Inkjet print heads cleaning system
AssigneeNano Dimension Technologies, Ltd.
InventorsTomer Friedman, Salamon Mekonen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The disclosure relates to a portable system for cleaning ink jet print heads. Specifically, the disclosure relates to external, portable systems and jig assemblies for cleaning clogged nozzles of ink jet print head under controlled pressure. The jig assembly can be self-contained and detachable, and can be programmed to operate upon receiving various signals indicating clogged nozzle plate or portion thereof, and/or as a routine maintenance operating procedure.
Claims22
A computerized system for unclogging nozzle plate of an ink jet print head comprising:
- a. a pressure pump
- b. a pressure relief valve in fluid communication with the pressure pump;
- c. a cleaning liquid vessel in fluid communication with the pressure relief valve;
- d. an ink jet print head having an inlet, a drain outlet and a nozzle plate, the ink jet print head being in fluid communication with the cleaning vessel;
- e. a switch valve, the switch valve being in fluid communication with the ink jet print head and a bath;
- f. the bath;
- g. a filter module in fluid communication with the switch valve;
- h. a recycle pump in fluid communication with the filter module and the cleaning liquid vessel;
- and
- i. a central processing module (CPM), in communication with the pressure pump, the pressure relief valve, the ink jet print head, the switch valve, the filter module, and the recycle pump.
A computerized method of unclogging an ink jet print head nozzle plate, implementable in a system comprising:
- a pressure pump, a pressure relief valve in fluid communication with the pressure pump, a cleaning liquid vessel in fluid communication with the pressure relief valve, an ink jet print head having an inlet, a drain outlet and a nozzle plate, the ink jet print head being in fluid communication with the cleaning vessel, a switch valve, the switch valve being in fluid communication with the ink jet print head and a bath, the bath, a filter module in fluid communication with the switch valve, a recycle pump in fluid communication with the filter module and the cleaning liquid vessel, a pressure gauge in communication with the filter module, and a central processing module (CPM), in communication with the pressure pump, the pressure relief valve, the ink jet print head, the switch valve, the filter module, and the recycle pump, the method comprising:
- a. upon at least one of:
- i. at a fixed time interval of the ink jet print head printing;
- ii. receiving a command by the CPM;
- and
- iii. receiving a signal indicating the ink jet print head nozzle plate is clogged activating the pressure pump, and the recirculating pump as well as actuating the switch valve;
- b. circulating the cleaning fluid through the ink jet print head inlet to the drain outlet, through the switch valve to the filter module and to the cleaning fluid vessel;
- c. actuating the switch valve for circulating the cleaning fluid through the ink jet print head nozzle plate and into the bath;
- and
- d. upon at least one of:
- i. a predetermined lapse of time;
- and
- ii. receiving a command by the CPM,
- shutting the pressure pump, actuating the switch valve, and closing the relief valve thus draining the fluid from the bath, through the filter module to the cleaning fluid vessel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.