CN1294019C - Ink reservoir for inkjet printer - Google Patents

Ink reservoir for inkjet printer Download PDF

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Publication number
CN1294019C
CN1294019C CNB008173729A CN00817372A CN1294019C CN 1294019 C CN1294019 C CN 1294019C CN B008173729 A CNB008173729 A CN B008173729A CN 00817372 A CN00817372 A CN 00817372A CN 1294019 C CN1294019 C CN 1294019C
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China
Prior art keywords
ink
capillary
extrudate
ink reservoir
fiber
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Expired - Fee Related
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CNB008173729A
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Chinese (zh)
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CN1411411A (en
Inventor
D·奥尔森
J·K·皮尤
D·C·约翰森
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HP Inc
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Hewlett Packard Co
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Priority claimed from US09/430,400 external-priority patent/US6460985B1/en
Application filed by Hewlett Packard Co filed Critical Hewlett Packard Co
Publication of CN1411411A publication Critical patent/CN1411411A/en
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Publication of CN1294019C publication Critical patent/CN1294019C/en
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
    • B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
    • B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
    • B41J2/17503—Ink cartridges
    • B41J2/17559—Cartridge manufacturing
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
    • B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
    • B41J2/17503—Ink cartridges
    • B41J2/17513—Inner structure

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Ink Jet (AREA)
  • Nonwoven Fabrics (AREA)

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a method of manufacturing a capillary member (40) for use in an ink reservoir (34) for providing ink to an inkjet printhead (24). The method includes extruding a three dimensional capillary member (70). The method further includes cutting the extrusion (70) at a discrete length that corresponds to at least one dimension of an ink reservoir (34).

Description

Make capillary tube member and the method that is used for the ink reservoir of ink-jet printer
The mutual reference of related application
The present invention is a U.S. Patent Application Serial Number 09/430,400 part continues patent application, the proxy records 10991407-1 of this U.S. Patent application, exercise question is " ink reservoir (Ink Reservoir For An Inkjet Printer) that is used for ink-jet printer ", on October 29th, 1999, application transferred assignee of the present invention.
Technical field
The method that the present invention relates to make capillary tube member and the ink tank of ink is provided to ink-jet printer.Particularly, the present invention relates to this ink tank, the ink that it uses thermo-bonded web to make ink tank keep ink and controlled release is provided from this ink tank.
Background technology
Ink-jet printer uses the ink jet-print head that is installed in the balladeur train usually, and printhead moves around on print media such as paper.When printhead moved around on print media, control system starting printhead precipitated or sprays ink droplet to form image and literal on print media.Ink or carry or offer printhead by being installed in the ink source that does not move on the print system with balladeur train by balladeur train.
Do not carry at balladeur train under the situation of ink source, ink source can by use conduit and printhead continuously fluid be communicated with to make printhead fill ink continuously.Perhaps, can by printhead near the Filling Station placement of being convenient to printhead and ink source are coupled together, so that printhead is connected with ink source off and on.
Carry at balladeur train under the situation of ink source, ink source and printhead can become one, thereby replace whole printhead and ink source when ink uses up.Perhaps, the balladeur train portability has ink source and can separate with printhead and changes.Under the situation that ink source can separately be changed, replaceable ink source when ink uses up, and printhead is changed when print head longevity finishes.No matter where ink source is arranged in print system, importantly ink source will provide reliable ink feed to ink jet-print head.
Except ink is offered ink jet-print head, also often provide extra function at print system China and Mexico water source, as remain on the negative pressure that is commonly referred to back pressure in ink source and the ink jet-print head.This negative pressure must remain on a subatmospheric value so that the head that is associated with ink source is pressed enough greatly, to prevent ink or to leak from ink source or from ink jet-print head, is commonly referred to hydrostomia.In storing and work, ink-jet printer on the temperature and atmospheric broad range of experience, require ink source that negative pressure or back pressure are provided.
Previous already used a kind of negative pressure generation device is a kind of porous member that can produce capillary pressure, as the ink absorption part.Once used reticulated polyurethane foam as this ink absorption part, its people such as Baker, exercise question is disclosed for " have improved ink is stored and the hot ink-jet pen agent structure (Thermal Inkjet Pen Body Construction HavingImproved Ink Storage and Feed Capability) of conveying capacity ", on September 13rd, 1988, transferred in the assignee's of the present invention United States Patent (USP) 4771295 and disclose.
At present ink source is also had a kind of requirement, promptly it can make full use of material and relatively easy manufacturing the at a low price, thereby reduces the cost of ink source, and this will reduce the expense of every page of printing.In addition, these ink tanks should be volume efficient, with ink source that a kind of relative compact is provided to reduce the overall dimension of print system.Also have, these ink sources should constitute to optimize the size of print system with different shaping key elements.At last, these ink sources should be compatible to prevent the pollution of these inks with the ink that uses in the ink-jet print system.The pollution of ink will be shortened the life-span of printhead and reduce print quality.
Summary of the invention
One aspect of the present invention relates to be manufactured on the method for using in the ink reservoir that is used for providing the capillary tube member of ink to ink jet-print head.This method comprises and squeezes out a kind of three-dimensional capillary tube member.This method also comprises to cut off extrudate with the corresponding separation length of at least one size of ink reservoir.
Particularly, propose a kind of method of making capillary tube member, capillary tube member is used in the ink reservoir that ink is provided to ink jet-print head, and this method comprises:
Squeeze out three-dimensional rectangle capillary extrudate; With
With with height dimension, width dimensions and the length dimension of ink reservoir in the matched separation length of at least one size cut off extrudate;
Wherein before extruding three-dimensional capillary extrudate, form the biconstitutent fibre net, every fiber has the core material of being surrounded by skin material, and fleece has the fiber alignment axis, heat this biconstitutent fibre net, make the contact point place of individual fibers in whole capillary extrudate hot melt knot each other;
Wherein after extruding the three-dimensional capillary extrudate of forming by the biconstitutent fibre net that adds thermosetting extrudate shape, make three-dimensional capillary extrudate cooling have the self supporting structure of the void space that interconnects with formation.
In a preferred embodiment, three-dimensional capillary tube member be in ink reservoir, be used to keep ink this fleece of fleece at the contact point place each other the hot melt knot come ink reservoir to limit the capillary storaging piece, this fibroreticulate at least one fiber is a biconstitutent fibre, and this biconstitutent fibre has core material and surrounds the skin material of core material to small part.Core material is a polypropylene, and skin material is a PETG.
The present invention also proposes a kind of manufacturing and provides the method for the ink tank of ink to ink jet-print head, and this method comprises:
Formation has the ink reservoir of height dimension, width dimensions and length dimension, and this ink reservoir has fluid issuing so that ink flows out from ink reservoir along the height dimension direction;
Extrude the rectangular capillary material, this capillary material has to be extruded width and is orthogonal to the height dimension of extruding length dimension, wherein extrudes the width dimensions fit of width and ink reservoir; With
To cut off extrudate with the matched separation length of the length dimension of ink reservoir;
Wherein before extruding three-dimensional capillary tube member, form the biconstitutent fibre net, every fiber has the core material of being surrounded by skin material, and fleece has the fiber alignment axis, heat this biconstitutent fibre net, make the contact point place of individual fibers in whole capillary tube member hot melt knot each other;
Wherein after extruding the three-dimensional capillary tube member of forming by the biconstitutent fibre net that adds thermosetting extrudate shape, make three-dimensional capillary tube member cooling have the self supporting structure of the void space that interconnects with formation;
Comprise that also the capillary material of extruding that will cut off inserts ink reservoir, this capillary material to extrude length dimension vertical mutually with fluid issuing; With ink is distributed to ink reservoir so that capillary tube member blotting therein.
Description of drawings
Fig. 1 is the exemplary embodiment that comprises the ink-jet printer of ink tank of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is ink tank of the present invention and accepts the diagram of ink with the ink jet-print head of finishing printing from ink tank;
Fig. 3 is the exploded view of ink tank of the present invention, the storage cover that ink reservoir is shown, is used to insert the fusion fleece of memory and is used to close reservoir;
Fig. 4 A represents fusion fleece shown in Figure 3;
The perspective view that Fig. 4 B amplifies for the height that is intercepted along the fibroreticulate line 4B-4B of the fusion of the ink reservoir shown in Figure 3 of the insertion among Fig. 4 A;
Fig. 5 A is the filamentary sectional view that is intercepted along the line 5-5 among Fig. 4;
Fig. 5 B is another embodiment of fiber shown in Fig. 4, and it has the core segment of cross shaped head or X-shaped shape;
The sectional view at a pair of fiber of contact point place fusion of Fig. 6 for being intercepted along the line 6-6 among Fig. 4;
Fig. 7 is the simplification diagrammatic sketch of the method for filling ink source shown in Figure 3 among the present invention;
But Fig. 8 is the diagrammatic sketch of the ink tank that is communicated with the ink jet-print head fluid shown in Fig. 3;
Fig. 9 is the diagrammatic sketch of the method for ink tank of the present invention shown in the shop drawings 3 of the present invention;
Figure 10 is that the extrudate of the present invention shown in proportion is at the perspective view that is cut before forming the capillary storaging piece;
Figure 11 is the flow chart that is used to make the method for ink tank of the present invention of the present invention.
The specific embodiment
Fig. 1 is the perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of print system 10, its lid is shown is in open mode, wherein comprises an ink tank 12 of the present invention at least.In being discussed, the present invention is used to make that to go through ink tank first before the method for ink tank 12 of the present invention will be helpful.Print system 10 comprises that at least one is installed in the ink jet-print head (not shown) on the printer section 14.The ink jet-print head response comes ink-jet from the initiating signal of printer section 14.Ink jet-print head is filled ink by ink tank 12.
Ink jet-print head is preferably mounted in the scanning balladeur train 18, and moves with respect to the print media shown in Fig. 1.Perhaps, ink jet-print head is fixed, and print media moves through printhead to finish printing.Ink-jet printer part 14 comprises that medium pallet 20 is to accept print media 22.When print area was passed through in print media 22 steppings, the scanning balladeur train made printhead move with respect to print media 22.Printer section 14 is selectively started printhead to precipitate or to spray ink droplet to finish printing on print media.
Print system 10 as shown in fig. 1 illustrates two removable ink containers 12, and its of expression is used for ink tank 12 and ink tank 12 that comprises that cyan, magenta and three yellow looks separate of black ink, allows to print with four kinds of pigment.Method and apparatus of the present invention can be applicable on the print system 10 of using other configuration, uses greater or less than 4 kinds of ink colors as print system 10, as is applied in the high fidelity printing of 6 kinds of common uses or more colors.
Fig. 2 is the diagrammatic sketch of print system 10, and it comprises ink source or ink tank 12, ink jet-print head 24 and is used for making ink tank 12 and the fluid interconnection spare 26 of printhead 24 fluids connection.
Printhead 24 comprises shell 28 and ink ejection part 30.The initiating signal of ink ejection part 30 response printer section 14 is finished printing with ink-jet.Shell 28 limits little ink reservoir and is ejected the ink 32 that part 30 is used for ink-jet to hold.When ink jet-print head 24 sprayed inks or uses up the ink 32 that is stored in the shell 28, ink tank 12 made printhead 24 fill ink.The quantity of ink that is contained in the ink tank 12 is obvious usually greater than the quantity of ink that is contained in the shell 28.Therefore, ink tank 12 is main ink sources of printhead 24.
Ink tank 12 comprises the reservoir 34 with fluid issuing 36 and air intake 38.Fleece is arranged in the reservoir 34, this fleece be contact point place heat fused to limit capillary (storage) part 40.Capillary (storage) part 40 is carried out several critical functions in ink-jet print system 10.Capillary (storage) part 40 must have sufficient capillarity to keep ink, leaks from reservoir 34 during ink tank 12 inserts from print system 10 and takes out to prevent ink.This capillary force must be enough greatly to prevent that ink from leaking from reservoir 34 under the various environmental conditions situation that for example temperature and pressure changes.Capillarity should be enough to make on all directions of reservoir 34 ink to remain on ink tank 12 neutralization to bear the shock and vibration that ink tank 12 in operation may stand.
In case ink tank 12 is implemented in the print system 10, but and be communicated with the printhead fluid by fluid interconnection spare 26, capillary (storage) part 40 should allow ink to flow on the ink jet-print head 24 from ink tank 12.When ink jet-print head 24 sprayed inks from spraying part 30, negative gauge pressure was also referred to as back pressure sometimes, sets up in printhead 24.Negative gauge pressure in printhead 24 should be enough to overcome ink is remained on capillary force in capillary (storage) part 40, thereby allows ink to flow to printhead 24 from ink tank 12, up to reaching balance.In case reach balance, the gauge pressure in the printhead 24 equals ink is remained on capillary force in the ink tank 12, and ink is no longer from ink tank 12 toward print head 24.Gauge pressure in the printhead 24 will depend on usually from the speed of ink ejection part 30 ejection inks.Gauge pressure when print speed or jet speed increase in the printhead becomes bigger negative pressure, makes ink to flow to printhead 24 from ink tank 12 at a high speed.In a preferred embodiment of ink-jet print system 10, printhead 24 produces the negative gauge pressure that equals the maximum back pressure of 10 inches (254mm) water or equal 10 inches (254mm) water.
Printhead 24 can be included in one of them adjusting device, to compensate for example environment change of temperature and pressure variation.If these variations are not compensated, ink may take place so from the 30 uncontrolled leakages of printhead ejection part.In the structure of some print system 10, printhead 24 does not comprise adjusting device.What replace is to remain on the negative back pressure above the normal pressure and temperature excursion in the printhead 24 with capillary tube member 40.The capillary force of capillary tube member 40 will retract capillary tube member to ink, thereby set up a less negative back pressure in printhead 24.Less negative back pressure will prevent that ink from leaking or flow out from ejection part 30 in as the change of the atmospheric environment of pressure change and temperature change.Capillary tube member 40 should provide enough big back pressure or negative gauge pressure to prevent ink the stream birth to take place under normal storage and condition of work in printhead 24.
Ink tank 12 is shown embodiment among Fig. 2 and printhead 24 can be changed respectively separably.Ink tank 12 can be replaced when ink uses up, and printhead 24 can be replaced to the end the time in the life-span.Method and apparatus of the present invention can be applicable in the ink-jet print system 10 of other structure of those structures that are not shown in Figure 2.For example, ink tank 12 and printhead 24 can be formed an independent print cartridge by integral body.When the ink in the box uses up, the replaceable then print cartridge that comprises ink tank 12 and printhead 24.
Ink tank 12 shown in Fig. 2 and printhead 24 comprise monochromatic ink.Perhaps, ink tank 12 can be separated into three chambeies that separate, and each chamber comprises the ink of different colours.In this case, requiring has three printheads 24, and each printhead and ink tank 12 interior different cavity fluids are communicated with.Also have other structure, link to each other with ink tank 12, and printhead is separated and each ink color is provided for the different separating parts of printhead or ejection part 30 if any more or less chamber.
Fig. 3 is the exploded view of ink tank 12 shown in Figure 2.Ink tank 12 comprises ink reservoir 34, capillary tube member 40 and covers 42 that lid has air intake 38 and enters ink reservoir 34 to allow air.Capillary tube member 40 is inserted into ink reservoir 34.Reservoir 34 is filled ink, and this point will go through in Fig. 7, and lid 42 is placed on the ink reservoir 34 with sealing storage.In a preferred embodiment, each in height, width and the length of being represented respectively by H, W and L is respectively all greater than one inch (25.4mm), so that a big capacity ink tank 12 to be provided.
In the preferred embodiment, capillary tube member 40 of the present invention is formed by the fleece at the contact point heat fused.These fibers are preferably formed by biconstitutent fibre, this biconstitutent fibre has crust and core material, crust is formed by the polyester of for example PETG (PET) or its copolymer, core material is formed by low price, low shrinkage and high-intensity thermoplastic polymer, is preferably polypropylene or polybutylene terephthalate.
Fleece is preferably by fiber melt-blowing technology and forms.For this fiber melt-blowing technology, the melt index of the core material that hope is selected for use is similar to the melt index of sheath polymer.Use this fiber melt-blowing technology, the major requirement of core material is that it is crystallization when being extruded, and perhaps it is crystallizable in this fiber melt-blowing technical process.Therefore, the thermoplastic polymer of other highly crystalline, for example high density PETG and polyamide, for example nylon and nylon 66 also can use.Polypropylene is preferred core material, and this is because its price is low and processing easily.In addition, use the polypropylene cores material that the intensity of core is provided, allow to use different melt-blown process to process very thin fiber.Core material should also can form the bonding with skin material.
Fig. 4 B is that the fibroreticulate height that forms capillary tube member 40 is simplified diagrammatic sketch.The height enlarged drawing of the disconnection that is intercepted along the line 4B-4B of capillary tube member 40 among Fig. 4 A is shown.Capillary tube member 40 is made up of fleece, and each fiber 46 is thermally bonded or is incorporated on other the fiber by hot melt at contact point in the fleece.The single fiber 46 that the fleece of composition capillary tube member 40 can be unrolled by self forms, or is formed by a large amount of fibers 46.Fleece forms the self supporting structure of the general fibre orientation (axis) with arrow 44 expressions.The self supporting structure that is limited by fleece is limited to space or the gap between the fiber that forms tortuous interstitial channels.This interstitial channels is configured as has fabulous capillary performance so that ink is remained in the capillary tube member 40.
In a preferred embodiment, capillary tube member 40 uses melt-blown process to be shaped, thereby single fiber 46 is thermally bonded or is fused together to fuse at the different contact point that spreads all on the fleece.
Fig. 5 A represents the profile that intercepted along Fig. 4 center line 5A-5A, and the section of single fiber 46 is shown.Each single fiber 46 is biconstitutent fibres, and it has core material 50 and skin material 52.Clear for representing, the relevant portion of the size of fiber 46 and skin material 52 and core material 50 is highly amplified.Core material preferably comprises 30% to 90% of whole fiber-contents thing weight at least.In the preferred embodiment, it is 12 microns or still less that each single fiber 46 on average has diameter.
Fig. 5 B representation class is similar to the another kind of fiber 46 of fiber 46 shown in Fig. 5 A, and different is that fiber 46 is X-shape or x shape cross section rather than circular cross section among Fig. 5 B.Fiber 46 shown in Fig. 5 B has the core material 50 of non-circular or X-shape and can cover the skin material 52 of core material 50 fully.Also can use other different optional cross section fibres, as trilobal or y-shaped fiber, or h tee section fiber, only enumerate at this.The use of non-circular fiber causes increasing at the surface area of fabric face.Fibroreticulate capillary pressure and absorbability increase with wettable fiber surface with being directly proportional.Therefore, the use of non-circular fiber will improve the capillary pressure and the absorbability of capillary tube member 40.
Improving capillary pressure and absorbefacient another method is the diameter that reduces fiber 46.The use than fubril 46 with constant fiber volume density or weight has improved the surface area of fiber.To provide more uniform confining force than fubril 46.Therefore, by diameter that changes fiber 46 and the shape that changes fiber 46, can obtain the desirable capillary pressure of print system 10.
Fig. 6 illustrates the thermal welding or the heat fused of single fiber 46.Fig. 6 is the cross section that the line 6-6 at the contact point place of edge between two ultimate fibres is intercepted.Each single fiber 46 has core material 50 and skin material 52.Contact point place between two single fibers 46, skin material 52 or be welded together or with the skin material fusion of contiguous fiber 46.Do not use binding agent or adhesive can finish the fusion of wall scroll fiber.In addition, do not require that any holding device can be fixed together ultimate fibre, thereby form self supporting structure.
Fig. 7 schematically shows ink is filled to process in the ink tank 12 of the present invention.Ink tank 12 shows the capillary tube member 40 that is inserted in the reservoir 34.Illustrate and cover 42 and be removed.Ink offers reservoir 34 by the ink tank 54 that ink source 56 wherein is housed.Fluid hose 58 allows ink to flow to reservoir 34 from ink tank 54.When ink flow to reservoir, ink was because this fibroreticulate capillarity is sucked into the clearance space 48 between fibroreticulate fiber 46.In case capillary tube member 40 no longer has the ability of blotting, the ink in ink tank 54 will stop to flow.Then lid 42 is placed on the ink reservoir 34.
Although do not have the lid 42 shown in Fig. 7 can realize the method for filling ink reservoir 34, reservoir 34 filling otherwise yet.For example alternatively, reservoir can be filled with when in place at lid 42, and ink can be provided to reservoir from ink tank 54 by the pore in lid 42.Perhaps, reservoir 34 can turn around, and ink can be provided to ink reservoir 34 from ink tank 54 by fluid issuing 36.In case enter reservoir 34, ink is absorbed by capillary tube member 40.Can use method of the present invention in the initial filling ink reservoir 34 man-hour adding, use up the method that refills ink in case method of the present invention also can be used as ink.
The process of filling ink container has highly been simplified in the use of capillary tube member 40 of the present invention, and capillary tube member 40 is preferably the biconstitutent fibre with polypropylene cores and PETG crust.The hydrophily of capillary tube member 40 of the present invention is better than the polyurethane foam of before having used as the absorbing material of thermodynamics ink-jet pen, as this, exercise question disclosed on September 13rd, 1988 people such as Baker for " have improved ink is stored and the hot ink-jet pen agent structure (Thermal Inkjet Pen Body Construction Having ImprovedInk Storage and Feed Capability) of conveying capacity ", transfer the absorbing material in the disclosed hot ink-jet pen in the assignee's of the present invention U.S. Patent No. 4771295.Polyurethane foam has a big ink contact angle at its state of being untreated, therefore, if do not use expensive and time-consuming step for example vacuum fill just be difficult to the ink tank that filling wherein has polyurethane foam so that foam is moistening.Can handle polyurethane foam to increase or to reduce the ink contact angle; But this processing also will increase the impure of ink except manufacturing expense is high and complicated, and this will shorten the life-span of printhead or reduce the printhead quality.The use of capillary tube member 40 of the present invention has low relatively ink contact angle, thereby makes ink be inhaled into capillary tube member 40 easily not needing to handle under the situation of capillary tube member 40.
Fig. 8 represents the ink-jet print system 10 in the work.Along with ink tank 12 ink-jet print system 10 of correctly packing into, connect by between ink tank 12 and ink jet-print head 24, can set up fluid for the fluid interconnection spare 26 of fluid hose form.Selectively the ink droplet ejection part 30 of starting ejection ink produces negative gauge pressure in ink jet-print head 24.Should negative gauge pressure capillary (storage) part 40 interior remain on ink sucking-off in the clearance space between the fiber 46.The ink that is offered ink jet-print head 24 by ink tank 12 refills full ink jet-print head 24.When ink when fluid issuing 36 leaves reservoir, air enters replacing the ink of a constant volume through pore 38, and leaves reservoir 34, thereby prevents to produce in reservoir 34 negative pressure or negative gauge pressure.
Fig. 9 is the diagrammatic sketch that is used to make the device of the present invention of ink tank 12 of the present invention.This process at first is to form one or more fiber by fibre forming device 60.Fiber is used to form the capillary tube member 40 that injects ink reservoir 34 then.In a preferred embodiment, fibre forming device 60 forms the biconstitutent fibre with core material and skin material.In the preferred embodiment, core material is a polypropylene cores, and crust is the polyester crust, is preferably the PETG crust.Shown in the diagrammatic sketch of fibre forming device 60, core moulding material 62 is surrounded to form the biconstitutent fibre shown in Fig. 5 A and Fig. 5 B by crust moulding material 64.In a preferred embodiment, fibre forming device 60 is a kind of devices that are used to melt and spray biconstitutent fibre, and described biconstitutent fibre is pressed into the high velocity air that fiber is attenuated, thereby is configured as very thin biconstitutent fibre.Fiber 46 is deposited on the transmitting device 66 of conveyer belt for example.Single fiber is a bit reeled, but has the common fiber alignment (axis) along transmission direction as shown in arrow 44.
Fiber 46 with bidimensional orientation is a bit at random assembled and is inserted in the shaping dies 68 that forms extrudate 70 shown in Figure 10.In a preferred embodiment, shaping dies 68 is hot-air or heat steam mould, and it can heat ultimate fibre 46 and make them form the required shape of extruding.Extrudate as shown in figure 10 is a rectangle, has height and width with " h " associated therewith and " w " expression.Extrudate 70 should have suitable shape to insert ink reservoir 34.Therefore, ink reservoir 34 can be shaped as extrudable arbitrarily shape.Shaping dies 68 heating ultimate fibres 46 so that ultimate fibre in contact point hot adhesion or welding each other.
Then extrudate 70 by cooling device 72 cooling limiting the bonding of fiber 46, thereby guarantee to exist the enough big void space 48 shown in Fig. 4 B.In a preferred embodiment, cooling device 72 sprays cooling agents for example water or air.
Leng Que extrudate 70 is provided for cutter sweep 76 then, and cutter sweep 76 cuts off this extrudate 70 with separation length.Cutter sweep 76 is that saw, blade or cutter sweep that some is traditional are used to cut this extrudate 70.As shown in figure 10, being cut into this long extrudate 70 of " L " is fit to be contained in the ink reservoir 34 with respective length size.This extrudate 70 assembling in ink reservoir 34 will depend on the pressure of whether wishing capillary tube member 40 usually a capillarity gradient will be provided in capillary tube member 40.Therefore, if it is bigger slightly than the length of reservoir 34 to require to have pressure, this extrudate 70 to be cut into, if perhaps do not required pressure, this extrudate 70 will be cut into the length that equals reservoir or smaller slightly than the length of reservoir 34.
When the disconnection thing was suitably decided into the size of reservoir 34, the extrudate of cut-out was represented capillary tube member 40.Use insertion device 78 that capillary tube member 40 is inserted in the ink reservoir 34 then.Use then and be similar to the technology of describing among Fig. 7 and make ink reservoir 34 be full of ink.
The extrudate 70 that forms by shaping dies 68 can be shaped with the fiber that evenly scatters, and the fiber that evenly scatters forms uniform space and gap for holding ink.Perhaps, fiber can along have a little increase, from the center of extrudate 70 to the direction of extrusion orientation of the density gradient of periphery.The density gradient that increases will retract ink from the ink of concentrating and concentrating of the periphery of extrudate 70.The density gradient that increases in extrudate or capillary tube member 40 can draw according to following Laplace's equation:
Equation 1: P c = T wp γ ( cos θ ) A 0
Wherein γ represents ink proportion, P cThe expression capillary pressure, T WpThe total moistening girth of expression fiber, θ represents ink and filamentary contact angle, and A 0The expression opening section is long-pending.Opening section is long-pending to be associated with the area of equation 2.
Equation 2:A 0=E * Area
E represents the porosity of capillary tube member 40.Porosity is associated with the quality of fiber of equation 3 and the cumulative volume of fiber.
Equation 3:
Figure C0081737200141
Fiber quality is represented the gross mass of capillary tube member 40, and the density of fiber is represented the density of fibrous material self, that is, and and effective bonding unit density of all polymer of use, and cumulative volume is the volume of whole capillary tube member 40.In addition, by equation 4, porosity is associated with the density of fiber and the bulk density of fiber.Equation 4 derives from the molecule of equation 3 and the denominator cumulative volume divided by capillary tube member 40.
Equation 4:
The bulk density of equation 4 is represented the density of whole capillaries (storage) part 40, that is, the quality of capillary (storage) part 40 is divided by the volume of capillary (storage) part 40, or the quality of per unit volume.
Capillary pressure is the suction that acts on the ink in capillary (storage) part 40.Can find out that from equation 1 when the long-pending decline of opening section, capillary pressure increases, and ink will move to high suction district.In capillary (storage) part 40, form density gradient, towards the periphery generation fibre density bigger of capillary tube member 40 than its center.Bigger fibre density reduces the sectional area towards periphery.Therefore, will draw ink to the outside or the periphery of capillary (storage) part 40 from the inside of capillary (storage) part 40.The fluid issuing 36 that is positioned at capillary tube member 40 peripheries allows from the less interior location of capillary pressure ink to be drawn to the zone of the position higher capillary pressure on every side of close fluid issuing 36.Therefore, ink reservoir 34 can be drained efficiently and ink put stay the interior zone of capillary (storage) part 40.
Also can obtain the fibre density gradient by compression capillary (storage) part 40.The opening section that pressure trends towards reducing by pressure surface in long-pending is long-pending, therefore increases capillary pressure and make this zone be full of ink ideally in this zone.The part is squeezed in the capillarity that near capillary (storage) part 40 the fluid issuing will improve to fluid issuing 36 blottings.The advantage of the capillary that use is formed by ultimate fibre 46 (storage) part 40 is to have not appreciable impact porosity, only just can change the ability of capillary pressure by the diameter that changes ultimate fibre 46.With reference to equation 1 and equation 4, by reducing the fiber number of fibre diameter and increase per unit volume, the total wetted perimeter of fiber increases, thereby has increased capillary pressure, but bulk density and porosity are constant.On the contrary, bonding polyurethane has just increased the amount of the solid material of per unit volume to increase its capillary pressure, has increased bulk density, and has reduced porosity.
In a preferred embodiment, ink reservoir 34 is configured as and has the band geometrical pattern of gradient or tapered shape and make the periphery of reservoir opening greater than the periphery of bottom.Fluid issuing 36 is formed on the bottom of ink reservoir 34.Capillary (storage) part 40 is shaped being fit to the opening of ink reservoir 34 of packing into then, and presses each end of bottom of ink tank during inserting.The bottom conflict amount of ink reservoir 34 has determined local decrement.Near the compression of the capillary bottom of ink reservoir 34 (storage) part 40 will produce the capillarity that increases, and draw ink towards the bottom of ink reservoir 34, thereby ink can flow out from fluid issuing 36.
Figure 11 points out to make the group method of ink tank 12 of the present invention.Shown in step 80, be formed with the ink reservoir 34 of length and width and high size.These length and widths and high size are chosen as and are suitable for ink-jet print system 10.Shown in step 82, form fiber to be used for capillary (storage) part 40.Shown in step 84, these fibers are fused together the rectangle extrudate that is formed with width and height.Fiber in extrudate 70 at contact point by thermal welding or heat fused together.Shown in step 86, extrudate 70 is cooled to form self supporting structure then.Shown in step 88, extrudate 70 is cut to a length dimension.Shown in step 90, this cutting extrudate 70 is inserted in the ink reservoir 34.Shown in step 92, ink reservoir 34 is filled ink at last.
Method and apparatus of the present invention has several big advantages except that some technology of using previously of use as using polyurethane foam to serve as capillary (storage) part 40.The thermal welding fiber that use is extruded is than the easy insertion ink reservoir 34 of polyurethane foam.The coefficient of friction of polymeric fibre material is lower than the most foams, therefore makes material be easier to use automation equipment to handle.High coefficient of friction material for example foam is difficult to insert or be filled in the rectangular vessel, because no matter foam contacts with chamber wall wherein, angle and limit will be rolled, thereby can not be full of each corner.Foam can not be full of the corner will make ink remain in these corners, thereby reduce the service efficiency of ink.On the contrary, use polymer fiber will slide into and be full of each corner of ink reservoir 34 easily.In addition, use polymer fiber to make the insertion operation become simpler, thereby be fit to very much a large amount of processing.
The Polyester Fibers of using in capillary (storage) part 40 also is easier to handle, because this material can be transmitted with the long extrudate form that is called bar, it is cut off and inserts in the ink reservoir 34 then.In addition, use polyester fiber to make the scope of application of size and dimension of ink tank wider as capillary (storage) part 40.The shape of ink reservoir 34 almost can be any extrudable shape.
The size of polyester fiber capillary of the present invention (storage) part 40 can be greater than two inches (50.8mm) or bigger.On the contrary, use foamed material to need bonding to obtain higher capillary pressure as capillary (storage) part 40.The bonding operation will make foam flatten, and make Kong Gengxiao a little.Bonding processing will be subject to make foam thickness less than one inch (25.4mm) because the heat and the pressure that require to penetrate greater than the thickness of one inch (25.4mm) will make foam disconnect, make it no longer to be suitable as capillary (storage) part 40.
Ink tank 12 uses the biconstitutent fibre 46 of relatively low cost, and this biconstitutent fibre 46 is preferably and comprises polypropylene cores and PETG crust.Ultimate fibre is thermally bonded the unbraced structure that has good capillarity performance with formation at contact point.The material of selecting fiber 46 for use be natural hydrophilic with the ejection ink.The material of selecting special fiber 46 for use is to have the big surface energy of surface tension than the ejection ink.Use natural hydrophilic capillary (storage) part 40 to allow just can make ink be full of reservoir 34 apace in the special vacuum fill technology that does not need usually to use in the hydrophily materials with smaller in for example polyurethane foam.The hydrophily materials with smaller requires to increase surfactant usually or handles the capillary storaging piece to improve wettable or hydrophily in ink.Surfactant will make ink composition change from its optimization composition.
In addition, the material of the fiber of selecting for use for capillary (storage) part 40 46 is to little than other material that uses in this application usually of the reactivity of ink-jet.In this case, ink composition and capillary (storage) part reacts, and the ink of putting into foam at first is different from from foam to be taken away to replenish the ink of printhead 24.The pollution of this ink will cause the shortening of print head longevity and the reduction of print quality.
At last, capillary storaging piece of the present invention uses the manufacturing cost polymer extruded lower than the reservoir of foam-type.In addition, these polymer of extruding will be more friendly to environment, and the manufacturing energy of cost lacking than the storaging piece of the foam-type of previous use.

Claims (4)

1. method of making capillary tube member (40), capillary tube member (40) is use in the ink reservoir (34) of ink being provided for ink jet-print head (24), and this method comprises:
Squeeze out the capillary extrudate (70) of three-dimensional rectangle; With
With with height dimension, width dimensions and the length dimension of ink reservoir (34) in the matched separation length of at least one size cut off this extrudate (70);
Wherein before at the capillary extrudate (70) of extruding three-dimensional rectangle, form the fleece of biconstitutent fibre (46), every fiber has the core material (50) of being surrounded by skin material (52), fleece has the fiber alignment axis, heat this biconstitutent fibre net, make the contact point place of individual fibers in whole capillary extrudate hot melt knot each other;
Wherein afterwards, make the capillary extrudate (70) of three-dimensional rectangle cool off the self supporting structure that has the void space (48) that interconnects with formation at the capillary extrudate (70) of extruding the three-dimensional rectangle of forming by the biconstitutent fibre net that adds thermosetting extrudate shape.
2. the method for claim 1 is characterized in that, described height dimension, width dimensions and length dimension surpass 25.4mm respectively.
3. a manufacturing provides the method for the ink tank (12) of ink for ink jet-print head (24), and this method comprises:
Formation has the ink reservoir (34) of height dimension, width dimensions and length dimension, and this ink reservoir (34) has fluid issuing (36) so that ink flows out (34) along the height dimension direction from ink reservoir;
Extrude the capillary extrudate (70) of three-dimensional rectangle, this capillary extrudate (70) has to be extruded width and is orthogonal to the height dimension of extruding length dimension, wherein extrudes the width dimensions fit of width and ink reservoir (34); With
Cut off described capillary extrudate with the matched separation length of length dimension, to form capillary tube member (40) with ink reservoir (34);
Wherein before at the capillary extrudate (70) of extruding three-dimensional rectangle, form the fleece of biconstitutent fibre (46), every fiber has the core material (50) of being surrounded by skin material (52), fleece has the fiber alignment axis, heat this biconstitutent fibre net, make the contact point place of individual fibers in whole capillary extrudate hot melt knot each other;
Wherein afterwards, make the capillary extrudate (70) of three-dimensional rectangle cool off the self supporting structure that has the void space (48) that interconnects with formation at the capillary extrudate (70) of extruding the three-dimensional rectangle of forming by the biconstitutent fibre net that adds thermosetting extrudate shape;
Also comprise formation capillary tube member (40) inserted ink reservoir (34), this capillary tube member to extrude length dimension mutual vertical with fluid issuing (36); With ink is distributed to ink reservoir (34) so that capillary tube member (40) blotting therein.
4. method as claimed in claim 3 is characterized in that, the height dimension of described ink reservoir, width dimensions and length dimension surpass 25.4mm respectively so that jumbo ink reservoir to be provided.
CNB008173729A 1999-10-29 2000-10-27 Ink reservoir for inkjet printer Expired - Fee Related CN1294019C (en)

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CN101398273B (en) * 2007-09-29 2010-12-08 超众科技股份有限公司 Strip interlaced capillary structure and method for manufacturing same
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