Videojet Technologies Inc.

Michael Stamp

Robert Smith

Paul King

Matthew Brian Tomlin

Philip John Blowfield

Trevor Lye

Carl Mann

Ammar Lecheheb

Salhadin Omer

David Doswell

Peter Kassner

John Bostock

Calvin Townsend

John Bostick

Apparatus for use in continuous inkjet printing, comprising: a cabinet, an ink system located in the cabinet, the ink system comprising, an ink pump, an ink system air inlet, and an ink system air outlet, and an air circulation device arranged to cause air to flow within the cabinet. The air circulation device is arranged to cause air to flow along a predetermined air flow path through the ink system air inlet, past the ink pump, and through the ink system air outlet.

Air filter for ink jet printer

A filter module () for a continuous inkjet printer () comprising a filter housing () and a filter medium () fixed within the housing (). The filter housing () further includes an inlet portal () through which ink flows into the housing under pressure and a first self-sealing valve assembly () disposed within the inlet portal. In addition, housing includes an outlet portal () through which ink flows out of the housing () under pressure and a second self-sealing valve assembly () disposed within the outlet portal (). The first and second valve assemblies () open when mechanically connected to an ink flow path () from an ink tank () to a print head (), and the first and second valve assemblies () seal closed when mechanically disconnected from the ink flow path ().

Self-sealing filter module for inkjet printing

Ink filter housing

Air filter housing

A continuous ink jet printer including an ink tank for holding ink, an ink nozzle in fluid communication with the ink tank for ejecting ink droplets, and a gutter for receiving, through an ink-receiving inlet thereof, ink droplets which are not used for printing. A gutter flow path starts at the ink-receiving inlet for ink that has entered the gutter through the ink-receiving inlet, and provides fluid communication to the ink tank. A return line is in fluid communication with the print head for conveying air to enter the gutter flow path. A makeup tank is in vapor communication with the ink tank to allow air to be conveyed from the ink tank to the makeup tank. A condenser is in fluid communication with the makeup tank and the return line for condensing solvent.

Ink jet printer

A continuous ink jet printer including an ink tank for holding ink, an ink nozzle in fluid communication with the ink tank for ejecting ink droplets, and a gutter for receiving, through an ink-receiving inlet thereof, ink droplets which are not used for printing. A gutter flow path starts at the ink-receiving inlet for ink that has entered the gutter through the ink-receiving inlet, and provides fluid communication to the ink tank. A return line is in fluid communication with the gutter for conveying air to enter the gutter flow path. A makeup tank is in vapor communication with the ink tank to allow air to be conveyed from the ink tank to the makeup tank. A condenser is in fluid communication with the makeup reservoir and the return line for condensing solvent.

An ink system of an ink jet printer includes a fluid tank. The fluid tank includes a generally conically shaped side wall, the side wall sloping inwardly from a top portion to a bottom portion. A bottom surface is disposed adjacent the bottom portion of the side wall. A first fluid conduit is disposed in the fluid tank and includes an opening adjacent to and above the bottom surface of the fluid tank. A second fluid conduit is disposed in the fluid tank and includes an opening at a location above the opening of the first fluid conduit. A pump is in fluid communication with the first fluid conduit and the second fluid conduit. An ink supply line is in fluid communication with the pump. A print head is in fluid communication with the ink supply line.

Ink mixing system

A method of driving an electromechanical converter of a print head of a continuous inkjet printer, wherein the electromechanical converter is arranged to break up a continuous stream of ink into a plurality of drops. The method includes determining a modulation voltage to drive the electromechanical converter, at least a property of the modulation voltage being controlled to take into account movement of a break up point of the continuous stream of ink, and to ensure that in a characteristic of modulation voltage versus a property at least indicative of a break up point of the continuous stream of ink, the characteristic has a predetermined gradient, or a gradient related to this predetermined gradient; and driving the electromechanical converter at the determined modulation voltage.

Electromechanical converter for ink jet printing

The present invention relates to ink jet printing. More particularly, the invention relates to a condenser assembly for an ink jet printer. The condenser assembly comprises a first condenser adapted to separate first solvent vapor from a first fluid by condensation of said first solvent onto a first coolable surface and a second condenser adapted to separate second solvent vapor from a second fluid by condensation of said second solvent onto a second coolable surface.

Dual condensor

A continuous ink jet printer comprises a gutter for collecting ink droplets not used in printing. Pumping apparatus draws ink from the gutter and control apparatus is configured to vary the level of pumping by the pumping apparatus depending on the temperature or other parameter of the ink. As the temperature of the ink increases the level of pumping is reduced. The pumping apparatus may comprise two venturi pumps connected in parallel each having its throat connected to the gutter.

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Leicester, United Kingdom

Michael Stamp