JP2000006942A - Storage container for ink jet cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To use a storage container of an ink jet cartridge as a storage container for housing other articles. SOLUTION: The storage container 1 has a body 2 for housing an ink jet cartridge and a lid 3 for sealing the body 2 against an atmosphere. Ribs 4 are provided on an internal wall face of the body 2 for holding the housed ink jet cartridge. The rib 4 has a groove provided on a portion supported on the internal wall face of the body 2 wherein a thickness of the portion supported on the internal wall face of the body 2 is formed to be locally thinner than other portions.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a storage container for an ink-jet cartridge provided with an ink-jet recording head for performing recording by discharging ink onto a recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a recording apparatus in which an ink jet cartridge is mounted, with a cover opened.

A recording apparatus 101 has a carriage 103 on which a detachable ink jet cartridge 102 is mounted.
Are slidably provided on the slide shaft 104 and a slide plate (not shown). The slide shaft 104 and the slide plate are pivotally supported between chassis provided at both ends in the recording apparatus 101. Carriage 103
Is fixed to a part of a timing belt wound around a pulley attached to a carriage motor. The carriage 103 is moved by rotating the carriage motor to drive the timing belt, and reciprocates by changing the rotation direction of the carriage motor.

The ink-jet cartridge 102 includes:
An ink jet recording head having nozzles (not shown) formed in rows and having an ink discharging function is provided, and an ink tank for storing ink supplied to the ink jet recording head is attached.

When a print signal transmitted from a control circuit (not shown) provided in the recording apparatus 101 or a personal computer (not shown) connected to the recording apparatus 101 is transmitted to the ink jet cartridge 102, the ink jet cartridge 102 102 discharges ink to a recording medium (not shown) from the ink discharge port of the nozzle based on the transmitted print signal.

On the other hand, the recording apparatus 101 is provided with a conveying means for conveying a recording medium. The recording medium is conveyed by the conveying means, and the carriage 103 is reciprocally scanned in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the recording medium by driving the timing belt by rotating the carriage motor, so that image recording on the recording medium is performed. Done.

In the recording apparatus 101 configured as described above, the ink jet cartridge 102 is replaced according to the type of printing such as black and white printing and color printing. The inkjet cartridge 102 is easily removed from the carriage 103 by scanning the lever 103a provided on the carriage 103. The ink jet cartridge not mounted on the carriage 103 is housed in a storage container in order to prevent the ink from drying and sticking in the nozzles of the recording head.

As shown in FIG. 7, the types of ink jet cartridges that can be used interchangeably include a general color ink jet cartridge 102a and a color photographic quality ink jet cartridge 102a.
b, monochrome ink jet cartridge 102c,
There is a special-purpose inkjet cartridge 102d using a fluorescent ink.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a conventional storage container in which an ink-jet cartridge is stored, with a cover part opened.

[0010] As shown in FIG.
Includes a main body 111 in which various ink jet cartridges are stored, and a lid 112 for sealing the main body 111 against the outside air. Main body 111 and lid 112
Are connected by a movable part (not shown) provided on the back surface of the storage container 110, and the lid 112 is
1 can be freely opened and closed. A plurality of ribs 1 are provided on an inner surface of the main body 111 as holding means for holding the stored ink jet cartridge.
11a is provided.

A groove 1 is provided on the front side of the main body 111.
11b is formed, and a tab 113 having a claw portion 113a engaged with the concave groove portion 111b is provided on the front side of the lid portion 112. When the lid 112 is closed with respect to the main body 111 and the claw 113a of the tab 113 is engaged with the concave groove 111b of the main body 111, the storage container 11 is closed.
The inside of 0 is sealed from the outside air.

Next, the procedure for storing the ink jet cartridge in the conventional storage container described above will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a conventional procedure for storing an ink jet cartridge in a storage container.

The conventional storage container 1 configured as described above.
When storing the inkjet cartridge in 10,
First, as shown in FIG.
3 is pressed to release the engagement between the claw portion 113a and the concave groove portion 111b, and the lid portion 112 is opened.

Next, for example, when the inkjet cartridge 102c for monochrome printing and the inkjet cartridge 102a for color printing are alternately used according to the printing application, and the inkjet cartridge 102c for monochrome printing is used, Store the inkjet cartridge 102a for color printing in the storage container 11
0, and when the inkjet cartridge 102a for color printing is used, the inkjet cartridge 102c for monochrome printing is accommodated in the storage container 110 (see FIG. 9B).

Finally, as shown in FIG.
12 and close the claw 113a of the tab 113 with the main body 11
The inside of the storage container 110 is sealed from the outside air by engaging with the one concave groove portion 111b. The ink-jet cartridge housed inside the storage container 110 as described above suppresses the ink from drying in the nozzles of the ink-jet recording head, and causes poor ink ejection when used again by being mounted on the carriage. Is prevented.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing another conventional storage container in which an ink jet cartridge is stored, with a lid portion opened.

A conventional storage container 120 shown in FIG. 10 also has a main body 121 for accommodating various ink jet cartridges and a lid 122 for sealing the main body 121, similarly to the storage container 110 shown in FIG. The main body 121 and the lid 122 are connected by a movable part. On the inner surface of the main body 121, a plurality of ribs 121a are provided as holding means for holding the stored ink jet cartridge. Further, a concave groove 122a is formed on the front side of the lid 122, and the main body 11
A tab 123 having a claw portion 123a to be engaged with the concave groove portion 122a is provided on the front side of 1.

In the storage container 120 of the conventional example, the lid 122 is closed and the claw 123a of the tab 123 is closed.
The interior of the storage container 120 is sealed from the outside air by engaging with the concave groove portion 122a of 22. Storage container 1
The ink-jet cartridge housed inside the ink-jet printer 20 is prevented from drying the ink inside the nozzles of the ink-jet recording head, and is prevented from causing an ink ejection failure when the ink-jet cartridge is mounted on the carriage again and used.

The storage container 120 of the prior art accommodates an ink jet cartridge larger than each ink jet cartridge shown in FIG. for that reason,
The storage container 120 of the conventional example is the storage container 1 shown in FIG.
It is larger than 10.

[0020]

As described above, during the period when the recording apparatus is in use, each ink jet cartridge other than the ink jet cartridge mounted on the carriage is stored in a storage container and stored. However, when the user stops using the recording device due to replacement or the like, the storage container has been discarded together with the recording device and each ink jet cartridge. In particular, when a large storage container such as the conventional storage container shown in FIG. 10 is discarded, a large amount of the storage container is treated as waste.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a storage container of an ink jet cartridge which can be used as a storage container for storing other articles even after the end of the mission as the storage container of the ink jet cartridge. .

[0022]

In order to achieve the above object, a storage container of an ink jet cartridge according to the present invention is provided with an ink jet recording head which discharges ink to perform recording on a recording medium, and is supplied to the ink jet recording head. A main body in which an ink cartridge having an ink tank in which the ink cartridge is stored is provided, and a main body in which a holding member for holding the ink jet cartridge is provided; and In a storage container of an ink jet cartridge having a lid for sealing against outside air, the holding member is configured to be removable from the main body.

In the storage container of the ink-jet cartridge of the present invention configured as described above, after ending the mission as the storage container of the ink-jet cartridge, the holding member is removed from the main body to store other articles. It can be used as a preservation container, and is prevented from being disposed as waste.

Further, the holding member is constituted by a rib member provided on the inner wall surface of the main body, and the rib member has a portion supported on the inner surface of the main body portion having a thickness smaller than that of other portions. The rib member can be separated from the main body by breaking the part where the thickness of the rib member is formed thin, and the holding member can be easily removed from the inside of the main body. It becomes possible.

Further, the storage container of the ink jet cartridge of the present invention includes an ink jet recording head for discharging ink to perform recording on a recording medium, and an ink tank containing ink supplied to the ink jet recording head. A main body in which a holding member for holding the ink jet cartridge is provided, and a lid for sealing the main body against outside air. In the storage container of the inkjet cartridge having
A partition member for partitioning a recording medium housed in the storage container or an outer case of the recording medium from each other is further provided inside the main body, and the holding member and the partition member are provided on the main body. It is constituted by a plurality of rib members provided on the inner wall surface, and each of the rib members is disposed on both inner wall surfaces of the main body portion facing each other at substantially the same interval as the thickness of the recording medium or the outer case. It is characterized by having been done.

The storage container for an ink jet cartridge of the present invention configured as described above can store a recording medium or its outer case after the end of its use as a storage container for an ink jet cartridge. Is suppressed from being disposed of.

Further, each of the rib members may be configured such that a portion supported by the inner wall surface of the main body is locally thinner than other portions.

Further, the recording medium is a floppy disk, ZIP, CD, CD-ROM, magneto-optical disk,
It may be MD, DVD or DAT.

The ink jet recording head may be
It may be configured to have an electrothermal converter that generates thermal energy used for discharging the ink.

Further, the ink may be ejected by utilizing film boiling caused by thermal energy applied by the electrothermal converter.

[0031]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of a storage container of an ink jet cartridge according to the present invention with a cover opened, and FIG. 2 is a storage container shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which expands and shows the A section of a container.

As shown in FIG. 1, a storage container 1 according to the present embodiment includes a main body 2 in which various ink jet cartridges as shown in FIG. 7 are stored, and a lid 3 for sealing the main body 2. Consists of The main body 2 and the lid 3 are connected by a movable part (not shown) provided on the back surface of the storage container 1, and the lid 3 is configured to be freely opened and closed with respect to the main body 2. I have.

A plurality of ribs 4 are provided on the inner wall surface of the main body 2 as a holding member for holding the ink jet cartridge housed in the main body 2. As shown in FIG. 2, a groove 6 is formed in a portion of each rib 4 supported on the inner wall surface of the main body 2, and the thickness of the portion of each rib 4 where the groove 6 is formed is different. Is locally formed thinner than the thickness of the portion.

A groove 2a is formed on the front side of the main body 2, and the groove 2a is formed on the front side of the lid 3.
A tab 5 having a claw portion 5a to be engaged with the tab 5 is provided. When the lid 3 is closed with respect to the main body 2 and the claw 5a of the tab 5 is engaged with the concave groove 2a of the main body 2, the inside of the storage container 1 is sealed from the outside air. As a result, the ink-jet cartridge stored in the storage container 1 is prevented from drying the ink in the nozzles of the ink-jet recording head, and may cause ink ejection failure when the ink-jet cartridge is mounted on the carriage again and used. Is prevented.

In the storage container 1 of the present embodiment, as described above, the groove 6 is formed in each rib 4 and the groove 6 of each rib 4 is formed.
The thickness of the portion where is formed is locally thinner than the thickness of the other portions. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, each rib 4 can be easily removed from the inside of the main body 2 by breaking the thinned portion of the rib 4 and separating the rib 4 from the main body 2. As a result, the storage space in the main body 2 is increased, and the storage container 1 can be made versatile, so that a storage device larger than each ink jet cartridge can be stored in the storage container 1. Therefore, the storage container 1 can be used as a storage container in which other articles are stored even after the mission as the storage container of the inkjet cartridge is completed.
Disposal as waste is suppressed.

Here, the configuration of the ink jet recording head in the ink jet cartridge housed in the storage container 1 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a part of the ink jet recording head in the ink jet cartridge accommodated in the storage container shown in FIG. 1 along the flow direction of the liquid flow path.

As shown in FIG. 4, the ink jet recording head of the ink jet cartridge housed in the storage container 1 of the present embodiment has a substrate 11 and a top plate 15 provided on the substrate 11. A liquid flow path 13 functioning as a nozzle and a common liquid chamber 14 for supplying ink to the liquid flow path 13 are formed between the substrate 11 and the top plate 15. Has an ejection port 16 for ejecting ink. In addition, in the common liquid chamber 14,
Ink is supplied from an ink tank via a liquid supply path (not shown). The liquid flow path 13 is provided on the surface of the substrate 11.
A heating element 12, which is an electrothermal converter that generates thermal energy, is provided as a liquid discharging means for discharging the ink filled in the ink from the discharge port.

In the recording head configured as described above,
When a voltage is applied to the heating element 12 provided on the substrate 11, the ink supplied from the common liquid chamber 14 to the liquid flow path 13 is subjected to film boiling by the heated heating element 12. Bubbles are generated, and as the bubbles grow, ink droplets are ejected from the ejection port 16. The ejected ink droplets adhere to a recording medium (not shown) such as recording paper disposed opposite to the ejection port forming surface of the recording head, thereby recording an image on the recording medium.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of a storage container of an ink jet cartridge according to the present invention with a lid opened.

As with the storage container 1 shown in FIG. 1 and the like, the storage container 21 of this embodiment also includes a main body 22 in which various ink jet cartridges are stored, and a lid 23 for sealing the main body 22. The main body 22 and the lid 23 are connected by a movable part (not shown). Main unit 2
A plurality of ribs 24 are provided on two inner wall surfaces facing each other as a holding member for holding the stored ink jet cartridge. Further, a plurality of ribs 28 are provided on each inner wall surface of the main body 22 as partition members for partitioning a recording medium such as a 3.5-inch floppy disk 26 and its outer case 27 from each other. The ribs 24 and 28 are spaced at substantially the same thickness as the thickness of the recording medium accommodated in the storage container 21 or the thickness of the outer case accommodating the recording medium, or at an interval slightly wider than the thickness. Are located.
Further, a concave groove 23a is formed on the front side of the lid 23, and a tab 25 having a claw 25a engaged with the concave groove 23a is provided on the front side of the main body 22.

The configuration of the recording head in the ink jet cartridge stored in the storage container 21 of the present embodiment is the same as the configuration of the recording head described with reference to FIG.

Also in the storage container 21 of the present embodiment, by closing the lid 23 and engaging the claw 25a of the tab 25 with the concave groove 23a of the lid 23, the inside of the storage container 21 is exposed to the outside air. And sealed. Thereby, the storage container 2
The ink jet cartridge stored inside 1 is
Drying of the ink in the nozzles of the ink jet recording head is suppressed, and ink ejection failure is prevented when the ink is re-mounted on the carriage and used.

As described above, in the storage container 21 of the present embodiment, each of the ribs 24 and 28 has the thickness of the recording medium stored in the storage container 21 or the thickness of the outer case in which the recording medium is stored. Since the ink jet cartridges are arranged at substantially the same interval as the thickness or at intervals slightly wider than those thicknesses, they can be used as storage containers for storing recording media even after the mission of the ink jet cartridges as storage containers is completed. Can be prevented from being disposed of as waste.

Also in this embodiment, each of the ribs 24, 24, like the rib 4 of the storage container 1 described with reference to FIG.
The ribs 24 and 28 are formed in the main body 22 by forming grooves in the ribs 28 and locally forming the thickness of the ribs 24 and 28 where the grooves are formed to be locally thinner than the thickness of the other parts. , The storage space in the main body 22 can be increased, and the storage container 21 can be made versatile.

The storage container 21 has the above-mentioned 3.5.
In addition to the inch floppy disk, a recording medium such as a 5 inch floppy disk, ZIP, CD, CD-ROM, magneto-optical disk (5 inch, 3.5 inch), DVD, MD or DAT, or an outer case thereof is used. It is possible to store.

[0047]

As described above, the storage container of the ink jet cartridge according to the present invention is configured so that the holding member for holding the ink jet cartridge can be removed from the main body, so that the ink jet cartridge can be used. By removing the holding member from the main body after the mission as the storage container is completed, the storage member can be used as a storage container in which other articles are stored, so that it is possible to suppress disposal as waste. it can.

The storage container of the ink jet cartridge according to the present invention comprises a holding member for holding the ink jet cartridge and a partition member for partitioning the recording medium housed in the storage container or its outer case from each other. The holding member and the partition member are constituted by a plurality of rib members supported on the inner wall surface of the main body, and the rib members are mutually separated at substantially the same interval as the thickness of the recording medium or the outer case. Since it is located on both inner wall surfaces facing each other, it is possible to store the recording medium or its outer case after the mission as a storage container of the ink jet cartridge, so that it is not disposed of as waste. can do.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of a storage container of an ink jet cartridge of the present invention with a lid opened.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view showing part A of the storage container shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the storage container shown in FIG. 1 with each rib removed from a main body.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a part of a recording head of the ink jet cartridge housed in the storage container shown in FIG. 1 along a flow direction of a liquid flow path.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the storage container of the inkjet cartridge according to the present invention, with a lid opened.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a recording apparatus using an ink jet recording head with a cover opened.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing various ink jet cartridges used in exchange for the recording apparatus shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a conventional storage container in which an ink jet cartridge is stored, with a lid part opened.

FIG. 9 is a view showing a procedure for storing an ink jet cartridge in a conventional storage container.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing another conventional storage container accommodating an ink jet cartridge with a lid portion opened.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 21 Storage container 2, 22 Main body 2a, 23a Depressed groove 3, 23 Lid 2, 24, 28 Rib 5, 25 Tab 5a, 25a Claw 6 Groove 11 Substrate 12 Heating element 13 Liquid flow path 14 Common liquid chamber 15 Top plate 16 Discharge port 26 3.5 inch floppy disk 27 Outer case

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A main body unit that houses an ink jet cartridge that includes an ink jet recording head that discharges ink to perform recording on a recording medium, and an ink tank that stores ink supplied to the ink jet recording head. A storage container for an inkjet cartridge, comprising: a main body provided with a holding member for holding the ink jet cartridge therein; and a lid for sealing the main body against external air. A storage container for an ink jet cartridge, wherein the holding member is configured to be removable from the main body. 2. The holding member is constituted by a rib member provided on an inner wall surface of the main body, and the rib member has a thickness of a portion supported on the inner wall surface of the main body reduced to a thickness of another portion. 2. The thin film according to claim 1, wherein the thin film is locally thinner.
A storage container for the ink-jet cartridge according to item 1. 3. A main body section in which an ink jet cartridge is provided which includes an ink jet recording head which discharges ink to perform recording on a recording medium, and an ink tank which stores ink supplied to the ink jet recording head. A storage container for an inkjet cartridge, comprising: a main body provided with a holding member for holding the ink jet cartridge therein; and a lid for sealing the main body against external air. A partition member for partitioning a recording medium housed in the storage container or an outer case of the recording medium from each other is further provided inside the main body portion, and the holding member and the partition member are inside the main body portion. It is constituted by a plurality of rib members provided on a wall surface, and each of the rib members mutually Or storage container of the ink jet cartridge, characterized in that it is arranged on the inner wall surface of both the mutually facing thickness and substantially the body portion at the same distance of the outer casing. 4. The ink jet cartridge according to claim 3, wherein each of the rib members is formed such that a thickness of a portion supported by an inner wall surface of the main body portion is locally thinner than thicknesses of other portions. Storage container. 5. The recording medium is a floppy disk, Z
IP, CD, CD-ROM, magneto-optical disk, MD, D
5. One of claims 3 and 4, which is VD or DAT.
Item 10. A storage container for an ink jet cartridge according to item 9. 6. The storage container for an ink-jet cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the ink-jet recording head has an electrothermal converter that generates heat energy used for discharging the ink. . 7. The storage container for an ink-jet cartridge according to claim 6, wherein the ink is ejected by utilizing film boiling caused by thermal energy applied by the electrothermal transducer.