Internal structure of continuous inkjet printers

Circulation principle

• 1Main tank

  Stores the ink used in printing. Ink recovered from the gutter is also returned here.

• 2Pump

  Pressurizes and feeds the ink from the main tank to the print head.

• 3Pressure reducing valve

  Adjusts the ink pressure.

• 4Piezoelectric element

  Oscillates the ink stream discharged from the nozzle to separate into ink particles.

• 5Nozzle

  Discharges the ink.

• 6Electrostatic electrode plates

  Applies a negative electric charge to the ink particles created from the ink stream.

• 7Electrostatic sensor

  Monitors whether the ink particles have the proper electrostatic charge in them.

• 8Deflecting electrode plates

  Generates a magnetic field between the electrode plates to deflect ink particles according to their charge. This directs ink particles onto the print target.

• 9Gutter

  Collects the ink particles that are not used in printing.

• 10Pump

  Retrieves the ink particles from the gutter and feeds them to the main tank.

• 1Main tank

  Repeats the ink circulation.

Solvent tank

Supplies solvent to control viscosity when the ink in the main tank becomes too thick.

Ink tank

Supplies ink to the main tank when it is empty or when the ink is too thin.