Recorders – Markers and/or driving means therefor – With ink supply to marker
Patent
1987-10-13
1989-08-08
Hartary, Joseph W.
Recorders
Markers and/or driving means therefor
With ink supply to marker
G01D 1518
Patent
active
048557641
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention is directed to an apparatus for sealing and cleaning ink discharge openings.
2. Description of the Prior Art
German application 32 07 072 corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 4,500,894. German patent 26 10 518 corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 4,253,103 and German application 30 05 394 corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 4,317,124. See also U.S. Pat. No. 4,300,145; U.S. Pat. No. 4,479,136, Patent Abstracts of Japan Vol. 6, No. 163 (M-152) (1041) Aug. 26, 1982 JP 5780064 (Sharp K.K.) May 19, 1982, IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, Vol. 19, No. 1, June 1976 (Armonk), R. J. Surty et al "Ink Jet Shutter and Flushing Mechanism" Page 289, German 3113816 (Siemens) October 1982 and IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, Vol. 10, No. 10 March 1977 (Armonk) J. Mako et al, "Cleaning Ink Jet Nozzles" pages 3703-3704.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
For reliable operation of an ink printing means functioning in accord with what is referred to as the under-pressure method wherein the ink pressure in the ink head is either zero or below, it is critical that the ink channels always be completely filled with ink. Contaminants and air bubbles or gas bubbles in the channel and/or in the nozzle region lead to considerable trouble in the function of the ink head and are quite commonly the reason for the complete outage thereof. This malfunction can be eliminated with a rinsing procedure wherein ink is pressed through the channel and nozzle region with a chronologically limited over-pressure.
A rinsing apparatus is already disclosed (German patent 26 10 518) wherein an over-pressure is briefly manually generated by actuation of a plunger in the write head. The desired, negative ink meniscus is again formed in every nozzle opening when the static under-pressure is restored. The quantity of ink used by the rinsing procedure, however, can fluctuate within broad limits and can lead to considerable losses and, respectively, supply problems.
German published application 32 07 072 discloses a covering and cleaning apparatus for ink printing heads in order to clean the ink printing head and to cover it between the printing events. It is composed of a sealing plate pivotably arranged in front of the nozzle plate, this sealing plate comprising a cut-out with sharp edges in the region of the discharge openings of the nozzle plate and being held by a clamp clip supplying the contact for the sealing plate and the nozzle plate. A crank mechanism is provided for the drive of the sealing plate, the crank pin thereof engaging into a slot of the sealing plate and being movable back and forth between two detents. The stripper element can thereby be composed of plastic.
Such an apparatus has the disadvantages that dried particles of an ink-dust mixture can make the cleaning of the ink discharge openings more difficult, this also applying to the sealing thereof in the quiescent condition.
German published application 35 08 561 discloses a combined covering and cleaning apparatus for an ink printing head which is composed of a movable slide pressing against the exit region of the ink head under motor drive. The slide comprises a passage as well as channels for the acceptance of rinsing ink. In a first operating condition, the passage lies in front of the discharge nozzles and releases these. In a rinsing condition, the slide is successively conducted over the discharge nozzle and the latter is rinsed, whereby the channels of the slide divert the rinsing ink.
German published application 30 05 394 also discloses that the exit regions of the printing nozzles be sealed via a gap filled with ink.
An object of the invention is to fashion a method and an apparatus of the species initially cited such that, without great outlay, a sealing of the ink discharge openings is possible on the one hand and, on the other hand, so is a residue-free cleaning thereof.
In that the ink discharge openings at the ink printing head are covered by a liquid-filled gap, a tight and reliable sealing of the ink discharge openings in the
REFERENCES:
patent: 4045802 (1977-08-01), Fukazawa
patent: 4223322 (1980-09-01), Van Raamsdonk
patent: 4241357 (1980-12-01), Anestos
patent: 4253103 (1981-02-01), Heinzl et al.
patent: 4300145 (1981-11-01), Raamsdonk
patent: 4317124 (1982-02-01), Shirato et al.
patent: 4367479 (1983-01-01), Bower
patent: 4371881 (1983-02-01), Bork
patent: 4479136 (1984-10-01), Lewis
patent: 4500894 (1985-02-01), Kirner
Japanese Abstract from vol. 6, No. 163 of Aug. 26, 1982, "Apparatus for Cleaning Nozzle of Ink Jet Printer".
IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, vol. 19, No. 10, Mar. 1977, pp. 3703 and 3704.
IBM Technical Disclosure, vol. 19, No. 1, Jun. 1976, p. 289.
Depta Ingolf
Humbs Rolf
Hartary Joseph W.
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
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