EP1504905A1 - On the fly ink-jet nozzle cleaning device - Google Patents

On the fly ink-jet nozzle cleaning device Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1504905A1
EP1504905A1 EP04291982A EP04291982A EP1504905A1 EP 1504905 A1 EP1504905 A1 EP 1504905A1 EP 04291982 A EP04291982 A EP 04291982A EP 04291982 A EP04291982 A EP 04291982A EP 1504905 A1 EP1504905 A1 EP 1504905A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
scraping
cleaning device
cleaning
transport path
mail
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status 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 status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP04291982A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1504905B1 (en
Inventor
Stéphane Le Gallo
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Quadient Technologies France SA
Original Assignee
Neopost Technologies SA
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 Neopost Technologies SA filed Critical Neopost Technologies SA
Publication of EP1504905A1 publication Critical patent/EP1504905A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1504905B1 publication Critical patent/EP1504905B1/en
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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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
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/165—Prevention or detection of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
    • B41J2/16517—Cleaning of print head nozzles
    • B41J2/16535—Cleaning of print head nozzles using wiping constructions
    • B41J2/16538—Cleaning of print head nozzles using wiping constructions with brushes or wiper blades perpendicular to the nozzle plate
    • 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
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/165—Prevention or detection of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
    • B41J2/16517—Cleaning of print head nozzles
    • B41J2/16535—Cleaning of print head nozzles using wiping constructions
    • B41J2/16544—Constructions for the positioning of wipers
    • 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
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/165—Prevention or detection of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
    • B41J2/16585—Prevention or detection of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles for paper-width or non-reciprocating print heads
    • 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
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/165—Prevention or detection of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
    • B41J2/16517—Cleaning of print head nozzles
    • B41J2/16535—Cleaning of print head nozzles using wiping constructions
    • B41J2/16541—Means to remove deposits from wipers or scrapers

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the field of the treatment of mail and it relates more particularly to a device for cleaning the ink ejection nozzles of an inkjet printhead of a postage meter for mail items.
  • the present invention provides a nozzle cleaning device ink ejection which does not require the passage of these nozzles to a maintenance station and which can be implemented during their operation.
  • An object of the present invention is also to propose a simple and inexpensive device, so as to allow its installation on cheap franking machines.
  • a nozzle cleaning device ink ejection of a machine inkjet print head mail processing characterized in that it comprises a means of scraping disposed in a transport path of mail items at right of the ejection nozzles and actuated by a mail item at its advanced under the print head.
  • the scraping means which preferably comprises a wheel optionally motorized fins, is articulated between a position of scraping in which the scraping means is disposed in the path of transport of mail items and a rest position in which the scraping means is set back from this transport path.
  • means for cleaning said means scraper comprises a scraper which rubs each fin of the wheel fins.
  • the displacement of said support arm can be controlled according to the number of mail items counted by a position sensor arranged on the way of transport of the articles of mail.
  • This sensor position is advantageously arranged upstream of said means of scraping.
  • FIG. 10 is a partial view at the level of the means printing of a mail processing machine.
  • the print head 10 which conventionally comprises two printed modules 12, 14 staggered in a direction perpendicular to the direction D of advancing articles mail is mounted between two sets of drive rollers, a first series of two upstream rollers 16, 18 superimposed one of which preferably the upper roller 16, is motorized and a second series of two downstream rollers 20, 22 superimposed also one of which, preferably the upper roller 20 is motorized.
  • an upper fixed plate 24 and a lower mobile plate 26 (also called ski mobile) define a path 28 for transporting mail items 30.
  • These trays are of course perforated to the right of the ejection nozzles of ink 12A, 14A of each print module.
  • Reference 32 illustrates one of the corresponding openings (the second 34 is behind the plane cutting due to the offset of the two modules).
  • the printhead 10 is movable and can take two positions, a print position in which printing a postal imprint is possible and a rest or maintenance position in which this print head is set back from the transport path 28 at the level a maintenance station to allow nozzle cleaning ink ejection, thus prohibiting any printing of an impression PO.
  • the print head 10 is now fixed in the position printing and cleaning the ink ejection nozzles is carried out directly in that position, ie in the very course of printing process.
  • a scraper means is provided in the path 28 for transporting mail items to the nozzle of ink ejection 12A, 14A and actuated by a mailpiece 30 when of its progress under these nozzles. More specifically, this scraping means comprises two impeller wheels 38A, 38B each provided with at least one blade or blade and disposed in line with a row of nozzles 12A, 12B of a given print module, in the opening made in the trays fixed 24 and mobile 26, and whose rotation is controlled by the advance of a mail article.
  • the impeller 38A, 38B being fixed, that is to say solidary of the body of mail processing machine, it is provided a light 26A, 26B in the fixed plate 26 so as to allow the moving this tray according to the thickness of the mail to print.
  • each fin combines elasticity and rigidity effective cleaning without altering the nozzles.
  • the scraping means In order to guarantee the maintenance of the effectiveness of the scraping means, it cooperates with a means of automatic cleaning of the fins polluted by the debris from the ink ejection nozzles, formed of a scraper 40A, fixed 40B, ie integral with the machine body of mail processing, and on which will rub one after another the pale wing wheels 38A, 38B.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment variant of FIG. which the impeller 38A, 38B is motorized by a motor 40A, 40B so that the scraping of the ejection nozzles can be carried out also between mail items, or even in the absence of articles from mail.
  • each wheel provided with at least a fin or blade is mounted on a support arm 44A, 44B pivoting around an articulation axis 46A, 46B secured to the movable plate 26, to against an elastic means, for example a spring 48A, 48B, secured to this support arm at one end and the movable plate to its other end.
  • This spring-mounted arrangement allows the cleaning of nozzles with an optimal application constraint.
  • the support arm can move between a scraping position (corresponding to the position of the first embodiment) and a rest position set back from the transport path (preferably retracted under this path and can be if necessary also clear of the nozzle spitting area) under the influence of a means of control, for example a motor or an electromagnet 50A, 50B whose the motor shaft or the corresponding control rod 52A, 52b is connected to the associated support arm.
  • a means of control for example a motor or an electromagnet 50A, 50B whose the motor shaft or the corresponding control rod 52A, 52b is connected to the associated support arm.
  • kinematics with levers and pulleys may be provided between this control means and the finned wheels.
  • the control means is actuated from a means of treatment 54 according to different parameters, the number of mail items counted by a position sensor, such as tilting lever 56, arranged on the transport path of the articles of mail upstream of the scraping means and actuated by the front of each mail item.
  • This number of mail items can be set according to the type of paper used or any other consideration, for example the country of installation of the machine. So, in this embodiment, the scraping of the nozzles is not performed when the printing of each mail item but after the passage of a number of these articles.
  • FIG. 7 illustrates a third embodiment of the invention wherein the hinge axis 46A, 46B of the support arm 44A, 44B and the control means 50A, 50B are no longer fixed on the moving plate but attached directly to the body of the processing machine mail.
  • the engine control is simplified because it is no longer necessary to compensate for the movable platen 26, the distance impeller / nozzles now being fixed.
  • FIG. 8 An alternative embodiment of FIG. 7 is illustrated in FIG. 8.
  • the control means 50A, 50B is arranged directly on the hinge axis 46A, 46B which further supports the elastic means 48A, 48B.
  • the present invention can not be limited to illustrated figures only and the person skilled in the art will be able to complete them without demonstrate inventive activity.
  • the wheel with fins may have a form of forest (or worm), each helical cutting edge corresponding to a scraping edge of a blade.
  • forest or worm

Landscapes

  • Ink Jet (AREA)

Abstract

The device has two vane-rotors (38A, 38B) placed in a mail article transport path (28), to the right of ink ejection nozzles (12A, 14A). The vane-rotors are actuated by a mail article (30) during its advancement under the nozzles. The vane-rotors are mounted on a support arm moving between scraping and rest positions. The vane-rotors are placed in the path in the scraping position and are withdrawn from the path in the rest position.

Description

Domaine de l'inventionField of the invention

La présente invention se rapporte au domaine du traitement de courrier et elle concerne plus particulièrement un dispositif pour nettoyer les buses d'éjection d'encre d'une tête d'impression à jet d'encre d'une machine à affranchir des articles de courrier.The present invention relates to the field of the treatment of mail and it relates more particularly to a device for cleaning the ink ejection nozzles of an inkjet printhead of a postage meter for mail items.

Art antérieurPrior art

Classiquement, le nettoyage de buses d'éjection d'encre d'une machine à affranchir s'effectue périodiquement lorsque la tête d'impression est écartée du chemin de transport des articles de courrier et disposée dans une position dite de maintenance dans laquelle les buses d'éjection d'encre sont soumises à des moyens racleurs qui les débarrassent des polluants (particules d'encre séchées, déchets de papier par exemple) qu'elles ont pu accumuler durant les impressions précédentes. Le brevet US 5,813,326 illustre parfaitement un tel dispositif.Conventionally, the cleaning of ink ejection nozzles of a franking machine is carried out periodically when the head printing is removed from the transport path of mail items and disposed in a maintenance position in which the nozzles ink ejection is subjected to scraping means which rid of pollutants (dried ink particles, paper waste for example) they were able to accumulate during impressions preceding. US Pat. No. 5,813,326 perfectly illustrates such a device.

Cette solution généralisée à de nombreux modèles de machines de traitement de courrier donne globalement satisfaction. Toutefois, elle présente encore certains inconvénients. Tout d'abord, elle oblige à arrêter le processus d'impression périodiquement sauf à prévoir deux têtes d'impression fonctionnant en alternance, comme le propose la demanderesse dans sa demande de brevet US2002/0040354A1, solution coûteuse et donc difficilement envisageable sur une machine à affranchir à bon marché. Ensuite, selon la qualité de papier utilisée pour l'impression, le moment où les buses d'éjection d'encre commence à s'encrasser varie fortement. Notamment, lorsque ce papier est de très faible qualité, l'encrassage des buses d'éjection peut apparaítre très rapidement, par exemple dès après 10 impressions, ce qui en pratique interdit tout recours à une station de maintenance même avec des cadences de traitement peu élevées. This solution generalized to many models of Mail processing gives overall satisfaction. However, she still has some disadvantages. First, it forces to stop the printing process periodically except to provide two heads alternating printing, as proposed by the applicant in his patent application US2002 / 0040354A1, solution expensive and therefore difficult to envisage on a franking machine to cheap. Then, depending on the quality of paper used for printing, the moment the ink ejection nozzles start to clog strongly. In particular, when this paper is of very poor quality, the clogging of the ejection nozzles can appear very quickly, by example after 10 impressions, which in practice prohibits any recourse at a maintenance station even with low processing rates high.

Objet et définition de l'inventionObject and definition of the invention

La présente invention propose un dispositif de nettoyage des buses d'éjection d'encre qui ne nécessite pas le passage de ces buses à une station de maintenance et qui donc peut être mis en oeuvre pendant leur fonctionnement. Un but de la présente invention est aussi de proposer un dispositif simple et peu coûteux, de façon à permettre son installation sur des machines à affranchir à bon marché.The present invention provides a nozzle cleaning device ink ejection which does not require the passage of these nozzles to a maintenance station and which can be implemented during their operation. An object of the present invention is also to propose a simple and inexpensive device, so as to allow its installation on cheap franking machines.

Ces buts sont atteints par un dispositif de nettoyage des buses d'éjection d'encre d'une tête d'impression à jet d'encre de machine de traitement de courrier, caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte un moyen de raclage disposé dans un chemin de transport des articles de courrier au droit des buses d'éjection et actionné par un article de courrier lors de son avancée sous la tête d'impression.These goals are achieved by a nozzle cleaning device ink ejection of a machine inkjet print head mail processing, characterized in that it comprises a means of scraping disposed in a transport path of mail items at right of the ejection nozzles and actuated by a mail item at its advanced under the print head.

Avec cette configuration, le nettoyage des buses polluées s'effectue directement pendant l'impression des articles de courrier. Il n'est donc plus nécessaire d'arrêter la machine pour le raclage traditionnel de ces buses au niveau d'une station de maintenance.With this configuration, the cleaning of polluted nozzles is carried out directly during the printing of mail items. It is therefore not no longer necessary to stop the machine for the traditional scraping of these nozzles at a maintenance station.

Le moyen de raclage, qui de préférence comporte une roue à ailettes éventuellement motorisée, est articulé entre une position de raclage dans laquelle le moyen de raclage est disposé dans le chemin de transport des articles de courrier et une position de repos dans laquelle le moyen de raclage est disposé en retrait de ce chemin de transport.The scraping means, which preferably comprises a wheel optionally motorized fins, is articulated between a position of scraping in which the scraping means is disposed in the path of transport of mail items and a rest position in which the scraping means is set back from this transport path.

Avantageusement, il est prévu un moyen de nettoyage dudit moyen de raclage comporte un racleur qui frotte chaque ailette de la roue à ailettes.Advantageously, there is provided means for cleaning said means scraper comprises a scraper which rubs each fin of the wheel fins.

Lorsque ladite roue à ailettes est montée sur un bras support pivotant pouvant se déplacer entre la position de raclage et la position de repos, le déplacement dudit bras support peut être commandé en fonction du nombre d'articles de courrier comptabilisé par un capteur de position disposé sur le chemin de transport des articles de courrier. Ce capteur de position est disposé avantageusement en amont desdits moyens de raclage. When said finned wheel is mounted on a support arm swivel which can move between the scraping position and the position of rest, the displacement of said support arm can be controlled according to the number of mail items counted by a position sensor arranged on the way of transport of the articles of mail. This sensor position is advantageously arranged upstream of said means of scraping.

Brève description des dessinsBrief description of the drawings

Les caractéristiques et avantages de la présente invention ressortiront mieux de la description suivante, faite à titre indicatif et non limitatif, en regard des dessins annexés sur lesquels :

  • la figure 1 est une vue schématique d'un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention,
  • la figure 2 est une loupe de la figure 1 dans une variante de réalisation,
  • la figure 3 est une loupe d'un deuxième mode de réalisation de l'invention,
  • les figures 4, 5 et 6 sont des vues schématiques du deuxième mode de réalisation,
  • la figure 7 est une loupe d'un troisième mode de réalisation de l'invention,
  • les figures 8 et 9 illustrent en loupe et en détail une variante du mode de réalisation de la figure 7, et
  • la figure 10 est une vue partielle d'une machine à affranchir de l'art antérieur au niveau des moyens d'impression.
The features and advantages of the present invention will emerge more clearly from the following description, given by way of non-limiting indication, with reference to the appended drawings in which:
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a first embodiment of the invention,
  • FIG. 2 is a magnifying glass of FIG. 1 in an alternative embodiment;
  • FIG. 3 is a magnifying glass of a second embodiment of the invention,
  • Figures 4, 5 and 6 are schematic views of the second embodiment,
  • FIG. 7 is a magnifying glass of a third embodiment of the invention,
  • FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate in a magnifying glass and in detail a variant of the embodiment of FIG. 7, and
  • Figure 10 is a partial view of a franking machine of the prior art at the printing means.

Description détaillée d'un mode de réalisation préférentielDetailed description of a preferred embodiment

La figure 10 est une vue partielle au niveau des moyens d'impression d'une machine de traitement de courrier. La tête d'impression 10 qui comporte classiquement deux modules d'impression 12, 14 décalés selon une direction perpendiculaire à la direction D d'avancée des articles de courrier est montée entre deux séries de rouleaux d'entraínement, une première série de deux rouleaux amont 16, 18 superposés dont l'un, de préférence le rouleau supérieur 16, est motorisé et une seconde série de deux rouleaux aval 20, 22 superposés également dont l'un, de préférence le rouleau supérieur 20, est motorisé. Au niveau des moyens d'impression, un plateau fixe supérieur 24 et un plateau mobile inférieur 26 (dit aussi ski mobile) définissent un chemin 28 de transport des articles de courrier 30. Ces plateaux sont bien entendu ajourés au droit des buses d'éjection d'encre 12A, 14A de chaque module d'impression. La référence 32 illustre une des ouvertures correspondantes (la seconde 34 est en arrière du plan de coupe du fait du décalage des deux modules).FIG. 10 is a partial view at the level of the means printing of a mail processing machine. The print head 10 which conventionally comprises two printed modules 12, 14 staggered in a direction perpendicular to the direction D of advancing articles mail is mounted between two sets of drive rollers, a first series of two upstream rollers 16, 18 superimposed one of which preferably the upper roller 16, is motorized and a second series of two downstream rollers 20, 22 superimposed also one of which, preferably the upper roller 20 is motorized. At the level of the printing means, an upper fixed plate 24 and a lower mobile plate 26 (also called ski mobile) define a path 28 for transporting mail items 30. These trays are of course perforated to the right of the ejection nozzles of ink 12A, 14A of each print module. Reference 32 illustrates one of the corresponding openings (the second 34 is behind the plane cutting due to the offset of the two modules).

Dans les machines de traitement de courrier de l'art antérieur, la tête d'impression 10 est mobile et peut prendre deux positions, une position d'impression dans laquelle l'impression d'une empreinte postale est possible et une position de repos ou de maintenance dans laquelle cette tête d'impression est en retrait du chemin de transport 28 au niveau d'une station de maintenance pour permettre un nettoyage des buses d'éjection d'encre, interdisant donc toute impression d'une empreinte postale.In mail processing machines of the prior art, the printhead 10 is movable and can take two positions, a print position in which printing a postal imprint is possible and a rest or maintenance position in which this print head is set back from the transport path 28 at the level a maintenance station to allow nozzle cleaning ink ejection, thus prohibiting any printing of an impression PO.

Selon l'invention, et comme l'illustre le premier mode de réalisation de la figure 1, la tête d'impression 10 est maintenant fixe dans la position d'impression et le nettoyage des buses d'éjection d'encre est effectuée directement dans cette position, c'est à dire dans le cours même du processus d'impression.According to the invention, and as illustrated in the first embodiment of FIG. 1, the print head 10 is now fixed in the position printing and cleaning the ink ejection nozzles is carried out directly in that position, ie in the very course of printing process.

Pour ce faire, il est prévu un moyen de raclage disposé dans le chemin 28 de transport des articles de courrier au droit des buses d'éjection d'encre 12A, 14A et actionné par un article de courrier 30 lors de son avancée sous ces buses. Plus précisément, ce moyen de raclage comporte deux roues à ailettes 38A, 38B chacune munie d'au moins une ailette ou pale et disposée au droit d'une rangée de buses 12A, 12B d'un module d'impression donné, dans l'ouverture pratiquée dans les plateaux fixe 24 et mobile 26, et dont la rotation est commandée par l'avancée d'un article de courrier. La roue à ailettes 38A, 38B étant fixe, c'est à dire solidaire du corps de machine de traitement de courrier, il est prévu une lumière 26A, 26B dans le plateau fixe 26 de façon à permettre le déplacement de ce plateau selon l'épaisseur du courrier à imprimer. Bien entendu, chaque ailette combine une élasticité et une rigidité propres à un nettoyage efficace sans altération des buses.To do this, a scraper means is provided in the path 28 for transporting mail items to the nozzle of ink ejection 12A, 14A and actuated by a mailpiece 30 when of its progress under these nozzles. More specifically, this scraping means comprises two impeller wheels 38A, 38B each provided with at least one blade or blade and disposed in line with a row of nozzles 12A, 12B of a given print module, in the opening made in the trays fixed 24 and mobile 26, and whose rotation is controlled by the advance of a mail article. The impeller 38A, 38B being fixed, that is to say solidary of the body of mail processing machine, it is provided a light 26A, 26B in the fixed plate 26 so as to allow the moving this tray according to the thickness of the mail to print. Good heard, each fin combines elasticity and rigidity effective cleaning without altering the nozzles.

Afin de garantir le maintien de l'efficacité du moyen de raclage, celui-ci coopère avec un moyen de nettoyage automatique des ailettes polluées par les débris issus des buses d'éjection d'encre, formé d'un racleur 40A, 40B fixe, c'est à dire solidaire du corps de machine de traitement de courrier, et sur lequel vont se frotter l'une après l'autre les pâles des roues à ailettes 38A, 38B.In order to guarantee the maintenance of the effectiveness of the scraping means, it cooperates with a means of automatic cleaning of the fins polluted by the debris from the ink ejection nozzles, formed of a scraper 40A, fixed 40B, ie integral with the machine body of mail processing, and on which will rub one after another the pale wing wheels 38A, 38B.

La figure 2 illustre une variante de réalisation de la figure 1 dans laquelle la roue à ailettes 38A, 38B est motorisée par un moteur 40A, 40B de sorte que le raclage des buses d'éjection peut être effectuée également entre les articles de courrier, voire même en l'absence d'articles de courrier.FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment variant of FIG. which the impeller 38A, 38B is motorized by a motor 40A, 40B so that the scraping of the ejection nozzles can be carried out also between mail items, or even in the absence of articles from mail.

Un deuxième mode de réalisation de l'invention est illustré aux figures 3 à 6. Dans ce mode de réalisation, chaque roue munie d'au moins une ailette ou pale est montée sur un bras support 44A, 44B pivotant autour d'un axe d'articulation 46A, 46B solidaire du plateau mobile 26, à l'encontre d'un moyen élastique, par exemple un ressort 48A, 48B, solidaire de ce bras support à une extrémité et du plateau mobile à son autre extrémité. Ce montage sur ressort permet de nettoyer les buses avec une contrainte d'application optimale.A second embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 6. In this embodiment, each wheel provided with at least a fin or blade is mounted on a support arm 44A, 44B pivoting around an articulation axis 46A, 46B secured to the movable plate 26, to against an elastic means, for example a spring 48A, 48B, secured to this support arm at one end and the movable plate to its other end. This spring-mounted arrangement allows the cleaning of nozzles with an optimal application constraint.

Le bras support peut se déplacer entre une position de raclage (correspondant à la position du premier mode de réalisation) et une position de repos en retrait du chemin de transport (de préférence escamotée sous ce chemin et pouvant être le cas échéant également dégagée de la zone de crachage des buses) sous l'action d'un moyen de commande, par exemple un moteur ou un électroaimant 50A, 50B dont l'axe moteur ou la tige de commande correspondante 52A, 52b est reliée au bras support associé. Si nécessaire, et selon la configuration de la machine de traitement de courrier, une cinématique à leviers et poulies (non représentée) peut être prévue entre ce moyen de commande et les roues à ailettes. Le moyen de commande est actionné à partir d'un moyen de traitement 54 en fonction de différents paramètres dont le nombre d'articles de courrier comptabilisé par un capteur de position, du type levier de basculement 56, disposé sur le chemin de transport des articles de courrier en amont du moyen de raclage et actionné par le front de chaque article de courrier. Ce nombre d'articles de courrier peut être paramétré en fonction du type de papier utilisé ou de tout autre considération, par exemple le pays d'installation de la machine. Ainsi, dans ce mode de réalisation, le raclage des buses n'est pas effectué lors de l'impression de chaque article de courrier mais après le passage d'un nombre déterminé de ces articles.The support arm can move between a scraping position (corresponding to the position of the first embodiment) and a rest position set back from the transport path (preferably retracted under this path and can be if necessary also clear of the nozzle spitting area) under the influence of a means of control, for example a motor or an electromagnet 50A, 50B whose the motor shaft or the corresponding control rod 52A, 52b is connected to the associated support arm. If necessary, and according to the configuration of the mail processing machine, kinematics with levers and pulleys (not shown) may be provided between this control means and the finned wheels. The control means is actuated from a means of treatment 54 according to different parameters, the number of mail items counted by a position sensor, such as tilting lever 56, arranged on the transport path of the articles of mail upstream of the scraping means and actuated by the front of each mail item. This number of mail items can be set according to the type of paper used or any other consideration, for example the country of installation of the machine. So, in this embodiment, the scraping of the nozzles is not performed when the printing of each mail item but after the passage of a number of these articles.

Afin de garantir une efficacité optimale au moyen de raclage, et comme précédemment, celui-ci coopère dans sa position de repos avec un moyen de nettoyage automatique des ailettes polluées formé du racleur fixe 40A, 40B solidaire du corps de la machine et sur lequel vont se frotter l'une après l'autre les pâles des roues à ailettes 38A, 38B sous l'effet de la motorisation de la roue 42A, 42B. Le nettoyage peut être synchronisé ou non avec le retour du bras support dans sa position de repos. Ainsi, par exemple, le raclage des buses peut être effectué toutes les 10 impressions mais le nettoyage des ailettes (donc le lancement de la motorisation 42A, 42B) seulement toutes les 100 impressions.In order to ensure optimum efficiency by means of scraping, and as before, it cooperates in its rest position with a automatic cleaning means of the polluted fins formed of the scraper fixed 40A, 40B integral with the body of the machine and on which will rub one after the other the blades of the finned wheels 38A, 38B under the effect of the motorization of the wheel 42A, 42B. Cleaning can be synchronized or not with the return of the support arm in its rest position. So, by for example, nozzle scraping can be performed every 10 impressions but the cleaning of the fins (thus the launch of the motorization 42A, 42B) only every 100 impressions.

La figure 7 illustre un troisième mode de réalisation de l'invention dans lequel l'axe d'articulation 46A, 46B du bras support 44A, 44B et le moyen de commande 50A, 50B ne sont plus fixés sur le plateau mobile mais fixés directement sur le corps de la machine de traitement de courrier. Avec cette réalisation avantageuse, la commande du moteur est simplifiée, car il n'est plus nécessaire de compenser le déplacement du plateau mobile 26, la distance roue à ailettes/buses étant maintenant fixe.FIG. 7 illustrates a third embodiment of the invention wherein the hinge axis 46A, 46B of the support arm 44A, 44B and the control means 50A, 50B are no longer fixed on the moving plate but attached directly to the body of the processing machine mail. With this advantageous embodiment, the engine control is simplified because it is no longer necessary to compensate for the movable platen 26, the distance impeller / nozzles now being fixed.

Une variante de réalisation de la figure 7 est illustrée à la figure 8. Dans cette variante, le moyen de commande 50A, 50B est disposé directement sur l'axe d'articulation 46A, 46B qui supporte en outre le moyen élastique 48A, 48B. On obtient ainsi une réalisation plus compacte qui peut alors être facilement intégrée dans des machines existantes sans grande modification de structure.An alternative embodiment of FIG. 7 is illustrated in FIG. 8. In this variant, the control means 50A, 50B is arranged directly on the hinge axis 46A, 46B which further supports the elastic means 48A, 48B. We thus obtain a more compact realization which can then be easily integrated into existing machines without big change of structure.

Bien entendu, la présente invention ne saurait être limitée aux seules figures illustrées et l'homme de métier saura les compléter sans faire preuve d'activité inventive. Par exemple, pour favoriser l'évacuation progressive des particules d'encre séchée et de papier tout en réduisant de façon significative les efforts de raclage exercés sur les buses, la roue à ailettes peut présenter une forme de forêt (ou de vis sans fin), chaque arête de coupe hélicoïdale correspondant à une arête de raclage d'une pâle. De même, si l'invention a été illustrée avec une tête d'impression à deux modules, le recours à un seul module est tout aussi envisageable.Of course, the present invention can not be limited to illustrated figures only and the person skilled in the art will be able to complete them without demonstrate inventive activity. For example, to promote evacuation progressive drying of the dried ink and paper particles while reducing significantly the scraping forces exerted on the nozzles, the wheel with fins may have a form of forest (or worm), each helical cutting edge corresponding to a scraping edge of a blade. Similarly, if the invention has been illustrated with a print head to two modules, the use of a single module is equally conceivable.

Claims (9)

Dispositif de nettoyage des buses d'éjection d'encre d'une tête d'impression à jet d'encre de machine à affranchir, caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte un moyen de raclage (38A, 38B) disposé dans un chemin de transport (28) des articles de courrier (30) au droit des buses d'éjection d'encre (12A, 12B) et actionné par un article de courrier lors de son avancée sous la tête d'impression (10).Device for cleaning the ink ejection nozzles of a franking machine ink jet printhead, characterized in that it comprises scraper means (38A, 38B) arranged in a transport path (28) Mailpieces (30) at the ink ejection nozzle (12A, 12B) and actuated by a mailpiece as it advances under the print head (10). Dispositif de nettoyage selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ledit moyen de raclage est articulé entre une position de raclage dans laquelle le moyen de raclage est disposé dans le chemin de transport des articles de courrier et une position de repos dans laquelle le moyen de raclage est disposé en retrait de ce chemin de transport.Cleaning device according to claim 1, characterized in that said scraping means is articulated between a scraping position in which the scraper means is arranged in the transport path of the mail items and a rest position in which the scraper means scraping is set back from this transport path. Dispositif de nettoyage selon la revendication 1 ou la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte en outre un moyen de nettoyage dudit moyen de raclage.Cleaning device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that it further comprises cleaning means of said scraping means. Dispositif de nettoyage selon la revendication 1 ou la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que ledit moyen de raclage comporte une roue à ailettes (38A, 38B).Cleaning device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that said scraping means comprises a vane wheel (38A, 38B). Dispositif de nettoyage selon la revendication 3 et la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce que ledit moyen de nettoyage comporte un racleur (40A, 40B) qui frotte chaque ailette de la roue à ailettes.Cleaning device according to claim 3 and claim 4, characterized in that said cleaning means comprises a scraper (40A, 40B) which rubs each fin of the finned wheel. Dispositif de nettoyage selon la revendication 4 en ce qu'elle dépend de la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que ladite roue à ailettes est montée sur un bras support pivotant (44A, 44B) pouvant se déplacer entre la position de raclage et la position de repos.Cleaning device according to claim 4 in that it depends on claim 2, characterized in that said fin wheel is mounted on a pivotable support arm (44A, 44B) movable between the scraping position and the position of rest. Dispositif de nettoyage selon la revendication 6, caractérisé en ce que le déplacement dudit bras support est commandé en fonction du nombre d'articles de courrier comptabilisé par un capteur de position (56) disposé sur le chemin de transport des articles de courrier. Cleaning device according to claim 6, characterized in that the displacement of said support arm is controlled according to the number of mail items counted by a position sensor (56) disposed on the transport path of the mail items. Dispositif de nettoyage selon la revendication 7, caractérisé en ce que ledit capteur de position est disposé en amont desdits moyens de raclage.Cleaning device according to claim 7, characterized in that said position sensor is disposed upstream of said scraping means. Dispositif de nettoyage selon la revendication 4 ou la revendication 6, caractérisé en ce que ladite roue à ailettes est motorisée (42A, 42B).Cleaning device according to claim 4 or claim 6, characterized in that said impeller is motorized (42A, 42B).
EP04291982A 2003-08-06 2004-08-03 On the fly ink-jet nozzle cleaning device Expired - Fee Related EP1504905B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

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FR0309687A FR2858581B1 (en) 2003-08-06 2003-08-06 DEVICE FOR CLEANING FLIGHT OF INJECTION EJECTION NOZZLES
FR0309687 2003-08-06

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FR2858581B1 (en) 2005-11-04
US7182428B2 (en) 2007-02-27
EP1504905B1 (en) 2007-01-03
DE602004004011T2 (en) 2007-07-12
US20060017768A1 (en) 2006-01-26
FR2858581A1 (en) 2005-02-11
DE602004004011D1 (en) 2007-02-15

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