Design of an intermediate tank for an ink delivery system

Abstract

Due to future requirements for the HP large format printer printers, a change in the current intermediate tank is necessary. The intermediate tank is a device that allows the printer to keep working while the user is changing the supply and acts as an ink dispenser towards the printheads. Therefore, the objective of the following project has been the design and development of a series of prototypes to test the viability of implementing a new intermediate tank for such devices. On the first place, a study of the different possibilities has been done and the best options have been chosen. For that, it has been taken under consideration different aspects such as the previous experience of the staff and the resources available at a reasonable price. A first prototype has been designed using CAD software. The pieces have been made using 3D printers, extrusion and milling and then assembled. The functionality has been tested and proved. Then, two more different prototypes have also been made in order to improve some features. The automation of the prototypes has been done using a programming language and electronic devices. The final design that has proved to perform better has been a cylinder with a piston and o’rings. On one side it contents ink and on the other side pressurized air. The pressure of the air is responsible of moving the ink towards the printhead, while the inverse movement is produced when the refill pump is enabled. Finally, a set of tests with the selected design have been done and the proper functionality of the intermediate tank has been proved. Besides, technical documentation has been prepared in order to speed up the investigation in case it is attached to a major project to further develop it.