Ink printer with a cleaning and sealing station

An ink jet print device comprising a print support platen receiving and supporting a recording substrate;

• an ink jet print head disposed movable back and forth parallel to and along a longitudinal direction of the print support platen;
• a cleaning and sealing station disposed in a work region for engaging the ink jet print head, and wherein the work region includes a printing region, a first overshoot region and a second overshoot region, wherein the first overshoot region and the second overshoot region are adjoining to the printing region, and wherein the first overshoot region and the second overshoot region allow for acceleration and deceleration of the ink jet print head, and wherein the cleaning and sealing station is disposed in one of the first overshoot region or the second overshoot region;
• a suction device for suctioning ink from the ink jet print head;
• a cover device for covering the ink jet print head wherein the cover device together with the suction device form a covering and suctioning unit;
• a support member for supporting the covering and suctioning unit and disposed at the cleaning and sealing station, wherein the support member is constructed and attached at the cleaning and sealing station swivelable toward the ink jet print head, and wherein the covering and suctioning unit comprises
• an elastic cap positionable against the ink jet print head,
• a pressure compensation channel connected to and coordinated to the cap for a pressure compensation in the cap and a suction channel coordinated to the cap for the withdrawal of the ink, and wherein the pressure compensation channel of the cap is coupled to a pressure compensation device,
• a common withdrawal channel, wherein the suction channel joins in the common withdrawal channel, wherein the common withdrawal channel is in connection with the suction device, and
• a valve device connected to and coordinated to the suction channel for assuring a controlled withdrawal of ink from the cap, and wherein
• the pressure compensation device is formed as a closed system relative to the ambient air, with a common pressure compensation chamber for the pressure compensation channel and a membrane film for closing the pressure compensation chamber relative to the ambient air.

An ink jet print device comprising a print support platen receiving and supporting a recording substrate;

• a printer carriage movable back and forth parallel to and along a longitudinal direction of the print support platen;
• a plurality of ink jet print heads disposed on the printer carriage and forming with the printer carriage an ink jet print unit;
• a cleaning and sealing station disposed in a work region for engaging the ink jet print head, and wherein the work region includes a printing region, a first overshoot region and a second overshoot region, wherein the first overshoot region and the second overshoot region are adjoining to the printing region, and wherein the first overshoot region and the second overshoot region allow for acceleration and deceleration of the ink jet print unit, and wherein the cleaning and sealing station is disposed in one of the first overshoot region or the second overshoot region,
• and wherein the cleaning and sealing station is a self-contained construction unit capable of being exchanged by withdrawing from and inserting into the ink jet print device,
• wherein the cleaning and sealing station comprises a swivel lever support,
• a plurality of tub-shaped elastic insert caps forming a suction and cover cap device,
• a plurality of liquid-absorbing liners, wherein each of the plurality of liquid-absorbing liners is supported by a respective one of the plurality of tub-shaped elastic insert caps, wherein the swivel lever support movably supports the suction and cover cap device, wherein the plurality of tub-shaped elastic insert caps are of a number equal to the plurality of ink jet print heads, and wherein the swivel lever support with the suction and cover cap device is tiltable toward the ink jet print unit,
• a plurality of pressure compensation channels, wherein each of the plurality of pressure compensation channels is coordinated to one of the plurality of tub-shaped elastic insert caps, and wherein the plurality of pressure compensation channels in each case includes a fourth chamber, a first passage opening, and a third opening bore,
• a plurality of suction channels, wherein each of the plurality of suction channels is coordinated to one of the plurality of tub-shaped elastic insert caps for a withdrawal of ink, and wherein the plurality of suction channels includes in each case a first chamber and a second chamber, a pressure compensation device, wherein the plurality of the pressure compensation channels, including in each case the fourth chamber, the first passage opening, and the third opening bore, are coupled to the pressure compensation device,
• a common withdrawal channel, wherein the common withdrawal channel is connected to the first chamber and the second chamber of the suction channels,
• a suction device formed by a bellows and connected to the common withdrawal device,
• a valve device, wherein one valve device is coordinated to each one of the plurality of suction channels, for a controlled withdrawal of ink from each one of the plurality of tub-shaped elastic insert caps, and wherein the valve device includes a sieve and a slot valve.

An ink jet print device with the following features:

• a) at least one ink jet print head (80) is disposed movable back and forth in a work region (OP) along a print support platen (9) and a cleaning and sealing station (6), wherein the print support platen receives a recording substrate,
• b) the work region (OP) exhibits a printing region (PR) and overshoot regions (OV), wherein the overshoot regions adjoin at the printing region (PR) and serve for accelerating and braking a back and forth movable ink jet print head (8), and
• c) the cleaning and sealing station (6) is disposed in an overshoot region (OV)
• wherein the cleaning and sealing station (6) exhibits a support (3, 3b) for a suction and cover device (4, 4a, 4b) for suctioning ink from the ink jet print heads (80) and covering the ink jet print heads (80), wherein the support (3, 3b) is constructed swivelable toward the ink jet print heads (80),
• wherein the suction and cover device (4, 4a, 4b) exhibits a plurality of elastically formed caps (41, 41a) with a respective plurality of liquid-absorbing liners (42, 42a) for hermetically sealing the ink jet print heads (80) during the suctioning of the ink from the ink jet print heads (80),
• wherein the elastic caps (41, 41a) are positionable against the ink jet print heads (80) and wherein a number of the elastic caps (41, 41a) corresponds to the number of the ink jet print heads (80) and
• a plurality of pressure compensation channels, wherein each pressure compensation channel (403, 415, 463) is coordinated to one respective cap of the plurality of caps (41, 41a) for a pressure compensation in the cap, and wherein each of a plurality of suction channels (401, 400) is coordinated to one of the plurality of caps for the withdrawal of the ink, wherein a plurality of pressure compensation channels (403, 415, 463) connected to the plurality of caps (41, 41a) is coupled to a pressure compensation device (43, 55, 403a, 423),
• wherein the plurality of suction channels (401, 400) join into a common withdrawal channel (49, 470), wherein the common withdrawal channel (49, 470) is connected to a suction device (51), and
• wherein a plurality of valve devices (48, 420) is provided, with each valve device (48, 420) coordinated and connected to each one of the plurality of suction channels (401, 400) for a controlled withdrawal of ink from each one of the plurality of caps (41, 41a), wherein the pressure compensation device exhibits a common ventilation channel (465, 430), coupled to the plurality of pressure compensation channels, where the common ventilation channel has a controllable closure (55) for the feeding of air as required depending on the operating position of the suction and cover device
• wherein the support (3, 3b) includes an adjustment device (33, 34, 33b, F3, F4), wherein the adjustment device (33, 34, 33b, F3, F4) allows positioning the support (3, 3b) with respect to the relative position of the support (3, 3b) to the ink jet print heads (80),
• wherein the suction device and for the covering device (4, 4a, 4b) are movably supported by means of the support (3, 3b) between two lateral relative positions of the ink jet print unit (8) with respect to the suction and cover device (4, 4a, 4b),
• wherein a motor-driven cam disk (20) is furnished for the tilting of the support (3, 3b), where the support (3, 3b) is spring-supportably resting at the motor-driven cam disk (20), wherein a pivot drive (30) for the support (3, 3b) is coupled with a pump (5) for the suctioning of the ink from the suction and cover device (4, 4a, 4b),
• wherein the motor-driven cam disk (20) exhibits two cam paths (201, 202), which cam paths (201, 202) are joining each other, wherein a running wheel (21), coordinated to the support (3, 3b) is guided on the cam paths (201, 202),
• wherein the plurality of valve devices, coordinated to the plurality of suction channels (401, 400), includes a plurality of capillary filters (48) disposed in one respective suction channel of the plurality of suction channels, wherein a suction pressure acting at the withdrawal channel (45, 49, 464) is selected such that, upon emptying the plurality of suction channels of ink, the capillary filter (48) is only then overcome by the inflowing ambient air through the plurality of suction channels (400, 401) when the plurality of suction channels no longer contains any ink.

An ink jet print device with the following features:

• a) at least one ink jet print head (80) is disposed movable back and forth in a work region (OP) along a print support platen (9) and a cleaning and sealing station (6), wherein the print support platen receives a recording substrate,
• b) the work region (OP) exhibits a printing region (PR) and overshoot regions (OV), wherein the overshoot regions adjoin at the printing region (PR) and serve for accelerating and braking a back and forth movable ink jet print head (8), and
• c) the cleaning and sealing station (6) is disposed in an overshoot region (OV)
• wherein the cleaning and sealing station (6) exhibits a support (3, 3b) for a suction and cover device (4, 4a, 4b), wherein the support (3, 3b) is constructed swivelable toward the ink jet print heads (80) for suctioning ink from the ink jet print heads (80) and covering the ink jet print heads (80),
• wherein the support (3, 3b) includes an adjustment device (33, 34, 33b, F3, F4), wherein the adjustment device (33, 34, 33b, F3, F4) allows positioning the support (3, 3b) with respect to the relative position of the support (3, 3b) to the ink jet print heads (80),
• wherein the support member for the suction device and for the covering device (4, 4a, 4b) is movably supported by means of the positioning device (3, 3b) between two lateral relative positions of the ink jet print unit (8) with respect to the suction and cover device (4, 4a, 4b), wherein a motor-driven cam disk (20) is furnished for the tilting of the support (3, 3b), where the support (3, 3b) is spring supportably resting at the cam disk (20), wherein a pivot drive (30) for the support (3, 3b) is coupled with a pump (5) for the suctioning of the ink from the suction and cover device (4, 4a, 4b),
• wherein the motor-driven cam disk (20) exhibits two cam paths (201, 202), which cam paths (201, 202) are joining each other, wherein a running wheel (21), coordinated to the support (3, 3b) is guided on the cam paths (201, 202) wherein the suction and cover device (4, 4a, 4b) exhibits a plurality of elastically formed caps (41, 41a) with a respective plurality of liquid-absorbing liners (42, 42a) for hermetically sealing the ink jet print heads (80) during the suctioning of the ink from the ink jet print heads (80) and for covering the ink jet print heads (80),
• wherein the suction and cover device (4, 4a, 4b) exhibits a plurality of elastically formed caps (41, 41a) with a respective plurality of liquid-absorbing liners (42, 42a) for hermetically sealing the ink jet print heads (80) during the suctioning of the ink from the ink jet print heads (80) and for covering the ink jet print heads (80),
• wherein a suction and cover device (4, 4a, 4b) comprises elastic caps (41, 41a) positionable against the ink jet print heads (80) corresponding to the number the ink jet print heads (80),
• a plurality of pressure compensation channels, wherein each pressure compensation channel (403, 415, 463) is coordinated to one respective cap of the plurality of caps (41, 41a) for a pressure compensation in the cap, and wherein each of a plurality of suction channels (401, 400) is coordinated to one of the plurality of caps for the withdrawal of the ink, wherein a plurality of pressure compensation channels (403, 415, 463) for and connected to the plurality of caps (41, 41a) is coupled to a pressure compensation device (43, 55, 403a, 423),
• wherein the plurality of suction channels (401, 400) join into a common withdrawal channel (49, 470), wherein the common withdrawal channel (49, 470) is connected to a suction device (51), and
• wherein a plurality of valve devices (48, 420) is provided, with each valve device (48, 420) coordinated and connected to each one of the plurality of suction channels (401, 400) for a controlled withdrawal of ink from each one of the plurality of caps (41, 41a), wherein the pressure compensation device exhibits a common ventilation channel (465, 430), coupled to the plurality of pressure compensation channels, where the common ventilation channel has a controllable closure (55) for the feeding of air as required depending on the operating position of the suction and cover device,
• wherein the pressure compensation device is formed as a closed system relative to the ambient air, with a common pressure compensation chamber (403a) for the plurality of pressure compensation channels (403, 465) and a membrane film (423), closing the pressure compensation chamber (403a) relative to the ambient air,
• wherein the plurality of valve devices, coordinated and connected to the plurality of suction channels (400, 401) includes a plurality of one-way directional valves (420), wherein each one of the plurality of one-way directional valves (420) is opening in suction direction of the ink and closing in an opposite direction relative to the suction direction of the ink.

An ink jet print device with the following features:

• a) at least one ink jet print head (80) is disposed movable back and forth in a work region (OP) along a print support platen (9) and a cleaning and sealing station (6), wherein the print support platen receives a recording substrate,
• b) the work region (OP) exhibits a printing region (PR) and overshoot regions (OV), wherein the overshoot regions adjoin at the printing region (PR) and serve for accelerating and braking a back and forth movable ink jet print head (8), and
• c) the cleaning and sealing station (6) is disposed in an overshoot region (OV)
• wherein the cleaning and sealing station (6) exhibits a support (3, 3b) for a suction and cover device (4, 4a, 4b),
• wherein the support (3, 3b) is constructed swivelable toward the ink jet print heads (80),
• wherein the support (3, 3b) includes an adjustment device (33, 34, 33b, F3, F4), wherein the adjustment device (33, 34, 33b, F3, F4) allows positioning the support (3, 3b) with respect to the relative position of the support (3, 3b) to the ink jet print heads (80),
• wherein the suction device and the covering device (4, 4a, 4b) are movably supported by means of the support (3, 3b) between two lateral relative positions of the ink jet print unit (8) with respect to the suction and cover device (4, 4a, 4b),
• wherein a motor-driven cam disk (20) is furnished for the tilting of the support (3, 3b), where the support (3, 3b) is spring-supportably resting at the cam disk (20), wherein a pivot drive (30) for the support (3, 3b) is coupled with a pump (5) for the suctioning of the ink from the suction and cover device (4, 4a, 4b),
• wherein the motor-driven cam disk (20) exhibits two cam paths (201, 202), which cam paths (201, 202) are joining each other, wherein a running wheel (21), coordinated to the support (3, 3b) is guided on the cam paths (201, 202)
• wherein the suction and cover device (4, 4a, 4b) exhibits a plurality of elastically formed caps (41, 41a) with a respective plurality of liquid-absorbing liners (42, 42a) for hermetically sealing the ink jet print heads (80) during the suctioning of the ink from the ink jet print heads (80) and for covering the ink jet print heads (80),
• wherein the suction and cover device (4, 4a, 4b) exhibits a plurality of elastically formed caps (41, 41a) with a respective plurality of liquid-absorbing liners (42, 42a) for hermetically sealing the ink jet print heads (80) during the suctioning of the ink from the ink jet print heads (80) and for covering the ink jet print heads (80),
• wherein a suction and cover device (4, 4a, 4b) comprises elastic caps (41, 41a) positionable against the ink jet print heads (80) corresponding to the number the ink jet print heads (80),
• a plurality of pressure compensation channels, wherein each pressure compensation channel (403, 415, 463) is coordinated to one respective cap of the plurality of caps (41, 41a) for a pressure compensation in the cap, and wherein each of a plurality of suction channels (401, 400) is coordinated to one of the plurality of caps for the withdrawal of the ink, wherein a plurality of pressure compensation channels (403, 415, 463) for and connected to the plurality of caps (41, 41a) is coupled to a pressure compensation device (43, 55, 403a, 423),
• wherein the plurality of suction channels (401, 400) join into a common withdrawal channel (49, 470), wherein the common withdrawal channel (49, 470) is connected to a suction device (51), and
• wherein a plurality of valve devices (48, 420) is provided, with each valve device (48, 420) coordinated and connected to each one of the plurality of suction channels (401, 400) for a controlled withdrawal of ink from each one of the plurality of caps (41, 41a), wherein the pressure compensation device exhibits a common ventilation channel (465, 430), coupled to the plurality of pressure compensation channels, where the common ventilation channel has a controllable closure (55) for the feeding of air as required depending on the operating position of the suction and cover device,
• wherein the pressure compensation device is formed as a closed system relative to the ambient air, with a common pressure compensation chamber (403a) for the plurality of pressure compensation channels (403, 465) and a membrane film (423), closing the pressure compensation chamber (403a) relative to the ambient air,
• wherein the plurality of valve devices, coordinated and connected to the plurality of suction channels (400, 401) includes a plurality of one-way directional valves (420),
• wherein each one of the plurality of one-way directional valves (420) is opening in suction direction of the ink and closing in an opposite direction relative to the suction direction of the ink.

An ink jet print device with the following features:

• a) at least one ink jet print head (80) is disposed movable back and forth in a work region (OP) along a print support platen (9) and a cleaning and sealing station (6), wherein the print support platen receives a recording substrate,
• b) the work region (OP) exhibits a printing region (PR) and overshoot regions (OV), wherein the overshoot regions adjoin at the printing region (PR) and serve for accelerating and braking a back and forth movable ink jet print head (8), and
• c) the cleaning and sealing station (6) is disposed in an overshoot region (OV),
• wherein the cleaning and sealing station (6) exhibits a support (3, 3b) for a suction and cover device (4, 4a, 4b),
• wherein the support (3, 3b) is constructed swivelable toward the ink jet print heads (80) for suctioning ink from the ink jet print heads (80) and covering the ink jet print heads (80),
• wherein the support (3, 3b) includes an adjustment device (33, 34, 33b, F3, F4), wherein the adjustment device (33, 34, 33b, F3, F4) allows positioning the support (3, 3b) with respect to the relative position of the support (3, 3b) to the ink jet print heads (80),
• wherein the support member for the suction device and for the covering device (4, 4a, 4b) is movably supported by means of the support (3, 3b) between two lateral relative positions of the ink jet print unit (8) with respect to the suction and cover device (4, 4a, 4b),
• wherein a motor-driven cam disk (20) is furnished for the tilting of the support (3, 3b), where the support (3, 3b) is spring-supportably resting at the cam disk (20), wherein a pivot drive (30) for the support (3, 3b) is coupled with a pump (5) for the suctioning of the ink from the suction and cover device (4, 4a, 4b),
• wherein the motor-driven cam disk (20) exhibits two cam paths (201, 202), which cam paths (201, 202) are joining each other, wherein a running wheel (21), coordinated to the support (3, 3b) is guided on the cam paths (201, 202)
• wherein the suction and cover device (4, 4a, 4b) exhibits a plurality of elastically formed caps (41, 41a) with a respective plurality of liquid-absorbing liners (42, 42a) for hermetically sealing the ink jet print heads (80) during the suctioning of the ink from the ink jet print heads (80) and for covering the ink jet print heads (80),
• wherein the suction and cover device (4, 4a, 4b) exhibits a plurality of elastically formed caps (41, 41a) with a respective plurality of liquid-absorbing liners (42, 42a) for hermetically sealing the ink jet print heads (80) during the suctioning of the ink from the ink jet print heads (80) and for covering the ink jet print heads (80),
• wherein a suction and cover device (4, 4a, 4b) comprises elastic caps (41, 41a) positionable against the ink jet print heads (80) corresponding to the number the ink jet print heads (80),
• a plurality of pressure compensation channels, wherein each pressure compensation channel (403, 415, 463) is coordinated to one respective cap of the plurality of caps (41, 41a) for a pressure compensation in the cap, and wherein each of a plurality of suction channels (401, 400) is coordinated to one of the plurality of caps for the withdrawal of the ink, wherein a plurality of pressure compensation channels (403, 415, 463) for and connected to the plurality of caps (41, 41a) is coupled to a pressure compensation device (43, 55, 403a, 423),
• wherein the plurality of suction channels (401, 400) join into a common withdrawal channel (49, 470), wherein the common withdrawal channel (49, 470) is connected to a suction device (51), and
• wherein a plurality of valve devices (48, 420) is provided, with each valve device (48, 420) coordinated and connected to each one of the plurality of suction channels (401, 400) for a controlled withdrawal of ink from each one of the plurality of caps (41, 41a), wherein the pressure compensation device exhibits a common ventilation channel (465, 430), coupled to the plurality of pressure compensation channels, where the common ventilation channel has a controllable closure (55) for the feeding of air as required depending on the operating position of the suction and cover device,
• wherein the pressure compensation device is formed as a closed system relative to the ambient air, with a common pressure compensation chamber (403a) for the plurality of pressure compensation channels (403, 465) and a membrane film (423), closing the pressure compensation chamber (403a) relative to the ambient air,
• wherein the pressure compensation device is formed as a closed system relative to the ambient air, with a common pressure compensation chamber (403a) for the plurality of pressure compensation channels (403, 465) and a membrane film (423), closing the pressure compensation chamber (403a) relative to the ambient air.