430 Ink Jet Printer Service and Maintenance Manual
88
Issue 2
Part No. 306-0430-102
Ink System Operation
Function
The functions of the ink system are as follows:
•
Deliver ink to the nozzle at a constant pressure and temperature.
•
Ensure sufficient ink and solvent are available.
•
Ensure that the ink is kept at a viscosity value corresponding to the ink temperature and the type of ink in
use.
•
Generate a vacuum for gutter suction.
Operation
The pump draws ink from the mixer tank and circulates it round a system divided into several paths. After
circulation the unused ink is returned to the mixer tank.
Circulation ensures that the ink remains thoroughly mixed and any addition of ink or solvent will be rapidly mixed
in.
Filtered ink is fed from the pump to three sub-systems:
•
The VMS.
•
The printhead nozzle.
•
The venturi, which applies a vacuum to the nozzle or the gutter to perform the following operations:
a
To remove debris from the nozzle during flushing.
b
To draw solvent through the umbilical tubes (thus cleaning them) during shut down.
c
To collect non-deflected ink droplets, via the gutter, when printing.
The returned ink or solvent is fed back to the mixer tank via a baffle to reduce frothing.
In the following diagrams (Figure 38 to Figure 50) ink and solvent flow are represented as follows:
= Ink flow
= Solvent flow
Valves and restrictors as represented as follows:
V1 Solvent Top Up Valve V11 Jet Valve
V2 Ink Top Up Valve V12 Bleed Valve
V3 VMS Diverter Valve R1 Restrictor 1
V6 Feed Valve R2 Restrictor 2
V7 Flush Valve VT Venturi
V8 Gutter Valve
To Next Page
Loading...
