JP2004249707A - Liquid cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent ink contained in an ink cartridge from leaking outside, and to surely move an atmospheric valve when the ink cartridge is mounted to an inkjet recording apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: The ink cartridge 100 is provided with an ink containing part 111 to contain the ink, an ink supplying part 160 to supply the ink to the inkjet recording apparatus with an ink supplying needle 50 inserted therein from its lower part, and the atmospheric valve 254 to seal a communicating hole 239 to communicate the ink containing part 111 with the atmosphere. The valve 254 is arranged movably in parallel with a direction in which the cartridge is mounted to the inkjet recording apparatus, and opens the communicating hole 239 to communicate the ink containing part 111 with the atmosphere by the pushing-up operation of a contact member 60. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a liquid cartridge. In particular, the present invention relates to a liquid cartridge that supplies a liquid to the liquid ejecting apparatus by being attached to the liquid ejecting apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In an ink jet recording apparatus, an ink cartridge containing ink is mounted on a carriage of the ink jet recording apparatus to supply ink to a recording head. Here, the ink, the ink jet recording apparatus, and the ink cartridge are examples of a liquid, a liquid ejecting apparatus, and a liquid cartridge, respectively.
[0003]
In the ink cartridge, for example, an ink storage unit that stores the ink, an ink supply unit into which the ink supply needle of the carriage is inserted to supply the ink in the ink storage unit to the recording head side, and an ink storage unit side and the recording head side A valve member that communicates the ink storage unit and the ink supply unit based on the pressure difference between them and an atmospheric valve that communicates the ink storage chamber with the atmosphere are provided (for example, see Patent Document 1). The air valve is disposed so as to be movable in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which the ink cartridge is mounted on the carriage. For example, when the ink cartridge is mounted on the carriage by being pushed down from above, the air valve is arranged to be movable in the horizontal direction. As the ink cartridge is mounted on the carriage, a contact member, which is a part of the carriage, comes into contact with the air valve to move the air valve in the horizontal direction, thereby communicating the ink container with the atmosphere. In this state, when the recording head consumes the ink, the ink supply control unit supplies the ink from the ink storage unit to the recording head.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1] JP-A-2002-103643 (FIG. 1)
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described ink cartridge, the contact member of the carriage moves the air valve in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the ink cartridge is mounted on the carriage. For example, when the ink cartridge is mounted on the carriage, the contact member does not contact the air valve and the air valve is not opened. Further, in the ink cartridge, when the atmosphere valve opens the communication hole, there is a possibility that the ink stored in the ink storage portion leaks out of the ink cartridge through the communication hole.
[0006]
Then, an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid cartridge which can solve the above-mentioned subject. This object is achieved by a combination of features described in the independent claims. The dependent claims define further advantageous embodiments of the present invention.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid cartridge that supplies a liquid to the liquid ejecting apparatus by being attached to the liquid ejecting apparatus, the liquid containing section containing the liquid, and the liquid containing section. A liquid supply unit into which the liquid supply needle formed in the liquid ejecting apparatus is inserted, and an air valve that seals a communication hole for communicating the liquid storage unit with the atmosphere; The valve is disposed so as to be movable in a direction substantially parallel to a direction in which the liquid supply needle is inserted into the liquid supply unit, and when the valve is mounted on the liquid ejection device, a contact formed on the liquid ejection device is formed. The communication hole can be opened by being moved by a member.
With this configuration, the moving direction of the air valve is parallel to the direction in which the liquid supply needle of the liquid ejecting device is inserted into the liquid supply unit, so that the air valve is reliably mounted by the contact member of the liquid ejecting device with the mounting of the liquid cartridge. Is pushed up. Further, when the outer shape of the liquid cartridge is vertically long in the mounting direction of the liquid cartridge, it is possible to increase the stroke in which the atmosphere valve moves without increasing the width of the liquid cartridge in the horizontal direction.
[0008]
The liquid cartridge may further include a coil spring for urging the atmosphere valve to the communication hole to seal the communication hole when the liquid cartridge is detached from the liquid ejecting apparatus. This makes it possible to increase the stroke in which the coil spring expands and contracts, and it is possible to increase the urging force for urging the atmosphere valve in the direction in which the communication hole is sealed, as compared with the case where a leaf spring is used.
[0009]
In the above-mentioned liquid cartridge, the atmospheric valve has a guide portion having a substantially cylindrical shape inserted into the coil spring, and a disc portion having a larger diameter than the guide portion, which is urged by the coil spring to seal around the communication hole. And the guide portion may be provided with a cut portion cut from the side inserted into the coil spring. This allows the assembly jig to be fitted into the notch and temporarily fix the air valve and the coil spring to the liquid cartridge while the guide portion of the air valve is inserted into the coil spring. Can be incorporated into
[0010]
In the liquid cartridge, the atmosphere valve includes a sealing portion that is urged to seal the periphery of the communication hole, and a shaft that projects from the sealing portion, is inserted into the communication hole, and inscribes the communication hole at a plurality of locations. And a gap may be provided between the shaft portion and the communication hole.
Thus, the atmosphere valve is accurately positioned at a plurality of locations with respect to the communication hole. Further, since a gap is formed between the contact portions, it is possible to prevent the flow resistance of the atmosphere flowing through the communication hole from increasing.
[0011]
In the liquid cartridge, a film is formed at a portion of the liquid ejecting apparatus where the contact member abuts, and the atmosphere valve is moved by being pressed by the abutment member via the flexible film. May be configured.
Thereby, when the contact member of the liquid ejecting apparatus pushes up the atmosphere valve via the film, the film can be prevented from being stretched and broken. Further, the resistance for pressing the film can be reduced.
[0012]
The liquid cartridge may further include a liquid storage portion provided below the atmosphere valve and the communication hole and closer to the atmosphere than the communication hole, and configured to store the liquid flowing out of the communication hole. Thereby, even if the liquid flows out to the side closer to the atmosphere than the communication hole and the atmosphere valve, the liquid is stored in the liquid storage chamber. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the liquid from leaking out of the liquid cartridge.
[0013]
In the liquid cartridge, a communication hole that communicates the atmosphere with the communication hole of the liquid storage unit is provided above the liquid reservoir. Accordingly, even if the liquid may flow out toward the communication hole and the atmosphere valve, the liquid can escape from the communication hole to the liquid reservoir, and the flow resistance of the atmosphere flowing through the communication hole can be reduced.
[0014]
In the liquid cartridge, the liquid reservoir has a hollow portion having an open bottom surface and a film for sealing the bottom surface of the hollow portion. The liquid reservoir portion is housed in the hollow portion of the liquid reservoir portion and formed in a liquid ejecting apparatus. An atmosphere valve pressing member that pushes up the atmosphere valve by being pushed up through the film by the contact member may be further provided. Thereby, the atmosphere valve can be arranged at the upper part of the liquid cartridge, and the capacity of the liquid reservoir can be increased.
[0015]
In the liquid cartridge, the film may have a flexure so that the member of the liquid ejecting apparatus pushes up the atmospheric valve pressing member via the film until the atmospheric valve opens the communication hole. Thereby, when the contact member of the liquid ejecting apparatus pushes up the atmospheric valve pressing member via the film, the film can be prevented from being stretched and broken.
[0016]
The liquid cartridge may further include a seal film that shuts off between the liquid storage portion and the communication hole, and may include a rupture unit for breaking the seal film when the cartridge is mounted. Thus, it is possible to prevent the liquid from flowing out of the communication hole to the atmosphere when not in use.
The liquid cartridge may further include a mounting portion formed with storage means and a side surface of which is positioned by the liquid ejecting apparatus, and the atmospheric valve may be disposed near the mounting portion. Thereby, the position of the atmosphere valve and the contact member can be accurately positioned, and the atmosphere can be reliably released.
[0017]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid cartridge abutting on a part of the liquid ejecting apparatus and being mounted while rotating with respect to the liquid ejecting apparatus, wherein a liquid storing section for storing liquid; A liquid supply unit having a supply valve pushed up by the liquid supply needle when the liquid supply needle of the liquid ejecting apparatus is inserted, and a liquid supply unit communicating with the liquid storage unit and the atmosphere. And a direction substantially parallel to the direction in which the liquid supply needle is inserted into the liquid supply unit by a contact member formed in the liquid ejection device when the communication hole is sealed in the liquid ejection device. And an atmosphere valve that opens the communication hole, and the atmosphere valve is configured to rotate around the fulcrum at which the liquid cartridge is rotated with respect to the liquid ejection apparatus. For the member The angle at which the liquid cartridge is pivoted with respect to the liquid ejecting apparatus is set so that the liquid cartridge is pivoted about the fulcrum so that the supply valve of the liquid supply unit contacts the liquid supply needle. It is characterized in that it is smaller than the angle rotated with respect to the device.
Thus, when the liquid cartridge is mounted on the liquid ejecting apparatus, the atmospheric valve can be opened before the liquid supply needle is inserted into the liquid supply unit, and the pressure inside the liquid cartridge is lower than the pressure of the liquid ejecting apparatus. Can be prevented from being drawn from the liquid ejecting apparatus to the liquid cartridge when the liquid is small. Specifically, when the liquid cartridge is mounted, the meniscus formed in the nozzle of the liquid ejecting head is drawn into the head by the negative pressure (pressure lower than the atmospheric pressure) inside the liquid cartridge, and bubbles are also generated from the nozzle by the head. Although there is a possibility that the ink may penetrate into the inside and cause ejection failure of the head, this can be prevented by the above configuration.
[0018]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid cartridge which is attached to a part of the liquid ejecting apparatus while rotating with respect to the liquid ejecting apparatus, wherein the liquid accommodating section accommodates a liquid; The liquid ejecting device, which is in communication with the liquid container, seals a liquid supply unit into which the liquid supply needle of the liquid ejecting device is inserted, and a communication hole for communicating the liquid container with the atmosphere. An atmosphere valve that moves in a direction substantially parallel to a direction in which a liquid supply needle is inserted into the liquid supply unit by a contact member formed in the liquid ejection device when the liquid supply device is mounted on the liquid ejection device, and opens the communication hole. Wherein the contact portion of the atmospheric valve with the contact member is disposed closer to a fulcrum at which the liquid cartridge is rotated with respect to the liquid ejecting device than the liquid supply portion. It is characterized by.
Thus, when the liquid cartridge is mounted on the liquid ejecting apparatus, the atmospheric valve can be opened before the liquid supply needle is inserted into the liquid supply unit, and the pressure inside the liquid cartridge is lower than the pressure of the liquid ejecting apparatus. Can be prevented from being drawn from the liquid ejecting apparatus to the liquid cartridge when the liquid is small. Specifically, when the liquid cartridge is mounted, the meniscus formed in the nozzle of the liquid ejecting head is drawn into the head by the negative pressure (pressure lower than the atmospheric pressure) inside the liquid cartridge, and bubbles are also generated from the nozzle by the head. Although there is a possibility that the ink may penetrate into the inside and cause ejection failure of the head, this can be prevented by the above configuration.
[0019]
In the above liquid cartridge, between the liquid container and the communication hole, the atmosphere can be allowed to move from the communication hole to the liquid container, and the liquid can be prevented from moving from the liquid container to the communication hole. A check valve may be further provided.
Thus, even if the air valve is opened before the liquid supply needle is inserted into the liquid supply unit, it is possible to reliably prevent the liquid from flowing out to the air valve side.
[0020]
Note that the above summary of the present invention does not list all of the necessary features of the present invention, and a sub-combination of these features may also be an invention.
[0021]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described through embodiments of the present invention. However, the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims, and all of the combinations of the features described in the embodiments are not limited thereto. It is not always essential to the solution of the invention.
[0022]
FIG. 1 shows an example of a liquid cartridge suitable for supplying liquid to a liquid ejecting head of a liquid ejecting apparatus, taking an example of an ink cartridge 100 for an ink jet recording apparatus, and showing the structure of the liquid cartridge obliquely from above. It is a front perspective view.
[0023]
The liquid ejecting apparatus according to the present invention includes not only a liquid ejecting head of an ink jet recording apparatus, but also a color material ejecting head of a color filter producing apparatus for producing a color filter of a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, an FED (surface). It includes an electrode material (conductive paste) ejecting head for forming an electrode such as a light emitting display), a biological organic matter ejecting head of a biochip manufacturing apparatus for producing a biochip, and a sample ejecting head as a precision pipette.
[0024]
2 and 3 are rear perspective views of the ink cartridge 100 of FIG. 1 as viewed obliquely from below. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state before the film 110 is attached to the surface of the ink cartridge 100. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which a film 110 is attached to the ink cartridge 100. 4 and 5 are exploded perspective views showing members constituting the ink cartridge 100 in an exploded manner. 6 and 7 are front views of the ink cartridge 100 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state before the film 130 is attached to the opening 122 of the ink cartridge 100. FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a film is attached to an opening of an ink cartridge. In FIG. 7, the film 130 is attached to a region indicated by hatching.
[0025]
As shown in FIG. 4, the ink cartridge 100 includes a cartridge body 120 having a bottom and a substantially housing shape having an opening 122, a film 130 covering almost the entire surface of the opening 122, and covering the outside of the film 130. A lid 140 is provided.
The inside of the cartridge body 120 is defined by ribs and walls as described later. The film 130 seals substantially the entire surface of the opening 122 of the cartridge main body 120 so that the inside is sealed. The lid 140 is fixed to the cartridge body 120 so as to further cover the outside of the film 130 in a non-sealed state.
[0026]
The cartridge body 120 includes an ink storage unit 111 that stores ink, an ink flow path unit from the ink storage unit 111 to the ink supply unit 160, an ink-side passage that connects the ink storage unit 111 to the atmosphere, an air valve storage unit, And an atmosphere communication portion formed of an atmosphere-side passage, and is integrally formed of, for example, propylene (PP).
[0027]
The ink cartridge 100 further includes an ink supply control unit 150, an ink supply unit 160, a storage unit 170, and an engagement lever 180. The ink supply unit 160 is disposed on the lower surface of the cartridge main body 120, and an ink supply needle formed on the carriage 42 on which the ink cartridge 100 is mounted is inserted, and the ink stored in the ink storage unit 111 is used for the ink jet recording apparatus. To the recording head. The storage means 170 is caulked to the mounting portion 190, and the mounting portion 190 is caulked below the side surface of the cartridge main body 120 and mounted. The storage unit 170 stores information on the type of the ink cartridge 100, information on the color of the ink held by the ink cartridge 100, and information on the existing amount of the ink, and communicates with the apparatus main body by a plurality of terminals 171 exposed on the surface. Pass this information between. The engagement lever 180 is formed on an upper portion of a side surface of the cartridge main body 120 facing the mounting portion 190, and engages with the carriage 42 of the ink jet recording apparatus.
The side surface of the mounting portion 190 is regulated by a rib (not shown) formed on the carriage, and is configured such that the terminal 171 and the elastic contact on the carriage side are securely in contact with each other.
[0028]
The ink supply control unit 150 includes a differential pressure valve that supplies the ink in the ink storage unit 111 to the ink supply unit 160 based on a pressure difference between the ink storage unit 111 and the ink supply unit 160 that occurs with consumption of the ink. I have. The ink supply control means 150 is a resiliently deformable membrane valve 900 which is an example of a valve member inserted into the concave portion 495 of the cartridge body 120, a valve lid 151 covering the concave portion 495, a membrane valve 900 and a valve lid. And a coil spring 907 as an example of an urging member disposed between the coils 151.
[0029]
6 and 7, the ink container 111 is largely divided into an upper part and a lower part by a wall 272 extending in the horizontal direction, and an air-side container 270 capable of communicating with the atmosphere through a communication hole 242 is provided at a lower part. In addition, a supply-side storage section 290 including two first ink storage sections 292 and a second ink storage section 294, which are shielded from the atmosphere, is formed in the upper part. The supply-side storage section 290 is divided into two parts, a first and a second ink storage sections 292 and 294, by an oblique wall 271 having a communication section 276 near the wall 272 (lower region). A channel portion 296 is formed so as to be surrounded by the housing portion 294. The flow path section 296 is connected to the second ink storage section 294 via a lower communication section 278, and is connected to the ink supply control means 150 via the passages 298 and 300 and the through hole 918.
Further, a downstream side of the ink supply control unit 150 is formed at one end of the through hole 910 communicating with the ink supply control unit 150, the communication portion 302 communicating with the through hole 910, the flow path 321, and the flow path 321. The ink supply unit 160 is configured to communicate with the ink supply unit 160 through a through hole 323 formed to face the communication hole and a communication unit 304 having one end communicating with the through hole 323.
[0030]
The atmosphere-side storage section 270 and the first ink storage section 292 are communicated with each other by a vertically extending communication path 295, and the ink in the atmosphere-side storage section 270 is converted into the first ink in accordance with the consumption of ink from the ink supply section 160. The ink is sucked into the storage section 292, and flows from the storage section 292 to the ink supply control section 150 via the second ink storage section 294, the flow path section 296, and the like. The communication section 274, the second ink inlet 162, the communication path 295, the communication sections 276 and 278, the flow path section 296, the paths 298 and 300 are provided from the atmosphere side storage section 270 of the ink storage section 111 to the ink supply control means 150. The ink flows through the through holes 918 in this order.
[0031]
On the other hand, the atmosphere valve section 250 has a hollow atmosphere valve storage chamber 232 in which the atmosphere valve 254 is housed, and the wall surface below the atmosphere valve storage chamber 232 has a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the shaft section 264 of the atmosphere valve 254. Has a communication hole 239 which also serves as a communication passage for the atmosphere, in which a shaft portion 264 of the atmosphere valve 254 is constantly urged toward the bottom surface of the ink cartridge 100 by a coil spring 255 and is slidably inserted. Thus, when the ink cartridge 100 is not mounted on the carriage 42 of the ink jet recording apparatus, the communication hole 239 is sealed by the atmosphere valve 254. Accordingly, the air valve 254 is disposed so as to be movable in the vertical direction in which the ink cartridge 100 is mounted on the carriage 42, and when the ink cartridge 100 is mounted on the carriage 42, the air valve 254 is a contact member as an example of a contact member formed on the carriage. The communication hole 239 is opened by being pushed up by the member 60.
[0032]
FIG. 8 is a rear view showing a state before the film 110 is attached in the ink cartridge 100 of FIG. The atmosphere-side passage, which is a side communicating with the atmosphere with the above-described communication hole 239 as a boundary, is formed on the bottom surface of the opening 212, the meandering passage 214, the filter housing 216, the communication hole 218 and the communication part 222, and the communication part 222. A communication hole 253 and a communication portion 224 are provided.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, one end of one maze-shaped passage 214 formed on the front side of the cartridge main body 120 is open to the atmosphere as an opening 212, and the other end is ink repellent and air permeable. The filter 215 (FIGS. 4 and 5) having the function described in FIG. The filter housing portion 216 communicates with a communication hole 218 penetrating from the front side to the back side of the cartridge main body 120. The communication hole 218 is connected to the communication portion 224 via a communication portion 222 on the back side of the cartridge main body 120 and a communication hole 253 formed at the bottom of the room defining the communication portion 222. A chamber 930 having a concave portion is provided in the middle of the passage 214.
[0033]
As shown in FIG. 2, the communication portion 224 is formed as a concave portion 257 on the bottom surface of the cartridge main body 120, exposes a shaft portion 264 serving as an operating rod of the atmosphere valve 254, and accommodates the atmosphere valve 254. A communication hole 239 capable of communicating with the communication portion 232 and a communication hole 253 communicating with the communication portion 222 are formed in the concave portion 257, and the outer surface of the concave portion 257 is connected to the first ink inlet 161 and the second ink inlet 162. It is formed by sealing with a sealing film 132. The film 132 is selected to be elastically deformable by the pressing force of the operation member provided on the carriage 42.
[0034]
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, the ink-side passage communicating with the atmosphere-side accommodation section 270 with the above-described communication hole 239 as a boundary includes an atmosphere valve accommodation chamber 232, a communication hole 234a, a communication chamber 234b, a communication section 234c, and a communication chamber 234d. , A communication portion 236, a communication chamber 237, a communication hole 238, a communication groove 240, and a communication hole 242. Specifically, a through hole 232a is formed in the upper wall of the atmosphere valve storage chamber 232, and the communication chamber 234b is formed through the through hole 232a, and the communication formed by the cutout of the upper wall of the communication chamber 234b. The portion 234c, a communication chamber 234d provided above the communication portion 234c, a communication portion 236 formed by a cutout in the upper wall of the communication chamber 234d, and a communication chamber 237 having a communication hole 238 formed below. An air passage is formed.
The communication hole 238 penetrating from the back side to the front side of the cartridge main body 120 is connected to the communication groove 240 communicating with the communication hole 238, the communication side with the communication groove 240, and through the communication hole 242 penetrating from the front side to the back side of the cartridge main body 120 to the atmosphere side. It communicates with the accommodation part 270.
The films 130 and 110 are adhered to the walls that define the atmosphere-side housing section 270, the supply-side housing section 290, the atmosphere valve section 250, the atmosphere-side passage, and the ink-side passage by a method such as heat welding. This results in an area isolated from the atmosphere.
[0035]
The ink supply unit 160 includes a seal member 12 formed of an elastomer or the like having an insertion port 26 provided on the carriage 42 into which an ink supply needle is inserted, a supply valve 13 for closing the insertion port 26 of the seal member 12, And an urging member 14 made of a coil spring or the like for urging the valve 13 toward the seal member 12. A film 604 is attached to the insertion opening 26 of the seal member 12 at the time of shipment from the factory.
When the ink cartridge 100 is mounted on the carriage 42 of the ink jet recording apparatus, the protrusion provided on the carriage 42 pushes up the shaft 264 of the atmospheric valve 254 through the film 132 and the ink supply needle of the carriage 42. Pushes the supply valve 13 of the ink supply unit 160 upward. Thereby, the communication hole 239 communicates the atmosphere flow path from the atmosphere valve storage chamber 232 to the communication hole 242 with the atmosphere. The upstream of the supply valve 13 in the ink supply unit 160 communicates with the ink supply needle.
[0036]
When the ink jet recording apparatus starts recording in a state where the communication hole 242 communicates with the atmosphere, ink is supplied from the ink supply unit 160 to the recording head through the ink supply needle. When the ink is supplied from the ink supply unit 160, the ink flowing in the order of the arrow a and the through hole 918 shown in FIG. , C, and d, flow into the ink supply unit 160, and the ink is supplied to the ink supply needle inserted into the ink supply unit 160.
[0037]
In the ink storage unit 111, the ink in the atmosphere-side storage unit 270 is supplied to the supply-side storage unit 290 in accordance with the flow of the ink. With the consumption of the ink in the atmosphere-side container 270, the air flows from the communication hole 242 to the atmosphere-side container 270 through the communication hole 242 in the order indicated by the arrow f, the bottom communicating portion 224, and the arrow g in FIG. . Although the ink is supplied from the ink supply unit 160 to the recording head and the liquid level of the atmosphere-side storage unit 270 drops, the flow path connecting the atmosphere-side storage unit 270 and the supply-side storage unit 290 is Since there is a communication port at the bottom, air does not flow into the supply-side container 290 until all the ink in the atmosphere-side container 270 moves to the supply-side container 290.
[0038]
After all the ink in the atmosphere-side container 270 has been consumed, the ink in the first ink container 292 and the second ink container 294 in the supply-side container 290 is consumed in this order. During this time, the ink in the supply-side container 290 is supplied to the atmosphere-side container 270 by the surface tension of the meniscus of the ink formed in the second ink inlet 162 that connects the supply-side container 290 and the atmosphere-side container 270. Backflow is prevented.
[0039]
When the ink in the first ink container 292 starts to be consumed, air flows into the first ink container 292. As a result, although the liquid level of the first ink container 292 drops, only the lower portion of the first ink container 292 and the second ink container 294 is communicated by the communication unit 276. The ink in the container 292 is consumed. When the ink in the first ink storage section 292 is consumed and the liquid level reaches the communication section 276, air is also supplied to the second ink storage section 294 in accordance with the consumption of the ink in the second ink storage section 294. Inflow. While the ink in the second ink container is consumed, surface tension due to the ink meniscus is generated in the communication portion 276, so that the ink in the second ink container 294 is prevented from flowing back to the first ink container 292. .
[0040]
As described above, the inks in the atmosphere-side storage unit 270, the first ink storage unit 292, and the second ink storage unit 294 are consumed in this order. However, even if the ink level is in any of the storage units, the ink is The ink is supplied to the ink supply unit 160 from the communication unit 278 disposed in the vicinity of the wall 272 that divides the ink storage unit 111 into approximately two parts through the passage 300 through the passage 300.
[0041]
As shown in FIG. 6, the communication hole 242 allows the atmosphere to move from the communication hole 242 to the atmosphere-side accommodation unit 270, and prohibits the ink from moving from the atmosphere-side accommodation unit 270 to the communication hole 242. A check valve 90 may be provided. One example of the check valve 90 is a film valve. In this case, one side of a rectangular film is attached so as to cover the communication hole 242 from the atmosphere-side housing section 270 side, and the other three sides are movable. Thus, it is possible to prevent the ink from flowing out of the ink storage section 111 to the communication hole 242.
[0042]
FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the periphery of the atmosphere valve 254 and the communication hole 239 of the cartridge main body 120. The atmosphere valve 254 includes a guide portion 258 having a substantially cylindrical shape into which the coil spring 255 is inserted, a disk portion 260 provided at one end of the guide portion 258, and an opposite side of the disk portion 260 to the guide portion 258. And a shaft portion 264 extending from the center of the disk portion 260 to a side opposite to the guide portion 258. The guide portion 258 is provided with a cut portion 266 cut from the side inserted into the coil spring 255. The disk portion 260 has a disk shape having a diameter larger than that of the guide portion 258 and is urged by the coil spring 255 to seal around the communication hole 239. The seal portion 262 is an example of a sealing portion in the present invention, and projects annularly so as to surround the outside of the rectangular communication hole 239. In the present embodiment, the annular distal end of the seal portion 262 protrudes inward and outward (M-shaped section), thereby increasing the sealing force. The shaft portion 264 has a cylindrical shape having a diameter substantially inscribed in the rectangular communication hole 239, and extends beyond the seal portion 262. The atmosphere valve 254 excluding the seal portion 262 is formed of, for example, polypropylene, and the seal portion 262 is formed of, for example, an elastomer. These are integrally formed by two-color molding. However, the configuration of the seal portion 262 is not limited to this, and the seal portion 262 may be formed as an O-ring separate from the atmospheric valve 254.
[0043]
A method for storing the atmosphere valve 254 in the atmosphere valve storage chamber 232 of the cartridge main body 120 will be described below. First, the guide portion 258 of the atmosphere valve 254 is inserted into the coil spring 255, and one end of the coil spring 255 is brought into contact with the disk portion 260. The other end of the coil spring 255 is pressed by a jig, and the coil spring 255 is contracted until it is shorter than the guide portion 258. In this state, an assembling jig is inserted into the notch 266, and the coil spring 255 and the atmosphere valve 254 are temporarily fixed to the jig. The atmosphere valve 254 and the coil spring 255 temporarily fixed by a jig are inserted into the communication hole 239 of the shaft portion 264 of the atmosphere valve 254, and are housed in the atmosphere valve storage chamber 232. With the shaft portion 264 of the atmospheric valve 254 inserted into the communication hole 239, the assembly jig is removed from the cut portion 266. As a result, the coil spring 255 is opened, and is sandwiched between the disk portion 260 of the atmosphere valve 254 and the wall portion 269 of the atmosphere valve storage chamber 232. Therefore, the coil spring 255 urges the atmosphere valve 254 toward the communication hole 239 to seal the communication hole 239. When the atmosphere valve 254 is urged by the coil spring 255, the seal portion 262 seals the communication hole 239 so as to cover it, thereby blocking the ink storage portion 111 from the atmosphere.
[0044]
As described above, the assembly jig can be inserted into the cutout portion 266 with the guide portion 258 of the atmospheric valve 254 inserted into the coil spring 255, so that the atmospheric valve 254 and the coil spring 255 can be easily attached to the ink cartridge 100. Can be incorporated. Further, the stroke in which the coil spring 255 expands and contracts can be increased, and the atmosphere valve 254 can be urged with a larger urging force in the direction in which the communication hole 239 is sealed, as compared with the case where a leaf spring is used. .
[0045]
Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the shaft portion 264 has a circular cross section and the communication hole 239 is substantially square, so that the shaft portion 264 of the atmosphere valve 254 inscribes the communication hole 239 at four points. As a result, the atmosphere valve 254 is accurately positioned with no play in the communication hole 239. Further, since the communication hole 239 and the shaft portion 264 have an air flow path between the contact points, when the seal portion 262 opens the communication hole 239, the flow resistance of the atmosphere flowing through the communication hole 239 is reduced. Can be.
[0046]
FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the carriage 42 of the ink jet recording apparatus and the ink cartridge 100 mounted on the carriage 42. FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 are schematic cross-sectional views illustrating a method of mounting the ink cartridge 100 on the carriage 42. 11 and 12 show the ink cartridge 100 and the carriage 42 in a simplified manner.
[0047]
As shown in FIG. 10, the carriage 42 has a substantially box shape with an open upper surface, and holds a plurality of ink cartridges 100 mounted from the upper surface. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, three ribs 33 are provided inside the carriage 42. Between the ribs 33 and between the ribs 33 and the side surfaces of the carriage 42, three color ink cartridges of the same type and one black ink cartridge having a thickness different from these are installed.
[0048]
On the bottom surface inside the carriage 42, ink supply needles 50 inserted into the ink supply unit 160 are provided at the positions of the ink supply unit 160 when the ink cartridge 100 is mounted. The ink supply needle 50 has a hollow needle shape having a conical shape at the tip, and supplies the ink supplied from the ink supply unit 160 to the recording head. Further, on the inner bottom surface of the carriage 42, contact members 60 that push up the atmosphere valve 254 are provided at positions facing the atmosphere valve 254 of the ink cartridge 100 when the ink cartridge 100 is mounted.
[0049]
On the side surface of the carriage 42 facing the engaging lever 180, a groove 37 engaging with the projection 20 of the engaging lever 180 and an engaging concave portion 38 engaging with the claw 19 are provided. The groove portion 37 is provided with a groove portion 37a whose upper part expands toward the ink cartridge 100 side. The groove 37 guides the protrusions 20 formed on both side surfaces of the engagement lever 180 during the mounting of the ink cartridge 100, and moves the engagement lever 180 when the ink cartridge 100 is mounted. Spread outside and hold.
[0050]
A guide groove 39 is provided below the groove 37 in the carriage 42.
The guide groove portion 39 accommodates the guide convex portion 11 of the ink cartridge 100 when the ink cartridge 100 is inserted deeply into the carriage 42, and the width of the ink cartridge 100 in the width direction is set when the mounting of the ink cartridge 100 is completed. Prevent rattling.
[0051]
As shown in FIG. 11, on the side of the carriage 42 facing the storage means 170 of the ink cartridge 100, an upper end 40a connected to the side of the carriage 42 and a lower end 40b abutting on the mounting surface 190a of the mounting portion 190 of the ink cartridge 100 are provided. Is disposed. Below the positioning piece 40, an elastic contact 41 which is in electrical contact with the terminal 171 of the storage means 170 attached to the attachment portion 190 is arranged.
[0052]
When the ink cartridge 100 is positioned above the carriage 42 as shown in FIG. 11, the mounting portion 190 contacts the positioning piece 40. In this state, when the ink cartridge 100 is further pushed vertically downward, the positioning piece 40 is pressed by the mounting portion 190 and deformed, and the mounting portion 190 passes through the positioning piece 40 and further descends. In this process, the protrusions 20 on both sides of the engagement lever 180 of the ink cartridge 100 are guided by the groove 37a, and the guide protrusion 11 enters the guide groove 39.
Further, when the ink cartridge 100 is pushed in, the ink supply needle 50 enters the ink supply section 160 to push up the supply valve 13 against the urging force of the urging member 14, and the contact member 60 The atmosphere valve 254 is pushed up via the 132, and the atmosphere valve 254 opens the communication hole 239.
Since the moving direction of the air valve 254 is parallel to the direction in which the ink cartridge 100 is mounted on the carriage 42 of the ink jet recording apparatus, the air valve 254 is reliably pushed up with the mounting of the ink cartridge 100. Further, since the outer shape of the ink cartridge 100 is vertically long in the mounting direction of the ink cartridge 100, the stroke in which the atmosphere valve 254 moves can be increased without lengthening the horizontal direction of the ink cartridge 100. Further, since the atmosphere valve 254 is arranged near the mounting portion 190 holding the storage means 170, the position of the atmosphere valve 254 and the contact member 60 can be accurately determined by positioning the storage means 170 with respect to the carriage 42. , And can be reliably opened to the atmosphere.
[0053]
As shown in FIG. 12, when the ink cartridge 100 is pushed down to the lower surface of the carriage 42, the engagement lever 180 rotates after the claw portion 19 gets over the upper surface of the engagement recess 38, and is engaged by a strong elastic force. It falls into the joint recess 38 and emits a strong single click sound. Thus, the user can confirm that the ink cartridge 100 has been securely mounted on the carriage 42.
[0054]
FIG. 13 is a schematic sectional view showing another example in which the ink cartridge 100 is mounted on the carriage 42. In FIG. 13, as in FIGS. 11 and 12, the ink cartridge 100 and the carriage 42 are simplified, and in order to further simplify the description, the engagement lever 180 side of the ink cartridge 100 in the carriage 42 is broken and omitted. In the carriage 42 shown in FIG. 13, the same components as those of the carriage 42 shown in FIG. 11 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.
[0055]
The ink cartridge 100 is mounted on the carriage 42 shown in FIG. 13 while being rotated. When the ink cartridge 100 is mounted on the carriage 42, first, the upper surface of the mounting portion 190 of the ink cartridge 100 to which the storage unit 170 is mounted is brought into contact with the lower surface of the contact portion 70 of the carriage 42. Next, by rotating the ink cartridge 100 with respect to the carriage 42 in the direction of arrow A in the drawing with the contact point between the upper surface of the mounting portion 190 and the contact portion 70 as a fulcrum O, the ink cartridge 100 Attached to.
[0056]
In the ink cartridge 100, the shaft 264 of the atmosphere valve 254 is disposed closer to the fulcrum O than the supply valve 13 of the ink supply unit 160. In the ink cartridge 100, the angle θ1 formed by the lower end of the shaft portion 264 of the air valve 254 and the upper surface of the contact member 60 of the carriage 42 about the fulcrum O is the supply valve 13 of the ink supply section 160 Is smaller than the angle θ2 formed by the lower surface of the ink supply needle 50 and the upper surface of the ink supply needle 50. Therefore, the angle (θ1) at which the ink cartridge 100 is rotated so that the atmospheric valve 254 contacts the contact member 60 is such that the ink cartridge 100 is rotated so that the supply valve 13 contacts the ink supply needle 50. It is smaller than the angle (θ2). Accordingly, when the ink cartridge 100 is mounted on the carriage 42 while rotating about the fulcrum O, the contact member 60 contacts the shaft portion 264 before the ink supply needle 50 contacts the supply valve 13. , The atmospheric valve 254 is pushed up.
Therefore, before the ink supply needle 50 is connected to the ink storage unit 111, the air valve 254 can be pushed up to make the ink storage unit 111 communicate with the atmosphere.
[0057]
Next, another embodiment of the atmospheric valve of the present invention will be described.
14 and 15 are views for explaining the structure of an atmosphere valve and an atmosphere valve accommodating chamber accommodating the same according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 14 (a) and 14 (b) show needles. It is a perspective view of the atmosphere valve 254 which has a part 267. In these atmospheric valves 254, the same components as those in FIG. 9 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.
The needle portion 267 of the atmosphere valve 254 shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B protrudes beyond the guide portion 258 on the side opposite to the shaft portion 264 and has a sharp end. The needle portion 267 of the present embodiment is an example of a breaking unit in the present invention.
FIG. 15 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating an example of the air valve storage chamber 232 of the ink cartridge 100 in which the air valve 254 illustrated in FIG. 14A is stored. In the atmosphere valve storage chamber 232 shown in FIG. 15, the same components as those of the atmosphere valve section 250 shown in FIG. 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.
[0058]
The atmosphere valve storage chamber 232 shown in FIG. 15 has a hollow cylindrical shape having an inside diameter substantially the same as the outside diameter of the disk portion 260 of the atmosphere valve 254. The atmosphere valve storage chamber 232 further has a flow path 252a on the cylindrical side surface along the vertical direction in the figure.
[0059]
The atmosphere valve 254 is arranged such that the needle 267 faces the wall 269 of the atmosphere valve storage chamber 232. A seal film 263 is attached to the wall 269 so as to face the needle 267. This seal film 263 shuts off between the atmosphere valve storage chamber 232 and the communication chamber 234b. By providing the seal film 263, it is possible to prevent the ink stored in the ink storage unit 111 from flowing to the atmosphere side from the communication chamber 234b when not in use.
[0060]
A seal member 261 made of an elastic member having a hole 261a at the center is attached to the side of the atmosphere valve storage chamber 232 opposite to the wall 269. A shaft 264 of the atmospheric valve 254 having a smaller diameter than the hole 261a protrudes from the hole 261a of the seal member 261. The coil spring 255 urges the disk portion 260 toward the seal member 261. As a result, the disk portion 260 comes into contact with the seal member 261, and in this state, the atmosphere valve 254 shuts off the space between the atmosphere valve storage chamber 232 and the communication portion 224.
Further, the outside of the shaft portion 264 is sealed with the film 132 so as to form a space in which the communication portion 224 is shielded from the atmosphere as in the above-described embodiment. This space communicates with the atmosphere via the communication hole 253. After the film 132 is attached to the communication part 224, the heated jig is applied to the film 132, and the contact member 60 of the carriage 42 pushes up the air valve 254 to a position where the air valve storage chamber 232 communicates with the communication part 224. The jig pushes up the atmosphere valve 254 through the film 132, and the film 132 is stretched. This provides the film 132 with a flexure that allows the contact member 60 to push up the atmosphere valve 254 through the film 132 until the atmosphere valve 650 communicates the atmosphere valve storage chamber 232 with the communication portion 224. Can be Therefore, when the contact member 60 of the carriage 42 pushes up the atmosphere valve 254 via the film 132, the film 132 is prevented from being broken. Further, resistance for pressing the film 132 can be reduced.
[0061]
When the ink cartridge 100 is mounted on the carriage 42, the contact member 60 of the carriage 42 contacts the shaft 264 of the atmospheric valve 254 and pushes the atmospheric valve 254 up against the urging force of the coil spring 255. As a result, the disk portion 260 of the atmosphere valve 254 is separated from the seal member 261, and the atmosphere valve storage chamber 232 and the communication portion 224 communicate with each other through the flow path 252a.
[0062]
The seal film 263 is attached to the wall 269 of the ink cartridge 100 after shipment from the factory. When the ink cartridge 100 is mounted on the carriage 42 for the first time after shipment from the factory, the air valve 254 is pushed up as described above, so that the tip of the needle portion 267 of the air valve 254 pierces the seal film 263. Thereby, the atmosphere valve storage chamber 232 and the communication chamber 234b communicate with each other. The needle portion 267 ensures that the seal film 263 is broken when the ink cartridge 100 is mounted on the carriage 42 for the first time.
[0063]
FIG. 16 is a front view of an ink cartridge 500 according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 17 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing FIG. 16 by cutting along a cross section AA and enlarging a lower portion. In the ink cartridge 500 shown in FIG. 16, the same components as those of the ink cartridge 100 shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.
[0064]
The ink cartridge 500 shown in FIG. 16 is different from the ink cartridge 500 shown in FIG. 1 in that a pressing member housing chamber 652 that houses an air valve pressing member 654 that pushes up the air valve 650 is disposed below the air valve chamber 669 that houses the air valve 650. 8 is different from the ink cartridge 100 shown in FIG.
[0065]
As shown in FIG. 17, the atmosphere valve chamber 669 of the ink cartridge 500 is formed by the film 130 and the cartridge main body 120. The film 130 seals the atmosphere valve chamber 669, and a lid 140 is attached to the outside thereof to protect the film 130 from being broken. An atmosphere valve communication portion 624 is formed on the bottom surface of the atmosphere valve chamber 669. An atmosphere valve 650 is inserted into the atmosphere valve chamber 669 together with the coil spring 656. The atmosphere valve 650 is formed integrally with a core made of a relatively hard material such as polypropylene and an elastic body provided around the core and made of a relatively soft material such as an elastomer. The coil spring 656 presses the atmosphere valve 650 around the atmosphere valve communication part 624 by elastic force, and the atmosphere valve 650 seals the atmosphere valve communication part 624. From the atmosphere valve communication portion 624, a shaft portion of a small diameter portion provided at a lower end of the atmosphere valve 650 projects to a pressing member housing chamber 652 arranged below the atmosphere valve chamber 669.
[0066]
The pressing member housing chamber 652 has a prismatic hollow portion having an upper surface and four side surfaces formed by the cartridge body 120 and an open bottom surface, and houses the atmospheric valve pressing member 654 in this hollow portion. Since the four side surfaces of the pressing member housing chamber 652 are formed from the cartridge main body 120 made of a hard resin, the play of the atmosphere valve pressing member 654 can be reduced. A film 480 is attached and sealed to the bottom surface of the hollow portion of the pressing member housing chamber 652 in a state where the atmospheric valve pressing member 654 is stored in the hollow portion. After the film 480 is attached to the bottom surface of the pressing member housing chamber 652, a heated jig is applied to the film 480, and the atmosphere valve pressing member 654 pushes up the atmosphere valve 650 to open the atmosphere valve communication part 624, The jig pushes up the atmosphere valve pressing member 654 via the film 480, and the film 480 is stretched. Thus, the film 480 is provided with a flexure that allows the contact member 60 to push up the atmospheric valve pressing member 654 through the film 480 until the atmospheric valve 650 opens the atmospheric valve communication portion 624. Therefore, when the contact member 60 of the carriage 42 pushes up the atmosphere valve pressing member 654 via the film 480, the film 480 is prevented from being broken. Further, resistance for pressing the film 480 can be reduced.
[0067]
FIG. 18 is a partial perspective view of the vicinity of the pressing member housing chamber 652 in FIG. In FIG. 18, the wall surface 222a is shown broken for explanation. A through hole 652b is provided at an upper portion of the side surface of the pressing member housing chamber 652 on the side of the communication portion 222, and communicates the hollow portion of the pressing member housing chamber 652 with the communication portion 222 as an example of a reservoir communication hole.
Thus, in a state where the atmosphere valve pressing member 654 pushes up the atmosphere valve 650, the communication hole 218, the communication portion 222, the communication hole 652b, the pressing member housing chamber 652, the atmosphere valve communication portion 624, the communication hole 238, The air flows into the atmosphere-side housing 270 through the communication holes 242 in this order.
[0068]
The above-mentioned film 130 is stuck to the outside of the side surface 652a in the pressing member accommodation room 652, and the room 652c is formed. The upper part of the room 652c is always in communication with the communication part 222 by the notch 652d. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the film 130 from peeling off from the cartridge main body 120 when the air in the room 652c expands.
[0069]
FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the atmosphere valve pressing member 654. The atmosphere valve pressing member 654 has a main body 654c extending vertically and having a cross-shaped cross section, and a disk-shaped upper surface portion 654a and a bottom surface portion 654b arranged above and below the main body portion 654c. Molded. By making the cross section of the main body portion 654c a cross, sink in injection molding of the upper surface portion 654a can be reduced as compared with the case of a column having the same diameter as the upper surface portion 654a. The notch in the main body 654c shown in FIG. 19 is a gate when the atmosphere valve pressing member 654 is injection-molded.
The upper surface portion 654a of the atmospheric valve pressing member 654 contacts the end of the atmospheric valve 650 at a position off the center of the upper surface portion 654a. This ensures that the upper surface portion 654a of the atmospheric valve pressing member 654 abuts against the end of the atmospheric valve 650, avoiding the center where a recess may be formed due to the sink of the injection molding of the atmospheric valve pressing member 654. it can.
[0070]
In the above configuration, since the pressing member housing chamber 652 is provided below the atmosphere valve 254 and the atmosphere valve communication portion 624 and is provided on the atmosphere side with respect to the atmosphere valve communication portion 624, the ink around the atmosphere valve 254 is provided. This ink flows down into the pressing member housing chamber 652 through the atmosphere valve communication part 624 even if the ink flows. Therefore, the pressing member storage chamber 652 also functions as the liquid reservoir of the present invention, and reduces the flow resistance of the atmosphere flowing through the atmosphere valve communication part 624 as compared with the case where ink is accumulated around the atmosphere valve communication part 624. Can be done. Further, since the through hole 652b is provided above the side surface of the pressing member housing chamber 652, it is possible to prevent the ink accumulated in the pressing member housing chamber 652 from leaking out of the pressing member housing chamber 652.
[0071]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the ink contained in the ink cartridges 100 and 500 is prevented from leaking out of the ink cartridges 100 and 500, and the ink cartridges 100 and 500 are transferred to the carriage 42 of the ink jet recording apparatus. When mounted, the air valves 254 and 654 can be reliably pushed up to allow the ink container 111 of the ink cartridge 100 to communicate with the atmosphere.
[0072]
As described above, the present invention has been described using the embodiments, but 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 embodiment. It is apparent from the description of the appended claims that embodiments with such changes or improvements can be included in the technical scope of the present invention.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an ink cartridge 100 according to a first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the ink cartridge 100 before a film 110 is attached.
FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the ink cartridge 100 after a film 110 is attached.
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the ink cartridge 100.
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the ink cartridge 100.
FIG. 6 is a front view of the ink cartridge 100 before a film 130 is attached.
FIG. 7 is a front view of the ink cartridge 100 after a film 130 is attached.
FIG. 8 is a rear view of the ink cartridge 100 before the film 110 is attached.
FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the vicinity of an atmosphere valve 254 and a communication hole 239.
10 is a perspective view of the carriage 42. FIG.
FIG. 11 is a schematic sectional view showing the relationship between the ink cartridge 100 and the carriage 42.
FIG. 12 is a schematic sectional view showing a relationship between the ink cartridge 100 and the carriage 42.
FIG. 13 is a schematic sectional view showing a relationship between the ink cartridge 100 and a carriage 42 of another example.
FIGS. 14A and 14B are perspective views of another example of an atmosphere valve 254. FIGS.
FIG. 15 is an enlarged sectional view of an atmosphere valve storage chamber 232 in which the atmosphere valve 254 is stored.
FIG. 16 is a plan view illustrating an ink cartridge 500 according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 17 is an enlarged sectional view showing a lower portion of section AA in FIG. 16;
FIG. 18 is a partially enlarged view of the vicinity of a pressing member housing chamber 652.
FIG. 19 is a perspective view of an atmosphere valve pressing member 654.
[Explanation of symbols]
42 carriage, 50 ink supply needle, 60 contact member, 100 ink cartridge, 110 film, 111 ink container, 120 cartridge body, 122 opening, 130 film, 132 film, 140 ... Lid, 150 ... Ink supply control means, 232 ... Atmosphere valve storage chamber, 250 ... Atmosphere valve part, 254 ... Atmosphere valve, 255 ... Coil spring, 257 ... Depression, 258 ... Guide part, 261a ... Hole part, 260 ... Circle Plate portion, 261, seal member, 263, seal film, 264, shaft portion, 267, needle portion, 269, wall portion, 480, film, 500, ink cartridge, 624, atmosphere valve communication portion, 650, atmosphere valve, 652 ... Pressing member accommodation chamber, 654 ... Atmosphere valve pressing member, 654a ... Top part, 654b ... Bottom part, 654c ... Main body part

Claims (19)

A liquid cartridge that supplies liquid to the liquid ejecting apparatus by being attached to the liquid ejecting apparatus,
A liquid storage unit for storing a liquid,
A liquid supply unit that communicates with the liquid storage unit and into which a liquid supply needle formed in the liquid ejecting apparatus is inserted;
An air valve that seals a communication hole for communicating the liquid container with the atmosphere, wherein the air valve moves in a direction substantially parallel to a direction in which the liquid supply needle is inserted into the liquid supply unit. A liquid cartridge which is arranged so as to be capable of being moved by an abutting member formed in the liquid ejecting apparatus and opening the communication hole when the liquid cartridge is mounted on the liquid ejecting apparatus. 2. The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising: a coil spring that urges the air valve to the communication hole to seal the communication hole when the liquid cartridge is detached from the liquid ejecting apparatus. 3. The atmospheric valve is
A guide portion having a substantially cylindrical shape inserted into the coil spring;
A disc portion having a larger diameter than the guide portion, which is urged to seal the periphery of the communication hole by the coil spring;
The liquid cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the guide portion is provided with a cut portion cut from a side to be inserted into the coil spring. The atmospheric valve is
A sealing portion that is urged to seal the periphery of the communication hole,
A shaft that protrudes from the sealing portion, is inserted into the communication hole, and inscribes the communication hole at a plurality of locations;
The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a gap is formed between the shaft portion and the communication hole. A film is formed at a portion of the liquid cartridge where the contact member of the liquid ejecting device contacts, and the atmospheric valve is moved by being pressed by the contact member via the flexible film. The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the liquid cartridge is configured to be operated. 2. The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising a liquid storage portion provided below the atmosphere valve and the communication hole and closer to the atmosphere than the communication hole, and configured to store liquid flowing out from the communication hole. 7. The liquid cartridge according to claim 6, wherein a reservoir communication hole that communicates the atmosphere with the communication hole of the liquid storage unit is provided above the liquid reservoir. The liquid reservoir has a film that seals the hollow portion whose bottom surface is open and the bottom surface of the hollow portion,
7. An atmosphere valve pressing member which is housed in the hollow portion of the liquid reservoir and is pushed up through the film by the contact member formed in the liquid ejecting device, thereby pushing up the atmosphere valve. A liquid cartridge according to claim 1. 9. The film has a flexure so that the contact member of the liquid ejecting apparatus can push up the atmosphere valve pressing member through the film until the atmosphere valve opens the communication hole. A liquid cartridge according to claim 1. 2. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a seal film for shutting off between the liquid storage portion and the communication hole; and a breaking unit for breaking the seal film when the liquid cartridge is mounted on the liquid ejecting apparatus. A liquid cartridge as described. 2. The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising: a mounting portion formed with a storage means, the side surface of which is positioned by the liquid ejecting device, and wherein the atmospheric valve is disposed near the mounting portion. A liquid cartridge abutted against a part of the liquid ejecting apparatus and mounted while rotating with respect to the liquid ejecting apparatus,
A liquid storage unit for storing a liquid,
A liquid supply unit that communicates with the liquid storage unit and has a supply valve pushed up by the liquid supply needle when the liquid supply needle of the liquid ejecting apparatus is inserted;
Sealing a communication hole for communicating the liquid container with the atmosphere and, when attached to the liquid ejecting device, the contact member formed in the liquid ejecting device allows the liquid supply unit to communicate with the liquid supply unit. An atmospheric valve that moves in a direction substantially parallel to the insertion direction of the liquid supply needle to open the communication hole,
The liquid cartridge is rotated with respect to the liquid ejecting apparatus so that the air valve contacts the contact member of the liquid ejecting apparatus around a fulcrum at which the liquid cartridge is rotated with respect to the liquid ejecting apparatus. The angle of movement of the liquid cartridge is smaller than the angle at which the liquid cartridge is rotated with respect to the liquid ejecting apparatus so that the supply valve of the liquid supply unit contacts the liquid supply needle around the fulcrum. . A liquid cartridge abutted against a part of the liquid ejecting apparatus and mounted while rotating with respect to the liquid ejecting apparatus,
A liquid storage unit for storing a liquid,
A liquid supply unit that communicates with the liquid storage unit and into which a liquid supply needle of the liquid ejecting apparatus is inserted;
Sealing a communication hole for communicating the liquid container with the atmosphere and, when attached to the liquid ejecting device, the contact member formed in the liquid ejecting device allows the liquid supply unit to communicate with the liquid supply unit. An atmospheric valve that moves in a direction substantially parallel to the insertion direction of the liquid supply needle to open the communication hole,
A liquid cartridge in which a contact portion of the atmospheric valve with the contact member is disposed closer to a fulcrum at which the liquid cartridge is rotated with respect to the liquid ejecting apparatus than the liquid supply unit. The liquid supply unit has a supply valve pushed up by the liquid supply needle when the liquid supply needle of the liquid ejecting apparatus is inserted,
The liquid cartridge is rotated with respect to the liquid ejecting apparatus so that the air valve contacts the contact member of the liquid ejecting apparatus around a fulcrum at which the liquid cartridge is rotated with respect to the liquid ejecting apparatus. The angle to be moved is smaller than the angle at which the liquid cartridge is rotated with respect to the liquid ejecting apparatus so that the supply valve of the liquid supply unit contacts the liquid supply needle around the fulcrum. 14. The liquid cartridge according to claim 13. The atmospheric valve is
A sealing portion that is urged to seal the periphery of the communication hole,
A shaft protruding from the sealing portion, inserted into the communication hole, and having a shaft portion inscribed at a plurality of locations with the communication hole,
14. The liquid cartridge according to claim 12, wherein a gap is formed between the shaft portion and the communication hole. The liquid according to claim 12, further comprising a liquid storage portion provided below the atmosphere valve and the communication hole and closer to the atmosphere than the communication hole, and configured to store the liquid flowing out from the communication hole. cartridge. 17. The liquid cartridge according to claim 16, wherein a reservoir communication hole that communicates the atmosphere with the communication hole of the liquid storage unit is provided above the liquid reservoir. 14. The liquid cartridge according to claim 12, further comprising a seal film that shuts off a gap between the liquid storage portion and the communication hole, and a breaking unit that breaks the seal film when the liquid cartridge is mounted. Between the liquid storage portion and the communication hole, the atmosphere is allowed to move from the communication hole side to the liquid storage portion side, and the liquid is moved from the liquid storage portion side to the communication hole side. 2. The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising a check valve for inhibiting.

Images