Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs) about Ink Pumps for Continuous Inkjet Printers(CIJ)

You will find the following information here:

• What is CIJ?
• What is the primary application of continuous inkjet printers?
• How does continuous inkjet printing work?
• How is a continuous inkjet system formed?
• Common issues with ink pumps in continuous inkjet printers
• TOPSFLO CIJ ink pumps Solution
• How to Get in Touch with TOPSFLO for Expert Assistance?

What is CIJ?

CIJ stands for Continuous Inkjet, CIJ is a small character inkjet printing technology that uses a single inkjet nozzle to rapidly spray ink into tiny droplets, forming printed images or text. CIJ printers are widely used worldwide and are a non-contact printing method, making them suitable for marking on both flat and curved surfaces. They are primarily used in industrial applications for product packaging, labeling, and coding.

What are the Main Applications of Continuous Inkjet Printers?

Continuous inkjet printers are primarily used to mark production dates, batch numbers, barcodes, and other information on the surfaces of various materials such as plastic, metal, glass, cardboard, and wood. Typical applications include beverage cartons, cans, and bags, pharmaceuticals, small cardboard boxes, cables, and components. Virtually any product or packaging that moves on a conveyor belt or extrusion machine is suitable for continuous inkjet printing.

How does Continuous Inkjet Printers Work?

Continuous inkjet printers create a continuous stream of ink, which is broken down into numerous ink droplets through high-frequency vibrations. Once the ink droplets are formed, the selected ones are charged by electrodes and then directed by a deflection plate that generates an electrostatic field.

Charged ink droplets pass through the deflection plate, causing them to deviate at a specific angle before being sprayed from the print head onto the product to create the desired printed information. Uncharged ink droplets remain unaffected and return directly to the CIJ ink system.

During this printing process, the solvent base of the ink evaporates, and the viscosity of the ink changes accordingly. To ensure the optimal droplet formulation, viscosity must be strictly controlled within specified values.

How is a Continuous Inkjet System Formed?

In continuous inkjet (CIJ) printing, ink circulates continuously throughout the printer, from the fluid system to the printhead, and then back to the fluid system. The entire ink path system involves several pumps working in coordination.

1. Initially, ink is transported from a large container to an ink reservoir using a transfer pump (①).
2. Subsequently, the ink is pressurized and transferred to the printhead using a pressure pump (②). Inside the printhead, the ink flows through nozzles, forming a continuous array of small ink droplets, each of which can be individually charged. Charged droplets are deflected by electrodes and hit the object to be printed.
3. Additionally, uncharged ink droplets fly in a straight line into a gutter, and excess ink is recirculated from this point back to the ink reservoir using a recirculation/suction/recovery pump (③).
4. To prevent the ink from drying and damaging the system when the printer is not in use, a refill solvent pump (④) is typically included in the continuous inkjet system. This pump delivers solvent to the nozzles to flush out any residual ink.

Through these steps, a continuous inkjet system can continuously supply ink and achieve high-speed, efficient inkjet printing.

Common Issues with Ink Pumps in Continuous Inkjet Printers

1. In the current market, there is a wide variety of ink types used in CIJ printers, each with different viscosities. These different ink compositions may contain additives, some of which can be corrosive, leading to compatibility issues with pump materials that can cause malfunctions or a very short lifespan.

2. Instability in the liquid circuit pressure and ink flow during the operation of the inkjet printer can affect the printing results.

Continuous inkjet printing requires prolonged periods of operation. Over time, continuous use may result in wear and tear, potentially leading to a decline in performance or malfunctions, thus compromising the printer's lifespan.

TOPSFLO CIJ ink pumps Solution

• Diverse Pump Materials

Topsflo printer ink pumps offer a variety of pump material configurations to accommodate common CIJ ink types, such as MEK, dye-based inks, pigment inks, and soft pigment inks. The pump head materials for diaphragm pumps can be selected from PA, PPS, or PP, while membrane materials can be chosen from EPDM or PTFE. For valve materials, options include EPDM, FKM, or FFKM. YT alloy gear pumps are mainly used for pigment inks, while PEEK gears can be used for dye-based inks.

• Carefully Selected Pump Types for Precise Applications

Topsflo offers two pump options tailored for printer applications: diaphragm pumps and gear pumps.

- Diaphragm liquid pumps, especially those designed for low-flow rates, provide relatively stable flow and pressure output. They are more suitable for handling liquids containing solid particles or particulate matter because their design is better suited for handling suspended particles. However, in high-flow applications, diaphragm pumps may produce larger pulses, which could lead to vibration or noise issues.

- Gear pumps are suitable for printers that require a large volume of ink. They offer stable flow and pressure output with lower pulsation. Compared to ordinary gear pumps on the market, TOPSFLO gear pumps use high-precision gears and component control to ensure smooth flow, minimal pulsation, and adjustable output pressure stability.

TOPSFLO engineers can determine which pump is better suited for your application based on your printing requirements, including the desired flow rate, accuracy, pulsation, noise level, ink properties, and whether they contain solid particles, among other factors.

• Long-lasting Lifetime for Stable Printing Assurance

Both Topsflo diaphragm pumps and gear pumps are equipped with high-performance brushless motors developed in-house.

The coreless brushless motor in the diaphragm pump boasts a lifespan of up to 15,000 hours, while the gear pump utilizes a high-performance, in-house designed and manufactured brushless three-phase motor with a lifespan exceeding 30,000 hours, requiring no maintenance.

These brushless motors do not produce sparks, static electricity, or electromagnetic interference during operation, ensuring safety and allowing the pumps to run continuously in high-demand inkjet printing tasks.

How to Get in Touch with TOPSFLO for Expert Assistance?

Maintaining a consistently stable flow and using ink fluids with the appropriate viscosity are crucial for overall printing quality. Any abnormalities in the ink supply system can lead to poor printing quality, error messages, and even costly product recalls. Therefore, choosing the right ink pump for your continuous inkjet printer is of utmost importance.

TOPSFLO specializes in the development and production of various micro pumps for printers. They have extensive experience and pump solutions, and they offer customized services to meet different customer needs. Please contact their sales engineers for printer pump application cases and pump information! Email: [email protected] or [email protected]