Linx Printing Technologies Ltd

Anthony Hill

A continuous ink jet printer has a line () for venting at least some of the air that has been sucked along the gutter line (), and a line () for recirculating back to the printhead () at least some of the air that has been sucked down the gutter line (). Preferably the relative proportions of vented air and recirculated air can be varied, so as to reduce solvent loss during normal operation but allow increased solvent loss if the ink is over-dilute. Preferably the air recirculated to the printhead is connected directly into the flow path from the gutter orifice to the source of gutter suction, without opening into the space containing the ink jet. This reduces the tendency of solvent in the recirculated air condense on the printhead electrodes.

Ink jet Printing

A continuous ink jet printer comprising an ink gun for forming an ink jet; an arrangement of electrodes for trapping electric charges on ink drops of the ink jet and for creating an electrostatic field for deflecting drops carrying trapped electric charges; and a gutter having an ink-receiving orifice for receiving ink drops of the ink jet which are not used for printing; a gutter flow path for flow of ink from the ink-receiving orifice of the gutter, through and away from the gutter; an air recirculation line for conveying at least some of any air that has passed with the ink along at least a part of the gutter flow path so as to re-enter the gutter flow path either through the ink-receiving orifice or through a connection into the gutter flow path downstream of the ink-receiving orifice; and a vent for venting at least some of the air that has passed with the ink along at least a part of the gutter flow path so as not to re-enter the gutter flow path.

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Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom

Anthony Hill