JP2005169682A - Ink cartridge and package of ink cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink cartridge which is vacuum-packed inside a packaging member and has such a structure that the exterior of the ink cartridge can be prevented from being distorted and damaged, and a package of the ink cartridge enveloping the ink cartridge. <P>SOLUTION: The ink cartridge 1 keeps a compartmented wall 1c integrally formed almost in a center position between the upper/lower end openings of a cylindrical side wall 1a, inside the wall 1a. In addition, the upper end opening is covered with a lid 1b and a space above the compartmented wall 1c serves as an ink chamber 16. Further, in a second chamber below the compartmented wall 1c, cylindrical parts 30 and 50 accommodating valve devices 23 and 24 are connectively formed in one piece with the side wall 1a. Consequently, when the ink cartridge 1 is vacuum-packed inside the packaging member 2, the former shows a high rigidity against a pressure to work on the ink cartridge 1 from outside. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink cartridge and an ink cartridge package, and more particularly, an ink cartridge having a structure capable of preventing the outer shape of the ink cartridge from being deformed and broken in a state where the package is decompressed, and an ink containing the ink cartridge. The present invention relates to a cartridge package.

As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-58775 (Patent Document 1), an ink cartridge in which deaerated ink subjected to a deaeration process is stored is known. This ink cartridge is contained in a package, and the inside of the package is kept in a reduced pressure state to prevent the degree of deaeration of ink from being deteriorated during the transport of the ink cartridge. This ink cartridge is defined in two spaces by a partition wall. One of the two spaces defined by the partition wall is an ink supply chamber for temporarily storing ink for supplying ink to the outside through the ink supply hole, and the other space is stored in the ink chamber. The ink chamber is filled with a porous member capable of storing ink for the purpose. Since the ink chamber stores a large amount of ink, the ink chamber is wider than the space forming the ink supply chamber. Therefore, the partition wall is arranged at a position extremely biased toward the ink supply chamber.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-58775 (FIG. 2 etc.)

  However, since the above-described ink cartridge is maintained in a state where the inside of the package is depressurized in order to prevent the deterioration of the degree of deaeration of the ink, the pressure is applied from the outside to the inside of the ink cartridge. Is added. In order to improve prevention of deterioration of the deaeration degree, it is necessary to keep the inside of the package body in a vacuum or a state close to a vacuum, and accordingly, a large pressure is applied to the ink cartridge from the outside toward the inside. In the case where the ink chamber and the ink supply chamber are arranged side by side with their upper surfaces open in the case and the ink chamber is formed large as in the case of the above ink cartridge, the pressure is reduced. The case tends to dent due to the pressure of time. In the case of a relatively small carriage-mounted ink cartridge, the area of the flat portion is small, so it can withstand the pressure during decompression. However, if the conventional configuration is enlarged as it is, it cannot withstand that pressure, and the outer shape If the ink is damaged or deformed, the ink in the ink leaks to the outside, or the ink cartridge cannot be properly mounted.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an ink cartridge having a structure capable of preventing the outer shape of the ink cartridge from being deformed and damaged in a state where the inside of the package is decompressed, and the ink cartridge. An object of the present invention is to provide a package of an ink cartridge to be included.

  In order to achieve this object, an ink cartridge according to claim 1 divides a cylindrical side wall opened at both opposite end faces and an internal space surrounded by the side wall at a substantially intermediate position between the two openings. An ink chamber capable of storing ink in a space between the one opening, a partition wall forming a space between the other opening as a second chamber, and one of the side walls covering the one opening And a lid fixed to the end face of the.

  The ink cartridge according to claim 2 is the ink cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising a wall extending in a direction crossing the other opening in the second chamber.

  An ink cartridge according to a third aspect of the invention is the ink cartridge according to the second aspect, further comprising an ink supply port that is formed in the partition wall and allows the ink chamber and the second chamber to communicate with each other. A wall extending in a direction crossing the other opening in the room has a cylindrical portion surrounding the ink supply port.

  The ink cartridge according to claim 4 is the ink cartridge according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising an air introduction port formed on the partition wall and allowing the ink chamber and the second chamber to communicate with each other. A wall extending in a direction crossing the other opening in the second chamber partially includes a second cylindrical portion surrounding the atmosphere introduction port.

  An ink cartridge according to claim 5 is the ink cartridge according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the ink cartridge is disposed in the cylindrical portion so as to face the ink supply port, and communication between the ink chamber and the outside is interrupted. And a valve device for selectively switching between.

  The ink cartridge according to claim 6 is the ink cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the cylindrical side wall includes a plurality of substantially cylindrical curved walls connected in a circumferential direction, and the curved wall. It is the shape which formed the recessed part between.

  The ink cartridge according to claim 7 is the ink cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the side wall, the partition wall, and the wall extending in a direction crossing the other opening in the second chamber are integrally formed of a resin material. .

  The ink cartridge according to claim 8 partitions a cylindrical side wall that is open at both opposite end faces, and an internal space surrounded by the side wall at a substantially intermediate position between the two openings, A partition wall that forms an ink chamber capable of storing ink as a second chamber and a space between the other opening, and a lid that covers the one opening and is fixed to one end surface of the side wall And an ink supply port formed on the partition wall and allowing the ink chamber and the second chamber to communicate with each other; and disposed in the second chamber so as to face the ink supply port; And a valve device that selectively switches between communication and blocking.

  The ink cartridge according to claim 9 is the ink cartridge according to claim 8, and is formed on the partition wall and allows the ink chamber and the second chamber to communicate with each other, and faces the air inlet. And a second valve device which is disposed in the second chamber and selectively switches between communication and blocking between the ink chamber and the outside.

  An ink cartridge according to a tenth aspect is the ink cartridge according to the eighth aspect, wherein the ink supply port and the air introduction port are respectively formed so as to protrude from the partition wall into the second chamber, and the valve device and the second Further, two cylindrical bodies for accommodating the valve device were further provided, and both the cylindrical bodies were connected to the side wall.

  An ink cartridge according to an eleventh aspect of the invention is the ink cartridge according to the tenth aspect, further comprising a connecting member for connecting the two cylindrical bodies to each other.

  An ink cartridge according to a twelfth aspect is the ink cartridge according to the eleventh aspect, wherein the side wall, the partition wall, the cylindrical body, and the connecting member are integrally formed of a resin material.

  A packaging body for an ink cartridge according to a thirteenth aspect includes the ink cartridge according to any one of the first to twelfth aspects, and a packaging member that encloses the cartridge in a reduced pressure state.

  According to the ink cartridge of claim 1, the internal space surrounded by the cylindrical side walls that are opened at both opposing end faces is partitioned by the partition wall at a substantially intermediate position between the openings, and the partition wall The space between one opening of the two spaces partitioned by the ink chamber is formed as an ink chamber capable of storing ink, and the space between the other opening is formed as a second chamber. The lid is fixed to the end face of the. Therefore, this ink cartridge has a partition wall arranged at a substantially middle position of the side wall and a lid fixed to one side as compared with a conventional substantially hollow box-shaped ink cartridge. Can withstand the pressure applied to the Therefore, even when the ink cartridge is enclosed in a package whose pressure is reduced in order to prevent deterioration of the degree of deaeration of the ink, the ink cartridge can prevent deformation and breakage of the outer shape of the ink cartridge. Accordingly, the outer shape of the ink cartridge can be prevented from being deformed and damaged, and ink in the ink chamber can be prevented from leaking, and the occurrence of adverse effects such as the outer shape being deformed and damaged and not being mounted on the ink jet recording apparatus can be prevented. There is an effect.

  According to the ink cartridge of the second aspect, in addition to the effect produced by the ink cartridge of the first aspect, the ink cartridge further includes a wall extending in the direction crossing the other opening in the second chamber. Thus, even if pressure is applied from the outside, deformation and breakage can be prevented.

  According to the ink cartridge of claim 3, in addition to the effect produced by the ink cartridge of claim 2, an ink supply port that allows the ink chamber and the second chamber to communicate with each other is formed in the partition wall, and the second chamber Since the wall extending in the crossing direction has a cylindrical portion surrounding the ink supply port in part, the rigidity of the side wall on the second chamber side and the vicinity of the ink supply port can be increased and connected to the ink supply port. The connection accuracy with a device such as an inkjet head can be increased.

  According to the ink cartridge of the fourth aspect, in addition to the effect exhibited by the ink cartridge according to the second or third aspect, the atmosphere introduction port that allows the ink chamber and the second chamber to communicate with each other is formed in the partition wall. Since the wall extending in the direction crossing the other opening in the two chambers partially includes the second cylindrical portion surrounding the air inlet, the rigidity in the vicinity of the side wall of the second chamber and the ink supply port is increased. It is possible to improve the connection accuracy with a device such as an ink jet head connected to the ink supply port.

  According to the ink cartridge of the fifth aspect, in addition to the effect produced by the ink cartridge according to the third or fourth aspect, the ink cartridge is disposed in the cylindrical portion so as to face the ink supply port, and between the ink chamber and the outside. Since a valve device that selectively switches between communication and blocking is further provided, the valve device can be easily and accurately attached using the cylindrical portion.

  According to the ink cartridge of the sixth aspect, in addition to the effect produced by the ink cartridge according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, a plurality of cylindrical side walls are connected in the circumferential direction with a cylindrical side wall. And since it is set as the shape which formed the recessed part between the curved walls, the rigidity of side wall itself can be improved and it can be further strengthened with respect to the pressure added from the outside as mentioned above.

  According to the ink cartridge of the seventh aspect, in addition to the effect produced by the ink cartridge of the second aspect, the side wall, the partition wall, and the wall extending in the transverse direction in the second chamber are integrally formed of the resin material. As described above, a highly rigid ink cartridge can be easily formed.

  According to the ink cartridge of the eighth aspect, similarly to the effect produced by the ink cartridge of the first aspect, the rigidity of the ink cartridge can be increased and deformation and damage can be prevented even when the ink cartridge is packaged under reduced pressure. Furthermore, the whole can be made small by mounting the valve device using the second chamber.

  According to the ink cartridge of claim 9, in addition to the effect of the ink cartridge of claim 8, an air inlet that allows the ink chamber and the second chamber to communicate with each other is formed in the partition wall, Since the second valve device for selectively switching between communication and shut-off with the outside is arranged in the second chamber so as to face the atmosphere introduction port, the second chamber is used to introduce the atmosphere using the second chamber. By attaching the valve device, the whole can be made compact.

  According to the ink cartridge of the tenth aspect, in addition to the effect produced by the ink cartridge of the eighth aspect, the two cylindrical bodies that accommodate the valve device and the second valve device have an ink supply port and an air introduction port. Each of the cylindrical bodies is formed so as to protrude from the partition wall into the second chamber and is connected to the side wall, so that the rigidity of the side wall on the second chamber side and the vicinity of the ink supply port can be increased. In addition, it is possible to improve the connection accuracy with a device such as an inkjet head connected to the ink supply port. In addition, the valve device can be easily and accurately attached using the cylindrical portion.

  According to the ink cartridge of the eleventh aspect, in addition to the effect produced by the ink cartridge of the tenth aspect, the ink cartridge further includes a connecting member that connects the two cylindrical bodies to each other. And the rigidity in the vicinity of the ink supply port can be further increased.

  According to the ink cartridge of the twelfth aspect, in addition to the effect achieved by the ink cartridge of the eleventh aspect, the side wall, the partition wall, the cylindrical body, and the connecting member are integrally formed of a resin material. Thus, a highly rigid ink cartridge can be easily formed.

  According to the ink cartridge package of the thirteenth aspect, the ink cartridge according to any one of the first to twelfth aspects is enclosed in a reduced pressure state inside the packaging member. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the deterioration of the degree of deaeration of the ink and to prevent the outer shape of the ink cartridge from being deformed or damaged even if the inside of the ink cartridge is enclosed in a reduced-pressure packaging member.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an ink cartridge 1 and an ink jet recording apparatus 2 in which the ink cartridge 1 is mounted according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The ink cartridge 1 is configured to be attachable to and detachable from an ink jet recording apparatus 2 including a recording head 7 that ejects ink I, and stores the ink I supplied to the recording head 7. The ink cartridge 1 is filled with ink I of any one of a plurality of color inks such as cyan, magenta, yellow, and black, and a plurality of ink cartridges 1 filled with different colors of ink I are inkjet. It is mounted on the recording device 2 to enable color printing.

  The ink jet recording apparatus 2 includes a mounting unit 3 that detachably mounts the ink cartridge 1, a tank 5 that stores ink I supplied from the ink cartridge 1 through the ink supply tube 4, and a tank 5 that stores the ink I. A recording head 7 for discharging ink I toward the recording paper 6, a carriage 8 on which the tank 5 and the recording head 7 are mounted and reciprocating in a linear direction; a carriage shaft 9 serving as a guide for reciprocating movement of the carriage 8; , A transport mechanism 10 for transporting the recording paper 6 and a purge device 11 are provided.

  The mounting portion 3 includes a base portion 3a and guide portions 3b provided upright from both sides of the base portion 3a. From the base portion 3a sandwiched between the guide portions 3b, the ink I stored in the ink cartridge 1 is stored. A hollow ink extraction tube 12 for extracting water and a hollow outside air introduction tube 13 for introducing outside air into the ink cartridge 1 are provided so as to protrude.

  An ink supply tube 4 is connected to one end side of the ink extraction tube 12, and the ink extraction tube 12 communicates with the tank 5 via the ink supply tube 4. An outside air introduction tube 15 is connected to one end side of the outside air introduction tube 13, and the outside air introduction tube 13 communicates with outside air via the outside air introduction tube 15.

  The ink cartridge 1 is attached to the attachment portion 3 from the vertical direction (arrow X direction). At this time, the ink extraction pipe 12 and the outside air introduction pipe 13 come into contact with the valve members 32 (see FIG. 2) of the valve devices 23 and 24 provided inside the ink cartridge 1, and the valve members 32 are in contact with the ink. The ink is pushed up toward the chamber 16 and communicates with the inside of the ink chamber 16.

  The recording head 7 is provided with a plurality of nozzle holes on the surface facing the recording paper 6, and the ink I stored in the tank 5 from the nozzle holes is directed toward the recording paper 6 by driving an actuator made of a piezoelectric element. Discharged. In the actual recording operation, recording is performed on the recording paper 6 while the carriage 8 on which the recording head 7 is mounted moves back and forth.

  The recording head 7 is disposed above the mounting portion 3, and the ink I in the nozzle hole has a negative pressure (back) due to a water head difference between the ink cartridge 1 mounted in the mounting portion 3 and the nozzle hole. Pressure).

  The purge device 11 is disposed outside the recording range and faces the recording head 7, and includes a purge cap 11a that covers the nozzle hole forming surface of the recording head 7, and a waste ink tube 11b that communicates with the purge cap 11a. And a pump 11c for sucking ink from the nozzle holes via the waste ink tube 11b.

  When executing the purge process, the carriage 8 is moved to the purge process execution position, and the nozzle hole forming surface of the recording head 7 is covered with the purge cap 11a. In this state, the pump 11c is driven to suck the defective ink containing bubbles and the like accumulated inside the recording head 7. The sucked defective ink is stored in a waste ink tank (not shown) through the waste ink tube 11b.

  2A and 2B are perspective views of the ink cartridge 1 as viewed from above and below. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge 1.

  The ink stored in the ink cartridge 1 is stored by sealing the degassed ink that has been degassed. This is to prevent ejection failure due to the presence of bubbles in the ink in the ink chamber 16.

  The ink cartridge 1 is composed of a substantially cylindrical side wall 1a whose upper and lower end surfaces are opened, and a lid 1b fixed to cover the upper surface of one of the side walls 1a. The lid 1 b includes a gripping portion 1 e that protrudes outward in order to improve workability when the ink cartridge 1 is attached to and detached from the ink jet recording apparatus 2. Note that the side wall 1a and the lid 1b are made of a resin material.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the side wall 1a is integrally formed with a partition wall 1c that divides the internal space into two spaces. Of the two spaces, the space between the upper opening covered by the lid 1 b is formed as an ink chamber 16 for storing ink, and the space between the lower opening is formed as a second chamber 10. The partition wall 1c is formed so as to extend at right angles to the central axis direction at a substantially intermediate position between both openings of the side wall 1a. Therefore, since the ink cartridge 1 is supported from the inside by the partition wall 1c at an almost intermediate position of the ink cartridge 1, the pressure resistance is improved against the pressure applied from the outside to the inside of the ink cartridge 1, and the ink cartridge It is possible to prevent the outer shape of 1 from being deformed or damaged.

  Further, the side wall 1a has a substantially rectangular horizontal cross section, but the four corners are formed in a substantially cylindrical curved wall 1f, and the side surface between the curved walls 1f, 1f is formed in a recess 1g with respect to the outside. Yes. This also increases the rigidity of the ink cartridge 1 against the above pressure.

  The partition wall 1c is formed with an ink supply port 21 that communicates the ink chamber 16 and the second chamber 10 side, and ink is supplied to the lower end of the cylindrical wall 22 that hangs from the partition wall 1c and surrounds the ink supply port 21. A thin film member 31 that closes the mouth 21 and can be broken is formed of a resin material integrally with the main body case 1a. Further, the partition wall 1c is formed with an air introduction port 26 that allows the ink chamber 16 and the second chamber 10 to communicate with each other. At the lower end of the cylindrical wall 24 that hangs from the partition wall 1c and surrounds the air introduction port 26, A thin film member 51 that closes the inlet 26 and can be broken is formed of a resin material integrally with the main body case 1a. Accordingly, when the ink cartridge 1 is transported, the inside of the ink chamber 16 is sealed by the thin film members 31 and 51, and the ink in the ink chamber 16 leaks out to the second chamber 10 side through the ink supply port 21 and the air introduction port 26. This can be prevented.

  Further, a cylinder member 25 is provided so as to protrude into the ink chamber 16 from the atmosphere introduction port 26, and the atmosphere introduced from the atmosphere introduction port 26 is guided to the upper portion of the ink chamber 16 through the cylinder member 25.

  A cylindrical tubular body 30 that projects from the partition wall 1c to the second chamber 10 side so as to surround the cylindrical wall 22 and extends to the opening of the side wall 1a on the second chamber 10 side is connected to the partition wall 1c. Is formed. Further, the partition wall 1c surrounds the cylindrical wall 24 and protrudes from the partition wall 1c to the second chamber 10 side and extends to the opening of the side wall 1a on the second chamber 10 side. 50 is formed by being connected.

  The outer surface of the cylindrical body 30 and the outer surface of the second cylindrical body 50 are connected to a pair of side surfaces opposed to the side wall 1a, respectively. The cylindrical body 30 and the second cylindrical body 50 are connected to each other by a connecting member 1d. The connecting member 1d is connected to a pair of side surfaces different from the pair of side surfaces by a connecting member 1h. Therefore, the second chamber 10 side is divided into four spaces 10a, 10b, and 10c by the cylindrical body 30, the second cylindrical body 50, and the connecting members 1d and 1h that are connected to each other. , 10d (see FIG. 1B). That is, the cylindrical body 30, the second cylindrical body 50, and the connecting member 1 d act as support members that support the side wall 1 a from the inside, so that the pressure applied from the outside to the inside of the ink cartridge 1 is reduced. The pressure resistance of the side wall 1a is improved, and the outer shape of the ink cartridge 1 can be prevented from being damaged or deformed.

  A valve device 23 capable of selectively switching between communication and blocking between the ink chamber 16 and the outside is fixed inside the cylindrical body 30, and similarly, the communication between the inside and the inside of the second cylindrical body 50 is established. A valve device 24 capable of selectively switching between shut-off is fixed.

  Here, the valve device 23 will be described. About the valve apparatus 24 fixed to the 2nd cylindrical body 50, since it is formed in the same shape as the valve apparatus 23, the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The valve device 23 includes a support member 46 that is integrally manufactured from a rubber-like elastic member, and a valve member 32 that is made of a resin material. The support member 46 has a substantially cylindrical outer shape, and has a valve seat portion 46a at an intermediate portion in the axial direction thereof, a biasing portion 46b on the ink chamber 16 side of the valve seat portion 46a, and a side opposite to the biasing portion 46b. The cylindrical portion 35 extending from the valve seat portion 46a and the outer peripheral wall 33 extending in parallel with an interval on the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion 35 are integrally formed. The valve member 32 is urged by the urging portion 46b in a direction in contact with the valve seat portion 46a and is accommodated in the urging portion 46b.

  The valve device 23 has a positioning portion 33 a that protrudes outward from the outer peripheral wall 33, and the cylindrical body 30 is formed with a stepped surface on which the positioning portion 33 a abuts. The end face on the side and the end face on the outer side of the valve device 23 are fixed so as to be substantially flat.

  The valve seat 46a has an opening 41 penetrating in the axial direction at the center thereof. The cylindrical portion 35 has a guide path 40 into which an ink extraction tube 12 provided so as to protrude from the ink jet recording apparatus 2 is inserted when the ink cartridge 1 is mounted on the ink jet recording apparatus 2, and the guide path 40 is opened. The valve seat portion 46 a is integrally connected in a state where it is in communication with the valve 41.

  The urging portion 46b has a side wall portion 36 that rises in a cylindrical shape from the outer periphery of the valve seat portion 46a toward the ink chamber 16, and is inwardly connected to the side wall portion 36 so as to contact the ink chamber 16 side of the valve member 32. An overhanging portion 37 is formed, and an opening 37 a is formed at the center of the overhanging portion 37. The urging portion 46b urges the valve member 32 by the elastic force of the side wall portion 36 and the overhanging portion 37, and normally keeps the valve member 32 in close contact with the valve seat portion 46a. Further, when the ink extraction tube 12 enters the guide path 40 and pushes up the valve member 32 to the ink chamber 16 side, the side wall portion 36 extends and the protruding portion 37 inclines, and the valve member 32 and the valve seat portion 46a are inclined. A gap for the ink flow path is formed therebetween.

  The valve member 32 includes a bottom portion 70 that comes into contact with the valve seat portion 46 a of the support member 46, a valve side wall portion 71 that extends cylindrically toward the ink chamber 16 from the outer periphery of the bottom portion 70, and a valve side wall that is substantially at the center of the bottom portion 70. It has a pointed portion 72 that protrudes more toward the ink chamber 16 than the portion 71 and has a pointed end formed on the ink chamber 16 side.

  In the bottom portion 70, a plurality of communication passages 38 are formed penetrating the ink chamber 16 side and the valve seat portion 46 a side on the outer periphery of the opening 41 and on the inner periphery side of the valve side wall portion 71. Ink extraction is performed through the communication path 38.

  The pointed portion 72 protrudes through the opening 37 a of the overhang portion 37, and is disposed to face the thin film member 31 with a gap between the tip of the pointed portion 72 and the thin film member 31. When the ink cartridge 1 is mounted on the ink jet recording apparatus 2, the ink extraction tube 12 pushes up the bottom 70 of the valve member 32 to break the thin film member 31, and the ink supply port 21, the opening 37a, the communication path 38, and the ink. An ink flow path through the extraction tube 12 is formed.

  When the ink cartridge 1 is detached from the ink jet recording apparatus 2, the bottom portion 70 and the valve seat portion 46a are brought into contact with each other by the urging force of the urging portion 46b, thereby blocking the ink flow path.

  When the ink cartridge 1 is mounted on the ink jet recording apparatus 2, the valve device 24 is inserted with an outside air introduction tube 13 provided so as to protrude from the ink jet recording apparatus 2. An outside air flow path is formed through the introduction port 26, the opening 37a, the communication path 38, and the outside air introduction pipe 13, and when the ink cartridge 1 is detached from the ink jet recording apparatus 2, the outside air is urged by the urging force of the urging portion 46b. Is blocked.

  Next, a procedure for packaging the ink cartridge 1 in the packaging member 82 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 are sectional views showing a state after the package of the ink cartridge 1 is manufactured.

  The packaging member 82 is for enclosing the ink cartridge 1 in which the deaerated ink is stored. The packaging member 82 is formed of a cylindrical sheet material, and the sheet material includes a blocking layer that prevents permeation of moisture and air. The blocking layer is formed by stacking a plurality of film sheets. It has a laminated structure. In a state where the ink cartridge 1 is included, both end portions (hereinafter referred to as “welded portions”) 83a and 83b of the packaging member 82 are welded and formed into a bag shape, and the ink cartridge 1 is kept in a deaerated state. The space between the cartridge 1 and the packaging member 82 is in a reduced pressure state.

  The sheet material constituting the packaging member 82 includes, for example, an aluminum alloy layer as a center, an adhesive layer and a nylon layer (outer surface layer) on one side, and an adhesive layer, a polyethylene terephthalate layer, an adhesive layer, and a polypropylene layer on the other side ( The inner surface layer) is laminated in order.

  The package of the ink cartridge 1 containing the ink cartridge 1 is manufactured in a space where the pressure is reduced by a vacuum pump or the like so as to be in a vacuum or an atmosphere close thereto (pressure lower than the pressure when the ink is deaerated). Then, the ink cartridge 1 in which the deaerated ink is stored is inserted into the packaging member 82 in which one welding portion 83a is thermally welded in advance and the other is opened. Thereafter, the other side of the packaging member 82 is thermally welded to form a welded portion 83b, which is sealed and enclosed (the state shown in FIGS. 4 and 5). A package of the ink cartridge 1 is the ink cartridge 1 sealed and enclosed in the packaging member 82.

  As described above, pressure is constantly applied from the outside of the ink cartridge 1 toward the inside. However, according to the present ink cartridge 1, since the partition wall 1c is disposed at a substantially intermediate position between both openings of the side wall 1a, it can withstand the pressure applied to the ink cartridge 1, and the outer shape of the ink cartridge 1 Can be prevented from being damaged or deformed. The rigidity of the ink chamber 16 is enhanced by the partition wall 1c, the lid 1b fixed to the upper end opening, and the curved wall 1f. In addition, the second chamber 10 side partitioned by the partition wall 1c is connected to the pair of side surfaces of the side wall 1a by the cylindrical body 30 and the second cylindrical body 50, and between the other pair of side surfaces by the connecting member 1h. Are also connected, the pressure resistance of the ink cartridge 1 on the second chamber 10 side can be improved, and deformation and breakage of the outer shape of the ink cartridge 1 can be more reliably prevented.

  Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the occurrence of adverse effects such as the outer shape of the ink cartridge 1 being deformed or damaged and the ink in the ink chamber 16 leaking out, or the outer shape being deformed or damaged so that the ink cartridge 1 cannot be mounted on the ink jet recording apparatus 2. be able to.

  The present invention has been described above based on the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. It can be easily guessed.

  For example, instead of the valve devices 23 and 24, rubber stoppers formed of an elastic material are press-fitted into the cylindrical body 30 and the second cylindrical body 50, respectively, and the tip-pointed ink extraction pipe and the outside air introduction pipe are used. It is also possible to break through a rubber stopper.

1 is a schematic view of an ink cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention and an ink jet recording apparatus to which the ink cartridge is mounted. FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram illustrating an ink cartridge, FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the ink cartridge viewed from above, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the ink cartridge viewed from below. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the structure of the ink cartridge 1, and is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 3 in a packaging state of the ink cartridge. It is a figure of the packaging state in the VV sectional view of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ink cartridge 1a Side wall 1b Lid 1c Partition wall 1d Connection member 2 Packaging member 3a, 3b Welding part 10 2nd chamber 16 Ink chamber 21 Ink supply port 23, 24 Valve apparatus (valve apparatus, 2nd valve apparatus)
26 Atmospheric inlet 30 Tubular body (one of two tubular bodies)
31, 51 Thin film member (thin film member, second thin film member)
32 Valve member 50 Second cylindrical body (the other of the two cylindrical bodies)

Claims (13)

Cylindrical side walls each opening opposite end faces;
An internal space surrounded by the side wall is partitioned at an approximately middle position between the two openings, a space between one of the openings is an ink chamber capable of storing ink, and a space between the other opening is A partition wall formed as two chambers;
An ink cartridge comprising: a lid that covers the one opening and is fixed to one end surface of the side wall.   The ink cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising a wall extending in a direction crossing the other opening in the second chamber. An ink supply port that is formed in the partition wall and allows the ink chamber and the second chamber to communicate with each other;
The ink cartridge according to claim 2, wherein a wall extending in a direction crossing the other opening in the second chamber has a cylindrical portion surrounding the ink supply port in part. Further comprising an air inlet formed in the partition wall and enabling communication between the ink chamber and the second chamber;
4. The ink cartridge according to claim 2, wherein a wall extending in a direction crossing the other opening in the second chamber partially includes a second cylindrical portion surrounding the atmosphere introduction port. 5.   5. The valve device according to claim 3, further comprising a valve device that is disposed in the cylindrical portion so as to face the ink supply port and selectively switches between communication and blocking between the ink chamber and the outside. The ink cartridge described.   5. The cylindrical side wall has a shape in which a plurality of substantially cylindrical curved walls are continuous in the circumferential direction, and a concave portion is formed between the curved walls. 6. Ink cartridge.   3. The ink cartridge according to claim 2, wherein walls extending in a direction crossing the other opening in the side wall, the partition wall, and the second chamber are integrally formed of a resin material. Cylindrical side walls each opening opposite end faces;
An internal space surrounded by the side wall is partitioned at an approximately middle position between the two openings, a space between one of the openings is an ink chamber capable of storing ink, and a space between the other opening is A partition wall formed as two chambers;
A lid that covers the one opening and is fixed to one end surface of the side wall;
An ink supply port that is formed in the partition wall and allows the ink chamber and the second chamber to communicate with each other;
An ink cartridge comprising: a valve device that is disposed in the second chamber so as to face the ink supply port and selectively switches between communication and blocking between the ink chamber and the outside. An air inlet formed in the partition wall and enabling communication between the ink chamber and the second chamber;
2. A second valve device disposed in the second chamber so as to face the air introduction port and selectively switching between communication and blocking between the ink chamber and the outside. The ink cartridge according to 8. Two cylindrical bodies that surround the ink supply port and the air introduction port, respectively, are formed to protrude from the partition wall into the second chamber and accommodate the valve device and the second valve device;
The ink cartridge according to claim 8, wherein both cylindrical bodies are formed by being connected to the side wall.   The ink cartridge according to claim 10, further comprising a connecting member that connects the two cylindrical bodies to each other.   The ink cartridge according to claim 11, wherein the side wall, the partition wall, the cylindrical body, and the connecting member are integrally formed of a resin material. An ink cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 12,
A packaging body for an ink cartridge comprising a packaging member that encloses the cartridge in a decompressed state.

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