EP0179607B1 - Dispositif à jet d'encre - Google Patents

Dispositif à jet d'encre Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0179607B1
EP0179607B1 EP19850307373 EP85307373A EP0179607B1 EP 0179607 B1 EP0179607 B1 EP 0179607B1 EP 19850307373 EP19850307373 EP 19850307373 EP 85307373 A EP85307373 A EP 85307373A EP 0179607 B1 EP0179607 B1 EP 0179607B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ink
reservoir
phase change
ink jet
jet
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
Application number
EP19850307373
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0179607A3 (en
EP0179607A2 (fr
Inventor
Thomas William Deyoung
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.)
Ricoh Printing Systems America Inc
Original Assignee
Dataproducts Corp
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
Priority claimed from US06/661,029 external-priority patent/US4607266A/en
Application filed by Dataproducts Corp filed Critical Dataproducts Corp
Publication of EP0179607A2 publication Critical patent/EP0179607A2/fr
Publication of EP0179607A3 publication Critical patent/EP0179607A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0179607B1 publication Critical patent/EP0179607B1/fr
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
    • B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
    • B41J2/17593—Supplying ink in a solid state

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an ink jet wherein the ink employed within the jet is of the phase change type, which may be referred to as hot melt ink.
  • phase change, or hot melt ink of the type utilized in an ink jet is characteristically solid at room temperature. When heated, the ink will melt to a consistency so as to be jettable.
  • European Patent Application Number 0 097 823 describes an ink jet recording system comprising an ink jet, a reservoir, an orifice for ejecting hot melt ink in a liquid state from the reservoir, an ink inlet for supply of hot melt ink and heater means for heating hot melt ink and to maintain the ink in a liquid state.
  • a hot melt ink jet printing apparatus for ejecting droplets of phase change ink comprising at least one ink jet including a chamber, an orifice for ejecting phase change ink in a liquid state from said chamber, an ink inlet for supply of phase change ink in a liquid state to said chamber, and a reservoir containing a supply of the phase change ink, said reservoir coupled to the inlet of said at least one ink jet, characterized in that said apparatus comprises first heater means for heating phase change ink in said jet(s) so as to undergo a phase change from a solid state to a liquid state without degrading the ink, second heater means for heating ink in said reservoir so as to undergo a phase change from a solid state to a liquid state without degrading the ink, and thermal resistance barrier means between said ink jet and said reservoir, whereby said first heater means is adapted to be controlled independently of said second heater means, thereby enabling said ink jet to be maintained at a different temperature than said reservoir, said jet
  • the ink jet material has a thermal conductivity of at least 0.2 g cal/sec cm2 ( . C/cm) [83.68 W/(m.K)].
  • Any of a plurality of highly thermally conductive materials may be utilized including stainless steel, although aluminum is preferred.
  • the apparatus comprises a reservoir which is also coupled to the heater means.
  • the reservoir also comprises a material having a thermal conductivity of at least 0.03 g cal/sec cm2 ( . C/cm) [12.55 W/(m.K)] preferably more than 0.2 g cal/sec cm2 ( . C/cm) [83.68 W/(m.K)].
  • FIG. 1 is a sectional view of one form of ink jet system in accordance with this invention.
  • an ink jet apparatus comprises an imaging head 10 including at least one ink jet 12 and a reservoir 14.
  • the ink jet apparatus is adapted to jet droplets of hot melt or phase change ink.
  • Substantially all of the imaging head 10 and the reservoir 14 in contact with the melted ink comprises a highly thermally conductive material so as to minimize temperature gradients and thereby avoid degradation of the ink and assure high performance and reliability of the ink jet apparatus.
  • a block of solid state ink 16 is juxtaposed to an opening in a trough 18.
  • the pellet 16 drops into the trough 18, the pellet 16 proceeds to melt in response to heat generated by a heater 20 located at the base of the reservoir 14 below a sloping surface 22.
  • the ink jet 12 includes a chamber 24 having an orifice 26 for ejecting droplets of ink and an inlet 28 extending to the lowermost extremity 30 of the reservoir 14 adjacent the sloping bottom 22.
  • the head 10 is provided with an independent heater 32 located between a thermal resistance barrier 34 comprising insulation and a head member 36.
  • a thermal resistance barrier 34 comprising insulation and a head member 36.
  • inlet 28 passes through the head member 36 which is highly conductive such that heat is conducted to the end 38 which maintains a pool of ink 40 in the liquid state in the immediate vicinity of the end 38 while the remainder of the ink within the reservoir 14 is able to cool to the solid state when the system is in a standby mode.
  • the pool 40 of liquid ink is maintained in an otherwise solid state mass 42 of ink extending up to a level 44.
  • a transducer 46 is juxtaposed to the end of the chamber 24.
  • the transducer which is provided with electrodes is energized by a signal provided through a printed circuit board 48 located above the member 36.
  • the transducer 46 and the printed circuit board 48 are then housed within head members 50 and 52.
  • the head includes a chamber plate 54 forming the chamber 24, which is in communication with a foot 56 located at the end of the transducer 46.
  • the inlet 28 supplies a manifold 58 located in a plate 60 which is coupled to restricted inlets to the jet 12.
  • the manifold 58 serves a plurality of restricted inlets in an array of ink jets identical to the jet 12 shown in Fig. 1.
  • the reservoir 14 as shown in Fig. 1 also includes a filter 62 which is located below a port 64 which is adapted to be opened and closed by a needle valve 66.
  • the needle valve 66 is employed to close the port 64 during the priming operation.
  • the insulating barrier 34 which provides a high thermal resistance path is sealed against portion 70 of the reservoir 14, using an O-ring 72 which is also characterized by adequate insulating properties.
  • the member 36 which extends down into the reservoir 14 toward the lowermost portion 30 is slightly spaced from portion 70 of the reservoir 14. This spacing assures an adequate thermal barrier and high thermal resistance path so as to permit independent heating of the ink within the head as compared to the heat within the reservoir 14.
  • Fig 1 shows redundant level sensing elements 74 and 76, which may comprise RF level sensing or other electrical sensor means.
  • Baffles 78 are also provided in the reservoir 14.
  • the head 10 as well as the reservoir 14 have a thermal conductivity in excess of 0.03 g cal/sec cm2 ( . C/cm) [12.55 W/(m.K)].
  • the thermal conductivity of the head 10 and the reservoir 14 is in excess of 0.2 g cal/sec cm2 ( . C/cm.) [83.68 W/(m.K)].
  • the advantages associated with high thermal conductivity so as to minimize so as to minimize temperature gradients and hot spots is achieved as well as rapid heating to the desired operating temperature.
  • aluminum by virtue of its relatively low density provides a relatively lightweight imaging head 10 and reservoir 14 so as to minimise the inertia of the head 10 and the reservoir 14, thereby permitting rapid movement of the jet with respect to a surface being scanned.
  • aluminum will not chemically react with ink.
  • thermal resistance barrier 34 may comprise a material having a thermal conductivity less than 0.005 g cal/sec cm3 ( . C/cm) [2.09 W/(m.K)].
  • the thermal barrier may also be achieved without benefit of insulation by minimising the metal contact between the head 10 and the reservoir 14.
  • substantially all of the head 10 and the reservoir 14 which is in direct or indirect contact with the ink does comprise the high thermal conductivity material, a notable exception including the filter 62. Indirect contact is achieved where the material such as copper is coated so as to minimize any reaction with the ink.

Landscapes

  • Ink Jet (AREA)
  • Particle Formation And Scattering Control In Inkjet Printers (AREA)

Claims (8)

  1. Un dispositif d'impression à jet d'encre liquéfiée à chaud, pour éjecter des gouttes d'encre à changement de phase comprenant, au moins, un ajutage d'encre (12) comprenant une chambre (24), un orifice (26) pour éjecter de l'encre à changement de phase à l'état liquide à partir de ladite chambre, une entrée d'encre (28) pour alimenter de l'encre à changement de phase à l'état liquide vers ladite chambre, et un réservoir (14) contenant un approvisionnement d'encre à changement de phase, ledit réservoir étant relié à l'entrée au moins dudit ajutage d'encre, caractérisé en ce que ledit dispositif comprend des premiers moyens de chauffage (32) pour chauffer l'encre à changement de phase dans le ou les ajutages d'encre, de manière à lui faire subir un changement de phase, de l'état solide à l'état liquide, sans dégradation de l'encre, des seconds moyens de chauffage (20) pour chauffer l'encre dans ledit réservoir, pour lui faire subir un changement de phase, de l'état solide à l'état liquide sans dégradation de l'encre, et des moyens formant barrière à résistance thermique (34), entre ledit ajutage d'encre et ledit réservoir, de manière que lesdits premiers moyens de chauffage soient adaptés de façon à être réglés indépendamment desdits seconds moyens de chauffage, afin de permettre de maintenir ainsi ledit ajutage d'encre à une température différente de celle dudit réservoir, le ou lesdits ajutages d'encre étant composés d'un matériau possédant une conductibilité thermique d'au moins 0,03 g cal / sec.cm² (°C/cm) {12,55 W/(m.K)}.
  2. Un dispositif à jet d'encre selon la revendication 1, dans lequel ledit matériau a une conductibilité thermique d'au moins 0,2 g.cal/sec.cm² (°C/cm) {83,68 W/(m.K)}.
  3. Un dispositif à jet d'encre selon la revendication 1, dans lequel ledit matériau comprend l'acier inoxydable.
  4. Un dispositif à jet d'encre selon la revendication 1, dans lequel ledit matériau comprend l'aluminium.
  5. Un dispositif à jet d'encre selon l'une quelconque des précédentes revendications, dans lequel ledit dispositif comprend un réservoir (14) relié auxdits seconds moyens de chauffage (20), ledit réservoir (14) comprenant également un matériau possédant une conductibilité thermique d'au moins 0,03 g.cal/sec cm² (°C/cm) {12,55 W / (m.K)}.
  6. Un dispositif selon la revendication 5, dans lequel ledit matériau dudit réservoir (14) a une conductibilité thermique d'au moins 0,2 g.cal/sec cm² (°C/cm) {83,68 W / (m.K)}.
  7. Un dispositif selon la revendication 5, dans lequel ledit matériau dudit réservoir (14) comprend l'acier inoxydable.
  8. Un dispositif selon la revendication 5, dans lequel ledit matériau dudit réservoir (14) comprend l'aluminium.
EP19850307373 1984-10-15 1985-10-14 Dispositif à jet d'encre Expired EP0179607B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US06/661,029 US4607266A (en) 1984-10-15 1984-10-15 Phase change ink jet with independent heating of jet and reservoir
US66192484A 1984-10-16 1984-10-16
US661924 1984-10-16
US661029 1991-02-25

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0179607A2 EP0179607A2 (fr) 1986-04-30
EP0179607A3 EP0179607A3 (en) 1988-04-06
EP0179607B1 true EP0179607B1 (fr) 1991-09-18

Family

ID=27098226

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19850307373 Expired EP0179607B1 (fr) 1984-10-15 1985-10-14 Dispositif à jet d'encre

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0179607B1 (fr)
DE (1) DE3584136D1 (fr)
HK (1) HK21092A (fr)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0683051B1 (fr) * 1988-04-22 2000-08-09 Seiko Epson Corporation Méthode et appareil d'enregistrement du type à jet d'encre

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3247519A (en) * 1962-08-20 1966-04-19 Neff Instr Corp Graphical recording system employing heated ink compositions
US4106030A (en) * 1977-02-14 1978-08-08 Recognition Equipment Incorporated Ink jet printer ink heater
JPS597052A (ja) * 1982-06-30 1984-01-14 インタ−ナショナル　ビジネス　マシ−ンズ　コ−ポレ−ション 液体噴射記録装置

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0179607A3 (en) 1988-04-06
HK21092A (en) 1992-03-27
DE3584136D1 (de) 1991-10-24
EP0179607A2 (fr) 1986-04-30

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