China Ceramics Network reporter Xiaochun Stable high-quality printing and reliable production capacity are important factors to consider when producing and decorating ceramic tiles, because any printing defects will cause cost waste and impact on output, and increase the downtime of unplanned maintenance equipment.
As a leading manufacturer in the world of inkjet technology research and development, the British XAAR company specializes in ceramic decorative printing Printheads are designed with reliability in mind, and their products have a variety of features that ensure printheads maintain consistent print quality over time with minimal maintenance.
As a result, an extremely powerful print head came into being in 2017, and it continues to Complete. It is reported that the Xaar 2001 series printheads can operate well 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the harsh industrial environment of ceramic factories all year round. Let us take a look at its evolution.
▲XAAR2001+ print head
1. The latest breakthrough - effectively solving the problem of missing injection during the production process
1. Analyze the causes of missing jet
Xaar will conduct routine inspections on the print heads returned by customers. , among which the most common problem reported by customers is the problem of missing jet, which is what we often call "pulling wires". So what is the reason for the lack of printing?
In fact, the main reason for the lack of jet is not the failure of the print head, but due to some external Environmental residue particles block the internal channel structure of the print head. Although the ink circulates in the print head, the nozzle may still be clogged, causing "missing jets."
The main reasons are:There is a narrow channel under each nozzle. When an electric field is applied, the piezoelectric ceramic walls on either side of each channel will be actuated, causing droplets to be ejected from the nozzle. These actuator channels are approximately 60 microns wide. It is the narrowest part of the print head recirculation system, so any particles entering the print head from the ink system, as long as they are larger than 60 microns, are likely to block the channels at the entrances of these channels.
If this phenomenon is ignored, more jets may be missing at the print head. This will affect printing quality and production efficiency, resulting in unnecessary costs.
▲Missing jet (Wire pulling) diagram
2. Trace the source of impurities that block the channel
All ceramic printing presses have a main body located next to the main ink tank The purpose of the filter is to filter the ink when it first enters the ink delivery system of the printing press. The main filter can also have a high impurity interception capability at high flow rates, but it cannot intercept 100% of the impurities. Therefore, any remaining impurities will circulate through the ink system and then flow through the printhead, blocking the printhead channels.
Through microscopic analysis, most of these cases are caused by particle contamination (such as impurities such as metal particles, plastic particles or fibers). These Particles are not generated by the print head itself, but flow into it through the ink delivery system.
Saier Company explored the sources of these impurities and came to the following conclusions: First, in the printing press Impurities left in the ink system during initial installation; second, impurities produced by wear and tear of internal parts of the ink system; third, impurities produced by replacing the main filter during regular maintenance; fourth, from the vulnerable points of the ink system, For example, at the corners and pipe joints of the sub-ink tank, small particles gather into large impurities and are released during maintenance or replacement of ink.
▲Jet printing Microscopic picture of the head channel blocked by impurities
3. Xaar’s unique inline filter Solution
In order to successfully intercept impurities before they enter the print head, Sai Our company's original inline filter provides the last line of protection for the print head and can effectively solve the problem of missing jets caused by impurities in the ink system clogging the print head.
The filter is installed in the ink inlet pipe of each print head (or Xaar 2001+ inkjet Inside the two ink feed tubes of the printhead), rated at 50 microns, they work well with the size of the printhead channel to intercept any impurities that might clog the channel. Therefore, it can also be called the "last filter" or "impurity remover" of the print head.
Change inline filtering on the premise of using approved inks and well-maintained printing presses The printer can be used until the end of the printhead life cycle. If the filter does need to be replaced at some point, it is most likely due to too many impurities in the ink system. Without a filter, these impurities are likely to directly block the channel and cause a lack of jet flow. Compared with replacing the print head, replacing the filter is simpler and more affordable.
Note: The filter usually does not need to be installed at the outlet of the print head, and it is not recommended to use a reverse filter. To wash away. If the inline filter is adapted to the ink inlet, then there is no need to use reverse flushing, and therefore there is no need to use a filter on the ink outlet tube.
▲Seer inline filter
2. "True internal circulation patented technology" + "Mixed side injection"
The patented circulation technology (TF Technology®) and the patented structure of "Hybrid Side Shooter®" allow the ink to pass directly through the rear end of the nozzle hole at the industry's highest circulation flow rate during jetting, and the ink is in continuous circulation flow. , can avoid ink sedimentation and the resulting nozzle clogging, thereby ensuring that the print head can work reliably in the most severe working conditions, whether it is spraying in horizontal or side-by-side vertical mode.
3. 720DPI high resolution + large ink volume + dual ink paths
Xaar XAAR 2001 print head has an astonishing number of nozzles 2000, and has become the leader in its industry with its 720DPI resolution. Not only that, XAAR2001+ comes with two sets of ink channels, which can use one ink or two inks, making it more convenient and efficient to assemble the machine. At the same time, in the large ink volume coverage mode of 12-84pl ink droplets, 25/miThe inkjet coverage can reach 170g/㎡ at n line speed, and the inkjet coverage can reach 85g/㎡ at 25/min line speed under dual ink path mode.
4. X-ACT™ Microelectronic Mechanical Systems (MEMS) manufacturing process + Xaar Guard™ guard plate
Xaar 2001 print head uses Xaar’s X-ACT ™ microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) manufacturing process, resulting in a clear breakthrough in continuous and consistent quality for many single-pass wide-format printing applications. The Xaar 2001 printhead introduces Xaar Guard™, which provides strong protection for the nozzle plate. Together with other innovative designs, it can reduce the accumulation of ink on the nozzle plate, making the printhead suitable for different liquids and applications. The longest maintenance-free operation production cycle in the industry has been achieved.
▲Powered byXAAR2001+ print head printed products
In addition to the above-listed examples of evolution and upgrading of the series of printheads, Xaar is also accelerating the development of inkjet system technology and Applications, develops and provides printing ink systems, electronic components and liquid optimization services. Each of Saier's self-process improvements can be directly transformed into customer benefits. It is precisely because of its efforts in "continuous improvement" that Xaar's printheads have received unanimous praise from users.
The XAAR print head with patented technology has extremely high precision and excellent Versatility, amazing reliability, and suitability for high-volume production provide unparalleled performance for the decoration of ceramic products. Therefore, the Xaar 2001 series printheads have become the first choice for current manufacturers in the ceramic industry.
(Picture source: Enterprise)
