JP2019130805A - Liquid cartridge, liquid ejection unit, device for ejecting liquid and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a liquid cartridge that prevents damage to an ink bag (liquid storage bag) that may be caused by impact resulting from falling or by vibration during transport and that is able to reduce a quantity of ink (liquid) remaining in the ink bag (liquid storage bag).SOLUTION: A liquid cartridge, such as an ink cartridge 10, accommodating in a case 112 a liquid storage bag such as an ink bag 111 storing a liquid such as ink, comprises: a projecting parts, such as projecting walls 113A, 113B, provided in the case and substantially dividing the liquid storage bag into liquid storage portions such as ink storage portions 111a, 111b; and pressing parts, such as a first pressing part 125A, a second pressing part 125B, provided in separate cases 112 V2 into which the inside of the case is substantially divided by the projecting parts, and pressing a liquid storage portion such as the ink storage portion 111b stored in the corresponding separate case.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid cartridge, a liquid discharge unit, an apparatus for discharging liquid, and an image forming apparatus.

  In a recording liquid cartridge in which a recording liquid storage bag for storing a recording liquid is stored in a case, the ink bag may be damaged due to an impact caused by dropping of the recording liquid cartridge or vibration during transportation. For this reason, a technique for preventing the ink bag from shaking by providing a protrusion wall in the case that substantially divides the recording liquid storage bag (for example, an ink bag) in the recording liquid cartridge into a plurality of portions is already known (for example, patents). Reference 1).

  However, the conventional recording liquid cartridge including Patent Document 1 has a problem that the ink supply path in the ink bag is narrowed by the protruding wall, and the ink remains in the ink bag.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and prevents ink bags (liquid storage bags) from being damaged by impacts caused by dropping or vibrations during transportation, and ink ( An object is to provide a liquid cartridge capable of reducing the remaining amount of liquid).

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a liquid cartridge in which a liquid storage bag for storing a liquid is stored in a case, the liquid cartridge being provided in the case, wherein the liquid storage bag is substantially divided into a plurality of liquid storage portions. A liquid cartridge comprising: a protruding portion to be divided; and a pressing portion that is provided in a divided case that is substantially divided into a plurality of cases by the protruding portion, and that presses the liquid storage portion stored in the divided case. It is.

  According to the present invention, with the above-described configuration, it is possible to prevent damage to the liquid storage bag due to impact caused by dropping or vibration during transportation, and to reduce the remaining amount of liquid in the liquid storage bag.

1 is a perspective view of an ink jet recording apparatus as an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the front side. It is a side schematic block diagram explaining the whole structure of the mechanism part of the inkjet recording device of FIG. It is a top view explaining the principal part of the mechanism part of the inkjet recording device of FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view of the ink cartridge which concerns on a prior art example. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge of FIG. 4. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a problem of the ink cartridge in FIG. 4. It is a disassembled perspective view of the ink cartridge which concerns on 4th Embodiment. It is sectional drawing explaining the ink cartridge of FIG. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of the ink cartridge of FIG. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of the ink cartridge of FIG. It is sectional drawing explaining the ink cartridge which concerns on 5th Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention including examples will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Descriptions of components (members and components) having the same functions and shapes in the prior art examples and the embodiments will be given by the same reference numerals after being described unless there is a possibility of confusion. Is omitted. In order to simplify the drawings and the description, even if the components are to be represented in the drawings, the components that do not need to be specifically described in the drawings may be omitted as appropriate. When quoting and explaining constituent elements such as published patent gazettes, the reference numerals are shown in parentheses to distinguish them from those of the embodiments.

Before describing the liquid cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention, the concept of “liquid stored in the liquid cartridge” and the like will be described.
“Liquid contained in the liquid cartridge” includes solvents such as water and organic solvents, colorants such as dyes and pigments, functional materials such as polymerizable compounds, resins, and surfactants, DNA, amino acids and proteins, These include solutions, suspensions, emulsions, etc. containing biocompatible materials such as calcium, edible materials such as natural pigments, etc., and these include, for example, inkjet inks, surface treatment liquids, components of electronic devices and light emitting devices, It can be used in applications such as a liquid for forming an electronic circuit resist pattern and a material liquid for three-dimensional modeling.

(Image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment)
An image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ink jet recording apparatus as an image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the front side.
The ink jet recording apparatus includes an apparatus main body 1, a paper feed tray 2 for loading a sheet as an example of a recording medium mounted on the apparatus main body 1, and a detachably mounted on the apparatus main body 1 to record an image. A paper discharge tray 3 for stocking (formed) paper is provided. Further, a cartridge loading for loading an ink cartridge that protrudes from the front surface to the front side of the apparatus main body 1 and is lower than the upper surface is provided at one end of the front surface of the apparatus main body 1 (side of the paper supply / discharge tray section). The cartridge loading unit 4 has an operation / display unit 5 provided with operation buttons and a display.

  The cartridge loading unit 4 includes a plurality of recording liquid cartridges each storing ink as recording liquids of different colors, for example, black (K) ink, cyan (C) ink, magenta (M) ink, and yellow (Y) ink. Ink cartridges 10k, 10c, 10m, and 10y (referred to as “ink cartridge 10” when colors are not distinguished) are inserted from the front side of the apparatus main body 1 toward the rear side and can be loaded. A front cover 6, which is a cartridge cover that opens when the ink cartridge 10 is attached or detached, is provided on the front side of the cartridge loading unit 4 so as to be openable and closable. Further, the ink cartridges 10k, 10c, 10m, and 10y are configured to be loaded side by side in the horizontal direction.

  Here, the ink as the recording liquid functions as the liquid according to the present invention. The ink cartridges 10k, 10c, 10m, 10y, which are a plurality of recording liquid cartridges, and the ink cartridge 10 when not distinguishing colors function as the liquid cartridge according to the present invention.

  The operation / display unit 5, the front cover 6 and the detailed configuration around the operation / display unit 5 are the same as those described in the paragraphs [0021] to [0023] and FIG. The description is omitted to avoid it.

  With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the mechanism of the ink jet recording apparatus will be described. FIG. 2 is a schematic side view illustrating the overall configuration of the mechanism unit, and FIG. 3 is a plan view of the main part of the mechanism unit.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the carriage 33 is slidably held in the main scanning direction S by a guide rod 31 and a stay 32 that are horizontally mounted on left and right side plates 21 </ b> A and 21 </ b> B constituting the frame 21. Then, the main scanning motor moves and scans in the arrow direction (carriage main scanning direction) in FIG. 3 via the timing belt.

  As described above, the recording head 34 (FIG. 3) is provided on the carriage 33 as four liquid ejection heads that eject ink droplets of yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M), and black (Bk). The recording heads 34a and 34b are arranged in a direction crossing the main scanning direction S and the ink droplet ejection direction is directed downward.

  A driver IC is mounted on the recording head 34 and is connected to the control unit via a harness (flexible print cable) 22.

  The carriage 33 is equipped with sub tanks 35 for each color (head tanks 35a and 35b are shown in FIG. 3) for supplying each color ink to the recording head 34. As described above, each color sub-tank 35 is supplementarily supplied with ink of each color from the ink cartridge 10 of each color mounted in the cartridge loading unit 4 via the ink supply tube 36 of each color. The cartridge loading 4 is provided with a supply pump unit 24 for feeding ink in the ink cartridge 10, and the ink supply tube 36 is engaged with the rear plate 21 </ b> C constituting the frame 21 in the middle of turning. It is held by the member 25.

  As shown in FIG. 2, as a paper feeding unit for feeding the papers 42 stacked on the paper stacking unit (pressure plate) 41 of the paper feed tray 2, the papers 42 are separated and fed one by one from the paper stacking unit 41. A half paddle (feed roller) 43 and a separation pad 44 made of a material having a large friction coefficient are provided opposite to the half-moon roller (sheet feed roller) 43, and the separation pad 44 is urged toward the sheet feed roller 43 side.

  In order to feed the paper 42 fed from the paper feeding unit to the lower side of the recording head 34, a guide member 45 for guiding the paper 42, a counter roller 46, a transport guide member 47, and a tip pressure roller. And a holding belt 48 which is a conveying means for electrostatically attracting the fed paper 42 and conveying it at a position facing the recording head 34.

  The transport belt 51 is an endless belt, and is configured to be looped between the transport roller 52 and the tension roller 53 and to circulate in the belt transport direction (sub-scanning direction F). This transport belt 51 is, for example, a surface layer that is a sheet adsorbing surface formed of a pure resin material having a thickness of about 40 μm that is not subjected to resistance control, such as ETFE pure material, and resistance control by carbon with the same material as this surface layer. And a back layer (medium resistance layer, ground layer).

  A charging roller 56 that is a charging unit for charging the surface of the transport belt 51 is provided. The charging roller 56 is disposed so as to come into contact with the surface layer of the conveyor belt 51 and to be rotated by the rotation of the conveyor belt 51, and applies a predetermined pressing force to both ends of the shaft as a pressing force. The transport roller 52 also functions as an earth roller, and is in contact with the middle resistance layer (back layer) of the transport belt 51 and is grounded.

  In addition, a guide member 57 is disposed on the back side of the conveyance belt 51 so as to correspond to a printing area by the recording head 34. The guide member 57 has an upper surface that protrudes toward the recording head 35 from the tangent line of two rollers (the conveyance roller 52 and the tension roller 53) that support the conveyance belt 51, thereby maintaining high-precision flatness of the conveyance belt 51. Like to do.

  The conveyance belt 51 rotates in the belt conveyance direction (sub-scanning direction F) in FIG. 3 when the conveyance roller 52 is rotationally driven by the sub-scanning motor via the timing belt.

  As a paper discharge unit for discharging the paper 42 recorded by the recording head 34, a separation claw 61 for separating the paper 42 from the conveying belt 51, a paper discharge roller 62, and a paper discharge roller 63 are provided. A paper discharge tray 3 is provided below the paper roller 62. Here, the height from the sheet discharge roller 62 and the sheet discharge roller 63 to the sheet discharge tray 3 is increased to some extent in order to increase the amount that can be stocked in the sheet discharge tray 3.

  A duplex unit 71 is detachably mounted on the back surface of the apparatus body 1. The duplex unit 71 takes in the paper 42 returned by the reverse rotation of the transport belt 51, reverses it, and feeds it again between the counter roller 46 and the transport belt 51. The upper surface of the duplex unit 71 is a manual feed tray 72.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a maintenance / recovery mechanism 81 including a recovery means for maintaining and recovering the state of the nozzles of the recording head 34 is disposed in the non-printing area on one side of the carriage 33 in the scanning direction S. doing.

  The maintenance / recovery mechanism 81 includes cap members 82a and 82b for capping each nozzle surface of the recording head 34 (hereinafter referred to as “cap 82” when not distinguished) and a blade for wiping the nozzle surface. A wiper blade 83, which is a member, and an empty discharge receptacle 84 for receiving droplets when performing empty discharge for discharging droplets that do not contribute to recording in order to discharge the thickened recording liquid are provided. Here, the cap 82a is a suction and moisture retention cap, and the other cap 82b is a moisture retention cap.

  The recording liquid waste generated by the maintenance and recovery operation by the maintenance and recovery mechanism 81 described above, the ink discharged to the cap 82, the ink attached to the wiper blade 83 and removed by the wiper cleaner 85, and the idle ejection receiver 84 are idled. The discharged ink is discharged into the waste liquid tank and stored.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, in the non-printing area on the other side in the scanning direction S of the carriage 33, the idle ejection for ejecting the liquid droplets that do not contribute to the recording in order to discharge the recording liquid thickened during the recording or the like. An empty discharge receiver 88 for receiving droplets when performing the recording is disposed, and the empty discharge receiver 88 is provided with an opening 89 along the nozzle row direction of the recording head 34.

Next, based on FIG.2 and FIG.3, the whole operation | movement of the inkjet recording device comprised as mentioned above is demonstrated.
First, the sheets 42 are separated and fed one by one from the sheet feeding tray 2 by the cooperative action of the sheet feeding roller 43 and the separation pad 44. The sheet 42 fed substantially vertically upward is guided by the guide 45 and is transported while being sandwiched between the transport belt 51 and the counter roller 46. Further, the leading end is guided by the transport guide 47 and is guided by the leading end pressing roller 49. Pressed against the conveyor belt 51, the direction of conveyance is changed by approximately 90 °.

  At this time, the conveyance belt 52 is rotated in the sub-scanning direction F (belt conveyance direction) by rotating the conveyance roller 52 by the sub-scanning motor. At this time, a positive output and a negative output are alternately repeated from the AC bias supply unit to the charging roller 56 by a control circuit (not shown), that is, an alternating voltage is applied, and the charging voltage at which the conveying belt 51 is alternated. In the pattern, that is, the sub-scanning direction that is the circumferential direction, plus and minus are alternately charged in a band shape with a predetermined width. When the sheet 42 is fed onto the conveyance belt 51 charged alternately with plus and minus, the sheet 42 is attracted to the conveyance belt 51, and the sheet 42 is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction F by the circular movement of the conveyance belt 51. .

Therefore, by driving the recording head 34 according to the image signal while moving the carriage 33, ink droplets are ejected onto the stopped paper 42 to record one line, and after the paper 42 is conveyed by a predetermined amount, Record the next line.
Then, the paper 42 is transported by the transport belt 51 through the rotational drive of the transport roller 52 again. At this time, the separation claw 61 disposed so as to be swingable between the tension roller 53 and the transport roller 52 is provided. Thus, the printed paper 42 separated from the transport belt 51 is transported by a paper discharge roller (spur) 63 driven by a paper discharge roller 62. Upon receiving a recording end signal or a signal that the trailing edge of the paper 42 has reached the recording area, the recording operation is finished and the paper 42 is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 3.

Further, during printing (recording) standby, as shown in FIG. 3, the carriage 33 is moved to the maintenance / recovery mechanism 81 side, and the recording head 34 is capped by the cap 82 to keep the nozzles in a wet state. Prevents ejection failures due to drying. Further, the recording liquid is sucked from the nozzle by a suction pump (not shown) with the recording head 34 capped by the cap 82 (referred to as “nozzle suction” or “head suction”), and the thickened recording liquid and bubbles are discharged. Perform recovery action. In addition, an idle ejection operation for ejecting ink not related to recording is performed before the start of recording or during recording. As a result, the stable ejection performance of the recording head 34 is maintained.
There is a “liquid ejection head” which is a functional component that ejects and ejects liquid from a nozzle by supplying “liquid stored in a liquid cartridge”.
The liquid to be ejected is not particularly limited as long as it has a viscosity and surface tension that can be ejected from the head, and the viscosity is 30 mPa · s or less at room temperature, normal pressure, or by heating and cooling. It is preferable.

  As an ink jet head constituting the recording head 34 as a liquid discharge head, a piezoelectric actuator such as a piezoelectric element, a thermal actuator that uses a phase change caused by film boiling of a liquid using an electrothermal conversion element such as a heating resistor, and a temperature change It is also possible to use a shape memory alloy actuator that uses a metal phase change due to the above, an electrostatic actuator that uses an electrostatic force, or the like provided as pressure generating means for generating a pressure for discharging a droplet.

(Liquid discharge unit according to the second embodiment)
The carriage 33 configured as described above constitutes a liquid discharge unit integrated with a recording head 34 as a liquid discharge head and a sub tank 35 as a head tank.

  The “liquid discharge unit” according to the present invention has a function of discharging the liquid supplied from the liquid cartridge according to the present invention, and is a unit in which functional parts and mechanisms are integrated with the liquid discharge head. It is a collection of parts related to. For example, the “liquid discharge unit” includes a combination of at least one of a head tank, a carriage, a supply mechanism, a maintenance / recovery mechanism, and a main scanning movement mechanism with a liquid discharge head.

  Here, the term “integrated” refers to, for example, a liquid discharge head, a functional component, and a mechanism that are fixed to each other by fastening, adhesion, engagement, etc., and one that is held movably with respect to the other. Including. Further, the liquid discharge head, the functional component, and the mechanism may be configured to be detachable from each other.

  In addition, the terms “image formation”, “recording”, “printing”, “printing”, “printing”, “modeling” and the like in the terms of the present application are all synonymous.

(Device for Discharging Liquid According to Third Embodiment)
In the present application, the “apparatus for discharging liquid” is an apparatus that includes a liquid discharge head or a liquid discharge unit and drives the liquid discharge head to discharge liquid. The apparatus for ejecting liquid includes not only an apparatus capable of ejecting liquid to an object to which liquid can adhere, but also an apparatus for ejecting liquid toward the air or liquid.

  This “apparatus for discharging liquid” may include means for feeding, transporting, and discharging a liquid to which liquid can adhere, as well as a pre-processing apparatus and a post-processing apparatus.

  For example, as “an apparatus for ejecting liquid”, an image forming apparatus which is an apparatus for ejecting ink as a recording liquid to form an image on a sheet, a powder for modeling a three-dimensional structure (three-dimensional structure) There is a three-dimensional modeling apparatus (three-dimensional modeling apparatus) that discharges a modeling liquid onto a powder layer formed in a layer shape.

  Further, the “apparatus for ejecting liquid” is not limited to an apparatus in which significant images such as characters and figures are visualized by the ejected liquid. For example, what forms a pattern etc. which does not have a meaning in itself, and what forms a three-dimensional image are also included.

  The above-mentioned “applicable liquid” means that the liquid can be attached at least temporarily and adheres and adheres, or adheres and penetrates. Specific examples include sheets, for example, recording media such as paper, recording paper, recording paper, film, and cloth, electronic substrates, and other electronic components such as piezoelectric elements, powder layers (powder layers), organ models, and examinations. Unless otherwise specified, all media to which a liquid adheres are included.

  The material of the above-mentioned “material to which liquid can adhere” may be paper, thread, fiber, fabric, leather, metal, plastic (including OHP sheet), glass, wood, ceramics, etc., as long as the liquid can be adhered even temporarily. .

  In addition, the “device for ejecting liquid” includes a device in which the liquid ejection head and the device to which the liquid can adhere move relatively, but is not limited thereto. Specific examples include the above-described serial type device that moves the liquid discharge head.

  In addition to the “device for discharging liquid”, a processing liquid coating apparatus for discharging a processing liquid onto a sheet for applying a processing liquid to the surface of the sheet for the purpose of modifying the surface of the sheet, or a raw material There is an injection granulator for granulating raw material fine particles by spraying a composition liquid dispersed in a solution through a nozzle.

  With reference to FIGS. 4 to 6, an ink cartridge 1000 according to a related art example will be described. 4 is an exploded perspective view of an ink cartridge according to a prior art example, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge of FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view for explaining problems of the ink cartridge of FIG. The ink cartridge according to the prior art example has the same external shape as the ink cartridge of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and the like, but the external shape is simplified in FIGS.

  The ink cartridge 1000 can be attached and detached instead of the ink cartridge 10 of the cartridge loading unit 4 of the ink jet recording apparatus of the embodiment shown in FIGS. This ink cartridge 1000 includes a liquid storage bag filled with ink as a liquid / recording liquid, an ink bag 111 as a recording liquid storage bag, and a case 112 as an exterior / casing that detachably stores the ink bag 111 therein. It has. The case 112 includes a first case 112 </ b> A and a second case 112 </ b> B that are substantially similar in outer shape divided into two parts, thereby protecting the side surface of the ink bag 111 and configuring the exterior of the ink cartridge 1000.

  For example, the ink bag 111 discharges the recording liquid (ink) to a substantially rectangular (in this case, rectangular) flexible bag body 121 formed by fusing the periphery of two aluminum laminate films. A liquid supply port 122 (supplied to the apparatus main body 1 in FIG. 1) is provided.

  On the inner wall surfaces of the first case 112A and the second case 112B constituting the case 112, a protruding wall 113A that substantially divides the ink bag 111 that is housed into two in a direction orthogonal to the ink supply direction A as the liquid supply direction. 113B. That is, the ink cartridge 1000 has a configuration in which the protruding walls 113A and 113B protrude from both sides of the ink bag 111 stored in the case 112.

  With the above configuration, when the ink cartridge 111 is in a state where the ink bag 111 containing ink is housed in the case 112, the ink bag 111 is substantially centered from both sides by the protruding walls 113A and 113B as shown in FIG. It will be pressed and wrapped. Thereby, the ink bag 111 is substantially divided into ink containing portions 111a and 111b as liquid containing portions that are substantially divided into a plurality (two in this example) (however, the ink containing portions 111a and 111b are formed inside the ink bag 111). Communicating).

  As shown in FIG. 5, the ink bag 111 has a portion in the case 112 where the ink storage portion 111 a on the upstream side of the ink supply path B as the liquid supply path in the ink bag 111 reaches the ink storage portion 111 b on the downstream side. It is stored in. The ink supply port 122 of the ink bag 111 protrudes from the inside of the case 112 to the outside.

  Thereby, for example, as shown in FIG. 7 of Patent Document 1, when the ink cartridge 1000 is dropped with the ink supply port portion 122 down, the wall surfaces (113a, 113b) of the protruding walls 113A, 113B are formed. The impact is dispersed by becoming a receiving surface.

  As described above, according to the ink cartridge 1000, the projection wall that substantially divides the recording liquid containing bag into a plurality of parts is provided in the case, so that the impact and the influence of the vibration at the time of dropping are each divided part unit. Since the recording liquid storage bag is less likely to be damaged, it is not necessary to change the shape of the case depending on the recording liquid capacity filled in the recording liquid storage bag, and the number of parts can be reduced. It was something that played.

  However, as shown in FIG. 6, when the ink cartridge 1000 is used in a horizontal position, it is pulled by the weight of the ink remaining in the ink containing portion 111b far from the ink supply port portion 122 and is constricted by the protruding wall 113B. Will occur. As a result, the ink supply path in the ink bag 111 is narrowed, so that the flow of ink supply is deteriorated, and there is a problem that the ink remains in the ink bag 111 and the remaining ink 126 is generated.

(Ink cartridge according to the fourth embodiment)
With reference to FIGS. 7 to 10, the ink cartridge 10 according to the fourth embodiment used in the image forming apparatus of FIGS. 1 to 3 will be described. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the ink cartridge according to the fourth embodiment, FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the ink cartridge of FIG. 7, and FIGS. 9 and 10 are cross-sectional views illustrating the operation of the ink cartridge of FIG. . The ink cartridge according to the fourth embodiment has the same external shape as the ink cartridge of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and the like, but the external shape is simplified in FIGS. The same applies to the embodiment).

Compared with the ink cartridge 1000 of FIGS. 4 to 6, the ink cartridge 10 is provided in the divided case 112 </ b> V <b> 2 on the upstream side of the ink supply path B across the protruding walls 113 </ b> A and 113 </ b> B as an example of the protruding portion. A point is provided with a plurality of (two in this example) first pressing portion 125A and second pressing portion 125B as an example of a pressing portion that presses the ink storage portion 111b of the ink bag 111 stored in the case 112V2. Mainly different.
The first pressing portion 125A and the second pressing portion 125B act so as to crush the ink containing portion 111b into a substantially flat shape when the ink in the ink containing portion 111b of the ink bag 111 is completely used up. This “substantially flat shape” includes a state in which the liquid containing portion (ink containing portion 111b) of the liquid containing bag (ink bag 111) is crushed flat, and the liquid (ink) in a curved state as in the prior art. ) It means crushing to a state that does not generate the rest.

  Here, the “projection that substantially divides the liquid storage bag into a plurality of liquid storage parts” according to the present invention means that the liquid storage parts adjacent to each other inside the liquid storage bag are communicated with each other by the projections. This means that it is partitioned (the same applies to the embodiments described later).

  The divided case 112V2 indicates the inside of the divided case on the upstream side of the ink supply path B with respect to the protruding walls 113A and 113B in the case 112, and stores the ink containing portion 111b on the upstream side of the ink supply path B in the ink bag 111. Yes. The divided case 112V1 refers to a portion of the ink bag 111 on the downstream side of the ink supply path B with respect to the protrusion walls 113A and 113B, and stores the ink storage portion 111a on the downstream side of the ink supply path B in the ink bag 111.

  The first pressing portion 125A includes a first flat plate member 130A as a plate member that contacts the upper portion in the drawing of the ink containing portion 111b, and a spring as a pressing unit and an elastic member that press the first flat plate member 130A against the ink bag 111. And a plurality (two in this example) of compression springs 131A and 131C.

The second pressing portion 125B includes a second flat plate member 130B as a plate member that contacts the lower portion in the drawing of the ink containing portion 111b, and a spring as a pressing means and an elastic member that presses the second flat plate member 130B against the ink bag 111. A plurality (two in this example) of compression springs 131B and 131D.
The first flat plate member 130A and the second flat plate member 130B are configured to be displaceable while being in contact with the ink containing portion 111b in accordance with the contraction of the ink bag 111 due to ink supply.
The first flat plate member 130A and the second flat plate member 130B have substantially similar outer shapes, and have a predetermined rigidity that does not cause permanent deformation when the ink containing portion 111b is completely crushed to the end without remaining ink. Thus, for example, it is formed with a predetermined thickness with a synthetic resin.

  One end of the compression springs 131A and 131C is engaged with the first flat plate member 130A, and the other end of the compression springs 131A and 131C is engaged with the inner wall surface of the first case 112A upstream of the ink supply path B in the divided case 112V2. Has been. One end of the compression springs 131B and 131D is on the second flat plate member 130B, and the other end of the compression springs 131B and 131D is on the inner wall surface of the second case 112B upstream of the ink supply path B in the divided case 112V2. It is locked.

The first pressing portion 125 </ b> A and the second pressing portion 125 </ b> B are provided in the divided case 112 </ b> V <b> 2 that stores the ink containing portion 111 b on the upstream side of the ink supply path B in the ink bag 111. It is not provided in the divided case 112V1 on the downstream side of the supply path B.
This is because the constriction wall 113B does not generate the constriction 125 in the ink containing portion 111a housed in the downstream divided case 112V1 as in the ink cartridge 1000 in FIG. 6, and the cartridge loading portion in FIG. This is because the ink in the ink bag 111 can be completely used up to the end by the suction operation of the supply pump unit 24 provided in No. 4.

  Next, the operation of the ink cartridge 10 will be described. FIG. 8 shows a state where the ink bag 111 is filled with ink. As shown in FIG. 8, in a state where the ink bag 111 is filled with ink, the ink bag 111 is attached with compression springs 131A, 131B, 131C, and 131D with respect to the ink containing portion 111b on the upstream side of the ink supply path B. Since it bulges against the force (spring load), the first flat plate member 130A and the second flat plate member 130B are on the wall surface side in the divided case 112V2.

At this time, the relationship between the urging force and pressure (spring load per unit area) of the compression springs 131A, 131B, 131C, and 131D is set to satisfy 131A = 131B> 131C = 131D. That is, the compression springs 131A, 131B, and 131C are arranged as they are arranged from the downstream side to the upstream side of the ink supply path B (in other words, away from the ink supply port 122) or at the upstream side of the ink supply path B. , 131D is set to be small.
This realizes efficient ink movement and realizes a substantially parallel displacement of the first flat plate member 130A and the second flat plate member 130B, so that the ink containing portion 111b housed in the divided case 112V2 has a substantially flat shape. Can be efficiently crushed.

  FIG. 9 shows a state where about half of the ink in the ink bag 111 is used. Since there is the first flat plate member 130A and the second flat plate member 130B that crush the ink containing portion 111b of the ink bag 111 on the upstream side of the ink supply path B across the protruding walls 113A and 113B, the ink in the ink bag 111 The accommodating portion 111b is not crushed. Therefore, no ink remains in the ink bag 111 on the upstream side of the ink supply path B, and ink is sent to the ink containing portion 111a side on the downstream side of the ink supply path B with the protrusion walls 113A and 113B interposed therebetween.

  FIG. 10 shows a state where the ink in the ink bag 111 is completely used up. In FIG. 9 described above, the ink remaining as shown in FIG. 6 is stored in the ink bag 111 (the ink storage portion 111b stored in the divided case 112V2) on the upstream side of the ink supply path B across the protruding walls 113A and 113B. Since 126 does not occur, the ink in the ink bag 111 can be completely used up to the end.

  As described above, according to the ink cartridge according to the fourth embodiment, the ink bag (liquid storage bag) is prevented from being damaged by an impact caused by dropping or vibration during transportation, and the ink in the ink bag (liquid storage bag) ( (Liquid) The remaining amount can be reduced.

(Ink cartridge according to the fifth embodiment)
With reference to FIG. 11, an ink cartridge 10 </ b> A according to a fifth embodiment used in the image forming apparatus of FIGS. 1 to 3 will be described. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an ink cartridge according to the fifth embodiment.

  In the ink cartridge 10A of FIG. 11, the inside of the case 112 is divided into approximately three parts by projection walls 113A and 113B and projection walls 113C and 113D as an example of projections, as compared with the ink cartridge 10 of FIGS. The main difference is that a split case 112V1, a split case 112V2, and a split case 112V3, which are divided into approximately three parts in this order from the downstream side to the upstream side of the ink supply path B, are provided.

  The divided case 112V2 and the divided case 112V3 provided with the pressing portion are smaller in volume in the divided case 112V3 than in the divided case arranged upstream of the ink supply path B, that is, in the divided case 112V2. One feature is that the points are set as described above. In the divided case 112V3, an ink containing portion 111c as a liquid containing portion on the most upstream side of the ink supply path B in the ink bag 111 is stored.

  The divided case 112V2 includes a first pressing portion 125A and a second pressing portion 125B, which are a plurality of pressing portions that press the ink containing portion 111b housed in the divided case 112V2, similar to the ink cartridge 10. .

  The divided case 112V3 includes a third pressing portion 125C and a fourth pressing portion 125D, which are a plurality of pressing portions that press the ink containing portion 111c accommodated in the divided case 112V3.

  The third pressing portion 125C includes a third flat plate member 130C as a plate member that contacts the upper portion in the drawing of the ink containing portion 111c, and a spring as a pressing means and an elastic member that presses the third flat plate member 130C against the ink containing portion 111c. A plurality of (in this example, two) compression springs 131E and 131G.

The fourth pressing portion 125D includes a fourth flat plate member 130D as a plate member that contacts the lower portion in the drawing of the ink containing portion 111c, and a spring as a pressing means and an elastic member that presses the fourth flat plate member 130D against the ink bag 111. And a plurality of (in this example, two) compression springs 131F and 131H.
The third flat plate member 130 </ b> C and the fourth flat plate member 130 </ b> D are configured to be displaceable while contacting the ink containing portion 111 c in accordance with the contraction of the ink bag 111 due to ink supply.
The third flat plate member 130C and the fourth flat plate member 130D have substantially similar outer shapes, and have a predetermined rigidity that does not cause permanent deformation when the ink containing portion 111c is completely crushed to the end without remaining ink. Thus, for example, it is formed with a predetermined thickness with a synthetic resin.

  One end of each of the compression springs 131E and 131G is associated with the third flat plate member 130C, and the other end of each of the compression springs 131E and 131G is associated with the inner wall surface of the first case 112A on the most upstream side of the ink supply path B in the divided case 112V3. It has been stopped. Also, one end of the compression springs 131F and 131H is on the fourth flat plate member 130D, and the other end of the compression springs 131F and 131H is on the inner wall surface of the second case 112B on the most upstream side of the ink supply path B in the divided case 112V3. Each is locked.

The first pressing portion 125 </ b> A and the second pressing portion 125 </ b> B are provided in the divided case 112 </ b> V <b> 2 that stores the ink storage portion 111 b on the upstream side of the ink supply path B in the ink bag 111. Similarly, the third pressing portion 125 </ b> C and the fourth pressing portion 125 </ b> D are provided in the divided case 112 </ b> V <b> 3 that stores the ink storage portion 111 c on the most upstream side of the ink supply path B in the ink bag 111.
Similar to the ink cartridge 10, the pressing portion is not provided in the split case 112 </ b> V <b> 1 on the most downstream side of the ink supply path B in the ink bag 111.

In the ink cartridge 10 </ b> A, the volumes in the divided case 112 </ b> V <b> 2 and the divided case 112 </ b> V <b> 3 in which the pressing portions are provided are separated from the divided case (in other words, from the ink supply port portion 122) disposed upstream of the ink supply path B. ), That is, the division case 112V3 is set to be smaller than the division case 112V2. That is, the volume V3 in the divided case 112V3 is set smaller than the volume V2 in the divided case 112V2 (V2> V3).
Thus, by setting the volume in the divided case 112V3 to be smaller than in the divided case 112V2, more efficient ink movement can be realized.

  Next, the operation of the ink cartridge 10A will be described. FIG. 11 shows a state in which ink is filled in the ink bag 111. As shown in FIG. 11, in the state where the ink bag 111 is filled with ink, the ink bag 111 is compressed over the ink storage portion 111c on the most upstream side of the ink supply path B and the ink storage portion 111b on the downstream side. Since 131A, 131B, 131C, 131D, 131E, 131F, 131G, 131H bulges against the urging force (spring load), the first flat plate member 130A and the second flat plate member 130B are on the wall surface side in the divided case 112V2. Further, the third flat plate member 130C and the fourth flat plate member 130D are respectively provided on the wall surface side in the divided case 112V3.

  At this time, the relationship between the biasing force and pressure (spring load per unit area) of the compression springs 131A, 131B, 131C, 131D, 131E, 131F, 131G, and 131H is 131A = 131B> 131C = 131D> 131E = 131F> 131G. = 131H. In other words, the biasing force of each compression spring increases from the downstream side of the ink supply path B toward the upstream side (in other words, away from the ink supply port 122) or the upstream side of the ink supply path B.・ The pressure is set to be small.

  Accordingly, the ink can be smoothly moved from the upstream side to the downstream side of the ink supply path B in the ink bag 111 with a smaller urging force / pressure, and the third flat plate member 130C and the fourth flat plate member 130D. In addition, the substantially parallel displacement of the first flat plate member 130A and the second flat plate member 130B is realized, and the ink containing portion 111c accommodated in the divided case 112V3 and the ink containing portion 111b accommodated in the divided case 112V2 are substantially omitted. It can be efficiently crushed flat.

  As described above, according to the ink cartridge according to the fifth embodiment, since the inside of the case is divided into approximately three parts, it is possible to realize more efficient ink movement. Moreover, it is possible to further suppress the impact caused by dropping and vibration during transportation. Thereby, the ink bag (liquid storage bag) can be prevented from being damaged, and the remaining amount of ink (liquid) in the ink bag (liquid storage bag) can be reduced.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments, and the present invention described in the claims is not specifically limited by the above description. Various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the above. For example, the technical matters described in the above embodiments and examples may be appropriately combined.

  In the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1, the case where the ink cartridge 10 is used in the vertical position has been described. However, as described in the fourth and fifth embodiments, the ink cartridge 10 and 10 </ b> A are used in the horizontal position. Of course there may be.

The pressing portion according to the present invention is not limited to a combination of a plate member and an elastic member such as a spring as a pressing means, and may be anything as long as it can press a liquid storage bag (ink bag). The elastic member includes elastic rubber in addition to the spring.
In addition, the plate member according to the present invention is not limited to the first to fourth flat plate members, and the surface that contacts the liquid storage portion only needs to be formed as at least a flat surface.

  In the first embodiment described above, the image forming apparatus has been described as having a printer configuration. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and is similarly applied to a multifunction machine having functions such as a printer, a facsimile machine, a copying machine, and a plotter. be able to. Further, although the ink cartridge used in the sub tank system has been described, the present invention is not limited to this.

  The effects appropriately described in the embodiments of the present invention are merely a list of the most preferable effects resulting from the present invention, and the effects of the present invention are limited to those described in the embodiments of the present invention. It is not a thing.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Apparatus main body 2 Paper feed tray 3 Paper discharge tray 4 Cartridge loading part 10, 10A Ink cartridge (an example of a liquid cartridge and a liquid container)
33 Carriage 34 Recording head (an example of a liquid discharge head)
35 Sub tank 36 Ink supply tube 51 Conveying belt 111 Ink bag (an example of a liquid storage bag)
111a, 111b, 111c Ink storage part (an example of a liquid storage part)
112V1, 112V2, 112V3 Division case 112 Case (case)
112A first case (first housing)
112B 2nd case (2nd housing)
113A, 113B, 113C, 113D Projection wall (an example of a projection)
121 Bag body 122 Ink supply port (an example of a liquid supply port)
125A 1st press part (an example of a press part)
125B 2nd press part (an example of a press part)
125C 3rd press part (an example of a press part)
125D 4th press part (an example of a press part)
130A first flat plate member (an example of a plate member)
130B second flat plate member (an example of a plate member)
130C third flat plate member (an example of a plate member)
130D Fourth flat plate member (an example of a plate member)
131A to 131H compression springs (an example of pressing means and elastic members)
A Ink supply direction (an example of liquid supply direction)
B Ink supply path (an example of a liquid supply path)

JP 2007-062247 A

Claims (10)

A liquid cartridge containing a liquid storage bag for storing liquid in a case,
A protrusion provided in the case and substantially dividing the liquid storage bag into a plurality of liquid storage portions;
A pressing portion that is provided in a split case that is substantially divided into a plurality of cases by the protrusions, and that presses the liquid storage portion stored in the split case;
A liquid cartridge comprising:   The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the pressing portions are provided in the division case. In the liquid storage bag, the liquid storage portion from the upstream side to the downstream side of the liquid supply path in the liquid storage bag is stored in the case,
The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the pressing portion is provided in the divided case that stores the liquid storage portion on the upstream side of the protrusion. The inside of the case is substantially divided into three by the protrusions,
The volume of the division | segmentation case in which the said press part is provided is set so that it may become so small that the said division | segmentation case arrange | positioned in the upstream of the said liquid supply path | route. Liquid cartridge. The pressing portion is
A plate member in contact with the liquid containing portion;
A pressing means for pressing the plate member against the liquid containing portion;
5. The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the liquid cartridge is a liquid cartridge.   The liquid cartridge according to claim 5, wherein the pressing unit is an elastic member including a spring. A plurality of the elastic members are arranged from the downstream side to the upstream side of the liquid supply path with respect to the plate member,
The pressure of the elastic member that presses the plate member against the liquid storage portion is set so as to be smaller as it is arranged on the upstream side of the liquid supply path. Liquid cartridge. A liquid discharge head that discharges the liquid, a liquid supply mechanism that contains and holds the liquid supplied to the liquid discharge head, and has a replaceable liquid cartridge, and stores the liquid supplied to the liquid discharge head In a liquid discharge unit comprising a head tank, a carriage mounted with the liquid discharge head, movable, at least one of a maintenance / recovery mechanism and a main scanning movement mechanism,
The liquid discharge unit according to claim 1, wherein the liquid cartridge is the liquid cartridge according to claim 1.   An apparatus for ejecting liquid, comprising the liquid ejection head according to claim 8 or the liquid ejection unit according to claim 8, wherein the liquid ejection head is driven to eject liquid.   An image forming apparatus comprising the liquid discharge head according to claim 8, the liquid discharge unit according to claim 8, or a device for discharging the liquid according to claim 9.

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