KR-20260065909-A - Fluid transfer system

Abstract

A fluid delivery system for a printer comprises a fluid reservoir and an input pump fluidly coupled to the fluid reservoir, wherein the input pump is configured to pump fluid from the reservoir to a print head to deposit fluid onto a printed substrate. The fluid delivery system further comprises an output pump fluidly coupled to the print head to recirculate fluid from the print head back to the fluid reservoir, and a controller communicateably coupled to at least the input pump, wherein the controller is configured to change one or more parameters of the fluid delivered to the print head by changing one or more characteristics of the input pump.

Inventors

• 자팔라 가에타노
• 루소 파리데

Assignees

• 오르보테크 엘티디.

Dates

Publication Date

20260511

Application Date

20240829

Priority Date

20230904

Claims (15)

1. As a fluid transfer system for printers, Fluid storage tank; An input pump fluid-coupled to the fluid storage tank and configured to pump fluid from the fluid storage tank to a print head to deposit the fluid onto a printed substrate; An output pump fluidly coupled to the print head and configured to pump fluid back from the print head to the fluid reservoir; and A controller configured to communicately coupled to at least the input pump and to change one or more parameters of the fluid delivered to the print head by changing one or more characteristics of the input pump. A fluid transfer system including
2. A fluid transfer system according to claim 1, wherein the input pump is configured to pump a predetermined volume of fluid from the fluid storage tank to the print head.
3. A fluid transfer system according to paragraph 2, further comprising one or more sensors configured to measure one or more parameters of the fluid pumped to the print head.
4. A fluid transfer system according to paragraph 3, wherein one or more sensors are located downstream of the input pump and upstream of the print head.
5. A fluid transfer system according to paragraph 3, wherein one or more parameters of the fluid configured to be measured by one or more sensors include one or more of the pressure, temperature, viscosity, and/or any other suitable parameters of the fluid.
6. A fluid transfer system according to claim 1, further comprising a heating assembly configured to heat the fluid received from the input pump and transferred to the print head.
7. A fluid transfer system according to claim 1, wherein the input pump and the output pump are each independently controllable.
8. A fluid transfer system according to claim 1, wherein one or more characteristics of the input pump configured to be changed by the controller include flow rate, pressure, or any other suitable characteristics.
9. A fluid delivery system according to paragraph 3, wherein the controller is configured to change a predetermined volume of fluid pumped to the print head based on measurements from one or more sensors.
10. A fluid transfer system according to claim 9, wherein the controller is configured to change a predetermined volume of fluid pumped to the print head based on the pressure of the fluid.
11. A fluid transfer system according to claim 1, wherein the input pump and the output pump include peristaltic pumps.
12. A fluid transfer system according to claim 1, wherein the output pump is fluidly coupled to a plurality of print heads; and/or the fluid reservoir is fluidly coupled to one or more other fluid supply units; and/or the output pump is configured to maintain a constant flow rate in the fluid transfer system.
13. A printer comprising a fluid transfer system as described in paragraph 1.
14. As a printing method, A step of pumping fluid from a fluid storage tank to a print head and depositing the fluid onto a printed substrate; Step of printing on a printed circuit board; A step of pumping the above fluid from the print head back to the fluid reservoir; and A step of changing one or more parameters of the fluid delivered to the print head by changing one or more characteristics of the input pump by a controller. A printing method including
15. A printing method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of measuring one or more parameters of a fluid pumped from a fluid reservoir to a print head by one or more sensors, wherein changing one or more characteristics of the input pump is based on one or more of the measured parameters.

Description

Fluid transfer system Cross-reference regarding related applications This application claims priority and interest to Italian application No. 102023000018075 filed on September 4, 2023, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Field of the present disclosure The present disclosure relates to a fluid transfer system, and in particular to an ink transfer system for a printer. In the case of fluid transfer within a printer system, the ink path for the fluid containing ink to be printed on a printed circuit board is generally fixed. Specifically, the ink flow path starts at an ink reservoir and ends at a print head. This fluid flow path typically consists of four main components, but only some of these components directly affect the performance of the ink flow path. For example, a conventional transfer system generally includes a leveling tank (L-tank) that sets the ink level to achieve a set meniscus pressure at the print head, one or more compensation tanks (C-tank) configured to compensate for any pressure fluctuations to help maintain the meniscus pressure at the print head stably and to also supply ink to the print head, and a main tank having the largest ink capacity in the machine and supplying ink to the leveling tank and one or more print heads as needed. In this configuration, the print head is a passive element within the fluid flow path, and ink is ejected during the printing and cleaning stages. This ink flow path achieves three main functions of the ink transfer system: namely, supplying ink to the print head without generating any additional fluid movement resistance; Maintains meniscus pressure in the working window of the print head; and provides a cleaning action to the print head. During operation, the print head receives ink from the calibration tank, and the calibration tank receives ink from the leveling tank. The leveling tank uses a level sensor to determine the tank's status and also decides when to refill itself from the main tank. The ink level in the leveling tank must be lower than the nozzle plate of the print head, and due to this height difference, a negative gauge meniscus pressure is ensured in the print head by gravity. The ink level in the leveling tank can be adjusted by moving vertically by several centimeters to control the negative pressure, but the range is somewhat limited, typically around 3 to 4 mbar. During the cleaning operation, ink from the leveling tank is pushed into the calibration tank and the print head, creating overpressure in the leveling tank itself. Subsequently, the ink flows through the print head and reaches the main tank through the outlet of the calibration tank. Now, the present invention will be explained by way of example with reference to the attached drawings. FIG. 1 is a drawing showing a fluid transfer system for a printer that implements a first aspect of the present disclosure. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the fluid of a fluid transfer system for a printer. Figure 3 is a perspective view of a fluid storage tank. Figure 4 is a perspective view of a heating assembly. FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a pump, specifically a peristaltic pump. Figure 6 is a front perspective view of a print head. Figure 7 is a front view of the print head. Figure 8 is a bottom view of the print head. FIG. 9 is an additional bottom view illustrating a print head, specifically a print head nozzle. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a printer including a fluid transfer system that implements a second aspect of the present disclosure. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the change in pressure over time that occurs during a cleaning step of a printer including the fluid transfer system of the present disclosure. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the rise time in pressure change occurring during a cleaning step of a printer including the fluid transfer system of the present disclosure. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the time of decrease in pressure change occurring during a cleaning step of a printer including the fluid transfer system of the present disclosure. Figure 14 is a diagram showing the change in ink viscosity over time. Figure 15 is a diagram showing the variation of pressure over time within a fluid transfer system. While the subject matter of the claims will be described in relation to specific embodiments, other embodiments, including those that do not provide all the advantages and features described herein, are also within the scope of this disclosure. Various structural, logical, process steps, and electronic modifications may be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. The steps of the method described in the various embodiments and examples disclosed herein are sufficient to carry out the methods of the present disclosure. Accordingly, in one embodiment, the method of the present invention basically consists of a combination of the steps of the methods disclosed herein. In another embodiment, the method of t