Printing device

• US 20060197800A1
• Filed: 03/06/2006
• Published: 09/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Francotyp-Postalia Holding AG
• Original Assignee: Francotyp-Postalia Holding AG
• Inventors: Gerhardt, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 7,591,530 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 347/36
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17503 Ink cartridges

Abstract

A printing device has a printer head that contains a first device for applying the ink onto a substrate. The first device includes ink nozzles for applying the ink. A second device is provided for moving the printer head from its home position into a working area and back. A waste ink container is placed in the home position of the printer head and opposite of the ink nozzles in the home position of the printer head and the waste ink container contains an open-pore absorber material. The absorber material bears a hygroscopic material on its interior and/or exterior surfaces.

Claims

1. A printing device, comprising:

a printer head having a first device for applying ink onto a substrate, said first device for applying the ink having ink nozzles formed therein;

a second device for transporting said printer head from a home position into an operation area and back; and

a waste ink container positioned in the home position of said printer head and opposite of said ink nozzles in the home position of said printer head, said waste ink container containing an open-pore absorber material, said absorber material having inner and outer surfaces and a hygroscopic material disposed on at least one of said inner and outer surfaces.

2. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein said hygroscopic material is an inorganic compound.

3. The printing device according to claim 2, wherein said inorganic compound is selected from the group consisting of halides, sulfates, carbonates, hydroxides, and oxides of an element of groups 1a, 1b, 2a and 2b of a periodic system.

4. The printing device according to claim 2, wherein said inorganic compound is a salt selected from the group consisting of LiOH, NaOH, KOH, CaCl₂, CaCl₂*2H₂O, K₂CO₂, MgSO₄, CaBr₂, ZnCl₂, ZnBr₂, hydrates of the aforementioned salts, and mixtures of 2 or more of such substances.

5. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein a ratio of a weight of said hygroscopic material in a dry or a dehydrated condition to a volume of said absorber material ranges between 0.005 g/ml and 0.5 g/ml.

6. The printing device according to claim 2, wherein a ratio of weight of said hygroscopic material in a dry or a dehydrated condition to a volume of said absorber material ranges between 0.005 g/ml and 0.5 g/ml.

7. The printing device according to claim 4, wherein a ratio of weight of said hygroscopic material in a dry or a dehydrated condition to a volume of said absorber material ranges between 0.005 g/ml and 0.5 g/ml.

8. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein said absorber material is a polymer foam or a fleece with synthetic and/or natural organic fleece fibers.

9. The printing device according to claim 8, wherein said polymer foam is made of PU or viscose foam.

10. The printing device according to claim 8, wherein said fleece is a cellulose fleece.

11. A franking machine, comprising:

a first device for receiving a franking substrate to be franked;

a printing device containing;

a printer head having a second device for applying ink onto a substrate, said second device for applying the ink having ink nozzles formed therein;

a third device for transporting said printer head from a home position into an operation area and back; and

a waste ink container positioned in the home position of said printer head and opposite of said ink nozzles in the home position of said printer head, said waste ink container containing an open-pore absorber material, said absorber material having inner and outer surfaces and a hygroscopic material on at least one of said inner and outer surfaces;

a fourth device for controlling said printing device and thereby printing a franking print onto the substrate;

a franking machine housing containing said first device for receiving the franking substrate, said printing device and said fourth device for controlling said printing device; and

the substrate being positioned by said first device for receiving in a defined manner relative to said printing device to receive the franking print upon activation of said printing device by said fourth device for controlling said printing device.

12. A method for producing a franking print on a substrate, which comprises the steps of:

inserting the substrate into the first device for receiving the franking substrate of the franking machine according to claim 11;

and

activating the fourth device for controlling the printing device and the printing device printing a franking print onto the substrate upon the activation.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the substrate is a mail object and/or a sticker for mail objects.

14. A process for making a printing device, which comprises the steps of:

providing a printer head having a first device for applying ink onto a substrate, the first device for applying the ink having ink nozzles formed therein;

providing a second device for transporting the printer head from a home position into an operation area and back;

providing a waste ink container positioned in the home position of the printer head and opposite of the ink nozzles in the home position of the printer head, the waste ink container containing an open-pore absorber material, the absorber material having inner and outer surfaces and a hygroscopic material on at least one of the inner and outer surfaces;

before, during, or after assembly of the printing device, soaking the absorber material with a solution of the hygroscopic material;

subjecting soaked absorber material to a drying procedure and/or pressing out procedure; and

subsequently inserting the absorber material into the waste ink container.

15. The process according to claim 14, which further comprises providing the solution as an aqueous solution of an inorganic salt.

16. The process according to claim 15, which further comprising forming the solution as a 1 to 50 percent by weight aqueous CaCl₂ solution.

17. The process according to claim 14, which further comprises forming the absorber material as a cellulose fleece.