JP2003246075A - Ink tank, inkjet cartridge, and inkjet recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inkjet cartridge, an ink tank, and an inkjet recorder superior in durability with respect to the number of times of supplying ink and stability of a filling operation of ink whereby leakage of ink dose not occur even when the number of times of supplying ink is increased. <P>SOLUTION: A pressing member is provided between a sucking hole and a gas/liquid separating member so that it is possible to prevent the gas/liquid separating member from being deformed by a negative pressure introduced from the sucking hole into the ink tank. Particularly, as it is possible to prevent the gas/liquid separating member from being distorted or deformed by the negative pressure, it is possible to prevent the ink in the ink tank from leaking from a distorted portion or a deformed portion. As a gap is provided between the pressing member and the gas/liquid separating member, flowing of an air from the sucking hole to the inner section of the ink tank is not blocked. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink tank, an ink jet cartridge and an ink jet recording apparatus, and more particularly to an ink tank, an ink jet cartridge and an ink jet recording apparatus using a gas-liquid separating member.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an ink jet recording apparatus, an ink jet cartridge in which a recording head and an ink tank are integrated is mounted on a carriage, and the carriage is scanned on a recording medium. A so-called serial type, which discharges and prints, is widely used. However, as the inkjet cartridge becomes heavier, the inertial force when the carriage moves increases, so that it is difficult to move the carriage at a high speed against the inertial force. Therefore, in order to reduce the inertial force applied to the carriage and to reduce the weight of the inkjet cartridge, there has been developed one in which the capacity of the ink tank in the inkjet cartridge is reduced. However, considering the convenience of the user, it is preferable that the number of times of ink replacement is small, and therefore it is preferable that the amount of ink stored in the apparatus is large. Therefore, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-2000
A large-capacity ink tank (hereinafter referred to as "main tank") is separately provided from the ink tank (hereinafter referred to as "sub-tank") incorporated in the ink-jet cartridge as in the ink-jet recording apparatus described in Japanese Patent No. 334982. It has been proposed that the ink be supplied from the main tank to the sub tank as needed. In this configuration, the sub-tank in the inkjet cartridge is provided with a suction port in addition to the ink supply port, and the suction port is equipped with a sheet-shaped gas-liquid separating member that allows air to pass but does not allow liquid to pass. The suction from the suction port is performed by the pump, and the inside of the sub-tank is set to a negative pressure so that the ink can be smoothly supplied from the main tank. Further, the gas-liquid separating member functions as a full tank valve, and even if the gas is sufficiently supplied, the ink in the sub tank does not flow out from the film.

The main tank is provided outside the recording area such as the home position. When ink is supplied, the carriage moves to that position and is connected to the supply member on the main tank side to start the supply operation. In such a pit-in supply mechanism, the above-mentioned gas-liquid separating member plays an important role in easily and surely replenishing the ink.

[0004]

However, in the conventional mechanism, since the inside of the sub-tank is made to have a negative pressure by performing suction from the suction port provided with the gas-liquid separating member, the gas-liquid separating member increases as the number of times of supply increases. It deteriorates due to the suction force.
Specifically, when the number of times of supply reaches 100 times or thousands, the gas-liquid separating member cannot resist the suction force and comes off, and ink leakage may occur from this portion.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing a conventional ink jet cartridge.

As described above, suction is performed from the suction port 98 with the suction force C, and when the suction force C causes a negative pressure inside the ink tank, the ink is introduced from the supply port 93. However, when the suction force C is directly applied to the gas-liquid separating member 95, the gas-liquid separating member 95 is deformed.
When such deformation is repeated, many holes formed in the gas-liquid separation member 95 are deformed and deteriorated, so that the gas-liquid separation force is reduced and ink leakage may occur. Get higher

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and has durability to the number of ink supply and stability of the ink filling operation so that ink leakage does not occur even if the number of ink supply is increased. An object of the present invention is to provide an excellent and highly reliable inkjet cartridge, an ink tank, and an inkjet recording device.

[0008]

The ink tank of the present invention is an ink tank which can take ink from the intake port to the inside by a negative pressure introduced from the suction port to the inside, and the ink can pass through the suction port. In an ink tank having a gas-liquid separating member that allows gas to pass therethrough, it is provided between the suction port and the gas-liquid separating member, and the gas-liquid separating member is deformed by negative pressure from the suction port. It is characterized by comprising a pressing member for reducing.

Further, the ink tank of the present invention is an ink tank which can take in ink from the intake port to the inside by negative pressure introduced from the suction port, and allows gas to pass through the suction port without passing ink. In an ink tank including a gas-liquid separating member, a cover plate having a closed space from the gas-liquid separating member to the suction port, wherein the gas-liquid separating member is deformed by negative pressure from the suction port. It is characterized by comprising a cover plate for reducing.

The ink jet cartridge of the present invention is
The ink tank of the present invention and an inkjet recording head capable of introducing and ejecting the ink in the ink tank are provided.

The ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention is an ink jet recording apparatus having an ink supply member for supplying ink to the ink tank of the present invention or the ink tank of the ink jet cartridge of the present invention. Is equipped with a supply port for receiving ink from the ink supply member, and an ink introduction means capable of introducing the ink contained in the ink supply member from the supply port into the ink tank; A negative pressure introducing means capable of introducing a negative pressure generated by a suction pump is provided inside the ink tank.

The ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention can be equipped with the ink tank of the present invention, and
An ink jet recording head capable of introducing and ejecting the ink in the ink tank, and a moving means for relatively moving the ink jet recording head and the recording medium are provided.

According to the above construction, the negative pressure introduced into the ink tank through the suction port deforms the gas-liquid separating member, and the pressing member is provided between the suction port and the gas-liquid separating member. Can be prevented. In particular,
Since it is possible to prevent the gas-liquid separating member from largely twisting or deforming due to negative pressure, it is possible to prevent the ink inside the ink tank from leaking out from the twisting portion or the deformed portion.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) In FIG. 1, 1 is a recording head capable of ejecting ink, and 2 is a storage ink tank (hereinafter also referred to as "sub-tank") for supplying ink to the recording head 1. Is detachably mounted on a carriage (not shown) in a serial scan type inkjet recording apparatus. The recording head 1 has a plurality of nozzles 1a arranged therein, and ejects ink from the reservoir ink tank 2 from the nozzles 1a based on image information. The nozzle 1a is provided with an ejection energy generation unit that generates energy for ejecting ink. An electrothermal converter that generates heat energy can be used as the discharge energy generating means. The carriage is moved in the main scanning direction of arrows 28 and 35 by the moving mechanism. Further, the recording medium is conveyed by the conveying means in the sub-scanning direction intersecting with the main scanning direction. In such a recording apparatus, an image is sequentially recorded on the recording medium by repeating the main scanning of the carriage having the recording head 1 and the sub tank 2 and the sub scanning of the recording medium.

An ink absorber (not shown) for absorbing and holding ink is accommodated in the stored ink tank (sub-tank) 2. An ink supply port 3 and a suction port 8 are formed on the side surface of the sub tank 2.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a lid member for closing the sub-tank, which closes the surface of the sub-tank 2 opposite to the surface on which the recording head 1 is provided. Further, a part of the lid member 4 is opened, and the gas-liquid separating member 5 is provided in the opening portion.

The suction port 8 communicates with the sub tank 2 through the space formed by the lid member 4 and the gas-liquid separating member 5.

The gas separating member 5 has a function as a gas-liquid separating means that allows the gas to permeate therethrough without allowing the ink to pass therethrough. For example, it is a thin sheet formed of a tetrafluoroethylene resin or a resin porous material similar thereto.

Reference numeral 6 is a pressing member for pressing the gas-liquid separating member 5, and 7 is a cover plate 7 for closing the ink jet cartridge. The pressing member 6 is the gas-liquid separating member 5
It is not bonded to the cover plate 7 and is simply placed in the space formed by the lid member 4, the gas-liquid separating member 5 and the cover plate 7. And the gas-liquid separating member 5
The width is such that a slight gap is generated between the cover plate 7 and the cover plate 7. Further, a plurality of openings 6a are formed from the cover plate 7 side toward the gas-liquid separating member 5 side. The configuration of the opening 6a will be described later. This pressing member 6 is provided in order to prevent the gas-liquid separating member 5 from being twisted by the suction force when the suction is performed from the suction port 8 or from being greatly lifted and deforming the hole through which air passes. There is. Also, the pressing member 6
Is smaller than the volume of the space formed by the lid member 4, the gas-liquid separating member 5 and the cover plate 7, and the gap formed when placed in this space is defined as the suction passage 8a. The air from the suction port 8 communicates with the sub tank 2. Although the gas-liquid separating member 5 is made of a porous material that allows air to pass therethrough as described above, the pressing member 6 may be made of any material.

On the other hand, a supply mechanism for supplying ink to the sub tank 2 is provided on the ink jet recording apparatus main body side. Reference numeral 101 denotes a supply joint connectable to the ink supply port 3 of the sub tank 2 and the tube 21
It is connected to the main tank 22 on the recording apparatus main body side via a. A suction joint 102 is connectable to the suction port 8 and is connected to the suction pump 31 via the conduit 55. The joints 101 and 102 are provided on the recording apparatus main body side so as to face the ink supply port 3 and the suction port 8 in the carriage scanning direction 35.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of the ink supply operation. When replenishing ink, first, the carriage is moved in the direction of arrow 28 to connect the ink supply port 3 and the suction port 8 to the corresponding joints 101 and 102. After that, the suction operation of the suction pump 31 sucks the air in the sub-tank 2 through the gas-liquid separating member 5,
The inside of the sub tank 2 has a negative pressure. The negative pressure in the sub tank 2 causes the ink in the main tank 22 to be introduced into the sub tank 2. Even if the ink is sufficiently introduced and the liquid surface of the ink in the sub-tank 2 reaches the gas-liquid separating member 5, the gas-liquid separating member 5 does not pass the liquid such as ink. Supply will stop automatically. Then, by the movement of the carriage in the direction of arrow 35, the ink supply port 3 and the suction port 8 are separated from the corresponding joints 101 and 102, and a series of replenishment operations are completed.

By the way, in the conventional ink jet recording apparatus, there has been a problem of ink leakage due to the twisting of the gas-liquid separating member 5 which is caused by performing such ink supplying operation many times. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the pressing member 6 is provided to prevent the gas-liquid separation member 5 from twisting. However, the larger the area in contact with the gas-liquid separation member 5, the more the gas-liquid separation member 5 can be pressed. While it is possible to prevent the gas-liquid separating member 5 from twisting, the pressing member 6 and the gas-liquid separating member 5 are tightly attached to each other, and the pressing member 6
There is a possibility that the air passage between the air and the gas-liquid separating member 5 cannot be secured. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the air passage is secured by providing the pressing member 6 with the opening 6a.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the lid member, the gas-liquid separating member and the pressing member. As described with reference to FIG. 1, a part of the lid member is open, and the gas-liquid separating member 5 is overlapped so as to match the opening. On the other hand, the pressing member 6 is provided with a plurality of openings 6a. This opening 6
Because of a, the surface in contact with the gas-liquid separation member 5 becomes discontinuous, so that it is possible to prevent the gas-liquid separation member 5 from sticking tightly to the pressing member 6. Further, air passes through the opening 6a, so that not only the gap between the gas-liquid separating member 5 and the pressing member 6 but also the pressing member 6 and the cover plate 7 are
Since air can also be passed through the gap between and, the suction can be efficiently performed with a small suction force.

By providing such a pressing member,
The pressure applied to the gas-liquid separation member at the time of suction is relaxed, and the deformation of the gas-liquid separation member hardly occurs.

(Embodiment 2) In Embodiment 1, the openings of the pressing member are arranged in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.
It may be in the following form.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the pressing member. In the first embodiment, the pressing member is not limited to the porous material and may be made of any material, and the air is allowed to pass through the opening provided in the pressing member itself. As described above, the pressing member may be a porous member having a hole through which air can pass, and the air may flow from the hole. If such a material is used, even if the pressing member and the gas-liquid separating member come into close contact with each other, the air passage can be secured and the work process for forming the opening can be omitted. You can

Further, as shown in FIG. 6B, the openings may be arranged in parallel with the longitudinal direction of the pressing member. Also in this case, the material is not limited to a porous material and may be any material.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3C, the openings may be provided so as to intersect in the vertical and horizontal directions. Further, the openings may be provided in zigzag as shown in FIG.

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 5 is a plan view showing another example of the lid member, the gas-liquid separating member, and the pressing member. Although the lid member 4 has only one opening in the first embodiment, it may be divided into a plurality of openings such as the opening being divided into three as shown in the present embodiment. Further, the gas-liquid separating member 5 is divided into three parts with a size that covers each opening. As described above, even when the gas-liquid separating member 5 is divided into a plurality of parts, the pressing member 6 having a size that covers the entire gas-liquid separating member 5 may be provided. Since the pressing member 6 is provided with the opening 6a as in the first embodiment, not only the gap between the pressing member 6 and the gas-liquid separating member 5 but also the cover plate 7
Air can also be passed through the gap between the air gap (see FIG. 1). Furthermore, since the gas-liquid separating member 5 divided into three has a slight gap between the gas-liquid separating members 5 adjacent to each other, a plurality of air passages toward the suction port are provided. Therefore, suction can be performed more efficiently.

Also in this embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the pressure applied to the gas-liquid separating member 5 at the time of suction can be relieved, and the gas-liquid separating member 5 can be prevented from being deformed.

(Embodiment 4) FIG. 6 is a sectional view of an ink jet cartridge in this embodiment. Although the pressing member 6 is provided with the opening in the first embodiment, the gas-liquid separating member 5 is provided.
If it is only to discontinue the installation surface of and, it is not necessary to have an opening that penetrates the pressing member 6, and only the surface facing the gas-liquid separating member 5 as shown in FIG. The slit 6b may be formed.

By providing the slit 6b, it is possible to prevent the gas-liquid separating member 5 and the pressing member 6 from sticking to each other, and to secure an air passage.
Further, even at the time of manufacturing, even if the thickness of the pressing member 6 is not formed with extremely high precision, the surface facing the gas-liquid separating member 5 is discontinuous, so that the air passage can be reliably ensured. . If the surface of the pressing member 6 facing the gas-liquid separating member 5 is a flat surface without the slits 6b and the openings 6a, the pressing member may be formed thicker than a predetermined size. If this happens, the pressing member 6 will be pushed in by the cover plate 7, and there will be no slight gap between the pressing member 6 and the gas-liquid separating member 5. On the other hand, by providing the slit 6b and the opening 6a, even if the thickness of the pressing member is thicker than a predetermined size, the surface to be installed is discontinuous, and therefore the pressure applied to the gas-liquid separating member 5 is increased. Are discontinuous, and a gap is created between the pressing member and the gas-liquid separating member 5. Therefore, an air passage can be secured. in this way,
Since the dimensional accuracy is not required in forming the pressing member 6, the cost at the time of forming can be suppressed.

If the slit 5b formed on the surface facing the gas-liquid separating member 5 is continuous from one end to the other end of the surface, the air wraps around the outside of the pressing member 6 and the cover plate. Since the gap between 7 and the pressing member 6 can also pass, the suction force works more effectively.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing another example of the pressing member. As shown in FIG. 6A, if a slit is provided on the surface facing the cover plate, the gap between the cover plate and the pressing member can be surely formed.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3B, the slit may have a semicircular cross section.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6C, the pressing member itself may be formed in a wavy shape so that the area in contact with the gas-liquid separating member and the cover plate is reduced.

(Embodiment 5) In Embodiments 1 to 4, by providing a pressing member in the space between the gas-liquid separating member and the cover plate, it is possible to prevent the gas-liquid separating member from rising and deforming. However, in the present embodiment, the cover plate itself also functions as the pressing member will be described.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the ink jet cartridge of this embodiment. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7A, no pressing member is provided, and a plurality of protrusions 7a are provided on the surface of the cover plate 7 that faces the gas-liquid separating member 5. The protrusion 7a has a length that does not contact the gas-liquid separating member 5, and there is a slight gap between the gas-liquid separating member 5 and the protrusion 7a. When suction is performed, air can pass through this gap. Furthermore, the protrusion 7a can prevent the gas-liquid separating member 5 from largely floating due to the suction force. Further, by providing a plurality of protrusions 7a, it is possible to prevent the gas-liquid separation member 5 from rising completely, and since the surface in contact with the gas-liquid separation member 5 becomes discontinuous, the dimensional accuracy at the time of manufacturing the cover plate 7 is improved. The air passage can be secured without precision.

The protrusion 7a may have a comb shape as shown in FIG. 7B, or a continuous outer frame as shown in FIG. May be

(Others) The present invention is provided with a means (for example, an electrothermal converter or a laser beam) for generating thermal energy as energy used for ejecting ink, particularly in the ink jet recording system. The present invention brings about excellent effects in a recording head and a recording apparatus of the type in which the state of ink is changed by the heat energy. This is because such a system can achieve high density recording and high definition recording.

Regarding the typical structure and principle thereof, see, for example, US Pat. No. 4,723,129 and US Pat. No. 4,740.
What is done using the basic principles disclosed in 796 is preferred. This method is a so-called on-demand type,
It can be applied to any of the continuous type, but especially in the case of the on-demand type, it can be applied to the sheet holding the liquid (ink) or the electrothermal converter arranged corresponding to the liquid path. By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recording information and giving a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling, heat energy is generated in the electrothermal converter, and film boiling is caused on the heat acting surface of the recording head. Liquid (ink) corresponding to this drive signal in a one-to-one correspondence
It is effective because bubbles can be formed inside. Due to the growth and contraction of the bubbles, the liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection opening to form at least one droplet. It is more preferable to make this drive signal into a pulse shape, because the bubble growth and contraction are immediately and appropriately performed, so that the ejection of the liquid (ink) with excellent responsiveness can be achieved. As the pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. If the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 of the invention relating to the rate of temperature rise on the heat acting surface are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the constitution of the recording head, in addition to the combination constitution of the discharge port, the liquid passage, and the electrothermal converter (the straight liquid passage or the right-angled liquid passage) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications. US Pat. No. 4,558,333, US Pat. No. 4,558,333, which discloses a configuration in which a heat acting portion is arranged in a bending region.
The structure using the specification of No. 59600 is also included in the present invention. In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 59-123670 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of the electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters, and an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy is provided. The effect of the present invention is effective even if the configuration corresponding to the ejection portion is disclosed in JP-A-59-138461. That is, according to the present invention, recording can be surely and efficiently performed regardless of the form of the recording head.

In addition, even in the case of the serial type as in the above example, the recording head fixed to the main body of the apparatus, or the electrical connection to the main body of the apparatus or the ink from the main body of the apparatus by being attached to the main body of the apparatus The present invention is also effective when a replaceable chip-type recording head that can be supplied or a cartridge-type recording head in which an ink tank is integrally provided in the recording head itself is used.

Further, as the constitution of the recording apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable to add ejection recovery means of the recording head, preliminary auxiliary means and the like because the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. Specifically, heating is performed by using a capping unit, a cleaning unit, a pressure or suction unit for the recording head, an electrothermal converter or a heating element other than this, or a combination thereof. Examples thereof include a preliminary heating unit for performing the discharge and a preliminary discharge unit for performing discharge different from the recording.

Regarding the type and number of recording heads to be mounted, for example, only one is provided corresponding to a single color ink, or a plurality of inks having different recording colors and densities are supported. A plurality of pieces may be provided. That is, for example, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to the recording mode of only the mainstream color such as black, but it may be either the recording head is integrally formed or a plurality of combinations may be used. The present invention is also extremely effective for an apparatus provided with at least one of full-color recording modes by color mixing.

In addition, in the above-described embodiments of the present invention, the ink is described as a liquid, but an ink that solidifies at room temperature or lower and that softens or liquefies at room temperature may be used. Or, in the inkjet system, it is common to control the temperature of the ink itself within the range of 30 ° C. or higher and 70 ° C. or lower to control the temperature so that the viscosity of the ink is within the stable ejection range. Sometimes, a liquid ink may be used. In addition, the temperature rise due to thermal energy is positively prevented by using it as the energy of the state change of the ink from the solid state to the liquid state, or in order to prevent the evaporation of the ink, it is solidified and heated in the standing state. You may use the ink liquefied by. In any case, by applying thermal energy such as ink that is liquefied by applying thermal energy according to the recording signal and liquid ink is ejected, or that begins to solidify when it reaches the recording medium. The present invention can be applied to the case where an ink having a property of being liquefied for the first time is used. In this case, the ink is
JP-A-54-56847 or JP-A-60-7
As described in Japanese Patent No. 1260, it may be configured to face the electrothermal converter in a state of being held as a liquid or a solid in the concave portion or the through hole of the porous sheet. In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

In addition, as the form of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, other than the one used as an image output terminal of information processing equipment such as a computer, a copying apparatus combined with a reader or the like, and a facsimile apparatus having a transmitting / receiving function are provided. It may be a form or the like.

[0049]

By using the present invention, in the ink supply by the pit-in system, when the suction operation for making the negative pressure inside the sub-tank is performed, the gas-liquid separation member is prevented from being deformed by the suction force by the pressing member. As a result, ink leakage due to deformation of the gas-liquid separating member can be prevented.

Further, by providing a plurality of openings in the pressing member, a plurality of air passages can be secured, so that the air inside the sub tank can be more efficiently sucked.

Even if the pressing member is provided with a slit instead of an opening, it is possible to prevent the pressing member and the gas-liquid separating member from coming into close contact with each other, so that an air passage can be secured. By providing the slits not only on the surface facing the gas-liquid separating member but also on the surface facing the cover plate, a plurality of air passages can be secured.

Furthermore, by providing a plurality of protrusions on the surface of the cover plate facing the gas-liquid separating member instead of providing the pressing member, the same effect as when the pressing member is provided can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an inkjet cartridge and an ink supply unit during recording.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an inkjet cartridge and an ink supply unit when ink is supplied.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a lid member, a gas-liquid separating member, and a pressing member.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing another example of the pressing member.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing another example of the lid member, the gas-liquid separating member, and the pressing member.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of an inkjet cartridge.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing another example of the pressing member.

FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional view showing another example of an inkjet cartridge, and FIGS. 8B and 8C are rear views showing examples of cover plates.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional example of an inkjet cartridge.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 recording head 2 sub tank 2 Storage ink tank 3 ink supply port 4 Lid member 5 Gas-liquid separation member 6b slit 6 Pressing member 6a opening 7 Cover plate 7a protrusion 8 suction port 8a suction path 21a tube 22 Main tank 28 arrows 31 Suction pump 35 scanning direction 35 arrow 55 conduit 93 Supply port 95 Gas-liquid separation member 98 Suction port 101 joint

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. An ink tank capable of taking in ink from an intake port to the inside by a negative pressure introduced inside from the suction port, wherein a gas-liquid separating member is provided to allow gas to pass through the suction port without passing ink. The ink tank according to claim 1, further comprising a pressing member that is provided between the suction port and the gas-liquid separation member and that reduces the deformation of the gas-liquid separation member due to the negative pressure from the suction port. Ink tank to be used. 2. The pressing member is provided so as not to adhere to the gas-liquid separating member.
Ink tank described in 3. A cover plate having a closed space from the gas-liquid separation member to the suction port is further provided, and the pressing member is provided in the closed space formed by the cover plate. The ink tank according to claim 1 or 2. 4. The pressing member is provided with a gap between the pressing member and the gas-liquid separating member and between the cover plate, and the gap communicates with the suction port.
Ink tank described in. 5. The ink according to claim 3, wherein the pressing member has an opening that is continuous from a surface facing the gas-liquid separating member to a surface facing the cover plate. tank. 6. The pressing member has unevenness on a surface facing the gas-liquid separating member, and is in contact with the gas-liquid separating member discontinuously. Ink tank. 7. The ink tank according to claim 1, wherein the pressing member is formed of a porous member. 8. An ink tank capable of taking in ink from an intake port to the inside by a negative pressure introduced to the inside from the suction port, wherein a gas-liquid separating member which allows gas to pass through the suction port without passing ink. In the ink tank, a cover plate having a closed space from the gas-liquid separating member to the suction port, the cover plate reducing deformation of the gas-liquid separating member due to negative pressure from the suction port is provided. An ink tank that is characterized by the ability to get. 9. An ink jet cartridge comprising the ink tank according to claim 1 and an ink jet recording head capable of introducing and ejecting the ink in the ink tank. 10. The ink jet cartridge according to claim 9, wherein the ink jet recording head has an electrothermal converter that generates heat energy as ink ejection energy. 11. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising an ink supply member for supplying ink to the ink tank according to claim 1 or the ink tank in the ink jet cartridge according to claim 9 or 10. Wherein the ink tank has a supply port for receiving ink from the ink supply member, and an ink introduction unit capable of introducing the ink contained in the ink supply member from the supply port into the ink tank. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: a negative pressure introducing unit capable of introducing a negative pressure generated by a suction pump into the ink tank from the suction port. 12. An ink jet recording head to which the ink tank according to any one of claims 1 to 8 can be attached and which can eject ink by introducing ink in the ink tank, the ink jet recording head and a recording medium. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: a moving unit that relatively moves the and.