JP2003266725A - Printer and method for mounting ink cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer which can print more beautifully without contaminating a printable region when an ink cartridge is loaded on a carriage, and a method for mounting an ink cartridge. <P>SOLUTION: The printer 11 has a separating projection part 45 formed outside the printable region of an upper case 41. In the printer 11, in a state with one end of a communication hole which makes an ink chamber and the atmosphere communicate with each other being blocked by a blocking film, the ink cartridge 31 is loaded on the carriage 25. The carriage 25 with the ink cartridge 31 loaded is moved to the outside of the printable region. At the outside of the printable region, the separating projection part 45 is moved by hooking the separating projection part 45 on the blocking film of the ink cartridge 31. As a result, the blocking film is separated from the ink cartridge 31 and the ink chamber of the ink cartridge 31 communicates with the atmosphere, whereby a negative pressure is released. <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 a printing apparatus having an ink cartridge mounted on a carriage having a recording head, and a method of mounting the ink cartridge.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 9, some ink jet printers have an ink cartridge 91 mounted on a carriage 90. This kind of ink cartridge 91
Usually has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and contains ink of each color in the ink chamber therein. An ink supply port 92 is formed in the lower part of the ink cartridge 91, and the ink supply port 92 is connected to the supply needle 90b of the carriage 90. Further, in the upper part of the ink cartridge 91, a through hole 93 and a communication hole 94 of a narrow groove communicating with the through hole 93.
And are formed. A passage forming film 95 that covers a portion of the communication hole 94 other than the one end portion 94a and the through hole 93 is attached to the upper surface of the ink cartridge 91. Therefore, the carriage 9 on which the ink cartridge 91 is mounted
0 indicates that the ink chamber communicates with the atmosphere through the one end portion 94a of the communication hole 94, and the ink chamber does not have a negative pressure,
Ink is smoothly ejected from the recording head 90a below the carriage 90.

Usually, in order to prevent dust and dirt from entering the ink chamber, an unused ink cartridge 91 is
A blocking film 96 is attached to cover one end 94a of the communication hole 94. On the other hand, a dustproof film 97 covering the lower surface is attached to the lower surface of the ink supply port 92.

When the ink cartridge 91 is mounted on the carriage 90, first, the one end portion 9 of the communication hole 94.
The occluding film 96 occluding the 4a is peeled off. Then, the supply needle 90b of the carriage 90 is fitted into the ink supply port 92 of the ink cartridge 91. When the carriage 90 is fitted into the supply needle 90b, the supply needle 90b of the carriage 90 breaks the dustproof film 97.

[0005]

However, since the user mounts the ink cartridge 91 on the carriage 90, the carriage 9 can be easily mounted by the user.
It is performed when 0 is moved to be on the printable area.
Further, since the ink cartridge 91 is mounted on the carriage 90 after the user peels off the blocking film 96 in advance, the ink chamber is not under a negative pressure at the time of mounting.
Therefore, at the time of mounting, the supply needle 90b may break the dustproof film 97 and the ink may leak due to the impact when it is fitted into the ink supply port 92, and the leaked ink may stain the printable area. When the printable area is soiled, the print target paper or the like reaching the printable area is soiled, and it is not possible to perform clean printing.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is a printing apparatus and an ink cartridge capable of performing more beautiful printing without contaminating a printable area when the ink cartridge is mounted on a carriage. It is to provide a mounting method of.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 forms an air hole for communicating an ink chamber containing ink with the atmosphere, and closes the air hole. Printing having an ink cartridge having a closing member for controlling the ink cartridge, a supply head engaging with the ink cartridge, a recording head having a plurality of nozzles for ejecting the ink, and a carriage having the ink cartridge mounted thereon In the apparatus, when the ink cartridge is mounted on the carriage and positioned outside the printable area, a part or all of the blocking member is removed to provide an air hole opening means for communicating the ink chamber with the atmosphere. The main point is that.

According to a second aspect of the invention, in the printing apparatus according to the first aspect, the closing member is a film. The invention described in claim 3 is the invention according to claim 2.
In the printing apparatus described in the paragraph 1, the atmosphere hole opening means is an opening means for making a hole in the film.

The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2.
In the printing apparatus according to the item (1), the air hole opening unit removes the closing member to open the air hole only when the ink is ejected from the recording head, and opens the air hole by the closing member when not in use. The gist is that it is an opening / closing means for closing.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, an ink cartridge in which an ink cartridge having an air hole for communicating the ink chamber containing the ink with the atmosphere is formed on a carriage having a recording head for ejecting the ink. In the mounting method, the ink cartridge is mounted on the carriage in a state of being closed by a closing member that closes the air hole, and then the carriage is positioned outside the printable area, The gist is that a part or the blocking member is removed so that the ink chamber communicates with the atmosphere.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention, in the method of mounting the ink cartridge according to the fifth aspect, the closing member is removed before a cleaning operation performed after mounting the ink cartridge. .

(Operation) According to the invention described in claim 1 or 5, when the ink cartridge is mounted on the carriage, the ink chamber is not open to the atmosphere, so that the ink chamber has a negative pressure. There is. Therefore, even if the ink cartridge is mounted on the carriage and an impact occurs when the supply needle breaks the film of the ink cartridge, the ink hardly leaks from the nozzle of the carriage via the supply needle.

When the carriage on which the ink cartridge is mounted is located outside the printable area, the ink chamber is opened to the atmosphere and the negative pressure in the ink chamber is released. That is, even if the negative pressure in the ink chamber is released and ink may be ejected from the nozzle via the supply needle, the carriage is located outside the printable area,
Does not stain the printable area. Since the printable area does not get dirty, the print recording medium reaching the printable area does not get dirty and more beautiful printing can be performed.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the closing member is a film, the atmosphere hole communicating the ink chamber and the atmosphere can be formed by a simple operation of attaching the film to the atmosphere hole. It can be closed easily and inexpensively.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, a hole is opened in the film by the opening means, a part of the closing member is removed, the ink chamber communicates with the atmosphere, and the negative pressure in the ink chamber is released. To be done. Therefore, the blocking member can be easily provided, and the ink chamber and the atmosphere can be easily communicated with each other. Further, since a needle or the like may be provided to make a hole in the film, the atmosphere hole opening means can have a simple structure.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the air hole opening means is used as the opening / closing means so that the ink chamber is communicated with the atmosphere only when the ink is ejected from the recording head. Therefore, when the ink is ejected, the ink can be ejected smoothly without the negative pressure in the ink chamber. Further, when the ink is not ejected, the ink chamber is not in communication with the atmosphere, so that the ink is less likely to leak from the nozzle due to vibration or the like. Further, since the air hole is normally closed by the closing member, it is possible to prevent evaporation of the water content (or solvent) of the ink through the air hole as much as possible. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the ink from becoming highly viscous due to evaporation and clogging in the nozzle.

According to the sixth aspect of the invention, the cleaning operation is performed after the blocking member is removed and the ink chamber is communicated with the atmosphere. Normally, a cleaning operation is performed when the ink cartridge is mounted on the carriage. In this cleaning operation, the nozzle is sucked by a suction pump or the like to guide the ink to the nozzle, or the ink clogged in the dried nozzle is discharged. Therefore, by removing the blocking member and communicating the ink chamber with the atmosphere by the time of cleaning, the ink chamber does not have a negative pressure.
The ink in the nozzle can be smoothly discharged to the outside. That is, the dry ink in the nozzle can be discharged smoothly, and cleaning can be easily performed.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) A first embodiment of a printing apparatus embodying the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 1, an ink jet color printer (hereinafter referred to as a printer) as a printing device.
11 has a paper feed tray 12 and a paper discharge tray 13 on the outside, and a printer body 14 on the inside.

The printer body 14 is provided with a platen 15 and a paper feed mechanism (not shown). Platen 15
Is a support table that supports the paper P, and the paper P reaches the upper surface of the support during printing. The paper feed mechanism is driven by a drive mechanism (not shown) to supply the paper P from the paper feed tray 12 onto the platen 15 or to reach the platen 15.
Is discharged to the discharge tray 13.

Further, the printer main body 14 has a frame 2
The drive pulley 21 and the driven pulley 22 are fixed via 0. A carriage motor 23 is connected to the drive pulley 21. These pair of pulleys 21, 22
A timing belt 24 is hung around. A carriage 25 located on the platen 15 is fixed to the timing belt 24. Same carriage 2
5 includes a guide member 26 installed on the frame 20.
Are fitted. Therefore, the carriage 25 can be moved in the main scanning direction X via the timing belt 24 while being guided by the guide member 26 by the drive of the carriage motor 23.

As shown in FIG. 2, the carriage 25 is provided with an accommodating member 28 forming an accommodating space S and a recording head 30 on the lower surface thereof. A supply needle 30 a is formed on the recording head 30 so as to protrude into the accommodation space S. Further, in the recording head 30, a plurality of nozzles N (only one is shown in FIG. 2) are formed below the supply needle 30a. Further, the recording head 30 is provided with a piezoelectric element (not shown) corresponding to each of the nozzles N. This piezoelectric element is driven by a drive mechanism (not shown) to eject ink from each nozzle N.

In the accommodation space S of the carriage 25, four ink cartridges 31 are accommodated as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, each ink cartridge 31 has an ink chamber 33 defined by a lid member 32 fitted on an upper portion of a main body 31a. The ink chamber 33 of each ink cartridge 31 contains cyan, magenta, yellow and black inks, respectively. An ink supply port 34 is formed so as to project from the lower portion of the ink cartridge 31. On the lower surface of the ink supply port 34,
A dustproof film 35 is attached. Therefore, when the ink cartridge 31 is mounted on the carriage 25, the supply needle 30a breaks the dustproof film 35 and engages with the ink supply port 34, and ink of each color is ejected from the ink chamber 33 via the supply needle 30a. It is supplied to the nozzle N of the recording head 30.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a through hole 36 is formed in the upper surface of the lid member 32 of each ink cartridge 31.
A narrow groove-shaped communication hole 37 that communicates with the through hole 36 is formed. Further, a passage forming film 38 is attached to the upper surface of the lid member 32.
Covers the communication hole 37 and the through hole 36 except the one end 37a. Therefore, the ink chamber 33 can communicate with the atmosphere through the through hole 36 and the communication hole 37, and the through hole 36 and the communication hole 37 form an atmosphere hole.

The one end portion 37a of the communication hole 37 which is not covered with the passage forming film 38 has a ring-shaped closing film 3 when the ink cartridge 31 is unused.
It is blocked by 9. More specifically, the closing film 39 is a closing member and is formed by forming a band-shaped film into a ring. And the closure film 39
A closing portion 39a coated with an adhesive is formed on a part of the outer edge of the above, and the one end portion 37a of the communication hole 37 is closed by the closing portion 39a.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, the printer body 14 described above is housed in a case 40. The case 40 is composed of an upper case 41 and a lower case 42. On the upper case 41, outside the printable area on the side of the platen 15 (so-called home position)
A peeling protrusion 45 is formed on the bottom. This peeling protrusion 45
Is formed in a substantially L-shape so as to project from the horizontal portion 46.
The tip of the is curved upward and has a hook shape. Further, the peeling protrusion 45 is movable in the main scanning direction X and the vertical direction via a drive mechanism (a cam mechanism, a link mechanism, etc.) not shown. Therefore, the peeling protrusion 45 has the horizontal portion 46 that hooks the loop of the blocking film 39 when the ink cartridges 31 mounted on the carriage 25 reach the outside of the printable area. The blocking film 39 can be pulled from each ink cartridge 31 in the main scanning direction X and in the upward direction.

Next, the operation of the printer 11 described above will be described. Ink cartridge 31 on the carriage 25
In order to mount, the position of each supply needle 30a of the recording head 30 and each ink supply port 34 of the ink cartridge 31 are aligned as in the conventional case. Then, each ink cartridge 31 is accommodated in the accommodation space S of the carriage 25 with the blocking film 39 attached. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the supply needle 30 a breaks the dustproof film 35 and fits into the ink supply port 34. At this time, since the one end portion 37a of the communication hole 37 of each ink cartridge 31 is closed by the closing film 39, the ink chamber 33 does not communicate with the atmosphere through the through hole 36 and the communication hole 37, and the ink chamber 33 is It is a negative pressure.

Therefore, the supply needle 30a is attached to the dustproof film 35.
Even if it is broken and fitted into the ink supply port 34, the ink hardly leaks from the ink supply port 34 through the nozzle N.

When the ink cartridge 31 is housed in the housing space S of the carriage 25 in this way, the carriage 25 is moved to outside the printable area by the carriage motor 23. When the carriage 25 reaches the outside of the printable area, the peeling protrusion 45 is moved to the left in FIG. 1 by the driving mechanism (not shown), and the state shown in FIG. Along with this movement, the horizontal portions 46 of the peeling protrusions 45 form the loops of the ink cartridges 31 and the closing films 3.
Hook 9. Then, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the peeling protrusion 45 is further moved to the left in FIG. 4, the horizontal portion 46 of the peeling protrusion 45 hooks the closing films 39 of all the ink cartridges 31. At the same time, the blocking film 39 of the ink cartridge 31 at the right end is pulled and peeled off from the ink cartridge 31. Therefore, the ink chamber 33 of the right end ink cartridge 31 is opened through the through hole 36 and the communication hole 37.

Next, when the peeling protrusion 45 is moved rightward in FIG. 4 by the drive mechanism as shown in FIG. 4C,
The closing film 39 hooked on the horizontal portion 46 is pulled. Then, as shown in FIG. 4D, when the peeling protrusion 45 is further moved rightward and upward in FIG. 4 by the drive mechanism, the blocking film 39 of the ink cartridge 31 other than the right end is peeled from the one end 37a. Then, the ink chamber 33 of each ink cartridge 31 communicates with the atmosphere,
The negative pressure in the ink chamber 33 is released.

Then, after the negative pressure in the ink chamber 33 of each ink cartridge 31 is released, the cleaning operation is performed. In addition, after that, each ink cartridge 31
The carriage 25 on which is mounted is moved, ink is ejected from each nozzle N, and printing is performed.

According to the printer 11 of this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. (1) In the present embodiment, when the ink cartridge 31 is mounted on the carriage 25, the one end portion 3 of the communication hole 37 is
Since 7a is closed, the ink chamber 33 has a negative pressure. Therefore, when the ink cartridge 31 is mounted on the carriage 25, the supply needle 30a is attached to the dustproof film 35.
Even if there is an impact when breaking the ink, the ink hardly leaks from the nozzle N via the supply needle 30a.

When the carriage 25 reaches the outside of the printable area, the peeling projection 45 peels off the closing film 39 of the ink cartridge 31, and the one end portion 37a of the communication hole 37 is opened to open the ink chamber. 33 communicates with the atmosphere. That is, when the carriage 25 is located outside the printable area, the negative pressure in the ink chamber 33 is released by communicating with the atmosphere. Therefore, by releasing the negative pressure of the ink chamber 33,
Even if ink may be ejected from the nozzle N via the supply needle 30a, at this time, since the carriage 25 is not in the printable area, the printable area is not contaminated, and eventually the paper P reaching the printable area. Never get dirty. Therefore, more beautiful printing can be performed.

(2) In this embodiment, the closing film 39
Is attached to the upper surface of the lid member 32, so that the communication hole 37
Since the one end portion 37a of the above is closed, it is possible to easily and inexpensively close the atmospheric hole (the through hole 36 and the communication hole 37) that connects the ink chamber 33 and the atmosphere.

(3) In this embodiment, a ring-shaped closing film 39 is hooked on the peeling projection 45, and the peeling projection 45 is formed.
To move the closing film 39 through the communication hole 3
7 was peeled off from one end 37a. Therefore, the blocking film 39 can be easily removed outside the printable area with a simple configuration.

(4) In this embodiment, the blocking film 39 is removed from the one end 37a of the communication hole 37 before the ink cartridge 31 is cleaned. Therefore, when the cleaning operation is performed, the inside of the ink chamber 33 of the ink cartridge 31 is not under negative pressure, so that the nozzle N is smoothly moved.
The ink can be discharged to the outside through the, and cleaning can be easily performed.

(Second Embodiment) A second embodiment of a printing apparatus embodying the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. In each of the following embodiments, the same parts as those in the above-described embodiments are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In the carriage 25 shown in FIG. 5 of the ink jet color printer 11 of this embodiment, four stepped insertion holes 25a are formed on the lower surface of the accommodating member 28 corresponding to each ink cartridge 31. ing.

In addition, the ink cartridge 5 of this embodiment
As shown in FIG. 6, the No. 1 has a through hole 56 and a communication hole 57 communicating with the through hole 56 in its side wall. One end 57a of the communication hole 57 extends downward and faces the bottom surface of the ink cartridge 51. Therefore, the ink chamber can communicate with the atmosphere through the through hole 56 and the communication hole 57, and the through hole 56 and the communication hole 57 form an atmosphere hole.

On the side surface of the ink cartridge 51, a passage forming film 58 covering the through hole 56 and the communication hole 57.
Is affixed. Further, when not in use, a closing film 59 as a closing member for closing the one end 57a of the communication hole 57 is attached to the lower portion of the ink cartridge 51. The closing film 59 is aligned with the insertion hole 25a as shown in FIG.

On the other hand, in the case 40 of the printer 11 of the present embodiment, instead of the peeling protrusion 45 of the upper case 41 of the first embodiment, opening means is provided at a position outside the printable area of the lower case 42. An open needle 47 (shown in FIG. 5) is provided so as to be vertically movable via a cam mechanism (not shown). The open needle 47 is provided for each ink cartridge 5 when the carriage 25 is located outside the printable area.
It is provided at a position where it can face one end 57a of one communication hole 57.

Also in this embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the positions of the supply needles 30a of the recording head 30 and
Each ink cartridge 51 is accommodated in the accommodation space S of the carriage 25 by aligning with each ink supply port 34 of the ink cartridge 31. Then, the supply needle 30 a breaks the dustproof film 35 and is fitted into the ink supply port 34. At this time, the communication hole 5 of each ink cartridge 51
Since one end portion 57a of No. 7 is closed by the closing film 59, the ink chamber 33 has a negative pressure, and the ink hardly leaks from the ink supply port 34 through the nozzle N.

When the ink cartridge 51 is housed in the housing space S of the carriage 25 in this way, the carriage 25 is moved outside the printable area. Carriage 25
When it reaches the outside of the printable area, the opening needle 47 is raised by the cam mechanism. As a result, the open needle 47 penetrates the insertion hole 25a of the carriage 25, and the one end 5
The closing film 59 closing the 7a is broken to form the hole h. The hole h opens the one end 57a to the atmosphere, and the ink chamber 33 communicates with the atmosphere through the through hole 56 and the communication hole 57.

Therefore, according to the printer 11 of the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained in addition to the effects (1), (2) and (4) of the above embodiment. (5) In this embodiment, the closing film 59 is broken by the open needle 47 provided outside the printable area to form a hole, and the ink chamber 33 and the atmosphere are communicated with each other. Therefore, with a simple configuration in which the open needle 47 is provided outside the printable area,
The ink chamber 33 and the atmosphere can be communicated with each other outside the printable area.

(Third Embodiment) A third embodiment of a printing apparatus embodying the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.

In the printer 11 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, instead of the peeling protrusion 45 of the first embodiment, a suction member 48 as an opening / closing means has a cam mechanism (not shown) in the upper case 41. It is attached so that it can be raised and lowered via the. On the lower surface of the suction member 48, four elongated cores 48a are integrally formed. In addition, the adsorption member 4
An exciting coil 49 is provided at 8. Therefore, an attracting force is generated in the core 48a of the attracting member 48 by the current flowing through the exciting coil 49 to excite the attracting member 48.

The lid portion 62 of each ink cartridge 61 in this embodiment is composed of an upper lid portion 63 and a lower lid portion 64. A through hole 66 and a lower groove 64a are formed in the lower lid portion 64, and the lower groove 6 is formed in the upper lid portion 63.
An upper groove 63a is formed to match 4a. Therefore,
When the upper lid portion 63 and the lower lid portion 64 are combined together, the upper groove 63a and the lower groove 64a form a communication hole 67 that is a narrow groove that communicates with the through hole 66. Further, the ink chamber can communicate with the atmosphere through the through hole 66 and the communication hole 67, and the through hole 66 and the communication hole 67.
Constitutes an atmosphere hole.

Further, the one end portion 6 of the communication hole 67 of the present embodiment.
7a is opened upward, and this opening serves as a valve seat v. A valve body 71 is fitted in the valve seat v.
The valve body 71 is a closing member and has a substantially hemispherical shape made of a magnetic material. The valve body 71 can face the core 48a when each ink cartridge 61 is mounted on the carriage 25.

Also in this embodiment, as in the above embodiment, the positions of the supply needles 30a of the recording head 30 and the ink supply ports 34 of the ink cartridge 31 are aligned with each other, and the space S of the carriage 25 is accommodated. Each ink cartridge 61 is accommodated. Then, the supply needle 30 a breaks the dustproof film 35 and is fitted into the ink supply port 34. At this time, the communication hole 67 of each ink cartridge 61
Since one end portion 67a of the is closed by the valve body 71,
Since the ink chamber 33 has a negative pressure, the ink hardly leaks from the ink supply port 34 through the nozzle N.

When the ink cartridges 61 are housed in the housing space S of the carriage 25 in this way, the carriage 25 carrying each ink cartridge 61 moves to the outside of the printable area, and the one end portion 67 of the ink cartridge 61.
The core 48a faces a. Then, a cam mechanism (not shown) is driven, and the core 48a descends and comes into contact with the valve body 71. At this time, a current is supplied to the exciting coil 49 and an attractive force is generated in the core 48a. Then, the valve body 71 made of a magnetic material is attracted to the core 48a, and the valve body 71 is separated from the valve seat v. That is, one end 67a of the communication hole 67 is opened to the atmosphere, the ink chamber 33 communicates with the atmosphere, and the negative pressure in the ink chamber 33 is released.

When a known cleaning operation (suction operation) is performed at this position, ink is smoothly ejected because the ink chamber 33 has no negative pressure. When the cleaning operation is completed, the printer 11 turns the exciting coil 49
To stop de-energizing the core 48a. As a result, the valve body 71 is seated on the valve seat v and closes the one end portion 67 a of the communication hole 67.

Further, when the carriage 25 is moved for printing, electric power is supplied to the exciting coil 49 to supply the core 4 with the electric power.
8a is excited to adsorb the valve body 71. As a result, the carriage 25 moves and prints while the communication hole 67 of the ink cartridge 61 is open to the atmosphere.

Therefore, according to the printer 11 of the present embodiment, in addition to the effects (1) and (4) of the above embodiment,
The following effects can be obtained. (6) In the present embodiment, the valve body 71 closes the one end portion 67a of the communication hole 67 except when printing is performed by ejecting ink from the recording head or when suction is performed during the cleaning operation. Therefore, with a simple structure, it is possible to prevent ink leakage due to vibration during non-printing and clogging of the nozzle N due to ink drying due to evaporation of water in the ink in the ink chamber 33 through the communication hole 67. it can.

(7) In this embodiment, when the carriage 25 reaches the outside of the printable area to perform the cleaning operation,
The valve body 71 is separated from the valve seat v of the one end portion 67a by the attracting force of the excited core 48a. Therefore, the ink chamber 33 communicates with the atmosphere through the through hole 66 and the communication hole 67, and the cleaning operation, that is, the ink suction operation is performed in a state where the ink chamber 33 is not in a negative pressure. Therefore, in this suction operation, the ink in the nozzle N can be smoothly discharged to the outside.

(Modification) The above embodiments may be modified as follows. ○ In the first embodiment, the ring-shaped closing film 3
9 was hooked on the peeling protrusion 45, and peeled off. The air hole opening means for removing the entire film is not limited to this, and for example, a gripping member for gripping and pulling the closing film 39 may be provided instead of the peeling protrusion 45. In this case, the closing film 39 can be gripped without forming a ring shape.

In the first embodiment, the peeling protrusion 45 is moved to peel the blocking film 39 of each ink cartridge 31, but instead of this, by moving the carriage 25, Closure film 39
May be peeled off.

In the first embodiment, the communication hole 3
The closing film 39 for closing the one end 37a of No. 7 was peeled off, and a hole was formed in the closing film 59 for closing the one end 57a of the communication hole 57 in the second embodiment. Instead of this, the blocking films 39, 59 are made of a material that is melted by heat, and the blocking films 39, 59 are melted by heat to be peeled off, or holes are formed in the blocking films 39, 59 to form the communication holes 37, 57 may be opened to the atmosphere.

In the above first and second embodiments,
By providing the peeling protrusion 45 and the open needle 47 in the non-printable area, the blocking film 39 was peeled and removed, and a hole was opened to partially remove the blocking film 59. In the first and second embodiments, when the carriage 25 is outside the printable area and does not eject ink, a closing member that closes the one end portion 37a or the one end portion 57a may be provided. In addition to the effects of the first and second embodiments,
The effects (6) and (7) of the third embodiment can be obtained.

The peeling protrusion 45, the opening needle 47, and the suction member 48 as the air hole opening means of the first to third embodiments.
Are provided outside the printable area. If it functions as an air hole opening means when the carriage is located outside the printable area, it may not be provided outside the printable area, and may be provided on the carriage, for example.

Next, the technical ideas that can be understood from the above-described embodiments and other examples will be added below along with their effects. (A) The film is formed in a ring shape, and the atmosphere hole opening means is a peeling means for peeling and removing the film by engaging and pulling the film of the ink cartridge by the movement of the carriage. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

Therefore, according to the invention described in (a), the through-hole can be communicated with the atmosphere by engaging and pulling the ring-shaped film to remove the film. Therefore, a part of the closing member can be easily removed with a simple structure.

(B) The closing member is a valve body, and the atmosphere hole opening means is a valve opening means for opening the valve body by removing the valve body from the through hole. The printing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the valve body is opened only when the ink is ejected from the recording head.

Therefore, according to the invention described in the item (b), the closing member is the valve body, and when the ink is ejected from the recording head, the valve body is opened, and at other times. Is closed. Therefore, with a simple structure, it is possible to prevent ink leakage due to vibration or the like and ink clogging due to evaporation.

[0064]

According to the present invention, when the ink cartridge is mounted on the carriage and the supply needle communicates with the ink chamber of the ink cartridge, the atmosphere hole is not opened to the atmosphere and the ink chamber has a negative pressure. As a result, the ink hardly leaks. Further, when the carriage is located outside the printable area, a part or all of the closing member that has closed the atmosphere hole is removed, and the negative pressure in the ink chamber is released. Therefore, even if the ink leaks out of the printable area due to the release of the negative pressure, the printable area is not soiled, and the print recording medium reaching the printable area is not soiled. Therefore, more beautiful printing can be performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a printer according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the carriage according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the ink cartridge according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an operation diagram showing a peeling operation of the closure film in the first embodiment, (a) shows that the peeling protrusion starts to move leftward, and (b) shows the peeling protrusion from left to right. (C) when moving to the right, (d) when starting to move to the right
Indicates that the peeling protrusion has moved further to the right of the position (c).

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the carriage according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an ink cartridge according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged front view of a main part of a printer according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the carriage according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of an ink cartridge according to the related art.

[Explanation of symbols]

h hole N nozzle 25 carriage 30 recording head 30a Supply needle 31, 51, 61 Ink cartridge 33 ink chamber 36,56,66 through holes 39,59 Closure film as a closure member 45 Peeling protrusion as means for opening air holes 47 Air hole opening means and opening needle as opening means 48 Adsorption member as air hole opening means and opening / closing means 71 Valve body as closing member

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An ink cartridge provided with an air hole for communicating an ink chamber containing ink with the atmosphere and closing the air hole, a supply needle engaging with the ink cartridge, and the ink. A printing apparatus having a recording head having a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink, and a carriage having the ink cartridge mounted thereon, wherein the ink cartridge is mounted on the carriage and located outside a printable area. A printing apparatus, wherein a part or all of the closing member is removed to provide an air hole opening means for communicating the ink chamber with the atmosphere. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the closing member is a film. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the air hole opening means is an opening means for making a hole in the film. 4. The atmosphere hole opening means removes the closing member to open the atmosphere hole only when the ink is ejected from the recording head, and closes the atmosphere hole by the closing member when not in use. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, which is an opening / closing unit. 5. A method of mounting an ink cartridge, comprising mounting an ink cartridge having an air hole for communicating an ink chamber containing ink and the atmosphere with a carriage having a recording head for ejecting the ink, The ink cartridge is attached to the carriage in a state of being closed by a closing member that closes the air hole, and then, after the carriage is positioned outside the printable area, a part of the closing member or the closing member is removed. Remove it
An ink cartridge mounting method, characterized in that the ink chamber and the atmosphere are communicated with each other. 6. The ink cartridge mounting method according to claim 5, wherein the closing member is removed before a cleaning operation performed after mounting the ink cartridge.