Mechanisms; Ink Supply Mechanisms - Riso ComColor X1 series Technical Manual

Ink Flow Section

1. Mechanisms

1-1. Ink Supply Mechanisms

The Ink supply mechanism is comprised of mechanisms to supply ink to the printer and heads, a mechanism for ink
circulation, and a mechanism for generating purging pressure to recover from head nozzle clogging.
Ink paths in the printer are designed for circulation.
Specifically, ink paths involved in circulation can be described as follows.
• Circulation prevents the head from becoming too hot (from high temperature generated inside the head) by
supplying ink of a constant temperature at a constant flow rate.
• Ink flow clears tiny air bubbles and debris that may accumulate around the piezoelectric element and nozzles in
the head and affect ink ejection. Circulation is useful in recovering from ink ejection problems such as this.
• Ink flows in the head because of the difference in fluid levels, and ink flows from the negative pressure ink tank
to the positively pressurized ink tank by means of pumping pressure.
• Head nozzle pressure is maintained at a constant level during circulation because of the difference in fluid
levels between the pressurized ink tank (open to the air above the head) and the negative pressure ink tank
below the head, in which constant negative pressure is maintained.
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ComColor Series (Revision 2.4)