When Hewlett-Packard's Specialty Printing Systems division was developing its Versatile Black Bulk Ink System -- a robust and flexible bulk ink delivery system for high-volume print runs used in industrial packaging applications -- it turned to Colder Products Co for CPC's quick disconnect connection.
Based in St. Paul, MN, CPC has been providing standard and custom solutions to industrial, medical, chemical handling, packaging, and food dispensing markets for more than 25 years. The company designs and manufactures plastic quick disconnect couplings for flexible tubing that ensure easy, safe, and secure connecting and disconnecting for fluid handling systems in a broad range of applications, particularly in printing.
After investigating a number of off-the-shelf fluid connectors from different sources, the HP engineering team selected CPC's Series NS4 Non-Spill Coupling. The component provided the reliable, easy-to-use, low-cost connection the team needed.
"We suggested using a coupler with a non-spill shutoff valve," says Andy Hass, Industrial Business Unit manager, CPC. "This augmented the product design by helping to avoid messy ink spillage when the coupler is disconnected."
Extending Capabilities for High-Volume Printing
"Our recently developed Versatile Black Bulk Ink System extends the capabilities of Hewlett-Packard's TIJ 2.5 printing platform," says Daniel L. Briley, engineering manager, HP Specialty Printing Systems.
Designed for companies that execute large print runs and need a high-volume ink delivery system, the Versatile Black Bulk Ink System is a robust, advanced bulk ink delivery system that offers superior print quality, low cost per copy, and minimal user intervention. It allows design engineers to configure almost any combination of HP Q2320A printheads and HP Q2321A bulk ink supplies to achieve the desired print capability. The HP Q2320A printhead also produces high-quality, waterfast, and crisp 600 dpi output from 300 nozzles. The system uses black-pigmented aqueous ink in large volume ink supplies (350 cc) that can print on a wide range of substrates, including kraft, corrugated, and clay coated.
The industrial bulk ink delivery system is widely used for mail addressing, mail postage, carton coding, bar code printers, and many industrial applications that require long production runs, low cost per imprint, and reliable, user-friendly printing systems.
Connection Reduces Messy Ink Spills
The mechanical connections between the regulator assembly and the printheads are essential parts of the ink delivery system. Connections that are not secure or spillproof can lead to messy ink spills when disconnected, requiring increased operator involvement and potentially leading to costly job downtime. The SPS design team approached CPC to develop customized couplings for the new system that would minimize connection concerns and improve the serviceability of the printheads and ink supply system.
"The CPC experts worked very closely with our engineers to create a custom product that met our needs and strengthened our entire system," says Briley. "This strong partnership has enabled us to meet our cost, performance, and schedule targets, and offer a superior solution by virtually eliminating the potential for spills."
The Delivery System at Work
The HP Bulk Ink Delivery System allows for a bulk ink supply to be connected to one or several print cartridges. A fluid regulator system enables the ink supply to be located in virtually any convenient location and still maintain reliable and controlled ink delivery to the print cartridges. The modular ink supply station is linked through flexible tubing to the enclosed regulator assembly, which maintains pressure and ink flow, and flexible tubes connect the enclosed regulator assembly to the individual printhead stalls holding the printheads.
The tubing between the enclosed regulator assembly and the printheads can be easily connected and disconnected thanks to CPC's innovative Series NS4 Non-Spill Coupling. The NS4's non-spill shutoff valve is ideal for use in ink-handling applications. In addition to minimizing spills, the valve also automatically reduces air inclusion or trapped air that may lead to print quality problems and expensive system delays and maintenance.
Audible "Click" Confirms Secure Connection
"One feature that makes our couplings unique is an easy-to-use thumb latch to allow for secure, single-handed operation," says Hass. "An audible click confirms that a secure connection is made and assures a secure seal." The intuitive design of the NS4 is so simple that no tools are required to connect or disconnect the tubing and special training is not necessary for regular operation of the thermal inkjet system.
"The CPC connectors are an integral part of the Bulk Ink Delivery System," says Briley. "They enable our OEM customers to design a very modular, flexible, clean, and reliable printing solution that is tailored to the end-user needs. They can be placed in line to make the ink supply and the printheads easily accessible and interchangeable. Because printheads are separate from ink supplies, part changes have less impact on the running system."
