CN1767950A - Ink-feeding device - Google Patents

Abstract

An ink-feeding device has an ink tank inside which ink is received and a tank holder for removably holding the tank. The tank holder has a control tank, a communication needle, and an air-feeding needle that enable the ink and air to be communicated between the tank holder and the ink tank so that the pressure in the ink tank installed on the tank holder is at a predetermined value.

Description

Ink-feeding device

Technical field

The present invention relates in a kind of employed ink-jet printers such as printer at picture unit, duplicator, OA equipment etc., accommodate the ink-feeding device of ink supplied.

Background technology

Because it is little that ink jet type is printed noise, and can print to simply on the plain paper, therefore be effectively applied to the printer of picture unit, duplicator, OA equipment etc.

As carrying out the device that image forms, utilize the ink-jet printer of aforesaid way can come the flyback retrace limit ink that spues generally speaking in the direction top that the direction of transfer with recording medium intersects vertically by the balladeur train that has carried ink gun, can carry out image and form.

This ink-jet printer has the print cartridge that is used to accommodate the ink that spues.

Comprise print cartridge as follows in the prior art: at the inner filling porous matter absorbing material of print cartridge, the change of the internal pressure of the print cartridge that causes with the variation that absorbs because of ink remaining amount maintains ink (for example opening flat 5-229133 communique (on September 7th, 1993 is open) (hereinafter referred to as patent documentation 1) with reference to the spy) in this porous matter absorbing material.

And, because external environment conditions such as variations in temperature and air pressure change change the change of the internal pressure that (variation of surrounding environment) cause, print cartridge has in order to absorb: accommodate the main ink chamber of ink, by intercommunicating pore is communicated with main ink chamber and one side is provided with atmosphere connection port on top secondary ink chamber.Absorption piece has been inserted in this pair ink chamber inside, but and has filled the quantity of ink of absorption piece impregnation.So, can control the negative pressure (for example opening flat 7-52405 communique (February 28 nineteen ninety-five) (hereinafter referred to as patent documentation 2)) of main ink chamber inside with reference to the spy.

And, have ink tube as follows: have connecting portion, be inserted with the providing ink needle-like member on it, be used for providing ink to record head; The ink host body of the bag shape of ink reservoir and be used to preserve the useless ink recovery body of the ink that is not used to write down and is recovered is removable with respect to the shell of accommodating them.In this ink tube, cover waits by pipe and is connected to the ink accepting container, has inserted the hollow needle that providing ink is used (opening 2001-353882 communique (December 25 calendar year 2001 is open) (hereinafter referred to as patent documentation 3) with reference to the spy) on the above-mentioned cover.

And, also exist for volume of air in the print cartridge of mitigating circumstances in changing expand cause in press liter, and have the print cartridge (opening flat 7-314709 communique (disclose December 5 nineteen ninety-five) (hereinafter referred to as patent documentation 4)) of the mitigation mechanism of the bag shape that is communicated with atmosphere with reference to the spy.

Further, also have following print cartridge: it has the lever of distortion, when environmental change causes the print cartridge temperature to surpass predetermined temperature, make barrier film move (opening flat 10-337877 communique (on December 22nd, 1998 is open) (hereinafter referred to as patent documentation 5)) with reference to the spy for reducing the air chamber volume.

But in above-mentioned patent documentation 1 and 2 described structures, in the print cartridge internal configurations porous material, absorption piece (absorbing material) etc. are arranged, ink just comprises and is immersed in these absorbing materials.

Therefore, the ink that contains immersion in the absorbing material can't all be used up, and is low with respect to the ink service efficiency (can supply with quantity of ink/print cartridge volume) of the volume of print cartridge.That is, can't effectively utilize the volume of print cartridge.

In addition, in patent documentation 2 described structures,, do not consider the replacing of each monomer though print cartridge has main ink and secondary ink chamber.Therefore, also surplus in the porous material of secondary ink chamber have ink and the ink of main ink chamber when using up, just must the exchange print cartridge.And, in order to reduce ink remaining amount, and when only to make main ink chamber be big capacity, because the variations in temperature after print cartridge is installed, ink leakage can take place not by the porous plastid dampen out of secondary ink chamber in the ink that squeezes out from main ink chamber, so its high capacity, high efficiency are restricted.

And, behind the configuration absorbing material, when ink flows therein, can be subjected to viscous drag.In this case, from the power (supply pressure of ink) of ink-feeding device squeezeout ink because the difference of the surplus of ink and difference.That is, can be owing to absorbing material produces the pressure loss.

So, can't carry out stable ink and supply with, the tracking when a large amount of providing ink is carried out in flying print etc. is relatively poor.

Further, under patent documentation 3 described structures,, therefore can't utilize to maximum constraints the volume of shell because it is the structure of the ink host body of bag shape being accommodated shell.

And, under patent documentation 4 described structures, in print cartridge, accommodate the mitigation mechanism of the bag shape that is communicated with atmosphere, therefore can't effectively utilize the print cartridge volume.

And under patent documentation 5 described structures, the volume of air chamber only changes according to variations in temperature, variation that therefore can't corresponding air pressure, and the generation of bubble, inflow etc.

Summary of the invention

The present invention produces just in view of the above problems, and it is a kind of when can absorbing the change of print cartridge pressure inside that its purpose is to provide, but can realize high capacity and the ink-feeding device stable supplying ink.And its purpose also is to realize being housed in effective utilization of the ink in the print cartridge.

To achieve these goals, ink-feeding device of the present invention has: the print cartridge of ink is accommodated by portion within it; The box support that releasably keeps this print cartridge, this ink-feeding device is characterised in that: above-mentioned box support have and above-mentioned print cartridge between the pressure adjustmenting mechanism (for example: circulation pin, air are supplied with pin, pressure control pin, pressure control box etc.) of negotiable ink and air, be predetermined value thereby make the pressure of the above-mentioned print cartridge of installation.

That is, above-mentioned ink-feeding device is preferably: when print cartridge was installed to box support, the part of pressure adjustmenting mechanism (pin that for example circulates, air are supplied with an end of pin or pressure control pin) was inserted in the print cartridge.

According to said structure, have pressure adjustmenting mechanism box support, and print cartridge be structure removably.

Therefore, for example when pressure adjustmenting mechanism have can accommodate and print cartridge between during the pressure control chamber of the ink that circulates and air, even consume the ink of print cartridge inside, remain under the situation that ink is arranged in the pressure control chamber inside of pressure adjustmenting mechanism and replace print cartridge, also can and after between other print cartridges of installing, utilize the ink of pressure control chamber inside.So wasted ink not effectively utilizes.

And,,, also can adjust the internal pressure of print cartridge by the circulation of ink and air even along with the consumption of ink, and the variation print cartridge pressure inside change of surrounding environment (temperature) by pressure adjustmenting mechanism.That is, can absorb the change of print cartridge pressure inside.

Further, because pressure adjustmenting mechanism can load and unload on print cartridge, therefore can not be provided for making Ink Cartridge inner pressure to become the absorbing material (for example porous plastid) of negative pressure and absorption pressure change in print cartridge inside.

Generally speaking, behind the configuration absorbing material, when ink flows therein, can be subjected to viscous drag.In this case, from the power (providing ink pressure) of ink-feeding device squeezeout ink because the difference of ink remaining amount and difference.That is, produce the pressure loss because of absorbing material.

But, owing to do not have absorbing material in print cartridge, therefore pressure oscillation can not take place, thereby can stably supply with ink.And, can in absorbing material, not remain under the state of ink and abandon print cartridge, can realize the high efficiency that ink uses.

And, to achieve these goals, ink-feeding device of the present invention has the print cartridge of accommodating ink in inside at least, it is characterized in that: have volume-variation mechanism, its external environment condition according to above-mentioned print cartridge changes the state variation of accommodating thing in the print cartridge that causes, makes the volume-variation of above-mentioned print cartridge.

According to said structure, by volume-variation mechanism, the state variation of accommodating thing in the print cartridge that can cause according to the variation of the external environment condition of print cartridge makes the volume-variation of print cartridge.

When ink-feeding device for example being installed to printing equipment such as ink-jet printer, because the state of accommodating thing in variation (for example variations in temperature, the air pressure change) print cartridge of the external environment condition of print cartridge changes.And, because this interior pressure of state variation print cartridge of accommodating thing always changes.Therefore in the ink-feeding device under the structure that does not have above-mentioned volume-variation mechanism, when the pressure oscillation in the print cartridge is big, produce ink leakage.

But in the present invention, as mentioned above,,, can change the volume of print cartridge according to the state variation of accommodating thing by above-mentioned volume-variation mechanism.That is, for example, when above-mentioned pressure of accommodating thing reduces, can reduce the volume of print cartridge because variations in temperature on every side when ink, air etc. is accommodated the pressure increase of thing, can increase the volume of accommodating of print cartridge.So, can suppress because external environment condition changes the change of the internal pressure of the print cartridge that causes.

Therefore, by above-mentioned volume-variation mechanism, the internal pressure in the print cartridge can be kept certain.Thereby can provide the ink-feeding device that ink can stably be provided.

And, to achieve these goals, ink-feeding device of the present invention has the print cartridge of accommodating ink in inside at least, it is characterized in that: have pressure oscillation and suppress mechanism, provide air by outside to the inside of above-mentioned print cartridge, suppress the print cartridge pressure inside change that above-mentioned consumption of ink causes from above-mentioned print cartridge.

According to said structure, suppress mechanism by pressure oscillation, provide air from the print cartridge outside to above-mentioned print cartridge inside, therefore can suppress the print cartridge pressure inside change that causes because of consumption of ink.

When ink-feeding device for example being installed to printing equipment such as ink-jet printer, if consume ink in the print cartridge, then the quantity of ink in the print cartridge reduces.And because the minimizing of quantity of ink, the pressure in the print cartridge always changes.Therefore in the ink-feeding device that does not have the structure that above-mentioned pressure oscillation suppresses mechanism, pressure oscillation in the uncontrollable print cartridge, negative pressure rising providing ink deficiency when consuming ink in the box, variations in temperature causes pressure oscillation when long-term standby, placement, nozzle takes place attract air, reach ink leakage.

But in the present invention, as mentioned above, suppress mechanism, provide air, therefore can control because the print cartridge pressure inside change that consumption of ink causes from the print cartridge outside to above-mentioned print cartridge inside by above-mentioned pressure oscillation.That is,,, can suppress change, and the pressure oscillation that causes of long-term variations in temperature of placing of the Ink Cartridge inner pressure that causes because of consumption of ink by air being provided to print cartridge inside along with the consumption of ink.

Therefore, suppress mechanism, can make the internal pressure in the print cartridge keep certain by above-mentioned pressure oscillation.Therefore can provide a kind of ink-feeding device that ink is provided of stablizing.

Other purposes of the present invention, feature and advantage can be able to sufficient explanation by explanation as described below.And, advantage of the present invention by with reference to the following explanation of accompanying drawing also can become clear.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 is the schematic diagram of structure of the critical piece of the ink-feeding device that relates to of an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 (a) is the schematic diagram of print cartridge structure, is the schematic diagram of the structure of box support with figure (b).

Fig. 3 has been to use the schematic diagram of summary structure of the ink-jet printer of ink-feeding device.

Fig. 4 is the schematic diagram of structure of the critical piece of the ink-feeding device that relates to of another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is the schematic diagram of the structure of the ink-feeding device when pressure control box internal configurations has felt.

The discharge of the ink that Fig. 6 is the print cartridge temperature inside when 5 ℃ rise to 55 ℃, the volume of air in the print cartridge expands to be caused, and print cartridge in the chart of the ink discharge that causes of the volumetric expansion of ink.

Fig. 7 is that the ink remaining amount in the print cartridge is 80cc, when in print cartridge, being subjected to the temperature cycles of 50 ℃ of temperature risings repeatedly, and the chart of the ink remaining amount after ink flows out from print cartridge.

Fig. 8 be the ink that causes of volumetric expansion of expression ink outflow, with the number of occurrence of 50 ℃ of temperature risings between the chart of relation.

Fig. 9 is the sectional view of the summary structure of the ink-feeding device that relates to of further embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 10 is the chart of the corresponding relation of expression pressure and volume.

Figure 11 is the chart of the mesh radius and the relation between the negative pressure in the print cartridge of expression filter.

Figure 12 is the sectional view of the summary structure of other ink-feeding devices of relating to of further embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 13 is the sectional view of the summary structure of further other ink-feeding devices of relating to of further embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 14 is the sectional view of other structures of moving end-wall in the above-mentioned ink-feeding device of expression.

The specific embodiment

(embodiment 1)

According to Fig. 1 to Fig. 3, Fig. 6 to Fig. 8 an embodiment of the invention are carried out following explanation.

Fig. 1 is the schematic diagram of structure of the critical piece of the ink-feeding device that relates to of embodiments of the present invention.Shown in figure, this ink-feeding device has: accommodate the print cartridge 1 of ink, the box support 5 of maintenance print cartridge 1.The structure of print cartridge 1 is can load and unload on the box support 5.

Box support 5 has shown in Fig. 2 (b): control box 50, circulation pin 53, air are supplied with pin 54, are reached ink supply needle (the first ink supplying mechanism mechanism) 55.When box support 5 is installed to print cartridge 1, circulation pin 53, air supply with pin 54, and ink supply needle 55 be inserted into print cartridge 1 inside.

The side of control box 50 is made of spring (force application part) 51.Spring 51 becomes greatly at the volume of control box 50, promptly on the direction that spring 51 stretches, to the top and bottom application of force of control box 50.Control box 50 and print cartridge 1 are by circulation pin 53 negotiable air and inks.

In addition, so long as become on the big direction to control box 50 application of forces at the volume that makes control box 50, there is no particular limitation for the material of spring 51, shape, size, configuration etc.The part that for example can be only side is made of spring.

Circulation pin 53 is pins of hollow form, is sharp at the top of an end of print cartridge 1 side.In the circulation pin 53, near the end of print cartridge 1 one sides, be formed with opening 53a, form opening 53b in the end of control box 50 1 sides.Ventilating air and ink between opening 53a, the 53b.

And control box 50 is connected with circulation pin 53, in control box 50, carries out with the opening 53b, the 53a that only are communicated with by the pin 53 that circulates of outside.

Above-mentioned control box 50 and circulation pin 53 are to be used to absorb the parts that print cartridge 1 temperature inside changes the pressure oscillation that causes.

And control box 50 and circulation pin 53 also can be integrally formed.

It is pins of hollow form that air is supplied with pin 54, is sharp at the top of an end of print cartridge 1 side.Air is supplied with in the pin 54, is formed with air connectivity hole 54a near the end of print cartridge 1 one sides, forms air connectivity hole 54b in the end of control box 50 1 sides.Air is supplied with the other end of pin 54 and is opened to the outside at air connectivity hole 54b.That is, supply with pin 54 by air, print cartridge 1 is communicated with atmosphere.It is the parts that are used to absorb the pressure oscillation that the variation of the ink remaining amount of print cartridge 1 inside causes that air is supplied with pin 54.

Ink supply needle 55 is pins of hollow form, is sharp at the top of an end of print cartridge 1 side.Near the end of print cartridge 1 one sides, be formed with supply hole 55a, form supply hole 55b in the end of control box 50 1 sides.Be housed in ink in the print cartridge 1 and be provided to the outside (for example, when ink-feeding device was used for ink-jet printer, the ink-jet that is provided in the balladeur train was first-class) of print cartridge 1 by ink supply needle 55.

Print cartridge 1 constitutes side print cartridge 1, that be installed in box support 5 one sides and is made of inwall 21 and outer wall 22 shown in Fig. 2 (a).Inwall 21 has peristome 21a-21d.Outer wall 22 has peristome 22a-22d.

When print cartridge 1 was installed to box support 5, peristome 21d, 21a, 22a supplied with the position that pin 54 inserts corresponding to air, the position that peristome 21b, 22b insert corresponding to circulation pin 53, the position that peristome 21c, 22c insert corresponding to ink supply needle 55.

And in the place that pin 53,54 inserts, between inwall 21 and outer wall 22, configuration has the sealing 31 of peristome 31b, 31a, and in the place that ink supply needle 55 inserts, between inwall 21 and outer wall 22, configuration has the sealing 32 of peristome 32a.By sealing 31,32, when pin 53-55 is inserted in the print cartridge 1, ink is not leaked from pin 53-55.

In order to cover the peristome 21d of inwall 21, dispose grid filter 27.Grid filter 27 is to be used to make the internal pressure of print cartridge 1 to be in preset range and the parts adjusted.So long as can form the object of meniscus (film of ink), its material, size etc. are not limited especially by the ink of print cartridge 1 inside.For example, grid filter 27 can be the filter that constitutes of the braid of cancellous metal grill filter, metallic fiber or resin fibre etc.

Because the internal pressure of print cartridge 1 becomes negative pressure (the cloudy pressure), so the meniscus in the grid filter 27 becomes the state to print cartridge 1 inner recess.

And inwall 21 has air protection walls 28.Air protection walls 28 is used for: supply with the air that pin 54 is provided to print cartridge 1 inside from circulation pin 53, air and do not supply with from the supply hole 55a of ink supply needle 55 simultaneously with ink for making, flow and stop air.

When the print cartridge 1 shown in Fig. 2 (a) is installed to box support 5 shown in Fig. 2 (b), circulation pin 53, air supply with pin 54, and ink supply needle 55 be inserted into the inside of print cartridge 1, ink-feeding device is a structure as shown in Figure 1.

Below the control of the internal pressure of print cartridge 1 is described.

The control of the internal pressure of (when print cartridge 1 uses (consumption of ink)) describes when at first ink-feeding device being moved.

Along with the consumption of the ink of print cartridge 1, negative pressure becomes big in the internal pressure of print cartridge 1.And when arriving near predetermined value (critical value) greatly, the meniscus that is formed on grid filter 27 surfaces by ink breaks.

At this moment, print cartridge 1 sucks air by grid filter 27.Therefore can prevent that the negative pressure of print cartridge 1 inside is excessive, thereby the internal pressure of print cartridge 1 can be adjusted into preset range.

That is, when ink is consumed, because the increase of print cartridge 1 internal negative pressure, supply with the ink level that the grid eye of the air extrusion grid filter 27 that pin 54 enters forms, and deface tension force (breaking meniscus) from air, thus by and form bubble.The pressure (critical value) that is used to generate this bubble depends on the filtering accuracy of grid filter 27, by making this filtering accuracy optimization, can make print cartridge 1 internal pressure, be that the supply pressure of ink keeps certain.And grid filter 27 also has the function of removing rubbish bigger than its filtering accuracy etc.

The internal pressure of the print cartridge 1 when so, air supply pin 54 can be adjusted the ink-feeding device action.That is, air is supplied with the ink residue that pin 54 can absorb print cartridge 1 inside and is changed the pressure oscillation that (consumption of ink) causes.

The control of the internal pressure during then to variations in temperature describes.

Owing to time band, the change in place etc. is set, also can causes the variation of ink-feeding device surrounding environment sometimes.In this case, the volume of air in the print cartridge 1 changes, and internal pressure also produces change.

Under the situations such as for example, ink further is consumed, and the air change of print cartridge 1 inside is many, it is big that the change of the internal pressure that environmental change causes becomes.After 100 (cc) air was for example accommodated in print cartridge 1 inside, print cartridge 1 temperature inside was when 5 ℃ are changed to 55 ℃, and according to boyle-Charles law, volume of air becomes 100 * (328/278)=118 (cc), and 18 (cc) Volume Changes takes place.

Therefore, when the volume of air of print cartridge 1 inside changes, the air of this volume correspondence or ink by circulation pin 53 and control box 50 between circulation, can absorb because the print cartridge 1 pressure inside change that variations in temperature causes.

Particularly, in print cartridge 1 inside, when the liquid level of ink is positioned at the position higher than opening 53a when (comprise and be in same height), because the expansion of air (volume of air of print cartridge 1 inside increases), ink, air flow out to control box 50 from print cartridge 1 inside by circulation pin 53.Control box 50 can carry out the increase and decrease of volume by spring 51 is set.That is, by the stretching, extension of spring 51, control box 50 can be accommodated ink, the air of inflow.

And in print cartridge 1 inside, when the liquid level of ink was positioned at than the low position of opening 53a, because the expansion of air, air flowed out to control box 50 from print cartridge 1 inside by circulation pin 53.

On the other hand, because air shrinks (volume of air of print cartridge 1 inside reduces), to the part of its Volume Changes correspondence, print cartridge 1 can absorb the air or the ink of control box 50 inside.That is, by circulation pin 53, air or ink flow into print cartridge 1 inside.

Therefore, when the ink-feeding device standby, even because variations in temperature, the volume of air of print cartridge 1 inside changes, its Volume Changes, i.e. and the change of the internal pressure of print cartridge 1 also can absorb by circulation pin 53 and control box 50.

So, by control box 50 is set, can utilize the ink that flows out from print cartridge 1 once more.Therefore can improve the service efficiency of ink.

And box support 5 and print cartridge 1 are removably.Therefore, even at the ink that consumes print cartridge 1 inside, ink also remains in when replacing print cartridge 1 under the situation of control box 50 inside, and other print cartridges of installing thereafter between, also can utilize the ink of control box 50 inside.Therefore can wasted ink, can effectively utilize.

In addition, in the space 40,41 that between sealing shown in Fig. 2 (a) 31,32 and outer wall 22, forms, the porous plastid (for example polyester fiber being focused on the cotton for wadding of a direction etc.) of porous matter parts can be set also.So, with print cartridge 1 when box support 5 takes off, can absorb attached to the ink on the pin 53-55.Therefore can prevent that ink is attached on the user's who takes off print cartridge 1 the body.

And the insertion sequence that the pin 53-55 when print cartridge 1 is installed to box support 5 is inserted into print cartridge 1 is preferably last insertion ink supply needle 55.

For example, if insert ink supply needle 55 at first, inserting circulation pin 53, when air is supplied with pin 54, producing pressure oscillation in print cartridge 1 inside, air, ink can flow out from ink supply needle 55.

But, by last insertion ink supply needle 55, supply with the pressure oscillation that insertion that pin 54 can absorb ink supply needle 55 causes by circulation pin 53, air, and can prevent that for example air, ink are extruded to the ink supply conduit (providing ink path) from ink supply needle 55.Therefore, utilizing ink to carry out image when forming, can prevent that to be discharged from caused image rotten owing to be trapped in air, ink in the ink supply conduit.

And, with the pulling up to be preferably in proper order and take off ink supply needle 55 at first of the pin 53-55 of print cartridge 1 when box support 5 takes out (disengagings) from print cartridge 1.

For example, if pull up ink supply needle 55 at last, then when pulling up circulation pin 53, air supply pin 54, pressure oscillation takes place in print cartridge 1 inside, and for example the nozzle tip from balladeur train can be drawn into ink supply conduit (providing ink path) with air by supplying with pin 55.

But, by pulling up ink supply needle 55 earlier, can absorb supply pin 55 by circulation pin 53, air supply pin 54 and pull up the pressure oscillation that is produced, for example can prevent that ink supply conduit (providing ink path) from sucking air.Therefore, utilizing ink to carry out image when forming, can prevent that to be discharged from caused image rotten owing to be trapped in air in the ink supply conduit.

And, only accommodated ink and air in above-mentioned print cartridge 1 inside, and do not accommodated other things (for example ink absorber, ink bag etc. are accommodated parts) outside it.If there are this parts of accommodating, then when ink flows therein, can be subjected to viscous drag.The pressure (supply pressure of ink) of the squeezeout ink when in this case, ink is from ink supply needle 55 outflows is different because the surplus of ink is different.That is, can produce the pressure loss because of accommodating parts.

Therefore, when supplying with ink, can eliminate the pressure loss that ink flows and produced in accommodating parts, can carry out stable ink and supply with.So, when carrying out a large amount of providing ink, flying print etc. realizes higher tracking.

Further, control box 50 is configured near the bottom surface of print cartridge 1.So, till the ink of print cartridge 1 inside is used up, can utilize the control of the internal pressure of control box 50.

And, owing to, utilize control box 50 can carry out the control of print cartridge 1 internal pressure with roughly the same as the pressure among the supply hole 55a of ink flow export.Therefore the supply pressure (the required pressure of providing ink) of ink can be controlled, providing ink can be stably carried out.

Here, the volume of establishing print cartridge 1 is Vt, and when the volume of control box 50 was Vs, the relation of volume V s and Vt satisfied following formula: 0.1≤Vs/Vt≤0.3.

But consider the voltage endurance capability on the nozzle of the ink gun when ink spues recording medium, the permissible value of the pressure oscillation of providing ink pressure is approximately 2-3kPa.And when temperature rose to 20-50 ℃, the changes in air volume of print cartridge 1 inside was about 7-17%.

Therefore, satisfy above-mentioned relation by volume V s, Vt, control box 50 can not filled up by ink, ventilating air and ink between control box 50 and print cartridge 1, thus carry out the adjustment of the internal pressure of print cartridge 1.That is, print cartridge 1 can be remained suitable negative pressure.

As mentioned above, the ink-feeding device in the present embodiment has: accommodate in inside ink print cartridge 1, and releasably keep the box support 5 of this print cartridge 1.

And, its feature also is in ink-feeding device, box support 5 has pressure adjustmenting mechanism (among Fig. 1, the circulation pin 53 of negotiable air and ink, control box 50, the air of negotiable air is supplied with pin 54), and can carry out the circulation of ink and air between the print cartridge 1, so that the internal pressure of the print cartridge of installing 1 is a predetermined value.

That is, in the ink-feeding device, when print cartridge 1 was installed to box support 5, circulation pin 53, air were supplied with pin 54 and are inserted in the print cartridge 1.

So, box support 5 and print cartridge 1 are structure removably.

Therefore, for example as the pressure adjustmenting mechanism of ink-feeding device, if have can accommodate and print cartridge 1 between the ink that circulates and the control box 50 of air, even consume the ink of print cartridge 1 inside, remain in control box 50 inside and replace print cartridge 1 under the situation that ink is arranged, also can and after between the new print cartridge 1 installed, utilize the ink of control box 50 inside.So wasted ink not effectively utilizes.

And, supply with pin 54 by circulation pin 53, control box 50, air, even along with the consumption of ink, and the variation of surrounding environment (temperature), print cartridge 1 pressure inside change also can be adjusted the internal pressure of print cartridge 1 by the circulation of ink and air.That is, can absorb the change of print cartridge 1 pressure inside.

Further, owing to circulation pin 53, control box 50, air are supplied with pin 54 and can be loaded and unloaded on print cartridge 1, therefore can not be provided for making print cartridge 1 internal pressure to become the absorbing material (for example porous plastid) of negative pressure and absorption pressure change in print cartridge 1 inside.

Generally speaking, behind the configuration absorbing material, when ink flows therein, can be subjected to viscous drag.In this case, from the power (providing ink pressure) of ink-feeding device squeezeout ink because the difference of ink remaining amount and difference.That is, produce pressure loss people because of absorbing material.

But, owing to do not have absorbing material in print cartridge 1, therefore pressure oscillation can not take place, thereby can stably supply with ink.

The discharge of the ink that the volumetric expansion of air causes in the print cartridge 1 when (rising 50 ℃) when 5 ℃ rise to 55 ℃ of the temperature in the print cartridge 1, and the discharge of the ink that causes of the volumetric expansion of the interior ink of print cartridge 1 as shown in Figure 6.This shows, ink that the volumetric expansion of ink causes flow out be about that volume of air expands that the ink that causes flows out 1/15.

And when the excess ink in the print cartridge 1 was 80cc (air capacity of this moment is 20cc), in print cartridge, when being subjected to rising 50 ℃ temperature cycles repeatedly, the ink remaining amount after ink flows out from print cartridge 1 as shown in Figure 7.

Shown in figure, even initial ink remaining amount is 80cc, when 10 50 ℃ of temperature rise repeatedly when circulating, because volume of air expands, ink 100% flows out, by comparison, the outflow that the volumetric expansion of ink causes is less, when circulating 10 times 50 temperature risings repeatedly, ink remaining amount is 72%, and discharge is 8%.

This ink because of the discharge of volumetric expansion and temperature rise repeatedly between 50 ℃ the number of times relation as shown in Figure 8.Shown in figure, establish ink remaining amount (cc) and be y, when 50 ℃ of temperature rising numbers of occurrence are x, can be similar to following formula (1):

y＝80e ^(-0.0106) (1)

That is, the rise time constant of minimizing of the quantity of ink that circulation repeatedly causes of 50 ℃ of temperature is 100 times.

At this volume of establishing print cartridge 1 is 100cc, and ink is filled with.Therefore in this case, owing to do not have air to enter in the print cartridge 1, when temperature rises, only consider the ink outflow that the volumetric expansion of ink causes.For example, the cubical expansivity of establishing ink is 0.21 * 10 ^-3, print cartridge 1 volume when being T=50 ℃ of the temperature Δ of print cartridge 1 of 100cc, rising, the volumetric expansion of ink is 1.05cc.

Therefore, when print cartridge 1 and control box 50 can load and unload, and the print cartridge 1 that new filling is full is when being installed to box support 5, and the caused ink of the expansion of ink flows out and also can not cause very big problem.

And ink-feeding device can absorb the change that surrounding environment (temperature) changes the internal pressure of the print cartridge 1 that causes by being provided with control box 50 (pressure control chamber).

And, even consume print cartridge 1 inside ink, under the inner surplus situation that ink arranged of control box 50, replace print cartridge 1, also can and after between other new print cartridges 1 of installation, utilize the ink of control box 50 inside.So wasted ink not effectively utilizes.

Ink-feeding device has from the outside to print cartridge 1 inside provides the air of air to supply with pin 54, thereby when print cartridge 1 was installed, print cartridge 1 can be communicated with atmosphere.So, can absorb because the change of the internal pressure of the print cartridge 1 that consumption of ink causes.

And, on the box support 5 that can load and unload print cartridge 1, have air and supply with pin 54, therefore with print cartridge 1 when box support 5 takes off, can make print cartridge 1 airtight.Therefore can prevent that ink from leaking from print cartridge 1.

Below utilize the structure of Fig. 3 when above-mentioned ink-feeding device is applicable to ink-jet printer to describe.

As shown in Figure 3, ink-jet printer is made of paper feed unit (paper feeder), separative element, delivery unit, print unit and output unit.

Paper feed unit is used for supplying with paper (recording paper) S when printing, and is made of paper feed tray 6 and pick-up roller 4.When not printing, play the effect of keeping paper S.

The paper S that separative element (not shown) is used for providing from above-mentioned paper feed unit is provided to following print unit page by page, is made of feeding-in roll and separator.In separator, the friction of liner part (and contact portion of paper S) and paper S is set greater than the friction between paper S and the S.And in feeding-in roll, the friction between feeding-in roll and the paper is set greater than the friction between the friction between liner and the paper S, paper S and the S.Therefore even as two paper S, when S is sent to separative element, also can be by feeding-in roll with these paper S separation, and only the paper S of upside is sent to delivery unit.

The paper S that delivery unit is used for providing page by page from separative element is sent to print unit, guided plate (not shown) and roller (transmitting lower compression roller 8, transfer roller 9) is made of.Roller is to being when paper S being sent between following printhead 13 and the platen 16, for adjusting the parts that paper S transmits in the appropriate location that makes ink from printhead 13 be ejected into paper S.

Print unit is used for the roller by delivery unit is printed the paper S that provides.Print unit has: printhead 13, carry printhead 13 balladeur train 3, as the leading axle 10 of the parts of guide carriage 3, to printhead 13 provide ink ink tube 14, carry ink tube ink tube installation unit 17, from ink tube 14 to balladeur train provide ink ink supply conduit 2, and become the platen 16 of the platform of paper S when printing.

The paper S that output unit is used for will finish printing outputs to the outside of ink-jet printer, by outlet roller 11,12, paper discharge port 15, and output panel 7 constitute.

And above-mentioned print cartridge shown in Figure 11 is installed on the ink tube 14.And box support 5 shown in Figure 1 is equivalent to the part of ink tube installation unit 17.

Action at this ink-jet printer when printing describes.

At first, never illustrated computer etc. sends printing request based on image information to ink-jet printer.Afterwards, the ink-jet printer that receives the request of printing spreads out of by pick-up roller 4 the paper S on the paper feed tray 6 from paper feed unit.

Then, the paper S that spreads out of by separative element, sends to delivery unit by feeding-in roll.In delivery unit, by roller between the printhead 13 and platen 16 that are sent to print paper S.

And, in print unit, from nozzle paper S injection (spuing) ink corresponding on platen 16 of printhead 13 with image information.At this moment, paper S temporarily stops on the platen 16.When spraying ink, balladeur train 3 is directed axle 10 guiding, presses line scanning on main scanning direction.Behind the end of scan, paper S moves with certain amplitude along sub scanning direction on platen 16.In print unit, by above-mentioned processing continue is carried out corresponding to image information, on whole of paper S, print.

And ink is provided to balladeur train 3 by supply pipe 2 from ink tube 14.The ink that is provided to balladeur train 3 spues from the nozzle of printhead 13.

Then, carried out the paper S process ink dried unit of printing, and, outputed to output panel 7 from paper discharge port 15 by outlet roller 11,12.Paper S offers the user as printing thing afterwards.

(embodiment 2)

Carry out following explanation with reference to Fig. 1,2,4,5 pairs of another embodiment of the present invention.In the present embodiment, for embodiment 1 in inscape have the inscape of identical function, be marked with identical symbol, and omit its explanation.

The structure of the ink-feeding device under the present embodiment as shown in Figure 4.Shown in figure, this ink-feeding device is made of print cartridge 1 ' and box support 5 ', and print cartridge 1 ' can load and unload box support 5 '.The structure of this ink-feeding device is that circulation pin 53 in the embodiment 1 ink inside feedway and air are supplied with pin 54 and control box 50 integrally formed (with reference to Fig. 1,2).That is, print cartridge 1 ' has pressure control pin 61 and pressure control box 62, supplies with pin 54, grid filter 27, control box 50 with the circulation pin 53, the air that replace print cartridge 1.

Therefore, print cartridge 1 ' has peristome and sealing, thereby corresponding with ink supply needle 55 and pressure control pin 61.

Print cartridge 1 ' and pressure control box 62 are communicated with by pressure control pin 61, and air and ink are negotiable.

Pressure control pin 61 is pins of hollow form, and the top of an end of print cartridge 1 ' side is sharp.Pressure control pin 61 forms opening 61a near the end of print cartridge 1 ' one side, form opening 61b in the end of pressure control box 62 1 sides.

Pressure control box 62 has: can store the adjustment chamber 62a of air and ink, make and adjust chamber 62a, be the atmosphere communication path 62b that print cartridge 1 ' is communicated with atmosphere.That is, be used to make the internal pressure of print cartridge 1 ' always to keep the atmospheric pressure level and adjust.

The control of the internal pressure of (when print cartridge 1 ' uses (consumption of ink)) describes when this moves to ink-feeding device.

When the consumption of ink along with print cartridge 1 ', when the internal pressure of print cartridge 1 changed, print cartridge 1 ' sucked air or ink at least from pressure control pin 61.Therefore adjust for the internal pressure that makes print cartridge 1 ' keeps atmospheric pressure, thereby can absorb the pressure oscillation that the variation because of the ink remaining amount of print cartridge 1 ' inside causes.

The control of the internal pressure during then to variations in temperature describes.

During the inner changes in air volume of print cartridge 1 ', air by will be corresponding or ink with its volume by pressure control pin 61 and pressure control box 62 between circulation, can absorb because print cartridge 1 ' the pressure inside change that variations in temperature causes.

That is, when print cartridge 1 ' inner air expanded, ink, air flow into pressure control box 62 from print cartridge 1 '.Adjust with this, make the internal pressure of print cartridge 1 ' remain the atmospheric pressure level.

And when print cartridge 1 ' inner air shrank, ink, air flow into print cartridge 1 ' inside from pressure control box 62.Adjust with this, make the internal pressure of print cartridge 1 ' remain the atmospheric pressure level.

So, pressure control box 62 can absorb because of the pressure oscillation that the variation of print cartridge 1 ' temperature inside causes, the pressure oscillation when reaching the ink-feeding device action.

In addition, in pressure control box 62, pressure control pin 61 is configured in upper/lower positions: when above-mentioned pressure oscillation, air or ink flow under the situation of print cartridge 1 ' from pressure control box 62, when the bottom in adjusting chamber 62 has accumulated ink, can suck the position of ink earlier.

So, when ink is consumed, when the liquid level position of print cartridge 1 ' ink inside was lower than opening 61a, what flow out to pressure control box 62 from print cartridge 1 ' was air, and on the other hand, what flow into print cartridge 1 ' from pressure control box 62 is ink.And, when not having ink in the pressure control box 62, can pass air into, and make print cartridge 1 ' internal pressure stabilises remain atmospheric pressure.

Therefore, can not produce and use up ink lavishly.

In addition, the inside of pressure control box 62 also can be provided with and contain the porous plastid that floods ink in advance.

Followingly pressure control box 75 with porous plastid (ink absorber) 70 is described with reference to Fig. 5.

Pressure control box 75 has porous plastid 70 and grid filter (negative pressure regulating mechanism) 71, is communicated with atmosphere by peristome 73.

Be impregnated with ink in the porous plastid 70 in advance, form meniscus by ink in the grid of grid filter 71.

When negative pressure became big, meniscus broke in the internal pressure of print cartridge 1 ', was provided to pressure control box 75 from the air of peristome 73.And by the air extrusion of this supply, ink is provided to print cartridge 1 ' from pressure control box 75 by pressure control pin 61.So, the internal pressure of print cartridge 1 ' is adjusted.That is, pressure control box 75 can absorb the internal pressure change of print cartridge 1 '.

And even meniscus breaks in grid filter 71, as long as there is air to supply with the internal pressure stabilises of print cartridge 1 ', negative pressure can diminish, and meniscus regenerates.

In addition, after the ink that is provided to print cartridge 1 ' from pressure control box 75 is used up, adjust the internal pressure of print cartridge 1 ' by the air of pressure control box 75 inside.

And, even because variations in temperature etc., ink flows out to pressure control box 75 from print cartridge 1 ', because the change of print cartridge 1 ' internal pressure, the ink of outflow flow into print cartridge 1 ' inside once more.So, can use up ink, and can not waste.

And peristome 73 is sealed by band 72 before use.The evaporation of ink that so can suppress pressure control box 75 inside.

In addition, there is no particular limitation for the structure of porous plastid 70, grid filter 71, material etc.And also can not have grid filter 71.

(embodiment 3)

With reference to Fig. 9 to Figure 14 further other embodiments of the present invention are carried out following explanation.

Fig. 9 is the sectional view of the summary structure of the ink-feeding device that relates to of present embodiment.Shown in figure, ink-feeding device 101 has: print cartridge 102, moving end-wall (volume varying mechanism) 103, first filter (pressure oscillation suppresses mechanism) 104, second filter (second ink supplying mechanism) 105, ink supply port 106, diaphragm seal 107, caulking gum 108, envelope only are with 109, are reached air cartridge 110.

Above-mentioned print cartridge 102 is the box chambers that are used to accommodate ink, has first peristome 121, second peristome 122, the 3rd peristome 123, reaches defence wall 124.And above-mentioned first peristome 121, second peristome 122, the 3rd peristome 123 are arranged on the lower surface of print cartridge 102.In addition above-mentioned defence wall 124 is being discussed after a while.

In above-mentioned first peristome 121, be provided with above-mentioned moving end-wall 103 in order to cover this first peristome.And, in above-mentioned second peristome 122,, be provided with above-mentioned first filter 104 in order to cover this second peristome 122.Further, in above-mentioned the 3rd peristome 123, be provided with above-mentioned second filter 105 in order to cover the 3rd peristome 123.

Above-mentioned moving end-wall 103 has the 103a of wall portion, the 103b of spring portion, end 103c, reaches fixed part 103d.Be connected with the end of the above-mentioned spring 103b of portion on the peripheral part 103a ' of the above-mentioned wall 103a of portion, to surround this peripheral part 103a '.And, be connected with above-mentioned end 103c on the other end of the above-mentioned spring 103b of portion.And above-mentioned end 103c is fixed by the 103d of said fixing portion at the lower surface of above-mentioned print cartridge 102.Further, the structure of above-mentioned moving end-wall 103 is not by ink and air.

And the above-mentioned wall 103a of portion is flexible by the 103b's of spring portion, and is main along moving with the arrow A of figure and the direction of arrow B.Therefore by the arrow A of the above-mentioned wall 103a of portion or moving of arrow B direction, in ink-feeding device 101, can change the volume of print cartridge.

And, from the ink leakage of print cartridge 102, make difficulty, the above-mentioned wall 103a of portion, the 103b of spring portion, and end 103c preferably use elastomeric element such as rubber integrally formed.

Above-mentioned first filter 104 is the parts that are used to separate print cartridge 102 and air cartridge 110.And this first filter 104 is provided to print cartridge 102 by the air with above-mentioned air cartridge 110, suppresses the print cartridge that consumption of ink the produced 102 pressure inside change by print cartridge 102.

In addition, this first filter 104 is so long as the internal ink by print cartridge 102 can form the parts of meniscus (film of ink) gets final product, and its material, size are not particularly limited.And,, can use the filter etc. of the braid of for example cancellous metal grill filter, metallic fiber or resin fibre as above-mentioned first filter 104.And also there is no particular limitation for the weaving method of the mesh of first filter 104.

Ink with print cartridge 102 inside when above-mentioned second filter 105 is used for pressure in the print cartridge outside and is lower than predetermined value is provided to ink supply port 106.That is, above-mentioned second filter only passes through ink when ink supply port 106 attracts ink.And when ink-feeding device is replaced by new device, that is, when the pressure of print cartridge outside was higher than predetermined value, second ink supplying mechanism was not provided to the outside with ink.And this second filter 105 for example is made of material, the shape identical with above-mentioned first filter.

Above-mentioned ink supply port 106 is will be provided to outside opening from the ink that print cartridge 102 provides by above-mentioned second filter 105.

Above-mentioned diaphragm seal 107 is films of sealing ink supply port 106.But when ink-feeding device 101 was installed to printing equipment, when for example being installed to ink-jet printer (with reference to Fig. 3), sealing film 107 was removed.

Above-mentioned caulking gum 108 is set to and above-mentioned ink supply port 106 butts.And, sealing rubber 108 is used for: when ink-feeding device 101 is installed to above-mentioned printing equipment, closely be connected (with reference to Fig. 9) with the ink supply needle 171 peripheral part 171a on being arranged on printing equipment, seal, so that ink, air in the print cartridge 102 do not leak into the outside.

Above-mentioned envelope is belts of occluded air box 110 with 109 only.But it is 109 the same with above-mentioned diaphragm seal 107 that this envelope only is with, and is removed ink-feeding device 101 being installed to when using on the printing equipment.

Above-mentioned air cartridge 110 is made of the part of the basket of the part of the basket of above-mentioned moving end-wall 103, first filter 104, print cartridge 102, ink-feeding device 101, taking off after above-mentioned envelope only is with 109, with external communications.So, can flow into air, and make air flow out to the outside from the outside.

At this above-mentioned ink supply needle 171 is described.When stating ink-feeding device 101 in the use, as mentioned above, ink supply needle 171 is inserted into the inside of print cartridge 102.Above-mentioned ink supply needle 171 is pins of hollow form, and the top of an end of print cartridge 102 sides is sharp.Near the end of print cartridge 102 sides, form supply hole 171b, form supply hole 171c at the other end.And the ink that is housed in print cartridge 102 supplies to the outside (when for example ink-feeding device 101 being used for ink-jet printer, the ink-jet in the balladeur train is first-class) of print cartridge 102 by supply hole 171b, the 171c of ink supply needle 171.

And the above-mentioned defence wall 124 that is arranged on print cartridge 102 inside is used to stop flowing of air, so that the air that is provided to print cartridge 102 inside from first filter 104 is not provided to the first side of ink-jet (not shown) from the supply hole 171b of ink supply needle 171 by second filter 105 with ink simultaneously.

And this defence wall 124 has the opening 124a by ink in the lower end.This opening 124a is arranged on low position being set, promptly being arranged on lower surface one side of print cartridge 102 than above-mentioned first filter 104 and second filter 105.

So, above-mentioned opening 124a has the impartial effect of liquid level maintenance that makes the ink in the print cartridge 102.And by this opening 124a, the air that can prevent to supply to print cartridge 102 inside from above-mentioned first filter 104 is supplied to simultaneously from the supply hole 171b and the ink of ink supply needle 71.

Because the internal pressure of print cartridge 102 is negative pressure (the cloudy pressure), therefore the meniscus in above-mentioned first filter 104 and second filter 105 becomes the state to the inside of print cartridge 102 side depression.

But when ink-feeding device 101 being installed to for example printing equipment such as ink-jet printer, if consume ink in the print cartridge 102, then the quantity of ink in the print cartridge 102 reduce.And along with the minimizing of this quantity of ink, the pressure in the print cartridge 102 always changes.And because the variation of the external environment condition of print cartridges 102 such as the variations in temperature around the print cartridge 102, air pressure change, the state of accommodating thing in the print cartridge 102 changes.And because this state variation of accommodating thing, the internal pressure of print cartridge 102 always changes.

Therefore following control as the internal pressure of the print cartridge 102 of feature of the present invention is described.

The control of the internal pressure of (when print cartridge uses (consumption of ink)) describes during at first, to 101 actions of print cartridge feedway.In addition, when bringing into use ink-feeding device, there is negative pressure the inside of print cartridge 102.

Along with the consumption of ink of print cartridge 102, negative pressure becomes big in the internal pressure of print cartridge 102.And when this negative pressure arrived predetermined value (threshold value) greatly, the meniscus that is formed by ink on the surface of first filter 104 broke.

At this moment, print cartridge 102 sucks air by first filter 104.Therefore can prevent that print cartridge 102 internal negative pressures from becoming excessive, can adjust to the internal pressure of print cartridge 102 in the predetermined scope.

That is, when ink is consumed, because the increase of the negative pressure of print cartridge 102 inside, the ink level that forms on the filter mesh of air extrusion first filter 104, and deface tension force (breaking meniscus), thus pass through and form bubble.The pressure (critical value) that is used to generate this bubble depends on the filtering accuracy (mesh radius of filter) of first filter, by making this filtering accuracy optimization, can make print cartridge 102 internal pressure, be that the supply pressure of ink keeps certain.And first filter 104 also has the function of removing rubbish bigger than its filtering accuracy etc.

The internal pressure of the print cartridge 102 when so, first filter 104 can be adjusted ink-feeding device 101 actions.That is, the first filter 104 ink residue that can absorb print cartridge 102 inside changes the pressure oscillation that (consumption of ink) causes.

That is, above-mentioned first filter 104 utilizes the surface tension of the ink on the interface between the ink of first filter 104 and print cartridge 102 inside, suppresses the change of print cartridge 102 pressure inside.Therefore, can change with print cartridge 102 pressure inside that simple structure suppresses to produce along with consumption of ink.

The control of the internal pressure during then, to the variations in temperature in the said external environmental change describes.

Temperature around the above-mentioned print cartridge feedway 101 along with the time band, the change etc. in place be set and change.In this case, the volume of air in the print cartridge 102 expands or shrinks, and internal pressure also produces change.

Under the situations the such as particularly consumption when ink increases, and the air change of print cartridge inside is many, the change that said temperature changes the internal pressure that causes also increases.Therefore, suppose for example to accommodate the air of 100 (cc), and the level pressure variation takes place in the inside of print cartridge 102.Under above-mentioned supposed situation, when the internal temperature of print cartridge 102 when 5 ℃ change to 55 ℃, according to boyle-Charles law, volume of air becomes 100 * (328/278)=118 (cc), 18 (cc) volume changes.That is to say that the volume of air has increased by 18%.In addition, suppose not to be that level pressure changes, but decide Volume Changes that then the internal pressure of print cartridge 102 becomes 1.18 times.

So, when the air condition of print cartridge 102 inside changed, above-mentioned moving end-wall 103 was out of shape, and changed the print cartridge volume with corresponding its state variation.Promptly, when ink, air etc. is accommodated the pressure increase of thing, for the volume that makes print cartridge 102 increases, the 103a of wall portion of moving end-wall 103 moves to the arrow A direction of Fig. 9, when above-mentioned pressure of accommodating thing reduces, for making the volume reducing of print cartridge 102, the 103a of wall portion of above-mentioned moving end-wall 103 is to moving with the B direction among the figure.

By moving of this moving end-wall 103, can suppress because said temperature changes the print cartridge pressure inside change that causes.Therefore the ink and the air that change can take place by the state of accommodating in print cartridge 102, and can not leak from first filter 104.

Here, to establish air pressure in the box under the temperature T 1 and be P1, volume and be pressure under V1, the temperature T 2 be P2, when volume is V2, and V2 is shown in following formula (2):

V2＝(P1/P2)·V1·(T2/T1) (2)

And, consider that volume-variation mechanism before the variations in temperature is in the situation of poised state, consider by volume to be that V1, pressure are the point of P1, and be the situation of the straight line Vb of α with respect to the pressure of volume-variation mechanism, the inclination of volume-variation.This straight line Vb is as shown in Equation (3):

Vb＝α(P-P1)+V1 (3)

And, when the volume when set to press changing is Vm, Vm as shown in Equation (4):

Vm＝V2·T2/T1 (4)

Further, when the pressure when setting Volume Changes is Pm, Pm as shown in Equation (5):

Pm＝P1·T2/T1 (5)

So, as shown in figure 10, the curve of expression V2 becomes operating point with the intersection point (Vd, Pd) of the straight line of expression Vb.

That is, this means, do not change as fruit volume, the place till pressure rises to Pm, volume-variation mechanism only carries out the volume-variation of (Vd-V1), balance under pressure P d.And operating point gets final product by the condition of separating quadratic expression setting operating stably, therefore omits its detailed description.

According to above-mentioned research, volume-variation mechanism is set at: the pressure for the every 1kPa in print cartridge inside changes, and makes more than the volume-variation 10% or 10% of print cartridge.

But, for the nozzle mistake that prevents the ink gun from the recording mediums such as paper that ink is spued sucks air, the maximum of providing ink negative pressure is 2-3kPa, and, be limited to atmospheric pressure (considering that vibration, air pressure change also can be provided with to such an extent that be lower than atmospheric pressure with going up to limit) in the rising that providing ink is pressed for making ink from leaking with the interconnecting part of atmosphere.Therefore, the License Value of the pressure oscillation of providing ink pressure is approximately the value between the 2-3kPa.And, when the external temperature of print cartridge from 5 ℃ rise to 55 ℃, promptly 50 when spending, under the situation of level pressure, the volume of air of print cartridge inside increases by 18% (with reference to Figure 10) approximately.

Be made as in structure above-mentioned moving end-wall 103, pressure with respect to the 1kPa of print cartridge 102 inside changes, make under the volume-variation 10% or 10% above situation of print cartridge, for example when pressure is changed to 2kPa, can make more than the volume-variation 20% or 20% of print cartridge (with reference to Figure 10).Therefore under the situation of this structure, to use the environment variations in temperature down of ink-feeding device to be generally 50 degree or 50 and spend when following, the change that can make providing ink pressure is below the 2kPa.Consequently can carry out high-precision printing to recording medium.

And, more than the control of internal pressure during to variations in temperature be illustrated, also be the same during air pressure change around the print cartridge 102.In this case, by the variation of above-mentioned ambient air pressure, the state that the ink in the print cartridge 102, air etc. are accommodated thing changes.Therefore utilize above-mentioned moving end-wall 103 that the volume of print cartridge 102 is changed, thereby can suppress the pressure oscillation in the print cartridge 102.Therefore print cartridge 102 can not accommodated ink, the air of state variation from first filter 104 with leaking.

As mentioned above, the ink-feeding device 101 that present embodiment relates to has the print cartridge 102 of accommodating ink in inside at least, and has moving end-wall (volume-variation mechanism) 103 and first filter (pressure oscillation suppresses mechanism) 104 that the internal pressure that is used to make print cartridge 102 remains predetermined value.

And above-mentioned moving end-wall (volume-variation mechanism) the 103rd changes the state variation of accommodating thing (air and ink) in the print cartridge 102 cause corresponding to print cartridge 102 external environment conditions and makes the parts of the volume-variation of print cartridge 102.Further, above-mentioned first filter 104 is to provide air by the outside from print cartridge 102 to print cartridge 102 inside, suppresses because the device of the print cartridge 102 internal pressures change that consumption of ink causes.

For the pressure that suppresses in the print cartridge rises, under the state that the volume of moving end-wall (volume-variation mechanism) 103 increases when nozzle spues and consume ink, volume reducing along with the consumption moving end-wall (volume-variation mechanism) 103 of ink, be changed to the volume that resets into before increasing, ink is consumed and surpasses the supply capacity of moving end-wall (volume-variation mechanism) 103, when the change of the negative pressure overpressure in the print cartridge suppressed the setting pressure of mechanism, the pressure oscillation inhibit feature of first filter (pressure oscillation suppresses mechanism) 104 began to play a role.

By this moving end-wall 103 and first filter 104, can make the internal pressure of print cartridge 102 keep certain.Consequently, in above-mentioned ink-feeding device 101, can stably provide ink.

But, in above-mentioned ink-feeding device 101, have only above-mentioned the 3rd peristome 123 (perhaps second filter 105), and first filter 104 have structure with print cartridge 102 external communications.That is, except the 3rd peristome 123 (perhaps second filter 105) and first filter 104, print cartridge 102 is a closing state.Therefore the water evaporates of the ink in the print cartridge 102 can be suppressed, thereby the problem that ink viscosity increases can be eliminated.

And in above-mentioned ink-feeding device 101, the print cartridge 102 internal pressures change that consumption of ink causes is suppressed by above-mentioned first filter 103.So, by using filter, can suppress because the print cartridge 102 pressure inside change that consumption of ink causes with simple structure.Further, by the mutual different filter of the mesh radius of optionally using filter, can adjust the internal pressure of print cartridge 102 simple and easy and accurately.

And the mesh radius of the filter in above-mentioned first filter 104 is preferably 25 μ m to 50 μ m.As shown in figure 11, by mesh radius being made as 25 μ m, the negative pressure of print cartridge 102 inside can be set at 1.7kPa to the value between the 3.5kPa to 50 μ m.Consequently, when not producing the change of print cartridge 102 pressure inside along with the consumption of ink, can prevent that the meniscus that forms in the grid of first filter 104 is destroyed, and can prevent ink leakage.

And, in above-mentioned ink-feeding device 101,, therefore when ink-feeding device is replaced by new device, also can prevent ink leakage owing to be provided with above-mentioned second filter 105.

Further, the mesh radius of above-mentioned second filter is the same with the mesh radius of first filter, is preferably 25 μ m to 50 μ m.So, the negative pressure of print cartridge 102 inside can be set at 1.7kPa to the value between the 3.5kPa.Consequently,, can prevent that the meniscus that forms in the grid of first filter 104 is destroyed, and can prevent ink leakage beyond the time at providing ink.

And,, preferably respectively hydrophilicity-imparting treatment is for example carried out by cleaning treatment in the surface of filter for above-mentioned first filter 104 and second filter 105.

So, carry out hydrophilicity-imparting treatment, can make the meniscus that forms on the filter keep stable by surface to each filter.

Above-mentioned second peristome 122 is arranged on the lower surface of print cartridge 102 as shown in Figure 9.That is, first filter 104 is arranged on the lower surface of print cartridge 102.Consequently, till the ink in print cartridge 102 is used up, can suppress to use pressure oscillation first filter 104, in the print cartridge 102.

And above-mentioned the 3rd peristome 123 is arranged on the lower surface of print cartridge 102 as mentioned above.And the 3rd peristome 123 preferably is set to roughly the same height with above-mentioned second peristome 122.That is, preferably begin identical height, form above-mentioned peristome 122,123 at lower surface from print cartridge 102.

By form near the print cartridge lower surface that two peristomes, 122,123, the first filters 104 adjust pressure, with second filter near pressure about equally.Therefore by the adjustment of first filter 104,, can control the supply pressure of ink to the outside promptly by the selection of mesh radius.Therefore the caused pressure oscillation of variation along with the ink level of consumption of ink disappears, and can stably provide ink to the outside.

And, in above-mentioned ink-feeding device 101, as mentioned above, also be arranged on the lower surface of print cartridge 102 except second peristome 122 and the 3rd opening 123, the first peristomes 121.By this structure, moving end-wall 103 is arranged on and first filter 104 and identical face (lower surface) side of second filter 105 in print cartridge 102.Consequently, when making ink-feeding device 101, it is easy that the processing of print cartridge 102 becomes.

And in above-mentioned ink-feeding device 101, as shown in Figure 9, moving end-wall 103 is formed on the inside of ink-feeding device 101.So, for example ink-feeding device 101 is replaced by under the new situations such as device, the user can not touch this moving end-wall 103 mistakenly.That is, can prevent that unexpected external force is applied on the moving end-wall 103.Consequently, can not produce the change of the internal pressure of the print cartridge 102 that above-mentioned external force causes, can prevent ink leakage.

And, in the print cartridge 102 of above-mentioned ink-feeding device 101, preferably only accommodate ink and air.That is, in print cartridge 102, preferably do not accommodate absorbing materials (for example porous plastid) such as ink absorber, ink bag and wait other materials.

By such structure, can effectively utilize the volume of ink 102.That is, compare, in this print cartridge 102, do not contain absorbing material in the print cartridge 102, therefore can increase the quantity of ink that to fill with the print cartridge of the structure that contains absorbing material.

And in the ink-feeding device 101 that above-mentioned embodiment relates to, though moving end-wall 103 is arranged on the lower surface of print cartridge 102, be not limited thereto.For example, also can be that moving end-wall is arranged on the upper surface of print cartridge 102, the structure of side.

Figure 12 is the sectional view that moving end-wall has been arranged on the ink-feeding device of print cartridge upper surface.In addition, for convenience of explanation, this moving end-wall is represented with moving end-wall 103 ' that the ink-feeding device that will have this moving end-wall 103 ' is represented with ink-feeding device 101 '.Further, the print cartridge of this ink-feeding device 101 ' is expressed as print cartridge 102 ', first peristome is expressed as first peristome 121 '.

In above-mentioned ink-feeding device 101 ', first peristome 121 ' is formed on the upper surface of print cartridge 102 ', and moving end-wall 103 ' forms this first peristome 121 ' of covering.Other structures are the same with above-mentioned ink-feeding device 101.

In this case, moving end-wall 103 ' can not be subjected to following consumption of ink and the influence of the variation of the ink level that produces.Therefore can control comparatively stablely because of the pressure oscillation that external environment condition changes in the print cartridge that produces.And,, therefore can reduce the influence of print cartridge with respect to the acceleration of gravity (g) of the vertical direction of ink level because the weight of ink is not applied on the moving end-wall 103 '.

Figure 13 represents moving end-wall is arranged on the sectional drawing of ink-feeding device of the side of print cartridge.In addition for convenience of explanation, this moving end-wall is expressed as moving end-wall 103 ", will have this moving end-wall 103 " ink-feeding device be expressed as ink-feeding device 101 ".Further, with this ink-feeding device 101 " print cartridge represent print cartridge 102 ", first peristome is represented portion's first peristome 121 ".

At above-mentioned ink-feeding device 101 " in, first peristome 121 " be formed on print cartridge 102 " the side, and moving end-wall 103 " form cover this first peristome 121 ".Other structures are the same with above-mentioned ink-feeding device 101.

At this preferably to above-mentioned moving end-wall 103 " carry out following setting: be used in the moving end-wall 103 that changes volume " direction (A ' of Figure 13-B ' direction) of action, and with ink-feeding device 101 " be installed to the ink-feeding device 101 of printing equipment (not shown) when using " moving direction different mutually.

When the direction of moving and above-mentioned volume-variation mechanism is used to change volume and the moving direction of ink-feeding device are arranged side by side, moving of acceleration and deceleration by following ink-feeding device, volume-variation mechanism is subjected to acceleration of gravity (g) on the direction that volume-variation mechanism moves in order to change volume.So, external force is applied in the volume-variation mechanism, produces pressure oscillation in the inside of print cartridge.

But, by making above-mentioned moving end-wall 103 " direction of action and ink-feeding device 101 " moving direction mutually different and to moving end-wall 103 " be provided with, can prevent and follow ink-feeding device 101 " the mobile caused pressure oscillation of acceleration and deceleration.

And, in the above-described embodiment, change pressure oscillation in the print cartridge of accommodating the state variation of thing in the print cartridge cause and producing in order to suppress external environment condition,, the moving end-wall 103,103 ', 103 shown in Fig. 9,11 or 12 is set " as volume-variation mechanism.But moving end-wall 103,103 ', 103 " be not limited thereto shape.

For example, moving end-wall also can be the same as shown in figure 14, the degree of depth of first peristome 121 deepened configuration cylinder 140 in this opening.Under this structure, cylinder 140 moves by the A-B direction along figure, can play the effect the same with moving end-wall 103.And above-mentioned moving end-wall 103 also can be formed by the such elastomeric material of balloon rubber.In this case, can make simple for structureization of moving end-wall 103.

In addition, utilize the structure of above-mentioned cylinder, and utilize the so elastomeric structure of balloon rubber also moving end-wall to be arranged on the upper surface of print cartridge or the situation of side (with reference to Figure 12, Figure 13) applicable to above-mentioned.

And, at above-mentioned ink-feeding device 101,101 ', 101 " in, disclose have moving end-wall 103,103 ', 103 " and the structure of first filter 104.But also can only have moving end-wall 103,103 ', 103 " structure, or only have the structure of first filter 104.

Only have above-mentioned moving end-wall 103,103 ', 103 " structure in, change the state variation of accommodating thing in the print cartridge that causes according to the external environment condition of print cartridge, can change the volume of print cartridge.Therefore, can suppress the change that external environment condition changes the internal pressure of the print cartridge that causes.So, Ink Cartridge inner pressure can be kept certain, supply with thereby can carry out stable ink.

And, in the structure that only has first filter 104,, can suppress the print cartridge pressure inside change that consumption of ink causes by providing air to the inside of above-mentioned print cartridge from the print cartridge outside.That is,,, can suppress the change of the Ink Cartridge inner pressure that consumption of ink causes by air being provided to print cartridge inside along with the consumption of ink.So, Ink Cartridge inner pressure can be kept certain, supply with thereby can carry out stable ink.

In addition, with above-mentioned ink-feeding device 101,101 ', 101 " structure when being applicable to ink-jet printer is the same with structure shown in Figure 3.And above-mentioned ink-feeding device shown in Figure 9 101,101 ', 101 in this case, " be installed on the ink tube 14.

Ink-feeding device of the present invention has the print cartridge that ink is accommodated by portion within it as mentioned above; The box support that releasably keeps this print cartridge, wherein above-mentioned box support have and above-mentioned print cartridge between the pressure adjustmenting mechanism (for example: circulation pin, air are supplied with pin, pressure control pin, pressure control box etc.) of negotiable ink and air, be predetermined value thereby make the pressure of the above-mentioned print cartridge of installation.

That is, above-mentioned ink-feeding device preferably when being installed to print cartridge on the box support, is inserted in the print cartridge part (pin that for example circulates, air are supplied with an end of pin or pressure control pin) of pressure adjustmenting mechanism.

According to said structure, box support and print cartridge with pressure adjustmenting mechanism releasably constitute.

Therefore, for example when pressure adjustmenting mechanism have can accommodate and print cartridge between during the pressure control chamber of the ink that circulates and air, even consume the ink of ink inside, remain under the situation that ink is arranged in the pressure control chamber inside of pressure adjustmenting mechanism and replace print cartridge, also can and after between other print cartridges of installing, utilize the ink of pressure control chamber inside.So wasted ink not effectively utilizes.

And,,, also can adjust the internal pressure of print cartridge by the circulation of ink and air even along with the consumption of ink, and the variation print cartridge pressure inside change of surrounding environment (temperature) by pressure adjustmenting mechanism.That is, can absorb the change of print cartridge pressure inside.

Further, because pressure adjustmenting mechanism can load and unload on print cartridge, therefore can not be provided for making Ink Cartridge inner pressure to become the absorbing material (for example porous plastid) of negative pressure and absorption pressure change in print cartridge inside.

Generally speaking, behind the configuration absorbing material, when ink flows therein, can be subjected to viscous drag.In this case, from the power (providing ink pressure) of ink-feeding device squeezeout ink because the difference of ink remaining amount and difference.That is, produce pressure loss people because of absorbing material.

But, owing to do not have absorbing material in print cartridge, therefore pressure oscillation can not take place, thereby can stably supply with ink.

And in the above-mentioned ink-feeding device, pressure adjustmenting mechanism preferably has the pressure control chamber (for example control box, pressure control box, adjustment chamber) of maintenance from inner ink that flows out of print cartridge and air.

According to said structure, can absorb the change that changes the internal pressure of the print cartridge that causes because of surrounding environment (temperature).

And, even consume ink inside ink, under the inner surplus situation that ink arranged of pressure control chamber, replace print cartridge, also can and after between other print cartridges of installation, utilize the ink of pressure control chamber inside.So wasted ink not effectively utilizes

And in the above-mentioned ink-feeding device, the preferred pressure guiding mechanism has the air feed mechanism (for example air is supplied with pin, pressure control pin, pressure control box) that air is provided to print cartridge inside from the outside.

According to said structure, when print cartridge was installed, print cartridge can be communicated with atmosphere.So, can absorb the change of the Ink Cartridge inner pressure that causes because of consumption of ink.

And, because the air feed mechanism is installed in respect to print cartridge removably on the box support, therefore with print cartridge when box support takes off, salable print cartridge.Therefore, can prevent that ink from leaking from print cartridge.

And, in the above-mentioned ink-feeding device, box support has the ink that is communicated with the print cartridge of installing, will be housed in the print cartridge and is provided to the first outside ink supplying mechanism, and preferably when print cartridge was installed to box support, first ink supplying mechanism was communicated with print cartridge at last.That is, first ink supplying mechanism be later than be communicated with (be installed to print cartridge on) of pressure adjustmenting mechanism being communicated with of print cartridge with print cartridge.

For example, if at first first ink supplying mechanism is communicated with print cartridge, then when pressure adjustmenting mechanism was communicated with print cartridge, in the inner generation of print cartridge pressure oscillation, from first ink supplying mechanism, air, ink flowed out.

But, according to said structure, when being installed to print cartridge on the box support, be communicated with print cartridge at last by first ink supplying mechanism, can be by the caused pressure oscillation of connection between pressure adjustmenting mechanism absorption pressure guiding mechanism and the print cartridge, and on can preventing that air, ink for example are expressed to ink supply conduit (providing ink path) from first ink supplying mechanism.Therefore, when utilizing ink to carry out image formation, can prevent to be trapped in ink supply conduit interior air, ink and discharge caused image quality aggravation.

And in the above-mentioned ink-feeding device, box support has the ink that is communicated with the print cartridge of installing, will be housed in the print cartridge and is provided to the first outside ink supplying mechanism, and from box support taking-up print cartridge the time, preferred first ink supplying mechanism is removed connection at first.That is, the releasing of the connection of first ink supplying mechanism and print cartridge (taking off from print cartridge) is removed prior to the connection of pressure adjustmenting mechanism and print cartridge.

For example, if at last first ink supplying mechanism is connected releasing, then when the connection of pressure relief guiding mechanism, in the inner generation of print cartridge pressure oscillation, for example the nozzle tip from balladeur train is drawn into ink supply conduit (providing ink path) by first ink supplying mechanism with air.

According to said structure, by removing the connection of first ink supplying mechanism at first, can absorb the pressure oscillation that the insertion of first ink supplying mechanism causes by pressure adjustmenting mechanism, can prevent that for example ink supply conduit (providing ink path) sucks air.Therefore, when utilizing ink to carry out image formation, can prevent to be trapped in the interior air of ink supply conduit and discharge caused image quality aggravation.

And above-mentioned ink-feeding device is preferably only accommodated ink and air in print cartridge inside.

According to said structure,, can effectively utilize the volume of print cartridge because absorbing materials such as ink absorber, ink bag are not accommodated in print cartridge inside.Therefore can realize the miniaturization of print cartridge.

And, in the above-mentioned ink-feeding device, at least a portion of the preferred side of pressure control chamber is made of the force application part to other faces (except the zone (comprising the side) of at least a portion of above-mentioned side, for example bottom surface) application of force, thereby makes the volume of pressure control chamber become big.

According to said structure, can absorb the pressure oscillation of print cartridge.

And in the above-mentioned ink-feeding device, the pressure adjustmenting mechanism preferred disposition is near the bottom surface of print cartridge.

According to said structure, near the pressure (predetermined value) that pressure adjustmenting mechanism is adjusted, the print cartridge bottom surface, with first ink supplying mechanism in ink flow export (for example supply hole) pressure about equally.Therefore by the pressure adjustment of pressure adjustmenting mechanism, can carry out the outflow control of ink.That is, can utilize pressure adjustmenting mechanism till ink is used up.

And in the above-mentioned ink-feeding device, pressure control chamber preferably has the ink absorber that absorbed ink in advance.

According to said structure,, can adjust the negative pressure of print cartridge inside by having ink absorber (porous plastid).

And in the above-mentioned ink-feeding device, pressure adjustmenting mechanism preferably has the negative pressure regulating mechanism that the print cartridge pressure inside is adjusted into negative pressure.

According to said structure,, can utilize meniscus to adjust the supply of air, and the print cartridge pressure inside is adjusted into predetermined scope by negative pressure regulating mechanism (for example grid filter).

And in the above-mentioned ink-feeding device, the volume of establishing print cartridge is made as Vt, and when the volume of pressure control chamber was made as Vs, volume V s and Vt preferably satisfied following formula:

0.1≤Vs/Vt≤0.3

According to said structure, can not fill with pressure control chamber, and the internal pressure of print cartridge is remained in the predetermined scope.

Ink-feeding device of the present invention as mentioned above, be to have the ink-feeding device of accommodating the print cartridge of ink in inside at least, it constitutes has volume-variation mechanism, changes the state variation of accommodating thing in the print cartridge that causes according to the external environment condition of above-mentioned print cartridge, makes the volume-variation of above-mentioned print cartridge.

According to said structure, by volume-variation mechanism, the state variation of accommodating thing in the print cartridge that can cause according to the variation of the external environment condition of print cartridge makes the volume-variation of print cartridge.

When ink-feeding device for example being installed to printing equipment such as ink-jet printer, because the state of accommodating thing in variation (for example variations in temperature, the air pressure change) print cartridge of the external environment condition of print cartridge changes.And, because this interior pressure of state variation print cartridge of accommodating thing always changes.Therefore in the ink-feeding device under the structure that does not have above-mentioned volume-variation mechanism, when the pressure oscillation in the print cartridge is big, produce ink leakage.

But in the present invention, as mentioned above,,, can change the volume of print cartridge according to the state variation of accommodating thing by above-mentioned volume-variation mechanism.That is, for example, when above-mentioned pressure of accommodating thing reduces, can reduce the volume of print cartridge because variations in temperature on every side when ink, air etc. is accommodated the pressure increase of thing, can increase the volume of accommodating of print cartridge.So, can suppress because external environment condition changes the change of the internal pressure of the print cartridge that causes.

Therefore, by above-mentioned volume-variation mechanism, the internal pressure in the print cartridge can be kept certain.Thereby can provide a kind of ink-feeding device that ink can stably be provided.

Ink-feeding device of the present invention has the print cartridge of accommodating ink in inside at least as mentioned above, have pressure oscillation and suppress mechanism, provide air by outside to the inside of above-mentioned print cartridge, suppress the print cartridge pressure inside change that above-mentioned consumption of ink causes from above-mentioned print cartridge.

According to said structure, suppress mechanism by pressure oscillation, provide air from the print cartridge outside to above-mentioned print cartridge inside, therefore can suppress the print cartridge pressure inside change that causes because of consumption of ink.

When ink-feeding device for example being installed to printing equipment such as ink-jet printer, if consume ink in the print cartridge, then the quantity of ink in the print cartridge reduces.And because the minimizing of quantity of ink, the pressure in the print cartridge always changes.Therefore in the ink-feeding device that does not have the structure that above-mentioned pressure oscillation suppresses mechanism, when the pressure oscillation in the print cartridge is big, ink leakage takes place.

But in the present invention, as mentioned above, suppress mechanism, provide air, therefore can control because the print cartridge pressure inside change that consumption of ink causes from the print cartridge outside to above-mentioned print cartridge inside by above-mentioned pressure oscillation.That is,,, can suppress the change of the Ink Cartridge inner pressure that causes because of consumption of ink by air being provided to print cartridge inside along with the consumption of ink.

Therefore, suppress mechanism, can make the internal pressure in the print cartridge keep certain by above-mentioned pressure oscillation.Therefore can provide a kind of ink-feeding device that ink is provided of stablizing.

Ink-feeding device of the present invention is preferably: in the ink-feeding device with above-mentioned volume-variation mechanism, further have pressure oscillation and suppress mechanism, provide air by outside to the inside of above-mentioned print cartridge, suppress the print cartridge pressure inside change that above-mentioned consumption of ink causes from above-mentioned print cartridge.

According to said structure, suppress mechanism by pressure oscillation, provide air from the print cartridge outside to above-mentioned print cartridge inside, therefore can suppress the print cartridge pressure inside change that causes because of consumption of ink.

When ink-feeding device for example being installed to printing equipment such as ink-jet printer, if consume ink in the print cartridge, then the quantity of ink in the print cartridge reduces.And because the minimizing of quantity of ink, the pressure in the print cartridge always changes.Therefore in the ink-feeding device that does not have the structure that above-mentioned pressure oscillation suppresses mechanism, when the pressure oscillation in the print cartridge is big, ink leakage takes place.

But in the present invention, as mentioned above,, provide air, therefore can control because the print cartridge pressure inside change that consumption of ink causes from the print cartridge outside to above-mentioned print cartridge inside by above-mentioned pressure oscillation control device.That is,,, can suppress the change of the Ink Cartridge inner pressure that causes because of consumption of ink by air being provided to print cartridge inside along with the consumption of ink.

Therefore, suppress mechanism, can make the internal pressure in the print cartridge keep certain by above-mentioned volume-variation mechanism and pressure oscillation.Therefore can provide a kind of ink-feeding device that ink is provided of stablizing.

And, ink-feeding device of the present invention is preferably: in above-mentioned ink-feeding device, above-mentioned print cartridge has first peristome and second peristome, and above-mentioned volume-variation mechanism covers above-mentioned first peristome, and above-mentioned pressure oscillation suppresses mechanism and covers above-mentioned second peristome.

According to said structure, volume-variation mechanism and pressure oscillation suppress mechanism and are set to cover each peristome that is arranged on the print cartridge respectively.

Therefore, for example formed by the material not by ink but by air such as filter by making volume-variation mechanism, volume-variation mechanism can make ink not leak into the print cartridge outside and make air pass through print cartridge inside.

And, ink-feeding device of the present invention is preferably: in above-mentioned ink-feeding device, above-mentioned print cartridge has the ink that is used for being housed in print cartridge and is provided to the 3rd outside peristome, only above-mentioned the 3rd peristome, and above-mentioned pressure oscillation suppress the external communications of mechanism and above-mentioned print cartridge.

According to said structure, except ink is provided to the 3rd outside peristome, and pressure oscillation suppress the mechanism, print cartridge is closed.

Therefore, can prevent the ink water evaporates in the print cartridge, ink viscosity increases.

And ink-feeding device of the present invention is preferably: in above-mentioned ink-feeding device, above-mentioned volume-variation mechanism is made of elastomeric element.

According to said structure, volume-variation mechanism is made of elastomeric element.

Therefore, can make the volume-variation of print cartridge by simple structure.

And ink-feeding device of the present invention is preferably: in above-mentioned ink-feeding device, above-mentioned volume-variation mechanism changes for the pressure of the inner every 1kPa of above-mentioned print cartridge, makes more than the volume-variation 10% or 10% of print cartridge.

According to said structure, volume-variation mechanism changes with respect to the pressure of every 1kPa of print cartridge inside, makes more than the volume-variation 10% or 10% of print cartridge.

But, for the nozzle tip mistake that prevents the ink gun from the recording mediums such as paper that ink is spued sucks air, the maximum of providing ink negative pressure is 2-3kPa, and for ink is not leaked from the interconnecting part with atmosphere, be limited to atmospheric pressure in the rising that providing ink is pressed, the License Value of the pressure oscillation of providing ink pressure is approximately the value between the 2-3kPa.And, when the external temperature of print cartridge from 5 ℃ rise to 55 ℃, promptly 50 when spending, under the situation that level pressure changes, the volume of air of print cartridge inside increases by 18% approximately.

But, for example when the pressure in the print cartridge is changed to 2kPa, can make more than the volume-variation 20% or 20% of print cartridge by said structure.

Therefore, if variations in temperature is that the change that then can make providing ink pressure was below the 2kPa below 50 degree or 50 were spent generally speaking in the environment of use ink-feeding device.Therefore can carry out high-precision printing to recording medium.

And ink-feeding device of the present invention is preferred: in above-mentioned ink-feeding device, above-mentioned volume-variation mechanism makes the inner negative pressure that produces of above-mentioned print cartridge when bringing into use ink-feeding device.

According to said structure, above-mentioned volume-variation mechanism is set to the inside that makes above-mentioned print cartridge and produces negative pressure when bringing into use ink-feeding device.

Therefore, when using ink-feeding device,, also can increase the volume of print cartridge effectively even accommodate thing when expanding in the print cartridge because of the variation of external environment condition.

And, ink-feeding device of the present invention is preferably: in above-mentioned ink-feeding device, above-mentioned pressure oscillation suppress mechanism utilize above-mentioned pressure oscillation suppress mechanism, and the interface of the ink of print cartridge inside on ink surface tension, suppress the change of print cartridge pressure inside.

According to said structure, pressure oscillation suppresses the surface tension that mechanism utilizes this pressure oscillation to suppress on the interface between the ink of mechanism and print cartridge inside and suppresses the change of print cartridge pressure inside.

Therefore, can suppress to follow consumption of ink and the change of the print cartridge pressure inside that generates with easy structure.

And ink-feeding device of the present invention is preferably: in above-mentioned ink-feeding device, above-mentioned pressure oscillation suppresses mechanism and is made of filter.

According to said structure, pressure oscillation suppresses mechanism and is made of filter.

Therefore, can pressure restraining change device be set with easy structure.Further, by the mutual different filter of the mesh radius of optionally using filter, can adjust the internal pressure of print cartridge simple and easy and accurately.

And ink-feeding device of the present invention is preferably: in above-mentioned ink-feeding device, the mesh radius of above-mentioned filter is that 25 μ m are to 50 μ m.

According to said structure, the mesh radius of filter is that 25 μ m are to 50 μ m.

Therefore, print cartridge pressure inside (negative pressure) can be set between the 1.7-3.5kPa.Therefore, when not producing the change of print cartridge pressure inside along with the consumption of ink, can prevent that the meniscus that forms in the grid of filter is destroyed, and can prevent ink leakage.

And ink-feeding device of the present invention is preferably: in above-mentioned ink-feeding device, have second ink supplying mechanism, it is arranged on above-mentioned the 3rd peristome, to cover above-mentioned the 3rd peristome, simultaneously, when the print cartridge external pressure is lower than predetermined value, ink is provided to the outside.

According to said structure, on three peristome different, be provided with second ink supplying mechanism with first peristome and second opening, it is used for when print cartridge external pressure change predetermined value is following ink being provided to the outside.

Therefore, in the time of will being replaced by new device to ink-feeding device, that is, and when the pressure of print cartridge outside is predetermined value when above since second ink supplying mechanism with providing ink to outside, therefore can prevent from the 3rd peristome leak ink.

And ink-feeding device of the present invention is preferably: in above-mentioned ink-feeding device, above-mentioned second ink supplying mechanism is made of filter, and the mesh radius of above-mentioned filter is that 25 μ m are to 50 μ m.

According to said structure, second ink supplying mechanism is made of filter, and the mesh radius of above-mentioned filter is that 25 μ m are to 50 μ m.

Therefore, can second ink supplying mechanism be set with simple structure.

Further, be set at above-mentioned scope, can make print cartridge pressure inside (negative pressure) be set at 1.7-3.5kPa by mesh radius with filter.Therefore under the situation beyond supplying with, can prevent that the meniscus that forms on the grid of filter is destroyed, can prevent ink leakage.

And ink-feeding device of the present invention is preferably: in above-mentioned ink-feeding device, hydrophilicity-imparting treatment is carried out on the surface of above-mentioned filter.

According to said structure, for example realize hydrophiling by cleaning treatment.

Therefore, can make the meniscus in the filter keep stable.

And, ink-feeding device of the present invention is preferably: in above-mentioned ink-feeding device, above-mentioned volume-variation mechanism is set to, and above-mentioned volume-variation mechanism is a direction that volume-variation is moved, different mutually with the moving direction that ink-feeding device is installed to the ink-feeding device when using on the printing equipment.

According to said structure, volume-variation mechanism makes direction that volume-variation moves not arranged side by side with the moving direction that ink-feeding device is installed to the ink-feeding device when using on the printing equipment.

Therefore, when above-mentioned volume-variation mechanism is when making the moving direction of direction that volume-variation moves and ink-feeding device arranged side by side, owing to moving of the acceleration and deceleration of following ink-feeding device, volume-variation mechanism is subjected to acceleration of gravity (g) on the direction that volume-variation is moved.So, add and be applied in the volume-variation mechanism, produce pressure oscillation in that print cartridge is inner.

But, can prevent the mobile pressure oscillation that causes along with the acceleration and deceleration of ink-feeding device by structure of the present invention.

And ink-feeding device of the present invention is preferably: in above-mentioned ink-feeding device, above-mentioned second peristome is arranged on the lower surface of above-mentioned print cartridge.

According to said structure, above-mentioned second peristome is arranged on the lower surface of print cartridge.That is, pressure oscillation suppresses the lower surface that mechanism is arranged on print cartridge.

Therefore, till the ink in using up print cartridge, can use pressure oscillation to suppress the inhibition of the pressure oscillation of mechanism.

And ink-feeding device of the present invention is preferably: in above-mentioned ink-feeding device, above-mentioned the 3rd peristome is arranged on the lower surface of above-mentioned print cartridge, and simultaneously, above-mentioned second peristome and above-mentioned the 3rd peristome are set to roughly the same height.

According to said structure, pressure oscillation suppresses mechanism and second ink supplying mechanism is set to roughly the same height.So, near the pressure the print cartridge lower surface of pressure oscillation inhibition institutional adjustment, roughly the same with near the pressure second ink supplying mechanism.

Therefore, by the adjustment of pressure oscillation inhibition mechanism, can control the supply pressure of ink.Therefore the pressure oscillation that causes of the variation of ink level disappears, and ink stably can be provided to the outside.

And ink-feeding device of the present invention is preferably: in above-mentioned ink-feeding device, above-mentioned volume-variation mechanism is arranged on ink-feeding device inside.

According to said structure, because volume-variation mechanism is arranged on the inside of ink-feeding device, so the people can not touch volume-variation mechanism easily.

Therefore, can prevent that unexpected external force is applied in the volume-variation mechanism.Therefore, can not produce the change of the Ink Cartridge inner pressure that above-mentioned external force causes, can prevent ink leakage.

And ink-feeding device of the present invention is preferably: in above-mentioned ink-feeding device, first peristome is arranged on the upper surface of above-mentioned print cartridge.

According to said structure, first peristome is arranged on the upper surface of print cartridge.That is, volume-variation mechanism is arranged on the upper surface of print cartridge.

Therefore, volume-variation mechanism can not be subjected to following consumption of ink and influence that the ink level that produces changes.Therefore can comparatively stably suppress external environment condition and change the interior pressure oscillation of print cartridge that causes.

And,, therefore can reduce of the influence of the acceleration of gravity (g) of vertical direction to the ink level of print cartridge because the weight of ink is not applied in the volume-variation mechanism.

And ink-feeding device of the present invention is preferably: in above-mentioned ink-feeding device, above-mentioned first peristome is arranged on the lower surface of above-mentioned print cartridge.

According to said structure, first peristome is arranged on the lower surface of print cartridge.That is, volume-variation mechanism is arranged on the lower surface of print cartridge.

So, volume-variation mechanism is arranged on pressure oscillation and suppresses identical face one side of mechanism with respect to print cartridge, perhaps is arranged on pressure oscillation and suppresses mechanism and identical face one side of second ink supplying mechanism.

Therefore, can make the processing of the print cartridge when making ink-feeding device become easy.

And ink-feeding device of the present invention is preferably: in above-mentioned ink-feeding device, ink and air are only accommodated in the inside of above-mentioned print cartridge.

According to said structure,, therefore can effectively utilize the volume of print cartridge because absorbing materials (for example porous plastid) such as ink absorber, ink bag are not accommodated in print cartridge inside.

Therefore, can realize the miniaturization of print cartridge.

And, generally speaking, when above-mentioned absorbing material is configured in print cartridge inside, when ink flows, can be subjected to viscous drag in print cartridge.In this case, from the power (supply pressure of ink) of ink-feeding device squeezeout ink because the difference of the surplus of ink and difference.That is, can be owing to absorbing material produces the pressure loss.

But among the present invention,, therefore can not produce the aforesaid pressure loss, can stably carry out providing ink owing to be the structure that absorbing material is not set in print cartridge inside.So, when a large amount of providing ink is carried out in flying print etc., also can carry out stable ink and supply with.

And, the invention is not restricted to the respective embodiments described above, in the scope shown in the claim, can carry out various changes, the disclosed technological means of various embodiment be carried out suitable combination and the embodiment that obtains is also contained in the technical scope of this invention.

The possibility of utilizing on the industry

The present invention applicable to the duplicator that has utilized ink-jetting style, facsimile machine, word processor, Printer etc.

Claims (33)

1. ink-feeding device, have: the print cartridge of ink is accommodated by portion within it; The box support that releasably keeps this print cartridge, this ink-feeding device is characterised in that:

Above-mentioned box support have and above-mentioned print cartridge between the pressure adjustmenting mechanism of negotiable ink and air, be predetermined value thereby make the internal pressure of the above-mentioned print cartridge of installation.

2. ink-feeding device according to claim 1 is characterized in that: above-mentioned pressure adjustmenting mechanism has maintenance from the inner above-mentioned ink that flows out of above-mentioned print cartridge and the pressure control chamber of air.

3. ink-feeding device according to claim 1 is characterized in that: above-mentioned pressure adjustmenting mechanism has the air feed mechanism that air is provided to above-mentioned print cartridge inside from the outside.

4. ink-feeding device according to claim 1 is characterized in that: when being installed to above-mentioned print cartridge on the above-mentioned box support, the part of above-mentioned pressure adjustmenting mechanism is inserted in the above-mentioned print cartridge.

5. ink-feeding device according to claim 1 is characterized in that:

Above-mentioned box support has the ink that is communicated with the above-mentioned print cartridge of installing, will be housed in the print cartridge and is provided to the first outside ink supplying mechanism,

When print cartridge was installed to box support, above-mentioned first ink supplying mechanism was communicated with print cartridge at last.

6. ink-feeding device according to claim 1 is characterized in that:

Above-mentioned box support has the ink that is communicated with the above-mentioned print cartridge of installing, will be housed in the print cartridge and is provided to the first outside ink supplying mechanism,

With print cartridge when box support takes off, above-mentioned first ink supplying mechanism is disengaged connection at first.

7. ink-feeding device according to claim 1 is characterized in that: ink and air are only accommodated in above-mentioned print cartridge inside.

8. ink-feeding device according to claim 2 is characterized in that: in the above-mentioned pressure control chamber, at least a portion of side is made of the force application part to other face application of forces, thereby makes the volume of above-mentioned pressure control chamber become big.

9. ink-feeding device according to claim 1 is characterized in that: above-mentioned pressure adjustmenting mechanism is configured near the bottom surface of above-mentioned print cartridge.

10. ink-feeding device according to claim 2 is characterized in that: above-mentioned pressure control chamber has the ink absorber that absorbs ink in advance.

11. ink-feeding device according to claim 1 is characterized in that: above-mentioned pressure adjustmenting mechanism has the negative pressure regulating mechanism that the internal pressure of print cartridge is adjusted into negative pressure.

12. ink-feeding device according to claim 2 is characterized in that: the volume of above-mentioned print cartridge is made as Vt, and when the volume of above-mentioned pressure control chamber was made as Vs, volume V s and Vt satisfied following formula:

0.1≤Vs/Vt≤0.3。

13. an ink-feeding device has the print cartridge of accommodating ink in inside at least, it is characterized in that:

Have volume-variation mechanism, its external environment condition according to above-mentioned print cartridge changes the state variation of accommodating thing in the caused print cartridge, makes the volume-variation of above-mentioned print cartridge.

14. a print cartridge feedway has the print cartridge of accommodating ink in inside at least, it is characterized in that:

Have pressure oscillation and suppress mechanism, provide air to the inside of above-mentioned print cartridge, suppress the caused print cartridge pressure inside change of above-mentioned consumption of ink by outside from above-mentioned print cartridge.

15. ink-feeding device according to claim 13 is characterized in that: have pressure oscillation and suppress mechanism, provide air to the inside of above-mentioned print cartridge, suppress the caused print cartridge pressure inside change of above-mentioned consumption of ink by outside from above-mentioned print cartridge.

16. ink-feeding device according to claim 15 is characterized in that:

Above-mentioned print cartridge has first peristome and second peristome,

Be set to: above-mentioned volume-variation mechanism covers above-mentioned first peristome, and above-mentioned pressure oscillation suppresses mechanism and covers above-mentioned second peristome.

17. ink-feeding device according to claim 16 is characterized in that:

Above-mentioned print cartridge has the ink that is used for being housed in print cartridge and is provided to the 3rd outside peristome,

Only above-mentioned the 3rd peristome and above-mentioned pressure oscillation suppress the external communications of mechanism and above-mentioned print cartridge.

18. any described ink-feeding device according to claim 15 to 17 is characterized in that: above-mentioned volume-variation mechanism is made of elastomeric element.

19. any described ink-feeding device according to claim 15 to 18 is characterized in that: above-mentioned volume-variation mechanism changes for the pressure of the inner every 1kPa of above-mentioned print cartridge, makes more than the volume-variation 10% or 10% of print cartridge.

20. any described ink-feeding device according to claim 15 to 19 is characterized in that: above-mentioned volume-variation mechanism is set to, when ink-feeding device is brought into use, in the inner negative pressure that produces of above-mentioned print cartridge.

21. any described ink-feeding device according to claim 15 to 20, it is characterized in that: above-mentioned pressure oscillation suppresses mechanism and utilizes above-mentioned pressure oscillation to suppress the surface tension of the ink on the interface between the ink of mechanism and print cartridge inside, suppresses the change of print cartridge pressure inside.

22. any described ink-feeding device according to claim 15 to 21 is characterized in that: above-mentioned pressure oscillation suppresses mechanism and is made of filter.

23. ink-feeding device according to claim 22 is characterized in that: the mesh radius of above-mentioned filter is 25 μ m to 50 μ m.

24. ink-feeding device according to claim 17 is characterized in that:

Have second ink supplying mechanism, it is arranged on above-mentioned the 3rd peristome, covering above-mentioned the 3rd peristome, and,

When the print cartridge external pressure is equal to or less than predetermined value, ink is provided to the outside.

25. ink-feeding device according to claim 24 is characterized in that:

Above-mentioned second ink supplying mechanism is made of filter,

The mesh radius of above-mentioned filter is 25 μ m to 50 μ m.

26. according to claim 22, any described ink-feeding device of 23 and 25, it is characterized in that: hydrophilicity-imparting treatment is carried out on the surface of above-mentioned filter.

27. any described ink-feeding device according to claim 15 to 26, it is characterized in that: above-mentioned volume-variation mechanism is set to, and above-mentioned volume-variation mechanism is a direction that volume-variation is moved, different mutually with the moving direction that ink-feeding device is installed to the ink-feeding device when using on the printing equipment.

28. according to claim 16 or 17 described ink-feeding devices, it is characterized in that: above-mentioned second peristome is set at the bottom surface of above-mentioned print cartridge.

29. ink-feeding device according to claim 24 is characterized in that:

Above-mentioned the 3rd peristome is set at the bottom surface of above-mentioned print cartridge, and,

Above-mentioned second peristome and above-mentioned the 3rd peristome are set to roughly the same height.

30. any described ink-feeding device according to claim 15-29 is characterized in that: above-mentioned volume-variation mechanism is set at the inside of ink-feeding device.

31. according to claim 16 or 17 described ink-feeding devices, it is characterized in that: above-mentioned first peristome is set at the upper surface of above-mentioned print cartridge.

32. according to claim 28 or 29 described ink-feeding devices, it is characterized in that: above-mentioned first peristome is set at the lower surface of above-mentioned print cartridge.

33. according to any described ink-feeding device of claim 13 to 32, it is characterized in that: ink and air are only accommodated in the inside of above-mentioned print cartridge.

Images