JP2001158114A - Liquid container/distributor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid container/distributor in which the material of a pouch (registered trade mark) is prevented from creasing in a region being bonded to a surrounding frame by surrounding the side part and the closed end part of the pouch with the frame bonded in sealed state at the side part and the closed end part of the pouch. SOLUTION: The liquid container/distributor comprises a liquid containing pouch 19 formed of a pair of opposite members 21, 23 forming a cup, as a whole, each having a flat free edge part 21a, 23a formed integrally with a chassis and heat staked to a peripheral frame 17 suspended from the chassis. A central protrusion of each cup member allows the cup member to be fixed to the peripheral frame without creasing the circumferential fringe part of each cup member.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid storage and distribution device, and more particularly to a liquid storage and distribution device having a self-contained built-in pump. The apparatus of the present invention is useful for storing and distributing printing ink in an ink jet printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art U.S. Pat.
No. 84,087 (the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference) discloses a liquid containing and dispensing device with a self-contained, self-contained pump developed for use in storing and dispensing printing ink in an ink jet printer. It has been disclosed. The pump of the liquid storage and dispensing device has a linearly actuated pumping member reciprocating within a pumping chamber formed by a peripheral wall, the pumping chamber being covered by a thin flexible diaphragm formed of a thin film laminate. ing.
The diaphragm is heat staked on the free edge of the peripheral wall surrounding the pumping chamber.

[0003] However, such a diaphragm leaves a sufficient amount of material in its center to allow it to flex sufficiently to accommodate the pumping motion of the pumping chamber and thus its outer periphery. The use of flexible diaphragms made from thin film laminates requires great care during heat staking to the peripheral wall of the pumping chamber due to the tendency of parts to wrinkle.
Also, the use of heat staking to secure the diaphragm to the peripheral wall caused excessively high temperatures to degrade the membrane used for the diaphragm, while excessively low temperatures degraded the sealing performance between the diaphragm and the peripheral wall. In order to
Great care is required for temperature control.

No. 5,784,087 uses a flexible pouch made of a single sheet containing ink, the single flexible sheet being formed from a thin film laminate. I have. The pouch disclosed in this US patent is supported only at its open end and not at its lateral and closed ends. However, as disclosed in U.S. Patent Application No. 08 / 892,131 to Kamp, which is assigned to the assignee of the present application, and its published corresponding European patent application EP 0 891 867 A2. As such, the ink pouch of such a device preferably hangs from the chassis of the device and is generally surrounded by a frame in which the open end of the pouch is in fluid communication. Such a structure increases the resistance of the device to impact loads. Pouches formed from a single flexible sheet have also been used in such constructions, where the edges of the folds of such a sheet are not heat staked together, but rather on the sides of the frame. Heat staking. However, in such a configuration, the heat staking position of the sheet into the frame should be around the outer surface of the pouch-formed sheet to leave enough material in the center of the sheet to form a cavity for holding the ink. Wrinkles tend to form.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided a liquid storage and distribution device,
More specifically, a liquid storing and distributing device effective for storing and distributing printing ink in an ink jet printer, wherein the pumping chamber cover does not cause wrinkles on the outer peripheral portion when joined to the free edge of the peripheral wall of the pumping chamber. Is provided. The present invention also includes, as described above, a crimp-type metal ring that assists in securing the pumping chamber cover to the free edge of the peripheral wall of the pumping chamber, formed between them by heat staking. Improve sealing performance.

[0006] Eliminating wrinkles in the pumping chamber cover in accordance with the present invention involves preforming the sheet-like cover material by a thermoforming operation, thereby eliminating the need for excess material around the periphery of the cover. This is achieved by providing a dome-shaped configuration in the center of the cover that provides sufficient flexibility to accommodate reciprocation of the element. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cover is formed from a sheet-like material that is a thin laminate of two or more polymer films, between adjacent layers of the laminate, suitable to prevent delamination of the layer. A suitable adhesive is provided. At least one
One membrane is an ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (EV
(OH), such as OH), and is preferably used inside a laminate having an intermediate layer of low density polyethylene (LDPE). LDPE has excellent flexibility and good adhesion to the pumping chamber peripheral wall when the peripheral wall of the pumping chamber and the chassis, which are parts of the liquid storage and dispensing device, are molded from polyethylene by injection molding. ing. In this case, the outermost layer of the pumping chamber cover has a high heat resistance, such as nylon (polyamide material), which has excellent wear resistance and prevents the membrane structure from adhering to the heat staking die. Formed of polymer.

[0007] Eliminating wrinkles from an ink pouch in an apparatus with a pouch supporting a frame in accordance with the teachings of the above-mentioned US patent application Ser. This is achieved by constituting from the opposing laminated sheet. The edges of the sheet thus preformed are then heat staked into adjacent portions of the surrounding frame rather than heat staking each other to form a pouch with side and one end closures. This allows the ink or other liquid to be retained in a suitable manner.

[0008]

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved liquid storage and dispensing device of the type having a self-contained self-contained pump. More specifically, the object of the present invention is to
It is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid storage / distribution device of the above type which is effective for storing and distributing printing ink in an ink jet printer.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved joint between a pumping chamber cover and an annular wall of a pumping chamber of a liquid container and a liquid containment device of the type described above.
It is to provide a distribution device.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus having the above features with an improved liquid containing pouch.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide improved pouch resistance by surrounding the sides and closed ends of the pouch with a frame in which the sides and closed ends of the pouch are joined in a sealing manner. It is an object of the present invention to provide a device having the above features configured to impart impact resistance to the pouch, and to provide the above device in such a manner that wrinkles are not formed in the material of the pouch at a joint area with the surrounding frame.

[0012]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a better understanding of the present invention and its objects, a brief description of the accompanying drawings and the drawings which follow, a detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention and the appended claims Please note the description.

The entirety of a liquid storage and dispensing device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is designated by the reference numeral 10 in FIG. The liquid storage / distribution device 10 is formed of a hard protective shell 12 having one end 12a closed. The end 12a is an upper end when the liquid storage / distribution device 10 is attached to, for example, an ink jet printer. A molded plastic chassis 14 is mounted in the opposite open end 12 b of the shell 12.
Has a pumping chamber 16 formed and surrounded by a peripheral wall 18 integrally molded therewith.

Disposed within the pumping chamber 16 is a pumping element 20 (a portion of which is shown) that can reciprocate within the pumping chamber 16. A coil spring 22 is provided for biasing the pumping element 20 away from the closed end 12a of the shell 12. Pumping chamber 1
6 is closed by a cover or diaphragm 24, the outer part of which is heat staked on the free edge of the peripheral wall 18 surrounding the pumping chamber 16. Next, the diaphragm 24 is further fixed to the peripheral wall 18 by the aluminum crimp ring 26, and the seal between the diaphragm 24 and the peripheral wall 18 is used until the life of the ink storage and distribution device 10 is completed.
Maintaining a reliable state is further ensured.

The ink or other liquid deflects the center of the diaphragm 24 against the force of the coil spring 22 to displace the pumping element 20 in the pumping chamber 16, which in the configuration shown in FIG. Liquid is dispensed from the liquid containing and dispensing device 10 by pumping liquid from a flexible pouch secured below (not shown in FIG. 1) through the fluid outlet portion 28. As mentioned above, the liquid containing and dispensing device 10 functions similarly to the device disclosed in the above-mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 5,784,087.
The use of a crimp ring corresponding to a zero crimp ring 26 is not disclosed.

In the liquid accommodating / distributing apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 2, the diaphragm 24 is provided with a dome-shaped central portion 24a and a flat peripheral portion 24b (this portion is a portion to be heat-staken on the peripheral wall 18 of the chassis 14). For this reason, the apparatus differs from the above-mentioned U.S. patent application in that the diaphragm 24 is preformed by, for example, a thermoforming operation. Thus, the diaphragm 24 can be positioned in the central portion 24a without having to overload the material of the peripheral portion 24b, which is required to deflect when pumping ink or other liquid from the liquid containing and dispensing device 10 as described above. A sufficient excess of material can be obtained. Excessive material at the periphery can cause wrinkles in the otherwise flat diaphragm, which can result in the proper heat staking of the diaphragm on the free edge of the peripheral wall of a liquid containment and distribution device of the type described above. Complicates the problem. Such wrinkles also cause premature failure of the diaphragm material due to repeated flexing.

As shown in FIG. 2 and more clearly in FIG. 3, diaphragm 24 is formed from a laminate of layers of polymeric material of various compositions. The layers include polyethylene-based materials such as LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE,
An innermost layer 24c of any member of metallocene PE, ethylene vinyl acetate, ethylene ethyl acetate, or a blend thereof (preferably having a density in the range of 0.880 to 0.964 g / cc) is provided. All of these materials have high strength and flexibility, and when the chassis 14 is formed of polyethylene, is well heat staked against the peripheral wall of the chassis 14. Diaphragm 24
Also has an intermediate layer 24d made of a material having excellent resistance to gas and water vapor permeation, such as nylon and nylon copolymer, PVD
C and EVOH. Diaphragm 24 further has an outermost layer 24e of a polymer selected from those having a high melting point, abrasion resistance and flex life such as, for example, nylon and nylon copolymers and polypropylene. As described above, these layers 24c, 24d, 24e
Layers are not well bonded to each other, so these layers 24
Preferably, layers of adhesive 24f, 24g are provided between these adjacent layers of diaphragm 24 to prevent c, 24d, 24e from peeling during operation.

As mentioned above, the diaphragm 24 is preferably manufactured by a co-extrusion method. This is because adhesives used in coextrusion methods typically have a higher molecular weight than adhesives used in laminated composites, and such high molecular weight adhesives are hardly dissolved by erosive printing inks. It is.

Although FIGS. 2 and 3 may give the impression that diaphragm 24 has a large thickness, in practice liquids designed to contain printing inks up to a standard size of about 100 ml are provided. The diaphragm 24 for the storage and dispensing device 10 is 5 mil (0.005 inch: about 0.12 inch).
7 mm).

The molded plastic chassis 14
Has a peripheral frame 17 depending from the chassis and integral with the chassis. Peripheral frame 17
Is a pair of side members 17 facing each other at a distance from each other.
a, 17b and a bottom member 17c extending laterally between these two side members. Reference number 19 in its entirety
The open-ended pouch, denoted by, represents the flat free edges of opposing pairs of generally cup-shaped members 21, 23, for example,
It is formed by joining the side members 17a and 17b and the bottom member 17c in a sealing manner by heat staking. In this regard, each cup-shaped member 21, 23
The laminated sheet in which the cup-shaped members 21 and 23 are formed from the laminated sheet by, for example, thermoforming, and the cup-shaped members 21 and 23 are formed is formed of the same laminated body used for manufacturing the diaphragm 23 by, for example, co-extrusion. it can. Since the interior of each cup-shaped member 21, 23 is preformed as described above, a frame is formed to form a pouch 19 having sufficient internal volume to hold the required amount of ink or other liquid up to 100 ml. There is no need to create any wrinkles in its flat free edges 21a, 23a to exactly match the adjacent part of 17. Thus, frame 1
Heat staking of the members 21, 23 to 7 does not risk compromising the quality assurance involved when heat staking a flat sheet to the frame 17 with sufficient internal volume.

As described above, the best mode for carrying out the present invention considered by the inventor has been shown and described as the best mode on the filing date of the present invention. Obviously, suitable modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the claims and the legal equivalents thereof.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a liquid storage and distribution device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view further enlarging the element shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a sub-assembly of the apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing the sub-assembly of FIG.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the sub-assembly of FIGS. 4 and 5.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Liquid accommodation / distribution apparatus 14 Chassis 17 Peripheral frame 19 Pouch (bag) 21, 23 Cup-shaped member 24 Diaphragm

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A shell having an open end and a closed end, a chassis disposed within the open end of the shell, the chassis having a peripheral frame depending therefrom, further comprising a liquid containing pouch. The pouch has opposing first and second preformed generally cup-shaped members, each cup-shaped member having a generally flat free edge, and the first cup-shaped member and the first cup-shaped member. A liquid storing and dispensing device, wherein a free edge of each of the two members is joined in a sealing manner to a peripheral frame of a chassis. 2. The chassis and frame are integrally formed as a single piece from a thermoplastic material, and each of the first and second members, which are generally cup-shaped, are at least an innermost layer of a thermoplastic material. And the first
The liquid storage / distribution apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the innermost layer of each of the member and the second member is heat-staked to the peripheral frame to be joined to the peripheral frame of the chassis in a sealing manner. . 3. The overall cup-shaped first member and the second member are each formed of a laminated sheet including the innermost layer and at least one layer outside the innermost layer. The liquid storage / distribution device according to claim 2. 4. The liquid storage and distribution device according to claim 3, wherein said laminated sheet further comprises an outermost layer and an intermediate layer, said intermediate layer having excellent resistance to permeation of oxygen and water vapor. 5. The liquid storage and dispensing device according to claim 4, wherein said intermediate layer is selected from the group consisting of nylon, nylon copolymer, PVDC and EVOH. 6. The liquid containing and dispensing device according to claim 5, wherein the outermost layer is selected from the group consisting of nylon, nylon copolymer and polypropylene. 7. The liquid storage and distribution device according to claim 4, further comprising a first adhesive layer between the innermost layer and the intermediate layer. 8. The liquid storage and distribution device according to claim 7, further comprising a second adhesive layer between the intermediate layer and the outermost layer. 9. The thermoplastic material of the chassis and frame is polyethylene, and the cup-shaped first material is generally cup-shaped.
3. The liquid storage and distribution device according to claim 2, wherein the thermoplastic material of each of the member and the second member is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene members.