METHOD FOR PRINTING

• US 20100259575A1
• Filed: 04/09/2009
• Published: 10/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Plastipak Packaging Incorporated (Plastipak Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Plastipak Packaging Incorporated (Plastipak Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Uptergrove, Ronald L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,360,566 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 347/14
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/175 Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17556 Means for regulating the pressure in the cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17596 Ink pumps, ink valves

Abstract

A method of printing including providing an ink delivery system including a print head in fluid communication between a first tank and a second tank; and providing a pressure differential across the print head to cause ink to flow from the print head. With embodiments of the method, ink can be controllably dispensed from the print head at substantially the same velocity irrespective of the orientation of the print head with respect to the direction of the force of gravity.

Claims

1. A method for printing comprising:

providing an ink delivery system including a print head in fluid communication between two tanks; and

providing a pressure differential across the print head to cause ink to flow from the print head, such that ink can be controllably dispensed from the print head at substantially the same velocity irrespective of the orientation of the print head with respect to the direction of the force of gravity.

2. The method of claim 1, including changing the position or orientation of the print head.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the position or orientation of the print head is changed during printing or in between printing steps.

4. A method for printing comprising:

providing an ink delivery system including a first tank including a fill sensor;

a second tank including a fill sensor, wherein the first tank is in fluid communication with the second tank;

a pump configured to pump ink supplied from the first tank to the second tank;

a third tank including a fill sensor; and

a print head in fluid communication with the second tank and the third tank, wherein the third tank is in fluid communication with the first tank, the second tank is in fluid communication with the third tank;

providing a pressure differential across the print head to cause ink to flow through the print head.

5. The method of claim 4, including:

providing an article to be printed; and

printing on a surface of the article.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein:

the second tank includes a first reservoir, a second reservoir, and a weir between the first reservoir and the second reservoir;

the third tank includes a third reservoir, a fourth reservoir, and a weir between the third reservoir and the fourth reservoir; and

wherein the first tank is in fluid communication with the first reservoir;

the second reservoir is in fluid communication with the third reservoir;

the fourth reservoir is in fluid communication with the first tank; and

the print head is in fluid communication with the first reservoir and the third reservoir.

7. The method of claim 6, including measuring the fill level of the second reservoir;

and measuring the fill level of the fourth reservoir.

8. The method of claim 4, including:

providing a regulator in communication with the first tank;

controlling or regulating the pressure in first tank to provide a vacuum.

9. The method of claim 4, including permitting ink to flow from a bulk ink tank to the first ink tank until a fill level is detected by the fill sensor of the first tank.

10. The method of claim 4, including heating ink flowing between the first tank and the second tank.

11. The method of claim 4, including regulating the pressure in the second tank to provide or maintain a positive pressure in the second tank;

and regulating the pressure in the third tank to provide or maintain a pressure in the third tank, such that a pressure differential is provided across the print head.

12. The method of claim 4, including controlling or adjusting the flow rate of ink through the print head.

13. The method of claim 12, adjusting the pressure differential and the flow rate of ink to set or control flow volume of ink and meniscus pressure for the print head.

14. The method of claim 4, including adjusting the orientation of the print head to print at one or more angles.

15. The method of claim 4, including rotating the print head about an arc in a two-dimensional plane.

16. The method of claim 4, including translating or rotating the print head in a third dimension.

17. The method of claim 4, including:

providing a first pump to pump ink supplied from the first tank to the second tank;

providing a second pump to pump ink from the second tank to the third tank;

operating the pumps to create the pressure differential across the print head.

18. The method of claim 4, including providing a pump controller in communication with the second tank and the third tank and controlling the pressure differential across at least one print head.

19. The method of claim 4, including dynamically orienting the print head during printing.