CLEAN-IN-PLACE SYSTEM FOR AN INK JET PRINTHEAD

Abstract: A clean-in-place system is disclosed for use in an ink jet printhead (10). The clean-in-place system features a compartment (17) in which the printhead components (18a, 20, 22, 24) are disposed. An end plate (28) has a slot (26) therein to permit ink drops to be projected from the compartment (17) onto a substrate to be marked. For cleaning purposes, a pneumatic shutter (42) is disposed adjacent the slot (26) to seal it. Thereafter, the compartment (17) is flooded with ink solvent (107) by means of a pump (103) from a solvent reservoir. The solvent may be agitated by air or mechanical means. Thereafter, a drain line (116, 117) is used to remove the solvent from the compartment (17) and air is blown therethrough to dry the components. The pneumatic shutter (42) is reopened after the solvent is withdrawn to enhance the drying of the components. The shutter (42) may consist of an inflatable tubular member and a pump for supplying compressed air to the tubular member (42) to inflate and deflate it.

Description: CLEAN-IN-PLACE SYSTEM FOR AN INK JET PRINTHEAD This invention relates to ink jet printing in general and to continuous jet printers in particular. Such devices are well-known in this art and are used in industrial and commercial applications to print indicia on various product surfaces which are usually moving on a conveyor system. The indicia may contain useful information such as date codes, plant identification information and the like. Such printers are subject to long periods of continuous use and must be highly reliable. Nevertheless, at periodic intervals, it is necessary to clean the printhead which is usually located a distance from the printer electronics and ink supply. The printhead is connected to the printer system by an umbilical cord which contains the electronics, ink supply and ink return lines. In continuous ink jet devices high voltage is used to electrostatically deflect charged ink drops onto the substrate to be marked. Uncharged drops are directed to a gutter which returns them to the ink reservoir for reuse. Typical ink jet systems of this type are disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,683,396 assigned to the present assignee. Over time, the ink drops generate small particles, or ink mist, which when combined with dust, et cetera, may be electrostatically attracted to the high voltage deflection plates charge electrode and related components contained within the printhead. This results in unwanted build up on the printhead components and, over time, degrades the quality of the printing by distorting the electric field, impeding the projection of the drops or causing the drops to be misdirected. For this reason, the printhead must be cleaned periodically. Presently, when an ink jet printer is shut down at the end of a shift, or displays degraded printing operation, the printhead is manually disassembled and cleaned. This requires a skilled operator who removes the printhead cover and usually places the printhead mechanism consisting of a nozzle, charge electrode, deflection electrodes and gutter assembly in a special cleaning tray. He then sprays the printhead with a compatible solvent for cleaning, removes the solvent and dissolved ink and then drys the components, either by manually wiping them or blowing compressed air on them. Obviously, this manual operation is labor intensive, requiring skilled personnel to accomplish the task in a miniaturized, highly specialized electronic component and disposal of contaminated cleaning solvent. Incorrect cleaning techniques can lead to damage to the printhead or improper printing operation. According to the invention there is provided a clean-in-place system for the components of an ink jet printhead comprising: (a) a compartment defined within said printhead contaixiing said components, one end of said compartment terrninating in an end plate having a slot therethrough to permit ink drops to exit the compartment during normal printing operations; (b) a shutter provided adjacent said slot; (c) means for operating said shutter to close said slot and seal said compartment; (d) means for introducing an ink solvent to at least partially flood said compartment to dissolve ink which may have deposited on said components; and (e) means for removing said solvent and dissolved ink from said compartment. Further according to the invention there is provided a method for cleaning-in- place the components of an ink jet printhead contained within a compartment in said printhead terminating in an end plate having an opening therethrough to permit ink drops to exit the compartment during normal printing operations, said method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a shutter adjacent said opening; (b) operating said shutter to close said opening during cleaning; (c) introducing an ink solvent to at least partially flood said compartment to dissolve ink which may have deposited on said components; (d) removing said solvent and dissolved ink from said compartment; and (e) operating said shutter to reopen said opening after said solvent has been removed. The clean-in-place system embodying the invention has an advantage that the need for manual cleaning of the ink jet printhead is eliminated. Cleaning of the printhead components is accomplished automatically, in place, without disassembly of the printhead. This avoids exposing the technician to the hazardous fluids and the printhead remains sealed protected from handling damage and the environment which may exist at the point of its use. Furthermore, the automatic cleaning system of the present invention is relatively low in cost and requires little modification to existing printhead designs. The components include a nozzle, a charge ring which applies a charge to selected ink drops exiting the nozzle, deflection electrodes and the collector for uncharged drops. In operative relation to the slot through which drops leave the printhead is a pneumatically inflatable tube or membrane. During normal operation of the printhead, the tube is deflated. For automatic cleaning, the tube is inflated, hermetically sealing the slot. Cleaning fluid such as make-up ink solvent is directed into the printhead compartment where it floods the components contained therein. Thereafter, mechanical vibration or air pressure can be used to agitate the cleaning fluid to ensure effective removal of dried ink which, over time, accumulates on the printhead components. Thereafter, the cleaning fluid is removed from the printhead via drain lines after which the tubular member is deflated and air is introduced to dry the components. Normal printing operation may resume thereafter. The invention will now be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, partially cut away of an ink jet printhead of the type for which the present invention in suited and on which the inflatable tube is installed; FIGURE 2 is an enlarged perspective view similar to FIGURE 1, but with the printhead cover removed; FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the printhead illustrating the positioning of the inflatable tube relative to the end plate exit slot; FIGURES 4a and 4b show the exit slot open and closed, respectively, depending upon the state of pressurization of the inflatable tube; and FIGURE 5 is a schematic diagram of the various valves and supply lines used to accomplish the automatic cleaning procedure according to the present invention. As indicated in the background portion of this specification, it is important to periodically clean the components of a printhead to remove dried ink which eventually forms on the various components contained therein. This requirement is in addition to the requirement to periodically purge the nozzle, ink catcher, and the ink return line to remove dried ink which builds up therein. With respect to the nozzle, the ink return line and catcher, there exists various cleaning procedures such as that used by the present assignee referred to as Auto Flush. The present invention is intended for use after an Auto Flush operation and is in addition to such operation. Auto flush, which is available for Videojet EXCEL® printers manufactured by the present assignee, permits the printer to automatically flush the nozzle catcher and ink return line in the printhead whenever the printer is shut down. This reduces printer maintenance. In the Auto Rush procedure, a printer pumps approximately four milliliters of pressurized solvent or make-up fluid through the printhead nozzle to the catcher for approximately sixty seconds. This thoroughly cleans the nozzle and ink return line in the printhead, reducing problems which may occur when restarting the printer due to ink drying inside the nozzle or the ink return line. Details of the Auto Flush procedure and the system associated therewith may be found in the Videojet Manual entitled "Addendum for EXCEL 170i Printer with Auto Flush, Part Number 365293-01-A, dated 8/94. The present invention is intended as an adjunct to the Auto Flush process for the purpose of cleaning the components of the printhead in addition to the nozzle, catcher and return line. By printhead components, it is meant in particular, the outside surfaces of the nozzle, the charge ring used to charge the ink drops as they break off from the ink stream, the deflection electrodes used to deflect charged drops projected through the slot or aperture provided in the end plate and the outside surfaces of the gutter or return through which unused drops are cycled back to the ink supply. It is these components which, over time, accumulate dried ink on the surfaces which may interfere with the proper formation and deflection of ink drops onto the surfaces to be marked. These components are not cleaned by the Auto Flush procedure. Heretofore, it has been necessary for a technician to manually disassemble the printhead by taking the printer out of service, removing the printhead cover and manually applying solvent to the components, usually in a lab tray or similar container. Thereafter, the components must be dried and the printhead reassembled before the printer can be placed back in service. The present invention eliminates the need for manual intervention and provides the high quality printing over an extended period of time. The printhead component or compartment is automatically sealed and unsealed. The compartment is then flooded with solvent. Thereafter the solvent is removed and the components dried. Thereafter the printhead may be returned to service. When it is desired to clean the printhead, the Auto Flush process is first used to clean the nozzle and return lines. Thereafter, the disclosure of the present invention is employed to clean the printhead components. Preferably, the Auto Flush solvent system is used to supply solvent through the nozzle orifice to the sealed printhead compartment for purposes of the present invention. Alternatively, solvent is simply directed through the nozzle into the printhead compartment. More specifically, upon ink jet printer shut down, the drop exit or slot is shuttered closed by using a pneumatic membrane or tube. Solvent is then supplied via the nozzle orifice from the Auto Rush system to fill or partially fill the compartment. Preferably, compressed air is then introduced into this compartment to bubble stir and otherwise agitate the solvent over the surfaces of the components to be cleaned. After a predetermined cleaning time, the solvent is drained from the printhead via drain/vent lines. Preferably, the drained solvent is cycled back to the ink system for use as make-up solvent during the printing process. This reduces waste and eliminates the need for disposal of this material. The printing slot is then opened by deflating the pneumatic tube. To dry the printhead components, compressed air is introduced through an air line. The printhead is then ready to be returned to printing. Referring to FIGURE 1, there is shown a printhead 10 modified in accordance with the present invention. The printhead includes a cover 12 which is removably secured to the manifold 14 which couples to an umbilical cord 16 (shown in phantom) which contains the electrical lines, ink supply and return lines for normal operation of the printhead. Shown through a cut-away portion are the printhead components of interest contained in a compartment 17. These components include a nozzle face 18a, a charge tunnel 20, deflection electrodes 22 and 24 and an exit slot 26 through an end plate 28. Not shown clearly in FIGURE 1 is the ink catcher 30 which is shown in FIGURE 3. The compartment 17 is defined by the backing members 19 and 23 for the deflection electrodes 22 and 24; a bulkhead 40; and side walls omitted from the drawing for clarity. As known to those skilled in this art, ink is supplied to the nozzle 18 under pressure. It exits the nozzle through a small orifice as a stream of ink. A piezoelectric transducer 21 or similar mechanical device applies a stimulation voltage to the nozzle causing the ink stream to break up into a series of discrete droplets as the stream passes through the charge tunnel 20. Selected drops are charged and thus, when they pass the deflection electrodes 22 and 24 are deflected from their normal path of flight upwardly so as to pass through the slot 26 and onto a surface to be marked. As shown in FIGURE 3, uncharged drops that are not deflected, pass directly to the catcher 30 which returns these drops to the ink supply for further use. For purposes of the present invention, it is desired that these principal components used in ink jet printing be contained within the printhead compartment 17, which can be sealed for flooding with solvent. This can be better appreciated in FIGURE 2 which is an enlarged view of a portion of HGURE 1. It will be appreciated that with the cover 12, over the printhead, the components 20, 22 and 24 are completely sealed on one end by the end plate 28, on the other end by the bulkhead 40 and on the top and bottom portions thereof, by the supporting structure to which they are mounted. Thus, except for the catcher 30 and the slot 26, there is no access to these components. According to the present invention, when it is desired to clean the components in the compartment 17, the slot 26 is sealed and solvent is introduced to at least partially flood the components. Thereafter mechanical agitation or air is used to agitate the solvent to cause it to fully contact the surfaces of the components to dissolve and thereby remove dried ink, dust and anything else which may have dried on the components. Thereafter, the solvent and the dissolved material are removed and slot 26 is reopened so that printing may resume. Referring to FIGURES 4a and b, the manner in which the slot 26 is sealed and unsealed is illustrated. HGURE 4a illustrates slot 26 in the normal, open condition wherein ink drops can pass out of the slot. Positioned adjacent the slot in proximity to end plate 28 is a pneumatic shutter in the form of an inflatable tube 42, the lower end of which is connected to a conduit 44 for providing a source of air pressure thereto. The inflatable tube 42 is also shown in FIGURE 3 in relative position against the end plate 28. In FIGURE 4b, tube 42 is shown in the inflated condition in which air pressure has caused it to expand sufficiently to completely seal the slot 26. In this position, the printhead compartment 17 containing the charge tunnel, deflection plates, nozzle face and catcher are completely sealed (except for the catcher ink return line and the drain/vent lines described in connection with HGURE 5). As indicated by dashed lines in HGURES 4a and 4b, walls 50 and 52 perpendicular to the end plate are preferably provided so that, as shown in HGURE 4b, when the tube is inflated, its configuration is confined by the walls to ensure hermetic sealing of the slot 26. Although a pneumatic shutter is preferred, other forms of shutter could be used. For example, a spring biased or electronic shutter is satisfactory if space and cost permit. It is simply necessary that the shutter be capable of hermetically sealing the chamber during the cleaning process. From the foregoing, the manner of operation of the invention will be apparent. For completeness, however, HGURE 5 discloses a schematic circuit diagram of the typical ink jet valves and supply lines used in conjunction with the present invention including those which have been added for carrying out the invention. A consideration of HGURE 5 in connection with the following description will fully indicate the manner of operation. After the printer has been taken off-line it is desired to Auto Hush and then clean the printhead. The following steps are employed. An electric valve 101 is energized to supply compressed air from a compressed air source to inflate and thereby close the pneumatic shutter or tube 42 via line 102. A pump 103, designated the Auto Hush pump is then activated to pump make-up fluid or solvent through line 104 and flush valve 105 to the nozzle 18. The stream or jet of solvent 107 passes through the printhead and enters the catcher 30 where it is drawn back to the ink reservoir 109 via line 110 and valve 111 which is connected to a vacuum source by valve 121. After a predetermined time, pump 103 is turned off and conduit 110 is allowed to evacuate. After a further predetermined time period, the valve 121 is de-energized to remove the vacuum from valve 111. This closes valve 111 and removes vacuum from conduit 110 and the catcher 30. This completes the Auto Hush sequence. To initiate the printhead cleaning sequence, pump 103 is again activated to push additional make-up fluid through conduit 104, valve 105 and nozzle 18. This time, however, valve 111 is closed so that the fluid cannot pass into the ink catcher 30 and return line 110. Instead, the compartment 17 in which the printhead components are located is flooded with the solvent, either partially or fully. When the printhead compartment 17 is filled with the desired amount of solvent, the pump stops and agitation begins. According to a preferred embodiment, agitation is accomplished by using valve 113 to direct compressed air through conduit 114, via a flow restrictor 115, into the printhead compartment 17. This causes agitation of the make-up fluid in the chamber. The air which enters the chamber is vented to the atmosphere through either conduits 116 or 117 (depending on the orientation of the printhead), both of which lead to a solvent trap 118 and to atmosphere via conduit 119 and valve 120. The solvent trap 118 retains liquid which may be entrained as the air is vented. After a predetermined time, valve 113 is closed and valve 120 is operated to apply a vacuum to the solvent trap 118 via conduit 119. This removes the make-up fluid in the chamber 17 via conduit 116 or 117 (again depending upon the orientation of the printhead) into the solvent trap 118 which recycles the solvent thus captured back to the ink reservoir. The recovered solvent is used to replace- solvent lost during printing through evaporation. The solvent in the trap 118 is displaced by operation of valve 123 which controls valve 125 to permit solvent to flow from the solvent trap 118 through the float valve 126, filter 127, valve 125, conduit 128 into the ink reservoir 109. After the solvent has been removed from the printhead compartment 17, it is necessary to dry the components. For that purpose, valve 120 is de-energized, again venting the compartment 17 to atmosphere. Valve 101 is also de-energized, opening the pneumatic shutter by deflating the tube 42. Valve 129 is then energized, allowing compressed air to flow through conduit 130 to the printhead chamber 17. This air flow quickly dries the components inside the chamber 17. After a predetermined time, valve 129 is de-energized to shut off the compressed air. This completes the printhead cleaning cycle. Thereafter the printhead may be returned to service. At this point, both the nozzle and return line have been cleaned by the Auto Hush procedure and the printhead compartment and the components contained therein, have been cleaned by the cleaning process just described. The valve 105 described in connection with HGURE 5 is of the type disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,555,719 assigned to the present assignee. As thus described, the invention consists of a cleaning system for an ink jet printhead which can be retrofitted or incorporated into new printheads of the type disclosed to eliminate the need for manual disassembly of the printhead for cleaning the ink deflection components contained in the printhead chamber.

Claims: CLAIMS: 1. A clean-in-place system for the components of an ink jet printhead comprising: (a) a compartment (17) defined within said printhead (10) containing said components (18a, 20, 22, 24), one end of said compartment terminating in an end plate (28) having a slot (26) therethrough to permit ink drops to exit the compartment (17) during normal printing operations; (b) a shutter (42) provided adjacent said slot (26); (c) means (44, 101, 102) for operating said shutter (42) to close said slot (26) and seal said compartment (17); (d) means (103, 104, 105, 18) for introducing an ink solvent (107) to at least partially flood said compartment (17) to dissolve ink which may have deposited on said components; and (e) means (114, 117, 118, 119, 120) for removing said solvent and dissolved ink from said compartment (17). 2. A system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said components comprise: a nozzle face (18a), a charge electrode (20), deflection electrodes (22, 24) and a catcher (30) for uncharged ink drops. 3. A system as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 further including: (f) means (113, 114, 115, 116, 117) for agitating the ink solvent in said compartment (17) to enhance contact of the solvent with the components (18a, 20, 22, 24). 4. A system as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the means (113, 114, 115, 116, 117) for agitating is a source of compressed air introduced into said compartment (17) and a vent line (116, 117) for communicating said compartment (17) with atmosphere. 5. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said shutter (42) is a tubular member which can be inflated to seal said slot (26) and deflated to unseal said slot (26). 6. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said means for removing said solvent comprises: a drain line (116, 117) communicating with said compartment (17) and a source of vacuum for withdrawing said solvent through the drain line. 7. A system as claimed in Claim 6, wherein said means for removing solvent further comprises a solvent trap (118) in circuit with said drain line (116, 117) to receive the solvent. 8. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said shutter is a pneumatic shutter. 9. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising means (113, 114, 115) for drying said components (18a, 20, 22, 24) in said compartment (17) after removal of said solvent. 10. A system as claimed in Claim 9, wherein said means (113, 114, 115) for drying comprises means (113, 114, 115) for introducing air into said compartment. 11. An ink jet printhead including a clean-in-place system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims. 12. A method for cleaning-in-place the components of an ink jet printhead (10) contained within a compartment (17) in said printhead terminating in an end plate (28) having an opening (26) therethrough to permit ink drops to exit the compartment (17) during normal printing operations, said method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a shutter (42) adjacent said opening; (b) operating said shutter (42) to close said opening (26) during cleaning; (c) introducing an ink solvent (107) to at least partially flood said compartment (17) to dissolve ink which may have deposited on said components; (d) removing said solvent (107) and dissolved ink from said compartment (17); and (e) operating said shutter (42) to reopen said opening (26) after said solvent has been removed. 13. A method as claimed in Claim 12 further comprising the step of drying said components after removal of said solvent. 14. A method as claimed in Claim 13, wherein said step of drying comprises introducing compressed air into said compartment (17).

Inventors: ARWAY GEORGE, EREMITY FRANK, MURAD GEORGE, ARWAY, GEORGE, EREMITY, FRANK, MURAD, GEORGE
Applicants: GEN ELECTRIC CO PLC, THE GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, PLC
Application year: 1998
Main classification: B41J29
IPC codes: B41J2, B41J29