How Do Lee Control Valves Benefit Metabolic Monitors?

High-speed industrial inkjet printers must maintain precise meniscus pressure at the printhead to ensure accurate droplet formation and placement. Meniscus pressure control is vital—excess pressure can cause air ingestion and nozzle starvation, while insufficient pressure can lead to flooding or “wetting out.” Pressure pulsations can also introduce periodic print defects, all of which degrade print quality and increase costs.

Many current systems use motor-driven diaphragm pumps to provide meniscus bias pressure. These pumps generate pulsations and offer limited controllability, requiring additional components like pulsation dampers and proportional valves to achieve acceptable performance. This adds size, complexity, and limits design flexibility—especially in modular systems or when adjusting pressure for different printheads.

The Lee Company’s disc pumps address these issues with a smooth, pulsation-free output and exceptional controllability. Their compact size allows direct integration with the printhead, enabling a modular approach where vacuum levels can be tailored for each head or group of heads. By eliminating the need for extra pneumatic components, disc pumps simplify system design, reduce footprint, and improve serviceability.

This streamlined approach ensures stable meniscus pressure, consistent droplet formation, and high-quality output, even at production speeds. With reduced complexity, increased reliability, and space-saving integration, The Lee Company’s disc pumps offer an advanced solution for modern industrial inkjet systems demanding precision, efficiency, and adaptability.