Single Cartridge Connection for Continuous Inkjet Viscosity Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Continuous inkjet printers using pigmented inks face issues with sedimentation of pigment particles in the ink supply system, leading to blockages and operational disruptions due to the need for separate ink and solvent cartridges, which complicates the printer design and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A single cartridge connection system that allows for the engagement of either an ink or solvent cartridge, utilizing a fluid connector to facilitate the extraction of both ink and solvent, ensuring that solvent can flush and clean the system, reducing the risk of blockages and sedimentation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate ink and solvent cartridges are used, then the ink supply system can maintain proper ink viscosity and enable cleaning operations, but the device complexity increases and maintenance becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines separate ink and solvent cartridges into a single integrated cartridge that contains both ink and solvent in separate chambers. This single cartridge connects to the ink supply system through one connection point, reducing the number of connections and components while maintaining the functional benefits of having both ink and solvent readily available for viscosity maintenance and cleaning operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The single cartridge serves multiple functions: it provides both ink supply and solvent supply, enables both printing operations and cleaning operations, and maintains ink viscosity through integrated solvent addition. This multi-functional design reduces the overall complexity of the cartridge system while maintaining reliability.
2Illumination intensity
If pigmented ink is used, then printing quality on dark substrates improves, but pigment sedimentation causes blockages in the ink supply system
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary solvent addition to the ink before it enters the supply system. By integrating the solvent chamber in the cartridge and automatically adding solvent to the ink, the system prevents pigment sedimentation before it occurs, eliminating blockages while maintaining the use of pigmented ink for printing on dark substrates.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated solvent chamber acts as an intermediary that continuously mixes with the pigmented ink, preventing pigment particles from settling and forming blockages. The solvent serves as a mediator between the pigmented ink and the supply system, maintaining ink flow reliability while preserving print quality on dark substrates.
3Stability of the object's composition
If recirculated ink is exposed to air, then solvent evaporation causes ink thickening, but adding make-up solvent requires separate solvent cartridge and increases system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the solvent supply function with the ink cartridge by integrating a solvent chamber directly into the cartridge structure. This allows make-up solvent to be added from the same cartridge connection, eliminating the need for a separate solvent cartridge and reducing system complexity while maintaining ink viscosity stability through continuous solvent supplementation.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated cartridge design allows the ink and solvent to be managed together as a single unit. The system automatically adds solvent to maintain proper viscosity without requiring separate solvent management operations, enabling the ink supply system to self-regulate its composition and reduce operational complexity.
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 single cartridge connection system effectively maintains ink viscosity and prevents blockages, allowing uninterrupted printing operations by ensuring rapid and complete extraction of ink or solvent, thus minimizing printer downtime and maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
a continuous stream of ink emanating from a nozzle is broken up into individual regular drops by, for example, an oscillating piezoelectric element
Implementation Method 2
The drops are directed past a charge electrode where they are selectively and separately given a predetermined charge
Implementation Method 3
Each charged drop is deflected by the field by an amount that is dependent on its charge magnitude before impinging on the substrate
Data Source
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AI summary
Apparatus for continuous ink jet printing, comprising: an ink system comprising an ink storage tank operable to supply ink to a print head associated with the apparatus; a single cartridge connection for releasable engagement with a fluid cartridge, the cartridge connection comprising: a fluid connector for engaging an outlet of a fluid cartridge; and a conduit configured to allow fluid to flow along a fluid pathway from a cartridge engaged with the cartridge connection, via the fluid connector, to the ink storage tank. The apparatus has a first configuration in which a solvent cartridge is engaged with the cartridge connection and in which the apparatus is configured to receive solvent from the engaged solvent cartridge, and a second configuration in which an ink cartridge is engaged with the cartridge connection and in which the apparatus is configured to receive ink from the engaged ink cartridge.