Patent Application
20050243145
The following description relates to a filter assembly.
An ink jet printer typically includes an ink path from an ink supply to an ink nozzle assembly including nozzle openings from which ink drops are ejected. Ink drop ejection can be controlled by pressurizing ink in the ink path with an actuator, which may be, for example, a piezoelectric deflector, a thermal bubble jet generator, or an electrostatically deflected element. A typical printhead has an array of ink paths with corresponding nozzle openings and associated actuators, and drop ejection from each nozzle opening can be independently controlled. In a so-called “drop-on-demand” printhead, each actuator is fired to selectively eject a drop at a specific pixel location of an image, as the printhead and a printing media are moved relative to one another. In high performance printheads, the nozzle openings typically have a diameter of 50 microns or less (e.g., 25 microns), are separated at a pitch of 100-300 nozzles per inch, have a resolution of 100 to 3000 dpi or more, and provide drop sizes of approximately 1 to 70 picoliters (pl) or less. Drop ejection frequency is typically 10 kHz or more.
A printhead can include a semiconductor printhead body and a piezoelectric actuator, for example, the printhead described in Hoisington et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,265,315. The printhead body can be made of silicon, which is etched to define ink chambers. Nozzle openings can be defined by a separate nozzle plate that is attached to the silicon body. The piezoelectroic actuator can have a layer of piezoelectric material that changes geometry, or bends, in response to an applied voltage. The bending of the piezoelectric layer pressurizes ink in a pumping chamber located along the ink path.
Printing accuracy can be influenced by a number of factors, including the size, velocity and uniformity of ink drops ejected by the nozzles in the printhead and among the multiple printheads in a printer. The drop size and drop velocity uniformity are in turn influenced by factors, such as the dimensional uniformity of the ink paths, acoustic interference effects, contamination in the ink flow paths, and the actuation uniformity of the actuators. Contamination in the ink flow can be reduced with the use of one or more filters in the ink flow path. Typically, a filter is included upstream of the ink chambers, at an interface of an ink reservoir and the printhead, if the reservoir is removable, or is included within or at the reservoir.
In some applications, the ink is recirculated from the ink source to the printhead and back to the ink source, for example, to prevent coagulation of the ink and/or to maintain the ink at a certain temperature above the ambient temperature, for example, by using a heated ink source.
The following description relates to a filter assembly. In general, in one aspect, the invention features an ink filter assembly including an inlet channel configured to direct a flow of ink toward an elongated chamber, and an outlet channel configured to direct the flow of ink from an elongated chamber to an ink nozzle assembly. The ink filter assembly further includes an elongated chamber extending from the inlet channel to the outlet channel, and a membrane providing a permeable separator between an upper section of the elongated chamber and a lower section of the elongated chamber. The membrane is orientated approximately parallel to a longitudinal axis of the elongated chamber and the flow of ink passes through the membrane.
Embodiments of the invention may include one or more of the following. The ink filter assembly can further include a second inlet channel, a second outlet channel and a second elongated chamber. The second inlet channel is configured to direct a second flow of ink toward the second elongated chamber. The second outlet channel is configured to direct the second flow of ink from the second elongated chamber to the ink nozzle assembly. The second elongated chamber extends from the second inlet channel to the second outlet channel. A second membrane can provide a permeable separator between an upper section of the second elongated chamber, and a lower section of the second elongated chamber. The second membrane can be orientated approximately parallel to a longitudinal axis of the second elongated chamber and the second flow of ink passes through the second membrane. The second membrane can be the same membrane as the membrane referred to above.
In general, in another aspect, the invention features an ink filter assembly including an upper portion, a lower portion and a membrane. The upper portion includes an inlet channel configured to direct a flow of ink toward an elongated chamber, and an upper section of an elongated chamber extending from the inlet channel to an outlet channel. The lower portion includes an outlet channel configured to receive a flow of ink from the elongated chamber and to direct the flow of ink toward an ink nozzle assembly, and a lower section of the elongated chamber extending from the inlet channel to the outlet channel. The membrane is positioned between the upper and lower portions of the assembly and orientated approximately parallel to a longitudinal axis of the elongated chamber. The membrane provides a permeable separator between the upper and lower sections of the elongated chamber, and the flow of ink passes through the membrane.
Embodiments of the invention may include one or more of the following. The membrane can be configured to prevent a particle of a predetermined size present in the ink flow from passing from the upper section of the elongated chamber to the lower section of the elongated chamber. Examples of membranes include a polyimide film having a plurality of openings of a predetermined size, an electroformed metal substrate, a chemically etched metal substrate, or a screen mesh. The upper portion can further include a second inlet channel configured to direct a second flow of ink toward a second elongated chamber, and an upper section of a second elongated chamber extending from the second inlet channel to a second outlet channel. The lower portion can further include a second outlet channel configured to receive the second flow of ink from the second elongated chamber and to direct the second flow of ink toward an ink nozzle assembly, and a lower section of the second elongated chamber extending from the second inlet channel to the second outlet channel. The membrane can provide a permeable separator between the upper and lower sections of the second elongated chamber, and be orientated approximately parallel to a longitudinal axis of the second elongated chamber. The second flow of ink passes through the membrane. The membrane can be configured to prevent particles of a predetermined size present in the ink flow and the second ink flow from passing from the upper sections of the elongated chamber and the second elongated chamber to the lower sections of the elongated chamber and the second elongated chamber respectively.
In another embodiment, the upper portion can further include a second outlet channel configured to direct a second flow of ink out of the assembly, and an upper section of a second elongated chamber extending from the second outlet channel to a second inlet channel. The lower portion can further include a second inlet channel configured to receive the second flow of ink from an ink nozzle assembly to direct the second flow of ink toward the second elongated chamber, and a lower section of the second elongated chamber extending from the second outlet channel to the second inlet channel. The membrane can provide a permeable separator between the upper and lower sections of the second elongated chamber, and be orientated approximately parallel to a longitudinal axis of the elongated chamber, where the second flow of ink passes through the membrane.
The membrane can include a first segment that separates the upper and lower sections of the elongated chamber and a second segment that separates the upper and lower sections of the second elongated chamber. The first segment can be configured to prevent a particle of a predetermined size present in the ink flow from passing from the upper section to the lower section of the elongated chamber, and the second segment can be configured to prevent a particle of a second predetermined size present in the second ink flow from passing from the lower section to the upper section of the second elongated chamber.
The inlet channel of the upper portion can align with the second inlet channel of the lower portion, and the membrane can provide an impermeable separator between the inlet channel and the second inlet channel. The second outlet channel of the upper portion can align with the outlet channel of the lower portion, and the membrane can provide an impermeable separator between the second outlet channel and the outlet channel.
The invention can be implemented to realize one or more of the following advantages. An elongated filter assembly provides an elongated filter surface, thereby reducing the pressure drop across the filter, particularly at high printhead flow rates. High pressure drops, which are avoided, can be detrimental to the performance of the printhead. A smaller pressure drop across the filter reduces the likelihood of gas entering the flow of ink, for example, at nozzles located in an ink nozzle assembly downstream of the filter. The elongated filter surface is less likely to become impassable, for example, due to an accumulation of contaminants caught by the filter, because of the large size of the surface area relative to the cross-section of the ink flow entering and exiting the elongated chamber housing the filter.
Details of one or more implementations are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages may be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.
These and other aspects will now be described in detail with reference to the following drawings.
Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.
The systems and techniques described here relate to an ink filter assembly.
Each of the upper and lower portions 105, 110 include at least one ink channel. In the embodiment shown in
Referring to
Similarly, an upper section of a second elongated chamber 140 is formed in the upper portion 105, which corresponds with a lower section of the second elongated chamber 145 formed in the lower portion 110. The second elongated chamber 140-145 forms a second ink path for ink flowing between the ink channel 122 formed in the upper portion 105 and the corresponding ink channel 128 formed on the opposite end of the lower portion 110.
A membrane providing a permeable separator between an upper section and a lower section of an elongated chamber formed within the filter assembly 100 can filter ink as ink flows from one end of the elongated chamber to the other. For example, a member 115 can be positioned between the upper and lower portions 105, 110 of the filter assembly 100 as shown in
The elongated filter, that is, the permeable separator between the upper and lower sections of an elongated chamber, has a relatively large surface area as compared to, for example, a filter placed in a perpendicular configuration to an ink flow, such as at the outlet of an ink source. The larger surface area results in a relatively smaller pressure drop across the filter. By reducing the pressure drop across the filter, gas is less likely to be ingested into nozzles in the ink nozzle assembly downstream of the filter. Reducing gas in the nozzles, and therefore in the ink, improves the print quality. Ingested gas create an air bubble resulting in poor or non-jetting from a nozzle. Reducing the pressure drop across the elongated filter is important, since the control of the printhead internal pressure is also important to the printhead's performance. Because the ink flow rate changes with printing density and speed, preferably the elongated filter has a negligible effect on the printhead's internal pressure through all operating flow rate variations. Additionally, the larger surface area provides for improved filtering of particles (i.e. contaminants), as particles ingested into the ink can be detrimental to the print quality.
As ink flows the length of an elongated chamber, the ink filters through the membrane, thereby removing contaminants from the ink flow. Contaminants can block an ink nozzle opening, slow ink flow and lower the printing quality if not removed from the ink flow upstream of the ink nozzle assembly. The membrane includes a number of openings that are sized such that ink flow is not unnecessarily restricted, but also such that contaminants of at least a certain size are removed from the ink flow. In one embodiment, the membrane can be formed from a polyimide film and openings can be laser cut into the polyimide film in at least the regions that will be used to filter ink (i.e., regions of the film that are not in the ink path, such as regions between the edges of the upper and lower portions, may not include openings).
Referring to
The upper portion 105 and the lower portion 110 of the filter assembly 100 can be joined together using any convenient means, such as an adhesive or screws. Depending on how the membrane 115 is configured, the upper portion 105 can be adhered to the membrane 115, and the membrane 115 adhered to the lower portion 110, thereby joining the upper and lower portions 105, 110 via the membrane 115. Locator pins and corresponding openings, such as the pins 118 and openings 119 shown in
The lower portion 110 of the filter assembly 100 can be mounted on the printhead housing 120 using any convenient means, such as an adhesive or screws. In one embodiment, as shown in
In the embodiment shown in
Referring to
There are two corresponding ink flows out of the lower portion 110. The first ink flow 505 exits from the lower portion 110 through the ink channel 128 shown on the right, and the second ink flow 510 exits through the ink channel 126 shown on the left, referred to with reference to
With respect to the first ink flow 505, the ink enters the left inlet channel 122 from the ink source 507. The ink flows through the left inlet channel 122 and enters the upper section 140 of the second elongated chamber. A membrane (not shown) provides a permeable separator between the upper section 140 and the lower section 145 of the second elongated chamber and filters the ink as the ink flows from left to right along the length of the second elongated chamber. The ink flow 505 is shown as a path in the upper section 140 of the second elongated chamber, however, it should be understood that as the ink filters through the membrane, ink also flows along the lower section 145 of the second elongated chamber, even though a path is not shown. Once the ink reaches the end of the second elongated chamber, the ink flows through the right outlet channel 128 and exits the lower portion 110 of the filter assembly 100.
The ink flow enters an ink channel 160 in the printhead housing 120, which shall be referred to with reference to
With respect to the second ink flow 510, a similar but opposite path is taken through the filter assembly 100 and the printhead housing 120 as the first ink flow 505. The ink enters the right inlet channel 124 from the ink source 507, or alternatively, from a second ink source (not shown). The ink flows through the right inlet channel 124 and enters the upper section 130 of the first elongated chamber. A membrane (not shown) provides a permeable separator between the upper section 130 and the lower section 135 of the first elongated chamber and filters the ink as the ink flows from right to left along the length of the first elongated chamber. The ink flow 510 is shown as a path in the upper section 130 of the first elongated chamber, however, it should be understood that as the ink filters through the membrane, ink also flows along the lower section 135 of the first elongated chamber, even though a path is not shown.
Once the ink reaches the end of the first elongated chamber, the ink flows through the left outlet channel 126 and exits the lower portion 110 of the filter assembly 100. The ink flow 510 enters an ink channel 155 in the printhead housing 120, which shall be referred to with reference to
The ink flow is generated by the ejection of ink from the ink nozzle assembly. For example, in one embodiment, the printhead can include a semiconductor printhead body and a piezoelectric actuator, which pressurizes ink in a pumping chamber located along the ink path; The ink flow increases as more nozzles eject ink. Minimizing pressure changes due to the varying flow within the printhead is important, since preferably there is no pressure change at an inlet to each nozzle channel from zero flow (i.e., no nozzles ejecting ink) to full flow (i.e., all nozzles ejecting ink). The ink flow can be generated by use of an external pump, for example, for filling, purging, flushing, cleaning or recirculating the ink through the printhead and filter assembly 100.
Referring to
Once the ink reaches the end of the first elongated chamber, the ink flows through the ink channel 126 and exits the lower portion 110 of the filter assembly 100. The ink flow 605 enters an ink channel 155 in the printhead housing 120, and flows from the ink channel 155 along the channels 170 and 172 formed in the lower surface of the printhead housing 120. Some of the ink flow 605 enters a printhead unit housed within the printhead housing 120 and is consumed by an ink nozzle assembly therein. The remaining ink flows from the channels 170, 172 toward and into the ink channel 160.
The ink flow 605 exits the printhead housing 120 and enters the lower portion 110 of the filter assembly 100 through the ink channel 128. The ink flows from the ink channel 128 into the lower section 145 of the second elongated chamber. As the ink flow 605 moves right to left along the length of the second elongated chamber, the ink can be filtered by a membrane (not shown) providing a permeable separator between the upper and lower sections 140, 145 of the second elongated chamber. Alternatively, there can be no membrane separating the upper and lower sections 140, 145 of the second elongated chamber as it may not be required or desirable to filter the ink flow 605 as the ink is leaving the filter assembly 100. The ink flow 605 exits the filter assembly 100 through the ink channel 122 formed in the upper portion 105 and returns to the ink source 607.
In another embodiment, if a single membrane is used to separate the upper and lower sections of the both the first and the second elongated chambers, then openings provided in the region of the membrane separating the upper and lower sections 130, 135 of the first elongated chamber can be a different size than openings provided in the region of the membrane separating the upper and lower sections 140, 145 of the second elongated chamber. As such, the ink flow 605 can be filtered to one degree while in route to the printhead housing 120 and to a second degree or not at all (e.g., a lesser degree) while in route back to the ink source 607.
In the embodiment shown in
The embodiment of the filter assembly shown in
The membrane forming an impermeable separator between an upper and lower section of an elongated chamber can be formed in any convenient manner. In one embodiment, described above, the membrane is formed from a polyimide film with openings cut into the polyimide film to provide permeability, for example, by laser cutting. A polyimide film, such as Kapton® available from DuPont High Performance Materials of Ohio, can be used, and in one embodiment can be cut to 50% open. The openings can have a diameter size of approximately 10 to 75 microns, as an example. The size of the openings depends on the size of the nozzles included in the ink nozzle assembly. Preferably the openings are smaller than the nozzle diameter to prevent blockage of the nozzles by contaminants in the ink. In another embodiment, the membrane can be a thin, metal substrate perforated in regions intended for filtering, formed by electroforming, for example, using nickel or a nickel alloy. Electroforming can be done with a photo imaged pattern and subsequent additive selective plating to grow the predefined shape with the openings.
In another embodiment, the membrane can a thin, metal substrate, for example, stainless steel, a ferritic stainless steel or ferritic alloy, with openings etched into the metal substrate using a chemical etching process. In yet another embodiment, the membrane can be a screen mesh, for example, stainless steel with 20% open. However, in regions where the membrane must be impermeable, for example, in a region separating an ink channel in the upper portion from an ink channel in the lower portion, the screen mesh must be blocked to prevent permeation of the ink. In one embodiment, a die cut B-stage epoxy adhesive film is used to join the upper portion 105 and lower portion 110 of the filter assembly 100. The adhesive film is die cut such that areas where there can be ink flow are removed. Accordingly, where ink flow is not desired, such as in the region separating an ink channel formed in the upper portion 105 from an ink channel formed in the lower portion 110, the film can function as a barrier. An adhesive film can be used on each side of the filter, to adhere the filter to both the upper and lower portions 105, 110.
The filter assembly and the printhead housing can be formed from any convenient material. A liquid crystal polymer can provide suitable chemical resistance to ink flowing through the filter assembly and has a low thermal expansion coefficient. Ideally, the thermal expansion coefficient for each component in the filter assembly and the printhead housing match, so as to prevent misalignment and the like due to differing thermal expansion properties. As described above, the membrane can be adhered to the filter assembly, for example, using a B-stage epoxy film applied to both sides of the membrane to adhere to both the upper and lower portions of the filter assembly.
The use of terminology such as “upper” and “lower” throughout the specification and claims is for illustrative purposes only, to distinguish between various components of the elongated filter assembly. The use of “upper” and “lower” does not imply a particular orientation of the assembly. For example, the upper section of an elongated chamber can be orientated above, below or beside the lower section of the elongated chamber, and visa versa, depending on whether the elongated filter assembly is positioned horizontally face-up, horizontally face-down or vertically.
Although only a few embodiments have been described in detail above, other modifications are possible. Other embodiments may be within the scope of the following claims.
