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WO1993017868A1 - Systeme de recuperation - Google Patents

Systeme de recuperation Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1993017868A1
WO1993017868A1 PCT/GB1993/000519 GB9300519W WO9317868A1 WO 1993017868 A1 WO1993017868 A1 WO 1993017868A1 GB 9300519 W GB9300519 W GB 9300519W WO 9317868 A1 WO9317868 A1 WO 9317868A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
air
solvent
ink
heat pump
peltier effect
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB1993/000519
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Mark Smith
Original Assignee
Willett International Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Willett International Limited filed Critical Willett International Limited
Priority to AU36458/93A priority Critical patent/AU3645893A/en
Publication of WO1993017868A1 publication Critical patent/WO1993017868A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
    • B41J2/18—Ink recirculation systems

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a recovery system, notably for use with an ink jet printer.
  • ink is fed under pressure by a circulation pump from a reservoir to a print head where it is ejected as a jet of ink from a nozzle orifice.
  • the jet of ink is broken up into a series of substantially uniformly sized and spaced apart droplets by the application of vibration and/or pressure pulses to the ink and/or the nozzle assembly, for example by means of a piezoelectric crystal acting directly on the ink or through a wall of the ink chamber immediately upstream of the nozzle orifice.
  • the flight path of the droplets is controlled by charging the jet of ink so as to form charged droplets which then pass through a deflecting electric field.
  • the droplets are diverted to varying extents from their straight line flight to deposit at the desired position on a substrate.
  • Those droplets which are not to be printed are not deflected and are collected in a gutter or other catching means and the ink is then re-cycled to the reservoir, usually by means of a venturi or other pump in the re-cycle line.
  • the term continuous jet ink jet printer will be used herein to denote such printers.
  • the inks for use in an ink jet printer are in the form of solutions or dispersions of a dyestuff in an aqueous or organic solvent or carrier medium.
  • the invention will be described hereinafter in terms of an ink comprising a dyestuff dissolved in a volatile organic solvent maxim .
  • the droplets of ink lose part of their solvent or carrier medium due to evaporation, so that an atmosphere rich in solvent vapour is formed around the gutter. Due to partial condensation of some of the solvent values from the air stream, part of the solvent values in the air stream may be present in the air stream as droplets or mist rather than as true vapour.
  • vapour will be used herein to encompass the case where part of the solvent values are present as droplets or mist as well as the case where all the solvent values are present as evaporated solvent.
  • This solvent vapour-laden air is sucked into the re-cycle line by the suction of the venturi or other pump used to re-cycle ink from the gutter to the reservoir. Hitherto, this solvent vapour-laden air passes with the re-cycled ink into the reservoir and the air is vented to waste. Since the vented air is saturated with solvent vapours, this represents a loss of valuable solvent values from the system, which must be made up by adding fresh solvent to maintain the desired viscosity of the ink. The venting of the solvent vapour-saturated air can also pose health and fire hazards.
  • the present invention provides a method for reducing the amount of solvent lost from an ink jet printer in air vented from the ink system of the printer, characterised in that at least part of the solvent vapour in the air is condensed out of the air by contacting the air with a Peltier effect device so as to reduce the temperature of the air to below its dew point.
  • a Peltier effect device so as to reduce the temperature of the air to below its dew point.
  • at least part of the solvent which condenses out from the air is recovered and returned to the solvent make up ⁇ ystem of the ink jet printer " for re-use.
  • the invention also provides an ink jet printer through which ink is to flow, preferably one in which the ink is be circulated within the ink flow system of the printer, and from which a solvent vapour-laden air is to be vented, characterised in that a Peltier effect device is provided in thermal contact with the air flow path so as to extract heat from the air so as to cause cooling of the air.
  • the invention can be applied to any form of ink jet printer in which a solvent vapour-laden air stream is formed and from which stream it is desired to recover at least part of the solvent values.
  • the invention is of especial application in continuous ink jet printers to recover solvent values from the air vented from the ink flow system.
  • the invention will be described hereinafter in terms of this preferred application.
  • heat is extracted from the solvent laden air stream at any suitable point in the air flow path by the Peltier device, which acts as a heat pump to reduce the temperature of the air stream to below its dew point and thus condense out at least part of the solvent values in the air stream.
  • the Peltier device is located at the point at which the air stream is vented from the ink system, which is usually at the ink reservoir. It will also be preferred to cool the air stream by a sufficient amount to recover at least 50% of the solvent values from the air stream.
  • the air stream will have a temperature of from 15 to 35°C and it will be desired to cool the air stream to from 0 to 10°C.
  • the optimum cooling is a balance between the amount of the solvent which can be recovered and its cost and the cost of operating the Peltier device and can be readily determined by simple trial and error tests in any given case.
  • the Peltier heat pump device can be of any suitable type which extracts heat from the air stream.
  • the heat pump is of the thermoelectric type and can take a wide range of forms of such heat pumps, for example a solid state crystalline semi-conductor heat pump, such as one made from a quaternary alloy of bismuth, tellurium, selenium and antimony.
  • a solid state crystalline semi-conductor heat pump such as one made from a quaternary alloy of bismuth, tellurium, selenium and antimony.
  • suitable heat pump are available commercially and may be selected depending upon the physical shape and size requirements as well as the heat load they are to handle.
  • the heat pump can be of any suitable construction, for example one having* a tubular operating element which is fitted around a duct through which the air stream flows in indirect thermal communication with the element via the duct wall.
  • the operating element of the heat pump be in direct thermal contact with the air stream to optimise heat transfer between the air stream and the heat pump.
  • the heat pump is in the form of a planar operating element and this forms one wall of a thermally insulated chamber through which the air stream flows to provide a simple add-on component which can be inserted into any suitable point in the air flow path, for example at the air vent to the ink reservoir, of an existing ink jet printer ink flow system.
  • the heat pump is typically provided by a Peltier effect sheet, for example a sheet of a suitable solid state semi-conductor alloy and the cooling effect is achieved by passing an electric current through that sheet.
  • the amount of heat extracted from the air stream will depend upon the area of the heat pump element and the current passed through the element and the optimum current and area can readily be determined for any given case.
  • the operative element of the heat pump forms one or more walls of an insulated chamber through which at least part of the air stream flows.
  • the heat pump element can be incorporated into a split sleeve or other device which is clamped onto a suitable duct in the air flow system and acts indirectly on the air flow through the duct via the duct wall, the duct then acting as the chamber for the air flow.
  • heat sinks in thermal contact with the operative element of the heat pump to assist removal of heat from the heat pump when it is cooling the air passing through the chamber.
  • heat sinks are provided with fins or the like over which air is passed by a fan or other means to aid removal of heat from the heat pump element of the chamber in which it is located.
  • the chamber is provided with one or more outlets for the condensed solvent which can be re-cycled to the container from which the make up solvent is drawn to adjust the solvent content of the ink circulating in the ink jet printer.
  • control of the flow of electrical current through the operative element of the heat pump and the operation of the fan or other means for removing heat from the heat pump element can be regulated in response to a conventional temperature sensor in the air stream to achieve the required drop in temperature in the air stream using conventional techniques and equipment.
  • the solvent vapour-laden air stream flows through a device comprising: a. a rectangular, tubular or other shaped housing formed from a thermally insulating material, such as an aluminium or other metal sheet having a thermally insulating outer surface, or a thermally insulating plastic; and b.
  • a thermally insulating material such as an aluminium or other metal sheet having a thermally insulating outer surface, or a thermally insulating plastic
  • Peltier effect heat pump operative elements incorporated into at least one wall of the housing; the housing defining a chamber having an air inlet, an air outlet and a condensed solvent outlet, which may also serve as the air outlet, through which chamber the air stream is adapted to flow in thermal contact with the heat pump element(s); the heat pump element being adapted to be connected to an electric current supply so as to cause the heat pump element,to cool the air stream to below its dew point and thus condense out at least part of the solvent values contained in the air stream.
  • two or more heat pumps may be used at different points in the air flow path or in parallel or series at the same point in the flow path.
  • the invention thus provides a means by which at least part of the solvent values in the air stream can be recovered for re ⁇ use by means of a simple device which can readily be inserted into the air flow system of an existing ink jet printer or as part of the air flow system during the manufacture of new printers.
  • the device comprises a generally rectangular housing 1 defining an internal chamber having an air inlet 2 and an air/condensate outlet 3.
  • the chamber walls are typically made from a metal inner wall having an outer foamed plastic or other thermally insulating layer, or may be made from a thermally insulating plastic, so as to reduce incidental heat gains through the walls of the chamber.
  • One wall of the chamber is provided with a Peltier effect heat pump element 4 which is removably mounted on the housing " so that one face of the heat pump is in thermal contact with the interior of the chamber.
  • the housing 1 is formed with one open face 5 and the heat pump element 4 is mounted on the housing to form a wall of the chamber at that face.
  • the heat pump element 4 is in direct thermal contact with air within the chamber.
  • the element 4 preferably is a sheet of a solid state semi-conductor alloy.
  • the above device is mounted in the air vent outlet to the reservoir in the ink system of the printer and condensed solvent vapour is returned from outlet 3 to the make up solvent container, not shown, by a suitable gravity feed line.
  • solvent vapour-laden air is sucked into the ink return line to the reservoir by the action of the venturi pump sucking ink caught in the gutter of the printer.
  • a temperature sensor monitors the temperature of the air stream. This regulates the flow of an electric current through the heat pump element 4 to cool the internal, chamber side, face of the element and thus extract heat from the air flowing through the chamber.
  • the current flowing through element 4 may have a fixed value so that the element 4 extracts heat at a constant rate from the air stream.
  • the amplitude of the current may be varied by a control means, not shown, so that the amount of heat extracted is related to the amount of solvent vapour in the air stream, which in turn is related to the temperature of the air stream.
  • solvent vapour condenses out and drains through outlet 3.
  • the air stream exiting the chamber will typically have its solvent content reduced by from 50 to 85% and can be discharged to waste.
  • the heat pump thus provides a simple means without any moving parts for cooling the air stream to recover at least part of the solvent values therein.
  • the element 4 can be designed to operate at low voltages and can be totally sealed within the wall of the housing 1, the device presents a low fire risk and can be used with air streams containing flammable solvents.

Landscapes

  • Accessory Devices And Overall Control Thereof (AREA)
  • Ink Jet (AREA)

Abstract

Procédé de réduction de la quantité du solvant perdu par une imprimante à jet d'encre dans l'air évacué du système à encre de l'imprimante. Le procédé est caractérisé en ce que au moins une partie de la vapeur de solvant présente dans l'air se condense lorsque l'air entre en contact avec un dispositif à effet Peltier destiné à réduire la température de l'air jusqu'à une température inférieure à son point de rosée. On a également prévu un appareil utilisable dans ledit procédé, ainsi qu'une imprimante à jet d'encre incorporant un tel appareil.
PCT/GB1993/000519 1992-03-12 1993-03-12 Systeme de recuperation WO1993017868A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU36458/93A AU3645893A (en) 1992-03-12 1993-03-12 Recovery system

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB929205330A GB9205330D0 (en) 1992-03-12 1992-03-12 Recovery system
GB9205330.5 1992-03-12

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1993017868A1 true WO1993017868A1 (fr) 1993-09-16

Family

ID=10711944

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB1993/000519 WO1993017868A1 (fr) 1992-03-12 1993-03-12 Systeme de recuperation

Country Status (2)

Country Link
GB (1) GB9205330D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO1993017868A1 (fr)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN101497264A (zh) * 2008-01-28 2009-08-05 株式会社日立产机系统 喷墨记录装置
WO2010019855A3 (fr) * 2008-08-15 2010-04-22 Videojet Technologies Inc. Condensateur pour imprimante à jet d'encre
EP2292433A1 (fr) 2007-03-27 2011-03-09 Linx Printing Technologies Ltd impression par jet d'encre
CN103245165A (zh) * 2013-04-28 2013-08-14 陈银轩 一种热交换装置
CN103245166A (zh) * 2013-04-28 2013-08-14 陈银轩 一种高效热交换装置
CN107224824A (zh) * 2017-07-14 2017-10-03 河南省德耀节能科技股份有限公司 一种物料烘干系统

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4360817A (en) * 1981-05-15 1982-11-23 A. B. Dick Company Low evaporation ink catcher for ink jet printing system

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4360817A (en) * 1981-05-15 1982-11-23 A. B. Dick Company Low evaporation ink catcher for ink jet printing system

Non-Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
IBM TECHNICAL DISCLOSURE BULLETIN vol. 24, no. 4, September 1981, page 1817 BEACH, B.L. ET AL. 'GUTTER TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR INK JET PRINTERS' *
IBM TECHNICAL DISCLOSURE BULLETIN vol. 25, no. 3A, August 1982, pages 947 - 947 DRISCOLL, P.R. ET AL. 'EVAPORATION RECOVERY SYSTEM' *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 4, no. 25 (M-1)(507) 5 March 1980 *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 6, no. 36 (M-115)(914) 5 March 1982 *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 9, no. 272 (M-425)30 October 1985 *

Cited By (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8684504B2 (en) 2007-03-27 2014-04-01 Linx Printing Technologies Ltd. Ink jet Printing
EP2292433A1 (fr) 2007-03-27 2011-03-09 Linx Printing Technologies Ltd impression par jet d'encre
US8388118B2 (en) 2007-03-27 2013-03-05 Linx Printing Technologies Ltd. Ink jet printing
CN101497264B (zh) * 2008-01-28 2013-11-13 株式会社日立产机系统 喷墨记录装置
EP2082879A3 (fr) * 2008-01-28 2010-10-27 Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd. Dispositif d'enregistrement à jet d'encre
US8308282B2 (en) 2008-01-28 2012-11-13 Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd. Ink jet recording device
US8333463B2 (en) 2008-01-28 2012-12-18 Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd. Ink jet recording device
US8337004B2 (en) 2008-01-28 2012-12-25 Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd. Ink jet recording device
CN101497264A (zh) * 2008-01-28 2009-08-05 株式会社日立产机系统 喷墨记录装置
CN102123869A (zh) * 2008-08-15 2011-07-13 录象射流技术公司 用于喷墨打印机的冷凝器
WO2010019855A3 (fr) * 2008-08-15 2010-04-22 Videojet Technologies Inc. Condensateur pour imprimante à jet d'encre
CN103245165A (zh) * 2013-04-28 2013-08-14 陈银轩 一种热交换装置
CN103245166A (zh) * 2013-04-28 2013-08-14 陈银轩 一种高效热交换装置
CN103245165B (zh) * 2013-04-28 2016-04-06 陈银轩 一种热交换装置
CN103245166B (zh) * 2013-04-28 2016-04-06 陈银轩 一种高效热交换装置
CN107224824A (zh) * 2017-07-14 2017-10-03 河南省德耀节能科技股份有限公司 一种物料烘干系统

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
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