Ink Compensation Device for Automatic Air Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ink jet printing units require manual operator intervention for filling and air removal, leading to increased machine standstill time, potential errors, and maintenance costs due to the need for air valves and inspection windows, which are prone to leakage and incompatibility issues with different inks.
Innovation Solution
A compensation device with a first and second compensation chamber, and an intermediate chamber that allows for automatic filling and air removal without the need for air valves, using a motor-operated valve and vent means to manage ink and air flow, ensuring pressure stabilization and reducing operator intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual air valves and inspection windows are used in compensation chambers, then operator intervention is required for filling and air removal, but this increases machine standstill time, potential errors, and maintenance costs
Solution Approach 1:
The compensation device performs self-filling and self-air removal automatically. The system uses the pressure differential created during printing operations to automatically draw ink into the compensation chamber and expel air, eliminating the need for manual operator intervention and reducing machine standstill time.
Solution Approach 2:
The compensation chamber is pre-configured with specific geometric features and positioning that enable automatic filling and air removal without requiring manual preparation. The chamber's structure is designed so that ink automatically enters and air automatically exits during normal printing operations.
2Reliability
If air valves and inspection windows are provided in compensation chambers, then filling and air removal can be monitored, but these components are prone to leakage and incompatibility issues with different inks
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the problematic air valves and inspection windows from the compensation chamber design. By extracting these components, the system eliminates the leakage and ink compatibility issues they cause, while still achieving the same functional goals through automatic mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The compensation chamber performs self-monitoring and self-maintenance through its geometric design and automatic operation, eliminating the need for separate monitoring components like inspection windows and air valves that are prone to failure.
3Manufacturing precision
If compensation chambers are filled manually with precise ink levels, then correct operation is ensured, but this requires constant operator presence and timely intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The compensation chamber automatically maintains its ink level and performs air removal without requiring operator presence. The system uses pressure differentials and geometric design to self-regulate ink levels and expel air during printing operations, eliminating time loss from manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The compensation device operates continuously during printing operations, automatically maintaining proper ink levels and removing air without interruption. This continuous automatic operation eliminates the stop-start nature of manual filling and air removal requiring operator intervention.
4Object-generated harmful factors
If air valves are used to remove air from compensation chambers, then air can be vented, but these valves require periodic maintenance and are prone to leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the air valves from the compensation chamber design, eliminating the maintenance requirements and leakage issues associated with these components. Air removal is achieved automatically through the chamber's geometric design and pressure differentials without requiring valve-based mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The compensation chamber performs self-air removal without requiring maintenance-prone valves. The automatic air expulsion mechanism uses the chamber's structure and pressure differentials to vent air during printing operations, eliminating the need for maintained valve components.
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 solution enables fully automatic filling and air removal processes, reducing operator interventions, simplifying the device structure, and lowering maintenance costs by eliminating the need for air valves and inspection windows, while maintaining effective pressure stabilization and ink flow management.
Implementation Method 1
an air volume is trapped at its top, said air volume being capable of absorbing the ink pressure variations transmitted by the feed duct R
Implementation Method 2
When pressure in the feed duct R increases with respect to its normal value, the ink flows towards the first compensation chamber D, raising the ink level inside the chamber
Implementation Method 3
The above mentioned level increase absorbs the pressure increase almost completely and limits the transmission of the pressure to the printing head C
Implementation Method 4
a motor-operated valve (22) is provided, which is arranged along the discharge duct (21) and is suited to open and close the discharge duct (21) during said filling and recirculation operations
Data Source
AI summary
A compensation device configured to attenuate pressure variations in an ink printing head is provided. The device includes a first compensation chamber containing ink and having a bottom, an outlet orifice extending through the bottom, and an inlet orifice opposite the bottom; a second compensation chamber containing ink and having a bottom, an inlet orifice extending through the bottom, and an outlet orifice opposite the bottom; and a vent means allowing outflow of air contained in the compensation chambers. The vent means includes a first opening in the first compensation chamber; a second opening in the second compensation chamber operable to be in a lower position with respect to the first opening when the device is in an operating position in which the bottoms of the compensation chambers define lower walls of the corresponding compensation chambers; and an intermediate chamber communicating with the first opening and the second opening.