Eastman-kodak Company

Scitex Digital Printing, Inc.

David A Huliba

Bruce A Bowling

James Alan Katerberg

David F Tunmore

Kenneth J West

Jay D Frazier

Robert J Simon

James D McCann

Charles D Rike

John N Blum

John C Loyd

John M Brandon

Meagan A Wimmers

Richard Troy Enz

Evan L Craig

James W Beard

Daniel E Woolard

The method and equipment for detangling individual jets in an ink jet print station utilizes a reservoir containing fluid and a printhead. The printhead has a drop generator, an orifice structure connected to the drop generator for forming numerous jets, a catcher connected to the drop generator; and a charge device secured to the catcher. A fluid supply system is connected between the printhead and the reservoir. A controller and numerous actuators are connected to the drop generator, and adapted to vibrate the drop generator. A fluid pump is connected to the fluid supply line, is operated by the controller, and is adapted to raise the pressure on the drop generator to at least an operating pressure and lower the pressure on the drop generator to a minimal pressure to prevent entanglement of the jets.

Method for establishing jets for an ink jet printhead

An ink jet print station with improved start-up reliability includes an ink reservoir and a printhead. The printhead has at least two drop generators, a return line connected to the generator's fluid ports, an orifice plate connected to the drop generator for forming jets, at least two filters, a controller for operating the valves to control flow, and an ink pump. The ink pump is adapted to move ink from the reservoir to the printhead. Upon startup, fluid is applied independently to the first filter and then the second filter. A method for at least partially filling filters in an ink jet uses the ink jet print station with improved start up reliability.

Ink jet print station with improved start up and a method for starting up inkjet printers

A method for removing liquid in a gap of an ink jet printhead comprising a drop generator, with an outlet valve, orifice plate and charge plate, wherein a cross flush valve is additionally used to form a cross flush pressure in the drop generator, then actuators are used to vibrate the drop generator to a defined amplitude, then the outlet valve is closed to form a pressure spike in the drop generator then the pressure in the drop generator is lowered to a recommended operating pressure to establish a jet array and the system is operated until the gap is substantially free of liquid with dissolved residue.

Method for removing liquid in the gap of a printhead

A shutdown procedure is provided for removing all solvent ink from the printhead of an ink jet printer system that uses volatile ink for printing a shutdown method is provided for an inkjet printer that uses volatile inks for printing. Initially, a colorless flush fluid is provided which readily dissolves the ink. The flush fluid is crossflushed through the drop generator and caused to weep out of the orifices in the drop generator to dissolve and rinse away ink residues from the charge plate and the exterior of the orifice plate. The flush fluid is used to rinse off charging electrodes of the charge plate, the catcher face, and the catcher return line. Fluid crossflushed through the drop generator cleans the interior of the drop generator and cleans the crossflush valve.

Purge shutdown for a solvent ink printing system

A catcher design is provided wherein vacuum channels are added to both sides of the catcher to remove ink from the face of the catcher and from the eyelid seal. An additional fluid port on the catcher allows the additional vacuum channels to maintain an increased level of vacuum. A restriction on the catcher line balances the fluid flow between the catcher and the additional vacuum channels. A scoop can be machined into the catch pan to remove fluid from below the catcher face. A manifold can be used to maintain a vacuum source for the catcher throat and the additional channels, while pulling the unprinted ink back to the fluid system. Finally, a wider eyelid seal can allow purge fluid used during shutdown to clear the channels.

Anti-wicking catcher arrangement for a solvent ink printhead

A technique for sealing a printhead of an ink jet printer system on startup, opening the seal to print, and opening further on an arbitrary path for service, is provided for by the present invention. The ink jet printhead has an ink drop generator, a catcher located adjacent to the ink drop generator, and a catcher pan located below the catcher. An eyelid seals ink within the printhead on startup of the printer system. An actuator mechanism transmits movement to the eyelid along a predetermined path, having multiple positions for the eyelid. The eyelid is moved between open and closed positions by means of a dc motor. The open position is defined by the actuator means contacting a print position stop. Shifting the position of the print position stop allows the eyelid to open to a service position.

Eyelid with mechanically driven service position override

The use of the lowest all catch voltage for deflecting the charged droplets onto the catcher surface enhances the reliability of the startup sequence for ink jet printers. Going from a state where all of the droplets are hitting in the eyelid seal and catch pan assembly to a state where all of the droplets are deflected and caught on the catcher face will help eliminate the possibility of splatter on the charge plate electrodes and/or the charge short detect level circuitry, ink on top of the eyelid seal, and wicking of ink out of the eyelid.

Low catch voltage startup

A method is provided for transitioning from a lower pressure state to a final operating pressure state. Initially, an eyelid is used to divert ink into a fluid channel associated with the catcher assembly. Pressure of the ink is reduced to a low ink pressure level that will allow the ink to be removed by the fluid channel. Pressure of the ink is increased to at least one incremental step, before reaching a final ink operating pressure. A charge voltage is turned on to deflect ink into catch in a time interval short enough to prevent ink backup between the eyelid and the catcher assembly.

Rapid pressure ramp startup

An inkjet printer has a catcher and eyelid seal for sealing against the catcher during startup and shutdown. A wicking means is provided for removing excess ink from a fluid channel of the catcher having an associated catcher plate, in an area of the eyelid seal. The wicking means is positioned in an area at a bottom surface of the fluid channel, without bridging a height of the fluid channel, above the catcher plate, and in close proximity to the eyelid seal, while maintaining a consistent pressure at an entrance to the fluid channel.

Wicking arrangement to eliminate catcher dripping

A laminated structure utilizes differential adhesive to achieve high adhesion to a wicking material and low adhesion where removal is desired. The low profile wicking pad is useful in any technology where it is desirable to control excess moisture with a passive device. The wicking device is particularly useful in the field of continuous ink jet printing systems, where the low profile of the device is desirable and the cost reduction makes disposability of the device a reality. In ink jet printing systems, the wicking device improves ink jet printhead performance via ink mist and ink drip elimination.

Low profile disposable polymer wicking pad

A system and method are provided for protecting the vacuum pump of an ink jet printer system from the harmful effects of condensation in the vacuum lines, and from the harmful effects of moisture and water in the vacuum lines. This is accomplished by suppressing the condensation and drying the vacuum line walls.

Vacuum system for continuous ink jet printers

A modular ink circulation system for effecting ink flow, in a continuous ink jet printer, from the ink reservoir to the print head and from the print head back to the reservoir. The system comprises, e.g.: (i) an ink supply module including pump, heater and filter that are removable from the printer as a unit; (ii) an ink return module including a pressure transducer, an ink defoaming reservoir and an ink flow-control solenoid that are removable from the printer as a unit; and (iii) a vacuum module including an air pump, an air pressure regulator and an ink collector reservoir that are removable from the printer as a unit.

Modular two-color fluid system for continuous ink jet printer

In a continuous ink jet printing apparatus, an ink circulating system allows maintenance of the ink supply reservoir at approximately atmospheric pressure while providing for positive withdrawal of ink from the catcher and/or print head outlet of the apparatus. The system is operable with a single pump. To achieve such positive withdrawal of ink, elements are provided in a bypass line extending from the supply pump outlet to the atmospheric region of the ink reservoir or in the passage from that region of the ink reservoir to the pump intake line, for generating a region(s) of sub-atmospheric pressure, and such region(s) are coupled to the catcher and/or print head outlet.

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Centerville, OH, United States of America

David A Huliba