Title:
CLEANING SYSTEM FOR A CONTINUOUS INK JET PRINTER
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO2005090084
Kind Code:
A8
Abstract:
A cleaning system for a continuous ink jet printer includes a first solvent supply conduit (40) connected to a solvent source (44) for conveying solvent through a supply opening (42) and onto the front face (34) of the print head (12). A second solvent supply conduit (71) is connected to the solvent source (44) for conveying solvent through a supply opening and onto a surface of the catcher (20). The solvent that is supplied to the print head (12) and the catcher (20) is removed under vacuum and returned to the ink supply system (30). The cleaning system may include an orifice unclogging mechanism that causes said solvent disposed on said front face to flow into said orifice in the reverse of the direction ink flows through said orifice for printing. The cleaning system may also include a piezoelectric element for generating a stress wave in the print head during cleaning. The piezoelectric element may comprise a piezoelectric oscillator that is also used during printing to create perturbations in the ink flow at the nozzle so as to generate a stream of spaced drops from the nozzle.
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Inventors:
LEVIN ALEX (US)
LOSTUMBO PIETRO (US)
LOSTUMBO PIETRO (US)
Application Number:
PCT/EP2005/002750
Publication Date:
September 14, 2006
Filing Date:
March 15, 2005
Export Citation:
Assignee:
VIDEOJET TECHNOLOGIES INC (US)
LEVIN ALEX (US)
LOSTUMBO PIETRO (US)
LEVIN ALEX (US)
LOSTUMBO PIETRO (US)
International Classes:
B41J2/165; B41J2/17
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