JP2001277777A - Valve body and liquid storage vessel for liquid discharger using the valve body - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink cartridge for an ink jet printer with a capability of appropriately controlling an ink discharge in accordance with pressure fluctuations ranging from small fluctuation to great fluctuation. SOLUTION: This valve body 5 is obtained by compression-molding a communicating porous body such as a polyurethane foam and covering a plurality of through holes mutually intersecting and communicating in a three-dimensional reticular shape with a skeleton part as a lid. That is, the valve body 5 has a plurality of valve lids arranged, which block the mutually communicating through holes and are made up of an elastic material. The liquid storage vessel 1 for a liquid discharger comprises a content liquid supply passage 3 which connects the internally stored liquid to a liquid discharge means of the liquid discharger, an air passage 4 for the passage of air outside/inside a vessel 1 and the valve body 5 as a valve means which changes an air volume in accordance with the internal pressure fluctuations of the vessel 1, provided in the air passage 4.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a valve element which changes the amount of air flow according to the magnitude of a specific force, and supplies the liquid contained in the valve element to a liquid discharging means of a liquid discharging device. In addition, the present invention relates to a liquid storage container installed as air exchange means for adjusting internal pressure.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, outside air is taken into a tank by an ink tank of a writing implement or an ink (tank) cartridge of an ink jet printer in accordance with the amount of ink consumed for writing and printing for forming characters and images. In order to prevent the pressure change in the tank from adversely affecting the ink consumption, air was exchanged in the tank, and a simple hole was formed as an intake port for the outside air, and a membrane that allowed gas to pass through but not liquid was arranged. And a vent formed with a valve mechanism that opens as needed.

[0003] However, in the case where a mere hole is provided as an outside air intake, the possibility of ink leaking from the hole cannot be eliminated. In addition, in both writing instruments and ink jet printers, the ink ejection means such as the pen tip and the printer head use the water head pressure (the horizontal unit area at a certain height above the liquid surface as the bottom surface) (A pressure equal to the force exerted on the bottom surface of the column) is applied. Therefore, an ink tank or ink cartridge can be used only if a perforated port or a membrane that allows gas to pass through but does not allow liquid to pass is used as an intake port for outside air. Since the inside of the nozzle becomes equal to the atmospheric pressure, there is a possibility that the ink may be blown out by the above-mentioned water head pressure.

[0004] Further, since the valve having the above-described valve mechanism can form the air passage only when necessary, it is necessary to minimize the above-mentioned ink leakage as much as possible. In addition to this, the air holes can be closed in a state where the pressure is lower than the atmospheric pressure by the water head pressure of the contained ink, and the above-described ink ejection can be suppressed. As an example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 076094 discloses a valve using a valve body having a slit-shaped ventilation hole which is closed when no pressure is applied to the elastic material.

[0005]

However, in the case of using a valve mechanism as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-076094 as ventilation means for adjusting the internal pressure, the inside of the tank is opened by opening the ventilation path. The pressure is adjustable,
The vent is opened only when a specific pressure is applied, and it is difficult to cope with both a small pressure change and a large pressure change. In other words, even if the pressure change is small or large, it is opened in the same way when a specific pressure is reached. It is necessary to set the pressure so that it takes a certain amount of time to allow the necessary air to pass for a large pressure change, and it takes time to recover the internal pressure. If it is in the middle, it will cause a blow or blowout due to excessive supply, and if it is in the process of adjusting the reduced internal pressure, there will be a problem such as blurring due to insufficient supply. In addition, the valve does not always return to its original state when closed again after it has been opened, and if there is some deviation in the closing, the valve will not be opened even at a desired specific pressure, and the valve will become fuzzy, etc. Even if the desired specific pressure is not reached, the valve is opened, and there is a possibility that bottling or blowing may occur.

[0006]

That is, the present invention provides a valve element in which a plurality of valve lids made of an elastic material are disposed in each of a plurality of through holes communicating with each other, and which can close the through holes. Make a summary. In addition, it has a content liquid supply path for connecting the liquid contained therein to the liquid discharge means of the liquid discharger, and a ventilation path through which air can pass through the inside and outside of the container. A liquid storage container for a liquid ejector, characterized in that the valve body is provided as valve means capable of changing the amount of ventilation according to the above.

The valve body regulates the amount of air that can pass through by selectively operating a plurality of valve lids made of an elastic material.
It is preferable that the air pressure in the container is balanced with the outside air pressure as much as possible. Further, it is preferable to adjust this adjustment by the balance between the ease of deformation of the elastic material of the valve lid and the difficulty of deformation as a structure. In consideration of the fact that the operation of a simple valve lid behaves as a cantilever made of an elastic material, the Young's modulus, which is an amount representing the material-specific deformation amount with respect to the load, is set to 1
It is preferable that the pressure be not less than MPa and not more than 5000 MPa.

In order to obtain a valve body having such a valve cover,
In order to make the skeleton part and the skeleton part continuous in a three-dimensional network form contact with each other, a synthetic resin having the above-mentioned Young's modulus is used to form communicating pores by a foaming or elution method, or a synthetic fiber, a synthetic resin, rubber, or the like. Aggregates of granules and those obtained by partially integrating them with heat or a solvent can be suitably used,
By compressing the communicating porous body, the fiber converging body, and the aggregate of granular materials, the bulk density, which is the substantial amount of the substance in the apparent volume, is set to 0.03 g / cm ³ or more and 1.5 g / cm ³ or less. Is preferred. At this time, the internal pressure can be easily adjusted by setting the number of holes per unit length before compression to be not less than 4 / cm and not more than 1000 / cm. Further, by applying heat by heating or high frequency to the compression, the molded product has a hardness of 20 mm as measured by an Asker C-type hardness tester when a sample having a thickness of 8 mm is used as a sample.
It is preferably at least 100 and less than 100. This compression is preferably formed into a desired shape from only one direction because it is excellent in handleability as one member constituting the container and can be manufactured at low cost. At this time, by setting the compression ratio to 5% or more and 40% or less of the thickness of the material before compression, it is possible to reliably block the internal pressure in a proper state without hindering the internal pressure adjustment.

As the elastic material having a Young's modulus of 1 MPa or more and 5000 MPa or less, in the case of a communicating porous body, an inert gas, a decomposable foaming agent, and a volatile organic liquid are mixed with rubber and / or a plastic raw material. Foamed by forming air bubbles in the foam to form communication pores, rubber,
A plastic material obtained by kneading inorganic particles such as calcium carbonate in a plastic material is formed into a plate, and then the inorganic particles are eluted to form communicating pores.
Or as a plastic raw material, as an elastic material, natural rubber, styrene butadiene rubber, acrylonitrile butadiene rubber, chloroprene rubber, neoprene rubber, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polystyrene, polyamide, polyurethane, silicone resin, epoxy resin Phenolic resin, urea resin, fluorine resin and the like. Among them, ether polyurethane resin is used as a material in consideration of durability against liquids, ease of forming a communicating porous body, productivity, and the like. Is preferably 30 or more and less than 100.

[0010] In the case of the fiber converging body, polyester, acrylonitrile, nylon, rayon, acetate, polyvinyl chloride, vinylidene, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane and the like can be mentioned. Chemically entangled materials such as those that are mechanically entangled by the method, those that have been made into a felt shape, and that have been fused by heating, or those that have been bonded using a solvent or a resin that is a binder can be used. . Above all, a thermoplastic material such as a polyester fiber which is heat-sealed is one in which the movement of a skeleton portion other than the valve lid is suppressed as much as possible, and it can be said that it is preferable from the viewpoint of shape maintenance and reliable operation.

In the case of an aggregate of granular materials, materials such as elastically deformable rubber and synthetic resin elastomer can be used.
Rubber materials include natural rubber, isoprene rubber, 1,2
-Polybutadiene, styrene-butadiene rubber, chloroprene rubber, nitrile rubber, butyl rubber, ethylene-propylene rubber, ethylene-propylene-diene rubber, ethylene-vinyl acetate rubber, acrylic rubber, ethylene-acryl rubber, chlorosulfonated polyethylene, chlorinated polyethylene, Synthetic vulcanized rubber such as sulfided rubber, epichlorohydrin rubber, silicone rubber, urethane rubber, and fluororubber can be mentioned. Synthetic resin elastomers include polystyrene elastomer, polyolefin elastomer, polyurethane elastomer, polyester elastomer, polyamide elastomer, Thermoplastic elastomers such as 1,2-polybutadiene elastomer, ethylene-vinyl acetate elastomer, and polyvinyl chloride elastomer are listed. It is. In addition, as the granular material, a particulate molded product synthesized by polymerization, a particulate molded product formed by injection molding or extrusion molding can be used, and as a shape of each granular material, from a sphere close to a true sphere, Ball, ball missing,
In addition to spherical objects such as spheres, ellipsoids, and paraboloids, rods such as cylinders, polygonal prisms, and frustums, star-shaped projections formed on spheres, and cross-sections of rods A star-shaped material or the like may be used alone or in combination of two or more.
Further, the average particle size of these granules is 50 to 3000 μm.
Although m is suitable, a mixture of particles having a plurality of particle diameters can be used. Furthermore, if the granular materials are fused together by heat or a solvent to form an aggregate having a structure integrally connected, the valve body can have good shape restoring properties.

If the cross-sectional shape of the skeleton portion serving as the valve lid is substantially triangular, when the skeleton portions come into contact with each other, their surfaces come into contact with each other, which is advantageous for hermeticity. Since the cells between the respective skeletons, which are the through holes through which the cells pass, can have the maximum volume, it can be made advantageous for ventilation.

Further, applying a liquid to the valve body so as to be disposed between the through hole and the valve cover can easily form a state in which the through hole is securely closed. The liquid can be disposed between the edge of the through hole and the valve lid, and can be used as long as it allows air to pass therethrough with a specific force. The selection must be made in consideration of the reactivity with the internal solution, the compatibility, the relationship with the capillary force between the members, the wetting, and the like. As an example, silicone oil, polybutene, α-olefin, polybutadiene, petrolatum, or a gelled product containing these as a main component can be used. These may be used alone or as a mixture of two or more,
Solids may be dispersed and blended. Further, additives for adjusting various physical properties, such as a gelling agent and a preservative for adjusting the viscosity and the like, may be added.

[0014] Then, like liquid in the container is consumed, when the vent when the pressure within the container becomes negative pressure state than a certain pressure, the content liquid 0.00001cm ³ ~
It is desirable that the internal pressure recovery point is reached at least once when 0.0001 cm ^{3 is} consumed. This internal pressure recovery point is
When the internal pressure of the container falls below a certain pressure, the internal pressure increases due to an increase in the amount of air flowing in from the ventilation passage, while the internal pressure keeps decreasing as the liquid in the container is consumed. The point at which it turns to. In other words, even when the pressure difference between the inside and outside suddenly increases due to the consumption of a large amount of the liquid at a time, at the stage of the small pressure difference, the outside air flows into the inside of the container quickly and finely in several steps. By adjusting the internal pressure, the difference between the internal and external pressures does not increase, and it is possible to suppress a large pressure from being applied to the inside of the container and imposing a burden.

The ink used as an example of the content liquid has a width of 25 m.
Those having a surface tension of N / m or more and 55 m · N / m or less are preferable, and examples of the blending are as follows.

Aqueous dye ink 1 Duasyn Black HEF SF Liquid (CI Direct Black 168, manufactured by Clariant Japan K.K.) 30.0 parts Ethylene glycol 6.0 parts Glycerin 3.0 parts Isopropanol 3.0 parts Nikkor BO -10TX (POE oleyl ether, manufactured by Nikko Chemicals Co., Ltd.) 0.02 parts Proxel GXL (1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one, manufactured by Zeneca Corporation) 0.2 parts Ion-exchanged water 57.78 parts The components were mixed and stirred with a propeller stirrer for 2 hours to obtain a black recording liquid. The surface tension of this is 4
It was 0 mN / m.

Aqueous dye ink 2 Duasyn Red 3B-SF VP346 (CI Reactive Red 23, manufactured by Clariant Japan K.K.) 3.0 parts Diethylene glycol 7.0 parts Glycerin 3.0 parts Isopropanol 2.0 parts Urea 5 0.0 parts Nikkor BT-12 0.5 parts Proxel GXL 0.2 parts Ion-exchanged water 79.3 parts The above components were mixed and stirred with a propeller stirrer for 2 hours to obtain a magenta recording liquid. The surface tension was 36 mN / m.

A liquid ejector using a liquid storage container includes a fountain pen nib having a slit formed in a plate-like metal material as an ink supply path capable of holding ink by capillary force, and a part of a metal ball. Ballpoint pen tip that holds the tip of the pen, a fiber pen tip that uses a fiber convergent such as acrylic fiber or polyester fiber, or a synthetic resin that has an ink through hole with an inward projection in a synthetic resin rod. Examples include a writing implement having a pen tip and the like, and an ink jet printer having a printer head of a thermal ink jet system, a piezo ink jet system, or the like.

[0019]

By arranging the valve lids in a plurality of communicating air passages, a buffering action for the air to be passed acts, and the ink can be ejected as stably as possible according to the magnitude of the pressure. In addition, it is possible to arrange a fine valve lid in each of a plurality of through holes that intersect and communicate with each other in a three-dimensional network shape, and to fill a valve chamber with a large number of elastic granular materials in a certain compressed state, and contact adjacent ones. Through-holes formed of fine voids formed between the granules will have a large number of closable lids on the way, and the substantial air passage itself will be branched in various ways, A passage that opens according to the required amount of ventilation even when pressure changes are large and a large amount of ventilation must be performed because a path that is easy to pass can be selected and passed, such as in a direction with low flow resistance. Can be automatically adjusted, the internal pressure can be recovered in a short time, and the internal pressure can be adjusted with high accuracy. Therefore, it is assumed that the magnitude of the internal pressure change does not easily affect the discharge quality of the content liquid. . Also, since opening and closing are performed by a large number of closable lid parts, even if some lid parts do not completely restore the original state in closing due to shape recovery of individual lid parts, other lid parts may not be restored. Since the portion can compensate for this and can exert a buffering action, it is easy to maintain a desired operating pressure, and it is possible to minimize blurring and ink dropping and blowing.

When the valve body is a communicating porous body,
By using a material having a hardness of 20 or more and less than 100 by an Asker C-type hardness meter, when the internal pressure of the container rises from 27 to 266 Pa from a state where there is no pressure difference with the outside, the container is deformed to communicate the ventilation path. Since the material itself is an elastic body, the state of the air passage can be restored again.
That is, by repeatedly performing the operation of the valve lid toward the open side due to the pressure change and the restoration to the closed side due to the recovery of the shape of the valve lid, ventilation according to the pressure difference generated between the inside and the outside of the container. And can respond to pressure differences and pressure changes of various magnitudes. Here, the fact that the valve body is a communicating porous body means that an elastic body having a structure in which all three-dimensional skeletons are integrally connected is employed. When the difference falls below a certain value again, it will be surely restored to the original state, and when it is attached to the liquid storage container, it can be easily attached because it is integral, It is easy to prevent ink leakage and careless air flow, and it is possible to achieve excellent productivity.

[0021]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A valve body according to the present invention is used for writing or printing a content liquid in a container body for storing a content liquid in a free state without being bound by a liquid holding means such as a fiber converging body. The most advantageous effect is obtained when used in a liquid storage container provided with a supply means for the discharge means and a ventilation means for maintaining the internal pressure of the container in a specific range. FIG. 1 schematically shows a liquid ejector incorporating such a container. That is, a container 1 having a hollow interior and allowing ink to freely move in the container is ejected with a pen tip of a writing implement such as a ball-point pen tip or a fountain pen tip, or a content liquid such as a printer head or a nozzle of an ink jet printer. Ink supply path 3 to means 2 and air path 4 for internal pressure adjustment
And a valve element 5 having a plurality of through holes that can communicate with each other and the inside and outside air, and a plurality of valve lids are disposed in the through holes.

When writing or printing is not performed, the pressure in the container 1 is set to be lower than the atmospheric pressure by the head pressure of the ink as the content liquid. At least it is apparently closed, and there is no ventilation inside and outside. Here, by applying a non-volatile fluid such as silicone oil to the valve body 5 in advance, it is possible to secure the blockage. This ventilation path 4 has a plurality of through holes communicating with each other and branched as a path, and depending on the length of the path, the direction of the branch, the size and shape of each lid, and the like, with respect to the pressure released. The ventilation holes to be ventilated are selected. In other words, when the pressure in the container decreases and the difference from the atmospheric pressure becomes lower than the water head pressure, or when the internal pressure increases and exceeds the atmospheric pressure, the valve lid operates to allow the outside air into the container. The pressure inside the container is adjusted to the equilibrium state with respect to the atmospheric pressure by discharging the internal air to the outside or discharging the internal air to the outside. A balanced vacuum is formed. In addition, when the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the container is small, only the valve lid that can be opened with the smallest force is opened when communicating with the air, and when a large pressure difference is suddenly applied,
The other valve lids are opened immediately to respond to this. Therefore, since the valve lid is not opened more than necessary to eliminate the small pressure difference, the internal pressure of the container is raised to the same level as the atmospheric pressure beyond the range of the head pressure of the ink which is the content liquid with respect to the atmospheric pressure. In addition, it is possible to suppress as much as possible that a large pressure difference causes insufficient ventilation and that the ink head pressure does not reach a range lower than the atmospheric pressure by an amount as small as possible, and the large pressure difference is instantaneously eliminated. be able to.

As described above, a communicating hole is basically formed by using an elastic material as a valve body having a through hole in which a plurality of valve lids are arranged while communicating with each other, and the communicating hole is formed by compression. Use what is apparently closed. Broadly speaking, there are a communicating porous body, a fiber convergent body, and a particulate aggregate. As an example of the valve body, one obtained by compressing each of the communicating porous body, the fiber converging body, and the aggregate of granular materials was prepared. Tables 1 to 3 show the basic structure, material, Young's modulus, bulk density, hardness by Asker C type hardness tester (manufactured by Kobunshi Keiki Co., Ltd.), number of pores, compressibility, and cross section of the skeletal part in Examples of each valve element. Show the shape. Further, the hardness measured by an Asker F-type hardness meter (manufactured by Kobunshi Keiki Co., Ltd.) only before compression in the case of a communicating porous body made of an ether urethane resin is shown. In each of the examples, a drip-treated solution of a fluorine-based coating agent manufactured by Matsushita Electric Works Co., Ltd., which was dipped in Fressella-D treatment solution, dried at 200 ° C. for 5 minutes, and subjected to a water-repellent treatment was used.

[0024]

[Table 1]

[0025]

[Table 2]

[0026]

[Table 3]

FIGS. 2 to 4 show a surface photograph and a longitudinal cross-sectional photograph of Example 1 in which an ether-based polyurethane foam was molded by thermal compression. That is, FIG. 2 is an image of the surface state of the valve element 5 taken at a magnification of 100 times, and it can be confirmed that the through hole 5b is formed between the skeleton parts 5a. FIG. 3 shows a vertical section of the valve element 5 taken at a magnification of 100, and FIG.
Photographed at 00x. Cross section 5c of skeleton 5a
Has a substantially triangular shape, and it can be confirmed that the skeleton portions 5a are in contact with each other.

The photograph was taken by cutting a photographed sample cut into 1 cm square in liquid nitrogen using a scanning electron microscope JSM531.
It was observed and photographed with 0LV (manufactured by JEOL Ltd.).

An example of a writing instrument and an ink cartridge for an ink jet printer will be described as a liquid storage container provided with the valve body of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows an example of an aqueous ballpoint pen having a ballpoint pen tip as the pen tip 12.
The shaft cylinder 11 constitutes an ink storage unit, and contains the aqueous dye ink 6 therein. The tip of the barrel 11 is connected to a pen tip 12 which is a ballpoint pen tip via a tip holder 11b, and the ink 6 is connected to the pen tip 12 through a communication hole 13 in the tip holder 11b. The barrel 11 has a substantially cylindrical shape having an inner diameter of about 10 mm in which the ink 6 is accommodated, and is an injection molded article of a synthetic resin having excellent non-permeability of gas such as polypropylene and having transparency. 6 are visible. The ballpoint pen tip, which is the pen tip 12, is arranged with the ball partially protruding from the tip hole of the ball holder. In accordance with the rotation of the ball, ink is supplied from the gap between the ball and the ball holder. In the non-writing state where the ball is not in contact with the paper surface, the ball is in close contact with the inner wall of the ball holder when the pen tip is in a downward state. Even without passing through an ink relay core such as a converging body, the ink is not drooled down, and in writing, in a writing state in which the ball comes into contact with the paper surface and is pushed up during writing, the gap is formed, and ink is ejected. It can be used. In order to ensure the adhesion between the ball and the ball holder in the non-writing state of the ballpoint pen tip, an elastic body such as a spring may be arranged in the ball holder to positively press the ball. it can.

The rear part of the shaft cylinder 11 is an opening, and the tail plug 11a is press-fitted and fixed. A hole 14 is formed in the tail plug 11a as a ventilation path through which air flows. As shown in FIG. 6 which is an enlarged view of a part I in FIG.
Inside the lid mounting portion 11c of 1a is a valve arrangement portion 11d, in which a valve body 15 in which the communicating porous body is closed by compression-molding a foam of ether-based polyurethane which is a communicating porous body is arranged. A lid 11e, which is an injection-molded product made of polypropylene resin, is provided on the lid mounting portion 11c.
5 so as to be sandwiched with the tail plug 11a.
The contact portion with 1c is joined by press-fitting and fixed. The communicating porous body that has not been compressed by only the pressing by the lid 11e can be brought into a desired compressed state. The lid 11e has a center hole 14a, and can communicate with the hole 14 of the tail plug 11a via the valve body 15.

FIG. 7 shows a modification. Unlike the above-mentioned ball-point pen, it has a pen tip 12 'made of a fiber converging body. The basic structure is the same as that of the example shown in FIG. 5, but the pen tip 12 ′ has a pen tip part protruding from a tip holder (pen tip holder) 11 b and an ink discharge control part 13 a located in the communication hole 13. And consists of parts.

FIGS. 8 to 11 show an example of use in an ink jet printer. FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing an ink cartridge, and FIG. FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a main part connected to an ink cartridge holder having a printer head.
Is a perspective view showing a state of use in the printer. The ink cartridge A shown in FIG. 8 basically includes a cartridge main body 121 having a box shape with a bottom and a cover 123, and a bottom 122 of the cartridge main body 121 for supplying ink to a printer head as an ink discharging means. Discharge hole 321. In the discharge hole 321, an ink relay core 3 made of a fiber convergent body serving as a member for leading out ink is provided.
22 is press-fitted and fixed, and serves as a buffer wall for ink circulation. The cartridge main body 121 is an injection-molded product made of a transparent polypropylene resin, and the remaining amount of the contained ink can be visually recognized. A cover 123, which is also an injection molded product of polypropylene resin, is air-tightly and liquid-tightly fixed to the upper opening of the cartridge body 121 by ultrasonic welding. The cover 123 is formed with a hole 124 serving as an air passage and a lid mounting portion 125 surrounding the hole 124.

As shown in FIG. 9, which is an enlarged view of a portion II in FIG. 8, the cover 123 is provided with a protruding cylindrical lid mounting portion 125, and the inside of the lid mounting portion 125 is connected to an air circulating portion. Hole 124. Cover 12
The inside of the lid mounting portion 125 of No. 3 is formed with a valve mounting portion 125a for disposing a valve body 5 in which the communication porous is closed by compression-molding a foam of ether-based polyurethane which is a communication porous material. The lid mounting portion 125 has a lid 1 having an air hole, which is an injection molded product made of polypropylene resin.
26, the contact portion with the lid mounting portion 125 is joined and fixed by ultrasonic welding so that the valve body 5 is sandwiched between the valve mounting portion 125a. The valve element 5 is connected to the cover 12.
3 and the lid 126 are pressed circumferentially from both the upper and lower surfaces to form an airtight seal. Note that the inner diameter of the valve mounting portion 125a is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the valve body 5 so that positioning at the time of setting the valve body 5 is not necessary and the valve body 5 can always be arranged at the same position. Note that, toward the inside of the container, the lid attaching portion 1
A protrusion 129 is formed in the interior facing 25,
A slit-like opening 129a is formed on the side wall of the protrusion 129.
Is provided. Although it serves as an air passage, the ink 6 contained therein is made to minimize the scattering and adhesion of the ink 6 to the valve body 5 due to impact or the like.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a main part in which the ink cartridge A is connected to a cartridge holder having a printer head. The cartridge holder B has an ink supply cylinder 206 for the printer head 221 at a portion corresponding to the ejection hole 321 corresponding to the lower portion of the ink cartridge A.
And is in pressure contact with the ink relay core 322 of the ink cartridge A. A rubber packing 207 is arranged around the ink supply cylinder 206 to closely contact the ink cartridge A and to prevent the ink from leaking to the outside.

FIG. 11 shows a state in which the ink jet printer is used, but this is a schematic view, and the detailed structure of the printer is omitted. Cartridge holder B
Is attached to the drive arm K, and the paper P is sent out and printed at a predetermined position while moving along the longitudinal direction of the arm K.

[0037]

The following tests were carried out on Examples 1 to 21 of the above embodiments. The results are shown in Tables 4 and 5. As a comparative example of a valve element that vents for adjusting the internal pressure, a comparative valve element D made of nitrile rubber as shown in a cross-sectional view in FIG. 12 was prepared, and each test was performed in the same manner. The comparative valve element D has a dome-shaped convex portion 2 at the center of the circumferential flange portion 25b.
5c is formed, and a slit 25a serving as an air passage is formed at the top of the convex portion 25c. Slit 2
5a is closed when no force is applied. When the convex side of the convex part 25c becomes lower than the concave side by more than a certain value, the slit 25a is opened to allow ventilation. The thickness of the comparative valve body D is 1 m.
m, and the length of a slit serving as an air passage is 3 mm. Further, as a method for attaching the comparative valve element D to a writing instrument or an ink cartridge for an ink jet printer, the flange portion 25b was sandwiched between members in a liquid-tight manner in the same manner as that shown in FIGS. Shape.

1. Internal Pressure Adjustment Test (1) Test Apparatus FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of a test apparatus for the internal pressure adjustment test. The vacuum pump 32 (model name) in which Examples 1 to 21 and the comparative valve element D are installed in the same manner as the writing instrument shown in FIG. : PCX135, manufactured by Yamato Scientific Co., Ltd.) was connected by a silicon tube 33. Furthermore, the shaft cylinder 1
A hole is made in the side surface, a pipe 34 is attached, and a pressure gauge 35 (model name: GPM104N,
(Manufactured by Okano Manufacturing Co., Ltd.) connected to a recorder 36 for checking the correlation with time. (2) Test The amount of pressure reduction from the atmospheric pressure in the barrel 1 by the suction of the vacuum pump 32 is reduced to a specific value (6.5 hPa, 13.0 hP).
a, 19.5 hPa), and the adjustment was made. The relationship between the pressure change in the barrel 1 and time at this time was recorded in a graph of a recorder 36. The internal pressure of the barrel 1 is reduced by the suction of the vacuum pump, the pressure in the barrel 1 becomes a minimum value, and then the internal pressure rises at an internal pressure recovery point where the pressure starts to rise due to the inflow of air. Then, the internal pressure reaches the maximum value again. The time required from the minimum value to the maximum value of the internal pressure was measured. (3) Test Results The shorter the time required from the minimum value to the maximum value of the pressure in the barrel 1, the shorter the time, the easier the valve body is to close.
In the embodiment, the time from the minimum value to the maximum value is extremely short.
This means that the valve of the embodiment can be restored to the original state in a very short time after adjusting the internal pressure. Further, it can be seen that in the example, there is no change in the maximum value and the minimum value, and stable internal pressure adjustment is realized even when opening and closing are repeatedly performed.

2. Writing / Printing Test by Difference in Discharge Amount (1) Test Method Each valve element was plugged into the tail plug of the tip part of a felt-tip pen S520 (manufactured by Pentel Co., Ltd.), and the valve element was replaced with the valve element shown in FIG. It was installed in the same manner as the writing implement shown, and was used as a test sample of the writing implement. However, the handwriting width of the pen tip 12 'is 0.7m
m. Further, a valve body was installed in the tail plug portion of BCI-21 Black (Canon Co., Ltd.) in the same manner as the ink cartridge shown in FIG. 8 to obtain a test sample of an ink jet printer cartridge. For writing instruments,
With a writing tester (model name: TS-4C-10, manufactured by Seiki Industry Laboratory), writing load: 0.98 N, writing angle: 70
°, Writing speed: Under a writing condition of 70 mm per second, the ink ejection amount of 50 m writing at an ink filling height of 100 mm was measured. The ink jet printer cartridge is set on a BJC465J (manufactured by Canon Inc.) and printed on A4 paper with a printing width of 0.2 mm at a printing speed of 70 mm per second, and 50 m printing at an ink filling height of 50 mm. Was measured. Next, the pen tip of the writing instrument sample was replaced with a pen tip having a handwriting width of 2.1 mm so as to increase the ink ejection amount. The setting of the printer was changed so that the printing width of the ink jet cartridge was 0.6 mm. Thereafter, the same tests as the writing and printing tests in the first half were performed, and the ink ejection amount was measured. The ink ejection amount is determined from the change in mass (g) of the test sample before and after writing or printing, based on the specific gravity of the ink (1.
06) and converted to volume (cm ³ ). Furthermore, the state of each handwriting and printing mark was visually confirmed. (2) Test Results In the example, even if the handwriting width and the printing width were increased (even if the ejection amount was increased), the handwriting or the printing trace was also in a good state. On the other hand, in the case of the comparative example, faint handwriting and printing marks and a state where ink was not ejected (writing impossible / printing impossible) were confirmed.

3. Writing / printing test by temperature difference (1) Test method The above "writing and printing condition confirmation test by difference of discharge amount"
Similarly, each test sample was obtained. Each sample was first left in a room temperature environment (about 25 ° C) for about 6 hours,
After being transferred to a constant temperature room at 0 ° C., it was immediately set in the above-described writing test machine or ink jet printer, and the ink ejection amount in 50 m writing and printing was measured. Then, after being left again in a room temperature environment for about 6 hours, it was transferred to a constant temperature room at an environmental temperature of 10 ° C. and immediately set again in the above-mentioned writing test machine or ink jet printer, and the ink ejection amount in 50 m writing and printing was measured. Furthermore, handwriting and printing marks at each environmental temperature were visually confirmed. (2) Test Results In the examples, stable ink ejection was obtained even when the environmental temperature was suddenly increased to a high temperature, and similarly stable ink ejection was obtained even when the environmental temperature was suddenly decreased to a low temperature. The handwriting or printing marks were also in good condition. On the other hand, in the case of the comparative example, the handwriting and the print mark are sharply generated and blown out when rapidly transferred to the high-temperature environment, and the handwriting and the print mark are blurred when rapidly transferred to the high-temperature environment. It was confirmed that.

[0041]

[Table 4]

[0042]

[Table 5]

The composition of the ink used in each test is as follows. Writing instrument ink FISCO BLACK 883 (Dye, manufactured by Orient Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) 40 parts Ethylene glycol 10 parts Water 50 parts

Ink Jet Cartridge Ink DUASYN-D. BLACK HEF-SSLIQ 10% aqueous solution (dye, Clariant Japan K.K.) 30.0 parts Ethylene glycol 5.0 parts Glycerin 10.0 parts Isopropanol 3.0 parts BO-10TX (surfactant, Nikko Chemicals Co., Ltd.) Made) 0.02 parts water 50.98 parts

As described above, when the present invention is applied to an ink storage container such as a writing instrument or an ink jet printer as a valve body mechanism capable of responding to both a small pressure change and a large pressure change, the present invention provides In addition, it minimizes thinning and thinning of the container, and quickly restores the internal pressure of the container to an appropriate pressure state even in the event of a large pressure change, minimizing problems such as excessive supply, excessive blowing, and thinning due to insufficient supply. It can be suppressed. Further, a large variation in the ink discharge amount can be suppressed as much as possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a liquid ejector.

FIG. 2 is a surface electron micrograph (100) of a valve body of Example 1.
Times).

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional electron micrograph (100
Times).

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional electron micrograph (500) of the valve body of Example 1.
Times).

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing an example used for a writing instrument.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a portion I in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing an example used for another writing instrument.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing an example used for an ink cartridge for an ink jet printer.

9 is an enlarged view of a part II in FIG.

FIG. 10 is an essential part cross-sectional view showing a state where the ink cartridge A is connected to an ink cartridge holder B having an ink head.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a printing state of the ink jet printer.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view showing a comparative valve body.

FIG. 13 is a schematic view showing a test apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List A ink cartridge B cartridge holder K drive arm P paper D comparative valve element 1 container 2 discharge means 3 ink supply path 4 air path 5 valve element 5a skeleton 5b through hole 5c cross section 6 ink 11 barrel 11a tail plug 11b chip holder 11c Lid mounting part 11d Valve arranging part 11e Lid 12, 12 'Nib 13 Communication hole 13a Ink discharge control part 14 Hole part 15 Valve element 121 Cartridge main body 122 Bottom part 123 Cover 124 Hole part 125 Lid mounting part 125a Valve mounting part 126 Lid 129 Projection 129a Opening 221 Printer head 321 Discharge hole 322 Ink relay core 206 Ink supply cylinder 207 Rubber packing 25a Slit 25b Flange 25c Convex part 31 Needle valve 32 Vacuum pump 33 Silicon tube 34 Pipe 35 Pressure A total of 36 recorder

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Masamitsu Nagahama 4-1-8 Yoshimachi, Soka City, Saitama Prefecture Pentel Co., Ltd. Grass Processing Plant (72) Inventor Takeshi Toyama 4-1-8 Yoshimachi, Soka City, Saitama Prefecture Inside Pentel Co., Ltd. Grass Processing Plant (72) Inventor Tsutomu Shimizu 4-1-8 Yoshimachi, Soka City, Saitama Prefecture Inside Pentel Co., Ltd. Grass Processing Plant (72) Inventor Yasuo Kato 4-1-8 Yoshimachi, Soka City, Saitama Prefecture (72) Inventor Hiroshi Hiroki 4-1-8 Yoshimachi, Soka City, Saitama Prefecture Pentel Corporation Grass Processing Plant

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A valve body in which a plurality of valve lids made of an elastic material are disposed in each of a plurality of through-holes communicating with each other and capable of closing the through-hole. 2. The valve body according to claim 1, wherein the valve lid capable of closing the through hole is made of an elastic material having a Young's modulus of 1 MPa or more and 5000 MPa or less. 3. A skeleton part continuous in a three-dimensional network and an elastic material having communicating pores as gaps between the skeleton parts are compressed to a bulk density of 0.03 g / cm ³ or more and 1.5 g / cm ³ or less. The valve body according to claim 2, wherein the valve lid can be closed by bringing a skeleton portion into contact with each other. 4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the compression is performed together with heat, and the compression state can be maintained by itself.
The valve element according to item 1. 5. The hardness measured by an Asker C-type hardness tester when the elastic material having the communicating pores formed by the compression is 8 mm in thickness as a specimen.
The valve body according to claim 4, wherein the value is less than zero. 6. The compression according to claim 1, wherein the compression in the compression direction is 5% or more and 40% or less after compression molding. The valve body according to any one of claims 3 to 5. 7. The elastic material according to claim 3, wherein the number of holes per unit length on the surface of the elastic material before compression is not less than 4 holes / cm and not more than 1000 holes / cm. The valve body described. 8. The valve element according to claim 3, wherein a cross-sectional shape of the skeleton part continuous in a three-dimensional network is substantially triangular. 9. The valve body according to claim 1, wherein the elastic material is an ether-based polyurethane resin. 10. The valve body according to claim 9, wherein the material before compression molding has a hardness of 30 or more and less than 100 as measured by an Asker F-type hardness meter. 11. The valve element according to claim 1, wherein a liquid is applied to the valve element so as to be disposed between the through hole and the valve lid. 12. A liquid supply passage for connecting a liquid contained therein to liquid discharge means of a liquid discharger, and a ventilation passage through which air can pass through the inside and outside of the container. A liquid storage container for a liquid ejector, comprising: the valve body according to any one of claims 1 to 11 as a valve means capable of changing a ventilation amount according to a change in pressure. 13. The valve body, wherein the content liquid is 0.0000.
When supplied to 1cm ³ ~0.0001cm ³ liquid discharge means, without so that outside air flows, a liquid discharge dexterity liquid storage container according to claim 12, characterized in that greet least one pressure recovery point. 14. The liquid discharging means is a pen selected from a metal fountain pen nib, a ballpoint pen tip, a fiber converging pen nib, and a synthetic resin nib having a central ink passage. 14. A liquid storage container for a liquid ejector according to claim 13. 15. The liquid storage container for a liquid discharger according to claim 12, wherein the liquid discharge means is a printer head for an ink jet printer.