a method for cleaning an ink circuit of an ink-jet printer, comprising at least one tank (10), referred to as the main tank, at least one ink cartridge (30), a pump (31) for pumping the ink from the cartridge and means (32-35, 320, 340, 341, 343, 344) for fluid connection between the ink cartridge and the tank, and means (3) for controlling the printer, said method comprising at least: a) a step of sending solvent, at a pressure P1, to the cartridge (30), by at least a part of the means for fluid connection between the ink cartridge (30) and the tank (10), b) a step of pumping at least a portion of the solvent, sent in step a), towards the main tank (10).