EP2197689A2 - Remplissage d'un crayon à encre - Google Patents

Remplissage d'un crayon à encre

Info

Publication number
EP2197689A2
EP2197689A2 EP08831443A EP08831443A EP2197689A2 EP 2197689 A2 EP2197689 A2 EP 2197689A2 EP 08831443 A EP08831443 A EP 08831443A EP 08831443 A EP08831443 A EP 08831443A EP 2197689 A2 EP2197689 A2 EP 2197689A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ink
chamber
pen
foam
ink holding
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP08831443A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP2197689A4 (fr
Inventor
William Jon Rittgers
Ivan Cruz
John Patrick Oliver
Edward Savage
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.)
Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
Original Assignee
Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
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 Hewlett Packard Development Co LP filed Critical Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
Publication of EP2197689A2 publication Critical patent/EP2197689A2/fr
Publication of EP2197689A4 publication Critical patent/EP2197689A4/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

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
    • B41J2/17553—Outer 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
    • B41J2/17559—Cartridge manufacturing

Definitions

  • InkJet ink pens are also often referred to as ink cartridges.
  • a block of foam is used to hold the ink inside the pen body and help generate the backpressure needed to regulate the flow of ink to the printhead.
  • the foam block has a fixed size and a maximum ink capacity corresponding to the size of the foam block.
  • the appropriate size foam block is inserted into the pen body and the desired volume of ink injected into the foam.
  • ink can be accurately injected into the foam anywhere between the minimum fill volume needed to produce a working pen and the maximum capacity of the foam block.
  • the foam is significantly under-filled resulting in the inefficient use of the foam.
  • each size block may require special tooling to insert the foam into the pen body.
  • pen bodies may have to be redesigned to properly retain the different sized foam blocks.
  • using different sized foam blocks may lead to multiple pen body designs and tooling that cannot be readily interchanged, and may still leave under-utilized foam in some pen designs.
  • Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an ink pen according to an embodiment of the disclosure
  • Fig. 2 is a side elevation section view of the ink pen shown in Fig. 1.
  • Figs. 3A-3E are side section views of an ink pen body illustrating one embodiment of a method for filling an ink pen with a variable volume of ink in which ink soaked yarn is dispensed into the ink pen.
  • FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating the method embodiment of Figs. 3A-
  • Figs. 5A-5C are plan section views illustrating example patterns for dispensing yarn into an ink pen.
  • FIGs. 6A-6E are side section views of an ink pen body illustrating another embodiment of a method for filling an ink pen with a variable volume of ink in which ink soaked foam pieces are dispensed into the pen.
  • FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating the method embodiment of Figs. 6A-
  • Fig. 8 illustrates one embodiment in which the size of the foam pieces dispensed into the pen is varied to form a higher density area and a lower density area.
  • Embodiments of the present disclosure were developed in an effort to more effectively allow for the use of different ink fill volumes in an ink pen.
  • a first more dense material a small foam block for example, is installed in the pen body to cover the outlet from the ink holding chamber to the printhead.
  • a second less dense material, yarn or chopped foam for example, soaked with ink is installed in the pen body until the desired volume of ink is obtained.
  • the higher density material covering the outlet generates sufficient capillarity to wick ink to the outlet while the ink soaked fill material helps allow for more efficiently using different ink fill volumes in the ink pen.
  • the exemplary embodiments shown and described illustrate but do not limit the disclosure. Other forms, details, and embodiments may be made and implemented.
  • Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an ink pen 10 according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
  • Fig. 2 is a side elevation section view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.
  • ink pen 10 includes a printhead 12 located at the bottom of pen 10 below an ink holding chamber 14.
  • Printhead 12 includes an orifice plate 16 with two arrays 18, 20 of ink ejection orifices 22. In the embodiment shown, each array 18, 20 is a single row of orifices 22.
  • Firing resistors in a thermal inkjet printer 10, or other ink ejectors in other types of inkjet printers 10, formed on an integrated circuit chip (not shown) are positioned behind ink ejection orifices 22.
  • a flexible circuit 24 carries electrical traces from external contact pads 26 to the ink ejectors.
  • pen 10 is electrically connected to the printer controller through contact pads 26.
  • the printer controller selectively energizes the ink ejectors through the signal traces in flexible circuit 24 to eject a drop of ink through an orifice 22 on to the print media.
  • Ink flows from ink holding chamber 14 through an outlet 28 to printhead 12.
  • Ink chamber 14 is defined generally by a pen body 30 that includes a front wall 32, side walls 34, a back wall 36 and a floor 38.
  • Printhead 12 is positioned below outlet 28 in a depression 40 in a front part of floor 38.
  • Pen body 30, which is typically molded plastic, may be molded as a single unit, molded as two parts (e.g., a lid 42 and a base 44) or constructed of any number of separate parts fastened to one another in the desired configuration.
  • a filter 46 covering outlet 28 may be used to keep contaminants, air bubbles and ink flow surges from entering printhead 12.
  • a small foam block 48 covers outlet 28.
  • a less dense, absorbent ink holding material 50 yarn or chopped foam for example, fills some or all of the remainder of chamber 14 to the desired volume of ink.
  • the higher density material 48 covering outlet 28 generates sufficient capillarity to wick ink toward outlet 28 while less dense material 50 helps allow for more efficiently using different ink fill volumes in chamber 14. As ink is depleted from foam 48, the increased capillarity near outlet 28 tends to draw ink from material 50 to maximize the amount of ink drawn from chamber 14.
  • Figs. 3A-3E illustrate one embodiment of a method for filling a pen 10 with a variable volume of ink.
  • a small foam block 48 is installed into ink chamber 14 over filter 46 and outlet 28.
  • ink is added to foam 48 by, for example, injecting ink into foam 48 with a needle 52.
  • pen 10 is primed with ink by forcing ink into printhead 12 through orifices 22.
  • Priming ink pen 10, as used in this document, means displacing sufficient air from ink delivery areas, nozzles and/or other regions of printhead 12 such that any remaining air bubbles will not degrade print quality.
  • Fig. 3C illustrates just one method for priming pen 10.
  • any suitable method for priming pen 10 may be used.
  • a low pressure may be applied to orifice plate 16 to draw ink out of foam 28 into printhead 12.
  • an ink absorbing yarn 50 is dispensed into ink chamber 14 from a spool 54 or other suitable dispensing unit.
  • One advantage of this new fill method is the ability to pre-soak the ink holding material, yarn 50 in this embodiment, with ink. Pre-soaking yarn 50 with ink helps ensure the uniform distribution of ink throughout the ink holding material in chamber 14, helps avoid undesired areas of free ink puddles in chamber 14, and helps control the volume of ink held in chamber 14.
  • 3D illustrates generally how pre-soaked yarn 50 may be dispensed into chamber 14 from a spool 54 immersed in an ink reservoir 56 as part of a dispensing unit 58.
  • any suitable dispensing system may be used.
  • Another advantage of this new fill method is the ability to vary not just the amount of ink holding material dispensed into chamber 14 but also the configuration of the ink holding material in chamber 14.
  • directional arrows 60 and 62 indicate an agitation or oscillation of pen body 30 relative to yarn 50 in dispenser 58 (or yarn 50 relative to pen body 30).
  • a variety of yarn stacking patterns can be realized in ink chamber 14. Different yarn densities and porosities, and the corresponding capillarity, may be achieved by controlling the patterns of alternate layers of yarn 50 from substantially perpendicular to substantially parallel.
  • lid 42 is affixed to pen body 30 to complete filling pen 10.
  • a more dense ink holding material, foam block 48 in Figs. 3A-3E is installed in ink chamber 14 over ink outlet 28 (block 66). Ink is injected into or otherwise added to foam 48 (block 68). Ink pen 10 is primed with ink (block 70) and a less dense ink holding material pre-soaked with ink, ink soaked yarn 54 in Fig. 3D, is dispensed into chamber 14 (block 72).
  • yarn means any continuous strand of natural or man-made fibers.
  • the act of dispensing yarn 50 into chamber 14 may include the relative movement of pen body 30 and yarn 50 to form patterns and layers to achieve a desired density and/or porosity (and the corresponding capillarity) of yarn 50 as well as the desired ink fill volume.
  • a desired density and/or porosity and the corresponding capillarity
  • various ink fill levels are possible from the same yarn inventory.
  • automated equipment used in some conventional fill processes may be more effectively utilized in embodiments of the new fill processes by adding ink to the foam (block 68) and priming pen 10 (block 70) after dispensing yarn 50 into chamber 14 (block 72).
  • ink may be injected into the foam (block 68) simultaneously with the priming pen 10 (block 70).
  • Figs. 5A-5C illustrate example patterns for dispensing yarn 50 into ink chamber 14.
  • various densities are achieved.
  • alternate yarn layers are substantially perpendicular to each other resulting in a lower density of yarn 50 in ink chamber 14.
  • alternate yarn layers are substantially parallel to each other resulting in a higher density of yarn 50 in chamber 14 compared with the perpendicular pattern of Fig. 5A.
  • Fig. 5C illustrates a variable density of yarn 50 and, therefore, a corresponding variable porosity and capillarity within yarn 50.
  • a higher density of yarn 50 may be dispensed into one part of ink chamber 14 and a lower density of yarn 50 at another part of ink chamber 14.
  • This density gradient creates a corresponding capillarity gradient within yarn 50 in chamber 14.
  • Figs. 6A-6E illustrate another embodiment of a method for filling a pen 10 with a variable volume of ink.
  • a thin foam block 74 is installed into ink chamber 14 over filter 46 and outlet 28 and along the floor of chamber 14.
  • ink is added to foam 74 by, for example, injecting ink into foam 74 with a needle 52.
  • pen 10 is primed with ink by forcing ink into phnthead 12 through orifices 22.
  • Fig. 6C illustrates just one method for priming pen 10. Any suitable method for priming pen 10 may be used.
  • Fig. 6A-6E illustrate another embodiment of a method for filling a pen 10 with a variable volume of ink.
  • Fig. 6A a thin foam block 74 is installed into ink chamber 14 over filter 46 and outlet 28 and along the floor of chamber 14.
  • ink is added to foam 74 by, for example, injecting ink into foam 74 with a needle 52.
  • pen 10 is primed with ink by forcing
  • pieces of ink absorbing foam 76 is dispensed into ink chamber 14 from a hopper 78 or other suitable dispensing unit.
  • One advantage of this new fill method embodiment is the ability to pre-soak the ink holding material, foam pieces 76 in this embodiment, with ink. Pre-soaking foam pieces 76 with ink helps ensure the uniform distribution of ink throughout the ink holding material in chamber 14, helps avoid undesired areas of free ink puddles in chamber 14, and helps control the volume of ink held in chamber 14.
  • different foam densities and porosities, and the corresponding capillarity may be achieved if desired by mixing pieces of foam with different/varying density and porosity.
  • lid 42 is affixed to pen body 30 to complete filling pen 10.
  • FIG. 7 The method embodiment described above with reference to Figs. 6A- 6E is illustrated in the flow chart of Fig. 7.
  • a more dense ink holding material, foam block 74 in Figs. 6A-6E is installed in ink chamber 14 over ink outlet 28 and covering the floor of chamber 14 (block 82).
  • Ink is injected into or otherwise added to foam 74 (block 84).
  • Ink pen 10 is primed with ink (block 86) and a less dense ink holding material pre- soaked with ink, ink soaked foam pieces 76 in Fig. 6D is dispensed into chamber 14 (block 88).
  • ink fill method 80 will be performed in the order shown in Fig. 7, it may be desirable in some circumstances to deviate from the order shown.
  • automated equipment used in some conventional fill processes may be more effectively utilized in embodiments of the new fill processes by adding ink to the foam (block 84) and priming pen 10 (block 86) after dispensing foam pieces 76 into chamber 14 (block 88).
  • ink may be injected into the foam (block 84) simultaneously with priming pen 10 (block 86).
  • the desired volume of ink held in chamber 12 may be achieved by controlling the quantity of foam pieces 76 dispensed into chamber 14.
  • Individual ink pens 10 can have custom ink fill levels determined by the quantity of foam pieces 76 dispensed into chamber 14.
  • Fig. 8 illustrates one embodiment in which the size of the foam pieces 76 is varied to vary the density of the ink holding material in chamber 12 and the corresponding capillarity characteristics of the ink holding material.
  • smaller pieces of foam 76a are dispensed into the bottom of ink chamber 12 to form a more dense, higher capillarity area 90
  • larger pieces of foam 76b are dispensed into top of chamber 12 to form less dense, lower capillarity area 92.
  • foam pieces 76a and 76b range in size from 2mm to 10mm.

Landscapes

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

Abstract

Dans un mode de réalisation, un procédé de remplissage d'un crayon à encre ayant une chambre (14) contenant de l'encre et une sortie (28) à partir de la chambre (14) comprend : le recouvrement de la sortie (28) avec un premier matériau (48) contenant de l'encre, plus dense ; l'addition de l'encre au premier matériau (48) ; l'amorce du crayon ; et l'addition dans la chambre (14) d'un second matériau (50 ou 76) contenant de l'encre, moins dense et ayant de l'encre imbibée.
EP08831443A 2007-09-19 2008-09-18 Remplissage d'un crayon à encre Withdrawn EP2197689A4 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US11/857,616 US20090071564A1 (en) 2007-09-19 2007-09-19 Filling An Ink Pen
PCT/US2008/076783 WO2009039237A2 (fr) 2007-09-19 2008-09-18 Remplissage d'un crayon à encre

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2197689A2 true EP2197689A2 (fr) 2010-06-23
EP2197689A4 EP2197689A4 (fr) 2010-10-06

Family

ID=40453196

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP08831443A Withdrawn EP2197689A4 (fr) 2007-09-19 2008-09-18 Remplissage d'un crayon à encre

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US20090071564A1 (fr)
EP (1) EP2197689A4 (fr)
TW (1) TW200918345A (fr)
WO (1) WO2009039237A2 (fr)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6015210A (en) * 1993-11-29 2000-01-18 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Ink container with two ink absorbing members for controlling ink flow to a recording head
US6332675B1 (en) * 1992-07-24 2001-12-25 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Ink container, ink and ink jet recording apparatus using ink container
US6338552B1 (en) * 1995-11-08 2002-01-15 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Ink refilling method and apparatus, ink container refilled therewith and ink jet apparatus comprising ink refilling apparatus
US20030067519A1 (en) * 1999-04-27 2003-04-10 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Liquid supplying system, liquid supply container, capillary force generating member container, ink cartridge and ink jet recording apparatus

Family Cites Families (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
IT1259361B (it) * 1992-03-26 1996-03-12 Olivetti & Co Spa Contenitore per l'inchiostro per una testina di stampa a getto d'inchiostro
US5657065A (en) * 1994-01-03 1997-08-12 Xerox Corporation Porous medium for ink delivery systems
ES2162881T3 (es) * 1994-07-06 2002-01-16 Canon Kk Contenedor de tinta, cabezal para chorros de tinta con contenedor para la tinta, aparato para la impresion por chorros de tinta con contenedor para la tinta y metodo de fabricacion del contenedor para la tinta.
CA2156809C (fr) * 1994-08-24 2003-11-11 Hiroyuki Inoue Reservoir d'encre pour imprimante a jet d'encre, support pour ce reservoir, chariot pour ce support et imprimante a jet d'encre
JP3226803B2 (ja) * 1995-11-02 2001-11-05 キヤノン株式会社 インクを注入させるインク吸収体、該吸収体を用いたインクタンク、インクジェットカートリッジ、インクジェット記録装置及びインクタンクの製造方法
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
US6186621B1 (en) * 1999-01-12 2001-02-13 Hewlett-Packard Company Volumetrically efficient printer ink supply combining foam and free ink storage
US6422692B2 (en) * 2000-03-16 2002-07-23 Seiko Epson Corporation Ink cartridge
JP3667296B2 (ja) * 2001-05-10 2005-07-06 キヤノン株式会社 インクタンク
US6923530B2 (en) * 2001-06-13 2005-08-02 Nu-Kote International, Inc. Fused filter screen for use in ink jet cartridge and method of assembling same
TW530758U (en) * 2002-05-31 2003-05-01 Int United Technology Co Ltd Ink storage unit
TWI259810B (en) * 2004-03-19 2006-08-11 Int United Technology Co Ltd Ink supply device
US7111930B2 (en) * 2004-03-25 2006-09-26 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Fluid supply having a fluid absorbing material
US7690741B2 (en) * 2006-10-30 2010-04-06 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Introducing ink into an ink cartridge

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6332675B1 (en) * 1992-07-24 2001-12-25 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Ink container, ink and ink jet recording apparatus using ink container
US6015210A (en) * 1993-11-29 2000-01-18 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Ink container with two ink absorbing members for controlling ink flow to a recording head
US6338552B1 (en) * 1995-11-08 2002-01-15 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Ink refilling method and apparatus, ink container refilled therewith and ink jet apparatus comprising ink refilling apparatus
US20030067519A1 (en) * 1999-04-27 2003-04-10 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Liquid supplying system, liquid supply container, capillary force generating member container, ink cartridge and ink jet recording apparatus

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See also references of WO2009039237A2 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2009039237A3 (fr) 2009-06-04
EP2197689A4 (fr) 2010-10-06
TW200918345A (en) 2009-05-01
WO2009039237A2 (fr) 2009-03-26
US20090071564A1 (en) 2009-03-19

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US4771295A (en) Thermal ink jet pen body construction having improved ink storage and feed capability
CN109080265B (zh) 具有流体喷射孔的流体喷射装置
US5025271A (en) Thin film resistor type thermal ink pen using a form storage ink supply
US8469499B2 (en) Zone venting in a fluid cartridge
KR20170051279A (ko) 액체 토출 장치, 헤드 및 액체 충전 방법
EP1598193A2 (fr) Appareil d'enregistrement à jet d'encre
US6196671B1 (en) Ink-jet cartridge for an ink jet printer having air ingestion control
JP6538861B2 (ja) 流体吐出デバイス
US6513920B1 (en) Controlling diffused-air bubbles in ink-jet print cartridges
US20130141490A1 (en) Liquid ejection head, and recording method and suction method using the liquid ejection head
CN109070589B (zh) 具有分隔壁的流体喷射装置
US7722173B2 (en) Fluid container having a fluid absorbing material
KR101510767B1 (ko) 잉크 공급 시스템용 플러시 펌프
US7290871B2 (en) Ink cartridge with pocketed lid
US6402306B1 (en) Method and apparatus for refilling an ink container
EP0709210B1 (fr) Dispositif d'écriture à jet d'encre à gradient capillaire
US20090071564A1 (en) Filling An Ink Pen
CN101835615B (zh) 起泡器
EP1885562B1 (fr) Alimentation en encre
US7494215B2 (en) Multiple chamber ink cartridge
JP6853309B2 (ja) 流体供給孔を有する流体噴射装置
JP3434497B2 (ja) インク容器にインクを補充する装置および方法
US8029117B2 (en) Selectable fill volume for ink reservoir
KR20110027827A (ko) 잉크 공급
JP2591957C (fr)

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

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20100305

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A2

Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: AL BA MK RS

A4 Supplementary search report drawn up and despatched

Effective date: 20100903

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20111128

DAX Request for extension of the european patent (deleted)
STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN

18D Application deemed to be withdrawn

Effective date: 20120411