NEW | Procolored Printhead Safeguard System

Procolored Printhead Safeguard System

Dreaming for less printhead issues? Nay, not a wishful thinking anymore.
In early 2024, we’ve launched our patented Siphon White Ink Circulation System to help reduce nozzle clogging by heightening ink dynamic. Today we’re going to introduce another brand new technology - Procolored Printhead Safeguard System.

Written by Procolored - Published on Aug 23, 2024

8 minutes read

Written by Procolored - Published on Aug 23, 2024

PASSAGE SUMMARY

1. Why Always Printhead Issues?
2. Common Anti-Scraping Devices
3. Meet Procolored Printhead Safeguard System
3.1 What is it ?
3.2 How does it work ?
3.3 Why it excels ?
4. Compatible Products

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1. Why Always Printhead Issues?

When skimming printer products online and checking their reviews, you might have seen lots of complaints about printhead issues like printhead clogging or scraping. So why is printhead always the one that gets problems and halts a printing plan?

Direct ink contact: Printhead contains microscopic holes (nozzles) that spray out ink droplets. “Unfortunately”, to prevent itself from smudging and ruining printing, ink tend to be composed of special chemical compositions that get dried quickly on both printing mediums and nozzles, increasing possibilities of a clogged printhead.

Invasion of foreign objects: Printhead nozzle ranges from 20 to 50 microns - even finer than a human hair. When it encounters foreign objects, even as tiny as dust to human being, it can also get clogged or scraped easily, leading to inconsistent ink supply and poor printing effect. In most cases, a curved printing medium like paper or film can be such a foreign object that leads to possible printhead problems.

2. Common Anti-Scraping Devices

To avoid scraping from arched printing mediums or foreign objects, many printer brands have deployed anti-scraping devices on their products and the most commonly seen one on the current market is snap-action mechanical structure.
Snap-action device applies a micro switch with a detection metal strip installed on the side of the printhead assembly. When the metal strip touches an arched printing film or other foreign objects, it triggers the microswitch to stop the printer. Thanks to its easy configuration and cost-effective materials, snap-action device generally doesn’t cost much and is widely used on printing machines.
However, its functionality lags behind its competitiveness in price - since printing mediums like paper or film can be quite lightweight, the detection strip often fails to effectively sense their curvature and falls short of stopping printing timely - it successfully reduces the risk of printhead scraping by 20% only. Moreover, since the device can only achieve auto-stop by contact-based sensing, it may get contaminated easily by printed inks, causing false triggers and necessitating further maintenance.

3. Meet Procolored Printhead Safeguard System

To amend the shortcomings of the current anti-scraping devices, Procolored has collected feedback from our customers and experimented with several different methods, and now let’s meet the premium one - Procolored Printhead Safeguard System!

3.1 What is Procolored Printhead Safeguard System

Procolored Printhead Safeguard System applies diffused photoelectric detection technology to detect the printing status without making physical contact. When the photoelectric sensor detects lights reflected from the arched medium or foreign objects, the bounced off lights immediately trigger the control system and stop the printing action, evidently reducing the risk of printhead scraping by over 90% and effectively prolonging the lifespan of the printhead.

3.2 Working principle of the system

To better understand the differences between the Procolored anti-scraping system and others, let’s dive deep into the diffused photoelectric detection technology we’ve mentioned above.
The photoelectric detection system encompasses two main devices - LED light emitter and a photosensitive receiver, and it applies two main principles - diffuse reflection of light and triangulation theory.

Here’s how it works:

Set on side of printhead, the LED light emitter of the photoelectric detection unit will first emit LED light source (generally infrared light of specific wavelengths and intensity, to minimize the interference of external natural light).

The light will be directed onto the printing area. When it meets arched printing mediums like curved films or paper, or foreign objects, it will reflect diffused light back and get focused onto the photoreceiver through the receiver lens. At this moment, the emitter, curved print mediums/foreign objects, and receiver, all together form a dynamic triangle.

The photosensitive element on the receiver then converts the coming light signal into electrical signals, which later enter the processing circuit inside the receiver and get examined by a preset threshold (default factory setting and not-adjustable). When the curvature or foreign objects are significant enough to halt a successful printing, the electrical signals will exceed the threshold and trigger the protection action - the processing circuit opens, and the motor of the printhead assembly stops working immediately.

At the moment, the printer halts its operation with a double flashing alert, allowing the operator to step in, fix the issue, and make sure the printing area is flat, clean and properly aligned. The printhead assembly will then return to its base point after a printer restart to support further printing action.

3.3 Why the Procolored system excels?

A tidier detection process: Unlike most anti-scraping devices that apply contact-based detection, Procolored system applies light detection method. This will significantly reduces direct contact between the detection device and detected objects, guaranteeing a tidier detection and printing process.

Less maintenance needed: Contact-based detection might cause possible harm to the detection device, since foreign objects can be carried back to the device surface when they’re sensed by the metal strip, negatively affecting detection quality. Procolored system instead, proceeds detection via light sensing, presenting a high-tech detection with less maintenance needed.

Higher Efficiency: Triggered by sensitive light together with the intricate detection device, Procolored system provides an effective detection featuring quick reaction, instant notification and accurate feedback. It evidently reduces the risk of printhead scraping by over 90% and can effectively prolong the printhead’s longevity.

4. Compatible Products

So far the Procolored Printhead Safeguard System has passed the final inspection and will soon be employed on our DTF printers in the coming September, 2024. We sincerely look forward to launching this new technology to the public and redefining smart printing. Additionally, as always, we are open to any genuine feedback and are committed to providing ongoing support and updates to ensure the best possible user experience.

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