JP2018089790A - Ink injection method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink injection method that eliminates the need of removing a seal member or the like from an inside of an ink supply port and has excellent production efficiency.SOLUTION: An ink injection method sequentially executes: an insertion port formation step of forming an insertion port communicating to a small diameter from a front face side of a housing; a sealing plug insertion step of inserting a sealing plug into the insertion port to block inflow of ink from an ink supply port to an ink storage chamber; a valve opening step of injecting ink from the ink supply port into the ink storage chamber to bring a differential pressure regulating valve into an open valve state with ink pressure; and an ink injection step of injecting ink into the ink storage chamber via an ink flow passage of which differential pressure regulating valve is in an open valve state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink injection method for injecting ink into an ink cartridge mounted on an ink jet printer, and more particularly to an ink injection method for injecting ink into an ink cartridge whose negative pressure is controlled by a differential pressure valve.

  An ink jet printer, which is an example of a printing apparatus, normally feeds ink stored in an ink cartridge mounted in an ink cartridge mounting section in the apparatus to a recording head from an ink supply port, and the recording head is used for paper or the like. Images and characters are recorded by ejecting and applying ink to the recording medium.

  A differential pressure valve that opens and closes in accordance with the negative pressure inside the ink cartridge is provided inside the ink cartridge, and the negative pressure inside the ink cartridge can be controlled by the differential pressure valve. An injection method for injecting ink into the ink cartridge is known.

JP 2008-44184 A

  However, in the above-mentioned patent document, it is necessary to remove the sealing member, the supply valve, and the coil spring from the ink supply port before inserting the jig into the ink supply port, and to reassemble after the ink is injected. There was a problem.

  Therefore, it is necessary to improve the production efficiency of ink injection, and as a result of extensive research, the present invention has been completed. An object of the present invention is to provide an ink injection method with high production efficiency without removing a seal member or the like from the ink supply port.

  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, the first invention of the present invention is a housing, an ink storage chamber provided inside the housing and capable of containing ink, and an ink storage chamber provided outside the housing via an air communication path. An atmosphere opening port that allows the chamber to communicate with the atmosphere, an ink supply port that is provided outside the housing and can supply the ink stored in the ink storage chamber to the outside of the housing via an ink flow path, and Closed when the negative pressure on the ink supply port side is less than a predetermined value that is accommodated in the inside of the housing and inside the differential pressure valve housing chamber provided on the front side of the housing. And a differential pressure valve that opens when the negative pressure on the ink supply port side exceeds a predetermined level.The differential pressure valve is an elastically deformable membrane valve and an opening of the differential pressure valve storage chamber. A cover portion, and a space between the membrane valve and the lid portion and positioned in the space between the membrane valve and the membrane valve A method of injecting ink into an ink cartridge comprising: an elastic portion that expands and contracts in accordance with deformation; and a small diameter that connects the differential pressure valve storage chamber and the ink storage chamber. An insertion port forming step 1 for forming an insertion port that communicates from the front side to the small diameter, and a seal that inserts a sealing plug into the insertion port to block the inflow of ink from the ink storage chamber to the differential pressure valve storage chamber Stopcock insertion step 2, a valve opening step 3 in which ink is injected from the ink supply port into the ink storage chamber and the differential pressure valve is opened by the pressure of the ink, and the differential pressure valve is in the open state. And an ink injection step 4 for injecting ink from the ink supply port into the ink storage chamber via an ink flow path, and the insertion port formation step 1 to the ink injection step 4 are sequentially executed. He is the injection method.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the post-step of the ink injection step 4 according to the first aspect, an insertion port seal that seals the insertion port after removing the sealing plug from the insertion port. Step 5 is an ink injection method characterized in that step 5 is executed.

  The third invention of the present invention is an insertion port sealing step of sealing the insertion port while leaving the sealing plug in the insertion port in the subsequent step of the ink injection process 4 described in the first invention. 5 is an ink injection method.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the insertion port sealing step 5 according to the second or third aspect, the insertion port is sealed with a film by heat welding. It is.

  In a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the insertion port sealing step 5 according to the second or third aspect of the invention, the insertion port is sealed with a film with a silicone adhesive. Is the method.

An ink injection method according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a housing, an ink storage chamber that is provided inside the housing and can store ink, and an ink storage chamber that is provided outside the housing via an air communication path. An air opening port that allows the chamber to communicate with the atmosphere, an ink supply port that is provided outside the housing and can supply the ink stored in the ink storage chamber to the outside of the housing via the ink flow path, and the interior of the housing The ink supply port is closed when the negative pressure on the ink supply port side is less than a predetermined value provided inside the differential pressure valve housing chamber provided on the front side of the housing and interposed in the middle of the ink flow path. A differential pressure valve that opens when the negative pressure on the side exceeds a predetermined value, the differential pressure valve is an elastically deformable membrane valve, a lid that covers the opening of the differential pressure valve housing chamber, a membrane valve and the lid An elastic part located in the space between and extending and contracting in accordance with the elastic deformation of the membrane valve; A method of injecting ink into an ink cartridge provided with a small diameter connecting the storage chamber, at least an insertion port forming step 1 for forming an insertion port communicating from the front side of the housing to the small diameter; A sealing plug is inserted into the insertion port to block the inflow of ink from the ink storage chamber to the differential pressure valve storage chamber, and the ink is injected from the ink supply port into the ink storage chamber by the pressure of the ink. It comprises a valve opening process 3 for opening the differential pressure valve and an ink injection process 4 for injecting ink into the ink storage chamber through the ink flow path with the differential pressure valve opened. The ink injection process 4 is sequentially executed. Since the present invention employs the above-described method, it is not necessary to open the valve with a jig after removing the seal member or the like in the ink supply port, so that the production efficiency of ink injection can be improved.

  The ink injection method according to the second aspect of the present invention is a method of performing the insertion port sealing step 5 for sealing the insertion port after removing the sealing plug from the insertion port in the subsequent step of the ink injection step. Yes. Since the present invention employs the above-described method, it is possible to prevent the ink from leaking from the gap generated by the sealing plug being removed or the deformation of the sealing plug.

  The ink injection method according to the third aspect of the present invention is a method of performing the insertion port sealing step 5 for sealing the insertion port while leaving the sealing plug in the insertion port in the subsequent step of the ink injection step. Yes. Since the present invention employs the above-described method, it is possible to prevent the ink from leaking from the gap generated by the sealing plug being removed or the deformation of the sealing plug.

  In the ink injection method according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in the insertion port sealing step 5, the insertion port is sealed with a film by thermal welding. Since the present invention uses the above method, the insertion port can be closed quickly.

  In the ink injection method according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in the insertion port sealing step 5, the insertion port is sealed with a film using a silicone adhesive. Since this invention is using said method, an insertion port can be closed more firmly.

1 is an overall view of an ink cartridge using an ink injection method of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a part of the ink cartridge of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a view when a sealing plug is inserted into the insertion port of the ink cartridge of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a state where a sealing plug is inserted into the insertion port of the ink cartridge of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a diagram of a state where an insertion port of the ink cartridge of FIG. 1 is closed with a film.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to this example, and can be appropriately selected.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the present embodiment includes a housing 10, an ink storage chamber 12 that is provided inside the housing 10 and can store ink, and an air communication path provided outside the housing 10. The atmosphere opening port 11 that allows the ink storage chamber 12 to communicate with the atmosphere via the air and the ink stored in the ink storage chamber 12 provided outside the housing 10 can be supplied to the outside of the housing 10 via the ink flow path. The ink supply port 15 and a negative pressure on the side of the ink supply port 15 which is accommodated in the interior of the differential pressure valve housing chamber 17 provided inside the housing 10 and on the front surface 30 side of the housing 10. And a differential pressure valve 18 that is closed when the pressure is less than a predetermined value and opens when the negative pressure on the ink supply port 15 side exceeds a predetermined value. The differential pressure valve 18 is an elastically deformable membrane valve. 19, a lid 20 that covers the opening of the differential pressure valve housing chamber 17, and the membrane valve 1 And an elastic part 21 which is located in the space between the cover part 20 and expands and contracts according to the elastic deformation of the membrane valve 19, and a small diameter 22 which connects the differential pressure valve storage chamber 17 and the ink storage chamber 12. In the method of injecting ink into the ink cartridge 1, at least an insertion port forming step 1 for forming an insertion port 23 communicating from the front 30 side of the housing 10 to the small diameter 22, and a sealing plug 24 at the insertion port 23. A sealing plug insertion step 2 for blocking the inflow of ink from the ink storage chamber 12 to the differential pressure valve storage chamber 17, and the ink is injected from the ink supply port 15 into the ink storage chamber 12 and the pressure difference is controlled by the pressure of the ink. The valve opening process 3 for opening the valve 18 and the ink injection process 4 for injecting ink from the ink supply port 15 to the ink containing chamber 12 through the ink flow path 14 with the differential pressure valve 18 opened are sequentially performed. Perform ink injection It is the law.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the differential pressure valve 18 is accommodated in a recessed differential pressure valve accommodating chamber 17 provided on the front side of the housing 10, and the differential pressure valve 18 is accommodated in the differential pressure valve accommodating chamber 17. In this state, the front side of the housing 10 is sealed with a seal 16 so as to be fixed inside the housing 10.

  FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge 1 when the differential pressure valve 18 is in a closed state. The upper side is the front side of the housing 10, the lower side is the back side of the housing 10, and the left side is the ink supply port 15. Indicates side. The elastic part 21 is a spring body, for example, and is interposed between the back side of the lid part 20 and the front side of the membrane valve 19 and applies a biasing force so as to separate the lid part 20 and the membrane valve 19. The back side of the membrane valve 19 faces the inner surface of the differential pressure valve housing chamber 17, and the membrane valve 19 is urged against the inner surface of the differential pressure valve housing chamber 17 by the biasing force of the elastic portion 21, whereby the differential pressure valve housing chamber. The first ink circulation port 25 provided on the inner surface of 17 is closed so that the ink flow path can be stopped.

  FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge 1 when the differential pressure valve 18 is open. When the ink cartridge 1 with the differential pressure valve 18 closed is attached to a printer (not shown) and printing is performed, the negative pressure on the ink supply port 15 side increases as the ink is consumed, and the negative pressure in the ink storage chamber 12 increases. The pressure also rises. When the negative pressure on the ink supply port 15 side becomes a certain level or more and the force due to the negative pressure in the ink storage chamber 12 becomes stronger than the urging force of the elastic portion 21, the membrane valve 19 moves to the lid portion 20 side, and the membrane The back side of the valve 19 is separated from the inner surface of the differential pressure valve housing chamber 17. Then, the first ink circulation port 25 provided on the inner surface of the differential pressure valve storage chamber 17 is opened, and the ink flow that continues from the second ink storage chamber 14 that is a part of the ink storage chamber 12 to the first ink storage chamber 13. A path is formed.

  When the ink in the ink cartridge 1 is in an empty state, the inside of the ink cartridge 1 is as shown in FIG. 3A, and the back side of the membrane valve 19 is the inner surface of the differential pressure valve housing chamber 17. The first ink circulation port 25 is closed. When ink is injected from the ink discharge port 15 side in this state, the ink flows into the first ink storage chamber 13 and the differential pressure valve storage chamber 17. Therefore, the pressure of the ink is applied to both the front side and the back side of the membrane valve 19, and the force in the direction of the front 30 of the housing 10 applied to the membrane valve 19 does not become larger than the biasing force of the elastic portion 21. Since the ink flow path from the first ink storage chamber 13 to the second ink storage chamber 14 does not open, ink cannot be injected into the second ink storage chamber 14.

  Next, a procedure for injecting ink into the ink cartridge 1 using the method of the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, first, an insertion port 23 that communicates from the front 30 side of the housing 10 to the small diameter 22 that connects the differential pressure valve housing chamber 17 and the ink discharge port 15 is formed using a drill or the like. (Insertion port forming step 1). By inserting the sealing plug 24 into the insertion port 23, the inflow of ink from the ink supply port 15 to the differential pressure valve housing chamber 17 can be blocked (sealing plug insertion step 2).

  As shown in FIG. 5A, when the sealing plug 24 is inserted into the insertion port 23 and then ink is injected from the ink supply port 15 into the first ink storage chamber 13, as shown in FIG. 5B. Ink does not flow into the differential pressure valve storage chamber 17, but ink flows only into the first ink storage chamber 13. At this time, the pressure of the ink moves the membrane valve 19 in the direction of the front surface 30 of the housing 10 to open the differential pressure valve 18 (valve opening step 3). When the differential pressure valve 18 is opened, an ink flow path from the first ink storage chamber 13 to the second ink storage chamber 14 is formed, and ink can be injected into the second ink storage chamber 14 (ink injection). Step 4). Therefore, if this ink injection method is used, it is possible to eliminate the trouble of removing the parts in the ink discharge port 15 and reassembling after the ink injection, thereby improving the production efficiency.

  In addition, there is a method in which the sealing plug 24 is left inserted and the portion protruding from the housing 10 is cut out. However, since ink may leak from a gap generated by deformation of the sealing plug, ink injection is completed. After that, it is desirable to seal the insertion port 23 after removing the sealing plug 24 (insertion port sealing step 5). By performing this step, it is possible to prevent ink from leaking from the insertion port 23. After removing the sealing plug 24, the insertion port sealing step 5 may be executed after inserting another sealing plug.

  However, even when the sealing plug 24 is left inserted, the step of sealing the insertion port 23 after the completion of the ink injection (insertion port sealing step 5) prevents the ink from leaking from the insertion port 23. can do. When the sealing plug 24 protrudes from the surface of the housing 10, it is desirable to cut the protruding portion.

  Furthermore, in the insertion port sealing step 5, as shown in FIG. 6, a thin film having a larger area than the insertion port 23 is placed on the surface of the housing 10, and the insertion port 23 is sealed with the film by heat welding. Is desirable. By using thermal welding, the insertion opening 23 can be quickly closed with a film.

  Further, as another embodiment, in the insertion port sealing step 5, as shown in FIG. 6, a silicone adhesive is applied in the vicinity of the insertion port 23 on the surface of the housing 10, and moreover than the insertion port 23 thereon. It is desirable to seal by placing a thin film having a large area. By using a silicone adhesive, the insertion opening 23 can be firmly closed with a film.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Ink cartridge 10 ... Housing | casing 11 ... Air | atmosphere release port 12 ... Ink storage chamber 13 ... 1st ink storage chamber 14 ... 2nd ink storage chamber 15 ... Ink supply port 16 ... Seal 17 ... Differential pressure valve storage chamber 18 ... Differential pressure valve DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 19 ... Membrane valve 20 ... Cover part 21 ... Elastic part 22 ... Small diameter 23 ... Insertion port 24 ... Seal plug 25 ... 1st ink distribution port 26 ... 2nd ink distribution port 30 ... Front 31 ... Back surface 32 ... Film

Claims (5)

A housing, an ink storage chamber that is provided inside the housing and can store ink, an atmosphere opening port that is provided outside the housing and communicates the ink storage chamber with the atmosphere via an air communication path; An ink supply port which is provided outside the casing and can supply the ink stored in the ink storage chamber to the outside of the casing via an ink flow path; and the inside of the casing and the front side of the casing When the negative pressure on the ink supply port side is less than a predetermined value that is stored in the inside of the differential pressure valve storage chamber provided in the ink flow path, the valve is closed and the negative pressure on the ink supply port side is A differential pressure valve that opens when the pressure exceeds a predetermined level, the differential pressure valve being elastically deformable, a lid that covers the opening of the differential pressure valve housing chamber, the membrane valve, and the lid Elasticity that is located in the space between the parts and expands and contracts according to the elastic deformation of the membrane valve When the diameter for connecting the differential pressure valve accommodating chamber and the ink accommodating chamber, is an ink injection method into the ink cartridge provided,
At least an insertion port forming step 1 for forming an insertion port communicating from the front side of the lid or the housing to the small diameter;
A sealing plug insertion step 2 in which a sealing plug is inserted into the insertion port to block inflow of ink from the ink storage chamber to the differential pressure valve storage chamber;
A valve opening step 3 in which ink is injected from the ink supply port into the ink storage chamber and the differential pressure valve is opened by the pressure of the ink;
And an ink injection step 4 for injecting ink from the ink supply port into the ink storage chamber through the ink flow path in which the differential pressure valve is open. The insertion port formation step 1 to the ink injection step 4 are An ink injection method, which is performed sequentially.   2. The ink injection according to claim 1, wherein, in a subsequent step of the ink injection step, an insertion port sealing step of sealing the insertion port after removing the sealing plug from the insertion port is performed. Method.   2. The ink injection method according to claim 1, wherein an insertion port sealing step 5 is performed in a subsequent step of the ink injection step 4 to seal the insertion port while leaving the sealing plug at the insertion port. .   4. The ink injection method according to claim 2, wherein, in the insertion port sealing step 5, the insertion port is sealed with a film by heat welding. The ink injection method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein, in the insertion port sealing step 5, the insertion port is sealed with a film by a silicone adhesive.

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