JP2010149458A - Ink storage container - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink storage container the reproduced article of which can be hardly manufactured. <P>SOLUTION: The ink storage container 100 includes: an ink storage part 10 for storing ink M; and an air flow controller 20 for controlling the flow of air between the inside and outside of the ink storage part 10, wherein the ink storage part 10 includes an inner wall 12c having lower toughness or lower rigidity than an outside wall inside at least a part of the outer wall. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink storage container.

  Examples of ink storage containers include ink tanks for writing instruments and ink (tank) cartridges for inkjet printers. In response to the amount of ink consumed for writing and printing to form letters and images, outside air is taken into the tank and the air is exchanged so that changes in pressure in the tank do not adversely affect ink consumption. Examples of the mechanism include those in which a simple hole is formed as an outside air intake, and those in which a vent passage with a valve mechanism that vents as necessary is formed (for example, Patent Documents) 1).

Conventionally, ink storage containers for ink jet printers are generally used in a single-use type so as to keep the ink quality and discharge amount constant and not to deteriorate the print quality. This single-use type ink storage container is designed on the assumption that when all the ink in the tank is consumed, it is replaced with a new ink storage container.
JP 2001-277777 A

  However, in recent years, an increasing number of traders have opened a used-up type ink storage container with a drill or the like, closed the hole after refilling with ink, and sold it as a recycled product.

  Such recycled products may not be able to properly control the pressure in the tank because the processing technology of the supplier is immature, which may not only maintain the original print quality but also cause printer failure. was there. In addition, remanufactured products are usually refilled with low-cost ink that is different from genuine products, and this also causes a decrease in print quality and causes printer failure.

  For this reason, users who use low-quality recycled products may suffer from poor print quality or printer failure, resulting in dissatisfaction with the printer manufacturer and the original ink storage container manufacturer rather than the recycled product supplier. The trust of the printer manufacturer and the original ink storage container manufacturer may be lost.

  The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an ink storage container in which it is difficult to manufacture a recycled product.

  (1) The present invention includes an ink storage unit that stores ink, and an air flow rate control unit that controls an air flow rate between the inside and outside of the ink storage unit, and the ink storage unit includes at least a part of an outer wall. An ink storage container comprising an inner wall having lower toughness or lower rigidity than the outer wall on the inside.

  (2) The ink storage container according to (1), wherein the space between the outer wall and the inner wall is in communication with the outside of the ink storage unit.

  (3) The ink storage container according to (1) or (2), wherein the inner wall is more flexible than the outer wall.

  (4) The ink storage container according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the inner wall is thinner than the outer wall.

  (5) The ink storage container according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein the inner wall is provided on an upper surface portion of the ink storage unit.

(6) The ink storage container according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein the inner wall is configured in a bag shape for containing the ink.
(7) The ink storage container according to any one of (1) to (6), wherein the inner wall is made of rubber.

  (8) According to the present invention, the air flow rate control unit normally does not circulate air, but elastically deformable communicating pores that exchange air with the outside in accordance with a change in internal pressure of the ink storage unit. A water-repellent film body disposed on the ink storage unit side of the valve body and having air permeability and subjected to a water-repellent treatment. The ink storage container according to any one of 1) to (7).

  (9) According to the present invention, the air flow rate control unit absorbs the ink, so that the air absorber does not normally flow in air but allows the air to be exchanged according to a change in the internal pressure of the ink storage unit. The ink storage container according to (8), wherein the ink storage container is provided closer to the ink storage unit than the water-repellent film body.

  (10) The present invention is also characterized in that the space between the outer wall and the inner wall is a part of a passage through which air flows between the inside and outside of the ink reservoir. The ink storage container according to any one of the above.

  According to the ink storage container of the present invention, it is possible to produce an excellent effect of making it difficult to manufacture a recycled product and preventing a low-quality recycled product from being put on the market.

  Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, the case where the ink storage container in each of the following embodiments is applied to an ink cartridge for an ink jet printer will be described as an example.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of an ink storage container 100 according to this embodiment. The ink storage container 100 is made of a suitable synthetic resin, and as shown in the figure, the flow rate of air is controlled between the ink storage unit 10 that stores the ink M inside and the inside and outside of the ink storage unit 10. An air flow rate control unit 20 that controls the discharge of the ink M stored in the ink storage unit 10, and an ink discharge unit 30 that controls the discharge of the ink M stored in the ink storage unit 10.

<Ink storage unit>
The ink storage unit 10 includes a hollow main body 11 having an open top and an upper surface 12 that is combined at the top as a lid that closes the opening of the main body 11. The main body 11 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape having a depth dimension smaller than the vertical and horizontal dimensions in the figure. The inside 13 of the main body 11 is divided into two chambers 13 a and 13 b by a partition wall 14. These two chambers 13 a and 13 b are communicated with each other through a through hole 14 a formed at the base end of the partition wall 14. An ink discharge unit 30 is provided at the bottom of the main body 11.

  The top surface portion 12 has a top plate 12a that is a horizontally long rectangular plate in plan view (when viewed from above), and a fitting wall 12b that protrudes downward from a slightly inner bottom surface of the periphery of the top plate 12a. It is composed of The upper surface portion 12 is combined with the main body portion 11 by fitting the fitting wall 12 b into the main body portion 11.

  FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part in which an A part in FIG. 1 is enlarged. As shown in the figure, the upper surface portion 12 has a bulging portion 12b1 formed in the vicinity of the tip of the fitting wall 12b of the upper surface portion 12 and a bulging portion 11a formed in the main body portion 11 fitted to the mating member. Fixed by joining. Further, as shown in the crossed hatched portion, the protruding portion 12b2 formed over the entire circumference of the proximal end portion of the fitting wall 12b is formed on the entire peripheral edge of the opening of the main body portion 11 by ultrasonic welding or the like. The ink M is sealed so as not to leak outside by biting into the inclined portion 11b.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the top plate 12 a of the upper surface portion 12 is provided with an air flow rate control unit 20 in the vicinity of the end portion in the longitudinal direction on the right side of the drawing. Further, the upper surface portion 12 is provided with an inner wall 12c that spreads in a skirt shape from the lower portion of the air flow rate control portion 20 to the tip of the fitting wall 12b. In addition, a communication hole 12d that communicates the space S1 surrounded by the upper surface portion 12a, the fitting wall 12b, and the inner wall 12c with the outside is provided in the upper portion of the left fitting wall 12b in the drawing. The ink M is stored in a space (inside 13) surrounded by the main body 11 and the inner wall 12c. Details of the inner wall 12c will be described later.

<Air flow control unit>
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the air flow rate control unit 20. As shown in the figure, the top plate 12a of the upper surface portion 12 is formed with a recessed portion 12e having a circular cross section that is depressed, and the air flow rate control unit 20 is a valve body accommodated in the recessed portion 12e. 22, a water repellent film body 24, a pressing ring 26 and a cap 28 are provided. The air flow rate control unit 20 places the water-repellent film body 24 in the recess 12e, places the pressing ring 26 thereon, and further places the valve body 22 thereon, and from above these The cap 28 is fitted into the recess 12e, and the valve body 22, the water repellent film body 24, and the pressing ring 26 are sandwiched between the cap 28 and the recess 12e.

  The bottom 12f of the recess 12e is formed with a circular cross-sectional conduction port 12g communicating with the inside 13 of the ink storage unit 10 at the center thereof. The conduction port 12 g is formed so that the inner diameter increases toward the inside 13. Note that the water repellent treatment may be applied to the inner surface and the peripheral edge of the conduction port 12g. By applying the water-repellent treatment, the ink adhering to the inner surface and peripheral edge of the conduction port 12g or the lower surface of the water-repellent film body 24 is efficiently dropped to obstruct the plugging of the conduction port 12g or the water-repellent film body 24 in advance. Can be prevented.

  A water repellent film seating portion 12h and a lower end receiving portion 12i are provided around the conduction port 12g of the bottom portion 12f. The water repellent film body seating portion 12h is an annular recess (annular step) that positions and receives the water repellent film body 24. The lower end receiving portion 12i is an annular groove provided concentrically on the outer periphery of the water repellent film body seating portion 12h, and has a structure for receiving the lower end of a peripheral surface portion 28b of the cap 28 described later.

  The water repellent film body seating portion 12h is formed of an olefin resin material and is formed as a smooth surface with increased smoothness, whereby the water repellent film body 24 is seated on the water repellent film body seating portion 12h. Further, the degree of adhesion of the water-repellent film body 24 to the water-repellent film body seating portion 12h is increased, and the ink M is set to be suppressed from entering between the contact surfaces as much as possible. In particular, since the olefin resin material has low wettability, the water repellent effect is high. Therefore, when the water repellent film body 24 is in close contact, the ink cannot enter the gap. In addition, although there exist various raw materials, such as a polypropylene and polyethylene, as an olefin resin, a polypropylene is employ | adopted in this embodiment.

  Between the water repellent film body seating portion 12h and the lower end receiving portion 12i, an annular ridge portion 12j protruding upward in the drawing is formed. The protruding portion 12j is positioned so that the water-repellent film body 24 is not displaced in the lateral direction, and also functions as a guide for smooth entry of the peripheral surface portion 28b of the cap 28.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view of each member provided in the air flow rate control unit 20. As shown in the figure, the valve body 22 is a substantially disk-shaped flat plate made of an elastic material in which a plurality of micropores communicate with each other, and is configured by using a material such as polyurethane as a compressed porous body.

  In the normal state where the pressure difference between the inside 13 and the outside of the ink storage unit 10 is not present, the valve body 22 is blocked from air permeability and does not enter and exit air, but when a pressure difference greater than a predetermined value occurs, Elongates due to slight elastic deformation, which causes the micropores to be expanded and causes air permeability, so that air flows from the high pressure side to the low pressure side, so that the function of controlling the air flow rate is exhibited. It is configured.

  That is, the air flow rate control unit 20 changes the amount of air passing through the plurality of fine holes of the valve body 22 according to the pressure difference between the outside and the inside 13 of the ink storage unit 10, and this change causes ink storage from the outside. It has a function of controlling the air flow rate to the inside 13 of the unit 10. In addition, the material of the valve body 22, a structure, etc. are not specifically limited, As the valve body 22, what was disclosed by the said patent document 1 and a commercial item are employable.

  In this embodiment, the valve body 22 is a compression body so as not to have air permeability when compressed. In other words, the communicating porous body made of an elastic material is compressed until air permeability is lost, and the compressed porous body is formed so that the air flow rate control function can be exerted more. In such a compressed porous body, a large number of irregular spaces formed by smashing and folding the elastic body constituting the communicating porous body are formed inside, but in the compressed state, the air permeability is lost. . However, since many irregular spaces formed in the compressed porous body communicate with each other, when a pressure difference between the inside and outside occurs, the space is compressed from the outside by a pressure difference greater than a predetermined pressure generated by the extension of the valve body 22. Air is pushed into the inside of the porous body, and the air deforms the valve body while expanding the air holes connecting the networked space in the compressed porous body, so that the opposite side of the compressed porous body, that is, the ink reservoir. By moving to the inside 13 side of 10, air permeability is produced.

  This air flow rate (air flow rate) is determined by the ease of passage of the space networked in the compressed porous body. Therefore, when the pressure difference is large, the valve body 22 extends greatly, and the air is passed through the space networked in the compressed porous body. Becomes easier to pass, and the air flow becomes larger. On the other hand, when the pressure difference is not less than a predetermined pressure difference and the pressure difference is small, the valve body 22 expands small, the amount of air passing through the space networked in the compressed porous body is small, and the ventilation amount is small. When the pressure difference decreases due to ventilation by the valve body 22, the valve body 22 also contracts, and the ventilation amount decreases. Further, when the pressure difference is less than the predetermined pressure difference, the valve body 22 is compressed again, so that the air permeability of the valve body 22 is lost. In this way, since the amount of air flow also depends on the magnitude of the pressure difference, it is possible to quickly and appropriately adjust the pressure to make the pressure in the ink storage unit 10 constant.

  The degree of the pressure difference between the outside (atmosphere) and the inside of the ink storage unit 10 may be determined by appropriately selecting the degree of communication and the degree of compression, etc. For example, when the pressure difference is 20 mmH2O or less, it is preferable to compress the airflow so that there is no air permeability, and when the pressure difference is 20 mmH2O or more, the airflow is compressed.

  The elastic material constituting the valve body 22 is sufficient if it has a plurality of micropores and passes through the micropores in a stretched state, and examples thereof include polypropylene, various rubbers, and various elastomers. In the case of a continuous porous body, a rubber and / or plastic raw material is mixed with an inert gas, a decomposable foaming agent, and a volatile organic liquid, and foam is formed by forming bubbles inside to form a continuous pore. And a rubber / plastic raw material in which inorganic particles such as calcium carbonate are kneaded and formed into a plate shape, and then the inorganic particles are eluted to form continuous pores. As raw materials, elastic materials such as natural rubber, styrene butadiene rubber, acrylonitrile butadiene rubber, chloroprene rubber, neoprene rubber, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene, acrylonitrile butadiene, polystyrene, polyamide, polyurethane, silicone resin, epoxy resin, phenol resin , Urea resin, fluorine resin, etc. It is. Among these, ether-based polyurethane resins and the like are preferable in view of durability against liquids, ease of formation of a continuous porous body, productivity, and the like.

  The elastic material constituting the valve body 22 expands when a pressure difference is applied, and the pressure difference decreases when ventilated, and finally returns to its original state, and the air is no longer ventilated. Is preferably maintained. For this purpose, the compression set is preferably excellent in compression set characteristics. As another characteristic, it is preferable that the Young's modulus of the valve body 22 is 1 MPa or more and 5000 MPa or less. The valve body 22 preferably has a hardness of 30 or more and less than 100 as measured by an Asker F-type hardness meter.

  The valve body 22 has a number of holes per unit length before compression of not less than 4/1000 and not more than 1000 / cm, whereby the internal pressure can be easily adjusted. Furthermore, it is desirable that the molded article obtained by applying heat generated by heating or high frequency has a hardness of 20 or more and less than 100 when a disk-shaped body having a thickness of 8 mm is used as a specimen. . This compression tends to be surely blocked when the pressure difference is less than a predetermined value by setting the compression ratio to 5% to 40% of the thickness of the material before compression.

  The water repellent film body 24 is a substantially disk-shaped flat plate made of a water repellent material having air permeability. In this embodiment, a breathable water-repellent material is used as the material of the water-repellent film body 24, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the ink component is prevented from contacting the waterproof material and the valve body 22. As long as it is a film to be used, a material having a large critical surface tension may be used. Further, the air permeability may not be necessary when the membrane does not block the entire conduction port 12g and at least a part thereof penetrates.

  The water-repellent material used in the present embodiment may be a material that itself has air permeability. In particular, a water repellent material having a critical surface tension of 25 dyn / cm or less is preferable. As such a material, various resin films and inorganic films are used, and fluororesin, fluororubber, and the like can be preferably used, and Teflon (registered trademark), that is, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is more preferable. It is.

  The water repellent film body 24 has a plurality of fine holes communicating in consideration of air permeability, and the diameter of the plurality of fine holes is preferably 5 μm or less, more preferably 0.1 μm or less.

  The pressing ring 26 is a so-called donut-shaped flat plate in which a through hole 26a having a substantially circular cross section is formed at the center of a substantially circular flat plate. In the present embodiment, an air layer 29 (see FIG. 3) is formed between the water repellent film body 24 and the valve body 22 by forming the pressing ring 26 into a donut shape. This air layer is preferable because the air layer 29 is present even if it passes through the water-repellent film body 24, so that the ink M stored in the ink storage unit 10 can be prevented from reaching the valve body 22.

  In the present embodiment, the so-called donut-shaped pressing ring 26 is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a structure that can form the air layer 29 can be used instead. That is, any member shape and arrangement that can form an air layer between the water repellent film body 24 and the valve body 22 can be substituted. In the present embodiment, as described above, since the valve body 22 is pressed uniformly, it is preferable to use the hollow substantially disk-shaped pressing ring 26.

  In addition, the pressing ring 26 is formed using metal as a material in the present embodiment. As a result, the smoothness of the upper and lower surfaces of the pressure ring 26 is increased, and a uniform surface pressure acts on the valve body 22 and the water repellent film body 24 to increase the close contact between the contact surfaces, thereby leaking ink. It is possible to prevent.

  The cap 28 is formed of a resin material having an appropriate rigidity, and includes a disk-shaped ceiling portion 28a and a cylindrical peripheral surface portion 28b extending in the axial direction from the periphery thereof. The ceiling portion 28a is formed with an annular valve body seating portion 28c having a flat surface at a position facing the water repellent film body seating portion 12f (the lower surface in the figure), and the valve body seating portion 28c includes three pieces. A vent hole 28d is provided. The number of the vent holes 28d is not limited to three, but may be a plurality other than this.

  Returning to FIG. 3, the corners on the inside of the ceiling portion 28 a and the peripheral surface portion 28 b of the cap 28, in other words, the periphery on the lower surface side of the ceiling portion 28 a (the root on the inner peripheral side of the peripheral surface portion 28 b) are formed thin. An elastic hinge P is provided. In this way, the peripheral surface portion 28b is easily elastically deformed with the hinge P existing near the outside of the circular protrusion 28f forming the valve body seating portion 28c as a base point. Further, the lower end of the peripheral surface portion 28b is formed so as to be in contact with the lower end receiving portion 12i.

  In the present embodiment, the lower end abuts on the lower end receiving portion 12i, so that the pushing amount of the cap 28 is limited to a constant value, and the air flow control unit 20 is prevented from being forcibly compressed. That is, the lower end of the peripheral surface portion 28a functions as a stopper that temporarily comes into contact with the lower end receiving portion 12i when the cap 28 is attached to the recess 12e. As a result, it is possible to prevent an overload from acting on the valve body 22 and the water repellent film body 24 at the time of assembly, and the function of the air flow rate control unit 20 from being deteriorated.

  After the assembly is completed, the cap 28 is urged upward by the restoring force of the valve body 22 and the water repellent film body 24, and there is a slight gap between the lower end of the peripheral surface portion 28a of the cap 28 and the lower end receiving portion 12i. Gaps are formed. In this way, when the cap 28 is attached to the recess 12e, the valve body 22, the pressing ring 26, and the water repellent film body 24 are attached to the valve body seating portion 28c of the cap 28 and the water repellent film body seating of the recess 12e. It can be held between the portions 12h with an appropriate pressure.

  Next, the configuration of the mutual relationship between the cap 28 and the recess 12e will be described. 5 and 6 are enlarged cross-sectional views of a main part in which the part B in FIG. 3 is enlarged. As shown in these drawings, on the outer surface of the peripheral surface portion 28b of the cap 28, a first engagement portion 28g that protrudes in the axial direction from top to bottom in a shelf shape (cross-sectional wedge shape or cross-sectional sawtooth shape), and a gentle mountain An engaging portion including the second engaging portion 28h protruding in a shape is formed in the circumferential direction. The first engaging portion 28g is formed with an inclined surface 28g1, so that the cap 28 can be pushed in smoothly together with the second engaging portion 28h. On the inner peripheral wall of the recess 12e, engaged portions that engage with the engaging portion, that is, a first engaged portion 12k and a second engaged portion 12l are formed in the inner peripheral direction. A fitting portion that engages with the first engaging portion 28g and the second engaging portion 28h is formed.

  In this way, when the cap 28 is pushed into the recess 12e and covered, the peripheral surface portion 28b enters the recess 12e while being deformed with the elastic hinge P as a center, and is shown by the crosshatched portion of FIG. Thus, the first engaging portion 28g bites into the first engaged portion 12k, and the second engaging portion 28h bites into the second engaged portion 121, respectively. As a result, the fitting of the first engaging portion 28g and the first engaged portion 12k prevents the cap 28 from coming off in the axial direction due to the wedge effect, and the second engaging portion 28h and the second engaged portion are prevented. The fitting with the joining portion 12l prevents the cap from rotating in the circumferential direction due to the wide contact area.

  In the above, the first engaging portion 28g and the first engaged portion 12k, and the second engaging portion 28h and the second engaged portion 12l form an engaging portion, that is, a fitting portion. If the fitting portion has a function of substantially preventing the cap 28 from coming off and rotating, a fitting portion is formed by one engaging portion and one engaged portion engageable with the engaging portion. Of course, it is also possible to adopt an embodiment that does this. In the above description, the first engaging portion 28g is set upward and the second engaging portion 28h is set downward. However, it goes without saying that the vertical positional relationship can be reversed. Similarly, although the case where the engaging portion is formed on the peripheral surface portion 28b side and the engaged portion is formed on the concave portion 12e side is shown here, these relationships may be reversed.

<Ink utilization valve>
The air flow rate control unit 20 may further include an ink utilization valve 40 that controls the air flow rate by absorbing the ink M inside the ink storage unit 10.

  FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the air flow rate control unit 20 including the ink utilization valve 40. In the air flow rate control unit 20 including the ink utilization valve 40, as shown in the figure, the inside diameter of the conduction port 12g is formed constant, and the periphery of the conduction port 12g protrudes toward the inside 13 for connection. A cylindrical portion 14a is formed. The lower end edge of the connecting cylinder portion 14a is inclined at a certain angle with respect to the horizontal direction.

  The ink utilization valve 40 includes a holding part 41 connected coaxially to the connecting cylinder part 14a, an ink absorber 42 loaded inside the holding part 41, and a connection between the connecting cylinder part 14a and the holding part 41. A second water repellent film body 43 is provided in the portion. The ink utilization valve 40 is communicated with the conduction port 12g while maintaining a gas-tight state, and the lower end of the holding portion 41 is immersed in the ink M together with the ink absorber 42. In other words, the ink utilization valve 40 is configured such that the ink absorber 42 absorbs the ink M and controls the air flow rate by increasing the air inflow resistance to the inside 13 in accordance with the amount of ink M absorbed. Yes.

  The holding part 41 is, for example, a cylinder whose upper end is closed and whose lower end is opened. In the center of the upper end of the holding part 41, an insertion port 41a into which the connecting cylinder part 14a is inserted is formed. Further, an annular step portion 41b that can contact the connecting cylinder portion 14a is formed on the inner wall near the upper end of the holding portion 41 so as to be inclined with respect to the horizontal plane. The step 41b is annular because air needs to pass through the inside. And the 2nd water-repellent film body 43 is inserted | pinched between 14 A of this connection cylinder part, and the step part 41b. Thereby, the 2nd water-repellent film body 43 is fixed appropriately.

  The ink absorber 42 is formed using a material such as urethane or felt having a function of absorbing the ink M. In other words, by compressing these materials, a porous body is formed with a large number of micropores inside, and these micropores communicate with each other, and the ink M is absorbed using the capillary phenomenon. Have In this way, the ink absorber 42 absorbs the ink M and permeates the ink M in place of the air flowing through itself becoming bubbles and flowing out from the lower end of the holding unit 41 into the ink storage unit 10. As the amount of M absorbed increases, the inflow resistance of air is increased.

  The material of the ink absorber 42 is not limited to the above example. For example, a fiber bundling body in which fibers such as polyester, acrylic, nylon, and polypropylene are bundled along the longitudinal direction, a sintered body such as polyethylene, and wool Various materials can be used, such as felts made of natural fibers such as rubber and rayon, felt materials composed of chemical fiber felts such as polyester and polypropylene, and polyurethane foams that are urethane continuous foams.

  The second water repellent film body 43 is a substantially disk-shaped flat plate made of PTFE, which is substantially the same material as the water repellent film body 24. Therefore, the second water-repellent film body 43 is a film that prevents the ink component from coming into contact with it, and any material that itself has air permeability is sufficient, and has a plurality of fine holes that communicate with each other in consideration of air permeability. The second water repellent film body 43 can prevent the ink M absorbed by the ink absorber 42 from being saturated and rising and rising to the water repellent film body 24. In addition, since the second water repellent film body 43 is inclined, even when ink droplets are temporarily attached, the ink droplets are biased in one direction along the inclined surface. It can suppress that air permeability is inhibited.

  Air layers 44 and 45 are interposed between the second water repellent film body 43 and the ink absorber 42 and between the second water repellent film body 43 and the water repellent film body 24, respectively. In the present embodiment, by interposing the air layers 44 and 45 as described above, the ink M absorbed by the ink absorber 42 does not easily reach the second water-repellent film body 43 and the second water-repellent film body. It is difficult for the ink M that has passed through 43 to reach the water-repellent film body 24.

  Thus, by providing the air flow control unit 20 with the ink utilization valve 40, the pressure difference between the inside 13 and the outside (atmospheric pressure) of the ink storage unit 10 can be increased. In the present embodiment, the air flow rate control unit 20 that does not include the ink utilization valve 40 generates a negative pressure of about −40 mmH 2 O in the space S2 (the space on the liquid surface of the ink M) in the interior 13, whereas the ink utilization valve. The air flow rate control unit 20 including 40 generates a negative pressure of about −40 mmH 2 O in the air layers 44 and 45, and generates a negative pressure of about −140 mmH 2 O in the space S 2 in the interior 13.

  Note that either the water repellent film body 24 or the second water repellent film body 43 may be omitted, and the air flow rate control unit 20 may be configured to include only one of them. Moreover, you may comprise the air flow control part 20 so that the air layers 44 and 45 may not be provided.

<Ink ejection part>
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the ink discharge unit 30. As shown in the figure, an insertion hole 15 having a circular cross section is formed on the bottom surface of the main body portion 11, and the ink discharge portion 30 has a peripheral portion of the insertion hole 15 outside the main body portion 11 (in the drawing). The protruding portion 31 protruded downward), the seal member 32 disposed at the tip of the protruding portion 31, the movement valve 33 inserted into the insertion hole 15, and the peripheral portion of the insertion hole 15 store ink. The moving valve support part 34 protruded toward the inside 13 (upper side of the figure) of the part 10 and a coil spring 35 that urges the moving valve 33 toward the seal member 32 are provided.

  The protruding portion 31 is formed in a cylindrical shape having a double peripheral wall, and is configured to fit a seal member 32 inserted from the tip. The inner diameter of the protruding portion 31 is substantially the same as the inner diameter of the insertion hole 15.

  The seal member 32 is a substantially cylindrical member having a bottom 32a at one end and opened at the other end, and is made of an elastic material such as rubber. A discharge port 32b having a circular cross section is formed substantially at the center of the bottom 32a, and an annular contact portion 32c protruding outward in the axial direction is formed at the peripheral edge of the discharge port 32b. In addition, a protrusion 32d protruding outward in the radial direction is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the seal member along the circumferential direction.

  The inside of the seal member 32 is formed so that the inner diameter increases in a parabolic shape from the discharge port 33b to the other end. And the edge part on the opposite side to the bottom part 32a of the sealing member 32 is provided with the collar part 32e which was turned back toward the contact surface 32 side after protruding toward the radial direction outer side.

  The seal member 32 is disposed by press-fitting the main body portion into the inside of the protruding portion 31 from the bottom portion 32 a and pressing the tip of the flange portion 32 e between the double peripheral walls of the protruding portion 31. At this time, the projecting portion 32d and the flange portion 32e are elastically deformed and are brought into close contact with the projecting portion 31 by the restoring force thereof. Therefore, the seal member 32 is stably fixed to the projecting portion 31, and the seal member 32 and the projecting portion 31 are also fixed. Ink M does not leak from the gap.

  The movement valve 33 is a substantially columnar member composed of a large-diameter portion 33a on the distal end side (lower side in the drawing) and a small-diameter portion 33b on the proximal end side (upper side in the drawing). A hook-shaped pressure receiving portion 33c with which one end of the coil spring 35 abuts is formed near the axial center of the outer peripheral surface of the large diameter portion 33a. The moving valve 33 has a large-diameter portion 33a inserted therein and a small-diameter portion 33b inserted into the moving valve support portion 34 so as to be movable in the axial direction. The outer diameter of the large-diameter portion 33a is smaller than the inner diameters of the insertion hole 15 and the protruding portion 31.

  The moving valve support part 34 has a substantially cylindrical base end part 34a protruding from the bottom surface of the main body part 11 toward the inside 13, and a diameter smaller than the base end part 34a protruding from the front end of the base end part 34a. It consists of a substantially cylindrical support part 34b. The inner diameter of the base end portion 34 a is formed substantially the same as the insertion hole 15. The base end portion 34a is formed with a plurality of slits 34c formed over substantially the entire length in the axial direction. The support portion 34b is a portion that supports the movement valve 33 inserted therein and guides the movement valve 33 to move in the axial direction. For this reason, the inner diameter of the support portion 34b is set to a diameter that allows the moving valve 33 to slide smoothly. A step 34d between the base end part 34a and the support part 34b inside the moving valve support part 34 is a part where multiple ends of the coil spring 35 abut.

  The coil spring 35 is compressed and disposed between the pressure receiving portion 33 c of the movement valve 33 and the step 34 d of the movement valve support portion 34 inside the base end portion 34 a of the movement valve support portion 34. Accordingly, the coil spring 35 always urges the moving valve 33 toward the seal member 32, and the tip of the large-diameter portion 33a of the moving valve 33 comes into contact with the contact portion 33c of the seal member 32 to block the discharge port 32b. It is supposed to maintain the state. The biasing force of the coil spring 35 is set such that the tip of the large-diameter portion 33a appropriately elastically deforms the contact portion 33c of the seal member 32 so that the ink M does not leak from the gap therebetween.

  When the ink storage container 100 is set on the carriage of the ink jet printer, the moving valve 33 is pushed upward against the urging force of the coil spring 35 by a member included in the carriage, and in a predetermined negative pressure state, Ink is supplied to the ink jet printer. That is, the ink M that has passed from the inside 13 through the slit 34c of the proximal end portion 34a of the moving valve support portion 34 and has entered the inside of the proximal end portion 34a and the protruding portion 31 is formed between the distal end of the moving valve 33 and the contact portion 32c. It is discharged from the gap through the discharge port 32b.

<Inner wall>
9A to 9C are partial cross-sectional views of the ink storage unit 10 on the upper surface part 12 side. As shown in FIG. 5A, the inner wall 12c is joined at the outer peripheral end over the entire circumference of the lower end of the fitting wall 12b, and the peripheral edge of the circular section opening 12c1 is joined to the peripheral edge of the conduction hole 12g. Has been. Thus, the inner wall 12c is provided so as to spread in a skirt shape from the lower end of the air flow rate control unit 20 toward the inside of the ink storage unit 10.

  The joining of the peripheral edge of the opening 12c1 of the inner wall 12c and the peripheral edge of the conduction port 12g, and the joining of the outer peripheral end of the inner wall 12c and the fitting wall 12b are joined in an air-watertight state. That is, air does not flow between the space S1 and the inside 13, and a predetermined negative pressure state in the inside 13 can be maintained. Further, the ink M stored in the interior 13 does not enter the space S1. The space S1 is maintained at a substantially atmospheric pressure state because it communicates with the outside through the communication hole 12d.

The inner wall 12 c is configured to have lower toughness and lower rigidity than the top plate 12 a of the upper surface portion 12 and the outer wall of the main body portion 11. Specifically, the inner wall 12c is thinner than the top plate 12a of the upper surface portion 12 and the outer wall of the main body portion 11, and is configured to be more easily destroyed or deformed. Here, low rigidity indicates a property in which deformation including not only elastic deformation but also plastic deformation is likely to occur.
The material constituting the inner wall 12c is not particularly limited, has almost no air permeability, can isolate the interior 13 from the space S1, and has various resins and rubbers having appropriate flexibility. Can be adopted. The inner wall 12c may be made of the same material as the main body 11 or the upper surface part 12, or may be made of a different material. Further, the inner wall 12c may be made of a material having high water repellency (low wettability), or the surface on the inner side 13 of the inner wall 12c may be subjected to water repellency treatment.

  Thus, by providing the inner wall 12 c inside the upper surface portion 12, it is possible to make it difficult to manufacture a recycled product of the ink storage container 100. In general, in the production of a recycled product such as an ink cartridge, a hole is formed in the upper surface portion of a used ink cartridge with a drill or the like, and the ink is refilled from the hole. Then, a sealing pin or the like is inserted into the hole together with an adhesive or the like so as to close the hole.

  On the other hand, in the ink storage container 100 of the present embodiment, when the ink refilling hole is processed, the hole 201 is formed in the top plate 12a of the upper surface portion 12 by a drill 200 or the like as shown in FIG. In addition to opening, it is necessary to open a hole 202 in the inner wall 12c. However, since the inner wall 12c has flexibility, it is easily deformed by the pressing force of the drill 200 and escapes from the drill 200. Therefore, it is very difficult to open the hole 202 directly below the hole 201 of the top plate 12a. It becomes. Further, since the inner wall 12c is thin and easily broken or deformed, the hole 202 processed by the drill 200 is larger than the hole 201 processed in the top plate 12a, and has an irregular shape.

  Accordingly, it is difficult to completely seal the ink refilling hole 202 processed in the inner wall 12c. For example, when the sealing pin 300 is inserted into the ink refilling holes 201 and 202 and the holes 201 and 202 are sealed after the ink is refilled, the sealing pin 300 is connected to the hole 201 and the inner wall of the top plate 12a. It is difficult to insert into both holes 12c. Further, as shown in FIG. 3C, even if the tip of the sealing pin 300 inserted into the hole 201 of the top plate 12a can be successfully inserted into the hole 202 of the inner wall 12c, the outer diameter of the sealing pin 300 In addition, since the hole 202 of the inner wall 12c is large, it is almost impossible to completely seal the hole 202 of the inner wall 12c.

  When the ink refilling hole 202 processed in the inner wall 12c cannot be completely sealed, the inside 13 of the ink storage unit 10 is in a state of communicating with the outside (atmospheric pressure state) through the space S1 and the communication hole 12d. For this reason, it becomes impossible to maintain the inside 13 in a predetermined negative pressure state. Therefore, it becomes impossible to control the discharge amount of the ink M in the inside 13, and the ink storage container 100 cannot be used as an ink cartridge.

  As described above, in the ink storage container 100 according to this embodiment, the holes 201 and 202 are formed in the top plate 12a and the inner wall 12c of the upper surface portion 12, and the holes 201 and 202 are to be closed after refilling with ink. In addition, the hole 202 of the inner wall 12c cannot be completely sealed, and the ink storage container 100 cannot be reused. As a result, it is difficult to manufacture recycled products, and the disadvantages experienced by users and manufacturers due to low-quality recycled products being marketed can be eliminated.

  FIG. 10A is a cross-sectional view showing an example in which the inner wall 12c is disposed in parallel with the top plate 12a. Thus, you may make it arrange | position the inner wall 12c in parallel with the top plate 12a. That is, the inner wall 12c only needs to be broken or deformed more easily than the top plate 12a, and it is not always necessary to have flexibility. For example, when the inner wall 12c is made of a brittle material and the hole processing for refilling ink is to be performed, the inner wall 12c may be largely broken as the crack progresses. In addition, when an elastic material such as rubber is preliminarily stretched (elastically deformed) as an inner wall 12c and subjected to hole processing for ink refilling, the hole is enlarged due to elastic deformation restoring force. It may be.

  FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view showing an example in which the space S1 formed by the top plate 12a, the fitting wall 12b, and the inner wall 12c is a part of a passage through which air flows between the inside and the outside of the ink storage unit 10. It is. In this example, the vent hole 28d of the cap 28 is abolished, and the air passage 12e that connects the space S1 and the air flow rate control unit 20 is formed, so that the air flows through the space S1 between the inside and outside of the ink storage unit 10. As part. In this way, the structure of the upper surface portion 12 becomes more complicated by making the space S1 a part of a passage through which air flows between the inside and the outside of the ink storage portion 10. As a result, when processing and sealing the hole for refilling ink, it becomes necessary to take care not to block this passage, making it more difficult to manufacture a recycled product of the ink storage container 100. It can be. In addition, in FIG.10 (b), although the example which made space S1 a part of channel | path which connects the exterior and the air flow control part 20 was shown, it is not limited to this. For example, the space S <b> 1 may be a part of a passage connecting the valve body 22 and the water repellent film body 24, or may be a part of a passage connecting the water repellent film body 24 and the inside 13. Further, when the air flow rate control unit 20 includes the ink utilization valve 40, the passage connecting the water repellent film body 24 (or the valve body 22 when the water repellent film body 24 is omitted) and the ink utilization valve 40 in the space S1. It may be part of

  Note that the inner wall 12 c may be disposed not only inside the upper surface portion 12 but also inside other outer walls of the ink storage unit 10. That is, the inner wall 12 c may be provided inside the outer wall of the main body 11. Further, the inner wall 12c may be configured in a bag shape for containing the ink M.

  FIG. 11 is a view showing an example in which the inner wall 12c is configured in a bag shape. In this example, the inner wall 12c is configured in a bag shape along the inner shape of the main body 11, and includes two openings 12c1 and 12c2. The peripheral edge of one opening 12c1 of the inner wall 12c is joined to the peripheral edge of the lower end of the conduction port 12g of the air flow control unit 20 in an air-watertight state, and the peripheral edge of the other opening 12c2 is the movement of the ink ejection unit 30. It is joined to the outer periphery of the base end of the valve support part 34 in an air-watertight state. In this example, the inside of the inner wall 12c is the inside 13 composed of one chamber, but the inside 13 may be divided into a plurality of chambers.

  The bag-shaped inner wall 12c has almost no air permeability, can isolate the interior 13 from the space S1, and is flexible enough to maintain its own form by its own weight when it does not contain the ink M. It is comprised from various resin, various rubbers, etc. which have this. Therefore, after the ink M is consumed, the inner wall 12c is squeezed and hangs down from the air flow rate control unit 20. For this reason, it is not only very difficult to reach a drill or the like from the outside to the inner wall 12c, but also when the drill or the like is reached, the inner wall 12c freely deforms and escapes from the drill or the like. It is very difficult to process the ink refill holes.

  Further, the bag-shaped inner wall 12c is thinner than the top plate 12a of the upper surface part 12 and the outer wall of the main body part 11, and is easily broken or deformed. For this reason, even if a hole for refilling ink can be processed in the inner wall 12, it is very difficult to seal the hole. The bag-shaped inner wall 12c may be made of the same material as that of the main body portion 11 or the upper surface portion 12, or may be made of a different material. Further, the inner wall 12c may be made of a material having high water repellency (low wettability), or the surface of the inner wall 12c may be subjected to water repellency treatment.

  As described above, the ink storage container 100 according to the present embodiment includes the ink storage unit 10 that stores the ink M, and the air flow rate control unit 20 that controls the air flow rate between the inside and outside of the ink storage unit 10. The ink storage unit 10 has an inner wall 12c, which has lower toughness or lower rigidity than the outer wall and easily breaks or deforms inside at least a part of the outer wall (the top plate 12a of the upper surface part 12 or the outer wall of the main body part 11). I have. For this reason, when holes are formed in the outer wall and the inner wall 12c of the ink storage unit 10 and the holes are sealed after being refilled with ink, it is impossible to completely seal the holes in the inner wall 12c. Yes. As a result, it is difficult to manufacture recycled products, and the disadvantages experienced by users and manufacturers due to low-quality recycled products being marketed can be eliminated.

  In addition, since the space S1 between the outer wall and the inner wall 12c communicates with the outside of the ink storage unit 10, when the hole of the inner wall 12c cannot be completely sealed, the space 13 between the inside 13 of the ink storage unit 10 and the outside Are communicated, and it becomes impossible to keep the inside 13 in a proper pressure state. This makes it difficult to manufacture a recycled product.

  The inner wall 12c is more flexible than the outer wall. As a result, when the ink refilling hole is processed, it is easily deformed and escapes from the drill or the like, so that the ink refilling hole processing can be made difficult.

  The inner wall 12c is thinner than the outer wall. As a result, the inner wall 12c is easily deformed and broken when the ink refilling hole is processed, so that a hole having an irregular shape larger than expected is formed. As a result, it is possible to make it difficult to seal the ink refill hole processed in the inner wall 12c.

  Further, since the inner wall 12c is provided on the upper surface portion 12 of the ink storage portion 10, it prevents the upper surface portion 12 most suitable for processing the ink refilling hole from being subjected to hole processing. can do.

Further, the inner wall 12c may be configured in a bag shape for containing the ink M. By doing in this way, the process of processing and sealing the hole for ink refilling in the inner wall 12c can be made difficult.
The inner wall 12c may be made of rubber. By configuring the inner wall 12c from a highly elastic material such as rubber, the inner wall 12c bulges toward the inner side 13 due to the pressure difference between the atmospheric pressure and the inner side 13 (if the inner wall 12c is configured in a bag shape, it contracts. ) Since it is away from the outer wall, it is possible to make the hole for ink refilling difficult.

  The air flow rate control unit 20 does not normally flow air, but is an elastically deformable communicating porous valve body 22 that exchanges air with the outside in accordance with changes in the internal pressure of the ink storage unit 10. A water repellent film body 24 that is disposed closer to the ink storage unit 10 than the valve body 22 and has air permeability and is subjected to water repellent treatment. For this reason, the inside 13 is maintained at an appropriate pressure by controlling the air flow rate of the valve body 22, and the water repellent film body 24 prevents the ink M from adhering to the valve body 22 and impairing the air flow rate control function. Can do.

  Further, the air flow rate control unit 20 absorbs the ink M, thereby causing the water-repellent film body to include an ink absorber 42 that does not allow air to flow in normally but allows air to be exchanged according to a change in the internal pressure of the ink storage unit 10. 24 may be provided closer to the ink storage unit 10 side. By doing in this way, it becomes possible to maintain the pressure of the inside 13 in a lower pressure state (negative pressure state).

  Further, the space S1 between the outer wall and the inner wall 12c may be a part of a passage through which air flows between the inside and outside of the ink storage unit 10. By doing in this way, since the structure of the upper surface part 12 becomes more complicated, manufacture of the regenerated product of the ink storage container 100 can be made more difficult.

  Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the embodiments, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and design changes and the like within the scope of the present invention are also included in the scope of the present invention. Is.

  For example, the shape of the main body portion 11 and the upper surface portion 12, the position or shape of the inner wall 12c, the position or shape of the communication port 12d, the position or shape of the air flow rate control unit 20, and the position or shape of the ink discharge unit 30 are as described above. It is not limited to what was shown in embodiment, Other positions and shapes can be employ | adopted. Further, a plurality of communication holes 12d may be provided.

  Moreover, you may make it provide an inner wall further inside the inner wall 12c. In this case, by making the space between the inner wall 12c and the inner wall communicate with the outside of the ink storage unit 10, it is possible to make it more difficult to manufacture a recycled product.

  The present invention can be used as an ink storage container, particularly an ink cartridge for an ink jet printer.

It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the ink storage container which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is the principal part expanded sectional view which expanded the A section of FIG. It is sectional drawing of an air flow control part. It is a perspective view of each member with which an air flow control part is provided. It is the principal part expanded sectional view which expanded the B section of FIG. It is the principal part expanded sectional view which expanded the B section of FIG. It is sectional drawing of an air flow control part provided with an ink utilization valve. It is sectional drawing of an ink discharge part. (A)-(c) It is a partial cross section figure of the upper surface part side of an ink storage part. (A) is sectional drawing which showed an example which has arrange | positioned the inner wall in parallel with the top plate, (b) is the space formed by the top plate, the fitting wall, and the inner wall between the inside and outside of the ink storage section. It is sectional drawing which showed an example made into a part of channel | path which distribute | circulates. It is the figure which showed an example which comprised the inner wall in the bag shape.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Ink storage part 11 Main body part 12 Upper surface part 12a Top plate 12c Inner wall 12d Communication hole 13 Inside of ink storage part 20 Air flow control part 22 Valve body 24 Water repellent film body 42 Ink absorber 100 Ink storage container M Ink S1 Top board , The space formed by the mating wall and the inner wall

Claims (10)

An ink storage section for storing ink;
An air flow rate control unit for controlling the air flow rate between the inside and outside of the ink storage unit,
The ink storage container includes an inner wall having a lower toughness or a lower rigidity than the outer wall inside at least a part of the outer wall. A space between the outer wall and the inner wall communicates with the outside of the ink storage unit.
The ink storage container according to claim 1. The inner wall is more flexible than the outer wall,
The ink storage container according to claim 1 or 2. The inner wall is thinner than the outer wall,
The ink storage container according to claim 1. The inner wall is provided on an upper surface of the ink storage unit.
The ink storage container according to claim 1. The inner wall is configured in a bag shape for containing the ink,
The ink storage container according to claim 1. The inner wall is made of rubber,
The ink storage container according to claim 1. The air flow rate control unit does not normally circulate air, but is an elastically deformable communicating porous valve body that exchanges air with the outside in accordance with a change in internal pressure of the ink storage unit, and the valve A water-repellent film body that is disposed closer to the ink storage unit than the body and has air permeability and has been subjected to a water-repellent treatment.
The ink storage container according to claim 1. The air flow rate control unit absorbs the ink so that the ink absorber does not normally flow in air but exchanges air in accordance with a change in the internal pressure of the ink storage unit, rather than the water repellent film body. It is provided on the ink storage unit side,
The ink storage container according to claim 8. The space between the outer wall and the inner wall is a part of a passage through which air flows between the inside and the outside of the ink storage unit.
The ink storage container according to claim 1.

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