EP0936073B1 - Verfahren zum Befüllen von Tintenkassetten mit Tinte - Google Patents

Verfahren zum Befüllen von Tintenkassetten mit Tinte Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0936073B1
EP0936073B1 EP99110235A EP99110235A EP0936073B1 EP 0936073 B1 EP0936073 B1 EP 0936073B1 EP 99110235 A EP99110235 A EP 99110235A EP 99110235 A EP99110235 A EP 99110235A EP 0936073 B1 EP0936073 B1 EP 0936073B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ink
chamber
cartridge
supply port
needle
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP99110235A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0936073A2 (de
EP0936073A3 (de
Inventor
Takao Kobayashi
Satoshi Shinada
Kiyofumi Usui
Shoichi Hiraide
Kazuo Koshino
Hisashi Miyazawa
Seiji Mochizuki
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
Application filed by Seiko Epson Corp filed Critical Seiko Epson Corp
Publication of EP0936073A2 publication Critical patent/EP0936073A2/de
Publication of EP0936073A3 publication Critical patent/EP0936073A3/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0936073B1 publication Critical patent/EP0936073B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • B41J2/17513—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
    • B41J2/17506—Refilling of the cartridge
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
    • B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
    • B41J2/17503—Ink cartridges
    • B41J2/17559—Cartridge manufacturing

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method of charging ink into an ink cartridge.
  • the carriage carrying the ink jet recording head also carries an ink container
  • measures are taken to prevent pressure fluctuations of the ink due to the oscillation of the ink caused by the movement of the carriage, and defective printing due to foaming. That is, as proposed in EP-A-581531, the ink container of an ink jet printer is divided into two regions. A porous body is accommodated in a region on the recording head side, and ink is contained in the other region.
  • Such structure is advantageous in obviating inconvenience caused by the oscillation of the ink to a possible extent since the ink is supplied to the recording head through the porous body.
  • an ink cartridge having a foam chamber is disclosed.
  • the cartridge is refilled by applying a vacuum to an interior of an ink reservoir container and then permitting a colorant to be drawn into the reservoir container.
  • the porous body functions merely as a filter, and this means that it is the ink within the ink chamber, not the ink in the porous body, that substantially is the remaining amount of ink. Therefore, when the ink within the ink chamber runs out, the printer can no longer print.
  • the amounts of remaining ink vary from one ink chamber to another even if the inks of all the colors have been supplied simultaneously since all the inks are not necessarily consumed equally in color printing.
  • ink remains within the cartridge in liquid form when the cartridge is replaced, and when the cartridge is discarded the ink may leak out and contaminate the environment.
  • the user may unnecessarily become apprehensive over unbalanced consumption of ink and the possibility of one of the colors running out.
  • the present invention intends to overcome these problems.
  • the object is solved by the method of charging ink into an ink cartridge according to independent claim 1.
  • the invention relates generally to a method of charging ink into the cartridge and more specifically to a method of charging ink into the cartridge suitable for a ink jet printer in which a carriage carries an ink jet recording head and an ink cartridge and in which the ink is replenished by replacing the cartridge.
  • a method of charging ink into an ink cartridge includes: a foam chamber; an ink supply port formed in a wall of said ink cartridge; and a porous body for absorbing ink being accommodated within said foam chamber and positioned to engage said ink supply port for delivery of ink thereto to define a space in said foam chamber between said porous body and the wall bearing a through hole.
  • the ink cartridge has at least to w insertion through holes in a wall thereof, said wall defining at least one of said walls of said foam chamber.
  • the method comprises the steps of: inserting an exhausting hollow needle to be connected to an exhauster through a first' of said through holes into the space in said foam chamber; inserting an ink injecting hollow needle through a second of said plurality of though holes into said porous member; exhausting the interior of said cartridge; injecting ink through said ink injecting hollow needle after the exhausting operation has been completed; removing said hollow needles; and sealing said cartridge.
  • the invention accordingly comprises the several steps and the relation of one or more of such steps with respect to each of the others and the apparatus embodying features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts which are adapted to effect such steps, all as exemplified in the following detailed disclosure.
  • FIGS. 1a and 1b an ink cartridge as utilized in a first embodiment of the invention is shown.
  • reference numeral 1 denotes a container main body, which is divided into three chambers 4, 5, 6 by partition plates 2, 3.
  • Each of the chambers 4, 5, 6 is further divided into a foam chamber and an ink chamber by a partition, only foam chamber 411, ink chamber 412 and partition 410 of chamber 4, being visible in FIG. 1a.
  • the remaining chambers 5 and 6 are essentially identical to chamber 4, foam chambers 511 and 611 of chambers 5 and 6 being visible in FIG. 1b.
  • Each foam chamber 411, 511, 611 is designed to accommodate a respective porous body 420, 520, 620, made of an elastic material that is suitable for absorbing ink, and each ink chamber as exemplified by ink chamber 412 is designed to directly contain liquid ink.
  • the volumes of the porous bodies 420, 520, 620 before insertion in the respective foam chambers 411, 511, 611 are larger than the capacity of the respective foam chambers 411, 511 and 611, so that each of the porous bodies 420, 520 or 620 is accommodated in the respective foam chamber 411, 511 or 611 in a compressed condition.
  • An ink supply port shaped to receive an ink supply needle of a recording head is arranged at the lower end of each of the respective foam chambers 411, 511 and 611, ink supply ports 413 and 513 of foam chambers 411 and 511 respectively being visible in FIG. 1b.
  • the opening of the container main body 1 is sealed with a cover member 16 that has exhausting through holes 414, 514 and 614 and ink injecting through holes 415, 515 and 615 at positions confronting the respective foam chambers 411, 511 and 611 (see FIGS. 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b).
  • Projections 416a and 416b are formed so as to surround through holes 414 and 415, respectively at regions on the bottom surface of cover member 16 confronting foam chamber 411. These projections 416a and 416b bias porous body 420 onto the bottom surface of the corresponding foam chamber 411 in which ink supply port 413,is formed.
  • Projections 416a which confront ink supply port 413 are formed so as to be longer than projections 416b so that the lower end of projection 416a is positioned lower than that of projection 416b. This allows porous body 420 in the vicinity of ink supply port 413 to be compressed at the highest pressure.
  • an inwardly projected portion 422 that compresses porous body 420 conjointly with cover member 16 .
  • a recessed portion 423 At an upper portion of projected portion 422 is a recessed portion 423 and one end of through hole 424.
  • Recessed portion 423 forms an empty space with a predetermined open area, and through hole 424 communicates with recessed portion 423 at one end thereof and communicates with a packing member 430 (to be described later) at the other end thereof.
  • a filter 425 is fixed to the top of recessed portion 423.
  • Fil ter 425 has a 15x30 mm 2 ink passage area.
  • Packing member 430 is attached to the lower end of through hole 424.
  • Packing member 430 is made of an elastic material and has the uppermost opening tapered downward so as to have its upper opening wider than its lower opening.
  • FIG. 4 depicts packing member 30 similar to packing member 430 .
  • packing member 30 is made of an elastic material such as rubber and has a tapered portion 32 so as to be funnel-shaped.
  • a cylindrical portion 31 has walls which are thicker than the other walls of packing member 30.
  • An annular projection 31a is formed in the outer periphery of cylindrical portion 31 to be received in a corresponding groove on the wall of the ink supply port to hold the packing member in place.
  • Cylindrical portion 31 is coupled through a thin-walled connecting portion 34 that is connected to the large diameter portion of tapered portion 32 so that packing member 30 is fitted with ink supply port 13 so that the upper annular end 33 of tapered portion 32 abuts the confronting innermost stepped portion of the ink supply port such as stepped portion 413a (FIG. 1a). Further, the inner diameter of a lower opening 32a of tapered portion 32 is set to such a value as to be slightly smaller than the outer diameter of an ink supply needle 50.
  • packing member 30 is reliably retained in the ink supply port by cylindrical portion 31, and the upward movement of annular upper end 33 of packing member 30 is blocked by the corresponding innermost stepped portion of the ink supply port, such as stepped portion 413a. Therefore, packing member 30 becomes firmly fixed to the ink supply port when attaching and detaching the ink supply needle 50 thereto and therefrom. Further, since tapered portion 32, which ensures airtightness with respect to ink supply needle 50, is fixed to the ink supply port by thin-walled connecting portion 34, tapered portion 32 is movable to some extent without being so deformed as to break the airtight seal with ink supply needle 50. As a result, tapered portion 32 can be maintained in airtight contact with respect to ink supply needle 50 while absorbing a relative positional displacement of the ink supply body with respect to ink supply needle 50.
  • Each partition such as partition 410 dividing a foam chamber such as foam chamber 411, from an ink chamber such as ink chamber 412 has a gas-liquid replacement communication hole such as communication hole 419, visible in FIG. 1a, which is an elongated hole extending a predetermined height directly from the bottom of the container.
  • Each gas-liquid replacement communication hole preferably extends over only a portion of the width of the partition. Discussion will now continue with respect to compartment 4, keeping in mind that compartments 5 and 6 have parallel structure.
  • Porous body 420 is accommodated in foam chamber 411 so that part of porous body 420 is in contact with communication hole 419 and so that porous body 420 is elastically compressed by the portion of partition wall 410 adjacent communication hole 419 to some extent.
  • porous body 420 In use, when a sufficient quantity of ink is consumed during printing by passing through ink supply port 413 as needed from porous body 420, ink passes from ink chamber 412 through gas-liquid replacement communication hole 419 and air passes from exhausting through hole 414 (which acts as an ambient air vent as more particularly described below), through porous body 420, through gas-liquid replacement communication hole 419 to ink chamber 412. Porous body 420 is compressed so as to be raised about 5 to 10 mm from the bottom surface of container 1 by projected portion 422. As a result, porous body 420 receives a tensile force acting in a direction indicated by an arrow A in Fig. 1a, which in turn decreases the rate of compression in a region B close to communication hole 419, thereby making it likely that the replacement of the air within the communication hole 419 with the ink within the ink chamber 412 will be affected.
  • the embodiment of the invention is designed so that porous body 420 comes in intimate contact with communication hole 419 reliably by setting a distance C between projected portion 422 and communication hole 419 to not less than 1.5 times of the height of projected portion 422.
  • porous body 420 is most highly compressed in the vicinity of filter 425 on top of the projected portion 422 and less compressed toward communication hole 419.
  • the capillary force gradually increases accordingly toward the top of projected portion 422 from communication hole 419, thereby allowing the ink within ink chamber 412 to be introduced to the through hole 424 reliably.
  • FIGS. 2a and 2b depict an outer view of an example of cover member 16.
  • reference numerals 414, 514 and 614 and 415, 515 and 615 denote the aforementioned through holes that are formed in the region under which porous bodies 420, 520 and 620 are respectively contained.
  • One group of the through holes, through holes 414, 514 and 614 in this example are connected to air communication ports 441, 541, 641 through meandering grooves 440, 540, 640.
  • grooves 440, 540, 640 form capillary tubes when a seal 42 covering through holes 414, 514 and 614, and 415, 515 and 615 as well as the air communication ports 441, 541 and 641 has been bonded to cover 16 after an ink injecting operation (to be described later) has been performed.
  • a cutting line 44 shown in FIG. 2b, is provided in advance at a portion of seal 42 close to air communication ports 441, 541 and 641, so that the air communication ports can be exposed simply by pulling up a tongue strip 45, to provide ambient air to the interior of the foam chambers while minimizing evaporation of ink therefrom.
  • the cartridge In order to fill each chamber 4, 5 and 6 of the thus designed cartridge, the cartridge is placed in a chamber under negative pressure with the ink supply ports thereof sealed by a film, such as film 446 sealing ink supply port 413, as shown in FIG. 3 (depicting only compartment 4, which is parallel in structure to compartments 5 and 6). Under this condition, one injecting needle N401 and the other injecting needle N402 are inserted while keeping exhausting through hole 414 and ink injecting through hole 415 airtight using sealing members S414, S415. Injecting needle N401 is inserted into the upper space of foam chamber 411 above porous body 420, and injecting needle N402 is inserted toward the bottom of foam chamber 411 through porous body 420 so as to be as close to communication hole 419 as possible. An exhauster P4 is connected to injecting needle N401, and the other injecting needle N402 is closed by a valve V401.
  • a film such as film 446 sealing ink supply port 413
  • the valve V401 of the injecting needle N402 is closed when a certain amount of ink is flown into the cartridge from the measuring tube K4, so that the exhauster P4 is released to ambient air and accordingly the foam chamber 411 and the ink chamber 412 have atomospheric pressure. For this operation, the ink contained in the foam chamber 411 flows downwardly. Under this condition, the injecting needles N401 and N402 are removed from the seal through holes 414 and 415. In this condition where the measuring tube K4 is in a decompressed condition, the valve V402 is released to allow ink to be introduced and then the valve V402 is closed and the system stands by until the next ink injection is operated.
  • injecting needles N401 and N402 and sealing members S414 and S415 are removed and seal 42 is bonded to the outer surface of cover member 16 to seal through holes 414, 514 and 614 and 415, 515 and 615, meandering grooves 440, 540 and 640, and air communication ports 441, 541 and 641 under the evacuated condition.
  • foam chamber 411 and ink chamber 412 are maintained in a low pressure (below atmospheric) state, which keeps the injected ink also in a low pressure state. Since the ink is injected into ink chamber 412 via porous body 420 in this way, the ink can be spread out into each of the tiny holes of porous body 420. In addition, the entire inside of the cartridge can be maintained in a low pressure state, which in turn prevents the pressure from excessively increasing due to an increase in temperature during storage. Hence, the ink charging rate can be improved, and the cartridge can therefore be downsized.
  • the thus constructed cartridge is designed to cause the throughholes 414, 514 and 614 of foam chambers 411, 511 and 611 to communicate with respective air communication ports 441, 541 and 641 through capillary tubes formed by grooves 440, 540 and 640 and seal 42 when tongue strip 45 is removed. Therefore, the cartridge can prevent leakage of the ink from the throughholes irrespective of differences in pressure with respect to the recording head, while preventing evaporation of the ink.
  • ink supply needle 50 is used in such a manner as to be inserted into packing member 30, the ink supply port and ink supply needle 50 can be sealed reliably. That is, even if the ink supply needle of the recording head is slightly displaced horizontally with respect to the center of packing member 30, tapered portion 32 accommodates i nk supply needle 50 by the elasticity thereof once the point of ink supply needle 50 has been fitted into the hole of packing member 30.
  • the ink introduced into foam chamber 411 slightly increases the ink level in foam chamber 411 when it is absorbed by porous body 420, and when the ink retaining force of porous body 420 in the vicinity of communication hole 419 reaches equilibrium with the pressure within the ink chamber 412, the flow of ink from ink chamber 412 to foam chamber 411 stops.
  • FIG. 5 depicts the ink levels during this process.
  • reference character A denotes the pressure of the porous body in foam chamber 411; and reference character B, the amount of ink within ink chamber 412.
  • reference character B the amount of ink within ink chamber 412.
  • the ratio in volume of foam chamber 411 to the ink chamber 412 is set so that the amount of ink contained in foam chamber 411 is from the same to three times that contained in ink chamber 412.
  • the ink has been consumed to a predetermined level w3
  • no more ink is supplied from porous body 420 to the printer head and no further printing will take place.
  • the liquid absorbing rate of porous body 420 is 80%, in other words, the porous body can absorb ink amounting to 80% of its volume, for example. If the ratio in volume between foam chamber 411 and ink chamber 412 is set to 2:1, then about 20% of the total amount of ink charged in the ink tank is consumed at an initial stage from foam chamber 411 (W1 of FIG. 5), about 40% of the total amount of ink charged in the ink tank is retained in porous body 420, and about 40% of the total amount of ink charged in the ink tank is retained in ink chamber 412 and is gradually absorbed into foam chamber 411 to be used up .
  • the porous member is initially charged with about 3/2 times the amount of ink initially charged into ink chamber 412.
  • container main body 1 is formed of an essentially transparent or translucent material, in the case of supplying inks of three colors out of a single cartridge, variations in ink levels within the ink chambers attributable to inconsistent ink consumption can be identified by a visual check, which in turn contributes to freeing the user from needlessly worrying about how much ink still remains in the respective ink chambers and from potentially running out of ink of a particular color.
  • the inks are unlikely to be present in any of the ink chambers in liquid form but rather are absorbed by the respective porous bodies at the time the used cartridge is discarded, the leakage of the inks from the cartridge can be prevented.
  • FIG. 6 depicts an example of a packing member 630 for sealing the ink supply needle constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention. Elements similar to those in the first embodiment are given like reference numerals.
  • This packing member is characterized as having a self-aligning ring, which is made of a soft resin material and includes a ringlike needle surrounding seal 60, a ringlike port surrounding seal 61, and a thin-walled conical connecting ring 62 that connects needle surrounding seal 60 to port surrounding seal 61 so that both seals 60 and 61 are integrated with each other.
  • Needle surrounding seal 60 has a circular cross-section whose inner diameter is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of ink supply needle 50.
  • Port surrounding seal 61 has a circular section whose outer diameter is slightly larger than the inner diameter of ink supply port 13.
  • Port surrounding seal 61 is arranged on the ink supply needle insertion entrance side of packing member 630.
  • a movable bush 64 is attached to the outer circumferential surface of needle surrounding seal 60 so as to prevent the expansion of the outer diameter of seal 60.
  • Movable bush 64 is L-shaped in cross-section taken in the radial direction and has a smaller diameter than the inner diameter of the innermost portion of ink supply port 13.
  • a fixed bush 65 is arranged inside the port surrounding seal 61.
  • Fixed bush 65 is L-shaped in section to serve as a guide for inserting ink supply needle 50. Fixed bush 65 is mounted so that movable bush 64 is allowed to come in slidable contact with the innermost stepped portion 13a of supply port 13 in such a manner as to set port surrounding seal 61 into ink supply port 13 while insuring fixed bush 65 does not come into contact with needle surrounding seal 60.
  • radially extending linear projections 66 are formed on the surface of movable bush 64 is maintained in slidable contact with the innermost stepped portion 13a of ink supply port 13.
  • a plurality of through holes 67 are formed between the linear projections 66, so that when the ink is injected with the inside of the cartridge evacuated to a negative pressure, the air within the packing member is allowed to escape to the outside of the self-aligning ring through holes 67 between the linear projections 66.
  • ink supply needle 50 When the cartridge is inserted with an ink supply needle 50 aligned with an ink supply port 13, ink supply needle 50 pierces film 46 that seals ink supply port 13, and passes through film 46 into the through hole while being maintained in intimate contact with movable bush 64 .
  • Ink supply needle 50 is arranged so that tapered portion 51 thereof is allowed to go along the innermost portion of needle surrounding seal 60.
  • thin-walled conical connecting ring 62 can be deformed to permit needle surrounding seal 60 and movable bush 64 to be displaced in the radial direction, so that the outer circumference of ink supply needle 50 is sealed without excessively deforming needle surrounding seal 60 itself. Needle surrounding seal 60 and bush 64 thus perform a self-alignment function.
  • FIG. 7 depicts a packing member 730 for sealing ink supply needle 50 constructed in accordance with third embodiment of the invention. Elements similar to those in the previous embodiments are given like reference numerals.
  • Packing member 730 includes a first annular seal 70, a second annular seal 71, and a bush 72.
  • Seal 70 has a circular cross-section and is an elastic member that abuts innermost stepped portion 13a of ink supply port 13.
  • Seal 71 has a circular cross-section and is an elastic member that is located on the film 46 side of seal 70.
  • Bush 72 is provided to fix these two seals 70 and 71 to ink supply port 13, with seals 70 and 71 being maintained in elastic contact with each other.
  • each of the two seals 70 and 71 is selected so as to be slightly smaller than the outer diameter of ink supply needle 50 and the outer diameter of each of the seals 70 and 71 is selected so as to be slightly larger than the inner diameter of ink supply port 13.
  • ink supply needle 50 When the cartridge is pushed into position for use with ink supply port 13 of the cartridge aligned with ink supply needle 50, ink supply needle 50 pierces film 46 and passes through second seal 71 and first seal 70. Although part of the film 46 enters into ink supply port 13 while being biased by ink supply needle 50 at this instance, second seal 71 located on the lower side of first seal 70 blocks the upward movement of film 46. As a result, first seal 70 can reliably seal the circumference of the ink supply needle 50.
  • a useful ink cartridge for an ink jet printer to be used in conjuction with the method of the invention comprises: a main body shaped to define an ink chamber for retaining liquid ink and a foam chamber maintained in fluid communication with said ink chamber through a communication hole; an ink supply port formed in a wall of said foam chamber; and a porous body for absorbing ink being accommodated within said foam chamber so that the compression of said porous body in at least a region confronting said ink supply port is higher than the compression in a region not confronting said ink supply port; whereby said ink cartridge supplies ink from said ink chamber via said porous body and said ink supply port.
  • the method may, for example, be used in an ink jet recording apparatus for outputting ink onto a recording medium, comprising: a recording head for ejecting ink; and an ink tank cartridge removably mountable onto said recording head of said ink jet recording apparatus for delivery of ink thereto, including: a main body shaped to define an ink chamber for retaining liquid ink and a foam chamber maintained in fluid communication with said ink chamber through a communication hole; an ink supply port formed in a wall of said foam chamber; and a porous body for absorbing ink being accommodated within said foam chamber so that the compression of said porous body in at least a region confronting said ink supply port is higher than the compression in a region not confronting said ink supply port, the ratio between the amount of ink initially charged in said ink chamber and that of ink absorbed in said porous body being in the range of from 1:1 to 1:3; whereby said ink cartridge supplies ink from said ink chamber via said porous body and said ink supply port.
  • the inventive method is further useful in a system for supplying ink to an ink jet recording apparatus and outputting ink onto a recording medium, said system comprising: a recording head for ejecting ink; and an ink tank cartridge removably mountable onto said recording head of said ink jet recording apparatus for delivery of ink thereto, including: a main body shaped to define an ink chamber for retaining liquid ink and a foam chamber maintained in fluid communication with said ink chamber through a communication hole; an ink supply port formed in a wall of said foam chamber; and a porous body for absorbing ink being accommodated within said foam chamber so that the compression of said porous body in at least a region confronting said ink supply port is higher than the compression in a region not confronting said ink supply port, the ratio between the amount of ink initially charged in said ink chamber and that of ink absorbed in said porous body being in the range of from 1:1 to 1:3; whereby said ink cartridge supplies ink from said ink chamber via said porous body and said

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

Claims (8)

  1. Verfahren zum Befüllen einer Tintenpatrone mit Tinte, wobei die Tintenpatrone umfasst:
    Wände der Tintenpatrone;
    eine Schaumkammer (411), die durch die Wände definiert ist;
    eine Tintenzuführöffnung (413), die in den Wänden gebildet ist;
    mindestens zwei Einführdurchgangslöcher (414, 415) in den Wänden; und
    einen porösen Körper (420) zur Tintenaufnahme, der sich innerhalb der Schaumkammer (411) befindet und so positioniert ist, dass er mit der Tintenzuführöffnung (413) zur Zufuhr von Tinte dorthin in Eingriff gelangt, und dass er einen Raum in der Schaumkammer (411) zwischen dem porösen Körper (420) und den Wänden definiert, die mindestens ein erstes Einführdurchgangsloch (414) von den mindestens zwei Einführdurchgangslöchern (414, 415) aufweisen,
    wobei das Verfahren folgende Schritte umfasst:
    Einführen einer hohlen Absaugnadel (N401) zur Verbindung mit einem Absaugvorrichtung (P4) durch das erste Einführdurchgangsloch (414) in den Raum in der Schaumkammer (411);
    Einführen einer hohlen Tinteneinspritznadel (N402) durch ein zweites Durchgangsloch (415) von den mindestens zwei Durchgangslöchern (414, 415) in das poröse Element (420);
    Absaugen eines Innenbereichs der Tintenpatrone;
    Einspritzen von Tinte durch die hohle Tinteneinspritznadel (N402) nach Beendigung des Absaugvorgangs;
    Entfernen der hohlen Nadeln (N401, N402); und
    Versiegeln der Patrone.
  2. Verfahren gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei die Tintenpatrone an einem Ort mit weniger als Atmosphärendruck versiegelt wird.
  3. Verfahren gemäß Anspruch 1 oder 2, wobei sich die Absaugnadel (N401) gegenüber der Tintenzuführöffnung (413) befindet.
  4. Verfahren gemäß einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, wobei die Patrone außerdem eine Tintenkammer (412) zum Zurückhalten flüssiger Tinte enthält, die in Fluidverbindung mit der Schaumkammer (411) über ein Verbindungsloch (419) gehalten wird, und die Tintenzuführöffnung (413) dem Verbindungsloch (419) benachbart ist.
  5. Verfahren gemäß Anspruch 4, wobei die hohle Tinteneinspritznadel (N402) so in das poröse Element (420) eingeführt wird, dass sie in die Nähe des Verbindungslochs (419) reicht.
  6. Verfahren gemäß Anspruch 4, wobei ein Ende der Tinteneinspritznadel (N402) sich benachbart zum Verbindungsloch (419) befindet.
  7. Verfahren gemäß Anspruch 6, wobei sich das Ende der Tinteneinspritznadel (N402) zwischen der Tintenzuführöffnung (413) und dem Verbindungsloch (419) befindet.
  8. Verfahren gemäß einem der Ansprüche 4 bis 6, wobei die Tinte in die Schaumkammer (411) eingespritzt wird und anschließend in die Tintenkammer (412) durch das Verbindungsloch (419) fließt.
EP99110235A 1994-09-16 1995-09-15 Verfahren zum Befüllen von Tintenkassetten mit Tinte Expired - Lifetime EP0936073B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP24851894 1994-09-16
JP24851894 1994-09-16
JP25810295A JPH08132636A (ja) 1994-09-16 1995-09-11 インクジェットプリンタ用インクカートリッジ、及びカートリッジへのインクの充填方法
JP25810295 1995-09-11
EP95114563A EP0703083B1 (de) 1994-09-16 1995-09-15 Tintenkassette für Tintenstrahldrucker

Related Parent Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP95114563A Division EP0703083B1 (de) 1994-09-16 1995-09-15 Tintenkassette für Tintenstrahldrucker

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0936073A2 EP0936073A2 (de) 1999-08-18
EP0936073A3 EP0936073A3 (de) 1999-10-27
EP0936073B1 true EP0936073B1 (de) 2004-01-28

Family

ID=26538818

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP99110235A Expired - Lifetime EP0936073B1 (de) 1994-09-16 1995-09-15 Verfahren zum Befüllen von Tintenkassetten mit Tinte
EP95114563A Expired - Lifetime EP0703083B1 (de) 1994-09-16 1995-09-15 Tintenkassette für Tintenstrahldrucker

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP95114563A Expired - Lifetime EP0703083B1 (de) 1994-09-16 1995-09-15 Tintenkassette für Tintenstrahldrucker

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Country Link
EP (2) EP0936073B1 (de)
JP (1) JPH08132636A (de)
DE (2) DE69514060T2 (de)
HK (1) HK1022668A1 (de)

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JPH10235890A (ja) * 1996-06-25 1998-09-08 Seiko Epson Corp インクカートリッジ
US5821964A (en) * 1996-07-24 1998-10-13 Dataproducts Corporation Cartridge for supplying liquid to a print head
JP3365215B2 (ja) 1996-08-21 2003-01-08 セイコーエプソン株式会社 プリンタのインクカートリッジ装置
ATE251039T1 (de) * 1996-11-15 2003-10-15 Canon Kk Behälter zum ausbringen von flüssigkeit
JP3513377B2 (ja) 1996-12-05 2004-03-31 キヤノン株式会社 液体収容容器への液体充填方法、該充填方法を実施するための充填ユニットと該充填方法により製造された液体収容容器、及び液体吐出記録装置
MX9801290A (es) * 1997-02-19 1998-11-30 Canon Cabushiki Kaisha Envase de liquido para cabeza de chorron de tinta.
JPH10250104A (ja) 1997-03-12 1998-09-22 Seiko Epson Corp インクジェット式記録装置用インクカートリッジ、及びその製造方法
JP3287791B2 (ja) * 1997-07-30 2002-06-04 キヤノン株式会社 液体収容室を有する液体収容容器への液体充填方法及び液体充填装置
JP2000094710A (ja) 1998-09-24 2000-04-04 Seiko Epson Corp 印刷ヘッド装置、インクジェットプリンタおよびインクカートリッジ
JP3608397B2 (ja) 1998-10-06 2005-01-12 セイコーエプソン株式会社 インクカートリッジの分解方法
DE19943948B4 (de) 1999-09-14 2005-07-14 Artech Gmbh Design + Production In Plastic Verfahren zur Herstellung einer Tintenkartusche für einen Tintenstrahldrucker
EP1600297B1 (de) 1999-10-29 2008-10-01 Seiko Epson Corporation Tintenpatrone zur Benutzung in einem Tintenstrahlaufzeichnungsgerät
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DE10239659B4 (de) * 2002-08-26 2005-12-15 Artech Gmbh Design + Production In Plastic Tintenversorgungseinrichtung
KR100452851B1 (ko) * 2002-10-23 2004-10-14 삼성전자주식회사 적정 부압이 유지되는 잉크 카트리지
DE10250610A1 (de) 2002-10-30 2004-05-13 Kmp Printtechnik Ag Tintenpatrone zum Aufbringen auf einen Aufzeichnungskopf
JP2015077731A (ja) * 2013-10-17 2015-04-23 キヤノン株式会社 インク充填装置およびインク充填方法
JP7391637B2 (ja) * 2019-12-03 2023-12-05 キヤノン株式会社 液体貯蔵装置および液体充填方法

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69514060D1 (de) 2000-01-27
EP0703083B1 (de) 1999-12-22
HK1022668A1 (en) 2000-08-18
JPH08132636A (ja) 1996-05-28
EP0936073A2 (de) 1999-08-18
EP0703083A3 (de) 1996-08-07
DE69532513T2 (de) 2004-06-24
EP0936073A3 (de) 1999-10-27
DE69532513D1 (de) 2004-03-04
DE69514060T2 (de) 2000-09-14
EP0703083A2 (de) 1996-03-27

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