JP2001293880A - Ink cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink cartridge capable of stably supplying an ink liquid in a good concentration range even in the case it is stored for a long time. SOLUTION: In an ink supplying means 13 provided in an ink cartridge 1, an ink intake opening 14 on the ink storage chamber side is provided on the upper side surface of a tower part 31 for the ink intake projecting from the inner side bottom surface 11a of the ink storage chamber to the ink storage chamber inner side direction.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink cartridge, and more particularly to an ink cartridge filled with a pigment ink-impregnated porous support.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An ink cartridge has been widely used for supplying ink to an ink jet recording apparatus. For example, an ink cartridge for color printing is
An ink storage chamber and an ink supply unit are provided for each color ink, and the ink supply unit and an ink suction port provided on the ink jet recording device side are connected by being attached to a predetermined position of the ink jet recording device. Ink is supplied from the ink cartridge to the ink jet recording apparatus.

In the ink cartridge, a type in which the ink storage chamber is filled with a porous material such as urethane foam is widely used. This is an ink cartridge of a type in which a porous body is impregnated with liquid ink and filled in an ink storage chamber, and its main purpose is to supply ink stably.

[0004] On the other hand, in the ink jet recording method, the use of pigment ink instead of dye ink has been expanding. Even when pigment ink is used, it is convenient to use an ink cartridge, and it is even more advantageous to use a porous holder-filled ink cartridge.

However, since the pigment ink is an aqueous dispersion, there is a problem that the pigment particles settle. For example,
If the ink cartridge is left for a long period of time in a warehouse or a store shelf or the like, the pigment particles gradually settle down inside the ink storage chamber of the ink cartridge. As a result, a concentration gradient of the pigment particles occurs from the bottom to the top inside the ink storage chamber, a pigment particle concentration is high at the bottom, an excessively dark layer is formed, and a pigment particle concentration is at the top. A low, overly pale layer results. If printing is performed with the ink cartridge attached to the ink jet recording apparatus in this state, the ink is first supplied from the layer having a high pigment particle concentration, resulting in an excessively dark printed matter. Therefore, the purpose of stably supplying ink having a uniform pigment concentration cannot be achieved.

When the ink storage chamber of the ink cartridge is of a type that stores liquid ink as it is, before the ink cartridge is mounted on the ink jet recording apparatus, the ink liquid inside is agitated by sufficiently shaking the ink cartridge to disperse the pigment particles. It is possible to make the state uniform, but in the case of a porous holder-filled ink cartridge, the ink container is filled with the ink liquid impregnated in the porous holder, so that the ink container is filled with ink. Even when the cartridge is shaken, it may be extremely difficult or practically impossible to uniformly disperse the pigment particles.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a pigment ink cartridge filled with a porous carrier which has an extremely high pigment particle concentration and an excessively high color even when it is left for a long period of time. Another object of the present invention is to provide a means for preventing supply of dark ink to an ink jet recording apparatus.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided an ink supply means provided in an ink cartridge, wherein an ink intake port on an ink storage chamber side is provided from an inner bottom surface of the ink storage chamber to an inside of the ink storage chamber. The problem can be solved by an ink cartridge characterized in that the ink cartridge is provided on an upper side surface of an ink intake tower protruding in the direction.

In a preferred aspect of the present invention, a roof is provided at the top of the ink intake tower so that sediment does not fall along the side surface.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a roof on which sediment does not accumulate is provided on the top of the ink intake tower.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of the ink cartridge of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, an ink cartridge 1 according to the present invention has a housing 11 forming an outer wall thereof, a porous holder 12 filled in an ink storage chamber provided inside the housing 11, and an ink supply means 13. including. The porous holding member 12 is impregnated with a pigment ink liquid. In the case of the ink cartridge 1 for color printing, a plurality of ink storage chambers are present, and each ink storage chamber is filled with a porous holder 12 impregnated with each ink liquid, and each ink storage chamber is filled with ink. Supply means 13 is provided.

The ink supply means 13 provided at the bottom of the ink cartridge 1 is a means for supplying the ink impregnated in the porous holding member 12 to the ink jet recording apparatus. In this state, the ink supply unit is connected to the ink suction unit provided on the side of the ink jet recording apparatus (not shown), so that ink can be supplied. Ink supply means 1
Reference numeral 3 generally denotes an ink inlet 14 in contact with the porous holding member 12, a filter 15 provided inside the ink inlet 14, and an ink provided between the ink inlet 14 and the ink outlet 17. It includes a passage 16 and a needle-piercing membrane 18 provided near the ink outlet 17. Before the use of the ink cartridge 1 (that is, before the ink cartridge 1 is attached to a predetermined position of the ink jet recording apparatus), the piercing film 18 can keep the inside of the ink passage 16 sealed. However, when the ink cartridge 1 is attached to a predetermined position of the ink jet recording apparatus, the ink cartridge 1 is broken by an ink suction needle provided at the tip of the ink suction port on the side of the ink jet recording apparatus, and connects the ink passage 16 with the ink suction needle. be able to. The ink is transported from the ink suction needle through the ink guide tube in the ink jet recording apparatus to the printer head.

The ink outlet 1 of the ink supply means 13
A sealing means 19a can be provided outside of 7 as needed. By providing the sealing means 19a,
The sealing performance of the ink passage 16 and the ink storage chamber can be improved. The sealing means 19a can be, for example, a sheet material that can be adhered to and peeled from the ink outlet 17. Further, a needle-sticker fixing means 19b is provided inside the needle-piercing membrane 18 (on the ink passage 16 side), so that the needle after the needle-piercing membrane 18 is broken can be fixed in a sealed state. The puncture seal fixing means may be, for example, a donut-shaped rubber packing.

In the ink cartridge 1 of the present invention, the ink take-up tower 31 is provided on the inner bottom surface 1 of the ink storage chamber.
The ink intake port 14 is provided on the upper side surface of the ink intake tower 31 so as to protrude from the inside of the ink storage chamber 1a. Ink tower 31 usable in ink cartridge 1 of the present invention
2 to 4 (parts of the ink intake tower are front views).

In the ink intake tower 31 shown in FIG. 2, a columnar (for example, columnar or prismatic) tower portion protrudes from the inner bottom surface 11a of the ink storage chamber toward the inside of the ink storage chamber. A plurality of ink intake windows 14 as ink intake ports are provided on the upper side surface of the tower 31. The plurality of ink intake windows 14 may be provided over the entire circumference of the columnar tower portion 31 or may be provided partially.

The ink cartridge of the present invention including such an ink intake tower 31 is mounted on the inner bottom surface 1 of the ink storage chamber.
When stored for a long time in a state where 1a becomes the bottom surface, as shown in FIG. 2, a sedimentary layer 4 of pigment particles is formed on the inner bottom surface 11a of the ink storage chamber, and at the same time, Also, a settled layer 4a of pigment particles is formed. When the ink cartridge 1 on which the sedimentary layer 4 and the sedimentary layer 4a are formed is attached to a predetermined position of the ink jet recording apparatus, usually,
Since the vertical relationship (with respect to the direction of gravity) of the ink cartridge 1 does not change, the bottom where the sedimentation layer 4 and the sedimentation layer 4a are formed is located at the bottom in the ink jet recording apparatus. When ink is taken in from the sedimentation layer 4 and the sedimentation layer 4a and sent to the ink jet recording apparatus, a printed matter having an excessively dark color is formed, and a color difference from a subsequently formed printed matter becomes too large, which is not preferable.

However, in the ink cartridge 1 according to the present invention, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, since the ink intake window 14 is provided on the upper side surface of the ink intake tower 31, as described above, 4 does not come into contact with the sedimentation layer 4a. Therefore, the sedimentation layer 4 formed on the bottom of the ink cartridge 1 (that is, the bottom of each ink storage chamber) and the columnar tower 31 from the ink intake window 14. The sedimentation layer 4a formed on the top surface 32 is not taken in. Thus, an ink liquid having a suitable pigment particle concentration can be stably supplied through the printing process. Note that a layer having a low pigment particle concentration is formed on the upper portion of the ink cartridge 1 (that is, on the upper portion of each ink storage chamber). To prompt the user to replace the ink cartridge with a new one.

FIG. 3 shows a roof 33 on which the sediment does not fall along the side at the top of the ink intake tower 31.
The aspect provided with is shown. According to this aspect, even when the pigment particles are shaken off from the sedimentation layer 4a formed on the roof portion 33 by the vibration when the ink cartridge 1 is attached to the predetermined position of the ink jet recording apparatus and the printing process is performed. , Fall off from the side surface, so that the ink is not taken in from the ink taking-in window 14. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, a fence-like projection (not shown) may be provided at the end of the roof portion 33 to prevent the pigment particles from falling from the sedimentation layer 4a. A similar wall-shaped protrusion can be provided on the top surface 32 of the ink intake tower 31 in the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment in which a roof 34 having a slope on which sediment is not deposited is provided at the top of the tower 31 for taking in ink. According to this aspect, when the pigment particles settle and come into contact with the roof portion 34, the surface of the roof portion 34 is inclined toward the inner bottom surface 11a of the ink storage chamber. Along with no sedimentation layer on the surface of the roof 34. Therefore, the ink intake window 14 is formed at the bottom of the ink cartridge 1 (that is, at the bottom of each ink storage chamber).
As long as no contact is made, the sedimentation layer 4 is not taken in from the ink taking-in window 14, and an ink liquid having a suitable pigment particle concentration can be supplied. The shape of the roof having a slope that does not accumulate sediment is not only a cone (for example, a cone or a pyramid), but also a shape similar to various roofs of a general house (for example, a ridge, a gable, and a main house). , Square (one-sided), single-sided, thatched, or folded roof shape].

When the ink cartridge of the present invention is stored in a constant state for a long period of time before use, as described above, a settling layer is formed on the bottom of the ink cartridge (that is, the bottom of each ink storage chamber). It is preferable to store it in In order to store the ink cartridge in such a state, the vertical relationship at the time of storage may be indicated on the ink cartridge container, or a container having the directivity of gravity with the bottom of the ink cartridge serving as the bottom of the container may be used. As a container having gravity directivity, for example, the container shown in FIG. 5 can be mentioned.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a state where the storage container 5 containing the ink cartridge 1 is placed on the mounting table 6. The storage container 5 includes a housing 51 that forms an outer wall of the storage container 5. The housing section 51 provides an ink cartridge storage chamber 54 as a space for storing the ink cartridge 1 therein, and further includes an ink cartridge holding means 51a capable of detachably holding the ink cartridge 1. A weight 52 is provided on the inner bottom of the housing 51. The weight part 52 is fixed to the inner bottom part of the housing part 51 by a weight part fixing means 52a, if necessary. In addition, the storage container 5 generally has an opening for inserting and removing the ink cartridge 1 at an upper portion thereof, and the opening may be provided with the lid 53, but may not be provided. . As shown in FIG. 5, a holding means 53a is provided inside the lid 53 to hold the ink cartridge 1 from its upper surface and hold the ink cartridge 1 on the ink cartridge holding means 51a even when the storage container 5 rotates. Can be made holdable. In a storage container having no lid, a similar holding means can be provided inside the housing or in the ink cartridge holding means.

In the case 51, the bottom outer surface 55 is a spherical surface. Specific examples of the spherical surface include a spherical surface, a surface of an ellipsoid (for example, a rugby ball-like ellipsoid or a chicken egg-like ellipsoid), and a surface of a side surface of a cylinder.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the storage container 5,
Since the bottom outer surface 55 of the housing portion 51 is a spherical surface and has the weight portion 52 on the inner bottom portion, when the storage container 5 is placed on the mounting table 6, the bottom outer surface 55 of the housing portion 51 Is stably stopped in a state of contact with the surface of the mounting table 6 at the bottom pole 55a. For example, when the storage container 5 is placed so as to be in contact with the surface of the mounting table 6 at a position deviating from the bottom pole 55a, the storage container 5 is placed like the The reciprocating rolling motion centered on the bottom pole 55a is repeated on the surface of the base 6, but the amplitude of the reciprocating motion gradually decreases, and finally the bottom pole 55 a comes into contact with the surface of the mounting table 6. Stabilize still. Also, in the stationary state, even if a force is applied from the lateral direction such that the storage container 5 can be defeated if the weight 52 does not exist,
After repeating the reciprocating rolling motion similar to the above, it is possible to return to the same stable stationary state as described above.

In the storage container 5, the ink cartridge 1
Is held on the ink cartridge holding means 51a, as shown in FIG. 5, the bottom provided with the ink supply means 13 is held at the lowest position in the direction of gravity. In this state, the storage container 5 storing and storing the ink cartridge 1 has the gravitational directivity as described above, so that the ink cartridge 1 can be used for most of the storage period. It is stored in a state where the bottom provided with the ink supply means 13 is the lowest part in the direction of gravity. If the storage period is long, the pigment particles settle, and the sedimentation layer 4
Is formed at the bottom of the ink cartridge 1 and, in some cases, a settling layer 4a is also formed on the top surface 32 (see FIG. 2) and the roof 33 (see FIG. 3) of the columnar tower 31.

The ink cartridge of the present invention is preferably applied to an ink cartridge including an ink-impregnated porous holder, but may be applied to an ink cartridge not including a porous holder. Further, when the ink cartridge of the present invention is an ink cartridge including an ink-impregnated porous support, it is preferably applied to an ink cartridge including a pigment ink-impregnated porous support. The present invention can also be applied to an ink cartridge including a quality holder.

[0028]

According to the present invention, even when the ink cartridge filled with the porous ink impregnated with the pigment ink is stored and stored for a long period of time, the ink having an extremely high pigment particle concentration and an excessively dark color is obtained. Can be prevented from being supplied to the printer head of the ink jet recording apparatus, and only the ink liquid having a good density range can be supplied stably.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of an ink cartridge according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of one embodiment of an ink intake tower that can be used in the ink cartridge of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic front view of another embodiment of an ink intake tower that can be used in the ink cartridge of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of still another embodiment of an ink intake tower that can be used in the ink cartridge of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a state where the storage container of the present invention containing an ink cartridge is placed on a mounting table.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Ink cartridge 4, 4a ... Sedimentation layer 5 ... Storage container 6 ... Mounting table 11 ... Housing 11a ... Inner bottom surface of an ink storage chamber 12 ... Porous holder 13 ... Ink supply means 14 ... Ink intake port 15 ... Filter 16 ... Ink passage 17 ... Ink outlet 18 ... Film for penetrating needle 19a ... Seal means 19b ... Needle Seal fixing means 31 ・ ・ ・ Ink take-up tower 32 ・ ・ ・ Top surface of columnar tower 33 ・ ・ ・ Roof part which does not allow sediment to fall 34 ・ ・ ・ Slope roof part 51 ・ ・ ・ Housing part 51a ... Ink cartridge holding means 52 ... Weight part 52a ... Weight part fixing means 53 ... Lid part 53a ... Holding means 54 ... Ink cartridge storage chamber 55 ... Bottom outer surface 55a ···bottom

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An ink supply means provided in an ink cartridge, wherein an ink intake port on an ink storage chamber side has an upper side surface of an ink intake tower protruding from an inner bottom surface of the ink storage chamber toward an inside of the ink storage chamber. An ink cartridge, wherein the ink cartridge is provided in the ink cartridge. 2. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a roof is provided at a top of the tower for taking up ink so that sediment does not fall along a side surface. 3. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a roof on which sediment does not accumulate is provided at the top of the ink intake tower.