JP2020100159A - Ink tank and ink jet recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an ink tank such that it can be inspected whether a lid part of the ink tank is bonded normally.SOLUTION: An ink tank according to the present invention comprises: a first storage chamber having a supply port for supplying ink to a recording head discharging the ink; a second storage chamber having an atmosphere introduction port capable of introducing the atmosphere; a partition wall which partitions off the first storage chamber and second storage chamber; and a communication path provided to the partition wall to allow the first storage chamber and second storage chamber to communicate with each other. The ink tank according to the present invention comprises: a first lid part which covers an opening part of the first storage chamber without reaching an opening part of the second storage chamber; and a second lid part which covers the opening part of the second storage chamber without reaching the opening part of the first storage chamber.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to an ink tank used in an inkjet recording apparatus that ejects ink to record an image, and an inkjet recording apparatus including the ink tank.

Patent Document 1 discloses an ink storage chamber for storing ink, an ink supply port provided in the ink storage chamber, an atmosphere release channel for introducing external air into the ink storage chamber as ink is consumed, and an atmosphere release. An ink tank including an air chamber provided in the middle of a flow path is disclosed.

According to the ink tank, even if the air in the ink containing chamber is thermally expanded due to a change in the environmental temperature and the ink in the ink containing chamber flows back through the atmosphere opening flow path, the ink is contained in the air chamber, Can be prevented from leaking outside.

JP, 2007-253328, A

The ink tank described in Patent Document 1 needs to be provided with a lid portion that covers the opening portion of the ink storage chamber and the opening portion of the air chamber in the manufacturing process, and it is necessary to bond them. At this time, if there is an adhesion failure due to heat welding or ultrasonic welding, or a defective part such as a step or a recess between the ink storage chamber and the air chamber, the lid is not properly adhered and a gap is left on the adhesion surface. May occur. When such a gap is created, air enters the ink containing chamber through the gap portion rather than through the atmosphere open flow path. As a result, the function of the air chamber for preventing the ink from leaking outside may not be fully exerted.

In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide an ink tank capable of inspecting whether or not the lid of the ink tank is properly bonded.

The ink tank according to the present invention has a first storage chamber that has a supply port for supplying ink to a recording head that ejects ink, and an air introduction port that can introduce external air. And a partition wall for partitioning the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber, and a connection provided on the partition wall for communicating the first storage chamber with the second storage chamber. An ink tank including a passage, a first lid portion that covers the opening of the first storage chamber without covering the opening of the second storage chamber, and an opening of the first storage chamber. And a second lid portion that covers the opening of the second storage chamber without fail.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an ink tank capable of inspecting whether or not the lid portion of the ink tank is properly bonded.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an inkjet recording device that uses the ink tank according to the first embodiment of the invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the ink tank according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a side view of the ink tank according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram at the time of leak inspection of the ink tank according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 3A and 3B are a perspective view and a side view of an ink tank according to a conventional technique. It is a perspective view of an ink tank according to a second embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view of an ink tank according to a third embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view of an ink tank according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an inkjet recording device that uses an ink tank according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view of an ink tank according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. It is a side view of an ink tank according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram at the time of leak inspection of the ink tank according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of an inkjet recording apparatus in which an ink tank (ink cartridge) according to the first embodiment of the present invention is used. The inkjet recording apparatus 1 includes a cassette 2 on which a recording medium (sheet) P is stacked, a feeding roller 3 that feeds the recording medium P, a conveying roller 4 that conveys the recording medium P, and an ejection port that ejects ink. And a discharge roller 6 for discharging the recording medium P.

The recording media P loaded on the cassette 2 are separated one by one by the feeding roller 3, and are fed to the conveying roller 4 while being guided by the paper guide. The recording medium P that has reached the conveyance roller 4 is nipped by the conveyance roller 4 and the pinch roller 5, and is conveyed to a position facing the recording head 10 while being supported by the platen 8 from below. The recording head 10 is detachably mounted on the carriage. The carriage is supported so as to be movable in a direction intersecting with the recording medium conveyance direction. On the conveyed recording medium P, ink is ejected by the recording head 10 while the carriage moves, and an image for one band is formed. The recording medium on which the image for one band is formed is intermittently conveyed by a predetermined amount for forming an image for the next one band. An image is formed on the entire recording medium by alternately repeating the intermittent conveying operation and the image forming operation. The recording medium P on which an image is formed is nipped and conveyed by the discharge roller 6 and the spur 7, and is discharged to a discharge tray (not shown).

Next, the configuration of the ink tank according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the ink tank according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2B is a perspective view of FIG. 2A viewed from the opposite side. FIG. 3 is a side view of the ink tank according to this embodiment. FIG. 3A is a side view of the ink tank 21 seen from the direction A1 in FIG. FIG. 3B is a side view when the ink tank 21 is viewed from the A2 direction in FIG.

The ink tank 21 is detachably mounted on a mounting portion provided on the carriage. The ink tanks 21 are attached respectively for corresponding ink colors (for example, black Bk, cyan C, magenta M, and yellow Y). The ink tank 21 stores ink to be supplied to the recording head 10. The ink tank 21 includes a tank container 22, a first lid portion 23, and a second lid portion 24. The ink tank 21 has an ink storage chamber (first storage chamber) 201 that is a space that stores ink, and an air storage chamber (second storage chamber) 202 that is a space that stores air. The air containing chamber 202 is provided above the ink containing chamber 201. A partition wall 26 partitions the ink storage chamber 201 and the air storage chamber 202. The opening of the ink storage chamber 201 is covered by the first lid 23. The opening of the air storage chamber 202 is covered with the second lid 24. An ink supply port 25 for connecting and communicating the ink storage chamber 201 and the ink receiving portion of the recording head 10 is provided on the bottom surface of the ink storage chamber 201. Further, on the upper surface of the air containing chamber 202, an atmosphere introducing port 27 that communicates with the atmosphere and can introduce outside air into the ink containing chamber 201 as the ink in the ink containing chamber 201 is consumed is provided. The partition wall 26 between the ink storage chamber 201 and the air storage chamber 202 is provided with a minute communication portion (communication passage) 28. The communication passage 28 connects the ink storage chamber 201 and the air storage chamber 202. The ink storage chamber 201 communicates with the atmosphere at the atmosphere introduction port 27 via the communication passage 28 and the air storage chamber 202. The air containing chamber 202 normally contains air. However, when the ink flows back through the communication passage 28 due to thermal expansion of the air in the ink containing chamber 201, the ink does not leak outside. Ink can be stored inside.

The tank container 22 and the first lid portion 23 forming the ink containing chamber 201, and the tank container 22 and the second lid portion 24 forming the air containing chamber 202 are adhered by means of ultrasonic welding or heat welding, respectively. It After the adhesion, a leak inspection (leak check) described later is performed to inspect whether each is normally adhered. The leak inspection is for inspecting the adhesive surface of the ink tank 21 for a gap. If there is a gap, the ink in the ink tank 21 may leak to the outside, and the ink that has flowed back due to thermal expansion or the like cannot be stored in the air storage chamber 202.

Next, a leak inspection method according to this embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram at the time of leak inspection of the ink tank according to the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the pressure pump 151 is attached to the air introduction port 27 of the ink tank 21 during the leak inspection. A pressure measuring device 152 is attached to the ink supply port 25 of the ink tank 21. Then, the pressure inside the ink tank 21 is measured by the pressure measuring device 152 while the air is sent into the inside of the ink tank 21 by the pressurizing pump 151. At this time, if the pressure inside the ink tank 21 is increased, it can be seen that the bonding surface is bonded normally without a gap. On the other hand, if the internal pressure does not increase even when the air is sent into the ink tank 21, it can be seen that the air leaks out from the adhesive surface of the ink tank 21 to the outside.

As shown in FIG. 5, the conventional ink tank 31 has a structure in which a single lid 33 that covers the ink storage chamber 301 and the air storage chamber 302 is bonded to the tank container 32. In the ink tank 31 having such a configuration, when the above-described leak test is performed, it is possible to check whether or not the outer peripheral portions of the tank container 32 and the lid portion 33 are properly bonded. However, it cannot be inspected whether or not the partition wall 36 for partitioning the ink storage chamber 301 and the air storage chamber 302 and the lid 33 are properly bonded.

In the present embodiment, the opening of the ink storage chamber 201 and the opening of the air storage chamber 202 are formed on different surfaces, and the first lid 23 that covers the opening of the ink storage chamber 201 and the opening of the air storage chamber 202. The second lid portion 24 that covers the portion is separately bonded to the tank container 22. Therefore, in the above-described leak inspection, not only the outer peripheral portion of the tank container 22 but also the first lid portion 23 and the partition wall 26 and the second lid portion 24 and the partition wall 26 are normally bonded. You can also inspect whether or not you are. As a result, it is possible to identify the ink tank whose function is guaranteed.

As described above, according to the ink tank of the present embodiment, it is possible to inspect by the above-described leak inspection whether or not the lid portion of the ink tank is properly bonded.

In the present invention, the space provided in the ink tank is not limited to the ink containing chamber and the air containing chamber, but the first containing chamber contains the negative pressure generating member that holds the ink and the second containing chamber. The chamber may contain the ink supplied to the first storage chamber. Even in this case, as in the case of the first embodiment, since the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber can be formed by the two lids, the ink tank of which the function is guaranteed is identified by the similar leak test. be able to.

(Second embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The description of the same configuration as that of the first embodiment will be omitted, and only different portions will be described.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the ink tank 41 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The ink tank 41 according to the present embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the orientation of the opening of the ink containing chamber 401 and the opening of the air containing chamber 402. In the present embodiment, the ink storage chamber 401 has an opening on the side surface of the ink tank 41. On the other hand, the air storage chamber 402 has an opening on the bottom surface of the ink tank 41. Therefore, the first lid 43 that covers the opening of the ink storage chamber 401 is bonded from the side surface, and the second lid 44 that covers the opening of the air storage chamber 402 is bonded from the bottom.

Even in the case where the ink tank 41 is configured in this manner, the leak inspection shown in FIG. 4 allows the space between the first lid portion 43 and the partition wall 46 and the space between the second lid portion 44 and the partition wall 46. Can be inspected to see if they are properly bonded.

As described above, also in the present embodiment, the effect of the present invention can be obtained as in the first embodiment.

(Third Embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. The description of the same configuration as that of the first embodiment will be omitted, and only different portions will be described.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the ink tank 51 according to the third embodiment of the invention. In the ink tank 51 according to the present embodiment, the opening of the ink storage chamber 501 and the opening of the air storage chamber 502 are provided on the same side surface of the ink tank 51. A step is provided between the partition wall 56 that partitions the ink storage chamber 501 and the air storage chamber 502. With such a configuration, the opening of the ink containing chamber 501 and the opening of the air containing chamber 502 are not bonded by one lid, but the first lid 53 and the second lid are provided for each opening. 54 and 54 are adhered. The first lid portion 53 covers the opening of the ink storage chamber 501 without covering the opening of the air storage chamber 502. The second lid portion 54 covers the opening of the air storage chamber 502 without covering the opening of the ink storage chamber 501. As described above, in the ink containing chamber 501, a space is formed by the tank container 52 and the first lid portion 53. Further, in the air storage chamber 502, a space is formed by the tank container 52 and the second lid portion 54. The ink storage chamber 501 and the air storage chamber 502 communicate with each other through a communication passage 58.

Even in the case where the ink tank 51 has such a configuration, the leak inspection shown in FIG. 4 shows that the space between the first lid portion 53 and the partition wall 56 and the space between the second lid portion 54 and the partition wall 56. Can be inspected to see if they are properly bonded.

As described above, also in the present embodiment, the effects of the present invention can be obtained as in the above embodiment.

(Fourth Embodiment)
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The description of the same configuration as that of the first embodiment will be omitted, and only different portions will be described.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the ink tank 61 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the ink tank 61 according to the present embodiment, the opening portion of the ink storage chamber 601 and the opening portion of the air storage chamber 602 are provided on the same side surface of the ink tank 51. Further, no step is provided between the ink containing chamber 501 and the partition wall 56 that partitions the air containing chamber 502. However, the first lid 63 and the second lid 64 are separately bonded to the partition wall 66. The first lid 63 covers the opening of the ink storage chamber 601 without covering the opening of the air storage chamber 602. The second lid 64 covers the opening of the air storage chamber 602 without covering the opening of the ink storage chamber 601. As described above, in the ink storage chamber 601, a space is formed by the tank container 62 and the first lid 63. A space is formed in the air storage chamber 602 by the tank container 62 and the second lid 64. The ink storage chamber 601 and the air storage chamber 602 communicate with each other through a communication passage 68.

Even in the case where the ink tank 61 has such a configuration, the leak inspection shown in FIG. 4 shows that the gap between the first lid portion 63 and the partition wall 66 and the gap between the second lid portion 64 and the partition wall 66 are large. Can be inspected to see if they are properly bonded.

As described above, also in the present embodiment, the effects of the present invention can be obtained as in the above embodiment.

(Fifth Embodiment)
Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The description of the same configuration as that of the first embodiment will be omitted, and only different portions will be described.

FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an inkjet recording device that uses an ink tank according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. The ink jet recording apparatus 101 according to the present embodiment is provided with an ink tank 112 on the front surface of the apparatus main body. The ink tank 112 is provided for each corresponding ink color (for example, black Bk, cyan C, magenta M, and yellow Y). The ink tank 112 and the recording head 110 mounted on the carriage are connected by a supply tube 111. The ink contained in the ink tank 112 is supplied to the recording head 110 via the supply tube 111.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an ink tank according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10B is a perspective view of FIG. 10A viewed from the opposite side. FIG. 11 is a side view of the ink tank according to this embodiment. FIG. 11A is a side view of the ink tank 112 seen from the direction C1 in FIG. FIG. 11B is a side view when the ink tank 112 is viewed from the C2 direction in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 10A, an ink injection port 71 for a user to inject ink is provided on the upper surface of the ink tank 112. A tank cap 113 for closing the ink injection port 71 is attached to the ink injection port 71. When the amount of ink in the ink tank 112 becomes low, the user removes the tank cap 113 to expose the ink injection port 71, and injects the ink from the ink injection port 71, so that the ink is stored in the ink tank 112. Ink can be replenished.

The ink tank 112 includes a tank container 72, a first lid portion 73, and a second lid portion 74. The ink tank 112 has an ink storage chamber (first storage chamber) 701 that is a space that stores ink, and an air storage chamber (second storage chamber) 702 that is a space that stores air. The air containing chamber 702 is provided above the ink containing chamber 701. A partition wall 76 partitions the ink storage chamber 701 and the air storage chamber 702. The opening of the ink containing chamber 701 is covered with the first lid 73. The opening of the air storage chamber 702 is covered with the second lid 74. An ink supply port 75 for connecting a supply tube that connects the ink storage chamber 701 and the recording head is provided near the bottom surface of the ink storage chamber 701. Further, on the upper surface of the air containing chamber 702, there is provided an atmosphere introducing port 77 which communicates with the atmosphere and can introduce outside air into the ink containing chamber 701 as the ink in the ink containing chamber 701 is consumed. The partition wall 76 between the ink storage chamber 701 and the air storage chamber 702 is provided with a minute communication portion (communication passage) 78. The ink storage chamber 701 and the air storage chamber 702 communicate with each other through the communication passage 78. The ink containing chamber 701 communicates with the atmosphere at the atmosphere introducing port 77 via the communication passage 78 and the air containing chamber 702. The air containing chamber 702 normally contains air. However, when the ink flows back through the communication passage 28 due to thermal expansion of the air in the ink containing chamber 701, the ink does not leak outside. It can contain ink.

Next, a leak inspection method according to this embodiment will be described. FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram at the time of leak inspection of the ink tank according to the present embodiment. In this embodiment, the pressure pump 161 is attached to the air introduction port 77 of the ink tank 112 during the leak inspection. A pressure measuring device 152 is attached to the ink supply port 75 of the ink tank 112. The ink inlet 71 of the ink tank 112 is closed by the valve 163. Then, while the pressure pump 161 sends air into the ink tank 112, the pressure measuring device 162 measures the pressure inside the ink tank 112. At this time, if the pressure inside the ink tank 112 is increasing, it can be seen that the bonding surface is normally bonded without a gap. On the other hand, if the internal pressure does not increase even when the air is sent into the ink tank 112, it can be seen that the air leaks out from the adhesive surface of the ink tank 121 to the outside.

In this embodiment, the opening of the ink storage chamber 701 and the opening of the air storage chamber 702 are formed on different surfaces, and the first lid 73 that covers the opening of the ink storage chamber 701 and the opening of the air storage chamber 702. The second lid portion 74 that covers the portion is separately bonded to the tank container 72. Therefore, in the above-mentioned leak inspection, not only the outer peripheral portion of the tank container 72, but also the first lid portion 73 and the partition wall 76 and the second lid portion 74 and the partition wall 76 are normally bonded. You can also inspect whether or not you are. As a result, it is possible to identify the ink tank whose function is guaranteed.

As described above, according to the ink tank of the present embodiment, it is possible to inspect by the above-described leak inspection whether or not the lid portion of the ink tank is properly bonded.

21 Ink Tank 22 Tank Container 23 First Lid 24 Second Lid 25 Ink Supply Port 26 Partition Wall 27 Atmosphere Inlet 28 Communication Passage 201 Ink Storage Chamber 202 Air Storage Chamber

Claims (2)

A first storage chamber having a supply port for supplying ink to a recording head that discharges ink, and storing the ink;
A second accommodating chamber for accommodating air, which has an air introduction port capable of introducing external air;
A partition wall for partitioning the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber;
An ink tank comprising: a communication passage that is provided in the partition wall and that connects the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber.
A first lid that covers the opening of the first storage chamber without covering the opening of the second storage chamber;
An ink tank, comprising: a second lid portion that covers the opening of the second storage chamber without covering the opening of the first storage chamber. A carriage that is detachably mounted with the recording head and is movable,
An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: the ink tank according to claim 1.

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