Automatic nozzle cleaning system for ink ejection printer
AssigneeRicoh Company, Ltd.
InventorsTakuro Isayama, Kikuo Kubo
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An ink ejection nozzle acts as one electrode and is arranged to eject ink against another electrode during an ink ejection test of the nozzle. The ink stream electrically connects the electrodes when the ink is being ejected normally, whereby the ink flow rate is analogous to the electrical impedance or capacitance between the electrodes. If the nozzle is clogged with an ink deposit so that the flow rate is insufficient, the system ejects a solvent through the nozzle to dissolve the deposit. The flow rate of the solvent is also sensed and the solvent ejection is terminated when the solvent flow rate is sufficient. Ink is then again ejected to purge the solvent from the nozzle.
Claims9
Ink ejecting apparatus comprising:
- a first electrode;
- ejection nozzle means comprising a second electrode and being arranged to eject ink and solvent against the first electrode;
- ink supply means for feeding ink to the ejection nozzle means;
- solvent supply means for feeding a solvent to the ejection nozzle means;
- ink and solvent flow sensor means for sensing a flow parameter of ink and a flow parameter of solvent through the ejection nozzle means, said ink and solvent flow sensor means being connected to the first and second electrodes;
- and
- control means responsive to the ink and solvent flow sensor means and operative to actuate the ink supply means and de-actuate the solvent supply means when the sensed ink flow parameter is above a first predetermined value and to actuate the solvent supply means and de-actuate the ink supply means when the sensed ink flow parameter is below the first predetermined value, and further operative to de-actuate the solvent supply means and re-actuate the ink supply means when the solvent flow parameter exceeds a second predetermined value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.