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
  • B41J2/16517—Cleaning of print head nozzles
  • B41J2/16535—Cleaning of print head nozzles using wiping constructions
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
  • B05B15/00—Details of spraying plant or spraying apparatus not otherwise provided for; Accessories
  • B05B15/50—Arrangements for cleaning; Arrangements for preventing deposits, drying-out or blockage; Arrangements for detecting improper discharge caused by the presence of foreign matter
  • B05B15/52—Arrangements for cleaning; Arrangements for preventing deposits, drying-out or blockage; Arrangements for detecting improper discharge caused by the presence of foreign matter for removal of clogging particles

Definitions

• the invention relates to the cleaning of material jet heads as well as to machines and manufacturing equipment equipped with self-cleaning material jet heads.
• material jet heads is understood here to mean both inkjet dye print heads and heads for spraying liquids, viscous or powdery products.
• the fields to which the invention applies aim, beyond dye printing with inks, the jet of material having medical, biological, genetic, chemical, acoustic, insulating or electrically conductive functions or properties, or the like.
• document WO-A-9919900 shows various uses of the material jet, apart from printing.
• Devices employing material jet heads are used to spray drops of material onto a substrate so as to form a three-dimensional image or structure.
• the processes and devices for projecting droplets of material have the characteristic of being sensitive to fouling of the material outlet orifices.
• these orifices have a diameter of the order of a few tens of microns and, as a result, the slightest impurity can disturb the jet of material.
• the invention overcomes these drawbacks, in particular by providing a simple cleaning which makes it possible to ensure a perfect state of cleanliness compatible with the requirements of the jet of material of precision and / or at high rates without resorting to a complex and expensive mechanism.
• a first object of the invention relates to a method of cleaning at least one material jet head of the type comprising a device for removing material to be sprayed; this process comprising, apart from any jet of material through this head, a cleaning cycle comprising the steps providing for: a) providing an absorbent member capable of absorbing the material and arranged in a first geometric relationship in
• the material jet head can belong to the group formed by ink jet print heads, viscous liquid projection heads, dispensing systems and the like.
• the projected material can belong to the group formed by dye, medical, biological, genetic, chemical, electrically conductive or insulating substances and the like.
• the material outlet device mentioned may include at least one material outlet opening.
• the absorbent member can be of generally planar shape and be arranged in the cleaning plane, facing the material outlet device.
• the scraper member can be arranged so that the absorbent member is positioned between the material outlet device and the scraper member.
• the cleaning member is formed by pressing the scraper member and the absorbent member against the material outlet device.
• the cleaning method further comprises, after step b), a purging cycle comprising the steps providing for: b1) applying the absorbent member against the material outlet device; b2.) moving the absorbent member relative to the material outlet device in the cleaning plane and simultaneously expelling material continuously through the material outlet device for a predetermined period; b3) move aside, in the direction of elevation, the absorbent member of the material outlet device.
• the cleaning method 1 further comprises, after step b), a jet cycle comprising the steps providing for: b1) placing the absorbent member near the material outlet device. ; b2) punctually perform jets of material through the material outlet device at regular intervals during the duration of the jet cycle.
• a second object of the invention relates to a system for cleaning a material jet head comprising a material outlet device, this device comprising:
• an absorbent member capable of absorbing the material and arranged in a first geometric relationship in space with respect to the material outlet device; a scraper member arranged in a second geometric relationship in space with respect to the material outlet device and the absorbent member; first means for moving the scraper member in translation in the cleaning plane; second means of displacement in the direction of elevation of the scraper member between a position in which it is separated from the material outlet device and a position in which it is pressed against the absorbent member and the material outlet device ; third means of movement in the cleaning plane of the absorbent member relative to the material outlet device; fourth means of displacement in the direction of elevation of the absorbent member between a position in which it is separated from the output device.
• the absorbent member may be of generally planar shape and be arranged in the cleaning plane, facing the material outlet device.
• the scraper member can be arranged so that the absorbent member is positioned between the material outlet device and the scraper member.
• the first displacement means can comprise a slide allowing the translation of the scraper member in the direction of movement of the absorbent member.
• the second displacement means may include an electro-actuator . mant.
• the absorbent member is in the form of a ribbon of absorbent material and the third displacement means comprise an unwinding reel and a winding reel as well as two guide axes, these two reels being able to cooperate in order to scroll the strip of absorbent material between the two guide pins.
• the fourth displacement means may comprise at least one slide allowing the translation in the direction of elevation of at least one of the guide axes.
• the fourth displacement means can comprise at least one eccentric allowing translation in the direction of elevation . at least one of the guide axes.
• control means are capable of ensuring a cleaning cycle during which:
• the fourth displacement means are controlled to keep the absorbent member away from the material outlet device; the third displacement means are controlled to move the absorbent member relative to the material outlet device in the cleaning plane: - The second displacement means are controlled to press the scraper member against the absorbent member and the material outlet device.
• control means - may be capable of ensuring a purge cycle during which:
• the fourth displacement means are controlled to maintain the absorbent member against the material outlet device; ' - the third displacement means are controlled to move the absorbent member in the cleaning plane relative to the material outlet device;
• the second displacement means are controlled to keep the scraper member away from the material outlet device.
• control means may be capable of ensuring a cycle of jets during which: the fourth displacement means are controlled to maintain the member, absorbent separated from the material outlet device;
• the second displacement means are controlled to keep the scraper member away from the material outlet device.
• a third object of the invention relates to a material jet machine operating in particular according to the cleaning method according to the invention, and / or comprising a cleaning system according to the invention, this machine comprising:
• a material jet head comprising at least one material outlet orifice
• the purge means being arranged to open via the material outlet device against the absorbent member, so that the material to be sprayed from a reservoir and / or the material outlet device, is recovered by this absorbent member.
• the purge means are capable, during the purge cycle of the cleaning system, of controlling the expulsion of material continuously by. the material outlet device for a predetermined period.
• the means for controlling the material jet function are capable, during the jet cycle of the cleaning system, of controlling the punctual execution
• a fourth object of the invention relates to equipment for manufacturing a structure such as an electronic device, this equipment:
• - includes a cleaning system according to the invention.
• a fifth object of the invention relates to a process for manufacturing a structure such as an electronic device, for example an intelligent portable object or an electronic component, an information medium, for example an optical or magnetic disk, or analogs.gues, characterized in that this manufacturing: - provides for cleaning according to the process according to the invention; and or
• - uses a cleaning system according to the invention; and / or - is in particular manufactured on a machine according to the invention; and or
• FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a material jet machine according to the invention.
• Figure 2 is a schematic view similar to Figure 1;
• Figure 3 is a front view corresponding to Figure 2;
• FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a cleaning system according to the invention; - the. Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4;
• FIG. 6 is a diagram of the purge and cleaning cycles according to the invention.
• - Figure 7 is a diagram of the purge and double cleaning cycles according to the invention
• - Figure 8 is a diagram of the purge / material jet and cleaning cycles according to the invention
• FIG. 9 is a diagram of the purge cycles according to the invention.
• FIG. 10 is a diagram of the material jet cycles according to the invention.
• FIG. 11A to 11 D show four stages of a cleaning cycle according to the invention.
• the longitudinal direction is represented by the X axis
• the transverse direction is represented by the Y axis
• the elevation direction is represented by the Z axis.
• FIG. 1 schematically represents a material jet machine seen from the side, equipped with a cleaning system according to the invention. Only the elements involved in the cleaning phases have been represented.
• the machine comprises a material jet material jet head 1 supplied by a material reservoir 2.
• This head is movable in the transverse direction Y so as to be able to reach the material jet zones of the machine and to be able to position itself above the cleaning system during the cleaning phases as shown in Figures 1 to 5.
• the cleaning system is fixed to one side of the material jet machine, on the transverse movement path (in the transverse direction Y) of the material jet head.
• the material jet head comprises a substantially flat nozzle plate 11 grouping a plurality of material outlet orifices.
• the cleaning system comprises a ribbon 3 of absorbent material of a width greater than that of the material jet head 1 (see FIG. 3) and able to pass under it by the action of an unwinding reel 4 and a winding reel 5, the latter being set in motion by a motor 6 and by means of transmission means.
• the ribbon 3 can have a width (in the transverse direction Y) of 80 mm and a thickness of 0.25 mm, a new unwinding reel 4 can have a diameter of 70 mm corresponding to a full winding reel diameter 5 of 75 mm , the center distance of the coils 4, 5 then being 54 mm.
• the positioning and guiding of the ribbon 3 is done by two rollers 7, 8 mounted to rotate and arranged parallel to the transverse direction Y so as to keep a substantially flat portion of the ribbon 3 stretched under the jet head of
• rollers 7, 8 forming guide axes are also movable in the direction of elevation. They are mounted on translation means in the direction of elevation Z such as slides or eccentrics, a device for controlling these translation means then enabling the portion of ribbon to be positioned in the direction of elevation Z 3 located between axes 7, 8.. .
• the rotation of the axis of the unwinding reel 4 is controlled relative to the control of the motor 6 so as to provide resistance to the unwinding of the reel 4 to maintain the tension of the ribbon 3 between the guide axes 7, 8 and provide a booster effect.
• the rotation of the coils 4, 5 is controlled, for example by means of a coding wheel, so as to detect any incident: such as the breakage of the ribbon 3 or the failure of the motor 6, the purging operation not being not executed if such an incident is detected.
• the motor 6 also has a control intended to control the speed of rotation of the coil 5 so that the ribbon running speed, 3 remains constant regardless of the length of ribbon 3 wound on the reel 5, the information concerning the instantaneous diameter of the reel 5 being given by any suitable means, for example a rangefinder, a mechanical skid or a potentiometer.
• roller mechanism 4, 5 described makes it possible to run the ribbon 3 continuously under the nozzle plate 11, as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 2.
• a doctor blade 9 made of rubber mounted on a slide 10 allowing the doctor blade 9 to translate along the longitudinal direction X over a distance greater than the length ( in the longitudinal direction X) of the nozzle plate 11.. .
• the. doctor blade 9 extends transversely to the material jet head 1, in the transverse direction Y over a width at least equal to that of the nozzle plate 11.
• the doctor blade 9 is also controlled by an electromagnet actuator 12 fixed on the slide 10 and capable of pressing the doctor blade
• the actuator 12 brings the doctor blade 9 into contact with the nozzle plate 11 with, for example, the following characteristics:
• the material jet head is moreover provided with a purge device arranged to pressurize the material tank 2 and thus force the material to exit continuously through the material outlet orifices, thus ensuring a purge of the jet of matter.
• the material jet head moves parallel to the transverse direction Y, above the substrate to be printed,
• the material jet head is placed at the end of its travel in the transverse direction Y so as to be positioned on the side of the machine where the cleaning system is placed, above the 3 " tape (Phone
• the cleaning system is in the rest state, that is to say that the doctor blade 9 is kept apart from the ribbon 3 by the spring 13, that. the guide pins 7, 8 are arranged in the direction of elevation Z so as to maintain the portion of ribbon 3 located between them at a distance of the order of 2 mm from the nozzle plate 11.
• the cleaning system can then be controlled according to different cycles described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 10 in which, on the ordinate, time is plotted and on the abscissa are plotted the states (actuated or at rest) of the following various organs:
• FIG. 6 represents a cleaning sequence first comprising a purging cycle P during which:
• the ribbon contact C1 is activated, that is to say that the axes, of guide 7, 8 are translated so as to press the ribbon . 3 against the nozzle plate 11;
• the doctor blade command C2 is deactivated, that is to say that the doctor blade 9 is in the position separated from the strip 3, the actuator 12 being in the rest position;
• the motor control C3 is activated, that is to say that the motor 6 is started so as to run the strip 3 ′;
• the purge control C4 is activated, creating a flow of material through the nozzle plate 11.
• the material produced by the purging operation is thus absorbed by the tape 3 traveling at a sufficient speed so that no sagging occurs.
• the ribbon is brought into contact with the nozzle plate 11 preferably by positioning the guide pins 7, 8 in the direction of elevation Z as follows:
• the highest point in Z of the axis downstream of the direction of travel of the ribbon 3 (the axis 8) is positioned at. the same height as the plane formed by the nozzle plate 11; the highest point at Z of the axis upstream of the direction of travel of the ribbon 3 (the axis 7) is positioned approximately ' 2 mm above the plane formed by the nozzle plate 11. This ensures contact of the tape 3 against the entire surface of the nozzle plate 11 in. avoiding, during the purging, the accumulation of material at the level of the mark 14 of FIGS. 4 and 5.
• the cleaning sequence of FIG. 6 comprises, following the purge cycle P, a cleaning cycle N during which:
• the motor control C3 being activated, the ribbon 3 runs under the nozzle plate 11 and the doctor blade 9, which is mounted in free translation on the slide 10 and which is in contact with the ribbon 3, is then driven in translation so that the cleaning member travels the entire length (along X) of the nozzle plate 11 thus ensuring optimal cleaning.
• Figure 7 shows another cleaning sequence comprising first a purge cycle P as described above and, as a result ,, a 2N dual cleaning cycle comprising a first cleaning TE1, similar to the cleaning cycle N described above ,, followed by a second TE2 cleaning with a command between these two cleanings 03/045697
• FIG. 8 illustrating a cleaning sequence comprising a purging cycle P combined with an activation of the piezoelectric C5 followed by a cleaning cycle N such as that of FIG. 6.
• the piezoelectric control C5 is activated, that is to say that the piezoelectric components responsible for the material jet function of the material jet head are switched on, as during the material jet on a substrate.
• FIG. 9 represents, for its part, a cleaning sequence comprising, at regular intervals TCP, a succession of purge cycles during which:
• FIG. 10 represents another cleaning sequence comprising a jet cycle during which:
• the engine control C3 is activated for a time TM, at regular intervals;
• the piezo control C5 is activated at regular intervals.
• the ribbon 3 is in a position separated from the nozzle plate 11 ′ during these operations and plays the role of material jet substrate, this sequence making it possible to keep the material jet heads in operating state when the jet of material is stopped. material in order to guarantee their immediate restart when the material jet is resumed.
• FIGS. 11A to 11D illustrate another embodiment of a cleaning cycle according to the invention.
• the material jet head 11, the doctor blade 9, the ribbon 3 and the axes 7, 8 have been shown schematically.
• the arrangement of the elements is as follows: - the ribbon 3 runs under the material jet head 1 in the opposite direction to that of FIGS. 1 to 5; - the axis 7 is fixed in the direction of elevation Z, its highest point in Z being at the same altitude as the containing plane. the nozzle plate 11; - axis 8 is movable in the direction of elevation Z.
• Figure 11A shows the first step in. cleaning cycle, the axis 8 holding the ribbon 3 away from the nozzle plate 11 and the doctor blade being in the initial position;
• FIG. 11B shows the second step in which the axis 8 is positioned so as to press the ribbon 3 against the nozzle plate 11.
• FIG. 11C the doctor blade 9 is controlled to come against the nozzle plate 11 and the axis 8 : returns to its initial position. The displacement of the doctor blade 9 in the longitudinal direction X is then initiated and FIG. 11 D represents the doctor blade 9 at the end of the race.

Landscapes

• Cleaning In General (AREA)
• Coating Apparatus (AREA)
• Paper (AREA)
• Ink Jet (AREA)
• Organic Low-Molecular-Weight Compounds And Preparation Thereof (AREA)
• Furnace Housings, Linings, Walls, And Ceilings (AREA)
• Coating By Spraying Or Casting (AREA)
• Treatment Of Fiber Materials (AREA)
• Apparatuses And Processes For Manufacturing Resistors (AREA)
• Cleaning By Liquid Or Steam (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=8869977

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (10)

Families Citing this family (25)

Family Cites Families (25)

• 2001
  • 2001-11-30 FR FR0115519A patent/FR2832941B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2002
  • 2002-11-28 AT AT02803845T patent/ATE462571T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2002-11-28 CN CNB028277341A patent/CN100406261C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2002-11-28 JP JP2003547177A patent/JP4797182B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2002-11-28 EP EP02803845A patent/EP1453682B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2002-11-28 ES ES02803845T patent/ES2343452T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2002-11-28 AU AU2002365301A patent/AU2002365301A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2002-11-28 WO PCT/FR2002/004086 patent/WO2003045697A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2002-11-28 DE DE60235830T patent/DE60235830D1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2002-11-28 US US10/496,101 patent/US7993466B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related

Non-Patent Citations (1)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events