The present invention relates generally to ink jet devices.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,357,867 discloses an ink jet print head with a plurality of ink jet modules mounted on a manifold sandwich including an orifice plate. Ink received through an inlet opening in a frame passes through openings in a filter layer and is distributed to ink inlet openings in the ink jet modules. U.S. Pat. No. 6,357,867 is hereby incorporated by reference herein, as is U.S. Pat. No. 5,701,148 and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2005/0034658.
An object of the present invention is provide for individual ink shut-off to each module in an ink jet print head containing a plurality of ink jet module.
The present invention provides an ink jet print head having an ink delivery system and a plurality of ink jet modules connected to the ink delivery system, the plurality of ink jet modules including a first ink jet module and a second ink jet module, the ink delivery system including a first cut-off device selectively permitting or blocking ink flow to the first ink jet module. A second cut-off device of the ink delivery system selectively permits or blocks ink flow to the second ink jet module.
By having a cut-off device in the ink delivery system for individual ink jet modules, individual ink jet modules advantageously can be serviced without having to drain the entire ink jet print head. Such entire draining can waste ink, cause excessive downtime, and create the potential for spillage.
Preferably, the ink delivery system includes a common ink inlet for the first and second ink jet modules. The ink delivery system may have a first ink outlet and a second ink outlet for the first and second ink jet modules, respectively. The first cut-off device may be located between the common ink inlet and the first ink outlet and the second cut-off device between the common ink inlet and the second ink outlet.
The cut-off devices may be screw shut-off valves, for example.
The cut-off devices may pinch flexible tubing in the ink delivery system.
The present invention also provides an ink jet print head having an ink delivery system and a plurality of ink jet modules connected to the ink delivery system, the plurality of ink jet modules including a first ink jet module and a second ink jet module, the ink delivery system including a first ink passage delivering ink to the first ink jet module, a second ink passage delivering ink to a second ink passage, a first ink disconnect valve connected to the first ink passage, a second ink disconnect valve connected to the second passage, and a removable module having a common ink inlet connected to a first outlet and a second outlet, the first outlet interacting with the first disconnect valve and the second outlet interacting with the second disconnect valve so that when the module is connected to the ink delivery system, the first and second disconnect valves are open, and then the module is removed the first and second disconnect valves are closed.
a and 4b show one embodiment of the cut-off device in an open and shut position respectively;
The ink jet print head 2 can print for example a sheet of material 8, which has been printed earlier for example using offset lithographic printing units, shown schematically in
Four or more ink jet modules 154 may be connected to the left edge of the electronics board 10 and be interleaved with four or more ink jet modules 54 connected to the right edge of electronic board 10. The individual ink inlets for modules 154 may be on the left in
The registration plate 80 may also support an ink delivery system 20, here ink manifold modules 22, 122.
As shown schematically in
The ink then passes to an ink inlet 84 for the module 54, and may be subjected to a low pressure via membranes, for example as described in incorporated-by-reference U.S. Pat. No. 6,357,867, before passing to nozzles 86, of which there may be many more than as shown here schematically.
A cut-off device 36 can provide individual shut-off of the ink flow to the individual module 54, and thus can make repair easier. Other modules need not be drained, with the corresponding problems after draining of air and impurities in the ink being avoided for those modules.
a shows one embodiment of the cut-off device 36, which may have for example a plunger 52 selectively blocking a hole between the common ink inlet 32 and ink channel 34. The plunger 52 may be at the end of a threaded member 50 which interacts with an interiorly-threaded nut 254 sealingly fixed to the wall of inlet 32. A knob or screw-head 56 may be used to turn the threaded member 50 to move the plunger back and forth in direction D.
Of course, other cut-off devices may be used, including electrically-controlled ones.
“Ink” as defined herein may be any liquid applied to a sheet material and capable of being exited using ink jet technology, and may include for example both pigmented liquids and colorless liquids such as varnishes, and ink as defined herein also may include biological or chemical fluids capable of being delivered as drops.
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