Jet Pump Ink Chamber Cleaning System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning systems for ink chambers in the printing industry are costly and require complex anti-explosion measures due to the use of flammable organic solvents, and they often rely on expensive and mechanically complex pumps that are not easily activated by a pressurized air source.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning system utilizing a jet pump driven by compressed gas, such as compressed air, which eliminates the need for movable mechanical parts and is inherently explosion-proof, allowing for low installation and maintenance costs, and can be easily operated using readily available compressed air in a printing press environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If membrane pumps or peristaltic pumps driven by explosion-proof motors are used to pump cleaning liquid, then the cleaning system can operate with flammable organic solvents, but the installation and maintenance costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical pumps with explosion-proof motors with a jet pump that uses compressed gas to create vacuum and pressure differentials for pumping cleaning liquid. This eliminates the need for explosion-proof electrical motors and their associated safety requirements, significantly reducing installation and maintenance costs while maintaining safety
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses compressed gas (pneumatics) to drive the jet pump, creating vacuum and pressure differentials to move cleaning liquid without mechanical moving parts. This pneumatic approach replaces the mechanical pump system and eliminates the need for explosion-proof electrical components
2Object-affected harmful factors
If complex anti-explosion measures are implemented for pump equipment, then safety is improved, but the device complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
By replacing mechanical pumps with explosion-proof motors with a jet pump driven by compressed gas, the invention eliminates the need for complex anti-explosion electrical systems, control circuits, and safety interlocks while maintaining explosion safety through the inherent safety of having no electrical components in the cleaning liquid path
Solution Approach 2:
The jet pump system uses the compressed gas infrastructure already present in printing presses to drive the pumping operation, eliminating the need for separate motor control systems, electrical safety devices, and complex anti-explosion infrastructure
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 system effectively cleans ink chambers with minimal mechanical components and no specific anti-explosion measures, reducing costs and enhancing operational simplicity while ensuring safety and efficiency in both printing presses and related equipment.
Implementation Method 1
a jet pump (24) driven by compressed gas and having a suction port connected to an interior of the ink chamber through a drain passage (32)
Implementation Method 2
If the ink chamber is not vented, an underpressure will be created in the ink chamber and this underpressure may be used for sucking new cleaning liquid into the ink chamber
Implementation Method 3
the valve body may be biased into a closed position and arranged such that, when compressed air is passed through the jet pump for driving the same, the valve body is shifted into an open position
Data Source
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AI summary
A system for cleaning an ink chamber (14) with a cleaning liquid, characterized by a source (26) of compressed gas and a jet pump (24) driven by said compressed gas and connected to said ink chamber (14).