JP2006069054A - Ink cartridge and inkjet recorder equipped with ink cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent ink from being stuck on an operator in exchanging an ink cartridge. <P>SOLUTION: The ink cartridge includes an ink supply part provided with an ink supply opening for supplying ink to an inkjet recording head, an atmospheric communication hole, a negative pressure generating member storage chamber which stores a negative pressure generating member absorbing and holding the ink, and an ink guide member in the ink supply part which is brought into contact with the negative pressure generating member and has a function to guide the ink to outside to face the ink supply opening. The ink supply part and the ink guide member have mutually engaged positions at a plurality of positions in sections from the ink supply port to the negative pressure generating member storage chamber. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink cartridge for storing ink to be supplied to an ink jet recording head and to an ink jet recording apparatus equipped with the ink cartridge.

  Recording devices with functions such as printers, copiers, facsimiles, etc., or recording devices used as output devices such as composite electronic devices including computers and word processors and workstations, paper, cloth, plastic sheets based on recorded information An image (including characters and symbols) is recorded on a recording medium (recording material) such as an OHP sheet. The recording apparatus can be classified into an ink jet type, a wire dot type, a thermal type, a laser beam type, and the like according to a recording method.

  Among them, an ink jet recording apparatus (ink jet recording apparatus) performs recording by discharging ink from a recording means to a recording medium, and the recording means can be easily made compact, and high-definition images can be recorded at high speed. can do. In particular, a recording apparatus using a recording unit of a type in which more discharge ports are provided in the longitudinal direction of the recording medium can be further increased in speed. In addition, printing can be performed on plain paper without requiring special processing, the running cost is low, and it is easy to record a color image using various types of ink (for example, color ink). have.

  The above-mentioned ink jet recording apparatus has a desired structure by ejecting ink droplets from a fine ejection port provided in a recording head (ink jet head) as a recording means during recording and landing the ink droplet on a recording medium (recording paper or the like). As the inkjet head, for example, as an ejection energy generating element that generates energy for ejecting ink from an ejection port, an electromechanical transducer such as a piezo element, or a heating resistor is used. A device using a device that heats a liquid by an electrothermal conversion element having a body and ejects ink droplets is used.

  The ink cartridge as a liquid container used in the ink jet recording field has a holding force for the ink stored in the ink cartridge in order to satisfactorily supply ink to the recording head for discharging ink. A configuration for adjustment is provided. This holding force is called negative pressure because it is for making the pressure of the ink discharge portion of the recording head negative with respect to the atmosphere.

  In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-328710, the applicants can increase the amount of ink contained per unit volume of an ink cartridge and achieve stable ink supply while using an ink negative pressure generating member. An ink cartridge having a storage chamber is proposed.

Similarly, as this kind of ink cartridge, JP-A-5-104735 can be cited. Here, a porous member for penetrating ink into the ink cartridge is disposed, and a porous member or a fiber bundle member having a higher density than the porous member is provided at an ink discharge port for supplying ink to the recording head. A configuration is disclosed in which the porous member (hereinafter referred to as an ink lead-out member) is in contact with the porous member.
JP-A-6-328710

  Similarly to the other ink cartridges, the ink cartridge having the above-described configuration leaves a certain amount of ink in the porous member (negative pressure generating member) in order to prevent the introduction of air into the recording head, and signals the ink END. Will be replaced with a new ink cartridge.

  Therefore, as a matter of course, the ink lead-out member disposed at the supply port of the used ink cartridge that has been replaced still holds ink. When replacing the ink cartridge in such a state, there is a problem that the ink lead-out member is inadvertently touched and the hand is soiled.

  Here, the manner of ink adhesion that may occur when the operator replaces the ink cartridge will be described with reference to FIG. For example, when the upper and lower sides of the ink cartridge are gripped as shown in FIG. 10A, in the conventional ink tank configuration, as shown in FIG. 10B, a part of the operator's finger is deformed and supplied. There remains a problem that the ink is attached to the finger by touching the ink lead-out member disposed inside the mouth.

  In recent years, efforts to address environmental issues have become the theme of society as a whole, including companies, and therefore, ink cartridges that have been disposable in the past have been actively collected and reused.

  However, as described above, even in the case of a used ink cartridge, it is normal that a small amount of ink remains in the ink lead-out member and further in the collection box. The ink tanks that cooperated with each other used extra energy and time, such as cleaning each other and cleaning the outside of the ink cartridge when they were reused.

  Accordingly, in addition to the first object of preventing contamination when removing an ink cartridge that has been used, the second object of the present invention is to make it possible to reuse it even if it is configured to prevent contamination. It is to provide means.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an ink cartridge configured to prevent ink from adhering to an operator when the ink cartridge is replaced.

  In order to achieve the above object, an ink cartridge according to the present invention accommodates an ink supply section having an ink supply opening for supplying ink to an inkjet recording head, an air communication hole, and a negative pressure generating member for absorbing and holding ink. Ink comprising: a negative pressure generating member housing chamber; and an ink outlet member having a function of contacting the negative pressure generating member to the ink supply unit and leading the ink to the outside so as to face the ink supply opening In the cartridge, the ink supply unit and the ink lead-out member have portions that engage with each other at a plurality of positions in a section from the ink supply port toward the inside of the negative pressure generating member storage chamber.

  According to this configuration, the ink lead-out member can be engaged at an arbitrary position (above the lowermost surface of the ink supply port), and the ink lead-out member can be held at that position. As in the case of the cartridge, an ink cartridge and an ink jet recording apparatus that can prevent the operator from touching the ink lead-out member when the ink cartridge is replaced and causing ink to adhere can be obtained.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the ink cartridge is removed by engaging and holding the ink outlet member above the lowermost surface of the ink supply port by the protrusion formed in the supply port. In this case, an ink cartridge and an ink jet recording apparatus that can prevent ink from adhering to the finger can be obtained.

  Details of embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  In the following embodiments, ink is described as an example of the liquid used in the liquid supply method and the liquid supply system of the present invention. However, the applicable liquid is not limited to ink, and for example, the ink jet recording field. In this case, it goes without saying that the processing liquid for the recording medium is included.

  In each cross-sectional view, a region where the negative pressure generating member holds ink is indicated by a hatched portion, and ink stored in the space is indicated by a meshed portion.

  The reference numerals of the drawings are basically the same and only different parts are clearly described in the description.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an ink cartridge according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 (a) is a schematic cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge, and FIG. 1 (b) is a schematic view of FIG. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a supply port portion of the ink cartridge, showing a state before the ink cartridge is mounted on a holder (a component to which the ink cartridge is mounted), and FIG. 1C is mounted on the holder. FIG. 1D shows a state in which the outlet member is pushed in by a supply pipe that is pushed from above when the ink cartridge is removed.

Next, the configuration of the ink cartridge using the present invention will be described.
The interior of the ink cartridge 10 is partitioned into two spaces by a partition wall (partition wall) 38 having a communication hole (communication portion) 40. One space is sealed except for the communication hole 40 of the partition wall 38 and is a liquid storage chamber 36 that directly holds the ink 25, and the other space is a negative pressure generation member storage chamber 34 that stores the negative pressure generation member 32. ing.

  An air communication portion (atmosphere communication port) 12 for introducing air into the ink cartridge 10 as ink is consumed and a recording head portion (not shown) are formed on the wall surface forming the negative pressure generating member storage chamber 34. And an ink supply part 114 having a supply port 14 for supplying ink to the ink. Further, an ink outlet member 46 having a higher capillary force than the negative pressure generating member is disposed at the supply port 14 so that the ink can be smoothly fed to the recording head. In FIG. 1, the area where the negative pressure generating member 32 holds ink is indicated by hatching.

  A space (buffer chamber) 44 without the negative pressure generating member 32 is provided by the rib 42 in the vicinity of the atmosphere communication portion.

  In addition, the ink supply unit 114 including the supply port 14 has an ink lead-out member 46 (which is of course not limited to this) having a higher capillary force than the negative pressure generating member 32 and a strong physical strength. It is arranged inside and has a recess formed on its side. Further, a hook-shaped protrusion 101 is formed inside the supply port 14 toward the center of the supply port.

  Next, how the ink lead-out member operates and how it is engaged and held in the embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1B to 1D.

  FIG. 1B is an enlarged view of the supply unit in an initial state before the ink cartridge is mounted on the holder (a component to which the ink cartridge is mounted), and is at the position of the first recess 102 of the ink lead-out member at this time. It can be confirmed that there is a sufficient gap without the ink lead-out member below the protrusion 101 formed inside the supply port.

When the ink cartridge in such a state is attached to the holder, the state shown in FIG. Here, when the ink cartridge is mounted in the holder, the ink supply member 104 is disposed upward (negative pressure generating member) by the ink supply pipe 104 (part of the flow path for supplying ink to the recording head) disposed in the holder. The ink is supplied to the recording head in a state where the gap below the protrusion 101 described in FIG. 1B is reduced.

  When the ink supply is completed in the above-described state, the ink cartridge is next removed. However, if the ink cartridge is removed in the current state, the protrusion 101 disposed on the supply port and the ink lead-out member are formed. Since the second concave portion 103 is not engaged, the ink lead-out member moves downward (position before the holder in FIG. 1B). When the user pushes the upper part of the ink cartridge (atmospheric introduction part 12 in FIG. 1a) in the direction of ↓ A and then performs the removing operation, the ink lead-out member is connected to the supply pipe as shown in FIG. Further, the projection 101 disposed in the supply port is pushed further upward, and further below the first recess 102 formed in the ink outlet member (the lowermost side of the supply port). Moves into a second recess 103 that is made, a state in which the ink delivering member at the engaged the position is held.

  Further, in such a state, the capillary force at the bottom of the more compressed negative pressure generating member is increased by the ink outlet member, and the capillary force of the ink outlet member is increased, so that the negative pressure generator member and the ink outlet member are increased. The ink held inside is drawn to a more compressed area, and the ink is almost not held on the bottom surface of the ink outlet member.

  As described above, by providing the engaging portion in the supply port and the ink outlet member, the ink outlet member is engaged and held above the lowermost surface of the ink supply port. Thus, even when the operator carelessly grasps the top and bottom of the ink cartridge when removing the ink cartridge, it is possible to prevent the ink from adhering to the finger. Even if the ink lead-out member is touched, the ink lead-out member reduces the amount of ink held in the more compressed region (the bottom of the negative pressure generating member), thereby reducing ink adhesion. I can do it.

(Modification)
FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a liquid storage container according to a modification of the present invention. FIG. 2A is a schematic cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge, and FIG. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a supply port portion of an ink cartridge, showing a state before the ink cartridge is mounted on a holder (a component to which the ink cartridge is mounted), and FIG. FIG. 2D shows a state in which the lead-out member is pushed in by the supply pipe pushed from above when the ink cartridge is removed.

  Since the basic configuration and operation are the same as in the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  A difference from the above-described embodiment of FIG. 2 is that the concave portion provided in the ink lead-out member is provided in one place. In the first embodiment, when the ink cartridge is removed, the ink lead-out member is held by the second recess. Here, the ink lead-out member is held by the bottom surface (the surface not in contact with the negative pressure generating member). That is.

  According to this configuration, since only one recess is provided in the ink lead-out member, the ink lead-out member can be shortened, so that the flow resistance to the recording head accompanying ink supply can be reduced. Also, since the concave portion only needs to be formed in one place in forming (processing) the concave portion, the configuration is superior to the first embodiment in productivity.

  In any of the above-described embodiments, the protrusion formed in the supply port and the recess provided in the ink lead-out member may be formed in the entire periphery or in a part of the periphery. Needless to say, the object of the present invention can be achieved.

  As described above, the point of the present invention is that the ink supply port and the ink lead-out member are provided with respective engaging portions.

It is a schematic sectional drawing of the ink cartridge of the 1st Example of this invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an enlarged supply unit in a state before the ink cartridge shown in FIG. 1 is mounted in a holder. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an enlarged supply unit in a state where the ink cartridge shown in FIG. 1 is mounted in a holder. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a lead-out member is further pushed in when the ink cartridge illustrated in FIG. 1 is removed from a holder. It is a schematic sectional drawing of the ink cartridge of the modification of this invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an enlarged supply unit in a state before the ink cartridge shown in FIG. 5 is mounted in a holder. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an enlarged supply unit in a state where the ink cartridge shown in FIG. 5 is mounted in a holder. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a state where a lead-out member is further pushed in when the ink cartridge illustrated in FIG. 5 is removed from the holder. It is the schematic which illustrates the ink derivation | leading-out member comprised so that engagement can be cancelled | released from the ink supply port exterior, (a) is a schematic sectional drawing which expands and shows a supply part, (b) is a supply part. Schematic view seen from the outside, (c) is a perspective view schematically showing the outer shape of the ink lead-out member. It is the schematic showing the method of the ink adhesion which may occur when exchanging the conventional ink cartridge, (a) is the figure showing the state which grasped the upper and lower sides of the ink cartridge, (b) is the figure shown in FIG. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Ink cartridge 12 Atmospheric communication port 14 Supply port 25 Ink 32 Negative pressure generating member 34 Negative pressure generating member storage chamber 36 Liquid storage chamber 38 Partition wall 40 Communication hole 42 Rib 44 Air buffer chamber 46 Ink lead-out member 101 Protrusion 102 First Concave part 103 Second concave part 104 Supply pipe

Claims (5)

An ink supply unit having an ink supply opening for supplying ink to the ink jet recording head, an air communication hole, a negative pressure generating member storage chamber storing a negative pressure generating member for absorbing and holding ink, and the ink supply unit An ink cartridge comprising: an ink outlet member that has a function of contacting the negative pressure generating member and leading the ink to the outside so as to face the ink supply opening;
The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the ink supply unit and the ink lead-out member have portions that engage with each other at a plurality of positions in a section from the ink supply port toward the inside of the negative pressure generating member storage chamber.   The portions that engage with each other include an inwardly formed convex portion provided on the inner surface of the ink supply portion, and a convex portion on the inner surface of the ink supply portion provided on the outer surface of the ink lead-out member. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the ink cartridge is an engaging concave portion.   When the convex portion of the ink supply portion and the concave portion of the ink lead-out member are engaged with each other, the outer end surface of the ink introduction member is positioned inward from the outermost surface of the ink supply port. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the relationship is a relationship.   The ink lead-out member in which the concave portion is engaged with the convex portion of the ink supply portion can be disengaged from the outermost side of the ink supply port. The ink cartridge according to 3.   An ink jet recording apparatus comprising the ink cartridge according to claim 1.

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