EP1093922B1 - Moyen d'ajustement de la pression - Google Patents

Moyen d'ajustement de la pression Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1093922B1
EP1093922B1 EP99250376A EP99250376A EP1093922B1 EP 1093922 B1 EP1093922 B1 EP 1093922B1 EP 99250376 A EP99250376 A EP 99250376A EP 99250376 A EP99250376 A EP 99250376A EP 1093922 B1 EP1093922 B1 EP 1093922B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ink
pressure
bag
air
adjustment means
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
EP99250376A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1093922A1 (fr
Inventor
Tse-Chi Mou
Fu-San Lin
Jing-Yuan Ho
Chin-Yi Chou
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.)
Microjet Technology Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Microjet Technology Co Ltd
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
Priority to CA002286954A priority Critical patent/CA2286954C/fr
Application filed by Microjet Technology Co Ltd filed Critical Microjet Technology Co Ltd
Priority to AT99250376T priority patent/ATE301546T1/de
Priority to EP99250376A priority patent/EP1093922B1/fr
Priority to DE69926637T priority patent/DE69926637T2/de
Publication of EP1093922A1 publication Critical patent/EP1093922A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1093922B1 publication Critical patent/EP1093922B1/fr
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
    • B41J2/17556—Means for regulating the pressure in 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
    • B41J2/17513—Inner structure

Definitions

  • This present invention relates to a pressure-adjustment means, especially to a pressure-adjusting means for adjusting the pressure in the ink chamber inside an ink-jet cartridge.
  • dot-matrix printers are lower priced, as their printing speed and printing quality are both inferior, they have been unable to compete against ink-jet or laser printers in the market and are relegated to specific tasks only.
  • ink-jet printers cost less, while laser printers possess superior printing quality.
  • ink-jet printers are more attractively priced, however, their inferior printing quality and speed make them less competitive when more sophisticated printing is being demanded.
  • liquid i.e., ink
  • the physical properties of liquids can adversely affect the printing quality. For instance, negative effects can arise from the flexibility of ink, turbulence, air-bubbles in the ink and uncontrollable ink flow direction due to smaller viscosity coefficient, etc.
  • ink-jet printing is a means for controlling the release of ink droplets from the ink chamber to the medium surface.
  • ink-jet printing is accomplished by the use of a printhead, attached to the ink-jet cartridge, which releases ink in spurts in response to control signals.
  • Printheads generally employ either of two methods to release ink spurts: by means of thermal bubbles or by a piezoelectricity.
  • thermal bubbles a thermal film resistor in the printhead heats up a small portion of the ink to almost boiling temperature and the gaseous ink (i.e., the ink droplets) is then released through the orifices.
  • piezoelectricity a piezoelectric element in the printhead responds to the control signals and generates pressure waves by compressing the ink that forces the ink to gush through the orifices.
  • back pressure refers to pressure in the condition of partial vacuum within the ink chamber or pressure in the chamber being less than atmospheric pressure, for the purpose of preventing free flow of ink through the printhead. Additionally, back pressure increase refers to increasing the pressure difference between the pressure inside the ink chamber and the atmospheric pressure.
  • the back pressure in the ink-jet cartridge must be able to prevent ink leakage at all times, while it can not be so great as to prevent the ability to release the ink droplets.
  • the design of the ink-jet cartridge must be such that the cartridge remains operative under any condition. Specifically, when the printhead is idle, the ink should be held inside, and when the printing is in progress, spraying of ink should be unhindered. When ink level drops low because of consumption, from the ideal gas law, the increased space volume should lead to decreased back pressure in the ink chamber. And if the back pressure mentioned previously is not adjusted accordingly, the printhead would be unable to overcome the increased back pressure and incapable of releasing the ink droplets in spurts.
  • the document US-A-5 719 609 shows a printhead pressure regulator comprising an inflatable non-elastic air bag which spans across a system of two levers urged together with a spring.
  • US-A-5,409,134 discloses a pressure-adjustment means which comprises of certain air-bag and elastic springs that can respond to changes of back pressure inside the ink chamber.
  • This air-bag can move between the smallest ink volume setting and the biggest ink volume. It can adjust the volume of air inside the ink chamber to compensate for the changes in the ink volume, so that the back pressure inside the ink chamber can be maintained within a pre-determined range such that ink would not leak when in idle state and can spurt outwards of the printhead when heated.
  • the pressure-adjustment means will activate to increase the back pressure for holding in the ink by increasing the volume of the ink chamber.
  • the pressure-adjustment means disclosed by said U.S. patent comprises of a pair of elastic springs 6 and an inelastic but inflatable air-bag attached thereon.
  • the springs 6 and the air-bag 20 are installed inside the ink chamber 3 of the ink-jet cartridge, wherein the air inside the air-bag can ventilate with the air outside of the ink-jet cartridge as show in Figure 1.
  • the springs 6 work with the air-bag 20 and enable the air-bag 20 to inflate or deflate in response to the changes in pressure.
  • inflation/deflation takes place when the pressure inside the ink chamber 3 changes as well as when the pressure outside of the ink chamber 3 changes.
  • the inflation of air-bag 20 will push against the springs 6 which in turn react with an elastic force that pushes back on the air-bag, so that the elastic springs 6 and air-bag 20 remain engaged in a state of equilibrium.
  • the inflation/deflation of the air-bag adjusts the volume inside the ink chamber 3, and thereby constrains the back pressure inside the ink chamber 3 within the normal operative range, so that the ink-jet cartridge remains operative in spite of changes in the external air pressure or consumption of the ink.
  • the elastic constant of the elastic springs 6 and the inflation/deflation capability of the air-bag 20 must both be precisely controlled in the manufacturing process.
  • the sensitivity to detect the changes in the pressure would then be reduced.
  • the product acceptance rates are thus lowered.
  • the present invention provides a method, which is superior to the prior art in having more effective quality control during the manufacturing process and having higher product acceptance rates, which are achieved by reducing the number of elements involved that simplifies the structure.
  • the present invention thus has practical implication for the industry.
  • the primary object of the present invention is to provide a single element of elastic air-bag for adjusting the back pressure inside the ink chamber.
  • the pressure-adjustment means of the present invention refers to an elastic air-bag installed within the ink-jet cartridge, wherein the air inside the air-bag is in circulation with the air outside the ink-jet cartridge.
  • the elastic air-bag automatically inflates or deflates itself by virtue of its own elasticity, so as to change the volume inside the ink chamber that maintains the back pressure to within a certain range. This then prevents any ink leakage during idle state, and at same time, enables smooth releasing of ink droplets by the printhead during printing.
  • top lid 10. connecting body, 2. cartridge housing, 11. through hole, 3. ink chamber, 20. air-bag, 4. central opening, 21. neck, 5. base, 22. elastic portion, 6. elastic springs, 23. elastic air-bag. 7. ink,
  • the ink-jet cartridge of the present invention comprises of a top lid 1 and a cartridge housing 2.
  • the internal space thus formed defines the volume of the ink chamber 3 inside the ink-jet cartridge that contains ink therein.
  • the printhead (not shown) installed at the bottom portion of the ink chamber possesses a plurality of open orifices whereby ink within the ink chamber 3 spurts outwards by virtual of the heat-expansion or piezoelectricity methods mentioned previously.
  • the pressure-adjustment means of the present invention is situated mostly inside the ink-jet cartridge, one end of the means connects with the top lid 1 while the other end suspends within the ink-jet cartridge.
  • This pressure-adjustment means comprises of a connecting body 10 and an elastic air-bag 23, wherein the air-bag 23 comprises of a neck portion 21 and an elastic portion 22 and the neck portion 21 is being tightly bundled at the bottom of the connecting body 10.
  • the connecting body 10 having a through hole 11 and enables the process of air ventilation between the air inside the elastic air-bag connected therewith and the external air.
  • the diameter of the through hole is approximately between 1.3mm and 0.05mm.
  • the elastic air-bag 23 acts similar to a inflatable ball as shown in Figure 3.
  • the inside of the elastic air-bag 23 is hollow, which expands or contracts in response to the pressure changes, and its respective external surface is in contact with the ink and the internal space of the ink-jet cartridge.
  • This elastic air-bag can be made from high-polymer materials, such as latex, silicon gel or rubber, with non-linear elastic coefficient and maximum yield strength at between 5600-6400 kg/cm 2 .
  • a central opening 4 in the top lid 1 of the ink-jet cartridge receives the connecting body 10 for the pressure-adjustment means of the present invention and enables the connecting body 10 to tightly fasten onto the top lid 1.
  • the diameter of the through hole 11 is between 1 mm to 3 mm, far smaller than the diameter of the air-bag 23, the ability of the air-bag 23 to make adjustments by inflation/deflation will not be negatively affected by its sensitivity to the influence of the atmospheric pressure.
  • the elastic portion 22 of the air-bag 23 will decompress the air-bag 23 in response to the pressure difference and releases the internal air through the through hole 11.
  • the ink level then lowers so that the pressure equilibrium inside the ink-jet cartridge is restored, which prevents ink leakage.
  • the ink-jet cartridge in the case where the ink level inside the ink chamber 3 lowers as the printing continues in progress, from the ideal gas law, the increased volume inside the closed ink-jet cartridge will lead to decreased back pressure in the ink chamber 3. Therefore the pressure inside the air-bag 23 (atmospheric pressure) will be greater than the back pressure inside the ink chamber 3, and the elastic portion 22 will inflate and expand as shown. This expanded volume will cause the lowered ink level to rise up so that the original equilibrium state is restored.
  • the ink-jet cartridge can maintain its pressure in balance so as to ensure smooth ink flow during printing.
  • an additional spring 30 is installed.
  • the constituent elements of this second embodiment are similar to those of first embodiment, with the only difference being an additional spring 30.
  • One end of the spring is hooked to the hook 31 at the bottom of cartridge housing 2, while the other end is fastened to the suspending end of the air-bag 23.
  • the spring 30 creates an elastic force pulling on the air-bag 23, so that when either the external atmospheric pressure or the back pressure internal to the ink chamber 3 undergoes changes, the elastic portion 22 of the air-bag 23 can respond even faster to such pressure changes and expand or contract appropriately.
  • the suspending end of the air-bag 23 can also be fastened to the bottom of the chamber housing 2 directly, so that a reactive force is created which provides the air-bag 23 greater sensitivity when undergoing expansion.
  • the pressure-adjustment means of the present invention enables the ink-cartridge to be immune from the influences of external pressure changes or ink consumption and remain in normal operative state, and adjusts the back pressure of the ink chamber of the ink-jet cartridge by a single element elastic air-bag such that the product acceptance rates in the manufacturing process can be effectively controlled.
  • the present invention possesses numerous useful features, and effectively improves upon the drawbacks of the prior art. It provides a practical and reliable device which is novel with utilitarian value.

Landscapes

  • Ink Jet (AREA)

Claims (5)

  1. Moyen d'ajustement de pression, pour ajuster la pression interne dans la cartouche à jet d'encre, comprenant :
    un corps de liaison (10), installé sur le boítier de la cartouche à jet d'encre et ayant un trou traversant (11) pour communiquer avec l'atmosphère ; et
    caractérisé par
       un coussin d'air élastique (23), comprenant un élément élastique (22) ayant une ouverture (21) et situé à l'intérieur de la cartouche à jet d'encre, de sorte que l'ouverture soit étroitement enserrée à l'intérieur dudit corps de liaison et ait une ventilation avec l'atmosphère, ledit élément élastique étant capable de modifier le volume du coussin d'air élastique en fonction des variations de pression.
  2. Moyen d'ajustement de pression selon la revendication 1, dans lequel ledit élément élastique dudit coussin d'air élastique est fabriqué en matériau polymère haut.
  3. Moyen d'ajustement de pression selon la revendication 1, dans lequel, lorsque la pression interne de la cartouche à jet d'encre subit des variations, ledit élément élastique ajuste de manière appropriée le volume du coussin d'air de manière à atteindre un nouvel état d'équilibre.
  4. Moyen d'ajustement de pression selon la revendication 1, dans lequel un ressort additionnel (30) est fixé sur le boítier de la cartouche à jet d'encre à une extrémité, et sur ledit coussin d'air élastique à l'autre extrémité, pour appliquer une contrainte.
  5. Moyen d'ajustement de pression selon la revendication 1, dans lequel une extrémité dudit coussin d'air élastique est fixée au boítier de cartouche à jet d'encre.
EP99250376A 1999-10-20 1999-10-21 Moyen d'ajustement de la pression Expired - Lifetime EP1093922B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA002286954A CA2286954C (fr) 1999-10-20 1999-10-20 Cartouche a jet d'encre et dispositif de reglage de la pression
AT99250376T ATE301546T1 (de) 1999-10-21 1999-10-21 Druckeinstellungsmittel
EP99250376A EP1093922B1 (fr) 1999-10-20 1999-10-21 Moyen d'ajustement de la pression
DE69926637T DE69926637T2 (de) 1999-10-21 1999-10-21 Druckeinstellungsmittel

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA002286954A CA2286954C (fr) 1999-10-20 1999-10-20 Cartouche a jet d'encre et dispositif de reglage de la pression
EP99250376A EP1093922B1 (fr) 1999-10-20 1999-10-21 Moyen d'ajustement de la pression

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1093922A1 EP1093922A1 (fr) 2001-04-25
EP1093922B1 true EP1093922B1 (fr) 2005-08-10

Family

ID=25681262

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP99250376A Expired - Lifetime EP1093922B1 (fr) 1999-10-20 1999-10-21 Moyen d'ajustement de la pression

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1093922B1 (fr)
CA (1) CA2286954C (fr)

Families Citing this family (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP4277605B2 (ja) * 2003-07-31 2009-06-10 ブラザー工業株式会社 インクカートリッジ及びそれを用いたインクジェットプリンタ
US9056479B2 (en) 2010-10-27 2015-06-16 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Pressure bag
CN103282209B (zh) 2011-01-07 2015-07-15 惠普发展公司，有限责任合伙企业 具有多个室和阀的流体容器
CN102774140B (zh) * 2012-08-14 2015-04-29 珠海中润靖杰打印机耗材有限公司 一种设有打印控制气囊的墨盒
EP3265316A4 (fr) 2015-03-06 2018-09-26 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Récipient de fluide d'impression
US10596821B2 (en) 2016-04-21 2020-03-24 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Rocker valve
JP7043455B2 (ja) * 2019-04-19 2022-03-29 ローランドディー．ジー．株式会社 インクジェットプリンタ及び液体供給装置
CN112615275B (zh) * 2021-02-04 2023-05-16 福建省智力电气股份有限公司 一种自移式防水配电柜
CN113619281B (zh) * 2021-08-03 2022-05-13 广东众希印务科技有限公司 一种可靠性高的数码印刷设备

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5644666A (en) * 1979-09-21 1981-04-23 Ricoh Co Ltd Accumulator
CA2019290A1 (fr) 1990-01-12 1991-07-12 Bruce Cowger Compensateur de pression pour plumes reservoir
US5719609A (en) * 1996-08-22 1998-02-17 Hewlett-Packard Company Method and apparatus for redundant sealing of a printhead pressure regulator
US5975689A (en) * 1997-02-03 1999-11-02 Hewlett-Packard Co. Air purge apparatus for inkjet print cartridges

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2286954A1 (fr) 2001-04-20
CA2286954C (fr) 2004-12-28
EP1093922A1 (fr) 2001-04-25

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