EP0553535A1 - Tintenvorratspatrone und Behälter dafür - Google Patents

Tintenvorratspatrone und Behälter dafür Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0553535A1
EP0553535A1 EP92307270A EP92307270A EP0553535A1 EP 0553535 A1 EP0553535 A1 EP 0553535A1 EP 92307270 A EP92307270 A EP 92307270A EP 92307270 A EP92307270 A EP 92307270A EP 0553535 A1 EP0553535 A1 EP 0553535A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ink
ink supply
tank cartridge
ink tank
supply port
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP92307270A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0553535B1 (de
EP0553535B2 (de
Inventor
Seiji C/O Seiko Epson Corporation Mochizuki
Kazuhisa C/O Seiko Epson Corporation Kawakami
Masahiro C/O Seiko Epson Corporation Nakamura
Keiichi C/O Seiko Epson Corporation Ohshima
Masanori c/o Seiko Epson Corporation Yoshida
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Seiko Epson Corp
Original Assignee
Seiko Epson Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Family has litigation
First worldwide family litigation filed litigation Critical https://patents.darts-ip.com/?family=27455877&utm_source=google_patent&utm_medium=platform_link&utm_campaign=public_patent_search&patent=EP0553535(A1) "Global patent litigation dataset” by Darts-ip is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Priority claimed from JP3222692A external-priority patent/JP3246516B2/ja
Priority claimed from JP5815192A external-priority patent/JP3161478B2/ja
Priority claimed from JP19340292A external-priority patent/JP3171214B2/ja
Priority to EP97200694A priority Critical patent/EP0786352B1/de
Priority to EP96120032A priority patent/EP0782927B1/de
Priority to EP00200827A priority patent/EP1013444B1/de
Application filed by Seiko Epson Corp filed Critical Seiko Epson Corp
Priority to EP08000634A priority patent/EP1905599B1/de
Priority to DE9218219U priority patent/DE9218219U1/de
Publication of EP0553535A1 publication Critical patent/EP0553535A1/de
Publication of EP0553535B1 publication Critical patent/EP0553535B1/de
Publication of EP0553535B2 publication Critical patent/EP0553535B2/de
Application granted granted Critical
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
    • B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
    • B41J2/17503—Ink cartridges
    • B41J2/17533—Storage or packaging of ink cartridges
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
    • B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
    • B41J2/17503—Ink cartridges
    • B41J2/17513—Inner structure
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
    • B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
    • B41J2/17503—Ink cartridges
    • B41J2/1752—Mounting within the printer
    • B41J2/17523—Ink connection

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to an ink tank cartridge for use in an ink tank cartridge for use in an ink-jet type recording apparatus for ejecting ink droplets onto a recording medium and more particularly to a structure of an ink tank cartridge for use in the ink-jet type recording apparatus.
  • an ink is supplied to a recording head from an ink tank constructed as a cartridge.
  • Employment of the ink cartridge acting as an ink tank has advantages in that no smear is likely to occur due to the leakage of ink while refilling new ink or the like.
  • undesired air bubbles can easily enter the tank which may cause problems, such as ink-failure.
  • Unexamined Japanese Patent Application (OPI) No. Hei. 3-92356 discloses an ink-jet recording apparatus in which an ink supply port disposed below an ink tank is constituted by a rubber tap.
  • a metal ink supply needle penetrates through the rubber tap into an ink flow path communicating with ink nozzles of a recording head.
  • the ink supply needle has ink supply holes on a side surface thereof to penetrate easily through the rubber tap, the diameter of which is about 1mm and is constituted by a metal pipe formed of an anti-corrosion material, such as stainless steel and the end of the pipe is extremely sharp. Accordingly, a person must operate the sharp needle very carefully or (s)he may be injured by the tip of the needle.
  • Unexamined Japanese Patent Application (OPI) No. Sho. 50-074341 proposes an arrangement in which a packing member having a through hole is previously provided at an end opening of an ink supply port and the through hole of the packing member is sealed by a seal member. According to this arrangement, an ink supply needle having a tip which is not so sharp can be employed.
  • Japanese Patent Application Hei. 2-187364 is directed to one type of recording apparatus by which both an ink tank and a recording head are formed unitarily and both these components are replaced with a new one when ink contained in the ink tank becomes empty, it does not address the other problems or difficulties, such as undesired air flow to the recording head or leakage of ink which may occur when only the ink tank is selectively removed from the head.
  • an object of the present invention is to provide an ink tank cartridge preferably for use in an ink-jet type recording apparatus which does not require any sharp needle and capable of preventing air or gas from entering an ink supply path of the recording apparatus body even when the ink tank is replenished using the ink supply needle and keeping a high air tightness between the ink supply needle and the ink tank.
  • an ink tank cartridge which includes, according to the present invention, a housing removably mounted onto an ink supply needle of the ink-jet type recording apparatus body.
  • the housing is provided with an ink supply port projecting from a bottom surface of the housing both inwardly and outwardly and a porous member for impregnating ink which is positioned inside the housing with abutting against the ink supply port through a filter.
  • the ink tank cartridge is further provided with a packing member resiliently abutting against an outer periphery of the ink supply needle at an end of the ink supply port and an end opening which is sealed with a sealing member through which the ink supply needle penetrates.
  • the tip of the ink supply needle penetrates through the sealing member and passes through the packing member disposed above the sealing member to thereby communicate with ink impregnated within the porous member accommodated in the cartridge housing. Accordingly, the ink supply needle communicates with ink contained inside the tank which is liquid-tightly sealed by the packing member at the outer periphery of the needle, so that the ink is supplied to the recording head whilst keeping a constant negative pressure between the recording head and the tank owing to surface tension of the porous member.
  • Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of an ink-jet type recording apparatus to which an ink tank cartridge according to the present invention is applied.
  • the ink-jet type recording apparatus is provided with a carriage 1 slidably mounted on guide shafts 2 with respect to a longitudinal axis of a platen 3.
  • an ink-jet recording head 4 for ejecting ink droplets in accordance with a print signal and an ink tank cartridge 5 for supplying ink to the recording head.
  • a capping apparatus 6 is disposed outside a printing region which engages with a front surface of the recording head 4 to prevent nozzle openings from drying when printing has stopped.
  • the nozzle openings are sealed by the capping apparatus 6 and forced to eject ink by a negative pressure generated by a vacuum pump 7 immediately after the ink tank cartridge 5 is replaced with a new one or an ink ejection ability is lowered during continuous printing.
  • the ejected ink is introduced to an ink storage tank 9 through a pipe 8 and stored therein.
  • the apparatus further includes a transmission cable 10 for transmitting printing signals to the recording head 4.
  • Fig. 2 is a cross-section of a first embodiment of the ink tank cartridge according to the present invention which is applied to the recording apparatus.
  • the ink tank cartridge is provided with a housing 11 constituting an ink tank cartridge body, which has an opening 12 at the top and an ink supply port 15 formed unitarily therewith at a bottom surface 13 with which a hollow ink supply needle 14 resiliently engages.
  • the housing 11 is tapered in such a manner that the bottom surface 13 is smaller in diameter than the top surface.
  • the housing need not be tapered but a cylindrical shape having a straight wall may be employed.
  • the ink supply port 15 is pipe-like shaped and projects from a bottom surface of the housing 11 both inwardly and outwardly.
  • a mesh filter 17 having a pore size of 20 to 100 ⁇ m is fuse bonded onto an upper opening 16 of the ink supply port 15 projecting towards inside the housing 11.
  • the filter may be formed of a high polymer material or an anti-corrosion metal such as stainless steel.
  • a step portion 18 is formed at an inner central portion of the ink supply port 15.
  • a packing member 19 for resiliently contacting the ink supply needle 14 to the inside of the supply port 15 is disposed inside the ink supply port 15 at a lower side of the step portion 18 for providing a liquid seal.
  • the packing member 19 is formed of a rubber ring, a so called O-ring.
  • a sealing film 20 is fuse bonded onto a lower opening of the ink supply port 15.
  • the film 20 may preferably be formed of a sealing material such as a high polymer film or a high polymer film with metal layer laminated on the film so that the film 20 demonstrates a high sealability while not capable of being torn by an external force such as contact by a finger.
  • a porous member 21 has a width which is a little bit larger than that of the opening 12 of the housing 11 and a height which is a little bit higher than the housing, so that the porous member 21 is compressed within the housing 11. Further, the lower end portion of the porous member 21 facing the filter 17 of the ink supply port 15 is compressed by the ink supply port 15 protruding inside the housing.
  • a lid 22 covers the opening 12 of the housing 11 and includes a plurality of ribs 25 projecting towards the inside of the housing 11 to compress the porous member 21 and keep respective spaces 24 within the ink tank cartridge between the lid 22 and the porous member 21.
  • An electrode 26 is provided in the ink supply port 15 while another electrode 27 is provided in the bottom portion of the housing 11 to detect an ink near-end condition where the ink is almost empty in the tank and there is only ink in the ink supply port 15.
  • an AC voltage Vcc is applied to the electrodes 26, 27 through a resistor R, and the variation in voltage between the electrodes is detected by a differential circuit 30.
  • a comparator 31 compares an output signal of the differential circuit 30 representing a voltage variation ratio with a preset value generated by a preset value supplying circuit 32. If the voltage variation ratio is larger than the preset value, that is, the ink impregnated in the porous member 21 becomes almost empty, an ink near-end signal is output and the ink near-end condition is therefore detected.
  • the hollow ink supply needle 14 cooperating with the ink tank cartridge has a conical end, and a plurality of through holes 36 are formed in a tip end surface 34 of the ink supply needle 14 for communicating the ink contained within the ink supply port 15 with an ink supply path 35 formed inside the needle 14.
  • the ink is filled in the pores of the porous member 21 accommodated within the housing 11 of the ink tank cartridge under low pressure of about 0.2-0.4 atmospheric pressure.
  • the filling of ink under low pressure is very useful as a means for keeping a good printing quality as taught in Unexamined Japanese Patent Application (OPI) No. Sho. 60-245560.
  • the ink tank cartridge After filling ink into the porous member 21, the ink tank cartridge is packed up for shipping in a bag formed of a high sealable material such as, for example, a laminate film having aluminum layers.
  • Fig. 5 shows one example of the bag, packing therein the ink tank cartridge according to the present invention.
  • the ink tank cartridge is wrapped by a pair of laminate films 37 formed of aluminum which provide a very high sealability, decompressing air in the bag and then fuse-bonding at flange portions 38 of the films 37.
  • Japanese Patent No. Hei. 3-61592 teaches using 20 Torr as an example of the negative pressure to be applied during the packing of the ink tank cartridge, which pressure is much higher than the pressure under which the ink is filled within the tank.
  • this may cause a problem since the ink tank cartridge is subject to atmospheric pressure because the location for the ink-filling process and that for the packaging process are usually spaced far from each other.
  • air which penetrates into the ink becomes free to produce air bubbles when the larger negative pressure is applied during the packaging process.
  • undesirable ink-leakage may occur and, further, the air bubbles generated in the porous member may obstruct the ink current flowing from the ink tank cartridge to the recording head which would cause an ink-failure during printing.
  • the present inventors found that it is most preferable that the ink tank cartridge is packed under a negative pressure which is only a little bit larger (closer to atmospheric pressure) than the pressure under which the ink is filled within the tank.
  • the deaeration rate of the ink contained within the ink tank cartridge can be controlled by varying the pressure during the packaging process.
  • Table 1 shows the packaging pressure (negative gauge pressure) when the nitrogen density during the packaging process is set to be the saturation value of 13-14 ppm and the nitrogen density impregnating into the ink contained in the ink tank cartridge when the packaging bag is opened.
  • TABLE 1 Low pressure value (atmospheric pressure) Amount of Nitrogen (ppm) 0.5 7.5-9.0 0.35 7.0-8.5 0.2 6.0-7.5
  • Fig. 6 shows a variation of an amount of nitrogen after opening the packaging bag. Since the ink tank cartridge has a space kept by the ribs projecting from the lid, a constant amount of air corresponding to the pressure exists within the bag from immediately after the packaging process. Accordingly, within a short period (point a ), the density of nitrogen within the ink rapidly rises as shown in Fig. 6, and after that, the density is constant because of the high sealability of the bag. The constant period continues for about two years from manufacture.
  • the space maintained in the packaged bag is substantially 15% of the total inside volume of the bag after packing.
  • the deaerated ink is apparently supplied to the recording head, and even if the ink tank cartridge is removed and attached to the ink supply needle and air enters in the ink supply port from the needle, the air is impregnated into the ink and, accordingly, the recording apparatus does not suffer from any problem.
  • the ink-jet type recording apparatus is provided with a vacuum pump for forcedly ejecting ink from ink nozzles by applying a negative pressure to a recording head.
  • a vacuum pump for forcedly ejecting ink from ink nozzles by applying a negative pressure to a recording head.
  • Fig. 7 shows an arrangement of packing the ink tank cartridge in which a cartridge is surrounded by an absorbing member, such as sponge grains 40, and accommodated in a packaging bag 41, and then subjected to a decompression process.
  • an absorbing member such as sponge grains 40
  • the sponge grains 40 form a space inside the packaging bag, the low pressure during the packing process can be continued for a long time even if the ink is filled in the porous member 21 as much as possible, for example, about 95% volume of the porous member accommodated in the ink tank cartridge. Therefore, the print quality and efficiency of the ink-filling can be improved.
  • the packaging bag is opened and the tank cartridge is taken from the bag.
  • the tank cartridge is mounted on a carriage of the recording apparatus in such a manner that the end opening of the ink supply port 15 is positioned just above the ink supply needle 14 and then depressed towards and parallel to the direction of the needle 14.
  • the ink supply needle 14 penetrates the sealing member (film) 20 and reaches the packing member (O-ring) 19. In this condition, the tip of the ink supply needle 14 is kept in a liquid seal with respect to the ink supply port 15 by the packing member (O-ring) 19 while communicating with ink contained within the ink supply port 15.
  • the sealing member 20 deforms to become shaped like the end contour of the needle 14; to large extent because of the resiliency of the sealing member 20.
  • the through holes 36 formed at the tip of the ink supply needle 14 have a diameter below 0.1 to 0.4 mm, the through holes 36 keep a meniscus when the cartridge is exchanged. Accordingly, air is prevented from entering from the ink supply needle 14 to the recording head. Further, since there is a plurality of through holes, the fluid resistance applied to the ink flowing therethrough is very small and, therefore, a sufficient amount of ink for printing can be supplied to the recording head 4.
  • the porous member 21 is resiliently deformed and compressed by the ink supply port 15 projecting inward of the tank housing, the pore size of the porous member at a region in the vicinity of the ink supply port is smaller than that of the other region so that the capillary force is large relative to the other region. Owing to this structure, the ink is concentrated at the compressed portion of the porous member, and further the ink can be supplied to the recording head right up until the last droplet.
  • the sealing member 20 disposed at the ink supply port 15 is exposed.
  • This arrangement of the flange 45 is advantageous in that not merely the sealing member is prevented from being torn but also the flange can be used as a guide member for easily positioning the ink supply needle 14 to the correct point.
  • Figs. 9-I and 9-II are cross-sections showing an ink tank cartridge according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
  • the ink tank cartridge of the second embodiment is provided with a housing 50 constituting an ink tank cartridge body having an opening 51 at the top thereof and a pipe-like ink supply port 53 projecting from a bottom surface 52 of the housing 50, which port engages with the ink supply needle 14 disposed on the recording apparatus side.
  • the housing 50 is tapered so that a diameter of the bottom surface is smaller than that of the top surface.
  • the ink supply port 53 is provided with an opening 54 onto which a filter 55 formed of high polymer or anti-corrosion metal is fuse bonded.
  • a step portion 56 is formed at an inner center of the ink supply port 53.
  • a packing member (an O-ring in this embodiment) 57 is fitted at a lower side of the step portion 56 for maintaining a liquid seal by resiliently abutting the port 53 against the ink supply needle 14. Further, a sealing member (film) stopping member (an O-ring in this embodiment) 58 is also fitted at a lower side of the packing member 57.
  • An opening 59 is sealed by a sealing member 60 having a high air-seal formed, for example, of a laminated film through which the ink supply needle easily penetrates.
  • the opening 51 of the housing 50 is sealed by a lid 62 having a communication hole 62 for communicating with the atmosphere.
  • An inner surface of the lid 62 is provided with a plurality of ribs 68 for defining spaces 63 between a porous member 64 and the lid 62.
  • the ink tank cartridge is further provided with electrodes 65a, 65b for detecting an ink near-end condition.
  • the porous member accommodated in the tank housing 50 has two separate layers consisting of upper porous member 64a and lower porous members 64b.
  • the upper porous member 64a is larger in pore size than the lower porous member 64b so that the capillary force is larger at the lower side in the vicinity of the ink supply port 53.
  • the elements of the structure of the cartridge of this arrangement other than the porous member is the same as that shown in Fig. 9-I.
  • the porous member may be divided into more than two layers if applicable as well as the lower layer having a small pore size than the upper layer.
  • ink tank cartridge With the ink tank cartridge described above, deaerated ink is filled within the porous member accommodated in the tank housing under low pressure, and packed in a package bag for stocking while maintaining a negative pressure a little bit higher (closer to the atmosphere) than that during the ink-filling process.
  • the packaging bag is opened to take a new ink tank cartridge out of the bag, and the tank cartridge is mounted on the carriage of the recording apparatus in such a manner that the end opening of the ink supply port 53 is positioned just above the ink supply needle 14 and then depressed towards and parallel to the direction of the needle 14.
  • the ink supply needle 14 penetrates the sealing member (film) 60 and reaches the packing member (O-ring) 57 through the sealing member stopping member 58. This enables the ink supply needle 14 to be kept in a liquid-tight condition with respect to the ink supply port 53 by the packing member (O-ring) 57 while communicating with ink contained within the ink supply port 53.
  • the sealing member 60 When the ink supply needle 14 penetrates the sealing member 60, the sealing member 60 may partially go into the ink supply port 53 with the ink supply needle 14. However, broken pieces 60a of the sealing member 60 is stopped to go further with the needle by the sealing member stopping member 58 as shown in Fig. 10B so that the broken pieces 60a do not reach the packing member 57. Accordingly, even if gaps 66 are formed between the needle 14 and the sealing member stopping member 58, the liquid seal can be maintained owing to the packing member 57 and, therefore, the ink is prevented from leaking out.
  • Various modifications of the packing member 57 and the sealing member stopping member 58 are now described. The remaining elements of the structure, however, remain the same.
  • the sealing member stopping member 58-2 is not an O-ring but an elastic sealing member while the sealing member 57 is an O ring.
  • both the sealing member 58 and the sealing member stopping member 58 are not an O-ring but an elastic sealing member.
  • sealing member 57 and the sealing member stopping member 58 are unitarily formed and provided with a groove between the members.
  • the sealing member 57 is not an O-ring but an elastic sealing member while the sealing member stopping member 58 is an O-ring.
  • Fig. 11 is a cross-section showing part of an ink tank cartridge according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
  • a pipe-like ink supply port 71 is formed at the bottom surface 70 of the housing for accommodating a porous member for filling therein ink.
  • a filter 72 is fixed to a top opening of the ink supply port 71 which resiliently abuts to compress the porous member for impregnating ink.
  • a packing member 73 and a seal member stopping member 74 are press fitted in a center inner portion of the ink supply port 71 and secured by a bushing 75.
  • a lower opening 76 is sealed by a sealing member (film) 77.
  • the ink tank cartridge of this embodiment is further provided with a porous member 81 fitted in the ink supply port 71 between an electrode 80 disposed within an ink chamber 79 for detecting an ink near-end condition and the packing member 73.
  • An upper portion of the porous member 78 engages with a step portion 81 formed inside the ink supply port 71 as shown in Fig. 11 to prevent the porous member 81 from moving even when the ink supply needle penetrates therethrough.
  • the reference numeral 95 designates another electrode for detecting the ink near-end condition.
  • Fig. 12 shows an embodiment of the ink supply needle 90 preferably applied to the ink tank cartridge of the present invention.
  • the ink supply needle 90 is provided with a tip 91 having a conical shape and an inclined surface for easily penetrating the sealing member 77, stopping member 77 and packing member 73.
  • a needle body 92 has generally parallel openings 94 communicating with an ink supply path 93.
  • the ink supply needle 90 penetrates the sealing member 77 and passes through the sealing member stopping member 74 and the packing member 73. Since the ink supply needle 90 has no hole at the tip 91, the variation in volume in the ink chamber 79 caused by a piston-effect during the mounting operation of the ink tank cartridge, is received by the tip 91 and the packing member 73. Whereas the variation is not applied to the through hole 93 as shown in Fig. 13A but to the upper side through the porous member 78 of the ink supply port 79. Thus, when the openings 94 pass through the packing member 73 pressure is generated when the cartridge is being mounted and so ink flows into the ink supply path 93 through the openings 94.
  • the undesirable variation in volume due to the piston effect applied to the recording head can be prevented since the ink supply path 93 does not communicate with the ink supply port 71, so that leakage of ink from the nozzle opening of the recording head is effectively avoided.
  • the ink supply needle since it is not necessary to form through holes, the ink supply needle has sufficient mechanical strength and, accordingly, the needle can be formed of a material other than metal such as, for example, a high polymer material.
  • An ink supply needle formed of high polymer material is advantageous in that the manufacturing process can be simplified and further dangers raised because of metal can be avoided.
  • an inner diameter of the through holes 94 can be selected freely yet maintain the meniscus even if an outer diameter of the ink supply needle is designed to be large to thereby control an appropriate flow resistance. Therefore, the ink supply needle can maintain a mechanical strength sufficient for penetrating into the ink tank cartridge if the needle is formed of a high polymer material.
  • the ink supply needle shown in Fig. 13B is so designed that, for example, an outer diameter R of the needle is within a range of 2-4mm and a length L of the ink supply port of the ink tank cartridge side when the ink tank cartridge is mounted onto the needle and the packing member is set to be below 2.5mm.
  • This arrangement is more preferable because the variation in volume when the ink tank cartridge is mounted on the ink supply needle is small and the undesirable piston effect can be minimized.
  • the ink tank cartridge must be replaced when the tank is still full such as for maintenance, ink existing around the tip of the ink supply needle is sucked up into the porous member 78 located in the vicinity of the needle because of capillary action of the porous member filled within the tank cartridge for impregnating the ink.
  • the porous member 78 since the porous member 78 has a capillary force which is substantially the same as that of the porous member filled in the tank cartridge, the ink remains in the ink chamber 79. Accordingly, air is prevented from entering inside the tank cartridge body. Further, if the ink tank cartridge is removed, the electrodes do not output a signal representing the ink near-end condition. As a result, it is ready to start printing again merely by mounting the once removed ink tank cartridge again onto the ink supply needle.
  • the third embodiment describes the needle having parallel through holes.
  • the needle having through holes in the end surface as shown in Fig. 3 may be employed if the piston effect during mounting of the cartridge is small.
  • the ink tank cartridge of the third embodiment utilizes stopping members for preventing the packing member and the sealing member stopping member from falling off.
  • these stopping members may be omitted if the mechanical strength of the sealing member is relatively large.
  • the ink tank cartridge housing is removable with respect to the ink supply needle and is provided with the ink supply port projecting from the bottom surface of the housing both inwardly and outwardly.
  • the porous member for impregnating ink is resiliently accommodated in the housing through the filter secured to the end of the ink supply port.
  • the packing member is disposed at the end opening of the ink supply port for resiliently abutting against the periphery of the ink supply needle and the sealing member for sealing the end opening of the ink supply port, through which the ink supply needle penetrates.
  • the ink tank cartridge of the invention is advantageous in that the ink supply needle does not require a sharp tip, air is prevented from entering the ink supply path of the recording apparatus, and a tight air-seal between the ink supply needle and the ink tank can be maintained.

Landscapes

  • Ink Jet (AREA)
EP92307270A 1992-01-28 1992-08-07 Tintenvorratspatrone und Behälter dafür Expired - Lifetime EP0553535B2 (de)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE9218219U DE9218219U1 (de) 1992-01-28 1992-08-07 Tintentankpatrone und deren behaelter
EP08000634A EP1905599B1 (de) 1992-01-28 1992-08-07 Tintenkartusche und Behälter dafür
EP97200694A EP0786352B1 (de) 1992-01-28 1992-08-07 Tintenvorratspatrone und Behälter dafür
EP96120032A EP0782927B1 (de) 1992-01-28 1992-08-07 Verschliessbarer Flüssigkeitsbehälter für Tintenvorratspatrone
EP00200827A EP1013444B1 (de) 1992-01-28 1992-08-07 Tintenvorratspatrone und Behälter dafür

Applications Claiming Priority (12)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP12834/92 1992-01-28
JP1283492 1992-01-28
JP1283492 1992-01-28
JP3222692 1992-02-19
JP3222692A JP3246516B2 (ja) 1992-02-19 1992-02-19 インクジェット記録装置、及びこれに使用するインクタンク
JP32226/92 1992-02-19
JP5815192A JP3161478B2 (ja) 1992-03-16 1992-03-16 インクジェット記録装置用インクタンク
JP5815192 1992-03-16
JP58151/92 1992-03-16
JP193402/92 1992-06-26
JP19340292A JP3171214B2 (ja) 1992-01-28 1992-06-26 インクジェット記録装置用インクカ−トリッジ
JP19340292 1992-06-26

Related Child Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP96120032A Division EP0782927B1 (de) 1992-01-28 1992-08-07 Verschliessbarer Flüssigkeitsbehälter für Tintenvorratspatrone
EP97200694A Division EP0786352B1 (de) 1992-01-28 1992-08-07 Tintenvorratspatrone und Behälter dafür

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0553535A1 true EP0553535A1 (de) 1993-08-04
EP0553535B1 EP0553535B1 (de) 1998-10-28
EP0553535B2 EP0553535B2 (de) 2004-04-14

Family

ID=27455877

Family Applications (7)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP00200827A Expired - Lifetime EP1013444B1 (de) 1992-01-28 1992-08-07 Tintenvorratspatrone und Behälter dafür
EP97200694A Expired - Lifetime EP0786352B1 (de) 1992-01-28 1992-08-07 Tintenvorratspatrone und Behälter dafür
EP92307270A Expired - Lifetime EP0553535B2 (de) 1992-01-28 1992-08-07 Tintenvorratspatrone und Behälter dafür
EP96120032A Expired - Lifetime EP0782927B1 (de) 1992-01-28 1992-08-07 Verschliessbarer Flüssigkeitsbehälter für Tintenvorratspatrone
EP03026325A Ceased EP1396344A3 (de) 1992-01-28 1992-08-07 Tintenkartusche und Behälter dafür
EP08000634A Expired - Lifetime EP1905599B1 (de) 1992-01-28 1992-08-07 Tintenkartusche und Behälter dafür
EP02076904A Expired - Lifetime EP1241012B1 (de) 1992-01-28 1992-08-07 Tintenkartusche und Behälter dafür

Family Applications Before (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP00200827A Expired - Lifetime EP1013444B1 (de) 1992-01-28 1992-08-07 Tintenvorratspatrone und Behälter dafür
EP97200694A Expired - Lifetime EP0786352B1 (de) 1992-01-28 1992-08-07 Tintenvorratspatrone und Behälter dafür

Family Applications After (4)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP96120032A Expired - Lifetime EP0782927B1 (de) 1992-01-28 1992-08-07 Verschliessbarer Flüssigkeitsbehälter für Tintenvorratspatrone
EP03026325A Ceased EP1396344A3 (de) 1992-01-28 1992-08-07 Tintenkartusche und Behälter dafür
EP08000634A Expired - Lifetime EP1905599B1 (de) 1992-01-28 1992-08-07 Tintenkartusche und Behälter dafür
EP02076904A Expired - Lifetime EP1241012B1 (de) 1992-01-28 1992-08-07 Tintenkartusche und Behälter dafür

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (7) EP1013444B1 (de)
DE (6) DE69232194T2 (de)
HK (5) HK1002449A1 (de)
SG (1) SG46602A1 (de)

Cited By (40)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0674999A2 (de) * 1994-03-30 1995-10-04 Hewlett-Packard Company Tintenstrahlkassettensystem für Farbstrahldrucker
EP0676294A2 (de) * 1994-04-06 1995-10-11 Pelikan Produktions Ag Tintenpatrone für einen Druckkopf eines Ink-Jet-Printers
GB2293140A (en) * 1994-09-16 1996-03-20 Seiko Epson Corp Fluid tight joints in ink jet printers.
DE19534578A1 (de) * 1994-09-16 1996-03-28 Seiko Epson Corp Tintenstrahldrucker, Tintenpatrone für Tintenstrahldrucker sowie System und Verfahren zur Tintenzufuhr
EP0703083A3 (de) * 1994-09-16 1996-08-07 Seiko Epson Corp Tintenkassette für Tintenstrahldrucker und Verfahren zum Füllen einer solchen Kassette
GB2300834A (en) * 1995-05-17 1996-11-20 Dynamic Cassette Int An ink cartridge for an ink jet printer
EP0745480A2 (de) * 1995-05-16 1996-12-04 Dynamic Cassette International Limited Tintenkassette für Tintenstrahldrucker
US5583549A (en) * 1992-07-31 1996-12-10 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Liquid storing container for recording apparatus
EP0765756A2 (de) * 1995-09-29 1997-04-02 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Tintenvorratspatrone, Verfahren zu ihrer Herstellung und Verpackungsstruktur der Tintenvorratspatrone
EP0778145A1 (de) * 1995-12-04 1997-06-11 Hewlett-Packard Company Selbstschliessende Flüssigkeitsverbindung mit doppelter Abdichtungswand
EP0791463A2 (de) * 1995-09-14 1997-08-27 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Tintenbehälter, Herstellungsverfahren für Tintenbehälter und Gerät zum Tintenstrahldruck
DE19615997A1 (de) * 1996-04-10 1997-10-16 Staedtler Fa J S Tintenspeicher für Drucker, insbesondere Tintenpatronen für Ink-Jet-Drucker
US5699095A (en) * 1993-02-02 1997-12-16 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink-jet recording apparatus
EP0834401A2 (de) * 1993-08-20 1998-04-08 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Tintenpatrone
EP0854046A2 (de) * 1997-01-07 1998-07-22 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Tintenkassette und Drucker
US5790158A (en) * 1992-01-28 1998-08-04 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink-jet recording apparatus and ink tank cartridge therefor
EP0864428A2 (de) * 1997-03-12 1998-09-16 Seiko Epson Corporation Tintenkassette für Tintenstrahldrucker und Verfahren zu dessen Herstellung
EP0792748A3 (de) * 1995-12-04 1998-10-07 Hewlett-Packard Company Fluidverbindung für einen Tintenstrahlschreiber
US6045207A (en) * 1990-01-30 2000-04-04 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink-jet recording apparatus and ink tank cartridge therefor
US6145974A (en) * 1983-10-13 2000-11-14 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink-supplied printer head and ink container
US6170939B1 (en) 1992-07-31 2001-01-09 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Liquid storing container for recording apparatus
US6238042B1 (en) 1994-09-16 2001-05-29 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink cartridge for ink jet printer and method of charging ink into said cartridge
US6247803B1 (en) 1983-10-13 2001-06-19 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink jet recording apparatus and method for replenishing ink in the tank cartridge
US6276785B1 (en) 1983-10-13 2001-08-21 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink-supplied printer head and ink container
EP1164021A2 (de) * 2000-06-15 2001-12-19 Seiko Epson Corporation Verfahren zur Flüssigkeitszufuhr, Flüssigkeitsbehälter und Verfahren zu seiner Herstellung
US6474798B1 (en) 1984-10-11 2002-11-05 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink supplied printer head and ink container
US6729184B2 (en) 2000-07-28 2004-05-04 Seiko Epson Corporation Detector of liquid consumption condition
WO2004045855A2 (en) 2002-11-18 2004-06-03 Dynamic Cassette International Ltd. An ink cartridge for a printer, a method of assembling an ink cartridge for a printer, and a filter assembly for an ink cartridge
US6745626B2 (en) 1999-05-20 2004-06-08 Seiko Epson Corporation Liquid detecting piezoelectric device, liquid container and mounting module member
US6783220B2 (en) 1993-07-20 2004-08-31 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Ink jet recording apparatus using recording unit with ink cartridge having ink inducing element
US6793305B2 (en) 2000-05-18 2004-09-21 Seiko Epson Corporation Method and apparatus for detecting consumption of ink
WO2005025875A1 (de) * 2003-09-10 2005-03-24 Kmp Printtechnik Ag Tintenpatrone
US6951389B2 (en) 1996-02-21 2005-10-04 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink cartridge
DE19854660B4 (de) * 1998-11-26 2005-11-24 3T Supplies Ag Tintenkassette
DE19962662B4 (de) * 1999-12-23 2005-12-01 3T Supplies Ag Tintenkassette und Verfahren zum Herstellen einer Tintenkassette
US7137679B2 (en) 2000-05-18 2006-11-21 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink consumption detecting method, and ink jet recording apparatus
WO2007015083A2 (en) * 2005-08-01 2007-02-08 Dynamic Cassette International Ltd. Sealing arrangement for the ink supply port of an ink cartridge
US7246882B2 (en) 1998-05-18 2007-07-24 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink-jet printing apparatus and ink cartridge therefor
GB2448872A (en) * 2007-04-30 2008-11-05 Hewlett Packard Development Co Print cartridge
US7971945B2 (en) 2000-05-18 2011-07-05 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink consumption detecting method, and ink jet recording apparatus

Families Citing this family (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0949080A3 (de) * 1998-04-06 2000-01-26 Xerox Corporation Tintenbehälter mit verbesserter Auslassöffnungsdichtung
US6299296B2 (en) * 1998-07-31 2001-10-09 Hewlett Packard Company Sealing member for a fluid container
KR100439616B1 (ko) 2000-05-18 2004-07-12 세이코 엡슨 가부시키가이샤 설치 구조체, 모듈체, 및 액체 용기
JP3796439B2 (ja) 2001-02-09 2006-07-12 キヤノン株式会社 液体収納容器
DE10216654A1 (de) * 2002-04-15 2003-10-23 Artech Gmbh Design & Prod Tintenkartusche
DE10239659B4 (de) * 2002-08-26 2005-12-15 Artech Gmbh Design + Production In Plastic Tintenversorgungseinrichtung
DE10250610A1 (de) 2002-10-30 2004-05-13 Kmp Printtechnik Ag Tintenpatrone zum Aufbringen auf einen Aufzeichnungskopf
US20090309940A1 (en) * 2008-06-16 2009-12-17 Price Brian G Liquid storage tank including a pressure regulator
DE102011012767A1 (de) 2010-09-18 2012-03-22 H. Stoll Gmbh & Co. Kg Verfahren zur Herstellung eines Schlauchgestricks

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2003793A (en) * 1977-09-06 1979-03-21 Bell & Howell Co Ink jet printer ink cartridge
EP0117718A2 (de) * 1983-02-23 1984-09-05 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Tintenpatrone in einem Tintenstrahldrucker
EP0408241A2 (de) * 1989-07-13 1991-01-16 Ing. C. Olivetti & C., S.p.A. Thermischer Tintenstrahl-Druckkopf

Family Cites Families (21)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2229320A5 (en) † 1973-05-09 1974-12-06 Meci Materiel Elect Contr Continuous inking device for pen recorders - has reservoir containing cellular material to contain ink
JPS5074341A (de) * 1973-10-31 1975-06-19
DE2709730C2 (de) * 1977-03-05 1981-12-03 Olympia Werke Ag, 2940 Wilhelmshaven Tintenbehälter mit einem flexiblen Beutel
US4429320A (en) * 1979-09-21 1984-01-31 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Ink jet recording apparatus
JPS5656877A (en) † 1979-10-17 1981-05-19 Canon Inc Ink jet recording apparatus
JPS60245560A (ja) 1984-05-22 1985-12-05 Seiko Epson Corp プリンタのインクタンク
DE3401071A1 (de) * 1984-01-13 1985-07-25 Siemens AG, 1000 Berlin und 8000 München Vorrichtung zum nachfuellen von tintenbehaeltern in tintenschreibeinrichtungen
JPH0698774B2 (ja) * 1984-02-09 1994-12-07 キヤノン株式会社 インク容器
JPS60204366A (ja) * 1984-03-30 1985-10-15 Canon Inc インクジエツト記録ヘツドおよびその保存方法
JPS6219460A (ja) * 1985-07-19 1987-01-28 Ricoh Co Ltd インクカ−トリツジの梱包容器
JPS62121062A (ja) * 1985-11-21 1987-06-02 Seiko Epson Corp インクジエツトプリンタ用インクカ−トリツジの製造方法
JPS633961A (ja) * 1986-06-24 1988-01-08 Canon Inc インク供給装置
US4771295B1 (en) † 1986-07-01 1995-08-01 Hewlett Packard Co Thermal ink jet pen body construction having improved ink storage and feed capability
JPS63118257A (ja) * 1986-11-07 1988-05-23 Ricoh Co Ltd インクジエツト記録装置
JPS63154356A (ja) * 1986-12-19 1988-06-27 Ricoh Co Ltd インクジエツトプリンタのインクカ−トリツジ装置
JP2575205B2 (ja) * 1989-01-13 1997-01-22 キヤノン株式会社 インクタンク
JPH0361592A (ja) 1989-07-31 1991-03-18 Toppan Printing Co Ltd 精細パターンフィルタの製造方法
JP2819658B2 (ja) † 1989-09-05 1998-10-30 セイコーエプソン株式会社 インクジェット記録装置
AU6774790A (en) * 1989-12-06 1991-06-13 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Package for ink jet cartridge
JPH03288653A (ja) * 1990-04-05 1991-12-18 Seiko Epson Corp インクジェットヘッド用インクカートリッジ
JP3155782B2 (ja) † 1991-09-18 2001-04-16 株式会社東芝 シャドウマスク用原板

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2003793A (en) * 1977-09-06 1979-03-21 Bell & Howell Co Ink jet printer ink cartridge
EP0117718A2 (de) * 1983-02-23 1984-09-05 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Tintenpatrone in einem Tintenstrahldrucker
EP0408241A2 (de) * 1989-07-13 1991-01-16 Ing. C. Olivetti & C., S.p.A. Thermischer Tintenstrahl-Druckkopf

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 12, no. 416 (M-759)(3263) 4 November 1988 & JP-A-63 154 356 ( RICOH CO LTD ) 27 June 1988 *

Cited By (101)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6247803B1 (en) 1983-10-13 2001-06-19 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink jet recording apparatus and method for replenishing ink in the tank cartridge
US6276785B1 (en) 1983-10-13 2001-08-21 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink-supplied printer head and ink container
US6145974A (en) * 1983-10-13 2000-11-14 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink-supplied printer head and ink container
US6474798B1 (en) 1984-10-11 2002-11-05 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink supplied printer head and ink container
US6045207A (en) * 1990-01-30 2000-04-04 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink-jet recording apparatus and ink tank cartridge therefor
US5790158A (en) * 1992-01-28 1998-08-04 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink-jet recording apparatus and ink tank cartridge therefor
US6170939B1 (en) 1992-07-31 2001-01-09 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Liquid storing container for recording apparatus
AU675763B2 (en) * 1992-07-31 1997-02-13 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Liquid storing container for recording apparatus
US5781213A (en) * 1992-07-31 1998-07-14 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Liquid storing container having filter interface for recording apparatus
US5583549A (en) * 1992-07-31 1996-12-10 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Liquid storing container for recording apparatus
GB2269784B (en) * 1992-07-31 1997-03-19 Canon Kk Liquid storing container for recording apparatus
US5589862A (en) * 1992-07-31 1996-12-31 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Liquid storing container for recording apparatus
AU675764B2 (en) * 1992-07-31 1997-02-13 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Liquid storing container for recording apparatus
US5699095A (en) * 1993-02-02 1997-12-16 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink-jet recording apparatus
US6783220B2 (en) 1993-07-20 2004-08-31 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Ink jet recording apparatus using recording unit with ink cartridge having ink inducing element
US6045218A (en) * 1993-08-20 2000-04-04 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Ink cartridge
EP0834401A3 (de) * 1993-08-20 1998-04-29 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Tintenpatrone
EP0834401A2 (de) * 1993-08-20 1998-04-08 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Tintenpatrone
US5574489A (en) * 1994-03-30 1996-11-12 Hewlett-Packard Company Ink cartridge system for ink-jet printer
EP0674999A3 (de) * 1994-03-30 1995-11-08 Hewlett Packard Co
EP0674999A2 (de) * 1994-03-30 1995-10-04 Hewlett-Packard Company Tintenstrahlkassettensystem für Farbstrahldrucker
EP0676294A2 (de) * 1994-04-06 1995-10-11 Pelikan Produktions Ag Tintenpatrone für einen Druckkopf eines Ink-Jet-Printers
EP0676294A3 (de) * 1994-04-06 1998-01-07 Pelikan Produktions Ag Tintenpatrone für einen Druckkopf eines Ink-Jet-Printers
GB2293140B (en) * 1994-09-16 1998-07-29 Seiko Epson Corp Ink tank cartridge for a printer or the like
FR2727055A1 (fr) * 1994-09-16 1996-05-24 Seiko Epson Corp Cartouche a reservoir d'encre, appareil d'enregistrement et systeme et procede de montage de la cartouche
DE19534578C2 (de) * 1994-09-16 2000-01-20 Seiko Epson Corp Tintenpatrone
AU689297B2 (en) * 1994-09-16 1998-03-26 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink-supplied printer and ink supply tank
NL1001205C2 (nl) * 1994-09-16 1997-08-12 Seiko Epson Corp Inkttankpatroon voor een registratie-apparaat van het inktjet-type.
US6854835B2 (en) 1994-09-16 2005-02-15 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink cartridge for ink jet printer and method of charging ink into said cartridge
CN1090567C (zh) * 1994-09-16 2002-09-11 精工爱普生株式会社 墨盒、喷墨记录设备、供墨系统及方法
CN1329201C (zh) * 1994-09-16 2007-08-01 精工爱普生株式会社 喷墨打印机用的墨盒
DE19534577C2 (de) * 1994-09-16 1999-12-23 Seiko Epson Corp Tintenpatrone und Tintenstrahl-Aufzeichnungsgerät
GB2293140A (en) * 1994-09-16 1996-03-20 Seiko Epson Corp Fluid tight joints in ink jet printers.
EP0703083A3 (de) * 1994-09-16 1996-08-07 Seiko Epson Corp Tintenkassette für Tintenstrahldrucker und Verfahren zum Füllen einer solchen Kassette
CN1096953C (zh) * 1994-09-16 2002-12-25 精工爱普生株式会社 喷墨式记录设备用的墨盒和其记录设备、系统和方法
DE19534613C2 (de) * 1994-09-16 2000-05-18 Seiko Epson Corp Tintenpatrone für einen Tintenstrahldrucker
US6238042B1 (en) 1994-09-16 2001-05-29 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink cartridge for ink jet printer and method of charging ink into said cartridge
DE19534578A1 (de) * 1994-09-16 1996-03-28 Seiko Epson Corp Tintenstrahldrucker, Tintenpatrone für Tintenstrahldrucker sowie System und Verfahren zur Tintenzufuhr
DE19534613A1 (de) * 1994-09-16 1996-03-28 Seiko Epson Corp Tintenstrahldrucker, Tintenpatrone für Tintenstrahldrucker sowie System und Verfahren zur Tintenzufuhr
ES2124147A1 (es) * 1994-09-16 1999-01-16 Seiko Epson Corp Un cartucho de deposito de tinta para un aparato de registro del tipo de chorro de tinta.
DE19534577A1 (de) * 1994-09-16 1996-03-28 Seiko Epson Corp Tintenstrahldrucker, Tintenpatrone für Tintenstrahldrucker sowie System und Verfahren zur Tintenzufuhr
US5949458A (en) * 1995-05-16 1999-09-07 Dynamic Cassette International Limited Ink cartridge for an ink jet printer
EP0745480A2 (de) * 1995-05-16 1996-12-04 Dynamic Cassette International Limited Tintenkassette für Tintenstrahldrucker
EP0745480A3 (de) * 1995-05-16 1998-01-28 Dynamic Cassette International Limited Tintenkassette für Tintenstrahldrucker
GB2300834B (en) * 1995-05-17 1998-09-09 Dynamic Cassette Int An ink cartridge for an ink jet printer
GB2300834A (en) * 1995-05-17 1996-11-20 Dynamic Cassette Int An ink cartridge for an ink jet printer
US6132036A (en) * 1995-09-14 2000-10-17 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Ink tank, production process of ink tank and ink-jet printing apparatus
EP0791463A3 (de) * 1995-09-14 1998-07-08 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Tintenbehälter, Herstellungsverfahren für Tintenbehälter und Gerät zum Tintenstrahldruck
AU718867B2 (en) * 1995-09-14 2000-04-20 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Ink tank, production process of ink tank and ink-jet printing apparatus
EP0791463A2 (de) * 1995-09-14 1997-08-27 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Tintenbehälter, Herstellungsverfahren für Tintenbehälter und Gerät zum Tintenstrahldruck
EP1177905A3 (de) * 1995-09-14 2002-03-27 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Tintenbehälter, Herstellungsverfahren für Tintenbehälter und Gerät zum Tintenstrahldruck
EP1177905A2 (de) * 1995-09-14 2002-02-06 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Tintenbehälter, Herstellungsverfahren für Tintenbehälter und Gerät zum Tintenstrahldruck
EP0765756A2 (de) * 1995-09-29 1997-04-02 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Tintenvorratspatrone, Verfahren zu ihrer Herstellung und Verpackungsstruktur der Tintenvorratspatrone
US6113230A (en) * 1995-09-29 2000-09-05 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Ink tank package container having a seal member
US6168266B1 (en) 1995-09-29 2001-01-02 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Ink tank cartridge, a manufacturing method thereof and a packaging structure of the ink tank cartridge
US6490792B1 (en) 1995-09-29 2002-12-10 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Ink tank cartridge, a manufacturing method thereof and a packaging structure of the ink tank cartridge
EP0765756A3 (de) * 1995-09-29 1997-11-12 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Tintenvorratspatrone, Verfahren zu ihrer Herstellung und Verpackungsstruktur der Tintenvorratspatrone
US6336719B1 (en) 1995-09-29 2002-01-08 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Ink tank cartridge, a manufacturing method thereof and a packaging structure of the ink tank cartridge
EP0792748A3 (de) * 1995-12-04 1998-10-07 Hewlett-Packard Company Fluidverbindung für einen Tintenstrahlschreiber
EP0778145A1 (de) * 1995-12-04 1997-06-11 Hewlett-Packard Company Selbstschliessende Flüssigkeitsverbindung mit doppelter Abdichtungswand
US5777646A (en) * 1995-12-04 1998-07-07 Hewlett-Packard Company Self-sealing fluid inerconnect with double sealing septum
US6951389B2 (en) 1996-02-21 2005-10-04 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink cartridge
DE19615997C2 (de) * 1996-04-10 1999-11-04 Staedtler Fa J S Tintenspeicher für Drucker, insbesondere Tintenpatronen für Ink-Jet-Drucker
DE19615997A1 (de) * 1996-04-10 1997-10-16 Staedtler Fa J S Tintenspeicher für Drucker, insbesondere Tintenpatronen für Ink-Jet-Drucker
EP0854046A2 (de) * 1997-01-07 1998-07-22 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Tintenkassette und Drucker
US5971533A (en) * 1997-01-07 1999-10-26 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Ink cartridge and printer
EP0854046A3 (de) * 1997-01-07 1999-01-07 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Tintenkassette und Drucker
EP0864428A3 (de) * 1997-03-12 1999-02-10 Seiko Epson Corporation Tintenkassette für Tintenstrahldrucker und Verfahren zu dessen Herstellung
EP0864428A2 (de) * 1997-03-12 1998-09-16 Seiko Epson Corporation Tintenkassette für Tintenstrahldrucker und Verfahren zu dessen Herstellung
US6929359B2 (en) 1997-03-12 2005-08-16 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink cartridge for ink-jet recorder and method of manufacturing same
US6312115B1 (en) 1997-03-12 2001-11-06 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink cartridge for ink jet recorder and method of manufacturing same
EP1598197A3 (de) * 1997-03-12 2007-04-18 Seiko Epson Corporation Tintenkassette für Tintenstrahldrucker
EP1046508A3 (de) * 1997-03-12 2000-11-15 Seiko Epson Corporation Kassette für Tintenstrahldrucker
US6854834B2 (en) 1997-03-12 2005-02-15 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink cartridge for ink-jet recorder and method of manufacturing same
US7086723B2 (en) 1997-03-12 2006-08-08 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink cartridge for ink-jet recorder and method of manufacturing same
US7284850B2 (en) 1998-05-18 2007-10-23 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink-jet printing apparatus and ink cartridge therefor
US7669969B2 (en) 1998-05-18 2010-03-02 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink-jet printing apparatus and ink cartridge therefor
US7264334B2 (en) 1998-05-18 2007-09-04 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink-jet printing apparatus and ink cartridge therefor
US7246882B2 (en) 1998-05-18 2007-07-24 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink-jet printing apparatus and ink cartridge therefor
US7954934B2 (en) 1998-05-18 2011-06-07 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink-jet printing apparatus and ink cartridge therefor
DE19854660B4 (de) * 1998-11-26 2005-11-24 3T Supplies Ag Tintenkassette
US6799820B1 (en) 1999-05-20 2004-10-05 Seiko Epson Corporation Liquid container having a liquid detecting device
US6745626B2 (en) 1999-05-20 2004-06-08 Seiko Epson Corporation Liquid detecting piezoelectric device, liquid container and mounting module member
US7383727B2 (en) 1999-05-20 2008-06-10 Seiko Epson Corporation Liquid cotainer having a liquid consumption detecting device therein
US7325450B2 (en) 1999-05-20 2008-02-05 Seiko Epson Corporation Liquid consumption status detecting method, liquid container, and ink cartridge
US7267000B1 (en) 1999-05-20 2007-09-11 Seiko Epson Corporation Liquid consumption status detecting method, liquid container, and ink cartridge
US7175244B2 (en) 1999-05-20 2007-02-13 Seiko Epson Corporation Liquid container having liquid consumption detecting device
US7251996B2 (en) 1999-05-20 2007-08-07 Seiko Epson Corporation Liquid detecting piezoelectric device, liquid container and mounting module member
DE19962662B4 (de) * 1999-12-23 2005-12-01 3T Supplies Ag Tintenkassette und Verfahren zum Herstellen einer Tintenkassette
US6793305B2 (en) 2000-05-18 2004-09-21 Seiko Epson Corporation Method and apparatus for detecting consumption of ink
US7971945B2 (en) 2000-05-18 2011-07-05 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink consumption detecting method, and ink jet recording apparatus
US7137679B2 (en) 2000-05-18 2006-11-21 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink consumption detecting method, and ink jet recording apparatus
EP1164021A3 (de) * 2000-06-15 2003-04-02 Seiko Epson Corporation Verfahren zur Flüssigkeitszufuhr, Flüssigkeitsbehälter und Verfahren zu seiner Herstellung
EP1164021A2 (de) * 2000-06-15 2001-12-19 Seiko Epson Corporation Verfahren zur Flüssigkeitszufuhr, Flüssigkeitsbehälter und Verfahren zu seiner Herstellung
US6729184B2 (en) 2000-07-28 2004-05-04 Seiko Epson Corporation Detector of liquid consumption condition
US7086281B2 (en) 2000-07-28 2006-08-08 Seiko Epson Corporation Detector of liquid consumption condition
WO2004045855A2 (en) 2002-11-18 2004-06-03 Dynamic Cassette International Ltd. An ink cartridge for a printer, a method of assembling an ink cartridge for a printer, and a filter assembly for an ink cartridge
WO2005025875A1 (de) * 2003-09-10 2005-03-24 Kmp Printtechnik Ag Tintenpatrone
WO2007015083A2 (en) * 2005-08-01 2007-02-08 Dynamic Cassette International Ltd. Sealing arrangement for the ink supply port of an ink cartridge
WO2007015083A3 (en) * 2005-08-01 2007-05-18 Dynamic Cassette Int Sealing arrangement for the ink supply port of an ink cartridge
GB2448872A (en) * 2007-04-30 2008-11-05 Hewlett Packard Development Co Print cartridge

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0786352B1 (de) 2001-11-28
DE69232194D1 (de) 2001-12-13
EP1905599B1 (de) 2010-04-28
HK1002449A1 (en) 1998-08-28
DE69232194T2 (de) 2002-07-18
EP0553535B1 (de) 1998-10-28
DE69227441T2 (de) 1999-03-18
EP1013444B1 (de) 2003-01-08
EP1905599A3 (de) 2009-04-08
EP1241012B1 (de) 2004-06-16
DE69232243T2 (de) 2002-07-25
HK1021810A1 (en) 2000-07-07
DE69232893T2 (de) 2003-11-06
EP1013444A1 (de) 2000-06-28
HK1046666A1 (en) 2003-01-24
EP0782927B1 (de) 2001-11-07
EP1241012A2 (de) 2002-09-18
EP0553535B2 (de) 2004-04-14
EP1905599A2 (de) 2008-04-02
DE69232893D1 (de) 2003-02-13
EP1241012A3 (de) 2003-01-02
DE69233784D1 (de) 2010-06-10
DE69232243D1 (de) 2002-01-10
DE69233371T2 (de) 2005-06-16
DE69227441T3 (de) 2004-09-09
DE69233371D1 (de) 2004-07-22
EP1396344A2 (de) 2004-03-10
HK1010709A1 (en) 1999-06-25
EP0786352A1 (de) 1997-07-30
HK1025932A1 (en) 2000-12-01
EP1396344A3 (de) 2004-07-28
DE69227441D1 (de) 1998-12-03
HK1046666B (zh) 2005-02-04
EP0782927A1 (de) 1997-07-09
SG46602A1 (en) 1998-02-20

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP0553535B1 (de) Tintenvorratspatrone und Behälter dafür
US5576749A (en) Ink-jet recording apparatus and ink tank cartridge therefor
US5477963A (en) Ink-jet recording apparatus and ink tank cartridge therefor
US5844578A (en) Ink-jet recording apparatus and ink tank cartridge thereof
US5790158A (en) Ink-jet recording apparatus and ink tank cartridge therefor
US4785314A (en) Internally pressure-regulated ink supply
US6010213A (en) Ink supply device for use in ink jet printer and ink tank for use in the same device
US5182581A (en) Ink jet recording unit having an ink tank section containing porous material and a recording head section
EP0714778B1 (de) Tintenstrahldrucker und reinigungsverfahren des aufzeichnungskopfes
JP3156319B2 (ja) インク・ジェット印刷機用のインク・カートリッジ
KR100234799B1 (ko) 액체 토출용 용기
US6874873B2 (en) Printhead air management using unsaturated ink
JP4529369B2 (ja) インクジェット記録装置
JP3171214B2 (ja) インクジェット記録装置用インクカ−トリッジ
EP1433611B1 (de) Tintenstrahlaufzeichnungsgerät und Verfahren zur Tinteneinführung im genannten Gerät
US7246891B2 (en) Ink cartridge for a printer
US6863387B2 (en) Ink supply with air diffusion barrier for unsaturated ink
JPH07132611A (ja) インクジェット記録装置及びインクタンクとその製造方法
JP2002046286A (ja) インクジェット記録装置用インクカートリッジ
JPH03286875A (ja) インクジェット記録装置用インクカートリッジ
DE9218219U1 (de) Tintentankpatrone und deren behaelter

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): CH DE FR GB IT LI NL SE

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19940105

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19950905

GRAG Despatch of communication of intention to grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA

GRAG Despatch of communication of intention to grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA

GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

DX Miscellaneous (deleted)
GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): CH DE FR GB IT LI NL SE

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: EP

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 69227441

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19981203

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: NV

Representative=s name: BOVARD AG PATENTANWAELTE

PLBQ Unpublished change to opponent data

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS OPPO

ET Fr: translation filed
PLBI Opposition filed

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009260

PLAV Examination of admissibility of opposition

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS OPEX

26 Opposition filed

Opponent name: PELIKAN HARDCOPY DEUTSCHLAND GMBH

Effective date: 19990211

PLAV Examination of admissibility of opposition

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS OPEX

NLR1 Nl: opposition has been filed with the epo

Opponent name: PELIKAN HARDCOPY DEUTSCHLAND GMBH

PLBF Reply of patent proprietor to notice(s) of opposition

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS OBSO

PLBF Reply of patent proprietor to notice(s) of opposition

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS OBSO

PLBF Reply of patent proprietor to notice(s) of opposition

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS OBSO

RDAH Patent revoked

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS REVO

APAC Appeal dossier modified

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS NOAPO

APAE Appeal reference modified

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS REFNO

APAC Appeal dossier modified

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS NOAPO

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: IF02

APBU Appeal procedure closed

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNNOA9O

PUAH Patent maintained in amended form

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009272

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: PATENT MAINTAINED AS AMENDED

27A Patent maintained in amended form

Effective date: 20040414

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B2

Designated state(s): CH DE FR GB IT LI NL SE

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: AEN

Free format text: MAINTIEN DU BREVET DONT L'ETENDUE A ETE MODIFIEE

NLR2 Nl: decision of opposition

Effective date: 20040414

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: SE

Ref legal event code: RPEO

NLR3 Nl: receipt of modified translations in the netherlands language after an opposition procedure
ET3 Fr: translation filed ** decision concerning opposition
APAH Appeal reference modified

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSCREFNO

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: 7276

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: CL

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: 7276

Free format text: COUNTERCLAIM LODGED AT THE HIGH COURT

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: 7276

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: 772N

Free format text: COUNTERCLAIM STAYED

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: 772N

Free format text: COUNTERCLAIM DISMISSED

PLAB Opposition data, opponent's data or that of the opponent's representative modified

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009299OPPO

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: S72Z

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: S72Z

Free format text: COUNTERCLAIM FOR REVOCATION DISMISSED; COUNTERCLAIM FOR REVOCATION LODGED AT THE HIGH COURT ON 22 DECEMBER 2006 DISMISSED BY COURT ORDER 23 MARCH 2009 IN RESPECT OF THE SECOND DEFENDANT (HC06CO0629).

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PFA

Owner name: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION

Free format text: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION#4-1, NISHISHINJUKU 2-CHOME#SHINJUKU-KU TOKYO-TO (JP) -TRANSFER TO- SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION#4-1, NISHISHINJUKU 2-CHOME#SHINJUKU-KU TOKYO-TO (JP)

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: CH

Payment date: 20110812

Year of fee payment: 20

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20110818

Year of fee payment: 20

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20110803

Year of fee payment: 20

Ref country code: SE

Payment date: 20110811

Year of fee payment: 20

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20110803

Year of fee payment: 20

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Payment date: 20110823

Year of fee payment: 20

Ref country code: IT

Payment date: 20110811

Year of fee payment: 20

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R071

Ref document number: 69227441

Country of ref document: DE

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R071

Ref document number: 69227441

Country of ref document: DE

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: NL

Ref legal event code: V4

Effective date: 20120807

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: PE20

Expiry date: 20120806

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF EXPIRATION OF PROTECTION

Effective date: 20120806

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF EXPIRATION OF PROTECTION

Effective date: 20120808