| 摘要 |
A system for adjusting the flow of fluid along the gutter line of a continuous inkjet printer includes a variable flow restrictor 1 fitted into the gutter line 3, and a pressure transducer 5 for measuring the pressure in the gutter line 3 downstream of the variable flow restrictor 1. The variable flow restrictor 1 is controlled in response to the output of the pressure transducer 5 in order to maintain the downstream pressure substantially constant. Since airflow along the gutter line 3 has a lower flow resistance than a slug of ink, the variable flow restrictor 1 will apply a greater flow restriction to the gutter line 3, in order to maintain constant pressure at the pressure transducer 5, when there is only air in the gutter line 3 as compared with when a slug of ink passes along the gutter line 3. Accordingly, the system responds dynamically to restrict the flow of air along the gutter line 3 when no ink is passing along it, thereby reducing the volume of air sucked along the gutter line 3 while maintaining adequate suction to clear ink reliably away from the gutter 103. This reduction in the amount of air passing along the gutter line 3 can reduce the amount of solvent lost from the ink during operation of an inkjet printer. |
