JP2003094682A5 - - Google Patents

Description

[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
According to this, since the leak of the ink can be prevented by the membrane valve, the amount of ink that can be stored can be increased, but since the ink storage chamber is located at the top, the pressure corresponding to the ink amount acts on the membrane valve It will be. As a result, in order to reduce the bottom area and increase the ink storage amount, it is necessary to increase the negative pressure at the time of opening the membrane valve, and when the ink remaining amount decreases, that is, the water head pressure of the ink There is a possibility that the print quality may be deteriorated when the value is lower than the specified value. On the other hand, there is a problem that if it is attempted to maintain the ink level within the predetermined range by emphasizing the printing quality, the ink remaining amount will increase.
Also, if printing is to be continued without regard to printing quality in an attempt to reduce the amount of ink left to be used, extra negative pressure is required to open the membrane valve, and a large negative pressure acts on the recording head. There is a problem that the meniscus of the nozzle of the recording head is destroyed and printing becomes impossible.
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and the object of the present invention is to suppress the bottom area of the container for containing ink and to control the water head pressure of the ink acting on the membrane valve as much as possible. the small, and to provide an ink cartridge that can be increased ink storage amount can be effectively used without lowering the printing quality.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an ink cartridge capable of easily changing the ink storage amount while achieving commonality of parts.

[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve such problems, in the present invention, the lower ink storage chamber, the upper ink storage chamber, the ink supply port for supplying ink to the recording head, and the lower ink storage chamber and the upper ink storage chamber are connected. A container comprising: an ink suction passage; an ink passage connecting the ink supply port and the upper ink storage chamber; and an atmosphere communication portion communicating the lower ink storage chamber with the atmosphere; And a negative pressure generating mechanism disposed in the middle of the ink flow path, and the lower ink storage chamber through the ink suction flow path corresponding to the pressure drop of the ink supply port caused by the consumption of the ink in the recording head The ink is moved to the upper ink storage chamber, and then the ink is discharged to the ink supply port through the negative pressure generating mechanism .

Claims (59)

Lower ink storage chamber, upper ink storage chamber, ink supply port for supplying ink to recording head, ink suction flow path connecting the lower ink storage chamber and the upper ink storage chamber, the ink supply port and the upper ink storage A container provided with an ink flow path connecting the chamber and an air communication portion connecting the lower ink storage chamber to the atmosphere; a negative pressure generating mechanism housed in the container and disposed in the middle of the ink flow path The ink in the lower ink storage chamber is moved to the upper ink storage chamber via the ink suction flow path in response to the pressure drop of the ink supply port caused by the consumption of the ink in the recording head. An ink cartridge for an ink jet recording apparatus, which is configured to discharge the ink to the ink supply port via a negative pressure generating mechanism. The ink cartridge for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the negative pressure generating mechanism is constituted by a differential pressure valve mainly composed of a membrane valve. The ink cartridge for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lower ink storage chamber and the upper ink storage chamber are partitioned by providing a wall extending in a substantially horizontal direction in the container. The ink cartridge for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the upper ink storage chamber is divided into a plurality of walls by a wall provided with a communication hole at a lower portion. 5. The ink cartridge for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a slope is disposed on the outflow side of the communication hole of the wall. The ink cartridge for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a slope is formed in the ink storage chamber so as to face the moving direction of the carriage when mounted on the carriage of the recording apparatus. The ink cartridge for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a filter is disposed upstream of the negative pressure generating mechanism in a flow path connecting the upper ink storage chamber and the negative pressure generating mechanism. The ink cartridge for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inlet side of the ink suction flow path is set to a cross-sectional area that can hold the ink by capillary force. The ink cartridge for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the suction flow path is formed by sealing a concave portion formed in the container with a film. 5. The ink cartridge for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein bottom surfaces of the plurality of regions forming the upper ink storage chamber are formed as slopes which become lower toward the downstream side. Among the plurality of areas forming the upper ink storage chamber, the area on the upstream side closest to the negative pressure generation mechanism and the negative pressure generation mechanism are communicated by a flow path extending in a substantially vertical direction. The ink cartridge for inkjet recording devices as described above. 12. The ink cartridge for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the flow path extending in the substantially vertical direction is formed by sealing a grooved flow path formed in the container with a film. The ink for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a frame portion is formed in the container so as to surround the outer periphery of the upper ink storage chamber and to form a space communicating with the lower ink storage chamber on both sides. cartridge. The ink cartridge for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the space is formed by a frame portion so that the wall dividing the container up and down is a part of the wall surface. The surface of the container is divided by an air-permeable and ink-repellent film to form two compartments, and the lower ink storage compartment is communicated with one of the compartments. Ink cartridge for inkjet recording device. 16. The ink cartridge for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the other of the chambers is in communication with the atmosphere by a passage formed on the surface of the container. A flow path extending upward from the vicinity of the upper portion of the lower ink storage chamber above the upper ink storage chamber is formed, and the lower ink storage chamber is communicated with the atmosphere via the flow path extending upward. The ink cartridge for inkjet recording devices as described above. The ink cartridge for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the container is configured of a bottomed box-like container main body and a lid which seals the opening of the container main body. 19. The ink cartridge for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 18, wherein at least one of the ink storage chambers is formed by sealing an opening of the container body with a film. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the frame-like portion is formed and partitioned inside the container main body, and the opening of the frame-like portion is sealed with a film to form the upper ink storage chamber. ink cartridge. 21. The ink cartridge for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the frame-like portion is formed to form a predetermined gap with the peripheral wall of the container body. 22. The ink cartridge for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the lower ink storage chamber is open to the atmosphere through a gap formed by the container body and the frame portion. 21. The ink cartridge for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 20, wherein a recess is formed in a region corresponding to a gap between the frame portion and the peripheral wall of the container body. The ink cartridge for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the recess is formed on the surface side of the container body. 25. The ink cartridge for an ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 20 to 24, wherein an inner region of the frame portion is partitioned to form a plurality of chambers in the horizontal direction by a wall having a communication hole. 21. The ink cartridge for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 20, wherein a negative pressure generating mechanism is accommodated in an area in which the upper ink accommodating chamber is formed. The ink cartridge for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an opening for injecting ink is formed in the vicinity of the ink suction flow path. Lower ink storage chamber, upper ink storage chamber, ink supply port for supplying ink to recording head, ink suction flow path connecting the lower ink storage chamber and the upper ink storage chamber, the ink supply port and the upper ink storage A container provided with an ink flow path connecting a chamber and an air communication flow path connecting the lower ink storage chamber to the atmosphere, and a negative pressure generated in the container and disposed in the middle of the ink flow path An ink cartridge for an ink jet recording apparatus, comprising: a mechanism; and a filter made of a porous material loaded in the middle of a flow path connecting the negative pressure generating mechanism and the upper ink storage chamber. The ink cartridge for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the filter is disposed in an area facing the negative pressure generating mechanism. The ink cartridge for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 28, wherein a flow path connecting the upper ink storage chamber and the filter is formed in a circular shape in a vertical plane in the vicinity of the storage area of the filter. 31. The ink cartridge for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 30, wherein a bubble trap area is formed by enlarging a part of the circular flow path. The ink for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the filter is loaded in the through hole formed in the container so as to constitute a flow path connecting the upper ink storage chamber and the negative pressure generating mechanism. cartridge. The ink cartridge for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the filter is accommodated in a recess formed on the back surface of the negative pressure generating mechanism. The bottom of the lower ink storage chamber is formed by dividing the container having the ink supply port at the bottom into two by the wall and forming the lower ink storage chamber at the lower side and the upper ink storage chamber at the upper side. An ink flow path connecting the upper ink storage chamber is formed, and a negative pressure generation mechanism is disposed in the middle of the flow path connecting the ink supply port and the upper ink storage chamber and in a region corresponding to the upper ink storage chamber The ink in the lower ink storage chamber is moved to the upper ink storage chamber via the ink flow path in response to the pressure drop of the ink supply port caused by the consumption of the ink in the recording head, and then the negative An ink cartridge for an ink jet recording apparatus, which is configured to discharge the ink to the ink supply port via a pressure generating mechanism. 34. The ink cartridge for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the upper ink storage chamber is formed in a back-to-back relationship so that the filter chamber is on the upstream side and the downstream side of the negative pressure generating mechanism. 35. The ink cartridge for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the upper region of the filter chamber is in communication with the lower ink storage chamber through a flow path formed in a circumferential shape at least in a vertical plane. The ink cartridge for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the upper ink storage chamber is divided into a plurality of regions by a wall having a communication hole. The ink cartridge for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the ink storage portion is formed with an ink inlet and an outlet near a bottom. A bottom portion of the upper ink storage chamber, which has at least two ink storage chambers, one of which is located substantially at the top and the other at substantially the bottom, which defines a container provided with an ink supply port. An inkjet is provided by connecting a region and a lower region of the lower ink storage chamber located in the lower portion with an ink suction flow passage, and providing a negative pressure generating mechanism in the flow passage connecting the upper ink storage chamber and the ink supply port. Ink cartridge for recording device. 40. The ink cartridge for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the upper ink storage chamber is divided into a plurality of areas by a wall communicating at the bottom. 40. The ink cartridge for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 39, wherein a filter is stored in a flow path connecting the upper ink storage chamber and the negative pressure generation mechanism. 40. The ink cartridge for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the inlet side of the ink suction flow path is set to a cross-sectional area that can hold the ink by capillary force. The ink cartridge for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 42, wherein the suction flow path is formed by sealing a concave portion formed in the container with a film. 41. The ink cartridge for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 40, wherein bottom surfaces of a plurality of areas forming the upper ink storage chamber are formed to be lower toward the negative pressure generating mechanism. The plurality of areas forming the upper ink storage chamber, the area immediately upstream of the negative pressure generation mechanism and the negative pressure generation mechanism are communicated by a flow path extending in a substantially vertical direction. The ink cartridge for an inkjet recording device according to claim 1. 46. The ink cartridge for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 45, wherein the flow path extending in the substantially vertical direction is formed by sealing a recess formed in the inside of the container with a film. 41. The ink cartridge for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 40, wherein a space which surrounds the upper ink storage chamber and communicates with the lower ink storage chamber on both sides is formed on the outer periphery of the upper ink storage chamber. The ink cartridge for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 47, wherein the space is formed by a frame-shaped wall so that the wall dividing the container up and down is a part of the wall surface. The chamber is formed by dividing the surface of the container body into two by a film having air permeability and ink repellency, and the lower ink storage chamber communicates with one of the chambers. The ink cartridge for inkjet recording devices as described above. 50. The ink cartridge for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 49, wherein the other of the chambers is in communication with the atmosphere by a passage formed on the surface of the container body. 40. The ink cartridge for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 39, wherein an ink inlet is formed in the vicinity of the ink suction passage. The container is constituted by a container main body having an opening on one surface and a lid for sealing the opening, and the upper ink storage chamber is divided by a wall formed in the container main body and a film. 40. The ink cartridge for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the negative pressure generating mechanism is accommodated in a recess formed in the surface of the container body. 40. The ink cartridge for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the lower ink storage chamber is in communication with the atmosphere via a flow path extending to the upper region of the container. 40. The ink cartridge for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the upper ink storage chamber is divided into a plurality of portions by a bottom and a wall provided with an opening for communication at the top. 40. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 39, wherein a through hole is formed in the concave portion accommodating the differential pressure valve mechanism, the ink storage chamber side is sealed by a film different from the film, and the ink is communicated with the upper ink storage chamber through a filter. Ink cartridge for recording device. The negative pressure generating mechanism accommodates a membrane valve holding plate having a membrane valve and a recess serving as a flow passage communicating with the ink supply port in a recess formed in the container body, and a film is formed on the surface of the container body 40. The ink cartridge for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the ink cartridge is configured by sticking a. 40. The ink cartridge for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the lower ink storage chamber is kept in a closed state at all times, and is communicated with the air via an air release valve which is opened when installed in the recording apparatus. The valve body is attached to the container main body in a state where the air release valve maintains a closed state at all times and is pressed by the biasing member so as to be opened by an external pressure, and the external pressure is applied. 40. The ink cartridge for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the ink cartridge is sealed by an elastically deformable film. 59. The ink cartridge for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 58, wherein an elastomeric sealing portion is formed in a sealing area of the valve body.