JP2000153619A - Printer and ink cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the size of printer body by separating the ink supply means in the recording head of a printer for reciprocating the recording head in the direction intersecting the print sheet carrying direction from the printer so that it can be fixed removably from the outside thereby releasing the limit in the shape and volume of an ink cartridge. SOLUTION: A connecting part 50 for receiving an ink supply means 200 is made in one side frame 40 of a printer 100 and a spring body 51 for holding an independent ink supply means 200 resiliently is projected. An ink supply needle 52 for extracting ink is projecting from the central part and a flexible tube 53 is provided between the inside thereof and a recording head 21 in order to supply into onto the recording head 21. Since ink is supplied from the ink supply means being fixed externally, restriction on the outside dimension and the shape of the printer 100 are released. Consequently, the size and weight of the recording head 21 can be reduced and various ink cartridge can be fixed freely depending on the purpose of use.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention belongs to the technical field of a printer, more particularly, a printer suitable for use in an ink jet printer, in which an ink cartridge is externally attached and detachable.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an ink cartridge of an ink jet printer is provided with an ink cartridge holder provided on a carriage and mounted thereon, or an ink cartridge holder is incorporated in a printer body and mounted therein. It was a form to do.

One example is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-295030.
No. 1 (known example 1).

The above-mentioned known example is an ink jet printer provided with a carriage-mounted ink cartridge.

Similarly, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 6-143743 (known example 2) discloses a recording apparatus provided with a non-carriage mounted ink cartridge.

[0006]

In the case of the above-mentioned known example 1, the shape and shape of the ink cartridges and holders that can be loaded are determined by the strength of the carriage and its guide shaft.
There is a limit to the capacity and weight of the ink cartridge and the shape, capacity and weight of the holder. The unsolved problem that the shape and capacity are limited remains.

A first problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a device which can solve the problems of the first and second known examples.

A second problem to be solved by the present invention is that the ink cartridge is externally attached and detachable, so that the size of the printer body can be reduced compared to the case where the ink cartridge and its holder are built-in. An object of the present invention is to provide a device capable of flexibly responding to a shape change.

A third problem to be solved by the present invention is that, by preparing a plurality of sizes and shapes of ink cartridge holders that can be mounted on one printer, an ink cartridge corresponding to the intended use and the required number of prints is prepared. The object is to provide a cartridge and its holder that can be selected by the user.

[0010]

Means for solving the above problems are as follows.

(1) A printer such as an ink-jet printer for performing a printing process by reciprocating a recording head in a direction intersecting with a conveying direction of a printing paper, wherein an ink supply means for supplying ink to the recording head is provided by a printer. And a printer which is configured to be detachable from the printer externally.

(2) The ink supply means is constituted by an ink cartridge, and a connection portion into which the ink supply portion can be inserted is formed in the printer, and the connection portion is connected to a recording head and connected to the ink supply portion. The printer according to the above (1), wherein the ink supply needles are provided.

(3) The ink supply means is constituted by an ink cartridge and a holder, and a connection portion into which the ink supply portion can be inserted is formed in the printer. The printer according to the above (1), further comprising an ink supply needle that can be engaged with the ink supply unit.

(4) The printer according to the above (2) or (3), wherein the connection portion is opened in a laterally open state.

(5) The printer according to (2) or (3), wherein the connection portion is opened upward.

(6) The printer according to any one of (3) to (5), wherein the ink supply needle is provided on the holder.

(7) The printer according to any one of (3) to (6), wherein an ink supply means capable of mounting ink cartridges having different sizes and capacities can be connected by changing the size and shape of the holder of the ink cartridge. .

(8) A cartridge for supplying ink to the recording head in a printer, such as an ink jet printer, which performs a printing process by reciprocating the recording head in a direction intersecting the conveying direction of the printing paper. An ink cartridge in which the ink supply unit can be engaged with the provided connection unit.

(9) The ink cartridge according to (8), wherein the type of ink or the amount of stored ink can be changed.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention relating to the printer shown in the drawings will be described below.

(Embodiment 1) 1. Means (1) Printer 100 The printer 100 of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 having an external ink cartridge has the same characteristics as the printer 100A of another embodiment described later. The ink supply means is not provided inside, and the ink supply is configured to be appropriately supplied from the ink supply means 200 which is attached to and detached from the printer 100 externally.

That is, a carriage 20 supported reciprocally on a guide 10 suspended in the printer 100.
Is connected to an endless belt 30 which is reversibly propelled by driving means (not shown),
The printing process can be performed on the printing paper S on the platen 22 by the ink ejected from the printer.

In one side frame 40 of the printer 100, a connection portion 50 for receiving the ink supply means 200 is recessed.

A spring body 51 which can elastically hold a holder 220 of an ink supply means 200 described later is protrudingly provided in the connection portion 50.
An ink supply needle 52 that can extract ink from the ink supply needle 52 projects outward at the center thereof, and a flexible tube 53 is interposed between the inner end of the ink supply needle 52 and the recording head 21. And the ink can be supplied onto the recording head 21.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 70 denotes a supporter for supporting the ink supply means 200, reference numeral 80 denotes an operation panel, and reference numeral 90 denotes a display panel.

(2) Ink Supply Means 200 The ink supply means 200 shown in FIGS.
10 and a holder 220 which can be loaded and supported.

The holder 220 includes a case 221 in which the ink cartridge 210 can be loaded, and the case 221.
And a cover 223 that can open and close the opening portion 222 of the printer 10.
An engagement cylinder 225 inserted into the printer 100 is protrudingly provided. The engagement cylinder 225 is inserted into the connection portion 50 of the printer 100 so that the ink supply means 200 can be attached to and detached from the printer 100 in an external form. is there.

In FIG. 1, reference numerals 226a and 226b denote paired locking members which are respectively attached to the open portion 222 and the lid 223 of the case 221. The lid 223 holds the ink cartridge 210. The state in which the case 221 is stably closed can be maintained.

With respect to the ink cartridge 210, ink is stored in a tank 211, and an ink supply portion 212 protruding from one side is made engageable with an engagement cylinder 225 of the case 221. A seal body 213 that allows the ink supply needle 52 to be inserted in a sealed manner is fitted.

As for the tank 211, as shown in FIG. 2, in full-color printing, each of the storage portions C (M, Y,
B) T is formed.

2. Usage Ink supply means 20 shown in FIG.
The cover 223 of the holder 220 is opened, the ink cartridge 210 is loaded therein, and the opening 222 of the case 221 is The ink supply means 200 is closed by fixing the lid 223 to the case 221 with the locking tools 226a and 226b.
Wait.

Next, the ink supply means 200 faces the connection portion 50 of the printer 100 shown in FIG. 3, and the engagement cylinder 225 is inserted into the connection portion 50 against the spring body 51 so that the ink supply means 200 is connected to the printer 100. The ink supply needles 52 are simultaneously inserted into the seal body 213 of the ink supply unit 212 at this time, so that the ink in the ink cartridge 210 is The recording head 51 can be supplied to the recording head 51 via the recording head 53.

In this state, when the operation panel 80 is operated by the operator, the recording head 21 is operated based on an instruction from a computer or the like connected to the printer 100.
Is moved on the guide shaft 10 and a desired printing process can be performed on the printing paper (S) on the platen 22.

Further, when the ink in the ink cartridge 210 is exhausted and becomes insufficient, the ink cartridge 210 may be removed and replaced in the reverse procedure.

Therefore, in this printer 100,
Since the replenishment of the ink is performed from the external ink supply means 200, not only can the printer 100 be greatly reduced in size, but it is not necessary to provide the ink supply means on the recording head 21. The size and weight can be reduced, and the recording head 21 can be accurately driven by light power to perform high quality printing processing.

Further, since the ink supply means 200 itself is external to the printer 100, restrictions on its external dimensions and shape are reduced, and ink cartridges 210 of various sizes depending on the use condition of the ink are used. The print processing can be efficiently carried out by freely mounting.

In this embodiment, the ink supply needles 52 are provided on the printer 100 side. However, if necessary, the ink supply needles 52 may be provided on the holder 220.

(Embodiment 2) A printer 100A whose main part is shown in FIG. 4 is different from that of Embodiment 1 in that an ink cartridge 210A is not held by a holder but is formed in an upwardly open shape which is recessed in the printer 100A. Connection unit 50
A, the ink supply unit 212A is fitted into the printer 100A, and the ink supply unit 212A is inserted into the printer 100A.
The ink is extracted from the ink cartridge 210A by the ink supply needle 52A, and the flexible tube 53A
Is supplied to the recording head 21A via the
A recording process can be performed on the recording paper S on A.

In this embodiment, since the ink cartridge 210A is exposed, the mounting and dismounting operation is easy.

(Embodiment 3) The ink cartridge 210B in the ink supply means 200B of Embodiment 2 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is adapted to adapt to the difference in the amount of ink used according to the type of printing process, for example. This is characterized in that the capacity of each ink such as magenta, cyan, yellow, and black is changed. In the ink cartridge 210B shown in FIG. 5, the black ink tank BT is replaced with another ink tank M ( C, Y) T, and the ink cartridge 210C in FIG. 6 is formed to have a relatively long overall length so that all the tanks M (C, Y, B) T It is formed so that there is a difference.

Although not shown in the drawings, the size of the holders 220B and C of the ink supply means 200B and 200C may be set to a size suitable for accommodating the ink cartridges 210B and 210C. As a matter of course, the appearance of the holders 220B and 220C is
By setting the color and shape according to the installation location or the installation environment of No. 00, the aesthetics or conformity of the printer can be further improved, and the printer can have a favorable impression and a value can be added.

[0042]

The specific effects of the present invention described above are as follows.

The size reduction of the printer and various dimensions,
By freely using the shape of the ink supply means,
The user can select the ink cartridge and its holder according to the application and the required number of prints.
9).

The ink supply means can be easily attached to and detached from the printer, and the ink supply can be made stable (claims 2 to 5).

This ink cartridge is suitable for a user who is biased in printing colors, and can freely change the appearance design like an ornament (claims 8 and 9).

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a main part of a printer and an ink supply unit according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the ink supply unit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a printer and an ink supply unit according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a main part of a printer and an ink cartridge according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of an ink cartridge according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of another modification of FIG. 5;

[Explanation of symbols]

 100 (A) Printer 21 (A) Recording head 50 (A) Connection 52 (A) Ink supply needle 200 (B, C) Ink supply means 210 (A to C) Ink cartridge 212 (A to C) Ink supply 220 (B, C) holder

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A printer, such as an ink-jet printer, for performing a printing process by reciprocating a recording head in a direction intersecting with a conveying direction of a printing paper, wherein an ink supply unit for supplying ink to the recording head includes a printer. Is a separate printer which is detachably attached to the printer. 2. The printer according to claim 1, wherein said ink supply means comprises an ink cartridge, and a connection portion into which said ink supply portion can be inserted is formed in a printer, and said connection portion is connected to a recording head and engages with said ink supply portion. 2. The printer according to claim 1, further comprising an ink supply needle that can be used. 3. The printer according to claim 1, wherein said ink supply means comprises an ink cartridge and a holder thereof, and a connection portion into which said ink supply portion can be inserted is formed in a printer. 2. The printer according to claim 1, further comprising an ink supply needle that is engageable with the supply unit. 4. The printer according to claim 2, wherein the connection portion is opened in a horizontal opening. 5. The printer according to claim 2, wherein the connection portion is opened upward. 6. The printer according to claim 3, wherein the ink supply needle is provided on the holder. 7. The printer according to claim 3, wherein an ink supply unit capable of mounting ink cartridges having different sizes and capacities can be connected by changing the size and shape of the holder of the ink cartridge. 8. A cartridge for supplying ink to the recording head in a printer, such as an ink jet printer, which performs a printing process by reciprocating the recording head in a direction intersecting with the transport direction of the printing paper, the cartridge being provided with a recess in the printer. Ink cartridge in which the ink supply unit can be engaged with the connected unit. 9. The ink cartridge according to claim 8, wherein the type of ink or the storage amount of ink is changeable.