JP2001334677A - Ink jet cartridge, ink jet recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a possibility that user's hands or the periphery are stained with ink. SOLUTION: An ink cartridge 1 comprises a body, i.e., an ink tank 2, comprising a chamber 13 containing ink 12 and a chamber 14 containing an ink absorber 3, e.g. a sponge, an ink absorbing sheet 6 being impregnated with ink, and a cover 7 having an opening 8 for holding the ink absorbing sheet 6. The ink absorbing sheet 6 is held by the cover 7 at a supply port 4 made in the lower wall 17 of the ink absorber containing chamber 14 through a space 10 with respect to the ink absorber 3.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an ink jet cartridge and an ink jet recording apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, paper, cloth, plastic sheet, O
2. Description of the Related Art A recording apparatus that performs recording on a recording medium such as an HP sheet (hereinafter, also simply referred to as “recording paper”) employs various recording methods, for example, a recording head based on a wire dot method, a heat-sensitive method, a thermal transfer method, and an ink jet method. It has been proposed as a form that can be mounted.

In such a recording apparatus, as a low-noise non-impact recording method, an ink jet recording method in which ink is ejected from an ejection port (nozzle) arranged on a recording element and recording is performed on recording paper. A recording apparatus including a head (hereinafter, also referred to as an “inkjet recording apparatus”) can perform a high-density and high-speed recording operation.

[0004] The ink jet recording apparatus has a configuration corresponding to a unique function of a system or the like to which the apparatus is applied, a use form, and the like. In general, an ink jet recording apparatus includes a carriage on which an ink jet cartridge including a recording head, an ink tank, and a tank holder is mounted, a conveying unit for conveying a recording sheet, and a control unit for controlling these.

Then, the recording head for ejecting ink droplets from the plurality of ejection ports is moved in the recording paper transport direction (sub-scanning direction).
Is serially scanned in a direction (main scanning direction) orthogonal to the above, while the recording paper is intermittently conveyed (pitch fed) by an amount equal to the recording width during non-recording. By using a recording head in which a number of nozzles for ejecting ink are arranged on a straight line parallel to the sub-scanning direction, the recording head scans once on the recording paper to record a width corresponding to the number of nozzles. You.

In addition, the ink jet recording apparatus has a low running cost, can be downsized, and can easily cope with color image recording using a plurality of color inks.

For the above-mentioned reasons, the ink jet recording apparatus is used as an output terminal of an information processing system, for example, a printer as an output terminal such as a copying machine, a facsimile, an electronic typewriter, a word processor, a workstation, or a personal computer, a host computer, an optical disk. It is used and commercialized as a handy or portable printer included in a device, a video device, and the like.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing an example of a conventional ink cartridge of a type separated from a recording head used in such an ink jet recording apparatus.

An ink tank 202, which is a main body of the ink cartridge 201, includes an ink storage chamber 213 for storing the ink 212 and an ink absorber 203 such as a sponge.
, And an ink absorber storage chamber 21 in which a supply port 204 for supplying ink to a recording head (not shown) is formed.
And 4.

[0010] The ink storage chamber 213 and the ink absorber storage chamber 214 are separated by a partition wall 216 having a communication port 215 formed therein. The ink storage chamber 213 is substantially sealed except for the communication port 215, so that the ink 212 is not introduced into the ink absorber storage chamber 214 at a stretch, but the ink 212 is introduced with the gas-liquid exchange.

The ink cartridge 20 having such a configuration
Reference numeral 1 denotes a seal member 205 attached to the supply port 204 in order to prevent ink from leaking from the supply port 204 during distribution. This seal material 205 is peeled off before the ink cartridge 201 is mounted on the recording head and used,
Thus, ink can be supplied from the supply port 204 to the recording head. Also, the ink cartridge 201
In order to facilitate the supply of ink to the recording head, the ink in the ink absorber 203 is densely distributed near the supply port.

[0012]

However, in the conventional replaceable ink cartridge which can be separated from the recording head, once the seal material is peeled off, the ink in the ink absorber flows from the supply port to the vicinity of the supply port. This results in a state in which the densely distributed ink absorber is directly visible.
That is, the ink may leak from the supply port, or the user may directly touch the ink supply port. In addition, before the seal material is peeled off, the pressure inside the ink tank may become higher than the outside air pressure due to environmental fluctuation or the like, or ink may leak when vibration is applied. As a result, the hands and the like of the user may become dirty when the ink cartridge is replaced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an ink jet cartridge and an ink jet recording apparatus in which a user's hands and the like are less likely to become dirty.

[0014]

In order to achieve the above object, an ink jet cartridge according to the present invention comprises: an ink absorber housing section for housing an ink absorber capable of impregnating ink;
A supply unit for supplying the ink in the ink absorber storage unit to the outside, and detachably replaceable with a recording head capable of ejecting ink, on which a coupling unit inserted into the supply unit is formed. In a possible ink-jet cartridge, the ink cartridge is disposed so as to close the supply port, and is held apart from the ink absorber and in a space in a state where the pressing by the insertion of the coupling unit into the supply unit is not performed.
It has an ink-absorbing sheet that can be impregnated with ink.

[0015] In the ink jet cartridge of the present invention configured as described above, the ink absorbing sheet is disposed so as to close the supply port. Therefore, in a state where the ink jet cartridge is not attached to the recording head, the state where the ink absorber is exposed from the supply port does not occur. Further, the ink absorbing sheet is held so as to leave a space with the ink absorbing member when the recording head is not pressed by the insertion of the connecting portion of the recording head into the supply portion. There is no direct contact with the impregnated ink.

The ink absorbing sheet may be in contact with the ink absorbing member in a pressed state.

An ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention comprises: an ink jet cartridge according to the present invention; and a carriage which removably holds the ink jet cartridge and is supported so as to reciprocate along a surface of a recording medium. The recording head is configured to perform recording on a recording medium by discharging the ink supplied from the inkjet cartridge from the recording head based on an electric signal for discharging the ink.

In the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention configured as described above, the ink absorbing sheet of the ink jet cartridge is disposed so as to close the supply port. Therefore, in a state where the ink jet cartridge is not attached to the recording head, the state where the ink absorber is exposed from the supply port does not occur. Further, the ink absorbing sheet is held so as to leave a space with the ink absorbing member when the recording head is not pressed by the insertion of the connecting portion of the recording head into the supply portion. There is no direct contact with the impregnated ink.

[0019]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

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

The ink cartridge 1 has an ink storage chamber 13 in which ink 12 is stored and an ink storage chamber 14 in which an ink absorber 3 such as sponge is stored. And an ink absorbing sheet 6 that can be impregnated with ink, and a lid 7 having an opening 8 for holding the ink absorbing sheet 6.

Ink storage chamber 13 and ink absorber storage chamber 1
4 is partitioned by a partition wall 16 in which a communication port 15 is formed. The ink storage chamber 13 is substantially sealed except for the communication port 15, so that the ink 12 is not introduced into the ink absorber storage chamber 14 at once, and the ink
Is introduced.

The ink absorbing sheet 6 can be impregnated with ink and is made of a flexible material. The ink absorbing sheet 6 is disposed at a supply port 4 formed in a lower wall 17 of the ink absorbing chamber 14 for supplying ink to the recording head 9 (see FIG. 3). Since the ink absorbing sheet 6 is disposed outside the lower wall 17, the ink absorbing sheet 6 is disposed with the space 10 left with respect to the ink absorber 3 due to the thickness of the lower wall 17.

The lid 7 holds the ink absorbing sheet 6 by sandwiching the ink absorbing sheet 6 with the lower wall 17. However, the ink absorbing sheet 6 is not fixed, and when the ink absorbing sheet 6 is pressed from the opening 8 side to the supply port 4, the peripheral portion of the ink absorbing sheet 6 is formed between the lid 7 and the lower wall 17. It is held with a gap that can move between them. That is, the ink absorbing sheet 6 is held in the gap between the lid 7 and the lower wall 17 so that the ink absorbing sheet 6 does not stretch due to the pressing. For this reason, when the pressing is released, the ink absorbing sheet 6 that has been pressed and bent moves in the original direction in the gap between the lid 7 and the lower wall 17 in the peripheral direction, and is pressed. It can be restored to the original shape that was not present. However, since the ink absorbing sheet 6 is formed of a material having high elasticity, the ink absorbing sheet 6 is restored to the original state when the pressing is released, and if the space 10 can be formed, the ink absorbing sheet 6 6
May not be movably held.

Further, if the ink absorbing sheet 6 does not need to be restored to the original state when the pressing is released, the present invention is not limited to the above-described configuration.

Next, the state when the ink absorbing sheet is mounted on the recording head during distribution of the ink absorbing sheet will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view near the supply port of the ink cartridge during distribution.

A seal member 5 for preventing the ink from drying or flowing out of the ink absorber 3 is attached to the opening 8. For this reason, the user does not touch the inside of the opening 8, and thus the hand is not stained with the ink. This seal material 5 is peeled off when the ink cartridge 1 is used.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the vicinity of the supply port of the ink cartridge in a state where the sealing material has been peeled off and is not mounted on the recording head. A space 10 is formed between the ink absorbing sheet 6 and the ink absorbing body 3,
The ink absorbing sheet 6 and the ink absorbing body 3 are in a non-contact state.

A space 10 is formed between the ink absorbing sheet 6 and the ink absorbing body 3, and the ink absorbing sheet 6 and the ink absorbing body 3 are in a non-contact state. For this reason,
Even if the user touches the ink absorbing sheet 6 in the opening 8 before the ink cartridge 1 is attached to the recording head 9, the ink absorbing sheet 6 is not impregnated with the ink. Will not get dirty.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the vicinity of the supply port of the ink cartridge in a state where the ink cartridge is mounted on the recording head. When the tip of the connection portion 17 of the recording head 9 is inserted into the opening 8, the ink absorbing sheet 6 is deflected toward the ink absorber 3 and finally comes into contact with the ink absorber 3. Become. Then, the ink absorbing sheet 6 absorbs the ink impregnated in the ink absorber 3 and becomes ready to supply the recording head 9 with the ink. By reducing the pressure on the recording head 9 side in this state, the ink in the ink absorber 3 flows into the recording head 9 via the ink absorbing sheet 6.

When the recording head 9 is removed from the opening 8, the recording head 9 is separated from the ink absorbing sheet 6 and a space 10 is formed again between the ink absorbing sheet 6 and the ink absorbing member 3.

Although undesired, even if ink leaks from the ink absorber 3, the ink absorbing sheet 6
If the absorption capacity is within the range, it is possible to prevent the ink from flowing out of the ink cartridge 1, and it is possible to minimize the risk of soiling the user's hands and the like.

The above-described recording head 9 has an element substrate on which a plurality of ejection energy generating elements such as electrothermal transducers are arranged, a plurality of fine ejection ports, and a plurality of liquid flow grooves communicating with them. A grooved top plate, and a device manufactured by combining and joining the element substrate and the grooved top plate in a state where each of the discharge energy generating elements and each of the liquid flow grooves are accurately aligned. Good. Then, by inputting electric energy to each of the ejection energy generating elements from the outside, the ink cartridge 1 is brought into contact with each of the ejection energy generating elements.
Steep volume change in ink supplied from the air (bubble generation)
Is formed, and ink is ejected from an ejection port by an action force based on the state change of the liquid, and the ejected liquid is attached to a recording medium to form an image. It may be something.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an example of the ink jet recording apparatus of this embodiment.

The ink jet recording apparatus 1 shown in FIG.
In the case of 00, a lead screw 104 and a guide shaft 105 which are parallel to each other are provided in the housing. The carriage 10 is attached to the lead screw 104 and the guide shaft 105.
1 is mounted so as to be movable in a direction parallel to the lead screw 104 and the guide shaft 105. The carriage 101 is translated by rotating a lead screw 104 by a carriage motor (not shown).

The ink cartridge 1 connected to the recording head 9 is removably mounted on the carriage 101.

The ink jet recording apparatus 100 also includes a paper feed roller 107 that conveys a recording sheet 106 as a recording medium toward a recording area of the recording head 9 and discharges the recording sheet 106 recorded by the recording head 9. And a discharge roller 108 for performing the operation. Paper feed roller 1
07 and the paper discharge roller 108 are rotated by a motor (not shown).

The ink ejected from the recording head 9 adheres to the recording sheet 106 facing the ejection opening face of the recording head 9, thereby forming a recorded image on the surface of the recording sheet 106. Paper feed roller 10 rotated by a motor in conjunction with recording on recording paper 106 by recording head 9
The recording paper 106 is discharged to the outside of the ink jet recording apparatus by the paper discharge roller 7, the paper discharge roller 108, and the paper pressing plate 109.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the ink absorbing sheet 6 is provided on the lower wall 17 where the supply port 4 of the ink absorber housing chamber 14 is formed, so that the ink absorbing sheet 6 In addition, the ink absorber 3 is prevented from being directly exposed, and the ink absorber 3 is held with a space 10 therebetween. As a result, the ink absorbing sheet 6 is held so as to leave the ink absorber 3 and the space 10 in a state where the ink absorbing sheet 6 is not pressed by the insertion of the connection portion 17 of the recording head 9, so that the ink The hands and the like are not stained by directly touching the ink impregnated in the absorber 3.

[0041]

As described above, in the ink jet cartridge of the present invention, since the ink absorbing sheet is disposed so as to close the supply port, the ink absorbing member can be used without the ink jet cartridge attached to the recording head. It is not exposed from the supply port. further,
The ink absorbing sheet is held so as to leave a space with the ink absorbing member in a state where the ink absorbing sheet is not pressed by insertion of the coupling portion of the recording head into the supply portion, so that the user is impregnated with the ink absorbing member. Never touch the ink directly. For this reason, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the user's hands and the like are stained with the ink.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an ink cartridge that is an example of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the vicinity of a supply port of the ink cartridge shown in FIG. 1 in a state where it is not connected to a recording head.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view near a supply port of the ink cartridge shown in FIG. 1 in a state where the ink cartridge is connected to a recording head.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the vicinity of a supply port of the ink cartridge shown in FIG. 1 during distribution.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of an example of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a conventional ink cartridge.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 ink cartridge 2 tank 3 ink absorber 4 supply port 5 sealing material 6 ink absorbing sheet 7 lid 8 opening 9 recording head 10 space 11 ink intake section 12 ink 13 ink storage chamber 14 ink absorber storage chamber 15 communication port 16 partition Wall 17 Lower wall 100 Ink jet recording apparatus 101 Carriage 104 Lead screw 105 Guide shaft 106 Recording paper 107 Feed roller 108 Discharge roller

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An ink absorber storage section for storing an ink absorber that can be impregnated with ink, and a supply section for supplying the ink in the ink absorber storage section to the outside, and inserted into the supply section. An ink-jet cartridge which is detachably replaceable with respect to a recording head capable of ejecting ink and having a connecting portion formed therein, wherein the ink-jet cartridge is disposed so as to close the supply port, and is inserted into the supply portion by inserting the connecting portion into the supply portion. An ink-jet cartridge comprising an ink-absorbing sheet that can be impregnated with ink and that is held apart from the ink-absorbing body in a state where no pressure is applied. 2. The ink jet cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the ink absorbing sheet is in contact with the ink absorbing body when the pressing is performed. 3. An ink-jet cartridge according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: a carriage that detachably holds the ink-jet cartridge and that is supported so as to reciprocate along a surface of a recording medium. An ink jet recording apparatus, comprising: recording an ink supplied from the ink jet cartridge on the recording medium by discharging the ink from the recording head based on an electric signal to be discharged.