JP2009298156A - Liquid cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attach a valve member, which is operated by the pressure difference of a liquid containing section and a liquid supplying section, to a liquid cartridge by a simple method. <P>SOLUTION: In a liquid cartridge 100, a surface of a valve lid 151 side of a valve member 900 communicates with a liquid supplying section 160. A first part of a surface of the valve member 900 on the side of a wall surface of a liquid containing section 111 communicates with the liquid containing section 111, and a second part of the surface communicates with the liquid supplying section 160. When the pressure of the liquid supplying section 160 is lower than the pressure of the liquid containing section 111, the valve member 900 is pressed to the valve lid 151 side, and the liquid containing section 111 and the liquid supplying section 160 communicate with each other over the first and second parts of the surface of the valve member 900. The valve member 900 is formed of a material softer than the wall surface of the liquid containing section 111. A projection 492 being in pressure contact with the valve member 900 is provided along an outer circumference surrounding the first and second parts of the valve member 900 on the surface in contact with the valve member 900 of the wall surface of the liquid containing section 111. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a differential pressure valve unit, a liquid cartridge, and a liquid cartridge assembling method. In particular, the present invention relates to a differential pressure valve unit, a liquid cartridge, and a liquid cartridge assembling method of a liquid cartridge that supplies liquid to the liquid ejecting apparatus by being attached to the liquid ejecting apparatus.

In an ink jet recording apparatus, an ink cartridge containing ink is attached to a holder of the ink jet recording apparatus, whereby ink is supplied to the recording head. Here, the ink, the ink jet recording apparatus, and the ink cartridge are examples of a liquid, a liquid ejecting apparatus, and a liquid cartridge, respectively.

In an ink cartridge, for example, an ink storage unit that stores ink, a valve member that operates based on a pressure difference between the ink storage unit side and the recording head side, and an atmospheric valve for connecting the ink storage unit to the atmosphere And are provided. When this ink cartridge is attached to the holder of the ink jet recording apparatus, the atmospheric valve connects the ink containing portion to the atmospheric air. Further, when the ink cartridge is mounted in the holder, a pressure difference is generated in the valve member as the recording head consumes ink, and the central portion of the valve member is elastically deformed due to the pressure difference, so that the ink storage portion Ink is supplied from the recording head to the recording head (for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-170558 (page 3, FIG. 2)

In the ink cartridge, the valve member has a peripheral portion that is less likely to be elastically deformed than the central portion, and the peripheral portion is attached to the ink cartridge by ultrasonic welding. Therefore, there is a problem that dust generated by ultrasonic welding is mixed into the ink.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a differential pressure valve unit, a liquid cartridge, and a liquid cartridge assembling method that can solve the above-described problems. This object is achieved by a combination of features described in the independent claims. The dependent claims define further advantageous specific examples of the present invention.

That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a cartridge main body including a liquid storage portion that stores a liquid, a liquid supply portion that supplies the liquid in the liquid storage portion to the outside, and the cartridge main body is formed. A valve member that is accommodated in the recess and opens when a predetermined pressure difference occurs between the liquid storage portion and the liquid supply portion; and the outer periphery of the valve member is fitted in the recess while being fitted in the recess A valve lid that holds the valve member by pressing against the wall surface of the valve member, and a surface of the wall surface in the recess that comes into contact with the valve member is disposed along the outer periphery of the valve member with respect to the valve member. Protrusions that come into pressure contact are formed.
As a result, the protrusion on the wall surface in the recess is pressed against the valve member and the valve member is attached to the cartridge body, so that the valve member and the protrusion can be easily attached by removing the seal without ultrasonic welding. It becomes possible. Further, since it is not necessary to perform ultrasonic welding, no dust is generated by this, there is no need to clean the dust, and dust can be prevented from being mixed into the ink.

In the liquid cartridge, the valve lid may be disposed to face the protrusion with the valve member interposed therebetween, and may have a valve member contact portion that contacts the valve member and presses the valve member against the protrusion.
Thereby, the contact portion can reliably press the valve member against the protrusion.

In the liquid cartridge, the recess is formed in a wall surface of the cartridge body, an outer surface opposite to a surface on which the valve member of the valve lid is disposed, and a wall surface around the outer surface of the valve lid in the cartridge body A sealing member may be further provided to seal the valve lid so as to urge the valve lid in a direction in which the valve lid is brought into contact with the protrusion.
Thereby, since the sealing member presses the valve lid against the wall surface side, the valve lid can be more reliably attached to the wall surface, and the adhesion between the protrusion and the valve member can be enhanced.
In the liquid cartridge, the valve member may be made of an elastic material, and the protrusion may be in pressure contact while deforming the valve member. Accordingly, the valve member can be attached to the cartridge body by reliably taking a seal without ultrasonic welding.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the liquid storage unit and the liquid supply are stored in a cartridge body having a liquid storage unit for storing a liquid and a liquid supply unit for supplying the liquid in the liquid storage unit to the outside. A differential pressure valve unit having a valve member that opens when a predetermined pressure difference occurs between the first and second parts, the valve member being elastically deformable based on the pressure difference and having a cylindrical peripheral edge; and A valve lid having a substantially cylindrical valve member holding portion for fixing the peripheral edge by being inserted inside the peripheral edge of the valve member; and sandwiched between the valve member and the valve lid; A biasing member that biases the valve member in a direction away from the valve lid.
As a result, the valve member and the urging member are held by the valve lid to form the differential pressure valve unit, which facilitates the positioning of each other. Further, since the urging member is sandwiched and held between the valve member and the valve lid, a jig for attaching the urging member to the liquid cartridge becomes unnecessary. Therefore, the liquid cartridge can be easily assembled.

In the differential pressure valve unit, the valve lid surrounds the valve member holding portion, has a substantially circumferential shape having an inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of the peripheral edge portion of the valve member, and the valve lid is attached to the valve lid. You may further have a wall surface contact part which contact | abuts the wall surface of the recessed part formed in the cartridge main body.
Thereby, a valve member is reliably hold | maintained at the wall surface of a recessed part. Furthermore, since the valve lid and the cartridge main body are positioned, the valve member can also be positioned with high accuracy with respect to the cartridge main body.

In the above differential pressure valve unit, the urging member is a coil spring, and the valve lid protrudes toward the valve member at a position where the coil spring abuts, and has a cylindrical shape whose inner diameter is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the coil spring. The coil spring may be held by the valve lid by fitting the coil spring into the spring fitting portion.
As a result, the coil spring is accurately positioned with respect to the valve lid, and can reliably bias the valve member.

In the differential pressure valve unit, the spring fitting portion may have a notch that allows liquid to flow inside and outside the spring fitting portion even when the valve member is attached to the spring fitting portion. Good.
Thus, when there is a liquid flow path in the spring fitting portion, even if the valve member moves to the valve lid side due to the pressure difference and the valve member sticks to the spring fitting portion, the spring fitting portion It is possible to prevent the inner flow path from being blocked.

In the differential pressure valve unit, the spring fitting portion has a plurality of notches cut out from the valve member side, and the length in the surface direction of the plurality of projecting pieces formed by the plurality of notches is the inner diameter of the coil spring. May be larger.
Thereby, when attaching a coil spring to the spring fitting part of a valve lid, it can prevent that a spring fitting part enters into a coil spring accidentally.

In the differential pressure valve unit, the biasing member is a coil spring, and the valve member protrudes toward the valve lid at a position where the coil spring abuts, and has a substantially cylindrical shape having at least a part of the outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of the coil spring. A coil spring may be hold | maintained at a valve member by having a valve cover side convex part and inserting a valve cover side convex part in a coil spring.
Accordingly, the coil spring can be accurately positioned and held with respect to the valve member.

In the differential pressure valve unit, the biasing member is a coil spring, and the valve member protrudes toward the valve lid at a position where the coil spring abuts, and has a substantially cylindrical shape in which at least a part of the inner diameter is smaller than the outer diameter of the coil spring. A coil spring may be hold | maintained at a valve member by having a valve lid side cylindrical part and inserting a coil spring in a valve lid side cylindrical part.
Accordingly, the coil spring can be accurately positioned and held with respect to the valve member.

In the differential pressure valve unit, the valve member is provided to protrude to the opposite side of the urging member corresponding to a position urged by the urging member, and is formed on the cartridge body by the urging member. You may have a seal part for interrupting | blocking communication with the said liquid storage part and the said liquid supply part by being urged | biased to the wall surface side of a recessed part.
Thereby, the energizing force from the energizing member can be directly received by the seal portion, and the conduction between the liquid storage portion and the liquid supply portion can be interrupted.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the cartridge main body having a liquid storage portion for storing a liquid, a liquid supply portion for supplying the liquid in the liquid storage portion to the outside, and the liquid storage portion is stored in the cartridge main body. A liquid cartridge manufacturing method comprising: a differential pressure valve unit having a valve member that opens when a predetermined pressure difference is generated between the liquid storage unit and the liquid supply unit, wherein the liquid storage unit and the liquid storage unit And a step of preparing a cartridge body having a differential pressure valve unit housing portion formed of a recess formed in the cartridge body, and a peripheral edge having a cylindrical peripheral edge and elastically deformable based on the pressure difference. Between the valve member and a valve lid having a substantially cylindrical valve member holding portion that is inserted inside the peripheral portion of the valve member and fixes the peripheral portion,
A step of forming a differential pressure valve unit by sandwiching a biasing member that biases the valve member in a direction away from the valve lid, and a step of attaching the differential pressure valve unit to the differential pressure valve unit housing portion are provided.
Thus, the valve member, the biasing member, and the valve lid are assembled as a differential pressure valve unit, and then the differential pressure valve unit is attached to the liquid cartridge. Therefore, since the biasing member is held between the valve member and the valve lid, a jig for attaching the biasing member to the liquid cartridge becomes unnecessary. Therefore, the liquid cartridge can be easily assembled.

In the liquid cartridge manufacturing method, the recess is formed in a wall surface of the cartridge body, an outer surface opposite to a surface on which the valve member of the valve lid is disposed, and a periphery of the outer surface of the valve lid in the cartridge body You may further provide the process of sealing with a sealing member so that the wall surface of this may be covered.
Thereby, since a sealing member presses a valve lid on the wall surface of a recessed part, a valve lid is attached more reliably.

In the liquid cartridge manufacturing method, a protrusion provided along an outer periphery of the valve member is provided on a wall surface of the differential pressure valve unit housing portion that is in contact with the valve member, and the differential pressure valve unit is disposed in the differential pressure valve unit housing portion. The step of attaching may include a step of pressing the valve member against the protrusion to press the protrusion against the valve member.
As a result, the protrusion on the wall surface that contacts the valve member of the differential pressure valve unit housing portion is pressed against the valve member and the valve member is attached to the cartridge body, so there is no need to ultrasonically weld the valve member.
Therefore, dust due to ultrasonic welding does not occur, and dust can be prevented from being mixed into the ink.

The above summary of the invention does not enumerate all necessary features of the present invention, and sub-combinations of these feature groups can also be the invention.

2 is a front perspective view of the ink cartridge 100. FIG. 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 an exploded perspective view of an ink supply control unit 150. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an AA cross section of the ink cartridge 100. FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view in which the periphery of an ink supply control unit 150 is enlarged. FIG. (A) is a schematic diagram of the ink supply control means 150 in a closed state, and (b) is a schematic diagram of the ink supply control means 150 in an open state. It is sectional drawing which shows the membrane valve 450 of another example. It is sectional drawing which shows the membrane valve 900 'of another example. It is sectional drawing which shows the membrane valve 900 'of another example.

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.

The liquid ejecting apparatus referred to in the present invention 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 And an electrode material (conductive paste) ejecting head for forming electrodes such as a light emitting display), a bio-organic matter ejecting head of a biochip manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing a biochip, and a sample ejecting head as a precision pipette.

2 and 3 are rear perspective views of the ink cartridge 100 of FIG.
2 is a diagram showing a state before the film 110 is attached to the surface of the ink cartridge 100, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state where the film 110 is attached to the ink cartridge 100. As shown in FIG. 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 showing a state before the film 130 is attached to the opening 122 of the ink cartridge 100, and FIG. Opening 12 of ink cartridge 100
2 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a film 130 is attached to 2. FIG. In FIG. 7, the film 130 is attached to the area indicated by hatching.

As shown in FIG. 4, the ink cartridge 100 includes a bottomed substantially casing-shaped cartridge main body (container main body) 120 having an opening 122, a film 130 covering almost the entire surface of the opening 122, and the film 130. A lid 140 is provided to cover the outside. The interior of the cartridge body 120 is partitioned by ribs and walls 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 and an ink storage unit 1.
11 to an ink supply section 160, and an air communication section including an ink side passage for connecting the ink storage section 111 to the atmosphere, an atmosphere valve storage section, and an atmosphere side path. For example, propylene (PP) It is integrally molded.

The ink cartridge 100 further includes an ink supply control unit 150 and an ink supply unit 16.
0, storage means 170, and 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 of a holder to which the ink cartridge 100 is mounted is inserted, and the ink stored in the ink storage unit 111 is transferred to the recording head of the ink jet recording apparatus. Supply. 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
It is molded on the upper part of the side surface of the cartridge main body 120 that faces the mounting portion 190 and engages with the holder of the ink jet recording apparatus.

The ink supply control unit 150 supplies the ink in the ink storage unit 111 to the ink supply unit 160 according to the pressure difference between the ink storage unit 111 and the ink supply unit 160 that is generated as the ink is consumed.
To supply. The ink supply control means 150 is elastically deformable and has the cartridge main body 1.
20 is a membrane valve 900 that is an example of a valve member inserted into the differential pressure valve unit accommodating portion 495, a valve lid 151 that covers the differential pressure valve unit accommodating portion 495, and an attachment that is disposed between the membrane valve 900 and the valve lid 151. And a coil spring 907 as an example of a biasing member. These membrane valve 900 and valve lid 151
The coil spring 907 is an example of a differential pressure valve unit constituting the ink supply control unit 150 of the present invention. The assembly method and operation of the differential pressure valve unit will be described later.

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 the passages 298 and 300.
In addition, the ink supply control unit 150 is connected to the ink supply control unit 150 through 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 extending 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 through the second ink storage portion 294, the flow path portion 296, and the like. A communication unit 274 communicates from the atmosphere-side storage unit 270 of the ink storage unit 111 to the ink supply control unit 150.
Ink flows through the second ink inlet 162, the communication path 295, the communication portions 276, 278, the flow path portion 296, the passages 298, 300, and the through hole 918 in this order.

On the other hand, the atmospheric valve portion 250 is a hollow portion 232 that is an atmospheric valve accommodating portion in which the atmospheric valve 254 is accommodated.
And a communication hole 239 having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the shaft portion 264 of the atmospheric valve 254 and also serving as an atmospheric communication channel is provided on the wall surface below the hollow portion 232, and the shaft of the atmospheric valve 254 is provided here. The portion 264 is always urged toward the bottom surface of the ink cartridge 100 by the spring 255 and is slidably inserted. When the ink cartridge 100 is not attached to the holder of the ink jet recording apparatus, the air valve 254 communicates. The hole 239 is sealed.

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. In the middle of the passage 214, a chamber 930 made of a recess is provided.

As shown in FIG. 2, the communication portion 224 is formed as a recess 257 on the bottom surface of the cartridge main body 120, exposes the shaft portion 264 that is an operating rod of the atmospheric valve 254, and the hollow portion 232 that houses the atmospheric valve 254. A communication hole 239 capable of communication, and a communication hole 25 communicating with the communication part 222
3 is formed in the recess 257, and the outer surface of the recess 257 is formed by sealing with a film 132 that seals the first ink inlet 161 and the second ink inlet 162. The film 132 is selected so that it can be elastically deformed by the pressing force of the protrusion protruding from the holder.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, the ink-side passage communicating with the atmosphere-side accommodation portion 270 with the communication hole 239 described above as a boundary includes a hollow portion 232, a communication hole 234 a, a communication chamber 234 b, a communication portion 234 c, a communication chamber 234 d, a communication A portion 236, a communication chamber 237, a communication hole 238, a communication groove 240, and a communication hole 242 are formed. Specifically, a through hole 234a is formed in the upper wall of the hollow portion 232, and the communication chamber 234b and a communication portion 234c formed by a cutout in the upper wall of the communication chamber 234b through the through hole 234a. The communication chamber 2 provided in the upper part of the communication part 234c
34d, a communication portion 236 formed by a notch in the upper wall of the communication chamber 234d, and an air passage communicating with the communication chamber 237 in which a communication hole 238 is formed below are formed in this order.
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 or the like having an insertion port 26 into which an ink supply needle provided in the holder is inserted, a supply valve 13 that closes the insertion port 26 of the seal member 12, and a supply valve And an urging member 14 made of a coil spring or the like for urging 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 attached to the holder of the ink jet recording apparatus, the convex portion provided on the holder pushes up the shaft portion 264 of the atmospheric valve 254 through the film 132 and the ink supply needle of the holder supplies ink. The supply valve 13 of the part 160 is pushed up. As a result, the communication hole 239 communicates the atmosphere channel from the hollow portion 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 cartridge 100 is loaded into the holder for the first time after shipment from the factory, the ink supply needle of the holder breaks the film 604 attached to the insertion port 26 of the ink cartridge 100 and enters the insertion port 26.

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 from the ink storage unit 111 to the ink supply unit 160 in the order of the arrow a and the through hole 918 shown in FIG. And flows in the order of arrows b, c, and d shown in FIG.
The ink flows into the ink supply unit 160 and 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 from the communication hole 242 to the atmosphere-side accommodation unit 270 through the arrow f, the bottom-side communication unit 224, and the path indicated by 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 flows back to the atmosphere side container 270 due to the surface tension of the ink meniscus formed in the second ink inlet 162 that communicates between the supply side container 290 and the atmosphere side container 270. It 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 only 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 The ink in the container 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 storage portion 294 is consumed, surface tension is generated in the communication portion 276 due to the ink meniscus, so that the ink in the second ink storage portion 294 is prevented from flowing back to the first ink storage portion 292. The

As described above, the atmosphere-side container 270, the first ink container 292, and the second ink container 2
The 94 inks are consumed in this order. However, regardless of the ink level of the ink, the ink is supplied from the communication part 278 disposed in the vicinity of the wall 272 that substantially bisects the ink containing part 111. The ink is supplied to the ink supply unit 160 via the communication unit 300 and the through hole 918.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the ink supply control means 150. FIG. 10A is a cross-sectional view showing an AA cross section in the ink cartridge 100 of FIG. FIG. 10 (b) is the same as FIG.
It is the elements on larger scale which expanded the ink supply control means 150 vicinity of (a). The membrane valve 900, the coil spring 907, and the valve lid 151 constituting the ink supply control means 150 are assembled separately from the cartridge body 120 as a differential pressure valve unit.

The membrane valve 900 includes a cylindrical peripheral portion 442, a thick portion 444 disposed in the vicinity of the peripheral portion 442, a main body portion 446 surrounded by the thick portion 444 and elastically deformed, and a center of the main body portion 446. That is, the valve lid side convex portion 902 that protrudes toward the valve lid 151 at a position where the coil spring 907 contacts the main body portion 446, and the through hole 910 of the wall surface 494 of the differential pressure valve unit accommodating portion 495.
A main body side convex portion 913 and a bent portion 914 that protrude toward the surface. The membrane valve 900 is softer than the cartridge main body 120 and is integrally formed using an elastic material such as an elastomer. The valve lid side convex portion 902 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and the outer diameter of the cross section is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the coil spring 907 before the valve lid side convex portion 902 is assembled to the coil spring 907. Therefore, when the valve lid-side convex portion 902 is inserted into one end of the coil spring 907, the coil spring 907 is accurately positioned and held with respect to the membrane valve 900. In addition, the outer diameter of the cross section of the valve lid-side convex portion 902 may be partly larger than the inner diameter of the coil spring 907 and the other part may be smaller.

The valve lid 151 has a substantially cylindrical shape and a membrane valve holding portion 422 which is an example of a valve member holding portion, a substantially cylindrical wall surface abutting portion 424 arranged around the membrane valve holding portion 422, and a cylindrical shape A spring fitting portion 426 that protrudes toward the membrane valve 900 at the center of the cartridge body 12, for example.
As with 0, it is integrally formed using polypropylene (PP).

The spring fitting portion 426 of the valve lid 151 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and the inner diameter thereof is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the coil spring 907. Therefore, one end of the coil spring 907 is accurately positioned with respect to the valve lid 151 and held. The spring fitting portion 426 has a plurality of cutouts 427 (four in the embodiment shown in FIG. 9) cut out from the side where the membrane valve 900 is disposed. This notch
When the valve lid side convex portion 902 of the membrane valve 900 is moved and stuck to the position where it enters the spring fitting portion 426 of the valve lid 151 in the opened state of the membrane valve 900, the spring fitting portion 426 Since the notch 427 through which ink can flow between the inside and the outside is provided, the flow path in the spring fitting portion 426 can be prevented from being blocked. Note that the length in the surface direction of the plurality of projecting pieces formed by the notches 427 is larger than the inner diameter of the coil spring 907. Therefore, when attaching the coil spring 907 into the spring fitting portion 426, it is possible to prevent the protruding piece of the spring fitting portion 426 from entering the coil spring 907 by mistake.

The outer diameter of the substantially cylindrical shape of the membrane valve holding part 422 in the valve lid 151 is the peripheral edge 44 of the membrane valve 900.
In a state before 2 is assembled, it is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the peripheral portion 442 of the membrane valve 900. In addition, the inner diameter of the wall surface abutting portion 424 in the valve lid 151 is set to the peripheral edge portion 442 of the membrane valve 900.
It is larger than the outer diameter. Therefore, in a state where the coil spring 907 is sandwiched between the valve lid 151 and the membrane valve 900, the peripheral portion 442 of the membrane valve 900 is in contact with the membrane valve holding portion 422 and the wall surface abutting portion 4 of the valve lid 151.
24, the membrane valve holding portion 422 is urged in a direction to expand the peripheral edge portion 442 from the inside, and the membrane valve 900 is held by the valve lid 151. Thereby, a differential pressure valve unit is formed. The outer diameter of the membrane valve holding portion 422 of the valve lid 151 is the peripheral portion 442 of the membrane valve 900.
In the state before being incorporated into the membrane valve holding part 422, only a part of the peripheral part 442 may be larger than the inner diameter and the other part may be smaller.

The valve lid 151 further has a communication portion 306 that penetrates from the side where the membrane valve 900 is attached to the side where the film 110 is attached. Thus, when the valve lid 151 is attached to the cartridge body 120 together with the membrane valve 900, the membrane valve chamber 308 constituted by the valve lid 151 and the membrane valve 900 is connected to the communication portion 304 and the ink via the communication portion 306. It communicates with the supply unit 160. The communication part 304 also communicates with the communication part 302 arranged immediately downstream of the through hole 910.

The wall surface 494 of the differential pressure valve unit accommodating portion 495 of the cartridge body 120 has through holes 910, 9 when viewed from the differential pressure valve unit accommodating portion 495 side (from the right in FIG. 10B).
An annular protrusion 492 having an annular shape is provided along the outer periphery that surrounds 18. The annular protrusion 492 protrudes in the direction in which the membrane valve 900 is attached. In the cross section shown in FIG.
Has a wedge shape that tapers in the direction of attachment. Further, the membrane valve 9 is more than the annular protrusion 492.
The thick part 444 of 00 is soft. Therefore, the differential pressure valve unit includes the differential pressure valve unit accommodating portion 49.
5 is inserted into the differential pressure valve unit accommodating portion 495 in the order of the membrane valve 900 and the valve lid 151 from the side closer to the wall surface 494, the tip of the annular protrusion 492 is pressed against the thick portion 444 of the membrane valve 900. Bite in. Thus, a communication path 496 communicating with the through hole 918 is formed by the wall surface 494, the annular protrusion 492, and the membrane valve 900.

The annular protrusion 492 sandwiches the thick portion 444 of the membrane valve 900 and sandwiches the membrane valve holding portion 42 of the valve lid 151.
2 is arranged to face. As a result, the membrane valve holding portion 422 of the valve lid 151 contacts the thick portion 444 and presses the thick portion 444 against the annular protrusion 492. The membrane valve 900 can securely seal around the communication path 496. That is, the membrane valve holding part 422 also functions as a valve member contact part in the present invention.

An inner peripheral wall 498 that forms the differential pressure valve unit accommodating portion 495 and a wall surface abutting portion 424 of the valve lid 151.
It has substantially the same shape as the outer periphery. The distance between the membrane valve holding portion 422 of the valve lid 151 and the wall surface 494 when the wall surface abutting portion 424 of the valve lid 151 contacts the wall surface 494 is the height from the wall surface 494 to the tip of the annular protrusion 492 and the membrane. It is slightly smaller than the sum of the thickness of the thick part 444 of the valve 900. Therefore, the outer surface 428 of the valve lid 151 slightly protrudes from the wall surface of the cartridge main body 120 around the valve lid 151. A film 110 that covers the outer surface 428 of the valve lid 151 and the wall surface of the cartridge body 120 and biases the outer surface of the valve lid 151 is attached. Thereby, the film 110 urges the valve lid 151 toward the differential pressure valve unit housing portion 495. Therefore, the valve lid 151 can be more reliably attached to the differential pressure valve unit housing portion 495, and the sealing performance between the annular protrusion 492 and the membrane valve 900 can be enhanced. Further, since it is not necessary to perform ultrasonic welding, no dust is generated by this, there is no need to squeeze the dust, and it is possible to prevent the dust from being mixed into the ink. Further, since the membrane valve 900 is held by the valve lid 151, it is not necessary to perform two-color molding in order to make the outer peripheral portion of the membrane valve 900 harder than the main body.

Around the through hole 910 of the cartridge body 120, it protrudes toward the membrane valve 900, and the membrane valve 900
A through-hole convex portion 910b that contacts the main body-side convex portion 913 is provided. As a result, when the ink is not supplied, the main body side convex portion 913 of the membrane valve 900 can contact the through hole convex portion 910b to reliably close the through hole 910.

A filter 310 is disposed in the communication part 300 of the cartridge body 120. Filter 3
10 denotes a foreign substance contained in the ink supplied to the ink jet recording apparatus through the communication unit 300. Since the filter 310 is provided immediately upstream of the ink supply control means 150, the ink that has passed through the filter 310 flows directly into the ink supply control means 150.

As described above, since the membrane valve 900 and the coil spring 907 are held by the valve lid 151 to form the differential pressure valve unit, a jig for attaching the coil spring 907 to the cartridge main body 120 becomes unnecessary, and these can be easily attached. .
Further, since the valve lid 151 and the differential pressure valve unit accommodating portion 495 are positioned in a state where the membrane valve 900 is held by the valve lid 151, the membrane valve 900 is also positioned with high accuracy with respect to the differential pressure valve unit accommodating portion 495. can do.

FIGS. 11A and 11B are schematic diagrams that simplify the structure of the ink supply control means 150 of the ink cartridge 100 shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B. FIG.
1 (a) and FIG. 11 (b) show the structure of the ink supply control means 150 described above in a simplified manner, in a valve-closed state and a valve-open state, respectively, and FIGS. 10 (a) and 10 (b). The same components as those in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 11A, in the closed state, the main body side convex portion 913 of the membrane valve 900 abuts on the through hole convex portion 910b of the through hole 910 by the biasing force of the coil spring 907 to close the through hole 910. Therefore, the ink in the ink storage unit 111 is prevented from flowing out to the ink supply unit 160.

When the ink is consumed from the ink supply unit 160 by the recording head of the ink jet recording apparatus to which the ink cartridge 100 is mounted, the pressure of the ink on the ink supply unit 160 side decreases, and the communication unit 304 and 306 pass through. The pressure in the membrane valve chamber 308 decreases. Therefore, the pressure of almost the entire surface of the membrane valve 900 on the membrane valve chamber 308 side is reduced. On the other hand, on the surface of the membrane valve 900 on the side of the communication passage 496, the pressure in the vicinity of the through hole 910 decreases through the communication portion 302, but the pressure in the vicinity of the through hole 910 does not decrease. Therefore, when the force due to the pressure difference generated on the front and back of the membrane valve 900 becomes larger than the urging force applied to the membrane valve 900 by the coil spring 907, as shown in FIG. The portion 913 is separated from the through hole convex portion 910b, and the through hole 910 is opened. Thereby, the ink is communicated with the communication part 300, the through hole 918,
The ink flows in the order of the communication path 496 and the communication sections 302 and 304, and is supplied from the ink supply section 160 to the recording head (arrow b in FIG. 11B).

At this time, since the ink flows only through the communication passage 496 side of the membrane valve 900, even if the air bubbles stagnated in the communication section 300 are drawn, the ink flows on the recording head as it is. Therefore, the bubbles do not enter the membrane valve chamber 308. As a result, the pressure change of the ink on the ink supply section 160 acts on the membrane valve 900 reliably, and the ink in the ink storage section 111 can be reliably supplied to the recording head. Even if air bubbles flow into the recording head, it is possible to easily eliminate the air bubbles by forcibly discharging the ink by applying a negative pressure to the recording head.

Further, as shown in FIG. 10B, the through hole 910 has an extended portion 910 a that gradually widens toward the communicating portion 302. As a result, the flow path resistance of the ink flowing into the communication portion 302 having a larger cross-sectional area than the through hole 910 through the through hole 910 is reduced.
On the other hand, when the through-hole is provided in the membrane valve 900, the membrane valve 900 is thin and it is difficult to provide an extended portion in the through-hole, so the flow path resistance of the ink flowing through the through-hole cannot be lowered. Therefore, compared with the case where a through hole is provided on the membrane valve 900 side, this embodiment can reduce the flow path resistance of the ink flowing through the through hole 910.

In the valve open state, the ink passes through the communication portion 302 and the membrane valve chamber 308 and the ink supply portion 16.
By supplying 0, the pressure difference between the membrane valve chamber 308 and the communication part 300 is eliminated. As a result, it is pushed back by the urging force of the coil spring 907, and the main body side convex portion 913 of the membrane valve 900 closes the through hole 910 and blocks the communication passage 496. By repeating the above operation, the ink stored in the ink storage unit 111 is supplied to the ink jet recording apparatus.

In the ink supply control means 150, the valve lid side convex portion 902 of the membrane valve 900 has a cylindrical shape, and the outer shape of the cross section is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the coil spring 907. However, the structure of the valve lid side convex part 902 is not restricted to this. As another example, the membrane valve 900 may have a cylindrical valve lid side cylindrical portion that protrudes toward the valve lid 151 at the center and has an inner diameter that is at least partially smaller than the outer diameter of the coil spring 907. . In this case, the coil spring 907 is engaged with the membrane valve 900 by inserting the coil spring 907 into the valve lid side cylindrical portion. Thereby, the coil spring 907 can be accurately positioned and engaged with the membrane valve 900.

The membrane valve 900 shown in FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B closes the through hole 910 using the biasing force of the coil spring 907 by the main body side convex portion 913 protruding to the opposite side of the coil spring 907. However, the structure which closes the through-hole 910 is not restricted to this.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 10 (b), showing another example of the membrane valve 450. FIG.
In FIG. 10, the same components as those in FIG. A membrane valve 450 shown in FIG. 12 has a seal portion 452 that protrudes on the opposite side of the coil spring 907. The seal portion 452 corresponds to a position urged by the coil spring 907 and is provided in an annular shape so as to surround the through hole 910. Thereby, the urging force received from the coil spring 907 can be reliably used as a force for closing the through hole 910.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the annular protrusion 492 of the cartridge body 120 is pressed against the membrane valve 900, the membrane valve does not generate dust generated when the membrane valve 900 is ultrasonically welded to the cartridge body 120. 900 can be attached to the cartridge body 120.
In addition, according to the present embodiment, the membrane valve 900 and the coil spring 907 are held by the valve lid 151 to form the differential pressure valve unit, so that they can be easily positioned with respect to each other. Further, since the coil spring 907 is held between the membrane valve 900 and the valve lid 151, the coil spring 907 is held.
A jig for attaching the cartridge to the cartridge main body 120 becomes unnecessary. Therefore, these can be easily attached.

In the above-described embodiment, the through-hole 910 is formed in the central portion of the wall surface 494 of the differential pressure valve unit housing portion 495, and the membrane valve 900 of the ink supply control means 150 is used as the ink supply portion 16.
The through hole 910 is opened and closed in response to the pressure on the 0 side. However, the form of the membrane valve 900 is not limited to this.
FIG. 13A and FIG. 13B are cross-sectional views showing other examples of the membrane valve of the ink supply control means 150. 13A and 13B, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same components as those of the ink cartridge 100 shown in FIG. 10B, and description thereof is omitted.
As shown in FIG. 13A, one through hole 918 is provided in a region other than the central region in the wall surface 494 of the differential pressure valve unit accommodating portion 495, and a convex portion 990 is provided in the central portion. In the center of the membrane valve 900 ′ of the ink supply control means 150, a communication hole 992 that elastically contacts the convex portion 990.
Is formed. As a result, the surface of the membrane valve 900 on the valve lid 151 side is moved away from the ink supply unit 16.
The surface of the membrane valve 900 ′ on the wall surface 494 side communicates with the ink containing portion 111 through the through-hole 918 while conducting to the membrane valve chamber 308 communicating with 0. Normally, the membrane valve 900 ′ is pressed against the convex portion 990 of the differential pressure valve unit housing portion 495 by the coil spring 907, and the membrane valve 900 ′.
The communication hole 992 is sealed. As shown in FIG. 13B, the membrane valve 900 resists the coil spring 907 at the time when the pressure on the ink supply unit 160 side is reduced due to ink consumption due to ink ejection from the recording head or the like. Thus, the ink is supplied through the communication hole 992 of the membrane valve 900 along the flow path indicated by the arrow b ′ in the figure. more than,
Also in the embodiment shown in FIG. 13A and FIG. 13B, the same operation as the embodiment shown in FIG.

In the above embodiment, the differential pressure valve unit accommodating portion 49 is formed on the outer surface of the cartridge main body 120.
However, the present invention can also be applied to a cartridge in which a differential pressure valve unit housing portion, which is a recess for housing the differential pressure valve unit, is formed in the ink supply portion 160.
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 modifications or improvements can be added to the above embodiment. It is possible that a form added with such changes or improvements can also be included in the technical scope of the present invention.
It is clear from the description of the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Ink cartridge, 111 ... Ink storage part, 150 ... Ink supply control means,
151 ... Valve lid, 160 ... Ink supply part, 494 ... Wall surface, 495 ... Differential pressure valve unit housing part,
900 ... Membrane valve, 902 ... Valve lid side convex part, 907 ... Coil spring.

Claims (16)

A liquid container for containing a liquid;
A cartridge body provided with a liquid supply section for supplying the liquid in the liquid storage section to the outside;
A valve member that is accommodated in a recess formed in the cartridge body and opens when a predetermined pressure difference occurs between the liquid storage portion and the liquid supply portion; A valve lid that holds the valve member by pressing the outer periphery of the member against the wall surface in the recess;
A liquid cartridge in which a protrusion that presses against the valve member is formed along an outer periphery of the valve member on a surface of the wall surface in the recess that contacts the valve member. 2. The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the valve lid includes a valve member abutting portion that is disposed to face the protrusion with the valve member interposed therebetween, and abuts against the valve member to press the valve member against the protrusion. . The recess is formed in the wall surface of the cartridge body;
The outer surface of the valve lid opposite to the surface on which the valve member is disposed, and the wall surface around the outer surface of the valve lid in the cartridge body are biased in a direction in which the valve lid is brought into contact with the protrusion. The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising a sealing member for sealing. 2. The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the valve member is made of an elastic material, and the protrusion is pressed while deforming the valve member. A predetermined pressure difference is generated between the liquid storage unit and the liquid supply unit. The cartridge main body includes a liquid storage unit that stores a liquid and a liquid supply unit that supplies the liquid in the liquid storage unit to the outside. A differential pressure valve unit having a valve member that opens in a case,
The valve member elastically deformable based on the pressure difference and having a cylindrical peripheral edge; and
A valve lid having a substantially cylindrical valve member holding part for fixing the peripheral part by being inserted inside the peripheral part of the valve member;
A differential pressure valve unit comprising an urging member that is sandwiched between the valve member and the valve lid and urges the valve member in a direction away from the valve lid. The valve lid surrounds the valve member holding portion, has a substantially circumferential shape having an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the peripheral edge portion of the valve member, and is formed in the cartridge body to which the valve lid is attached. The differential pressure valve unit according to claim 5, further comprising a wall surface contact portion that contacts the wall surface of the recess. The biasing member is a coil spring;
The valve lid has a spring fitting portion that protrudes toward the valve member at a position where the coil spring contacts, and has an inner diameter that is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the coil spring.
The differential pressure valve unit according to claim 5, wherein the coil spring is held by the valve lid by fitting the coil spring into the spring fitting portion. The said spring fitting part has a notch which can flow a liquid inside and outside of the said spring fitting part, even if it is a case where the said valve member adheres to the said spring fitting part. Differential pressure valve unit. The spring fitting portion has a plurality of the notches cut out from the valve member side,
9. The differential pressure valve unit according to claim 8, wherein a plurality of projecting pieces formed by the plurality of notches have a length in a surface direction larger than an inner diameter of the coil spring. The biasing member is a coil spring;
The valve member protrudes toward the valve lid at a position where the coil spring contacts, and has a substantially cylindrical valve lid-side convex portion having at least a part of an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of the coil spring,
The differential pressure valve unit according to claim 5, wherein the valve spring side convex portion is inserted into the coil spring, whereby the coil spring is held by the valve member. The biasing member is a coil spring;
The valve member has a substantially cylindrical valve lid side cylindrical portion that protrudes toward the valve lid at a position where the coil spring abuts, and has a substantially cylindrical shape with at least a part of an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the coil spring.
The differential pressure valve unit according to claim 5, wherein the coil spring is held by the valve member by inserting the coil spring into the valve lid side cylindrical portion. The valve member is provided to protrude to the opposite side of the urging member corresponding to the position urged by the urging member, and is urged to the wall surface side of the recess formed in the cartridge body by the urging member. The differential pressure valve unit according to claim 5, further comprising a seal portion for blocking communication between the liquid storage portion and the liquid supply portion by being energized.   A liquid cartridge comprising the differential pressure valve unit according to claim 5. A cartridge main body having a liquid storage portion for storing a liquid and a liquid supply portion for supplying the liquid in the liquid storage portion to the outside; and a predetermined amount in the liquid storage portion and the liquid supply portion. A method of manufacturing a liquid cartridge comprising a differential pressure valve unit having a valve member that opens when a pressure difference occurs,
Preparing the cartridge main body having the liquid storage portion and a differential pressure valve unit storage portion including a recess formed in the cartridge main body and communicating with the liquid storage portion;
The valve member having a peripheral edge portion with a cylindrical shape and elastically deformable based on the pressure difference, and a substantially cylindrical valve member that is inserted inside the peripheral edge portion of the valve member and fixes the peripheral edge portion Forming a differential pressure valve unit by sandwiching a biasing member that biases the valve member in a direction away from the valve lid between the valve lid having a holding portion;
Attaching the differential pressure valve unit to the differential pressure valve unit housing portion. The recess is formed in the wall surface of the cartridge body, and covers the outer surface of the valve lid opposite to the surface on which the valve member is disposed, and the wall surface around the outer surface of the valve lid in the cartridge body. The method for producing a liquid cartridge according to claim 14, further comprising a step of sealing with a sealing member. On the wall surface in contact with the valve member of the differential pressure valve unit housing portion, there is a protrusion provided along the outer periphery of the valve member;
2. The step of attaching the differential pressure valve unit to the differential pressure valve unit housing portion includes a step of pressing the valve member against the projection to press the projection against the valve member.
5. A method for producing a liquid cartridge according to 4.

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