System for ultrasonic cleaning of ink jet orifices
AssigneeBurlington Industries, Inc.
InventorJohn L. Dressler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for cleaning foreign particles from an ink jet orifice plate assembly having a plurality of orifices and an ink stream input passage includes a liquid reservoir containing a quantity of cleaning liquid in which the ink jet orifice plate/dye cavity assembly is disposed, ultrasonic agitation means for imparting ultrasonic vibrations in the liquid to dislodge foreign particles from the orifice plate assembly, and means for simultaneously propelling a stream of the cleaning fluid inwardly (in a reverse-flow manner) through the plurality of outlet orifices to carry off dislodged foreign particles. The solid particulates are thereby removed from the assembled structure before it is placed in operation in the fluid jet printer. The method for ultrasonic cleaning is also disclosed.
Claims17
An apparatus for cleaning foreign particles from an ink jet orifice plate assembly of the type having a dye cavity, a plurality of outlet orifices and means for causing fluid in said dye cavity to flow outwardly through said orifices, said apparatus, comprising:
- liquid containing means for containing a quantity of cleaning liquid, said ink jet orifice plate assembly being disposable in said liquid;
- ultrasonic agitating means for ultrasonically agitating said liquid;
- and
- liquid stream propelling means for propelling a stream of said liquid inwardly through said plurality of outlet orifices so as to propel foreign particles ultrasonically dislodged from said assembly out of said ink jet orifice plate assembly.
A method for cleaning foreign particles from an assembled ink jet orifice plate assembly of the type having a dye cavity, a plurality of outlet orifices and means for causing fluid in said dye cavity to flow outwardly through said outlet orifices, said method comprising the steps of;
- immersing said assembly in a cleaning liquid which encompasses at least said liquid outlet orifices;
- ultrasonically agitating said liquid;
- and
- simultaneously with said agitating step, propelling a stream of cleaning fluid inwardly through said plurality of outlet orifices to propel foreign particles dislodged from said assembly out of said ink jet orifice plate assembly.
An apparatus for cleaning foreign particles from an ink jet orifice plate assembly of the type having a dye cavity, a plurality of outlet orifices, and an ink stream input passage, said dye cavity and said input passage being in fluid communication with said outlet orifices and defining a first direction of fluid flow through said orifices, said apparatus comprising:
- liquid containing means for containing a quantity of cleaning liquid, said ink jet orifice plate assembly being disposable in said liquid;
- ultrasonic agitating means for ultrasonically agitating said liquid;
- and
- liquid stream propelling means connectable to said ink jet stream input passage for propelling a stream of said liquid through said plurality of outlet orifices in a second direction of fluid flow, said second direction being opposite of said first direction and out of said ink stream input passage so as to propel foreign particles ultrasonically dislodged from said assembly out of said assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.