JP2000263804A - Ink refill system for ink-jet cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink refilling method for an ink-jet cartridge, and a device thereof, capable of maintaining a good printing performance of the cartridge after refilling. SOLUTION: An ink refilling method for an ink-jet printing cartridge having an ink supply opening 10-a for supplying the ink to a printing head, wherein the ink refilling operation is executed at a part other then the ink supply opening 10-a as well as a filmy choking member allowing passage of only the air, for providing a flow resistance at the time of ink passage is disposed at the ink supply opening 10-a so as to cope with the unexpected outflow of the ink is provided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an ink refill system for an ink jet cartridge.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, as a simple means for refilling an ink jet cartridge with a reduced amount of ink, refilling of ink with a dropper or a syringe has been performed. In particular, for an ink jet cartridge containing a sponge-like or fiber bundle (felt-like) continuous porous body as a member for holding ink in the ink jet cartridge, the dropper is provided in a hole provided in the ink jet cartridge. The ink to be inserted is dropped or the needle of a syringe is stabbed into the continuous porous body to supply the ink.

[0003]

In such a conventional refilling method, when ink is replenished (refilled) into an ink jet cartridge having an open ink supply port, the ink may overflow from the ink supply port. ,
In some cases, the working environment was polluted. Also, as a countermeasure, it is necessary to install an obstruction to keep the ink supply port of the ink jet cartridge airtight so that the ink does not overflow when refilling the ink, and to drip or inject the ink into the cartridge with a dropper or a syringe. However, there has been a problem that a sufficient amount of ink cannot be filled because air cannot escape from the ink supply port, and that print quality deteriorates due to air biting in the continuous porous body.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is a method of refilling ink in an ink jet printing cartridge having an ink supply port for supplying ink to a print head. The present invention provides an ink refill system for an ink jet cartridge, characterized in that an obstruction that causes flow resistance during ink distribution is arranged in the ink supply port while performing the ink supply through a portion other than the ink supply port. is there. The present inventor also discloses that the obstruction is in the form of a film, and provides an ink refill system for an ink jet cartridge and a product thereof, wherein the obstruction is a film through which only air can flow. Is what you do. In addition, the ink jet cartridge is characterized in that an absorbing member for absorbing ink leaking in the vicinity of the ink supply port when refilling the ink is arranged in case of an excessive ink supply pressure and an unexpected situation. The present invention also provides an ink refill system and a product thereof.

[0005]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is limited to the following embodiments without departing from the scope of the claims. It is not something to be done.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view at the time of refilling. A cartridge 10 has an ink discharge port 10-a, and an ink storage 11 therein. Before the refilling, the ink discharge port 10-a is closed with the obstruction 9 that can be ventilated. Connecting member 4
Is inserted into the ink inlet 10-b.
At this time, the nozzle portion 4-a is inserted to an arbitrary depth. Mouth 1-b of ink tube 1 storing ink 12
Is equipped with a rubber cap 2 and a holder 3. By penetrating the pipe 4-b of the connecting member 4 through the rubber cap 2, the ink tube and the ink jet cartridge are connected. Thereafter, a hole is made in the ink tube 1 with a piercing tool 8 to communicate with the atmosphere, and the ink 12 in the ink tube 1 is filled with the ink jet cartridge 10.
Can be refilled. The ink penetrates into the ink storage body 12 of the cartridge, and the ink supply port 10-
It reaches near a. The air accumulated in the ink supply port 10-a is pushed by the ink and exits the cartridge through the air-permeable closing member 9, so that the ink is supplied to the ink supply port 10-a.
-A. When the ink leaks together with the air through the air-permeable closure 9, the ink absorber 13 is connected to the ink supply port 1 so as not to stain the surroundings with the ink.
0-a. As a result, the air in the ink supply port 10-a is lost, and the ink is filled with the ink, so that good printing can be obtained without causing air entrapment.

[0007]

Since the ink supply port of the cartridge is closed with an obstruction through which air can pass, the air in the ink supply port can be released when the ink is filled.
As a result, the inside of the ink supply port is filled with ink, and good printing can be obtained without causing air bleeding. Also,
The ink refill method of the present application has a closed structure except for the ink supply port, and when replenishing the ink in a pressurized state, the ink is replenished with an open system in communication with the atmosphere at a site other than the ink supply port at the time of ink replenishment. In both cases, the effect is obtained. That is, when the ink is supplied in a closed structure (closed system), the air according to the amount of the ink supplied to the cartridge is discharged through the obstruction, but there is no outflow of the ink. When the ink is supplied in an open system, air does not remain in the continuous porous body (ink occluding body) near the ink outlet.
No air is supplied to the ink jet print head having an extremely fine orifice at the time of printing, and no clogging due to missing dots or “air stuffing” occurs.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ink tube 2 Rubber cap 3 Holder 4 Connecting member 4-a nozzle 4-b Pipe 5 Ink absorber 5-a Ink absorber gap 8 Drilling tool 9 Closure 10 Cartridge 10-a Ink ejection port 10-b Ink injection Inlet 11 Ink absorber 12 Ink 13 Ink absorber

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A method for refilling ink in an ink jet printing cartridge having an ink supply port for supplying ink to a print head, comprising:
An ink refill system for an ink jet cartridge, wherein refilling of ink is performed at a portion other than the ink supply port, and an obstruction that becomes a flow resistance during ink distribution is disposed at the ink supply port. 2. The ink refill system for an ink jet cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said obstruction is in the form of a film. 3. The ink refill system for an ink jet cartridge according to claim 2, wherein only air can flow through the obstruction. 4. An ink jet cartridge according to claim 1, wherein an absorbing member for absorbing ink leaking in the vicinity of the ink supply port during refilling is arranged. Ink refill system.