Systems, structures and associated processes for inline ultrasonication of ink for printing
View Patent ↗Enhanced printing systems, structures, and processes provide ultrasonication of ink, such as to degas the ink, and/or to maintain the size of particles within the ink. At least one ultrasonic module, such as comprising any of an ultrasonic probe or an ultrasonic bath, is located within an ink delivery system. Ink is delivered to the ultrasonic module, and ultrasonic energy is applied to the ink, such as at a sufficient level and duration to degas the ink, and/or to reduce the size of particles within the ink. In some embodiments, the particles may be agglomerates, wherein the applied energy is configured to reduce the size of the agglomerates to a size that can be jetted through the print head. In other embodiments, the particles may be metallic particles, wherein the applied energy is configured to create smaller metallic particles that can be jetted with the ink through the print head.
1. A printing system for conditioning ink, comprising:
an ink supply station for storing the ink;
at least one print head;
a delivery conduit comprising an ink chamber, said delivery conduit located between the ink supply station and the at least one print head; and
at least one ultrasonication assembly located within the delivery conduit, and extending into the ink chamber;
wherein the system is configured to deliver the ink from the ink supply station to the at least one ultrasonication assembly;
wherein the at least one ultrasonication assembly is configured to apply ultrasonic energy to the ink to condition the ink; and
wherein the system is configured to deliver the conditioned ink from the at least one ultrasonic assembly to the at least one print head;
wherein the ink contains metallic particles, and wherein the at least one ultrasonication assembly is configured to reduce the size of the metallic particles before delivery of the conditioned ink to the print head, wherein the print head is configured to deliver the conditioned ink having the reduced metallic particles onto a work piece.
2. The printing system of claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonication assembly comprises an ultrasonic probe assembly.
3. The printing system of claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonic energy has a characteristic frequency range of about 20 kHz to 400 kHz.
4. The printing system of claim 1 , wherein the ink contains dissolved gas, and wherein the at least one ultrasonication assembly is configured to degas the ink, to improve jetting of the ink from the print head onto a work piece.
5. The printing system of claim 1 , wherein the ink contains agglomerated particles, and wherein the at least one ultrasonication assembly is configured to reduce the size of agglomerated particles.
6. The printing system of claim 5 , wherein the reduced size of the agglomerated particles prevents clogging of at least a portion of the print head.
7. The printing system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one ultrasonication assembly is configured to contain the ink for a time period that is sufficient for any of ink degassing or breakdown of particles.
8. The printing system of claim 1 , wherein the ink contains dissolved gas and particles, and wherein the at least one ultrasonication assembly is configured to degas the ink and to reduce the size of the particles.
9. An apparatus for conditioning ink, comprising:
a body comprising
a chamber defined therein,
an inlet port extending into the chamber for receiving ink from an ink supply station, and
an outlet port extending from the chamber for transporting ink from the chamber to a print head; and
an ultrasonication mechanism comprising an energy source extending into the chamber for delivering ultrasonic energy to the ink within the chamber;
wherein the ink contains metallic particles, and wherein the at least one ultrasonication assembly is configured to reduce the size of the metallic particles before delivery of the conditioned ink to the print head, wherein the print head is configured to deliver the conditioned ink having the reduced metallic particles onto a work piece.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the ultrasonication mechanism comprises an ultrasonic probe assembly.
11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the ultrasonic energy has a characteristic frequency range of about 20 kHz to 400 kHz.
12. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the ink contains dissolved gas, and wherein the energy source is configured to degas the ink, to improve jetting of the ink from the print head onto a work piece.
13. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the ink contains agglomerated particles, and wherein the energy source is configured to deliver sufficient ultrasonic energy to the ink reduce the size of the agglomerated particles.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the reduced size of the agglomerated particles prevents clogging of at least a portion of the print head from the ink.
15. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the apparatus is configured to contain the ink in the chamber for a time period that is sufficient for any of ink degassing or breakdown of particles.
16. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the ink contains dissolved gas and particles, and wherein the energy source is configured to degas the ink and to reduce the size of the particles.
17. A process, comprising the steps of:
providing an ultrasonication mechanism, wherein the ultrasonication mechanism comprises
a body comprising
a chamber defined therein,
an inlet port extending into the chamber for receiving ink from an ink supply station, and
an outlet port extending from the chamber for transporting ink from the chamber to a print head, and
an energy source extending into the chamber for delivering ultrasonic energy to ink within the chamber;
delivering ink from a ink supply station to the chamber through the inlet port;
applying ultrasonic energy to the ink within the chamber to condition the ink;
transferring the conditioned ink from the chamber to a print head through the outlet port; and
applying at least a portion of the conditioned ink to a workpiece;
wherein the ink contains metallic particles, and wherein the at least one ultrasonication assembly is configured to reduce the size of the metallic particles before delivery of the conditioned ink to the print head, wherein the print head is configured to deliver the conditioned ink having the reduced metallic particles onto a work piece.
18. The process of claim 17 , wherein the ultrasonication mechanism comprises an ultrasonic probe assembly.
19. The process of claim 17 , wherein the ultrasonic energy has a characteristic frequency range of about 20 kHz to 400 kHz.
20. The process of claim 17 , wherein the ink contains dissolved gas, and wherein the energy source is configured to degas the ink, to improve jetting of the ink from the print head onto a work piece.
21. The process of claim 17 , wherein the ink contains agglomerated particles, and wherein the energy source is configured to deliver sufficient ultrasonic energy to the ink reduce the size of the agglomerated particles.
22. The process of claim 21 , wherein the reduced size of the agglomerated particles prevents clogging of at least a portion of the print head from the ink.
23. The process of claim 17 , wherein the ultrasonication mechanism is configured to contain the ink in the chamber for a time period that is sufficient for any of ink degassing or breakdown of particles.
24. The process of claim 17 , wherein the ink contains dissolved gas and particles, and wherein the energy source is configured to degas the ink and to reduce the size of the particles.