JP2006062377A - Liquid cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink cartridge capable of easily assembling an ink supply section. <P>SOLUTION: The ink cartridge 100 is provided with an ink supply section 160 equipped with a hollow part 34 having an ink supply opening 32 into which an ink supply needle 36 is inserted, a seal member 12 having an insertion opening 26 in urged contact with an external circumference of the ink supply needle 36, a supply valve 13 arranged in order to close or open the insertion opening 26 contained in the hollow part 34, and an urging member 14 for urging the supply valve 13 to the seal member 12. The supply valve 13 comprises a body part 500 having a circular cross-section the diameter of which is substantially the same as a diameter of the hollow part 34 of the ink supply section 160 and having a cylindrical shape, the height of which is larger than the diameter of the hollow part 34 of the ink supply section 160, a taper part 510 which engages with the urging member 14 and a bottom face 520 having a flat surface in contact with the seal member 12 and being formed at one end of the body part 500. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid cartridge. Specifically, the present invention relates to a liquid cartridge having a supply valve in a liquid supply unit.

The ink cartridge holds ink inside and is mounted on a carriage on which the recording head of the ink jet recording apparatus is mounted, thereby supplying the ink held inside to the recording head. In the ink cartridge, a supply valve and a seal member that comes into contact with the supply valve are arranged in an ink supply portion into which an ink supply needle of the ink jet recording apparatus is inserted. In a state where the ink cartridge is not mounted on the carriage, the supply valve seals the seal member, so that ink does not leak out of the ink cartridge. When the ink cartridge is mounted on the carriage, the ink supply needle of the ink jet recording apparatus pushes and moves the supply valve, whereby the supply valve opens the seal member and ink is supplied to the recording head. For example, a spherical shape has been used for the supply valve of the ink cartridge (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Here, the ink cartridge, the ink jet recording apparatus, and the recording head are examples of the liquid cartridge, the liquid ejecting apparatus, and the ejecting head.
JP-A-5-229137

  However, in the spherical supply valve, the ink supply needle may not contact the central portion of the spherical supply valve. In this case, the supply valve is not rotated and pushed in the insertion direction of the ink supply needle, and even if the ink supply needle contacts the supply valve, the supply valve does not open and ink may not be supplied.

  Further, when a spherical supply valve is mounted in the ink cartridge, a spherical spring is inserted into the ink supply part into which the coil spring is inserted after the coil spring is inserted into the ink supply part. Next, the supply valve is temporarily fixed by a jig while the spherical supply valve biased by the coil spring is pushed in, and then the seal member is fitted into the ink supply port. Then, remove the jig from the ink cartridge. As a result, the supply valve closes the ink supply port by the biasing force of the coil spring. The method for assembling the ink supply unit described above is difficult and time consuming because it uses a jig. Therefore, there is a problem that the manufacturing cost of the ink cartridge is increased.

  In addition, in the ink injection process, when a jig for ink injection is inserted into the ink supply unit, a film for preventing the sealing member from coming off cannot be attached. For this reason, there is a problem that the sealing member is pulled out or tilted by the urging force between the time when the sealing member is fitted and the time when the prevention film is attached.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, a liquid storage chamber that stores a liquid, a hollow portion that communicates with the liquid storage chamber and has a liquid supply port into which a liquid supply needle of a liquid ejecting apparatus is inserted; A seal member that is accommodated in the hollow portion and has the insertion port that elastically contacts the outer periphery of the liquid supply needle, and a seal member that is accommodated in the hollow portion so that the insertion port of the seal member can be opened and closed And a liquid supply portion having a biasing member for biasing the supply valve to the seal member, wherein the supply valve has a diameter of the hollow portion of the liquid supply portion. A circular cross section having substantially the same diameter, a cylindrical main body having a height larger than the diameter of the hollow portion of the liquid supply section, and one end of the main body, and the biasing member Tapered to engage A tapered portion is formed at the other end of said body portion, characterized in that it comprises a bottom surface having a sealing member abutting plane.

  Thereby, the height of the body part of the supply valve is larger than the diameter of the hollow part of the liquid supply part, so that the supply valve is in the sliding direction of the supply valve when assembled and when the liquid supply needle contacts the supply valve It can slide reliably along the hollow part of a liquid supply part, without rotating in the surface parallel to. In addition, since the supply valve has a tapered taper portion, the supply valve can be easily inserted into the liquid supply portion from the insertion port of the seal member even after the seal member is disposed in the liquid supply portion. Furthermore, since the supply valve has a flat bottom surface, the supply valve can reliably move in the sliding direction when the liquid supply needle contacts the supply valve.

  In the liquid cartridge, the biasing member is a coil spring, and a taper portion that engages with one end of the coil spring in the hollow portion of the liquid supply portion when the bottom surface of the supply valve is in contact with the seal member; The distance from the spring seat that restricts the other end of the coil spring from moving may be longer than the height of the main body of the supply valve. Thereby, since the space where the coil spring is arranged is sufficiently long, a coil spring having a large wire diameter and a strong biasing force can be used. Therefore, the supply spring can be urged against the seal member by this coil spring with a strong force.

  The diameter of the main body portion of the supply valve may be larger than the diameter of the liquid supply needle that is inserted from the liquid supply port and slides the supply valve within the hollow portion. Thereby, since the diameter of the insertion port of the seal member is smaller than the diameter of the liquid supply needle, the supply valve having the main body having a larger diameter than the supply needle can reliably seal the insertion port of the seal member. .

  The supply valve may have a recess that receives a coil spring as a biasing member that biases the supply valve. Thereby, since the coil spring is arranged in the recess of the supply valve, the urging force of the coil spring is reliably transmitted to the supply valve. Therefore, the supply valve can reliably seal the insertion port of the seal member. Furthermore, by providing a recess in the liquid cartridge supply valve, it is possible to prevent sink marks on the bottom surface of the supply valve when the liquid cartridge supply valve is injection molded.

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

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described through embodiments of the invention. However, the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims, and all combinations of features described in the embodiments are included. It is not necessarily essential for the solution of the invention.

  FIG. 1 shows an example of a liquid cartridge suitable for supplying a liquid to a liquid ejecting head of a liquid ejecting apparatus, using an ink cartridge 100 for an ink jet recording apparatus as seen from an obliquely upper side. It is a front perspective view.

  Here, the liquid ejecting apparatus is not only a liquid ejecting head of an ink jet recording apparatus, but also a colorant ejecting head of a color filter manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing a color filter of a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, an FED (surface emitting display). ) And other electrode material (conductive paste) ejecting heads, bio-organic material ejecting heads of biochip manufacturing apparatuses for producing biochips, and sample ejecting heads as precision pipettes.

  2 and 3 are rear perspective views of the ink cartridge 100 of FIG. 1 as viewed obliquely from below, and FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a state before the film 110 is attached to the surface of the ink cartridge 100. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state where a film 110 is attached to the ink cartridge 100. 4 and 5 are exploded perspective views showing the members constituting the ink cartridge 100 in an exploded manner. 6 and 7 are front views of the ink cartridge 100 of FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state before the film 130 is attached to the opening 122 of the ink cartridge 100. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a film is attached to an opening portion 122 of the ink cartridge 100. FIG. In FIG. 7, the film 130 is attached to the area indicated by hatching.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the ink cartridge 100 has a bottomed, substantially housing-shaped cartridge main body 120 having an opening 122, a film 130 covering almost the entire surface of the opening 122, and an outer side of the film 130. A lid 140 is provided. The interior of the cartridge body 120 is partitioned by ribs, walls, etc. as will be described later. The film 130 seals almost the entire surface of the opening 122 of the cartridge main body 120 so that the inside thereof is in a sealed state. The lid 140 is further fixed to the cartridge body 120 so as to cover the outside of the film 130 in an unsealed state.

  The cartridge main 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 allows the ink storage unit 111 to communicate with the atmosphere, an atmospheric valve storage unit, And an atmosphere communication portion including an atmosphere side passage, and is integrally formed of, for example, propylene (PP).

  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 a carriage on which the ink cartridge 100 is mounted is inserted, and the ink stored in the ink storage unit 111 is transferred to the ink jet recording apparatus. Supply to the recording head. The storage unit 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. 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, information on the existing amount of ink, and the like. Pass this information between. The engagement lever 180 is formed on the upper portion of the side surface of the cartridge main body 120 facing the mounting portion 190, and engages with the carriage of the ink jet recording apparatus.

  The ink supply control unit 150 includes a differential pressure valve that supplies ink in the ink storage unit 111 to the ink supply unit 160 due to a pressure difference between the ink storage unit 111 and the ink supply unit 160 that occurs as the ink is consumed. Yes. The ink supply control means 150 is elastically deformable and is a membrane valve 900 that is an example of a valve member inserted into the recess 495 of the cartridge body 120, a valve lid 151 that covers the recess 495, the membrane valve 900, and the valve lid. 151 and a coil spring 907 as an example of an urging member disposed between the two.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the ink containing portion 111 is largely divided into an upper portion and a lower portion by a wall 272 extending in the horizontal direction, and an air-side containing portion 270 capable of communicating with the atmosphere through a communication hole 242 is provided at the lower portion. In addition, a supply-side storage unit 290 including two first ink storage units 292 and a second ink storage unit 294 that are shielded from the atmosphere is formed in the upper part. The supply-side container 290 is divided into two parts, a first ink container 292 and a second ink container 294, by an oblique wall 271 having a communication part 276 in the vicinity (lower region) of the wall 272, and the second ink. A flow path portion 296 is formed so as to be surrounded by the accommodating portion 294. The flow path portion 296 is connected to the second ink storage portion 294 via the lower communication portion 278 and is connected to the ink supply control means 150 via the passages 298 and 300 and the through hole 918.

  The downstream side of the ink supply control means 150 is formed at one end of a communication hole 910 communicating with the ink supply control means 150, a communication portion 302 communicating with the communication hole 910, a flow path 321, and a flow path 321. It is configured to communicate with the ink supply unit 160 through a through hole 323 formed toward the end and a communication unit 304 having one end communicating with the through hole 323.

  The atmosphere-side container 270 and the first ink container 292 are communicated with each other by a communication path 295 that extends vertically, and the ink in the atmosphere-side container 270 is supplied to the first ink corresponding to the consumption of ink from the ink supply unit 160. The ink is sucked into the storage portion 292, and then flows into the ink supply control means 150 via the second ink storage portion 294, the flow path portion 296, and the like. From the atmosphere side container 270 of the ink container 111 to the ink supply control means 150, the communication part 274, the second ink injection port 162, the communication path 295, the communication parts 276 and 278, the flow path part 296, and the paths 298 and 300. The ink flows through the through holes 918 in this order.

  On the other hand, the atmospheric valve portion 250 has a hollow atmospheric valve storage chamber 232 in which the atmospheric valve 254 is accommodated. The wall surface below the atmospheric valve storage chamber 232 has a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the shaft portion 264 of the atmospheric valve 254. And a communication hole 239 that also serves as a communication path for the atmosphere, and the shaft portion 264 of the atmosphere valve 254 is constantly urged toward the bottom surface of the ink cartridge 100 by the coil spring 255 and is slidably inserted. The communication hole 239 is sealed by the atmospheric valve 254 when the ink cartridge 100 is not mounted on the carriage of the ink jet recording apparatus. Thus, the atmospheric valve 254 is arranged so as to be movable in the vertical direction when the ink cartridge 100 is mounted on the carriage. When the ink valve 100 is mounted on the carriage, the contact member 60 as an example of a contact member formed on the carriage. Is pushed up to open the communication hole 239.

  FIG. 8 is a rear view showing a state before the film 110 is attached to the ink cartridge 100 of FIG. The atmosphere side passage which is the side communicating with the atmosphere with the communication hole 239 as a boundary is formed on the bottom surface of the opening 212, the meandering passage 214, the filter housing portion 216, the communication hole 218 and the communication portion 222, and the communication portion 222. A communication hole 253 and a communication part 224 are included.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, one end of one path 214 meandering in a maze formed on the front side of the cartridge body 120 is opened to the atmosphere as an opening 212, and the other end is ink-repellent and breathable. The filter 215 (FIGS. 4 and 5) having the above function is connected to the filter housing portion 216 in which the filter 215 is housed. The filter housing portion 216 communicates with a communication hole 218 that penetrates from the front side to the back side of the cartridge main body 120. The communication hole 218 is connected to the communication part 224 via a communication part 222 on the back side of the cartridge main body 120 and a communication hole 253 formed in the bottom of the room that defines the communication part 222. A chamber 930 having a recess is provided in the middle of the passage 214.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the communication portion 224 is formed as a concave portion 257 on the bottom surface of the cartridge body 120, exposes the shaft portion 264 that is an operating rod of the atmospheric valve 254, and stores the atmospheric valve 254. A communication hole 239 capable of communicating with the H.232 and a communication hole 253 communicating with the communication portion 222 are formed in the recess 257, and the outer surface of the recess 257 is connected to the first ink injection port 161 and the second ink injection port 162. It is formed by sealing with a film 132 to be sealed. The film 132 is selected so that it can be elastically deformed by the pressing force of the operating member provided on the carriage.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, the ink side passage that communicates with the atmosphere side accommodation portion 270 with the communication hole 239 described above as a boundary is the atmosphere valve storage chamber 232, the communication hole 234a, the communication chamber 234b, the communication portion 234c, and the communication chamber 234d. The communication portion 236, the communication chamber 237 and the communication hole 238, the communication groove 240, and the communication hole 242 are formed. Specifically, a through hole 232a is formed in the upper wall of the atmospheric valve storage chamber 232, and a communication portion formed by a notch in the communication chamber 234b and the upper wall of the communication chamber 234b through the through hole 232a. 234c, a communication chamber 234d provided in the upper part of the communication part 234c, a communication part 236 formed by a notch in the upper wall of the communication room 234d, and an air passage in communication with the communication chamber 237 in which a communication hole 238 is formed below. 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, and communicates 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. It communicates with the housing part 270.

  The atmosphere side accommodating portion 270, the supply side accommodating portion 290, the atmosphere valve portion 250, the atmosphere side passage, and the ink side passage are adhered to the walls partitioning the films 130 and 110 by a method such as heat welding. By this, it becomes a region isolated from the atmosphere.

  The ink supply unit 160 includes a seal member 12 formed of an elastomer having an insertion port 26 into which an ink supply needle provided in the carriage is inserted, a supply valve 13 that closes the insertion port 26 of the seal member 12, and a supply valve. And a biasing member 14 including a coil spring or the like for biasing 13 toward the seal member 12. A film 604 is attached to the insertion port 26 of the seal member 12 at the time of factory shipment.

  When the ink cartridge 100 is mounted on the carriage of the ink jet recording apparatus, the convex portion provided on the carriage pushes the shaft portion 264 of the atmospheric valve 254 upward through the film 132 and the ink supply needle of the carriage supplies ink. The supply valve 13 of the part 160 is pushed up. As a result, the communication hole 239 communicates the atmosphere flow path from the atmosphere valve storage chamber 232 to the communication hole 242 with the atmosphere. Further, upstream of the supply valve 13 in the ink supply unit 160 communicates with the ink supply needle.

  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 ink is supplied from the ink supply unit 160, the ink that has flowed in the order of the arrow a and the through hole 918 shown in FIG. 6 in the ink storage unit 111 passes through the ink supply control means 150 and the arrow b shown in FIG. 6. , C, d in this order, flow into the ink supply unit 160, and ink is supplied to the ink supply needle inserted into the ink supply unit 160.

  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 ink flow. As the ink in the atmosphere-side accommodation unit 270 is consumed, air flows in order from the communication hole 242 to the atmosphere-side accommodation unit 270 through the path indicated by the arrow f, the bottom-side communication unit 224, and the arrow g in FIG. Ink is supplied from the ink supply unit 160 to the recording head to lower the liquid level of the atmosphere-side accommodation unit 270, but the flow path connecting the atmosphere-side accommodation unit 270 and the supply-side accommodation unit 290 is provided in the atmosphere-side accommodation unit 270. Since there is a communication port at the lowermost part, air does not flow into the supply-side storage unit 290 until all the ink in the atmosphere-side storage unit 270 moves to the supply-side storage unit 290.

  After all the ink in the atmosphere-side container 270 is 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 transferred to the atmosphere side container 270 due to the surface tension of the ink meniscus formed in the second ink inlet 162 that communicates the supply side container 290 and the atmosphere side container 270. Backflow is prevented.

  When the ink in the first ink storage unit 292 starts to be consumed, air flows into the first ink storage unit 292. As a result, the liquid level of the first ink storage portion 292 is lowered. However, since the lower portion of the first ink storage portion 292 and the second ink storage portion 294 are connected by the communication portion 276, first the first ink storage portion 292 is connected. The ink in the portion 292 is consumed. When the ink in the first ink storage portion 292 is consumed and the liquid level reaches the communication portion 276, the air also enters the second ink storage portion 294 as the ink in the second ink storage portion 294 is consumed. Inflow. While the ink in the second ink container is consumed, surface tension is generated in the communication part 276 due to the ink meniscus, so that the ink in the second ink container 294 is prevented from flowing back to the first ink container 292. The

  As described above, the ink in the atmosphere-side storage unit 270, the first ink storage unit 292, and the second ink storage unit 294 is consumed in this order. The ink storage unit 111 is supplied to the ink supply unit 160 through the passage 918 from the communication unit 278 disposed in the vicinity of the wall 272 that substantially bisects the ink storage unit 111.

  FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing an AA cross section of the ink cartridge 100 of FIG. The ink supply unit 160 is provided with a hollow portion 34 having an ink supply port 32 on the bottom surface. The ink supply port 32 is formed on the lower surface side of the ink cartridge 100, and the ink supply needle 36 of the ink jet recording apparatus is inserted therein. The hollow portion 34 has a hollow cylindrical shape, and has a groove-shaped flow path 35 provided on the outer side of the cylindrical shape along the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical shape. In the hollow portion 34 of the ink supply unit 160, the biasing member 14, the supply valve 13, and the seal member 12 are arranged in this order from the ink supply control unit 150 toward the ink supply port 32. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the urging member 14 is a coil spring. The seal member 12 can be formed of an elastic material such as an elastomer. The seal member 12 is provided with an ink supply needle 36 and an insertion port 26 that is elastically provided on the outer periphery of the ink supply needle 36.

  One end of the biasing member 14 abuts against a spring seat 38 provided in the hollow portion 34, and the other end engages with the supply valve 13 to bias the supply valve 13 toward the seal member 12. The spring seat 38 restricts the position of one end of the urging member 14 from moving in the hollow portion 34.

  When the ink supply needle 36 is inserted into the insertion port 26 of the seal member 12 and pushes up the supply valve 13, the supply valve 13 slides upward along the sliding direction B in the hollow portion 34, and the seal member 12. It leaves | separates from the insertion port 26. As a result, a through hole (not shown) of the ink supply needle 36 can be positioned closer to the hollow portion 34 than the position where the seal member 12 and the supply valve 13 are in contact with each other. In a state where ink can be supplied to the recording head that communicates with the ink supply needle 36. On the other hand, when the ink supply needle 36 is pulled out from the insertion port 26 of the seal member 12, the supply valve 13 slides downward along the sliding direction B in the hollow portion 34 by the elastic force of the biasing member 14. The insertion port 26 of the seal member 12 is sealed.

  The supply valve 13 has a main body portion 500, a taper portion 510, a bottom surface 520, and a concave portion 530, and is injection-molded with, for example, polypropylene. The supply valve 13 is accommodated in the hollow part 24, and is arrange | positioned so that the insertion port 26 of the sealing member 12 can be opened and closed. The main body 500 of the supply valve 13 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and the outer diameter of the main body 500 is substantially the same as the diameter of the hollow portion 34. Further, the main body 500 has a height in the sliding direction B larger than the diameter of the hollow portion 34. Accordingly, when the ink supply needle 36 comes into contact with the supply valve 13, the supply valve 13 does not deviate from the sliding direction of the supply valve 13 and falls within the hollow portion 34, and is smooth along the sliding direction B. Can slide. A part of the cylindrical shape of the main body 500 is a flat surface, which is the position of the gate when the supply valve 13 is injection molded. The tapered portion 510 has a shape that tapers at the upper end of the main body portion 500 in the state of being accommodated in the hollow portion 34. The bottom surface 520 is a flat surface formed on the lower end of the main body 500 in the state accommodated in the hollow portion 34. Thereby, the ink supply needle 36 presses the flat surface of the bottom surface 520 of the supply valve 13, so that the supply valve 13 can move reliably along the sliding direction B. A concave portion 530 is provided in the axial center of the supply valve 13 from the taper portion 510 toward the bottom surface 520 in the middle of the main body portion 500. Thereby, sink marks when the supply valve 13 is injection-molded can be prevented, and the bottom surface 520 can be formed in a flat surface.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the distance L1 from the spring seat 38 to the tip of the supply valve 13 in a state where the ink supply needle 36 is not inserted into the insertion port 26 of the seal member 12 is the length of the main body 500 in the sliding direction B. It is longer than the length L2. Therefore, a coil spring having a large wire diameter and strong urging force can be used as the urging member 14. Since the supply valve 13 is biased with a strong force against the insertion port 26 of the seal member 12 by the coil spring, the insertion port 26 of the seal member 12 can be reliably sealed.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the inner diameter D1 of the insertion port 26 of the seal member 12 is smaller than the outer diameter D2 of the main body 500 of the supply valve 13 and the outer diameter D3 of the ink supply needle 36. Since the inner diameter D1 of the insertion port 26 of the seal member 12 is smaller than the outer diameter D3 of the ink supply needle 36, when the ink supply needle 36 is inserted into the insertion port 26, the seal member 12 is elastically deformed and the ink supply needle. The space between 36 and the insertion opening 26 is securely sealed. The outer diameter D2 of the main body 500 of the supply valve 13 is larger than the outer diameter D3 of the ink supply needle 36. Therefore, even when the ink supply needle 36 is pulled out from the insertion port 26 of the seal member 12, the supply valve 13 can reliably seal the insertion port 26 without escaping from the insertion port 26 together with the ink supply needle 36. it can. Furthermore, since the supply valve 13 is configured in a small and simple shape, the distance between the ink supply control means 150 and the supply valve 13 can be made shorter than before. Therefore, the ink capacity can be increased as compared with the conventional ink cartridge.

  FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the ink supply unit 160. To assemble the ink supply unit 160, first, the urging member 14 is inserted into the hollow portion 34 from the ink supply port 32 of the ink supply unit 160. Next, the seal member 12 is fitted into the ink supply port 32 of the ink supply unit 160 in which the urging member 14 is inserted. The outer diameter of the coil spring of the urging member 14 is preferably larger than the inner diameter D1 of the insertion port 26 of the seal member 12. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the coil spring of the urging member 14 from jumping out of the insertion port 26. Next, the supply valve 13 is press-fitted into the insertion port 26 of the seal member 12 fitted into the ink supply port 32 and inserted into the hollow portion 34 against the urging force of the urging member 14. Since the supply valve 13 has the tapered portion 510, even after the sealing member 12 is fitted into the ink supply port 32, the supply valve 13 passes through the insertion port 26 having a diameter smaller than that of the main body 500, and the ink supply unit 160. Easy to insert into. Further, the tip of the tapered portion 510 enters the coil spring of the urging member 14, and the supply valve 13 and the urging member 14 are reliably engaged. After the sealing member 12 is fitted into the ink supply port 32, the biasing member 14 is inserted into the hollow portion 34 from the insertion port 26 of the sealing member 12, and the supply valve 13 is further inserted into the hollow portion 34 from the insertion port 26. May be.

  When the supply valve 13 is inserted into the hollow portion 34, the supply valve 13 comes into contact with the seal member 12 by the urging force of the urging member 14. Since the supply valve 13 is inserted into the ink supply port 32 in which the urging member 14 and the seal member 12 are already incorporated, the engagement of the supply valve 13 and the urging member 14 and the supply valve 13 into the hollow portion 34 are inserted. Can be simultaneously inserted. Therefore, the ink supply unit 160 can be easily assembled. Thereby, the assembly man-hour of the ink supply part 160 can be reduced, and the manufacturing cost of the ink cartridge 100 can be reduced.

  Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, unlike the conventional assembly method in which the sealing member is assembled with the biasing portion and the supply valve being previously assembled, the jig is inserted from the side surface of the cartridge to bias the biasing member. It is not necessary to temporarily fix the position of the supply valve while resisting this. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a hole for inserting a jig for temporarily fixing the position of the supply valve in the ink cartridge 100. Further, the cost for creating the jig is unnecessary, and the manufacturing cost of the ink cartridge 100 is further reduced.

  FIG. 11 shows another example of the supply valve 13. The recess 530 of the supply valve 13 is provided along the central axis of the cylindrical main body 500 from the end where the tapered portion 510 of the main body 500 is formed. The inner diameter of the recess 530 is substantially the same as the outer diameter of a coil spring that is an example of the urging member 14. One end of the urging member 14 is inserted into the recess 530. Furthermore, an inner tapered portion 540 having a cross section inclined so that the inner diameter gradually decreases from the distal end of the concave portion 530 toward the back is provided at the distal end of the concave portion 530.

  Since one end of the urging member 14 is held in the recess 530 of the supply valve 13, the urging force of the urging member 14 is reliably transmitted to the supply valve 13 without shaking from the axial direction. Therefore, the supply valve 13 can reliably seal the insertion port 26 of the seal member 12. Further, since the concave portion 530 has the inner tapered portion 540, even when the inner diameter of the concave portion 530 and the outer diameter of the biasing member 14 are substantially the same, when the ink supply unit 160 is assembled, the biasing member 14 is moved to the concave portion 530. Can be easily inserted into.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to easily assemble the ink supply unit 160 as compared with the related art. Therefore, the manufacturing time of the ink cartridge 100 can be shortened, and the manufacturing cost of the ink cartridge 100 can be reduced.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated using embodiment, the technical scope of this invention is not limited to the range as described in the said embodiment. Various changes or improvements can be added to the above embodiment. It is apparent from the description of the scope of claims that embodiments with such changes or improvements can be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

1 is a front perspective view of an ink cartridge 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 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. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the ink cartridge 100. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the ink cartridge 100. FIG. FIG. 3 is a front view of the ink cartridge 100 before a film 130 is attached. FIG. 3 is a front view of the ink cartridge 100 after a film 130 is attached. FIG. 3 is a rear view of the ink cartridge 100 before a film 110 is attached. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge 100. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of an ink supply unit 160. FIG. It is a figure which shows the other example of the supply valve.

Explanation of symbols

12 Seal member, 13 Supply valve, 14 Biasing member, 26 Insertion port, 34 Hollow part, 35 Flow path, 36 Ink supply needle, 38 Spring seat, 100 Ink cartridge, 110, 130 Film, 111 Ink storage part, 120 Cartridge Body, 140 Lid, 150 Ink supply control means, 160 Ink supply unit, 242 communication hole, 250 atmospheric valve unit, 270 atmospheric side accommodation unit, 272 wall, 274, 276, 278, 302, 304 communication unit, 290 supply side Storage section, 292 First ink storage section, 294 Second ink storage section, 298 passage, 500 main body section, 510 taper section, 520 bottom surface, 530 recess, 540 inner taper section

Claims (4)

A liquid storage chamber in which liquid is stored;
A hollow portion that communicates with the liquid storage chamber and has a liquid supply port into which a liquid supply needle of a liquid ejecting apparatus is inserted, and is accommodated in the hollow portion, and the liquid supply needle is inserted into the hollow portion. A sealing member having an insertion opening that is elastically contacted with an outer periphery; a supply valve that is housed in the hollow portion and arranged to open and close the insertion opening of the sealing member; and an urging force that urges the supply valve to the sealing member In a liquid cartridge comprising a liquid supply unit having a member,
The supply valve is
A circular cross section having a diameter substantially the same as the diameter of the hollow portion of the liquid supply portion, and a cylindrical main body portion having a height greater than the diameter of the hollow portion of the liquid supply portion;
A tapered portion that is formed at one end of the main body and engages the biasing member;
A liquid cartridge comprising: a bottom surface formed on the other end of the main body and having a flat surface in contact with the seal member.   The biasing member is a coil spring, and the tapered portion that engages with one end of the coil spring in the hollow portion of the liquid supply portion when the bottom surface of the supply valve is in contact with the seal member; The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a distance from a spring seat that restricts the other end of the coil spring from moving in the hollow portion is longer than the height of the main body portion of the supply valve.   2. The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a diameter of the main body portion of the supply valve is larger than a diameter of the liquid supply needle that is inserted from the liquid supply port and slides the supply valve inside the hollow portion.   The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the urging member is a coil spring, and the supply valve has a recess that receives the coil spring that urges the supply valve.

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