JP2003311998A - Ink cartridge set - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the number of components of an ink cartridge set having a plurality of ink cartridges. <P>SOLUTION: This ink cartridge set 10 comprises a plurality of ink cartridges 100, 200 to be separately loaded to an inkjet recorder and a coupling section 300 which is manufactured to be integrally formed with the parts of the plurality of ink cartridges 100, 200. The plurality of ink cartridges 100, 200 are separated from each other at the coupling section 300, and then loaded to the inkjet recorder. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink cartridge set. In particular, the present invention relates to an ink cartridge set having a plurality of ink cartridges.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an inkjet recording apparatus in which ink is supplied by mounting an ink cartridge, there is a recording apparatus in which a plurality of ink cartridges are mounted. One example is a color inkjet recording device. Examples of the plurality of ink cartridges are a black ink cartridge that stores black ink and a color ink cartridge that stores yellow, magenta, and cyan inks in their respective ink storage chambers.

Each of these black ink cartridge and color ink cartridge has a container-shaped main body for containing ink, a lid portion vibratingly welded to this main body, and an ink supply hole for supplying ink to an ink jet recording apparatus. Some include an external communication portion that introduces air from the outside as ink is supplied.

[0004]

However, these black ink cartridges and color ink cartridges are manufactured and sold separately because the amount of ink used differs depending on the user. Therefore,
If the ink cartridges mounted in the inkjet recording apparatus are manufactured separately for each type, the number of parts will increase.

In particular, the external communication portions of these ink cartridges are sealed with a film or the like at the time of sale, and the user peels the film to make it usable. Therefore, the film that is peeled off when the ink cartridge is mounted in the inkjet recording device is a waste.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an ink cartridge set which can solve the above problems. This object is achieved by a combination of features described in independent claims of the invention. The dependent claims define further advantageous specific examples of the present invention.

[0007]

That is, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink cartridge set, wherein a plurality of ink cartridges, each of which is mounted in an ink jet recording apparatus, are connected to the plurality of ink cartridges. And a plurality of ink cartridges,
The connecting portion is formed so as to be separable.

In the ink cartridge set,
Each of the plurality of ink cartridges may include a main body that stores ink, and a lid that is fixed to the main body, and the connecting portion may include a lid connecting portion that is integrally formed with the lid.

In the ink cartridge set,
Each of the plurality of ink cartridges may include a main body that stores ink and a lid that is fixed to the main body, and the connecting portion may include a main body connecting portion that is integrally formed with the main body.

In the ink cartridge set,
Each of the plurality of ink cartridges has an external communication portion including one end communicating with the inside of the ink cartridge and the other end connecting with the connecting portion, and the plurality of ink cartridges are The other of the external communication parts may be opened to the outside when they are separated from each other at the connection part.

In the ink cartridge set,
The external communication portion includes a labyrinthine groove portion provided on the other end side and a film covering the groove portion, and the end portions of the groove portions of the plurality of ink cartridges are connected to each other at the connecting portion. In addition, the film may cover the connecting portion.

In the ink cartridge set,
The external communication portion may include a tunnel portion provided on the side of the other end, and the tunnels of the plurality of ink cartridges may be coupled to each other at the coupling portion.

In the ink cartridge set,
The connecting portion may connect the plurality of ink cartridges to each other in a stepwise manner.

In the ink cartridge set,
The connecting portion may connect the plurality of ink cartridges in a reverse arrangement to that mounted on the inkjet recording apparatus.

In the ink cartridge set,
The plurality of ink cartridges may include a black ink cartridge containing a black ink and a color ink cartridge containing a plurality of colors of ink other than black.

The above summary of the invention does not enumerate all the necessary features of the present invention, and a sub-combination of these feature groups can also be the invention.

[0017]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, the present invention will be described through embodiments of the invention, but the following embodiments do not limit the claimed invention, and the features described in the embodiments Not all combinations are essential to the solution of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an ink cartridge set according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The ink cartridge set 10 includes a plurality of ink cartridges 100 and 200 and a connecting portion 300.

The plurality of ink cartridges 100,
Each of 200 is attached to an inkjet recording apparatus. In this embodiment, the ink cartridge set 1
0 is a black ink cartridge 100 that stores black ink, and a color ink cartridge 2 that stores a plurality of colors other than black, such as yellow, cyan, and magenta.
Including 00. The ink stored in the color ink cartridge 200 is not limited to three colors, and may be five colors including light cyan and light magenta.

The black ink cartridge 100 contains black ink therein. An example of the black ink cartridge 100 is a single substantially rectangular parallelepiped-shaped container body,
A porous material containing ink is sealed. However, it is not limited to this. In another example, the ink is held in a hollow container main body, and the ink is selectively supplied to the inkjet recording apparatus by a differential pressure means such as a valve.

The black ink cartridge 100 has an ink supply hole 110. The ink supply hole 110 is provided on the bottom surface of the black ink cartridge 100. Here, the bottom surface is defined as a surface on which the ink supply holes 110 are provided, and represents the positional relationship between them, and the bottom surface does not always face downward when the black ink cartridge 100 is in use. It does not represent a position.

The black ink cartridge 100 has an information storage section 120 on the side surface which intersects the bottom surface where the ink supply hole 110 is provided. The information storage unit 120 stores information such as the type of ink cartridge, the color of ink held in the ink cartridge, and the existing amount of ink. An example of the information storage unit 120 is a contact type IC chip. The contact type IC chip has a substrate, a connection terminal portion including a contact exposed on the front side of the substrate, and a memory provided on the back side of the substrate, and is electrically touched by the contact to the outside. By being connected, the information data in the memory can be read or rewritten.

The color ink cartridge 200 is also provided on the bottom surface, and has the number of ink supply holes 210 corresponding to the number of contained inks, and the information storage section 220 provided on one of the side surfaces intersecting the bottom surface. . Since these are the same as the ink supply hole 110 and the information storage unit 120 in the black ink cartridge 100, description thereof will be omitted.

The connecting part 300 connects a plurality of ink cartridges in the reverse arrangement to that mounted on the ink jet recording apparatus. Here, for the sake of explanation, the information storage unit 12
When the side surface provided with 0 and 220 is referred to as a front surface, it is assumed that the black ink cartridge 100 is mounted on the right side and the color ink cartridge 200 is mounted on the left side of the front surface of the inkjet recording apparatus. In this case, as shown in FIG.
The black ink cartridge 100 is arranged on the left side and the color ink cartridge 200 is arranged on the right side to be connected.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the ink cartridge set 10. However, black ink cartridge 1
00 and the color ink cartridge 200,
The ink holding member such as a porous material is omitted.

The ink cartridge set 10 has a container shape in which one side is opened, and a black ink cartridge body 130 for storing black ink, and one side is opened,
A color ink cartridge main body 230 having a container shape divided into a plurality of rooms and containing yellow, magenta, or cyan ink is provided in the corresponding room. The black ink cartridge body 130 is integrally molded using a synthetic resin such as polypropylene (PP). Similarly, the color ink cartridge body 230 is also integrally formed using a synthetic resin such as polypropylene.

The ink cartridge set 10 includes a lid 4
00 is further provided. The lid 400 has a black ink cartridge lid 410 having a shape that matches the black ink cartridge body 130. The black ink cartridge lid portion 410 has a labyrinth-shaped groove portion 412 whose one end communicates with the inside of the black ink cartridge body 130.

The lid 400 further includes a color ink cartridge lid 420 having a shape matching the color ink cartridge body 230. The color ink cartridge lid portion 420 has labyrinth-like groove portions 422, 424, 426 whose one end communicates with each room inside the color ink cartridge body 230.

The lid portion 400 further includes two lid connecting portions 310 and 320 for connecting the black ink cartridge lid portion 410 and the color ink cartridge lid portion 420.
Have. The other end 418 of the groove 412 provided in the black ink cartridge lid 410 is connected to the lid connecting portion 320, and the other common end of the grooves 422, 424, 426 provided in the color ink cartridge lid 410. Four
28 connects with the lid connecting part 320. Further, the lid connecting portion 3
At 20, these two ends 418, 428 connect to each other.

The black ink cartridge lid portion 410, the color ink cartridge lid portion 420 and the two lid connecting portions 310 and 320 of the lid portion 400 are integrally formed by using a synthetic resin, for example, the same polypropylene as the ink cartridge bodies 130 and 230. Is formed. This lid 400
The black ink cartridge lid 410 is fixed to the black ink cartridge body 130, and the color ink cartridge lid 420 is fixed to the color ink cartridge body 230. An example of the fixing method is vibration welding.

The ink cartridge set 10 further includes a film 500. The film 500 includes a black ink cartridge film portion 510 that covers the groove portion 412 of the black ink cartridge lid portion 410 and groove portions 422, 424, 426 of the color ink cartridge lid portion 420.
A color ink cartridge film portion 520 for covering the
The black ink cartridge film portion 510 and the color ink cartridge film portion 520 are connected to each other by film connecting portions 330 and 340. Film 5
00 is formed into a substantially rectangular shape by laminating, for example, and is formed by making a cut so as to leave the film connecting portions 330 and 340. Film 500
Is attached to the upper surface of the lid portion 400, the black ink cartridge film portion 510 covers the groove portion 412 of the black ink cartridge lid portion 410, and the color ink cartridge film portion 520 is formed into the groove portion 422 of the color ink cartridge lid portion 420. 424 and 426 are covered. Therefore, the groove portion 412 and the black ink cartridge film portion 510 that covers the groove portion 412 form an external communication portion of the black ink cartridge 100. In addition, the groove portions 422, 424, 4
26 and the color ink cartridge film portion 520 covering the same form an external communication portion of the color ink cartridge 200.

FIG. 3A shows the lid connecting portion 3 of the connecting portion 300.
20 and a film connecting portion 520 are partially enlarged cross-sectional views seen from the direction A of FIG. 1. 3 (b) is shown in FIG. 3 (a).
FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the vicinity of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the thickness of the lid connecting portion 320 of the lid portion 400 is equal to that of the black ink cartridge lid portion 4.
10 and the color ink cartridge lid portion 420 are formed to have a smaller thickness. Therefore, for example, the lid connecting part 320
By bending around, the black ink cartridge 100 and the color ink cartridge 200 can be separated without damage.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the film 500
The film connecting portion 330 of the lid connecting portion 320 of the lid portion 400
Cover. Therefore, in a state before the black ink cartridge 100 and the color ink cartridge 200 are separated from each other, the groove portion 412 of the black ink cartridge lid portion 410.
And the groove 42 of the color ink cartridge lid 420
Both 2, 424 and 426 are hermetically connected to each other and are not open to the outside. When the black ink cartridge 100 and the color ink cartridge 200 are separated from each other at the connecting portion 300, the groove portion 4
The other end portion 41 of 12, 422, 424, 424
Both 8 and 428 are open to the outside.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, since the plurality of ink cartridges are integrally formed, the number of parts can be reduced. In particular, since the lid is integrally formed at the time of manufacturing the ink cartridge set, the number of parts of the lid is reduced and the parts can be easily handled. Further, since the plurality of integrally formed ink cartridges are separated at the connecting portion, the external communication portion is opened to the outside, so it is necessary to provide a film at the end of the external communication portion to allow the user to remove it. There is no. Therefore, a film that is discarded at the time of use does not occur, and the usability is good for the user.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the ink cartridge set according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The ink cartridge set 20 is different from the ink cartridge set 10 of the first embodiment in the lid connecting portion 322 of the lid portion 402 and the films 512 and 522. In the ink cartridge set 20, the ink cartridge set 1
The same components as those of 0 are designated by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

Lid 40 of ink cartridge set 20
2 is a labyrinthine groove portion 412, 422, 424, 4 as a part of the external communication portion, like the ink cartridge 10.
Has 26. Further, the external communication parts are the end parts 418, 4
It has tunnel parts 418a and 428a provided on the 28 side.

The film 502 of the ink cartridge set 20 is formed in the groove portion 4 of the black ink cartridge lid portion 410.
Black ink cartridge film portion 512 covering 12
And the groove 42 of the color ink cartridge lid 420
2, 424 and 426, and a color ink cartridge film portion 522. The black ink cartridge film portion 512 and the color ink cartridge film portion 522 are formed separately.

FIG. 5A shows the lid connecting portion 3 of the connecting portion 300.
FIG. 22 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of 22 viewed from the same direction as A in FIG. 1. 5B is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the vicinity of FIG. 5A viewed from the same direction as B of FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, at the lid connecting portion 322, the tunnel portion 418a of the black ink cartridge 100 and the tunnel portion 428a of the color ink cartridge 200 are connected to each other. Therefore, in the state before the black ink cartridge 100 and the color ink cartridge 200 are separated, the groove portion 412 of the black ink cartridge lid portion 410 and the groove portions 422, 42 of the color ink cartridge lid portion 420.
4, 426 are hermetically connected to each other,
It is not open to the outside. Black ink cartridge 1
00 and the color ink cartridge 200 connect the connecting portion 30.
When separated from each other at 0, the grooves 412, 4
Tunnel portions 418a and 42 provided at the other end portions 418 and 428 of 22, 424 and 426, respectively.
Both 8a are opened to the outside.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained. Further, according to the second embodiment, when each of the plurality of ink cartridges is cut off, the film is not attached to any of the connecting portions 310, 322 to be cut off, so that careless peeling of the film can be prevented. .

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of an ink cartridge set according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The ink cartridge set 30 is different from the ink cartridge set 10 of the first embodiment in the lid portion 404. In the ink cartridge set 30, the same components as those of the ink cartridge set 10 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

In the ink cartridge set 30, the lid portion 402 of the ink cartridge set 20 has labyrinthine groove portions 412, 422, 424, 426 as a part of the external communication portion, like the ink cartridge 10. In this embodiment, the end portion 418 of the groove portion 412 provided in the black ink cartridge lid portion 410 passes through the connecting portion 314 and is connected to the enlarged portion 419 provided in the color ink cartridge lid portion 420. On the other hand, the groove portions 422, 424 provided in the color ink cartridge lid portion 420,
The common end 419 of 426 passes through the connecting portion 324, and the enlarged portion 4 provided on the black ink cartridge lid portion 410.
29 is connected.

As described above, according to the third embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained. Further, according to the third embodiment, since the groove portions of the plurality of ink cartridges are connected to different connecting portions, the degree of freedom in designing the labyrinth shape of the groove portions is increased.

FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of an ink cartridge set according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The ink cartridge set 50 differs from the ink cartridge set 10 of the first embodiment in the connecting portions 152 and 252. In the ink cartridge set 50, the same components as those of the ink cartridge set 10 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

The ink cartridge set 50 is provided with a black ink cartridge 150 and a color ink cartridge 250 having concave and convex shapes that are aligned with each other on one side surface facing each other, and a connecting portion 350 connecting these.
The connecting portion 350 connects the black ink cartridge 150 and the color ink cartridge 250 in a stepwise manner on the side surface provided with the uneven shape. Similar to the first embodiment, the connecting portion 350 connects, for example, the lid of the black ink cartridge 150 and the lid of the color ink cartridge 250, and is integrally formed with these lids.

As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained. Further, according to the fourth embodiment, since a plurality of ink cartridges are connected in a stepwise manner and are integrally manufactured, it is possible to secure a sufficiently large decompression space by performing decompression packaging as it is. Is. Therefore, the pressure reduction in the ink cartridge can be achieved at a high level. Further, since the respective ink cartridges are separated from each other and the ink cartridges cannot be physically attached to the ink jet recording apparatus unless the ink cartridges become usable, erroneous insertion can be prevented.

In the first to fourth embodiments described above, the lid portion or the lid portion and the film are integrally formed, but the present invention is not limited to this. As another example, an ink cartridge set has a main body connecting portion that connects the main bodies of a plurality of ink cartridges and is integrally molded with the main body.

Although the present invention has been described using the embodiments, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments. Various changes or improvements can be added to the above-described embodiment. A mode in which such changes or improvements are added may be included in the technical scope of the present invention.
It is clear from the description of the claims.

[0050]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the number of parts can be reduced in an ink cartridge set including a plurality of ink cartridges.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an ink cartridge set according to a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an ink cartridge set.

3A is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the lid connecting portion and the film connecting portion of the connecting portion as seen from the direction A of FIG. 1, FIG.
Is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the vicinity of FIG.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of an ink cartridge set according to a second embodiment of the invention.

5A is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the lid connecting portion of the connecting portion viewed from the direction A of FIG. 1, and FIG. 5B is a view of the vicinity of FIG. 1A viewed from the direction B of FIG. FIG.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of an ink cartridge set according to a third embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of an ink cartridge set according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10, 20, 30, 50 Ink cartridge set 100 black ink cartridge 130 Black ink cartridge body 200 color ink cartridge 230 color ink cartridge body 300 connection 310, 314, 320, 322, 324 Lid connection part 330,340 Film connection part 400, 402, 404 lid 410 Black ink cartridge lid 412, 422, 424, 426 Groove 418, 428 end 418a, 428a Tunnel section 420 Color ink cartridge lid 500, 502 films 510, 512 Black ink cartridge film part 520,522 Color ink cartridge film part

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Tomio Yokoyama             Seiko, 3-3-3 Yamato, Suwa City, Nagano Prefecture             -In Epson Corporation (72) Inventor Kazuhiro Hashii             Seiko, 3-3-3 Yamato, Suwa City, Nagano Prefecture             -In Epson Corporation F-term (reference) 2C056 EA24 KC04 KC22

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An ink cartridge set, comprising: a plurality of ink cartridges, each of which is mounted on an inkjet recording apparatus; and a connecting portion that connects the plurality of ink cartridges, wherein the plurality of ink cartridges are the connected Ink cartridge set, characterized in that it is formed so that it can be separated. 2. Each of the plurality of ink cartridges has a main body for containing ink, and a lid fixed to the main body, and the connecting portion has a lid connecting portion integrally formed with the lid. The ink cartridge set according to claim 1, wherein: 3. Each of the plurality of ink cartridges has a main body for containing ink and a lid fixed to the main body, and the connecting portion has a main body connecting portion integrally formed with the main body. The ink cartridge set according to claim 1, wherein: 4. Each of the plurality of ink cartridges has an external communication part including one end communicating with the inside of the ink cartridge and the other end connecting with the connecting part. The ink cartridge set according to claim 1, wherein the other of the external communication portions is opened to the outside when the ink cartridges of 1 are disconnected from each other at the connecting portion. 5. The external communication portion includes a labyrinthine groove portion provided on the side of the other end portion and a film covering the groove portion, and in the connecting portion, the groove portions of the plurality of ink cartridges are formed. The ink cartridge set according to claim 4, wherein the end portions are connected to each other, and the film covers the connecting portion. 6. The external communication part includes a tunnel part provided on the other end side, and the tunnels of the plurality of ink cartridges are connected to each other at the connection part. Item 4. The ink cartridge set according to item 4. 7. The ink cartridge set according to claim 1, wherein the connecting portion connects the plurality of ink cartridges in a stepwise manner. 8. The ink cartridge set according to claim 1, wherein the connecting portion connects the plurality of ink cartridges in a reverse arrangement to that mounted on the inkjet recording apparatus. 9. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of ink cartridges include a black ink cartridge containing a black ink and a color ink cartridge containing a plurality of colors of ink other than black. Ink cartridge set described in.