GB2573393A

GB2573393A - Inkjet consumables cartridge

Info

Publication number: GB2573393A
Application number: GB1903704.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Morgan Jonathan
Original assignee: Aricode Printing Tech Ltd
Current assignee: Aricode Printing Tech Ltd
Priority date: 2018-04-04
Filing date: 2019-03-19
Publication date: 2019-11-06
Anticipated expiration: 2039-03-19
Also published as: GB2576119A; GB201903704D0; GB201805568D0; GB2573393B; CN110077116A; GB2576119B; GB201915136D0; CN110077116B

Abstract

A container 1 for replenishing ink or solvent in an ink jet printer system, the container having first 2 and second 7 protrusions forming first and second connectors for attachment to the ink system, wherein fluid from within the container is transferrable to the ink system through the first protrusion and air is transferrable back to the container through the second protrusion to maintain air pressure outside of the container equal to the pressure inside the container; and wherein the first protrusion is longer than the second protrusion. The first protrusion may be near the bottom of the container and the second protrusion may be near the top of the container. Also disclosed are an adapter and an inkjet printer for use with the container. Preferably, when the container is mounted, the first protrusion engages before the second protrusion. When the container is dismounted, preferably the second protrusion disengages before the first protrusion. A method is disclosed comprising detecting the removal of the container and applying a vacuum to the container.

Description

Inkjet Consumables Cartridge

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to replacement fluid containers for connecting to the ink system of a continuous inkjet printer.

Background of the Invention

Continuous inkjet (CIJ) printers operate by forming drops from a jet of ink, charging them electrostatically and subsequently deflecting the charged drops with an electric field to produce an image on a print medium. A continuous inkjet printer is so called, because it is constantly forming drops. The printer uses the charging mechanism to select which drops to print, and any unused droplets are collected and returned to the main body of ink. As the printer is selecting drops by charging, it is able to print at high speeds.

Typically drop formation is achieved by forcing electrically conducting ink through a nozzle and applying a disturbance to the ink at the right frequency. The formation of suitable drops depends on a number of factors, including the velocity of the inkjet, the frequency of the applied disturbance, the size of the nozzle and the viscosity of the ink. Continuous inkjet printers commonly make use of inks that consist in part of volatile organic solvents, which are used to ensure fast-drying times of the printed message. However, as the inks are volatile, it is common for the ink residing in the printer to increase in viscosity over time as the volatile organic solvents in the ink evaporate as the ink is circulated around the system.

Most continuous inkjet printers therefore contain means to control viscosity, usually consisting of means to measure viscosity (such as a falling ball viscometer), and a control algorithm and means to add small amounts of solvent to compensate for the solvent that has been evaporated. The printer is therefore equipped with at least two replacement fluid containers, at least one containing ink and at least one containing solvent.

Inks are typically formulated to provide long lasting, robust and highly opaque codes. It is therefore desirable to provide clean and safe ways by which they may be handled. It is also clear that it is important that the ink or solvent is not contaminated in any way. One common means to contaminate the ink or solvent in an inkjet printer is to inadvertently connect an ink cartridge to the solvent connection, or the solvent to the ink connection on the printer's ink system.

It has previously been proposed to provide the containers with screw-threaded connections. In WO9318920 (Al) it was proposed to fit the containers with snap-on rotatable rings having protrusions spaced appropriately to mate with recesses the appropriate fitting in the printer body to which the container is intended for attachment. As the rings are snap fitted to the containers and provide the sole mechanism for preventing incorrect fitting (the containers otherwise being the same), it is possible for the wrong rings to be fitted and for the system to fail to prevent the wrong connections being made. Screw-threaded connections are also slow to operate, and are unlikely to be attached cleanly and simply.

In EP0928693 (Bl) a simple system is described whereby the two mating halves of the container and the connector to which it is mated contain a cam feature on the receiving connector and a recess in the body of the container that allows rotation in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction. The mechanism aims to prevent ink from being attached to the solvent connector and vice versa. In practice, however, it has been found that the cam feature has a tendency to stop the container from being properly seated in the receiving connector, resulting in ink leakages and failing to deliver the desired safe and clean handling.

Some cartridges contain sealed units of ink that are pierced with a needle and are provided with machine readable devices or labels so that the printing system can identify the fluid before it is withdrawn from the cartridge. Cartridges of this kind are disclosed in US2014362147 (A1). A problem with this type of cartridge, however, is that, as the ink is drawn from the reservoir, the container collapses and, when ink is withdrawn from the printer, the difference in pressure between the inside and outside of the container can compromise the pierced seal and cause leakage.

It is therefore an object of the invention to allow replacement ink and solvent containers to be attached and removed cleanly and simply, without spillage, to and from an inkjet printer. It is another object of the invention to ensure that the ink and solvent are attached correctly to the inkjet printer.

Brief Summary of the Invention

According to a first, independent, aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container for replenishing ink or solvent in an ink system of an inkjet printer, the container having first and second protrusions that form respective first and second connectors for attachment to the ink system, wherein, through the first protrusion, fluid from within the container is transferrable to the ink system and, through the second protrusion, air is transferrable back to the container to maintain the pressure outside of the container equal to the pressure inside the container; and wherein the first protrusion is longer than the second protrusion.

Accordingly, the container for replenishing ink or solvent is provided with at least two protrusions that form two connection points. Through the first protrusion, ink or solvent is withdrawn and through a second protrusion air is returned to the container to keep the pressure equal on the outside and inside of the container. Advantageously, the protrusion through which ink or solvent is withdrawn is longer than the second protrusion through which air is returned to the container, to enable the replacement ink and solvent container to be connected and disconnected to and from an inkjet printer, cleanly and simply, without spillage from the first protrusion.

Preferably, the first protrusion is near a bottom surface of the container. Advantageously, this enables all of the ink or solvent to withdrawn from the container.

Preferably, the second protrusion is near the top surface of the container is placed near the top surface of the container.

In a dependent aspect, there is provided an adapter for connecting with the container described above, the adapter having first and second receiving connectors for mating, respectively, with the first and second protrusions of the container. The receiving connectors represent connection ports to allow connection of the container to the ink system of the ink jet printer.

Preferably, the adapter is configured such that, in use, the mating between the first receiving connector and first protrusion is made before the mating between the second receiving connector and first protrusion is made. Accordingly, the connection ports are arranged so that the ink or solvent connection (mating of the first protrusion) is made first and then, upon further insertion, the connection is made to the air connection (mating of the second protrusion), thereby preventing ink or solvent from being released from the cartridge until the container is fully connected. Conversely, when the container is removed, the air connection is disconnected first, so that the container can be removed cleanly and easily.

In a dependent aspect, an inkjet printer has first and second receiving connectors for mating, respectively, with the first and second protrusions of a container described above, the inkjet printer configured such that, in use, the mating between the first receiving connector and first protrusion is made before the mating between the second receiving connector and first protrusion is made. Accordingly, the connection ports are arranged so that the ink or solvent connection (mating of the first protrusion) is made first and then, upon further insertion, the connection is made to the air connection (mating of the second protrusion), thereby preventing ink or solvent from being released from the cartridge until the container is fully connected. Conversely, when the container is removed, the air connection is disconnected first, so that the container can be removed cleanly and easily.

In a dependent aspect, there is provided a method of connecting a container as described above to the inkjet printer, the method comprising mating the first receiving connector and first protrusion before the mating the second receiving connector and first protrusion.

Conversely, in a dependent aspect, there is provided a method of removing a container as described above, wherein the container is connected to an inkjet printer, the method comprising disconnecting the second protrusion before disconnecting the ink or solvent connection, wherein the container is removed by withdrawing it in a linear direction away from the inkjet printer.

In a further dependent aspect, the method of removing a container further comprises the steps of: detecting when a user starts to withdraw the container; and applying a vacuum to the first connection for a pre-determined period of time while the container is being withdrawn. Advantageously, applying a pressure less than atmosphere persists in the container after it is removed. It will be appreciated that the applied pressure may vary and be only slightly smaller than atmospheric pressure.

In a second independent aspect there is provided method of removing a container for replenishing ink or solvent in an ink system of an inkjet printer, the container having first and second protrusions that form respective first and second connectors for attachment to the ink system, wherein, through the first protrusion, fluid from within the container is transferrable to the ink system and, through the second protrusion, air is transferrable back to the container to maintain the pressure outside of the container equal to the pressure inside the container, the method comprising the steps of:

disconnecting the second protrusion before disconnecting the ink or solvent connection, detecting when a user has disconnected the second protrusion; and applying a vacuum to the first connection for a pre-determined period of time while the first connection is being disconnected.

Advantageously, applying a pressure less than atmosphere persists in the container after it is removed. It will be appreciated that the applied pressure may vary and be only slightly smaller than atmospheric pressure.

In a third independent aspect, there is provided an inkjet printer having an ink system for receiving, the inkjet printer adapted to receive a container having first and second protrusions that form respective first and second connectors for attachment to the ink system, wherein, through the first protrusion, fluid from within the container is transferrable to the ink system and, through the second protrusion, air is transferrable back to the container to maintain the pressure outside of the container equal to the pressure inside the container, the inkjet printer being configured to detect when the container is being removed from the inkjet printer and apply a vacuum to the first protrusion for a predetermined period of time.

Advantageously, in the third independent aspect of the present invention there is provided a printer that detects when the container is being withdrawn and applies a vacuum to the port for a predetermined period of time, so that a pressure slightly less than atmosphere persists in the container after it is removed.

In a dependent aspect, there is provided a set of first and second containers as described above, the first container comprising ink and the second container comprising solvent, wherein the second protrusion of the first container is located substantially on a first side of a centre line of the first container and the second protrusion of the second container is located substantially on the opposite side of the centre line of the second container. Advantageously, when separate ink and solvent containers are provided in the same system, the respective container protrusions and printer connection ports are configured differently to one another to ensure the right container is attached to the correct connection port. This is achieved when the first protrusion is placed along the centre line of the surface of the container containing the protrusions and the air connection is placed to the left or the right of the centre line depending on whether the container contains ink or solvent.

In a dependent aspect, there is provided an inkjet printer with connection ports arranged to receive the set described above.

In further dependent aspects, there are provided inkjet printers comprising containers and/or adapters as describe above.

Brief Description of the Drawings

An example of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a replacement ink or solvent container;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a replacement ink container connected to an adapter for attachment to an ink system of an inkjet printer; and

FIG. 3 is an illustration of an ink and solvent container with the air protrusion either side of a centre line.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Figure 1 shows a replacement ink or solvent container 1, for attachment to an ink system of an inkjet printer. The container 1 may also be referred to as a ‘consumables container', a ‘replacement fluid container' or a ‘cartridge’. The container 1 may be connected (as shown in Figure 2) to a receiving interface or mating adapter which is connected to the ink system of the inkjet printer ink system.

The container 1 has two protrusions 2,7 representing connectors. The protrusions 2, 7 represent plug-in connectors for attachment to the receiving interface or mating adapter along the respective axes of the protrusions 2,7, through which fluid from the container 1 can be transferred to the ink system. Protrusion 7 is typically 10-15 mm long, being shorter than protrusion 2, which is preferably two to three times longer, for example in the range of 20 -50 mm long.

In this example, a pair of septa that can be pierced by a needle are respectively connected onto the end of each connector 2, 7. Each septum may be made of any suitable material, such as a rubber material, that is resistant to the fluid contained in the container. Preferably, each septum reseals when the needle is withdrawn.

The first protrusion 2, is positioned on or near to the bottom of the container 1 such that when suction is applied to the needle that pierces the seal, substantially all of the ink or solvent may be removed from the container 1. The container 1 may be tilted when fitted to the ink jet printer ink system to allow full removal of the ink or solvent. The second protrusion 7 is arranged near the top of the container 1 such that air can be fed into the space above the surface of the fluid in the container 1. In other words, the protrusions 2,7 are preferably provided at distal ends of the cartridge side which is to be connected to the inkjet printer inksystem, and the distance between the protrusions 2,7 is substantially equal to the height of the container 1.

The container 1 may contain ribbed elements 3,4, to help guide the container 1 into receiving connectors of a receiving interface or adapter of the ink system, as the container 1 is offered up to the ink jet printer ink system. The container 1 may also have attached to it an electronic circuit board 5, containing a chip with data that identifies the ink type and one or more operating parameters so that the inkjet printer is configured correctly. The inkjet printer may also check that the correct fluid has been added to the inkjet printer and may not draw fluid from the container 1 if it detects that the replacement ink or solvent container 1 contains a fluid that is incompatible with the fluid already contained within the inkjet printer ink system. The printed circuit board may contain a sprung connector 6, to aid easy connection to a mating connector attached to the receiving interface of the inkjet printer ink system.

The inkjet printer ink system contains a range of pumps and valves controlled by a microcomputer and associated control software. The range of pumps and valves is configured to withdraw ink through the needle and septum arrangement by applying a vacuum to the ink connection (protrusion 7), as generated by the pumps for a short period of time. Advantageously, the vacuum is generated during the time the container is removed from the ink system to stop ink leaking out of the ink connection while the container is being disconnected. Vacuum is applied to protrusion 7 for a pre-determined period of time while protrusion 7 is being disconnected. Preferably the vacuum pressure applied is less than the atmospheric pressure by around 400 to 600mbarG (approximately 5.80 to 8.7 psi relatively less than atmospheric pressure) with the atmospheric pressure typically at 1BarG (1000 mbarG or 14.5 psi.

Using ranges of pumps and valves is well known to those skilled in the art and examples are given in the patent document cited in the background section above. In such prior art systems, ink is sucked from the container, creating a vacuum inside the container. The level of vacuum is used to estimate the quantity of ink inside the container. Another known cartridge type has a pressure relief valve to make sure there is not too much vacuum inside the cartridge.

In contrast to the known systems, the present container has no vacuum when it is installed in the ink system. The vacuum is applied to the container temporarily, when it is removed, in order to stop ink leaking out of the container. In other words, the vacuum is applied during the transition of the container from connected to disconnected. This is in contrast to known systems which have vacuum when in use or out of use, but not in transition when disconnecting the container.

Figure 2 shows the receiving interface or adapter for attachment of the replacement ink container to an ink system of an inkjet printer. The adapter may be an integral part of the ink jet printer ink system or a separate, detachable unit thereby enabling attachment to receiving ports of the ink system of various inkjet printers to allow the container 1 to be fitted to a range of inkjet printers.

The adapter has receiving ports 12, 13 configured to receive to the first and second protrusions 2, 7 of the container 1 so that the container 1 and adapter are fully connected. When the ink container 1 is offered up to the receiving interface or adapter, the first protrusion 2 and the second protrusion 7 are respectively lined up with the receiving ports 12, 13.

Inside the receiving port 12 for the first protrusion 2 is a needle 10 that is at least longer than the difference in length of the two protrusions 2, 7 on the container 1. The port for the second protrusion 13, contains a needle that is long enough to reliably pierce the seal 11. When the container 1 is pushed fully into the receiving interface or adapter, an electrical contact 6 makes a connection with an electrical contact on the receiving part 17. The inkjet printer may then read the information contained on the printed circuit board 5 and remove fluid from the container 1, once it has verified that it is the correct fluid.

When the container 1 is removed from the receiving interface or adapter, the inkjet printer detects that the connection is broken, and applies a vacuum to the first protrusion 2 for a short period of time. The period of time is pre-determined and is preferably based upon the average withdrawal rate of the container 1 from the printer so that the desired effect is produced. The period of time may be adjusted by the user by altering a setting in the printer's control software for example. This has the effect of removing any residual ink from the container 1. As the container 1 is removed the upper needle 11, which is responsible for allowing air into the space over the ink so that it can easily be removed from the container is withdrawn through the septum 9. The air inlet is thereby sealed, and the continued pumping through the ink needle 10, creating a pressure inside the container 1 that is slightly lower than the surrounding atmosphere inside the container 1.

As the container is further withdrawn, the needle from the second protrusion 7 is removed through the septum. As the container contains a slight vacuum, any residual fluid in the container 1 remains inside the container 1, preventing leaks or seepage and allowing the container to be changed in a clean way.

Figure 3 shows a set of containers respectively comprising ink and solvent. The set of containers are intended to physically prevent ink and solvent cartridges from being added to the appropriate ink and solvent replacement ports or adapters for the inkjet printer. In this example, the longer protrusions 32, 42 in each shown container respectively fixes the vertical orientation of the container. The shorter protrusions 37, 47 (for the air connection) in each shown container is then handed to the left or right with respect to the centre line of the container - left handed 37 or right handed 47 - so that the container cannot be attached incorrectly to the ink system. In essence, the ink and solvent containers are approximate mirror images of each other, with the shorter protrusions 37, 47 (for the air connection) located substantially on opposite sides of the centre line of the container in the ink and solvent containers respectively.

Claims

1. A container for replenishing ink or solvent in an ink system of an inkjet printer, the container having first and second protrusions that form respective first and second connectors for attachment to the ink system, wherein, through the first protrusion, fluid from within the container is transferrable to the ink system and, through the second protrusion, air is transferrable back to the container to maintain the pressure outside of the container equal to the pressure inside the container; and wherein the first protrusion is longer than the second protrusion.

2. A container according to claim 1, wherein the first protrusion is near a bottom surface of the container.

3. A container according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the second protrusion is near the top surface of the container.

4. An adapter for connecting with the container according to any of claims 1 to 3, the adapter having first and second receiving connectors for mating, respectively, with the first and second protrusions of the container.

5. An adapter according to claim 4, configured such that, in use, the mating between the first receiving connector and first protrusion is made before the mating between the second receiving connector and first protrusion is made.

6. An inkjet printer having first and second receiving connectors for mating, respectively, with the first and second protrusions of a container according to any of claims 1 to 3, the inkjet printer configured such that, in use, the mating between the first receiving connector and first protrusion is made before the mating between the second receiving connector and first protrusion is made.

7. A method of connecting a container according to any of claims 1 to 3 to the inkjet printer, the method comprising mating the first receiving connector and first protrusion before the mating the second receiving connector and first protrusion.

8. A method of removing a container according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the container is connected to an inkjet printer, the method comprising disconnecting the second protrusion before disconnecting the ink or solvent connection, wherein the container is removed by withdrawing it in a linear direction away from the inkjet printer.

9. A method of removing a container according to claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

detecting when a user starts to withdraw the container;

applying a vacuum to the first connection for a pre-determined period of time while the container is being withdrawn.

10. A method of removing a container for replenishing ink or solvent in an ink system of an ink jet printer, the container having first and second protrusions that form respective first and second connectors for attachment to the ink system, wherein, through the first protrusion, fluid from within the container is transferrable to the ink system and, through the second protrusion, air is transferrable back to the container to maintain the pressure outside of the container equal to the pressure inside the container, the method comprising the steps of:

11. An inkjet printer having an ink system for receiving, the inkjet printer adapted to receive a container having first and second protrusions that form respective first and second connectors for attachment to the ink system, wherein, through the first protrusion, fluid from within the container is transferrable to the ink system and, through the second protrusion, air is transferrable back to the container to maintain the pressure outside of the container equal to the pressure inside the container, the inkjet printer being configured to detect when the container is being removed from the inkjet printer and apply a vacuum to the first protrusion for a predetermined period of time.

12. A set of first and second containers according to any of claims 1 to 3, the first container comprising ink and the second container comprising solvent, wherein the second protrusion of the first container is located substantially on a first side of a centre line of the first container and the second protrusion of the second container is located substantially on the opposite side of the centre line of the second container.

13. An inkjet printer with connection ports arranged to receive the set according to claim

12.

14. An inkjet printer comprising the container according to any of claims 1 to 3.

15. An inkjet printer comprising an adapter according to claim 4 or claim 5.