JP2007301962A - Apparatus and method for refilling ink - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus for refilling ink which is simply configured and can efficiently refill an ink cartridge with ink even when a low cost ink refill apparatus is used, and a method for refilling ink. <P>SOLUTION: At a first step, a filling port 11 of an ink cartridge 2 is maintained open by a fixing tool 22 and its gasket 26 by setting the ink cartridge 2 in an ink filling jig 3, and an air vent of the ink cartridge 2 is closed by a gasket 7 through an elastic body S of the other fixing tool 23. At a second step, a predetermined operation is conducted with a convex aperture 31 of an ink filling tool 4 inserted in the ink filling port 11, which is followed by pressure being sucked out of the ink cartridge 2 and the ink from the convex aperture 31 filling the ink cartridge 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink replenishing instrument and an ink replenishing method for replenishing ink to an ink cartridge set in a print head.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, ink jet printers are provided with a print head in advance, and ink cartridges that supply ink to the print head are often of a type that is detachably attached to the print head in order to enable ink replenishment. is there.

  As a conventional example in which the ink cartridge is removed and the ink is replenished, for example, the ink is replenished by its own weight, and the ink supply is stopped when the atmosphere communication pipe is blocked by a part of the replenished ink. Ink cartridge refill devices are known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  JP-A-7-132613

  However, in the conventional case, since the ink replenishing device for replenishing the ink is configured with an ink replenishing pipe and an air communication pipe, the structure of the ink replenishing device is complicated, and the production is troublesome. There was a problem that it took. In addition, in the conventional case, there is a problem that there is no countermeasure against the plurality of air holes of the ink cartridge, and the ink filling efficiency is low.

  The present invention solves the above-described problems of the prior art, and an ink replenishing device that can efficiently replenish ink into an ink cartridge even when a low-cost ink replenishing device (ink injection tool) is used. And an ink replenishing method.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 1 is an ink replenishing device for replenishing ink into an ink cartridge having an ink injection port and an air hole, wherein the injection opening for opening the injection port is provided. An ink injection jig having one fixing tool and the other fixing tool closing the air hole, and closing the air hole by setting the ink cartridge in the ink injection jig. However, with the injection opening being opened at the injection opening, the protrusion opening is caused to enter the injection opening from the injection opening, and the pressure in the ink cartridge is sucked in accordance with a predetermined operation. And an ink injection tool for filling the ink in the ink cartridge.

  The present invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that packing is attached to the inner surface of the one fixing tool and the inner surface of the other fixing tool.

  The third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the other fixture has the packing via an elastic body that applies a pressing force in the direction of the ink cartridge.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink replenishing method for replenishing ink to an ink cartridge having an ink inlet and an air hole, wherein one of the ink cartridges is set in an ink injecting jig. A first step in which the inlet of the ink cartridge is maintained open by the fixing tool and the air hole of the ink cartridge is closed by the other fixing tool, and the protruding opening of the ink injection tool is provided in the injection step. And a second step of sucking the pressure in the ink cartridge in accordance with a predetermined operation in a state where the ink cartridge has entered the inlet and filling ink into the ink cartridge from the protruding opening.

  The present invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that packing of the ink is enhanced by using packing on the inner surface of the one fixing tool and the elastic body on the inner surface side of the other fixing tool.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an ink replenishing device and an ink replenishing method that can efficiently replenish ink into an ink cartridge even if a low-cost ink replenishing device is used.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of an ink replenishing device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the configuration of an ink replenishing device according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the ink replenishing instrument 1 of this example replenishes ink in an ink cartridge 2.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the ink cartridge 2 has a cubic shape, and an injection port 11 made of a protruding annular protrusion is formed in a part of the upper surface of the drawing. A plurality of minute air holes (not shown) are formed in a partial region of the illustrated bottom surface of the ink cartridge 2. Although not shown in detail, the ink inlet 11 is also a portion that supplies ink to the print head by being brought into close contact with the print head with a predetermined pressing force.

  A sponge (not shown) is accommodated in, for example, an approximately 2/3 region on the inlet 11 side inside the ink cartridge 2. A part of the sponge is in a state of being in close contact with the injection port 11 or entering into the injection port 11, and a bottom surface of the sponge is in a state of being in close contact with the air hole (not shown). On the other hand, the part without the sponge in the ink cartridge 2 is a space dedicated to ink filling, and transmits the ink filling amount to the outside. In addition, the code | symbol 12 in FIG.1 and FIG.2 shows a to-be-locked part.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the ink replenishing device 1 of this example includes an ink injection jig 3. The ink injection jig 3 includes one fixing tool 22 having an injection opening 21 for opening the injection port 11, the other fixing tool 23 for closing the air hole, and both fixing tools 22 and 23. It is comprised in what is called a U-shape which has the connection main body 24 connected to. The ink injection jig 3 is preferably made of, for example, a metal such as aluminum or stainless steel or a hard resin from the viewpoint of maintaining the shape.

  A packing 26 having an opening 25 having the same diameter as that of the injection opening 21 is mounted on the inner surface of one fixture 22. A fixed plane packing 27 is mounted on the inner surface of the other fixture 23 via an elastic body S. Since the packing 27 is used via the elastic body S, the adhesion for closing the air hole is improved. The thickness of both packings 26 and 27 may be arbitrary.

  When the packings 26 and 27 are attached to the inner surfaces of both the fixtures 22 and 23, the adhesion to the ink cartridge 2 is improved, and in particular, the adhesion for sealing the air holes is increased.

  The ink replenishing device 1 of this example is schematically shown in FIG. 1, and the other has an ink injection tool 4. The ink injection tool 4 includes a cylinder portion 32 having a projecting opening 31 at the tip, and an ink storage portion 33 that enters the cylinder portion 32. In addition, between the outer periphery of the protrusion opening 31 and the inner periphery of the injection port 11 of the ink cartridge 2, there is low air intervention (breathability) or high closeness without air intervention (breathability). It has become.

  The leading end of the ink containing portion 33 in the figure has an outer diameter equal to the inner diameter of the cylinder portion 32, for example, and an opening having a diameter as large as possible is formed at the leading end. The main body of the ink containing portion 33 has a hollow cylindrical shape, and contains ink for injection in the hollow space. Although not shown in detail, the top end side of the ink containing portion 33 in the drawing has a closed dome shape, for example, and the ink containing portion 33 itself is arbitrarily moved in the up and down direction in the cylinder portion 32. It also serves as a grip for operation.

  Next, an example of an ink replenishing method for replenishing ink to the ink cartridge 2 will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 4, the ink cartridge 2 is set in the ink injection jig 3, so that the inlet 11 of the ink cartridge 2 is kept open with the one fixing tool 22 and the packing 26. In addition, the air hole of the ink cartridge 2 is closed with the packing 27 via the elastic body S of the other fixing tool 23 (first step).

  Next, as shown in FIG. 1, the ink cartridge is accompanied by a predetermined operation in a state in which the protruding opening 31 of the ink injection tool 4 is inserted into the injection port 11, that is, an operation of pulling up the ink containing portion 33 upward in the drawing. The pressure inside the ink cartridge 2 is sucked and ink is filled into the ink cartridge 2 through the protruding opening 31. That is, sucking the pressure in the ink cartridge 2 sucks the air in the ink cartridge 2 from the protruding opening 31 of the ink injection tool 4 into the cylinder portion 32, and the resulting ink cartridge 2 has the inside of the ink cartridge 2. The ink in the cylinder part 32 enters the ink cartridge 2 due to the pressure drop (second step).

  In particular, in the second step, the packing 27 on the inner surface side of the other fixture 23 of the ink injection jig 3 closes and closes the air holes of the ink cartridge 2, so that the pressure in the ink cartridge 2 is sucked. Therefore, the ink filling efficiency into the ink cartridge 2 is improved.

  In the present embodiment, the ink inlet 2 of the ink cartridge 2 is opened by the packing 26 of the one fixing tool 22 of the ink injection jig 3, and the ink is supplied by the packing 27 via the elastic body S of the other fixing tool 23. One important point is that the air hole of the cartridge 2 is closed, the pressure in the ink cartridge 2 is sucked from the ink injection tool 4 and the ink is filled. As a result, the ink can be efficiently replenished to the ink cartridge 2 even when the ink filling tool (ink replenishing instrument) 4 having a simple structure and a low cost is used.

  In particular, since the air hole of the ink cartridge 2 is blocked by the packing 27 via the elastic body S in the other fixing tool 23 of the ink injection jig 3, the air hole has a good sealing property. Can be more reliably and efficiently performed.

  The present invention can be used, for example, in an ink cartridge that supplies ink to a print head provided in an inkjet printer, and can also be used in an ink cartridge that includes a print head.

  It is explanatory drawing explaining the ink replenishment instrument which replenishes ink to the ink cartridge of embodiment of this invention, and the ink replenishment method.   It is a side view which shows an example of the ink cartridge applied to embodiment of this invention.   It is a side view which shows the structure of the jig | tool for ink injection | pouring of embodiment of this invention.   It is a side view explaining the state which set the ink cartridge to the ink injection jig | tool of embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ink replenishment instrument 2 Ink cartridge 3 Ink injection jig 4 Ink injection tool 11 Inlet 12 Locked part 21 Injection opening 22, 23 Fixing tool S Elastic body 24 Connection main body 25 Opening 26, 27 Packing 31 Protrusion opening 32 Cylinder Part 33 Ink storage part

Claims (5)

An ink replenishing device for replenishing ink to an ink cartridge having an ink inlet and an air hole,
An ink injection jig having one fixing tool having an injection opening for opening the injection hole and the other fixing tool for closing the air hole;
And in a state where the injection port is opened at the injection opening while closing the air hole by setting the ink cartridge in the ink injection jig,
An ink injection tool is provided that allows a protruding opening to enter the injection opening from the injection opening, sucks the pressure in the ink cartridge according to a predetermined operation, and fills the ink cartridge from the protruding opening. An ink replenishing device.   The ink replenishing device according to claim 1, wherein packing is attached to an inner surface of the one fixing tool and an inner surface of the other fixing tool.   3. The ink replenishing device according to claim 1, wherein the other fixing member has the packing via an elastic body that applies a pressing force in the direction of the ink cartridge. An ink replenishing method for replenishing ink into an ink cartridge having an ink inlet and an air hole,
By setting the ink cartridge in the ink injection jig, one of the fixing tools maintains the open state of the injection port of the ink cartridge, and the other fixing tool fixes the air hole of the ink cartridge. A first step of closing
The pressure inside the ink cartridge is sucked in accordance with a predetermined operation in a state where the protruding opening of the ink injection tool is inserted into the injection opening, and ink is filled into the ink cartridge from the protruding opening. A method of replenishing ink.   5. The ink replenishing method according to claim 4, wherein packing is used for an elastic body on an inner surface of the one fixing tool and an inner surface side of the other fixing tool to enhance the ink filling property.

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