LIQUID LEVEL SENSOR FOR INK JET PRINTERS

Abstract: The ink level sensor of the invention comprises an ink container (46) having a generally cylindrical shield (56) extending downward from its top to define sheielded and unshielded compartments (52, 54) within the container (46). Ink, but not foam, froth or mist, flows under the shield (56) to the shielded compartment (52). A plurality of conductive rods (66, 68, 70, 72) of differing lengths extend downwardly into the shielded compartment (52) from the container top. The rods are connected to an impedance network (48) which provides signals representative of the ink level inside the container (46). A vacuum source (42) can be connected to each compartment to maintain pressure equilibrium in the compartments (52, 54) and to prevent foam, froth or mist from entering the shielded compartment (52). Alternatively, a return pump is used to force ink into the container (46) such that each compartment can be vented to the atmosphere.

Description: LIQUID LEVEL SENSOR FOR INK JET PRINTERS The present invention relates generally to ink jet printers and, more particularly, to an apparatus for sensing discrete liquid levels in an ink jet printing system and for maintaining satisfactory operation thereof. In one type of ink jet printing system, a supply of an electrically conductive ink under pressure is subjected to vibratory energy to create a jet of regularly spaced drops. The drops are selectively charged by charging electrodes and pass through an electrostatic deflection field created by a pair of high voltage plates. The drops follow differing trajectories depending on the level to which the drops are individually charged. Certain drops are deposited on the substrate to form the image, while the remaining drops are intercepted by a catcher to be recirculated, see, for example, US-A-4,555,712 and US-A-4,827,280. An ink reservoir is in¬ cluded in such systems to collect ink deposited in the catcher for reuse. Reservo- s 54 or 85 in US-A-4,555,712 and reservoir 12 in US-A-4,827,260 each serve as a holding tank for ink which is transferred to the pressure cylinder to be delivered under pressure to the nozzle. Ink which is collected by the catcher typically loses solvent content that is replenished periodically by adding makeup fluid into the reservoir. Also, fresh ink is added periodically to replace the ink consumed during printing. The reservoir serves as a mixing chamber for all of these fluids such that the level of fluid in the reser¬ voir constantly changes. While ink is transferred to the pressure cylinder and makeup fluid and fresh ink are added, the fluid level in the reservoir can be sensed at several specific points, in¬ cluding (i) a lowest fluid level, below which makeup fluid or ink should be added to avoid exhausting the supply of ink; (ii) an intermediate fluid level, identified as the "reservoir full" state; and (iii) an upper fluid level, identified as an "overfull" state which causes immediate shut-down of the printing system. One method of sensing fluid levels is to use a float containing a magnet. The float rises and falls with the liquid level and its relative position is detected at specific heights by magnetic sensors such as magnetic reed switches or other magnetically activated devices. Magnetic floats and reed switches have commonly been used for many years in the art of ink jet printing. There are reliability problems with such float based sensors in the reservoir. Accurate liquid level sensing from system to system can be difficult to achieve in the manufac¬ turing process due to the variation in magnet strength, switch sensitivity and variations in the positional relationship between the two varying as the float moves over extended use. There is an uncertainty in knowing the fluid level whenever the float is between switches. Dried ink in a printer which has been inoperative for an extended period of time can cause a float to stick in a fixed position. The problems with floats can be avoided by utilizing a plurality of electrically conductive rods to ascertain the level of the conductive liquid ink in a reservoir or con¬ tainer. However, the use of such rods is affected by ink froth, foam and mist in the ink reservoir or container. Because the froth, foam and mist are electrically conductive, the level sensing rods can be shorted together, thereby allow¬ ing erroneous liquid level measurements to be made. What is desired is an improved liquid level sensor capable of providing accurate measurements of liquid levels in ink jet printing systems. More specifically, an improved ink level sensor which avoids the inaccuracies resulting from frothing, spattering, foaming and misting is desired. The present invention is an ink level sensor assem¬ bly for use in an ink jet printing system. The invention comprises an ink container having disposed therein a generally cylindrical shield extending downward from the top of the container to define shielded and unshielded compartments within the container. When ink enters the unshielded compart¬ ment, a layer of electrically conductive foam and mist may be created on top of the liquid ink layer. The bottom of the shield extends below the minimum operating liquid ink level such that only liquid ink, not foam, froth or mist, enters the shielded compartment. A plurality of conductive rods of differing lengths extend downwardly into the shielded compartment to contact the liquid ink contained therein. The rods are connected to an impedance network which provides a series of output signals representative of the ink level inside the shielded compart¬ ment. A vacuum source is independently connected to both compartments to draw ink into the container and to prevent the spread of ink foam and mist into the shielded compartment. The vacuum source equalizes the pressure in both compartments, thereby maintaining the ink level in each compartment the same. Alternatively, a return pump may be utilized to force ink into the container. In this case, both the shielded and unshielded compartments are vented to the atmosphere to equal¬ ize the pressure in the compartments. The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagram of an ink jet printing system which incorporates the liquid level sensor of the present invention; Figure 2 is a sectional view of the liquid level sensor of the invention; Figure 2A is a sectional view of a second embodiment of the liquid level sensor of the invention; and Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the impedance network associated with the liquid level sensor of Figures 2 and 2A. Referring to Figure 1, a diagram of an ink jet printing system 10 which incorporates the improved liquid level sensor of the invention is illustrated. US-A-4,555,712 and US-A-4,827,280 describe in detail the operation of the printing system, a summary thereof being presented hereafter. Pressurized ink is supplied to nozzle 20 which creates a jet of ink drops to be deposited on a substrate 11 to be marked. The ink that is not deposited on the substrate is collected by catcher 22 and returned to reservoir or con¬ tainer 46. Valves 30 and 32 are selectively operated by electronic controller 34, responsive to signals from impedance network 38, to add fresh ink 26 and/or solvent 28 to reservoir or container 46. Impedance network 38 generates signals indicative of the ink level inside reservoir 14 .and vacuum source 42 applies negative pressure to the container 46. Referring to Figure 2, a sectional view of the improved liquid level sensor of the invention is illustrated. The liquid level sensor comprises the ink container 46 having a shield 56 downwardly extending from its top to define shielded and unshielded compartments 52 and 54. Shield 56 is generally cylindrical, although any shape of shield could be utilized to define shielded and unshielded compartments 52 and 54. Note that the shield 56 terminates at a point above the bottom of the container permitting the liquid to flow between the compartments. The point at which the shield terminates is below the minimum operating liquid level in the container. Ink enters the container 46 from catcher 22 via an inlet 58 communicating with the unshielded compartment 54. From compartment 54, liquid ink flows under the shield 56 to enter the shielded compartment 52 and exits container 46 via outlet 60. Compartments 52 and 54 are connected to a vacuum source 42 via outlets 62 and 64. Both compartments 52 and 54 are kept at the same pressure by vacuum source 42 to maintain the same ink level in both compartments of container 46. Vacuum source 42 provides continuous air flow from inlet 58 through the unshielded compartment 54 to ensure that any foam, froth or ink mist which collects in the unshielded compartment is drawn toward the vacuum source, thus preventing migration thereof to the shielded compartment. A plurality of electrically conductive sensor rods of differing lengths downwardly extend into the shielded compartment 52 from the enclosed top of container 46. The rods, when immersed in the conductive ink 74, are shorted together. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, rods 66-72 downwardly extend to levels 1-L4 and are connected to an impedance network 48 to provide signals representative of the liquid level inside the container. Preferably, rods 66-72 are corro¬ sion resistant, have pointed, not blunt ends and are con¬ structed from stainless steel or a conductive plastic. It must be noted that any number of conductive rods can be used and that the ground rod may be replaced by a conductive shield or conductive container suitably connected to the impedance network 48. During system operation, a foam layer 76 and ink mist may develop above the liquid ink layer 74 inside con¬ tainer 46. To avoid interference from the electrically con¬ ductive froth 76 and mist, rods 66-72 are positioned within the shielded chamber so that precise measurement of the ink levels inside of the container is possible. The shield 56 preferably fully surrounds the rods 62-72. Alternatively, the electrical ground rod may be placed outside the shield. Referring to Figure 2A, a second embodiment of the liquid level sensor of the invention is illustrated. A return pump 42a is used to force ink from gutter 22 into container 46 via inlet 58 instead of vacuum source 42 drawing ink into con¬ tainer 46 as disclosed with reference to the embodiment of Figure 2. In the Figure 2A embodiment, outlets 62a and 64a are vented to the atmosphere to equalize the pressure in the shielded and unshielded compartments 52 and 54. In all other respects, the embodiment of Figure 2A corresponds to the embodiment shown in Figure 2. Figure 3 is a schematic diagram which shows the electrical connections of impedance network 48 and the rods 66-72. The impedance network 48 includes resistors, capaci¬ tors, the impedance of the rods 66-72 themselves and of the fluid. An input voltage is applied at node 78. Current flows from node 78 to ground 92 through three voltage divider cir¬ cuits, each comprising one input impedance Z1-Z3 (80-84) and one output impedance Z4-Z6 (86-90) . The set of output volt¬ ages from the three divider circuits is measured at nodes 94, 96 and 98. Conductive rods 66-72 are connected to nodes 92-98 respectively such that the output impedances Z4-Z6 are succes¬ sively shunted to ground as the level of ink inside the shielded compartment rises thereby to provide four different sets of output voltages at nodes 94-98. As rods 66-72 are successively shorted together by the conductive liquid ink, different sets of voltages appear at nodes 94-98. When the ink level is below L2, none of the output impedances Z4-Z6 are shunted to ground. When the ink is at level L2, rod 68 and output impedance Z6 are shunted to ground by the conductive ink. When the ink reaches level L3, rods 68 and 70 and output impedances Z5 and Z6 are shunted to ground. Finally, when the ink is at level L4, all of the rods 66-72 and all of the output impedances Z4-Z6 are shunted to ground. In this way, the level of ink in the container 46 can be precisely monitored.

Claims: CLAIMS ; 1. A sensor for measuring the level of electrically conductive liquid comprising: (a) an enclosed container (46) having an inlet (58), an outlet (60) and a shield (56) extending downwardly from the top of the container to a position short of the container bottom to define shielded and unshielded compartments (52, 54) therein, whereby liquid enters the unshielded compartment (54) through said inlet (58) and liquid, but not foam, froth or mist, flows under the shield (56) to the shielded compartment (52); (b) a plurality of conductive rods (66, 68, 70, 72) of differing length extending downwardly into the shielded compartment (52) for contact with the liquid; (c) circuit means (48), connected to said rods, for generating output signals representative of the liquid level in the shielded compart¬ ment (52); and (d) means (42) for equalizing the pressure in said shielded and unshielded compartments (52, 54) whereby foam, froth and mist are prevented from entering said shielded compartment (52) . 2. A sensor as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means (42) for equalizing comprises a vacuum source, communicating with both of said compartments (52, 54), to maintain equal, below atmospheric pressure in said compartments. 3. A sensor as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for equalizing comprises vent means (62, 64), communicating with said shielded and unshielded compartments, for provid¬ ing continuous air flow from said inlet (58) through the unshielded compartment (54) . 4. A sensor as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said circuit means comprises a number of voltage divider circuits (80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90) one less than the number of conductive rods (66, 68, 70, 72). 5. A sensor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said shield (56) extends to a point below the minimum operating liquid level in said container (46) . 6. A sensor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said shield (56) is generally cylindrical in shape. 7. A sensor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which said liquid is ink. 8. An ink jet printing system in combination with a sensor as claimed in claim 7 for measuring the level of conductive ink in the ink jet printing system, the ink jet printing system including said ink container (46) , a nozzle (20) supplied by said container (46), a supply of make-up ink (26) and a controllable valve (30) by which make-up ink is added to said container (46) .

Inventors: SHARPE COLIN RICHARD, STAMER MICHAEL ELMER, SHARPE, COLIN, RICHARD, STAMER, MICHAEL, ELMER
Applicants: GEN ELECTRIC CO PLC, THE GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, PLC
Application year: 1995
Main classification: G01F23
IPC codes: B41J2, G01F23