[go: up one dir, main page]

EP0936071B1 - Méthode et dispositif pour le nettoyage d'une tête d'impression à jet d'encre - Google Patents

Méthode et dispositif pour le nettoyage d'une tête d'impression à jet d'encre Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0936071B1
EP0936071B1 EP19990200092 EP99200092A EP0936071B1 EP 0936071 B1 EP0936071 B1 EP 0936071B1 EP 19990200092 EP19990200092 EP 19990200092 EP 99200092 A EP99200092 A EP 99200092A EP 0936071 B1 EP0936071 B1 EP 0936071B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ink
nozzle
printhead
nozzles
gap
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP19990200092
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0936071A1 (fr
Inventor
Peter Joseph Hollands
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Canon Production Printing Netherlands BV
Original Assignee
Oce Technologies BV
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Oce Technologies BV filed Critical Oce Technologies BV
Priority to EP19990200092 priority Critical patent/EP0936071B1/fr
Publication of EP0936071A1 publication Critical patent/EP0936071A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0936071B1 publication Critical patent/EP0936071B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/165—Prevention or detection of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
    • B41J2/16505—Caps, spittoons or covers for cleaning or preventing drying out
    • B41J2/16508—Caps, spittoons or covers for cleaning or preventing drying out connected with the printer frame

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method and an apparatus for cleaning an ink jet printhead having a nozzle face in which at least one printhead nozzle is formed.
  • a typical ink jet printhead comprises a plane nozzle face in which a linear array of individual nozzles are formed.
  • the printhead further comprises means for supplying liquid ink to the nozzles and for generating pressure pulses in the ink liquid, so that ink droplets are expelled from the nozzles. Since the nozzles tend to become clogged with dried ink or foreign matter, it is necessary to clean the nozzles from time to time. Further, the nozzle face surrounding the nozzle orifices opening may become soiled with dust or the like, and this may deteriorate the process of droplet formation and/or influence the direction in which the ink droplets are jetted out. For this reason it is also necessary to clean the nozzle face at least in the vicinity of the nozzles.
  • US-A-5,574,485 discloses a cleaning head which is disposed in front of the nozzle face and can be moved along the linear array of nozzles in a cleaning operation.
  • This cleaning head has a suction nozzle facing the printhead with a small gap formed between the end of the suction nozzle and the nozzle face of the printhead.
  • the suction nozzle is connected to a suction device such as a vacuum pump and can be aligned with the individual printhead nozzles.
  • a cleaning liquid is fed to the cleaning head and pumped against the nozzle plate. This cleaning liquid dissolves ink and this Is therefor sucked into the suction nozzle, in order to scavenge and clean the printhead nozzle.
  • the cleaning head further has an ultrasonic liquid wiper juxtaposed to the suction nozzle so that is also confronts the nozzle face of the printhead.
  • the wiper is formed by a tubular ultrasonic transducer the front end of which also forms a small gap with the nozzle face.
  • the tubular transducer defines a supply channel through which a cleaning liquid, e.g. a solvent, can be supplied into the gap.
  • the cleaning liquid forms a liquid bridge between the end of the transducer and the nozzle face. This liquid bridge is stabilized in the gap by the surface tension of the liquid and moves together with the transducer when the cleaning head is scanned along the nozzle array, so that the nozzle face Is wiped with cleaning liquid.
  • the transducer is energized so that ultrasonic waves are created in the liquid bridge.
  • US-A-5,412,411 discloses an ink jet printer in which the whole nozzle face of the printhead can be immersed in liquid ink contained in a tank, so that the ink in the tank is used for capping and cleaning the nozzle face.
  • a suction nozzle is disposed in front of the nozzle face, so that it forms a small gap therewith, and ink is sucked out of the printhead nozzle and is caused to spread or flow in said gap in a direction parallel to the nozzle face, wherein pressure waves are generated in an ink volume which forms a liquid bridge between the nozzle face and the suction nozzle by activating the printhead so that ink is ejected from the printhead nozzles that open into the gap.
  • the ink itself is used not only for scavenging the nozzles but also for cleaning the nozzle face. Since the ink serving as cleaning liquid is supplied directly via the printhead nozzles, it is not necessary to provide separate supply means for the cleaning liquid. In addition, the cleaning or scavenging of the nozzles and the cleaning of the nozzle face surrounding the nozzle orifices can be achieved very efficiently in a single operation. The spreading of the ink in the gap is highly promoted by activating only the printhead nozzles that are currently facing the suction nozzle, so that ink droplets are actively ejected into the gap and the ink can accumulate in the gap.
  • the invention is usefull for cleaning all sorts of inkjet systems, whether water based, solvent based or hotmelt ink based. In the latter case cleaning is performed when the ink is in a molten state.
  • such spreading can be caused by capillary action which occurs when the gap is made small enough and the wetting angle of the ink with the nozzle face of the printhead of the one hand and the end face of the suction nozzle on the other hand is sufficiently small.
  • Another way to cause a spreading of the ink is to make the end face surrounding the mouth of the suction nozzle sufficiently large, so that it covers a plurality of printhead nozzles. Then, when air is drawn into the suction nozzle, a low pressure zone is created in the gap between the suction nozzle and the nozzle face of the printhead, so that there is an extra force sucking the ink from a plurality of printhead nozzles at a time and causes the ink to flow through the gap towards the mouth of the suction nozzle.
  • the apparatus specified in claim 5 is adapted to utilize this lastmentioned effect.
  • the suction nozzle may be formed as or combined with a vibrator or ultrasonic transducer for generating pressure fluctuations in the ink contained in the gap, thereby to enhance the cleaning effect.
  • the suction nozzle When the suction nozzle is scanned along the array of printhead nozzles, the ink volume contained in the gap will move together with the suction nozzle so that a stripe-shaped portion of the nozzle face containing the nozzles is wiped with ink.
  • the suction nozzle When the suction nozzle is moved to an inoperative position, e.g. at one end of the nozzle array, where no printhead nozzles are present, and the suction device is still kept operative for some time, the ink will be removed from the gap without remnants.
  • the method and apparatus described here are suitable for solvent-based inks, but are also particularly useful for hot-melt ink which is solid at room temperature and is kept at a temperature above its melting point, e.g. at about 100° C, when the printer and/or the cleaning device is operating.
  • the method can also be used to remove air from the printhead.
  • an ink jet printhead 10 comprises a channel plate 12 which has a front face 14 formed with a linear array of equidistant nozzles 16.
  • a plurality of ink channels 18 are formed in the top surface of the channel plate 12. These ink channels are arranged in parallel to one another and each of them is connected to a respective one of the nozzles 16.
  • a diaphragm 20 is bonded to the top surface of the channel plate 12 so as to cover the open faces of the ink channels 18 and the nozzles 16.
  • An actuator member 22 is superposed on the diaphragm 20 and forms a plurality of piezoelectric actuators 24 which are configured as parallel downwardly extending fingers, the lower end faces of which are bonded to the diaphragm 20. Each actuator is opposed to one of the ink channels 18.
  • An enclosure member 26 encapsulates the actuator member 22. Front faces of the enclosure member 26 and the diaphragm 20 are flush with the front face 14 of the channel plate 12, so that a continuous plane nozzle face 28 is formed.
  • a recording paper is movable past the nozzles 16 in a direction perpendicular to the linear array of nozzles
  • ink supply means are provided for supplying liquid ink to the ink channels 18
  • electronic control means are provided for selectively energizing the actuators 24, thereby causing the diaphragm 20 to flex and compress the ink volume contained in the ink channels 18, so that ink droplets are expelled from the nozzles 16 and are deposited on the recording paper in accordance with an image to be printed.
  • heating means are provided for keeping the temperature of the ink above its melting point.
  • An ink jet printer may comprise a plurality of printheads 10 arranged with staggered nozzles 16 in order to achieve a high image resolution.
  • the printheads may extend over the whole width of the recording paper.
  • a carriage 30 incorporates a cleaning head 32 which confronts the nozzle face 28 and the nozzles 16 formed therein.
  • the carriage 30 is movable in the direction indicated by arrows 34 in figure 1, so that the cleaning head 32 may scan the array of nozzles 16.
  • the carriage 30 is held in an inoperative position at one end of the printhead 10, outside of the path of transport of the recording paper.
  • the carriage 30 is directly mounted to the printhead 10 and is guided by guide rails 36.
  • the position of the cleaning head 32 relative to the nozzle face 28 is defined with high accuracy.
  • the carriage 30 may be mounted on guide means which are separate from the printhead 10. It is also possible to move the carriage in a direction perpendicular on the direction of the arrows 34 to clean all the nozzles simultaneously.
  • Fig. 2 is a simplified cross-sectional view of the cleaning head 32 and a portion of the channel plate 12 adjacent the nozzle face 28, the section being taken in the plane defined by the nozzles 16.
  • the cleaning head 32 comprises a suction nozzle 38 connected to a suction device 40.
  • the suction nozzle 38 has a comparatively extended end face 42 held in parallel with the nozzle face 28 so that a narrow gap 44 is formed between the nozzle face and the suction nozzle.
  • the suction nozzle 38 defines a channel 46 one end of which is connected to the suction device 40 while the other end defines a mouth 48 in the end face 42.
  • the width of the mouth 48 is smaller than the distance between two adjacent nozzles 16, whereas the end face 42 as a whole extends over a plurality of nozzles 16.
  • the channel 46 is surrounded by a tubular piezoelectric vibrator 50 or, altematively, by two vibrators disposed on either side of the channel 46 in the direction of the array of nozzles.
  • the ink contained in the nozzles 16 is subject to a force which tends to press the ink out of the nozzles. This force, however, is counterbalanced by the surface tension of the ink, so that a bulging meniscus 52 is formed at the nozzle orifices.
  • the ink flowing through the nozzles 16 and the gap 44 is effective not only to clean the nozzles 16 but also to clean the portions of the nozzle face 28 surrounding these nozzles.
  • one of the nozzles shows a higher resistance for ink e.g. caused by clogging of the ink in one of the nozzles, the above system will not work sufficiently.
  • the nozzles are activated to make sure that even clogged ink is forced out of the nozzles.
  • the nozzle face 28 is made of or coated with a material which is not wetted by the ink. Nevertheless, the wetting angle between the ink and the nozzle face is normally smaller than 90°, typically in the order of 70°, so that the ink is subject to capillary forces which tend to enlarge and stabilize the liquid bridge 54.
  • the end face 42 of the suction nozzle 38 consists of or is coated with a material which forms a smaller wetting angle with the ink, so that the capillary forces are increased.
  • the liquid bridge 54 may spread over the whole surface of the end face 42 of the suction nozzle.
  • the suction pressure is larger, it tends to contract the liquid bridge 54 until an equilibrium state is reached in which the flow of ink through the total of the nozzles 16 is equal to the flow of ink through the channel 46.
  • the vibrator 50 is exposed to the liquid bridge 54 and generates supersonic waves in the ink, thereby enhancing the cleaning effect.
  • the actuators 24 associated with the nozzles 16 from which the ink is sucked are energized. This will not only increase the flow of ink but will also produce pressure waves contributing to the cleaning effect, in particular within the nozzles. It is also possible to create an extra ink flow by increasing the overall pressure in the ink supply system.
  • the capillary forces may no longer be sufficient to stabilize the liquid bridge 54, and air may be drawn in especially from the zones above and below the linear array of nozzles, i.e. from above and below the plane of the drawing in Fig. 2.
  • the liquid bridge breaks down into a number of separate slugs 56 with bubbles 58 of air intervening between them. Since, in this case, the pressure gradient in the gap 44 is large, the ink will nevertheless be efficiently sucked out of all the nozzles 16 which open into this gap, and the slugs 56 will be rapidly accelerated towards the mouth 48 of the suction nozzle so that a high mechanical cleaning effect is achieved.
  • the ink flowing out through the channel 46 is separated from the air by known techniques and may be wasted or filtered and re-used.

Landscapes

  • Ink Jet (AREA)

Claims (6)

  1. Procédé pour nettoyer une tête d'impression à jet d'encre (10) comportant une face (28) à gicleurs, dans laquelle au moins un gicleur (16) de la tête d'impression est formé, comprenant les étapes consistant à disposer une buse d'aspiration (30) en avant de la face à gicleurs de manière qu'elle forme un faible interstice (44) avec cette face, et aspirer de l'encre hors du gicleur de la tête d'impression, l'encre étant amenée à s'étaler ou s'écouler dans ledit interstice (44) dans une direction parallèle à la face (28) à gicleurs, des ondes de pression étant produites dans un volume d'encre qui forme un pont de liquide (54,56) entre la face (28) à gicleurs et la buse d'aspiration (38) par activation de la tête d'impression (10) de telle sorte que de l'encre est éjectée des gicleurs (16) de la tête d'impression, qui débouchent dans l'interstice (44).
  2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, selon lequel la buse d'aspiration (38) est déplacée selon un mouvement de balayage sur la face (28) à gicleurs.
  3. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, selon lequel l'étalement de l'angle dans l'interstice (44) est provoqué ou favorisé par effet capillaire dans cet interstice.
  4. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, pour nettoyer une tête d'impression comportant une pluralité de gicleurs (16), de l'encre étant aspirée simultanément à partir d'une pluralité de gicleurs (16) de la tête d'impression.
  5. Dispositif pour nettoyer une tête d'impression à jet d'encre (10) comportant une face (28) à gicleurs, dans laquelle une pluralité de un gicleurs (16) de la tête d'impression sont formés, le dispositif comprenant une buse d'aspiration (38) disposée un regard de la face (28) à gicleurs de manière qu'elle forme un faible interstice (44) avec cette face, et un dispositif d'aspiration (40) pour aspirer de l'encre hors des gicleurs (16) de la tête d'impression par l'intermédiaire de ladite buse d'aspiration (38), la buse d'aspiration (38) possédant une face d'extrémité (42) qui s'étend sur une pluralité de gicleurs (16) de la tête d'impression et entoure une embouchure (48) de la buse d'aspiration et est disposée parallèlement à la face (28) à gicleurs, (42) et comprenant en outre des moyens pour activer uniquement les gicleurs (16) de la tête d'impression qui débouchent dans l'interstice.
  6. Dispositif selon la revendication 5, dans lequel la buse d'aspiration (38) comprend un vibrateur (50) agencé de manière à produire des ondes de pression dans l'encre contenue dans l'interstice (44).
EP19990200092 1998-01-16 1999-01-12 Méthode et dispositif pour le nettoyage d'une tête d'impression à jet d'encre Expired - Lifetime EP0936071B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP19990200092 EP0936071B1 (fr) 1998-01-16 1999-01-12 Méthode et dispositif pour le nettoyage d'une tête d'impression à jet d'encre

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP98200115 1998-01-16
EP98200115 1998-01-16
EP19990200092 EP0936071B1 (fr) 1998-01-16 1999-01-12 Méthode et dispositif pour le nettoyage d'une tête d'impression à jet d'encre

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0936071A1 EP0936071A1 (fr) 1999-08-18
EP0936071B1 true EP0936071B1 (fr) 2003-09-03

Family

ID=26149974

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19990200092 Expired - Lifetime EP0936071B1 (fr) 1998-01-16 1999-01-12 Méthode et dispositif pour le nettoyage d'une tête d'impression à jet d'encre

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0936071B1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7118189B2 (en) 2004-05-28 2006-10-10 Videojet Technologies Inc. Autopurge printing system

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6183058B1 (en) * 1999-09-28 2001-02-06 Eastman Kodak Company Self-cleaning ink jet printer system with reverse fluid flow and method of assembling the printer system
US6575556B1 (en) 2000-09-18 2003-06-10 Marconi Data Systems Inc. Self-cleaning print head for ink jet printer
US6847099B1 (en) 2003-02-05 2005-01-25 Amkor Technology Inc. Offset etched corner leads for semiconductor package

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS62113555A (ja) * 1985-11-13 1987-05-25 Canon Inc インクジエツト記録装置
JPH02184453A (ja) * 1989-01-11 1990-07-18 Canon Inc インクジェット記録装置
JP3262410B2 (ja) * 1993-06-21 2002-03-04 キヤノン株式会社 インクジェット記録装置
US5412411A (en) 1993-11-26 1995-05-02 Xerox Corporation Capping station for an ink-jet printer with immersion of printhead in ink
JPH07290724A (ja) * 1994-04-21 1995-11-07 Fujitsu Ltd インクジェットヘッドのクリーニング方法及びその装置
US5574485A (en) 1994-10-13 1996-11-12 Xerox Corporation Ultrasonic liquid wiper for ink jet printhead maintenance
US5706038A (en) * 1994-10-28 1998-01-06 Hewlett-Packard Company Wet wiping system for inkjet printheads

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7118189B2 (en) 2004-05-28 2006-10-10 Videojet Technologies Inc. Autopurge printing system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0936071A1 (fr) 1999-08-18

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US6334662B2 (en) Method and apparatus for cleaning an ink jet printhead
EP1088664B1 (fr) Système d'imprimante à jet d'encre auto-nettoyant à écoulement de fluide réversible et méthode d'assemblage du système d'imprimante
JPH07205434A (ja) 固定ワイパーブレードアセンブリ
JPH08207321A (ja) カラーインクジェットプリンタの寿命を延ばす方法
US5721574A (en) Ink detecting mechanism for a liquid ink printer
JPH05345415A (ja) インクジェット記録装置
JPH079712A (ja) インクジェット記録装置
JPH07137270A (ja) インクジェット記録装置
JP3327318B2 (ja) インクジェット式記録装置
EP0936071B1 (fr) Méthode et dispositif pour le nettoyage d'une tête d'impression à jet d'encre
JPH07101081A (ja) インクジェット記録装置
JP3234087B2 (ja) インクジェット記録装置
JPH07205438A (ja) インクジェット記録装置
JPH04212864A (ja) インクジェット記録装置
JP3270664B2 (ja) インクジェット記録装置及びインクジェット記録装置の回復方法
JPH03136854A (ja) インクジェット記録装置及び記録ヘッドユニット
JP2000238293A (ja) インクジェットプリンタ
JPH07205453A (ja) インクジェット記録装置および吐出回復方法
JP3048022B2 (ja) インクジェット記録装置
JP2005212141A (ja) 液体噴射装置および液体噴射ヘッドのワイピング方法
JPH07290715A (ja) インクジェット記録装置
JP2000015824A (ja) インクジェット記録装置
JP2009297966A (ja) インクジェット記録装置およびインクジェット記録ヘッドの回復方法
JP3736144B2 (ja) インクジェット記録ヘッドおよびそれを備えたインクジェット記録装置
JPH04214359A (ja) インクジェット記録装置

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): DE FR GB NL

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Free format text: AL;LT;LV;MK;RO;SI

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20000218

AKX Designation fees paid

Free format text: DE FR GB NL

GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

GRAS Grant fee paid

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): DE FR GB NL

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 69910858

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 20031009

Kind code of ref document: P

ET Fr: translation filed
PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed

Effective date: 20040604

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 17

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Payment date: 20150114

Year of fee payment: 17

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20150121

Year of fee payment: 17

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20150121

Year of fee payment: 17

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20150122

Year of fee payment: 17

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R119

Ref document number: 69910858

Country of ref document: DE

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20160112

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: NL

Ref legal event code: MM

Effective date: 20160201

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

Effective date: 20160930

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20160112

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20160802

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20160201

Ref country code: NL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20160201