JP2003145800A - Structure and method for housing ink cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a structure and a method for housing an ink cartridge in which uniform print density and quality can be attained. SOLUTION: In the structure comprising an ink cartridge 1 having a section for housing only ink and an ink supply opening communicating with the ink- housing section, and a packaging box 92 containable of the ink cartridge 1, and housing the ink cartridge 1 in the packaging box 92, the ink cartridge 1 is arranged in such an attitude as the ink supply opening 4 is located on the upper side when the cartridge is contained.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink cartridge housing structure and method for supplying ink to a head for a recording apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an ink jet recording apparatus is a recording head mounted on a carriage and moving in the width direction of a recording sheet, and a sheet for relatively moving the recording sheet in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the recording head. And a feeding means.

In such an ink jet type recording apparatus, printing on a recording sheet is performed by ejecting ink droplets from a recording head based on print data.

On the carriage, for example, black,
Equipped with a recording head capable of ejecting yellow, cyan, and magenta inks, not only text printing with black ink but also full-color printing is possible by changing the ejection ratio of each ink.

For this reason, an ink cartridge for supplying each ink to the recording head is arranged in the main body of the apparatus.

In a general ink jet recording apparatus, the ink cartridges storing the black, yellow, cyan and magenta inks are placed on a carriage and move together with the carriage.

[0007]

By the way, the above-mentioned ink cartridge (ink cartridge filled with ink) is usually housed in the packaging body so that the recording head mounting side, that is, the ink supply port is on the lower side, and is also exhibited. The packaging body is not placed upside down in a state or during transportation (conveyance), so that it is left for a long time in a posture in which the ink supply port is on the lower side.

Even when the ink cartridge in such a package is taken out of the package and mounted on the head for the recording apparatus, there is no change in the attitude of the ink cartridge between the cartridge stored state and the cartridge mounted state, and the ink in the cartridge is not changed. Is used without being mixed and separated into a high-concentration ink layer and a low-concentration ink layer. This is remarkable when the ink is a pigment-based ink that tends to have a density gradient. As a result, there is a problem that only high-concentration ink close to the ink supply port is consumed at the initial stage of ink use, and uniform print density and quality cannot be obtained.

The present invention has been made to solve such a technical problem. When the cartridge is used, the posture of the ink cartridge can be changed by reversing the ink cartridge to mix the ink in the cartridge. An object of the present invention is to provide an ink cartridge storage structure and method that can obtain uniform print density and quality.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the ink cartridge storage structure according to the present invention has an ink storage section for storing only ink and an ink supply port communicating with the ink storage section. And a packaging body capable of accommodating the ink cartridge, wherein the ink cartridge is accommodated in the packaging body.
It is characterized in that the cartridge is accommodated in a posture different from that in use.

With this configuration, when the ink cartridge inside the package is taken out of the package and mounted on the head for the recording apparatus, the ink cartridge is inverted and its posture changes.

Therefore, since the ink in the cartridge is mixed when the ink cartridge is mounted on the head, uniform print density and quality can be obtained when the ink is used.

Here, it is desirable that the ink supply port is arranged in a posture such that the ink supply port is located on the upper side when the cartridge is accommodated.

Further, it is desirable that the package is a reduced pressure pack or an individual packaging box.

With this configuration, when the ink cartridge in the reduced pressure pack or the individual packaging box is taken out of the reduced pressure pack or the individual packaging box and mounted on the head for the recording apparatus, the ink in the cartridge is mixed. .

Further, it is desirable that the ink containing portion has an ink tank chamber and an ink end chamber.

Furthermore, it is desirable that the packaging body is a packaging body having a suspending portion with a locking hole.

With such a configuration, when the ink cartridge is displayed / displayed, the locking hole of the suspending portion is locked by, for example, a metal fitting for locking.

Therefore, since the ink supply port is displayed and displayed in such a posture that the ink supply port is located on the upper side, when the ink cartridge in the package is taken out of the package and mounted on the head for the recording apparatus from this state, the ink inside the cartridge is removed. The ink is mixed.

Further, it is desirable that the packaging body is a packaging body which can be stored in an outer box for transportation.

With this structure, the package can be housed in the outer box and conveyed in such a posture that the ink supply port is located on the upper side.

Therefore, when the package is taken out of the outer box and inverted, the ink cartridge is also inverted and the ink in the cartridge is mixed.

Further, it is desirable that a display portion for distinguishing between the upper side and the lower side is formed on the packaging body.

With this configuration, the ink cartridge can be reliably stored in the packaging body in a posture different from the usage state.

Further, it is desirable that the ink in the ink cartridge is a pigment-based ink.

With this structure, even if the pigment of the ink settles on the bottom of the cartridge, the ink in the cartridge is mixed by being mounted on the head of the ink cartridge.

On the other hand, the method of accommodating the ink cartridge according to the present invention is capable of accommodating the ink cartridge having the ink accommodating portion for accommodating only the ink and the ink supply port communicating with the ink accommodating portion. A method of storing the ink cartridge in the package, the method comprising: storing the ink cartridge in the package in a posture different from a usage state.

According to such a method, the posture of the ink cartridge changes between the cartridge housed state and the cartridge mounted state.

Therefore, when the ink cartridge in the package is taken out of the package and mounted on the head for the recording apparatus, the ink in the cartridge is mixed and an ink cartridge having uniform print density and quality when the ink is used can be obtained. .

Here, it is preferable that the ink cartridge is housed in the packaging body in a posture such that the ink supply port is located on the upper side.

Further, it is preferable that the package is a reduced pressure pack or an individual packaging box.

In this way, as in the case of the above-mentioned storage structure, when the ink cartridge in the vacuum pack or the individual packaging box is taken out of the vacuum pack or the individual packaging box and mounted on the head for the recording apparatus, Inks are mixed.

Further, it is desirable that the ink is a pigment-based ink.

In this way, as in the case of the above-mentioned storage structure, even if the pigment of the ink settles on the bottom of the cartridge, the ink in the cartridge is mixed by being mounted on the head of the ink cartridge.

It is desirable to store the ink cartridge while visually recognizing the display portion previously displayed on the package as a mark.

In this way, the ink cartridge can be reliably stored in the package in a posture different from the use state.

[0037]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An ink cartridge storage structure and method to which the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings.

First, regarding the ink cartridge, FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the entire ink cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention. 2A and 2B are perspective views showing the outer appearance of the ink cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are perspective views of the internal structure of the ink cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention as seen from diagonally above and diagonally below. 5 and 6 are a front view and a rear view showing the internal structure of the ink cartridge according to the embodiment of the invention. 7 and 8 are enlarged cross-sectional views of the negative pressure generating means housing chamber and the valve housing chamber of the ink cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a front view showing a connection state of the ink cartridge according to the embodiment of the invention with the cartridge holder. FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view for explaining the ink cartridge storage structure according to the present embodiment.

The ink cartridge 1 shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b) has a container body (lower case) 2 that is open to one side and has a substantially rectangular shape in plan view, and a lid that seals the opening of the container body 2. A body (upper case) 3 is provided, and the inside thereof is roughly constituted by an ink flow channel system and an air flow channel system (both described later).

The ink cartridge 1 is filled with ink and is housed in the decompression pack 91 in such a posture that the ink supply port 4 is located on the upper side as shown in FIG.

The decompression pack 91 is formed of, for example, a transparent bag, and is configured to accommodate the ink cartridge 1 by vacuum suction inside the cartridge accommodation state. As a result, when the ink cartridge 1 is housed in the decompression pack 91 and sealed, the decompression pack 9
Until the ink cartridge 1 in 1 is taken out of the decompression pack 91, air can be prevented from entering the cartridge, and the ink cartridge 1 can be provided in a state in which the degree of deaeration / cleanness of the ink is guaranteed.

The ink cartridge 1 housed in the decompression pack 91 is housed in the individual packaging box 92 in such a posture that the ink supply port 4 is located above. The individual packaging box 92 includes a rectangular tubular main body 92a that opens upward and a lid 92b that opens and closes the main body 92a, and is formed by a rectangular box body that is entirely made of paper material. On the outer surface of the individual packaging box 92, a reading unit 92c for displaying, for example, a company name is displayed.

Then, the individual packaging box 92 and the vacuum pack 91
When the ink cartridge 1 housed inside is taken out to the outside and mounted on the recording head 112, the ink supply port 4 is arranged on the lower side by reversing the ink cartridge 1 so that the ink in the cartridge is mixed. .

In the lower part of the container body 2, an ink supply port 4 connectable to an ink supply needle 72 (both shown in FIG. 9) of the recording head 112 and a first side which is parallel to the side of the ink supply port 4 are provided. Opening (open hole) 85, second opening 86
(Both shown in FIGS. 4 and 5). The ink supply port 4 communicates with a differential pressure valve storage chamber described later, and the first opening 85 communicates with the first ink storage chamber 11.

Inside the ink supply port 4, as shown in FIG. 1, a substantially cylindrical seal member 200 made of rubber or the like is mounted. A through hole 200a that opens in the axial direction is provided at the center of the seal member 200. Further, in the ink supply port 4, the ink supply needle 72
A spring receiver (valve body) 201 that opens and closes the through hole 200a by inserting and removing is disposed, and a compression coil spring 202 that biases the spring receiver 201 toward the seal member 200 is mounted.

On the upper side of the container body 2, locking members 5 and 6 which can be attached to and detached from the cartridge holder are integrally provided. Then, as shown in FIG. 2A, a circuit board (IC board) 7 is arranged below one of the locking members 5.
The lower part of the other locking member 6 is shown in FIGS.
A valve storage chamber 8 is arranged as shown in FIG.

The circuit board 7 has information data relating to ink, such as color type, pigment / dye type ink type,
It has a memory element that writably stores data such as the remaining ink amount, serial number, expiration date, and target model.

As shown in FIG. 8, the valve accommodating chamber 8 has an internal space that is open to the cartridge insertion side (lower side), and the interior space is identified on the side of the recording apparatus that matches the ink cartridge 1. The piece 73 (shown in FIG. 9) and the valve operating rod 70 move back and forth. An operation arm 66 of an identification block 87 that rotates as the valve operating rod 70 moves back and forth is housed in the upper portion of the internal space. Further, an identification convex portion 68 for determining suitability for the recording apparatus is provided in the lower portion of the internal space.
The identification convex portion 68 is provided before the ink supply needle 72 (shown in FIG. 9) on the recording device side is communicated with the ink supply port 4 (before the atmosphere release valve described later is opened).
The cartridge holder 71 (shown in FIG. 9) is arranged at a position that allows judgment by the valve operating rod 70.

Further, the valve accommodating chamber 8 (atmosphere opening chamber 50
On the chamber wall 8a of 1), as shown in FIG.
A through hole 60 is provided as an atmosphere communicating hole that opens and closes by the opening and closing operation of 01. The operation arm 66 is arranged on one opening side of the through hole 60, and the atmosphere opening valve 601 is arranged on the other opening side. The operation arm 66 is a pressure film (stretchable film).
It has an operating portion 66b for pressing 61, is disposed so as to project obliquely upward in the path of the valve operating rod 70, and is fixed to the container body 2 via a rotation fulcrum 66a.

The pressure film 61 has the through hole 60.
Is attached to the chamber wall 8a so as to close the
The whole is formed by an elastic seal member such as rubber. An internal space formed between the pressure film 61 and the opening peripheral edge of the through hole 60 is opened to a through hole 67 (both shown in FIG. 5) communicating with the first ink storage chamber 11. .

As shown in FIG. 8, the atmosphere opening valve 601 includes a valve body 65 for opening and closing the through hole 60 and an elastic member (a leaf spring) for constantly urging the valve body 65 toward the opening peripheral edge of the through hole 60. ) 62. Of these, the elastic member 62
A through hole 62b is provided at the upper end of the through hole 6b.
A protrusion 64 is inserted into 2b and the movement of the protrusion 64 is restricted (guided). On the other hand, its lower end is fixed on the container body 2 via a protrusion 63.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 88 is an identification label attached to the upper surface of the container body 2 corresponding to the block 87, and 89 is the ink supply port 4 (through hole 200a). A film 90 is a film for sealing the first opening 85 and the second opening 86.

Next, the "ink flow channel system" and the "air flow channel system" in the container body 2 will be described with reference to FIGS.

"Ink flow path system" In the ink cartridge 1, as shown in FIG. 1, the lid 3 is joined to the front side of the container body 2 via inner films (air-shielding films) 56 and 502. By doing so, and by bonding the protective label 83 to the back side of the container body 2 via the outer film (air-shielding film) 57, an inner space is formed. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, this internal space is divided into upper and lower parts by a partition wall 10 extending so that the ink supply port side of the recording head 112 (shown in FIG. 9) is slightly downward. . The lower region of this internal space is the first ink storage chamber 11 which is open to the atmosphere when the recording head 112 is connected.

In the first ink storage chamber 11, two intermediate walls 300 and 301 having different height positions are provided. One of the intermediate walls 300 is the ink storage chamber 1
It is arranged at a predetermined distance from one side surface portion of No. 1.
The other intermediate wall 301 faces the bottom surface portion of the first ink containing chamber 11 and is arranged on the ink supply port side of the intermediate wall 300. The intermediate wall 301 separates the first ink storage chamber 11 into two space portions 11a and 11b arranged in parallel in the ink injection direction (up and down). Further, the intermediate wall 301 is provided with a through hole 301a having the same axis as the axis of the first opening 85.

On the other hand, the upper region of the internal space is divided by the frame portion 14 having the partition wall 10 as a bottom portion. The inner space of the frame portion 14 has the recording head 112.
To the upper ink storage chamber (second ink storage chamber, third ink storage chamber)
The upper ink storage chamber is divided into right and left portions by a vertical wall 15 having a communication port 15a. One side region of the divided internal space is a second ink storage chamber 16, and the other side region is a third ink storage chamber 17.

The first ink is stored in the second ink storage chamber 16.
A communication flow path 18 communicating with the ink storage chamber 11 is connected. This communication flow path 18 has communication ports 18a,
18b. The communication channel 18 has a recessed portion 18c (shown in FIG. 6) that opens in the back surface of the container body 2 and extends in the up-down direction, and an air-permeable film that closes and seals the opening of the recessed portion 18c ( It is formed by the outer film 57). Further, a partition wall 19 having two upper and lower communication ports 19a and 19b that communicate with the inside of the first ink storage chamber 11 is provided on the upstream side of the communication flow path 18. One communication port 19a is provided in the first ink storage chamber 1
It is arranged at a position that opens in the lower region of the inside 1. The other communication port 19b is arranged at a position that opens in the upper region in the first ink containing chamber 11.

On the other hand, the third ink storage chamber 17 is provided with a horizontally long partition wall 22 and an annular partition wall 24, as shown in FIG.
The differential pressure valve accommodating chamber 33 accommodating the differential pressure valve 52 (membrane valve) shown in FIG.
6 (shown in FIG. 6) and a filter chamber 34 (shown in FIG. 5) that accommodates the filter 55 (nonwoven fabric filter) shown in FIG. 7 are formed. The partition wall 25 is provided with a through hole 25 a that guides the ink that has passed through the filter 55 from the filter chamber 34 to the differential pressure valve storage chamber 33.

Below the partition wall 24, the partition wall 10 is provided.
A partition wall 26 having a communication opening 26a is provided between the partition wall 27 and the frame portion 14, and a partition wall 27 having a communication opening 27a is provided between the partition wall 26 and the frame portion 14. Then, between the partition wall 27 and the frame portion 14, the communication port 27a is communicated,
A communication passage 28 that extends in the vertical direction is provided.
A through hole 29 that communicates with the filter chamber 34 through the communication port 24a and the region 31 is provided in an upper portion of the communication passage 28.

The through hole 29 is formed by a partition wall (annular wall) 30 continuous with the partition wall 27.

The area 31 includes the partition walls 22, 24,
30 and the partition wall 30a (shown in FIG. 6). The region 31 is formed such that one end portion (a portion communicating with the through hole 29) of the container body 2 is deep and the other end portion (a portion communicating with the filter chamber 34) is shallow.

As shown in FIG. 7, the differential pressure valve accommodating chamber 33 accommodates a membrane valve 52 such as an elastomer which is an elastically deformable differential pressure valve. This membrane valve 52 has a through hole 5
2c, the through hole 52c is urged toward the filter chamber (valve seat portion 25b) by the compression coil spring 50, and the outer peripheral edge of the through hole 52c is provided through the annular thick portion 52a to the container body 2
It is fixed by ultrasonic welding. The compression coil spring 50 has one end supported by a spring receiver 52b of the membrane valve 52 and the other end supported by a spring receiver 203 in the differential pressure valve accommodating chamber 33.

Reference numeral 54 in the figure denotes a frame portion integrally formed with the thick portion 52a of the membrane valve 52.

As shown in FIG. 7, the filter chamber 34 is provided with the filter 55 that allows ink to pass through and traps dust and the like. The opening of the filter chamber 34 is sealed by the inner film 56, and the opening of the differential pressure valve housing chamber 33 is sealed by the outer film 57. Then, when the pressure in the ink supply port 4 decreases in accordance with the consumption of ink, the membrane valve 52 separates from the valve seat portion 25b against the biasing force of the compression coil spring 50 (the through hole 52c opens), The ink that has passed through the filter 55 passes through the through hole 52c and flows into the ink supply port 4 through the flow path formed by the recess 35. When the ink pressure in the ink supply port 4 rises to a predetermined value, the membrane valve 52 causes the compression coil spring 5 to move.
It is configured so that it is seated on the valve seat portion 25b by an urging force of 0 and blocks the flow of ink. By repeating such an operation, ink is supplied to the ink supply port 4 while maintaining a constant negative pressure.

"Air flow path system" As shown in FIG. 6, a meandering groove 36 for increasing the flow path resistance is formed on the back surface of the container body 2.
And a wide concave groove 37 (hatched portion) that opens into the atmosphere,
Further, a concave portion 38 (space portion) having a substantially rectangular shape in a plane reaching the first ink storage chamber 11 (shown in FIG. 5) is provided. A frame 39 and a rib 40 are provided in the recess 38, and an air permeable film 84 is stretched over these to form an atmosphere ventilation chamber. Further, a through hole 41 is provided in the bottom surface (wall portion) of the recess 38, and communicates with an elongated region 43 defined by a partition wall 42 (shown in FIG. 5) of the second ink storage chamber 16. . This region 43 has a through hole 44, and the communication groove 4 defined by the partition wall 603.
5 and a through hole 46 that opens to the communication groove 45, and communicates with the atmosphere open chamber 501 (shown in FIG. 8). The opening of the atmosphere opening chamber 501 is sealed by the inner film (air-shielding film) 502 shown in FIG.

With the above configuration, when the ink cartridge 1 is mounted in the cartridge holder 71 as shown in FIG. 9, the valve operating rod 70 of the cartridge holder 71 comes into contact with the operation arm 66 shown in FIG. (Pressure film 61) is moved to the valve body side. As a result, the valve body 65 is separated from the opening peripheral edge of the through hole 60, and the first ink containing chamber 11 shown in FIG. 5 has the through hole 67, the through hole 60, the through hole 46, the groove 45, the through hole 44, the region 43, and the through hole 67. Through hole 41
To the recess 38 (in the atmosphere) shown in FIG.
In addition, the valve body 201 in the ink supply port 4 has the ink supply needle 7
The valve is opened by inserting 2.

When the valve body 201 in the ink supply port 4 opens and ink is consumed by the recording head 112, the pressure in the ink supply port 4 drops below a specified value. The membrane valve 52 in the pressure valve accommodating chamber 33 opens (when the pressure in the ink supply port 4 rises above a specified value, the membrane valve 52 closes), and the ink in the differential pressure valve accommodating chamber 33 changes to the ink supply port 4. Through the recording head 112.

Further, as the ink consumption in the recording head 112 progresses, the ink in the first ink storage chamber 11 is discharged as shown in FIG.
It flows into the second ink storage chamber 16 via the communication flow path 18 shown in FIG.

On the other hand, as ink is consumed, air flows in through the through hole 67 (shown in FIG. 5) communicating with the atmosphere, and the ink level in the first ink chamber 11 drops. Furthermore, when the ink is consumed and the ink surface reaches the communication port 19a, the second
Ink from the first ink storage chamber 11 (opened to the atmosphere through the through hole 67 when ink is supplied) flows into the ink storage chamber 16 together with air through the communication flow path 18. Then, since the bubbles rise due to the buoyancy, only the ink passes through the communication port 15a in the lower portion of the vertical wall 15 and the third ink storage chamber 1
7 into the partition wall 2 from the third ink chamber 17
6 passes through the communication port 26a, rises in the communication passage 28, and flows into the upper part of the filter chamber 34 from the communication passage 28 through the region 31 and the communication port 24a.

After this, the ink in the filter chamber 34 is removed as shown in FIG.
6 through the filter 55 to flow into the differential pressure valve housing chamber 33 from the through hole 25a, and further through the through hole 52c of the membrane valve 52 separated from the valve seat portion 25b, and then descends in the recess 35 shown in FIG. And flows into the ink supply port 4.

In this way, the ink is supplied from the ink cartridge 1 to the recording head 112.

When different kinds of ink cartridges 1 are mounted in the cartridge holder 71, the identification convex portion 68 (shown in FIG. 7) is formed before the ink supply port 4 reaches the ink supply needle 72. The identification piece 73 of the holder 71 (shown in FIG. 9) is brought into contact with the holder 71 to prevent the valve rod 70 from entering. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of troubles caused by mounting different kinds of ink cartridges. Further, in this state, the valve operating rod 70 moves the operating arm 66.
Since the valve body 65 remains closed,
Evaporation of the ink solvent in the ink containing chamber 11 due to standing is prevented.

On the other hand, when the ink cartridge 1 is pulled out from the mounting position of the cartridge holder 71, the operating arm 66 loses its support by the operating rod 70 and elastically returns, and the valve body 65 elastically returns accordingly. Since the through hole 60 is closed, the communication between the recess 38 and the first ink containing chamber 11 is blocked.

Next, a method for accommodating the ink cartridge 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The ink cartridge 1 is assumed to have the ink supply port 4 sealed by the film 89 and the first opening 85 and the second opening 86 sealed (sealed) by the film 90 after the ink is injected.

Ink cartridge 1 in this embodiment
The ink is stored in the ink cartridge 1 as shown in FIG.
After being stored in the decompression pack 91 in such a posture that the ink supply port 4 is located on the upper side, this (packed ink cartridge) is also stored in the individual packaging box 92 in a posture that the ink supply port 4 is also located on the upper side. It is done by storing it in the.

At this time, the ink cartridge 1 is stored while visually recognizing the display portion 92c of the individual packaging box 92 as a mark.
In this way, the ink cartridge 1 can be reliably stored in the individual packaging box 92 in such a posture that the ink supply port 4 is located on the upper side.

The reading unit 92c may be a character or number indicating the manufacturer name, location, etc. normally displayed in the individual packaging box 92, but other characters specially displayed for accommodating the ink cartridge 1. And so on.

When the ink cartridge 1 thus stored is taken out to the outside and mounted on the recording head 112,
When the ink cartridge 1 is turned upside down, its posture changes. That is, when the ink cartridge 1 is mounted on the recording head 112, the ink supply port 4 moves from the position in which the ink supply port 4 is positioned on the upper side to the position in which the ink supply port 4 is positioned on the lower side. In this case, the upper ink storage chamber (second ink storage chamber 1
6, the third ink storage chamber 17 and the like) are arranged on the upper side, and the first ink storage chamber 11 is arranged on the lower side. Therefore, of the internal ink in both chambers, the ink of the high-concentration ink layer formed in the lower region flows to the upper region, and the ink of the low-concentration ink layer formed in the upper region flows to the lower region. The ink in each chamber is mixed.

In this state, when the supply of ink to the recording head 112 is started, the ink in the upper ink chamber is opened by opening the differential pressure valve (membrane valve) 52 and the through hole 5 is opened.
2c to reach the ink supply port 4 via the recess 35.

On the other hand, the ink in the first ink storage chamber 11 passes from the communication port 19a through the communication port 18a to the communication flow path 18a.
In addition to flowing inside, the ink in the first ink containing chamber 11 flows into the communication flow path 18 from the communication port 19b via the communication port 18a. Then, the ink that has flowed in the communication flow path 18 merges and mixes, and further rises in the communication flow path 18 and flows toward the second ink storage chamber 16.

In this case, since the communication ports 19a and 18a are arranged at the same height position, the first ink storage chamber 11
The ink in the inside is guided to the second ink storage chamber 16 by the communication flow path 18 without remaining.

Next, the ink that has flowed from the inside of the first ink storage chamber 11 into the second ink storage chamber 16 via the communication flow path 18 merges with the ink inside the second ink storage chamber 16 and mixes therewith. . Further, the mixed ink passes through the communication port 15 a of the vertical wall 15 and flows into the third ink storage chamber 17 to be mixed, and then passes through the communication port 26 a of the partition wall 26. And
The ink that has passed through the communication port 26a of the partition wall 26 passes through the communication port 27a of the partition wall 27 and further rises in the ink flow path 28 to flow from the communication port 24a through the filter chamber 34 into the differential pressure valve accommodating chamber 33. To do.

Therefore, in this embodiment, when the ink cartridge 1 in the individual packaging box 92 is taken out to the outside and mounted on the recording head 112, the ink in the cartridge is mixed, and uniform print density and quality are obtained when the ink is used. It is particularly effective in the case of a pigment-based ink that can be obtained and is likely to cause a concentration gradient as the ink.

In the present embodiment, in order to convey a large number of individual packaging boxes 92 accommodating the ink cartridges 1, as shown in FIG. 11, the ink supply ports 4 are conveyed in such a posture that they are positioned on the upper side. It is stored in an exterior box 93 for use. In this case, when the individual packaging box 92 is taken out from the exterior box 93 and inverted, the ink cartridge 1 in the individual packaging box 92 is also inverted and the ink in the cartridge is mixed.

Further, in the present embodiment, the individual packaging box 92
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the locking hole 95 as shown in FIG. 12 is used.
An individual packaging box 96 having a hanging portion 95 with a may be used. In this case, for example, the suspending portion 9 is attached to the locking metal fitting 98 on the wall surface 97.
By locking the locking hole 95a of the ink cartridge 5, the ink cartridge 1 can be displayed / displayed in an attitude such that the ink supply port 4 is located on the upper side in an exhibition hall or a cartridge shop.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the case of applying the ink cartridge in which the inside of the cartridge is divided into upper and lower chambers has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and may be applied to an ink cartridge having only one chamber. It is applicable similarly to the embodiment.

[0087]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the ink cartridge storage structure and method of the present invention, the ink in the cartridge can be mixed by reversing the ink cartridge when the cartridge is mounted,
It is possible to obtain uniform print density and quality when using ink.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an entire ink cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2A and 2B are perspective views showing the outer appearance of the ink cartridge according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the internal structure of the ink cartridge according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, as viewed obliquely from above.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the internal structure of the ink cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from diagonally below.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing the internal structure of the ink cartridge according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a rear view showing the internal structure of the ink cartridge according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a negative pressure generating means accommodating chamber of the ink cartridge according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a valve accommodating chamber of the ink cartridge according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a front view showing a connection state of the ink cartridge according to the embodiment of the invention with the cartridge holder.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view for explaining the ink cartridge storage structure (method) according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view shown for explaining a case where a package containing the ink cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention is conveyed.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing another packaging body that accommodates the ink cartridge according to the embodiment of the invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ink cartridge 2 container body 3 lid 4 ink supply port 8 valve storage chamber 11 first ink storage chamber 15 vertical wall 15a communication port 16 second ink storage chamber 17 third ink storage chamber 18 communication channels 18a, 18b communication ports 18c recess 19 partition walls 19a, 19b communication port 25 partition wall 25a through hole 25b valve seat 26 partition wall 26a communication port 28 communication passage 29 through hole 31 region 33 differential pressure valve accommodating chamber 34 filter chamber 35, 38 recess 52 membrane valve 51 through Hole 55 Filter 56 Inner film 57 Outer film 91 Vacuum pack 92 Individual packaging box

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Takashi Koike             Seiko, 3-3-3 Yamato, Suwa City, Nagano Prefecture             -In Epson Corporation (72) Inventor Satoshi Shinada             Seiko, 3-3-3 Yamato, Suwa City, Nagano Prefecture             -In Epson Corporation (72) Inventor Michiya Tsukahara             Seiko, 3-3-3 Yamato, Suwa City, Nagano Prefecture             -In Epson Corporation F term (reference) 2C056 EA26 KB27 KC07 KC13 KC16                       KC22 KC27 KC30

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. An ink containing portion containing only ink,
An ink cartridge having an ink supply port communicating with the ink containing portion, and a packaging body capable of accommodating the ink cartridge, wherein the ink cartridge is accommodated in the packaging body, the ink cartridge comprising: An ink cartridge storage structure characterized in that the ink cartridge is arranged in a posture different from that in use when the cartridge is stored. 2. The ink cartridge storage structure according to claim 1, wherein the ink supply port is arranged such that the ink supply port is located on an upper side in a cartridge storage state. 3. The ink cartridge storage structure according to claim 1, wherein the ink storage portion has a plurality of ink storage portions that communicate with each other. 4. The ink cartridge storage structure according to claim 1, wherein the packaging body is a reduced pressure pack. 5. The ink cartridge storage structure according to claim 1, wherein the packaging body is an individual packaging box. 6. The ink cartridge storage structure according to claim 1, wherein the packaging body is a packaging body having a suspending portion with a locking hole. 7. The ink cartridge storage structure according to claim 1, wherein the package is a package that can be stored in an outer box for transportation. 8. The ink cartridge storage structure according to claim 1, wherein a display portion for identifying the upper side and the lower side is formed on the packaging body. 9. The ink cartridge storage structure according to claim 1, wherein the ink in the ink cartridge is a pigment-based ink. 10. An ink cartridge having an ink containing portion containing only ink, an ink supply port communicating with the ink containing portion, and a package capable of containing the ink cartridge, wherein A method for accommodating an ink cartridge, wherein the ink cartridge is accommodated in the packaging body in a posture different from a usage state. 11. The method of accommodating the ink cartridge according to claim 10, wherein the ink cartridge is accommodated in the packaging body in a posture such that the ink supply port is located on an upper side. 12. The method of accommodating an ink cartridge according to claim 10, wherein the packaging body is a vacuum pack. 13. The method of accommodating the ink cartridge according to claim 10, wherein the packaging body is an individual packaging box. 14. The method for accommodating the ink cartridge according to claim 10, wherein the ink in the ink cartridge is a pigment-based ink. 15. The ink cartridge according to any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein the ink cartridge is stored while visually recognizing a display portion previously displayed on the packaging body as a mark. Storage method.