Ink jet printer and method of priming
AssigneeLinx Printing Technologies Limited
InventorCraig Briggs
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A continuous inkjet printer has an ink circuit comprising an ink tank, an ink pump and a Venture suction device. The Venturi is used to suck an extra solvent or ink as required. However, if the ink tank is empty, no ink can be pumped through the Venture and so it will not develop suction and thus, cannot be used to suck in an initial supply of ink to an empty tank. A removable ink container may be connected to the ink tank or elsewhere in the ink circuit, for example, between the Venturi outlet and the pump inlet. Compressing the ink container manually will force ink into the ink circuit. When enough ink has been added, the pump will drive ink through the Venturi and suction will be generated.
Claims12
A continuous ink jet printer comprising an ink tank, an ink pump and at least one suction device, the ink tank, the ink pump and the at least one suction device being provided in an ink circuit in which the ink pump can pump ink from the ink tank through the ink pump and then to a first inlet of the at least one suction device at which the at least one suction device receives ink from the ink pump, through the at least one suction device and then back to the ink tank,
- the at least one suction device having at least one suction inlet and being arranged to create suction at said at least one suction inlet from the flow of ink through it from the first inlet,
- the printer further comprising:
- an ink top-up line connected to the ink circuit at a suction inlet of the at least one suction device to allow ink to be sucked into the ink circuit by suction from the suction inlet,
- a solvent or diluent top-up line connected to the ink circuit at a suction inlet of the at least one suction device to allow solvent or diluent to be sucked into the ink circuit by suction from the suction inlet, and
- a first fitting for connecting an ink container to the ink circuit at the ink tank or at a location in the ink circuit that is (a) between an outlet of the at least one suction device and an inlet of the ink tank or (b) between an outlet of the ink tank and an inlet of the ink pump or (c) between an outlet of the ink pump and said first inlet of the at least one suction device.
A method of priming an ink circuit in a continuous ink jet printer, wherein the ink circuit comprises an ink tank, an ink pump and at least one suction device,
- the at least one suction device having a first inlet connected to receive ink from the ink pump and at least one suction inlet and being arranged to create suction at said at least one suction inlet from the flow of ink through it from the first inlet,
- and wherein the printer further comprises:
- an ink top-up line connected to the ink circuit at a suction inlet of the at least one suction device to allow ink to be sucked into the ink circuit by suction from the suction inlet,
- a solvent or diluent top-up line connected to the ink circuit at a suction inlet of the at least one suction device to allow solvent or diluent to be sucked into the ink circuit by suction from the suction inlet, and
- a first fitting for connecting an ink container to the ink circuit at the ink tank or at a location in the ink circuit between an outlet of the at least one suction device and an inlet of the ink tank or at a location in the ink circuit between an outlet of the ink tank and an inlet of the ink pump or at a location in the ink circuit between an outlet of the ink pump and an inlet of the at least one suction device at which the at least one suction device receives ink from the ink pump,
- the method comprising positioning an ink container on the first fitting and compressing it to force ink from the ink container through the first fitting into the ink circuit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.