CN101374667B

CN101374667B - Ink tank

Info

Publication number: CN101374667B
Application number: CN200780003185XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: 迪特尔·施特尔马赫
Original assignee: Phoenix Electric Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH and Co KG; Phoenix Electric Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 2006-01-20
Filing date: 2007-01-11
Publication date: 2010-09-01
Anticipated expiration: 2027-01-11
Also published as: DE102006003055A1; CN101374667A; WO2007087972A1; DE102006003055B4

Abstract

The invention relates to an ink tank for a printer having a print head, wherein the ink tank contains an extraction opening (23) for connection to the print head and, for receiving ink, has a trough (2) with a base (2.1) and side walls (2.2) and a lid (1) which is placed onto the side walls (2.2) and has a ventilation opening (6). In order to develop an ink tank of simple design for a printer, with which a constant vacuum can be realized in the ink tank, it is proposed that at least one intermediate wall (24) which is connected to the base (2.1) is arranged in the trough (2) transversely withrespect to the movement direction of the ink tank during the printing process, wherein the intermediate wall (24) has an aperture (18).

Description

Print cartridge

Technical field

The present invention relates to a kind of print cartridge that is used for ink-jet printer, wherein, in order to be connected with printhead, this print cartridge comprises SS, and in order to hold ink, this print cartridge has the black groove and the cover piece that is installed on the sidewall and has air vent that have bottom and sidewall, wherein, be provided with the partition that at least one is connected with described bottom in described print cartridge, it is arranged transverse to the direction of motion ground of print cartridge in print procedure in described black groove, and this partition has breach.

Background technology

Modal in practice ink-jet printer is the serial printer that has the printer housing, is provided with the slide parallel with the print line direction in this housing.Being equipped with a replaceable or dismountable ink tank and one on this slide usually is with it rigidly connected printhead.When serial printer was worked, this printhead and ink tank were moving between two slide ends with crossing on the slide, and paper and the slide of supplying with printer simultaneously vertically are transferred along direction of travel.

In the move mode that crosses, acceleration and brake force act on print cartridge and cause undulatory motion and the starting of oscillation of ink in print cartridge.Quantity of ink widely different that this has caused the pressure oscillation in the print cartridge and has caused supplying with printhead, and then caused ropy ink printed image.

The starting of oscillation of ink increases along with the increase of print cartridge size, so the arrangement of printhead and then ink printed image are subjected to negative influence.Particularly, when print cartridge and printhead are rigidly connected mutually, this just situation.In addition, starting of oscillation may cause ink for example to flow out from print cartridge by air vent.Therefore, need take preventive measures, to prevent the starting of oscillation of ink.

Another problem when obtaining ink printed image clearly is to guarantee to have several millibars negative pressure in the spray nozzle device at printhead.In the prior art that will describe below, this can guarantee by a kind of print cartridge of being furnished with ink absorber.

US 4,771, and 295A discloses a kind of print cartridge, use the foam core that has pore as the ink absorber that has air chamber in this print cartridge.This foam core constraint ink also prevents the starting of oscillation of ink whereby and spills.This foam core also prevents that whereby ink from flowing out because its cavernose hole produces negative pressure in print cartridge from the hole of print cartridge bottom side.Therefore, in configuration aspects advantageously, print cartridge can spatially be arranged on the top of nozzle.Yet generally, foam core can not fully bubble-freely be full of, thereby this type demonstrates the dependence to a certain degree that environmental air pressure is changed.

When expensively making this foam core that is used for print cartridge, be cut into a plurality of foam core through the macrofoam piece that bubbles.In this cutting process, indivedual small particles remain on the foam core, although these small particles can not be removed fully through cleaning arduously for several times.May be transported to nozzle and plug nozzle with China ink stream after these particulates.

Another important shortcoming when using foam block is the uneven distribution in hole and the difference in size in hole.

Therefore, the foam core that from same foam block, cuts out may the quantity in hole and big or small aspect may have very big difference.

Because the size and the quantity in hole have determined the negative pressure on the nozzle, in practice can by to do not meet quality requirement batch in the size in hole control the negative pressure of adjusting on the nozzle.

Crucial shortcoming is a foam to limited resistivity and its uncontrollable swelling in all non-water-soluble ink types of the ink that contains solvent.Decide and depend on temperature and period of storage, foam generation swelling on the internal substance of ink.Therefore, the size in hole has changed, and foaming correspondingly changes in the confining force of ink.

Even the amount of aspirating of the ink that is stored neither be gratifying, because there is the ink of most still to keep being stored in the foam.

DE 10059130A1 has advised using a kind of fibre bundle that has fibre gap as air chamber, replaces the foam as the ink absorber in the print cartridge.To realize that whereby better storage capacity and better ink flow, and avoid influence of air bubbles in filling process.

But still there is such shortcoming in this solution, and promptly each air chamber varying in size and can not control.

When extracting ink out by print procedure, ink at first breaks away from from bigger hole, and finds time to have formed air flue in fibre bundle along with continuing, so that the printhead suction is air, rather than ink, although and have enough ink deposits that interruption still can take place to print.

In addition, the liquid memory that is additionally provided with so-called bubble generator is open, for example described in EP 1022144A2.

This structure type is impelled the negative pressure that has necessity on the nozzle of printhead by the measure of taking to carry out negative pressure control in print cartridge, and therefore this toner cartridge type spatially is arranged in the top of nozzle.

But the shortcoming of this version is its environmental air pressure sensitivity to changing.When air pressure changed, ink can flow out or the printhead ink leak uncontrollably owing to form overvoltage in ink tank.

By passing through the nozzle ejection ink period stopping using of printer termly, this defective obtains relaxing, but therefore exhausted amount of ink has unnecessarily increased.Printer for seldom using has lost most ink by this way.In addition, need handle the ink of extracting out, this is expensive especially for non-water-soluble ink.

From known in the state of the art another kind of ink-cases of printers according to EP1366908A1.

In this known print cartridge, be provided with the wall portion that extends to the bottom.When the printhead scanning and printing was capable, these partitions prevented the starting of oscillation of so-called ink liquid in print procedure equally.These wall portions have the hole that is in differing heights, and ink passes through these orifice flows to outlet.The improvement of the pressure differential of these wall portions that use on the hydrodynamics that in the process of direction of motion acceleration print cartridge, can not cause the exit.And they are as the manufacturing cost height of optional feature, thus the subsidiary assembly cost of adding that produces.The wall portion that uses can rattle or vibration in their guide.This causes the wearing and tearing of material, thereby particulate may discharge from guide.This is breakneck and causes the obstruction of nozzle.

In addition, be regarded as disadvantageously, each next door is used as the profiled member of the single independent formation in the guide of the chute-type that is in particular its design in the black groove.Therefore, produce or the manufacturing cost height, because this print cartridge can only be produced under the different component condition of manufacturing.And this print cartridge can not be produced under the condition of sliding part not having injection mold and do not have, and this has increased production or manufacturing cost.

Summary of the invention

Therefore, task of the present invention is to develop a kind of ink-cases of printers simple in structure, and by the constant negative pressure in this print cartridge realization print cartridge, wherein, particularly manufacturing and production cost keep lowly as far as possible.

According to the present invention, this task is solved by a kind of print cartridge, wherein, in order to be connected with printhead, this print cartridge comprises SS, and in order to hold ink, this print cartridge has the black groove and the cover piece that is installed on the sidewall and has air vent that have bottom and sidewall, wherein, in described print cartridge, be provided with the partition that at least one is connected with described bottom, it is arranged transverse to the direction of motion ground of print cartridge in print procedure in described black groove, and this partition has breach, described breach is arranged in the join domain with described bottom, and described bottom has closed hole below the described breach and in the imaginary prolongation at described partition, and this hole is surrounded by annular protrusion and can be by a ball sealing.

This print cartridge is connected with the printhead of printer by SS, and in order to hold ink, this print cartridge has the black groove and a cover piece that is connected and has air vent by sidewall and black groove that have bottom and sidewall.

In addition, be provided with at least one transverse to print cartridge when printing the direction of motion and directed and partition that be connected with black trench bottom, this partition has breach.This partition is divided into a plurality of chambers with print cartridge.Therefore, ink is restricted about the freedom of motion of the direction of motion of print cartridge in print procedure, and has advantageously avoided the pressure oscillation on the hydrodynamics on the one hand whereby.On the other hand, reduced difference to printhead ink supplied amount.By like this, guarantee to produce ink printed image clearly.

Except these advantages, can save the ink absorber that is used for storage ink for print cartridge of the present invention, thereby realize that under the measure-alike situation of print cartridge obviously bigger being used to hold the free volume of ink.

In addition, can from print cartridge of the present invention to printhead ink supplied amount therefore also than bigger a kind of print cartridge that has ink absorber according to prior art, because most ink is supplied to printhead, and does not have the residual ink of residual significant in print cartridge.On the contrary, some ink maintenance always is constrained in this ink absorber in having the print cartridge of ink absorber.And print cartridge of the present invention can be saved the expense of ink absorber.

Guaranteed that by the breach in the partition ink can flow to another chamber and the liquid level difference each chamber obtains balance from a chamber.Therefore, realized that advantageously the fluid connection from unique chamber to printhead just is enough to ink is transported to printhead from all chambers.According to the present invention, designed in addition, breach is arranged in the join domain with the bottom.Therefore, realize such advantage, also can flow into other chambers and liquid level difference obtains balance promptly or even when chamber is in low ink level from a chamber.

In addition, also designed in the present invention: below the breach and in the imaginary prolongation at partition closed hole is being set.Realize such advantage by this closed hole is set, the black groove that promptly has partition and breach can be made by the plastics injection mould that does not have the sliding part that is used to form breach.Like this, manufacturing cost keeps lower.

The present invention has also designed: a plurality of partitions are set in print cartridge.This is favourable, because can store bigger quantity of ink whereby, and is not increased in pressure oscillation on the hydrodynamics on the nozzle of printhead.In addition, by being set, several partitions can also realize such advantage, promptly can also enlarge the size of print cartridge significantly and then enlarge the free volume that it is used to hold ink, and pressure oscillation serious in the print cartridge can not take place and/or supply with the difference of the quantity of ink of printhead.

Carry out following design in the favourable improvement project of another kind: the bottom has a groove that forms along the direction that deviates from cover piece as ink reservoir, and a suction tube stretches in this groove with the end of its suction side, and this suction tube is used for supplying with ink to printhead.Therefore, the ink of largest portion can be transported to printhead from print cartridge.The ink residual fraction that does not have to use that remains in the print cartridge has obviously reduced.

When storing and carry printing ink, flow out and prevent that ink from spilling from print cartridge for fear of ink, be provided with the closure elements of valve as SS and air vent.These valves compatibly mechanical aspects and/or electric aspect be controllable and be arranged on SS and air vent in.

Make print cartridge inexpensively and can realize that wherein, advantageously, cover piece and black groove lump together by inexpensive buckle johning knot by using plastic injection piece.

Description of drawings

Describe the present invention in detail by embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 shows the stereogram of the extraction side of the ink-cases of printers that has two valves;

Fig. 2 shows the stereogram of the bottom side of the print cartridge that has ink reservoir;

Fig. 3 shows the longitudinal sectional view of the print cartridge that has ink reservoir, has a suction tube to insert in this ink reservoir;

Fig. 4 shows and has a transverse sectional view of closing with the print cartridge of the valve of a unlatching;

Fig. 5 shows and has the transverse sectional view of print cartridge that sets within it and have the partition of breach, and these breach constitute the interface channel between each ink chamber.

List of numerals

1 cover piece

2 black grooves

2.1 bottom

2.2 sidewall

3 adapters

4 cross pins

5 cross pins

6 air vents

7 ink reservoirs

8 annular protrusions

9 annular protrusions

10 annular protrusions

11 annular protrusions

13 sealing rings

14 profiled members

15 compression springs

16 suction tubes

17 sealing rings

18 breach

19 balls

20 profiled members

21 sealing rings

22 special-shaped circles

23 SSs

24 partitions

25 ventilation ducts

26 balls

27 holes

28 compression springs

29 chambers

The specific embodiment

Of the present inventionly be used for the unshowned print cartridge that has the printer of printhead and when print job, be arranged on below the printhead at least.By this setting with respect to printhead, on the nozzle of printhead, produced negative pressure, this negative pressure is essential for print image clearly.

The print cartridge that is used for unshowned printer as Fig. 1 and 2 comprises a cover piece 1, and also comprises a black groove 2 of quadrate basically in order to hold ink, and this China ink troughed belt has a bottom 2.1 that is surrounded by sidewall 2.2.Cover piece 1 connects by buckle or the chucking connection thickly is connected with sidewall 2.2 liquid.In order to seal, between cover piece 1 and sidewall 2.2, embed one around sealing ring 17.

Alternatively, cover piece 1 also can thickly weld with sidewall 2.2 liquid or be bonding.

On the side surface of cover piece 1, be provided with the cross pin 4,5 of injection moulding, print cartridge removably be fixed on device in the unshowned printer housing as being used for.

Cover piece 1 has a SS 23 and an air vent 6.Be provided with valve in SS 23 and air vent 6, these valves have the profiled member 14 that is used for these valves of opening and closing.

As shown in Figure 3, the suction tube 16 that starts from cover piece 1 stretches in the print cartridge.This suction tube exceeds cover piece 1 adapter 3 that give prominence to and that be placed in the SS 23 by one and is extended (referring to Fig. 1), and this adapter is a kind of and the simple connected mode of unshowned printhead.In suction tube 16, on the height of cover piece 1, be provided with a valve.Except the profiled member 14 that plays sealing process, this valve also comprises special-shaped circle 12, unique sealing ring 13 and compression spring 15.The structure of the valve 6 that uses in air vent 6 is identical with the valve that uses in suction tube 16.Fig. 4 shows the valve that uses that is under its closed condition in air vent 6.Be preferably designed so that spherical profiled member 20 is pressed against on the sealing ring 21 that is located between special-shaped circle 22 and the cover piece 1 by compression spring here.This valve can 2.1 direction moves and opens towards the bottom by profiled member 20.This for example can realize by the unshowned bar-shaped executive component that is fixed on the cover piece 1.

As seen, in black groove 2, be provided with a plurality of partitions 24 that are connected with bottom 2.1 from Figure 4 and 5.These partitions are directed and print cartridge is divided into a plurality of chambers 29 transverse to the direction of motion of print cartridge in print procedure.In the join domain between partition 24 and bottom 2.1, each partition 24 is provided with at least one breach 18, to guarantee the ink level balance in chamber 29.

Because manufacture view, bottom 2.1 is comprising closed hole 27 below the breach 18 and in the imaginary prolongation at affiliated partition 24.These holes 27 are by

annular protrusion

8,9, and 10,11 encirclements are also sealed by a ball 26 separately with the elasticity of improving wall.

The bottom 2.1 of China ink groove 2 comprises a groove that is designed to ink reservoir 7, and this groove forms towards the direction that deviates from cover piece 1.

From SS 23, suction tube 16 stretches in this groove with the end of its suction side.Suction tube 16 is used for being connected with the fluid of the printhead (not shown) of a printer.In order to extract the indivisible of the ink that is arranged in print cartridge out, this groove is the minimum point of print cartridge on the one hand, and last residual ink accumulates in this minimum point place.On the other hand, correspondingly moulding of this groove and suction tube.

Of the present invention be used for the unshowned print cartridge that has the printer of printhead when print job, be arranged at least printhead below.By this setting with respect to printhead, on the nozzle of printhead, produce negative pressure, this negative pressure is essential for print image clearly.

Claims

1. be used to have the print cartridge of the printer of printhead, wherein, in order to be connected with printhead, this print cartridge comprises SS (23), and in order to hold ink, this print cartridge has the black groove (2) and the cover piece (1) that is installed on the sidewall (2.2) and has air vent (6) that have bottom (2.1) and sidewall (2.2), wherein, in described print cartridge, be provided with the partition (24) that at least one is connected with described bottom (2.1), it is arranged transverse to the direction of motion ground of print cartridge in print procedure in described black groove (2), and this partition (24) has breach (18), it is characterized in that, described breach (18) is arranged in the join domain with described bottom (2.1), and described bottom (2.1) in the below of described breach (18) and have closed hole (27) in the imaginary prolongation of described partition (24), and this hole is by annular protrusion (8,9,10,11) surround and can seal by a ball (26).

2. print cartridge as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, described bottom (2.1) have a groove that forms along the direction that deviates from cover piece (1) as ink reservoir (7).

3. print cartridge as claimed in claim 2 is characterized in that, described groove design becomes special-shaped and as the lowest part of bottom (2.1).

4. print cartridge as claimed in claim 2 is characterized in that, a suction tube (16) stretches in the described groove with the end of its suction side, and this suction tube is used for supplying with ink to printhead.

5. print cartridge as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, is provided with a plurality of valves, as the closure elements that is used for described SS (23) and air vent (6).

6. print cartridge as claimed in claim 5 is characterized in that, described a plurality of valves are controllable in mechanical aspects and/or aspect electric.

7. print cartridge as claimed in claim 6 is characterized in that, described a plurality of valves are arranged in described SS (23) and the air vent (6).

8. print cartridge as claimed in claim 6 is characterized in that, at least one valve is to be subjected to elastic force control and to work in described a plurality of valves.

9. print cartridge as claimed in claim 5 is characterized in that, is provided with the closure elements of profiled member (14,20) as at least one valve in described a plurality of valves.

10. print cartridge as claimed in claim 9 is characterized in that, described closure elements is designed to ball (19).

11. print cartridge as claimed in claim 5 is characterized in that, described a plurality of valves comprise a sealing ring (13,21) respectively.

12. print cartridge as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, described cover piece (1) and black groove (2) tighten mutually and use around sealing ring (17) sealing.

13. print cartridge as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, described cover piece (1) and black groove (2) by around and liquid thickly be welded on their link position.

14. each described print cartridge in the claim is characterized in that as described above, described print cartridge has the device that is used for removably being fixed in the printer housing.

15. print cartridge as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, described SS (23) is arranged in the cover piece (1).