JP2660060B2 - Inkjet cartridge - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a means for keeping a main body of a replacement ink cartridge cartridge in a good condition when stored or transported by leaving it for a relatively long time. The invention relates to an inkjet cartridge having the same.

[Background technology]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an ink jet recording apparatus using mechanical energy or an ink jet recording apparatus using thermal energy has been known. Among the components included in these apparatuses, an ink ejection unit, that is, a recording head unit is used. It occupies a large weight in improving the recording reliability of the device.

However, this ink discharge unit has a problem that the discharge stability may be deteriorated due to the following various phenomena. The phenomenon is as follows: i) Dust may be accumulated in the ink ejection port before the ink jet recording apparatus reaches the user's hand after shipment from the factory, distribution and transportation, and storage.

ii) Evaporation of the ink may cause the ink to adhere to the ink discharge port.

iii) Ink may leak due to external impact.

iv) The ejection port may be deformed by an external impact, and the ejection direction of the ink may become unstable.

It is such a phenomenon.

To solve such a problem, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
As described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-157, the discharge port of the ink discharge port is protected by a discharge port protection tape formed by using vinylidene chloride resin or by evaporating aluminum on a polyester tape.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, there has been a case where a print signal is applied to a printer body without attaching a protective tape in the related art.

Performing the ink ejection operation with the protective tape attached in this way may damage the ink cartridge, or reduce the print quality, especially in an ink cartridge in which the ink tank, the ink ejection section, and the electrical contacts are integrated. There was a risk of deterioration.

[Means for solving the problem]

An ink jet cartridge of the present invention that can solve the above-described problems has a discharge port that discharges ink, an energy generator that generates energy used for discharging ink from the discharge port, and an energy generator. An electrical contact for inputting an applied electrical signal, and one covering member that covers both the discharge port and the electrical contact are provided.

According to the present invention, the discharge port and the electrical contact portion or the electrical contact insertion portion are covered with the same covering member such as a protective tape, and if the protective tape is not removed, the electrical connection between the ink cartridge and the apparatus main body will be made. It is something that can not be taken. As a result, the energy used for discharging the ink while the discharge port is sealed is not given, so that the above-mentioned problem can be solved.

〔Example〕

2 to 6 show a preferred ink jet unit IJU, ink jet head IJH, ink tank IT, ink jet cartridge I to which the present invention is applied or applied.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining each of a JC, an inkjet recording apparatus main body IJRA, and a carriage HC, and a relationship between each; Hereinafter, the configuration of each unit will be described with reference to these drawings.

As can be seen from the perspective view of FIG. 3, the ink cartridge IJC in this example has a large ink storage ratio, and is slightly higher than the front surface of the ink tank IT. The portion has a protruding shape. The ink cartridge IJC is fixedly supported by positioning means and electrical contacts of a cartridge HC (FIG. 5) mounted on the ink jet recording apparatus main body IJRA, and is attached to and detached from the cartridge HC. It is a possible disposable type. FIGS. 2 to 6 show configurations to which a number of new technologies achieved in the stage of establishment of the present invention are applied. I will do it.

(I) Description of the configuration of the ink jet unit IJU The ink jet unit IJU is a bubble jet type unit that performs recording using an electrothermal converter that generates thermal energy for causing film boiling to occur in ink according to an electric signal. It is.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 100 denotes a structure in which a plurality of electrothermal transducers (discharge heaters) arranged on a Si substrate and electric wires such as Al for supplying power thereto are formed by a film forming technique. It is a heater board. Reference numeral 200 denotes a wiring board for the heater board 100, a wiring corresponding to the wiring of the heater board 100 (for example, connected by wire bonding), and a pad 201 located at an end of the wiring and receiving an electric signal from the main unit. have.

1300 is a grooved top plate provided with a partition for dividing a plurality of ink flow paths, a common liquid chamber for storing ink for supplying ink to each ink flow path, and the like.
And an orifice plate 400 having a plurality of ejection ports corresponding to each ink flow path. Polysulfone is preferred as these integral molding materials, but other molding resin materials may be used.

Reference numeral 300 denotes a support made of, for example, metal which supports the back surface of the wiring board 200 in a plane, and serves as a bottom plate of the ink jet unit.
Reference numeral 500 denotes a presser spring, which is M-shaped and presses the common liquid chamber with a light pressure at the center of the M-shape, and concentrates a part of the liquid path, preferably an area near the discharge port, with a linear pressure at the front drooping part 501. Press. By pressing the heater board 100 and the top plate 1300 with the foot portions of the holding springs passing through the holes 3121 of the support body 300 and engaging with the back surface side of the support body 300, the two are engaged with each other in a state where they are sandwiched. The heater board 100 and the top plate 1300 are pressed and fixed by the concentrated biasing force of the spring 500 and the front drooping portion 501. Further, the support 300 is provided with two positioning protrusions 1012 of the ink tank IT and positioning and heat fusion holding protrusions 1800, 1801.
In addition to the positioning holes 312, 1900, and 2000, the positioning protrusions 25 for the carriage HC of the apparatus main body IJRA are provided.
00,2600 on the back side. In addition, the support 300 is provided with an ink supply pipe 22 for supplying ink from the ink tank.
It also has a hole 320 that allows 00 (described below) to penetrate. The attachment of the wiring board 200 to the support 300 is performed by sticking with an adhesive or the like. The recesses 2400, 2400 of the support 300 are provided in the vicinity of the positioning projections 2500, 2600, respectively. In the assembled ink cartridge IJC (FIG. 3), three peripheral sides are parallel grooves. It is located at an extension point of the head tip region formed by a plurality of 3000, 3001 so that unnecessary substances such as dust and ink do not reach the projections 2500, 2600. This parallel groove 3000 is formed. As can be seen in FIG. 5, the lid member 800 forms the outer wall of the ink cartridge IJC and forms a space for accommodating the ink jet unit IJU with the ink tank. Further, the ink supply member 600 in which the parallel groove 3001 is formed forms an ink conduit 1600 continuous with the above-described ink supply tube 2200 as a cantilever with the supply tube 2200 side fixed, and the ink supply tube 2200 is fixed to the fixed side of the ink conduit. Supply pipe
A sealing pin 602 for ensuring a capillary phenomenon with 2200 is inserted. Reference numeral 601 denotes a packing for sealing the ink tank IT and the supply pipe 2200, and 700 denotes a filter provided at the tank side end of the supply pipe.

Since the ink supply member 600 is molded, it is not only inexpensive, has high positional accuracy, and does not eliminate the deterioration in manufacturing accuracy, but also cantilever the conduit 1600 during mass production by the cantilever conduit 1600. Ink port 1500
Can be stabilized. In this example, a more complete communication state can be reliably obtained only by pouring the sealing adhesive from the ink supply member side under the pressure contact state. The fixing of the ink supply member 600 to the support 300 is performed by fixing the ink supply member 60 to the holes 1901 and 1902 of the support 300.
This can be easily performed by making a back side pin (not shown) of No. 0 penetrate and project through the holes 1901 and 1902 of the support body 300 and heat-fusing a portion of the support body 300 protruding to the back side. The slightly protruding area of the heat-sealed rear part is the ink tank IT
Since the ink jet unit IJU is housed in a recess (not shown) on the side wall surface of the ink jet unit IJU, the positioning surface of the unit IJU can be accurately obtained.

(Ii) Ink tank IT configuration description The ink tank is sealed after inserting the cartridge body 1000, the ink absorber 900, and the ink absorber 900 from the side of the cartridge body 1000 opposite to the unit IJU mounting surface. And a lid member 1100 for stopping.

Reference numeral 900 denotes an absorber for impregnating the ink, which is arranged in the cartridge body 1000. 1200 is the above parts 100
A supply port for supplying ink to a unit IJU consisting of ~ 600, and by injecting ink from the supply port 1200 in a step before the unit is arranged in the portion 1010 of the cartridge body 1000, the absorber 900 It is also an inlet for impregnating the ink.

In this example, the portions that can supply ink are the air communication port and this supply port, but the rib 2300 in the main body 1000 and the lid member for performing good ink supply from the ink absorber.
Since the air presence region in the tank formed by the partial ribs 2500 and 2400 of 1100 is continuously formed from the atmosphere communication port 1401 side and formed over the corner area farthest from the ink supply port 1200, It is important that ink is supplied to the absorber relatively well and uniformly from the supply port 1200 side. This method is extremely effective in practice. The rib 1000 has four ribs parallel to the carriage moving direction on the rear surface of the main body 1000 of the ink tank to prevent the absorber from sticking to the rear surface.
Also, the partial ribs 2400, 2500 are similarly provided on the inner surface of the lid member 1100 which is on the extension corresponding to the rib 1000, but unlike the rib 1000, they are in a divided state and the presence of air The space is larger than the former. In addition, partial rib
2500 and 2400 are distributed on a surface that is less than half of the total area of the cover member 1000. With these ribs, the ink in the corner portion farthest from the tank supply port 1200 of the ink absorber could be more stably guided to the supply port 1200 side by capillary force. Reference numeral 1401 denotes an atmosphere communication port provided in the lid member for communicating the inside of the cartridge with the atmosphere. Reference numeral 1400 denotes a liquid-repellent material disposed inside the air communication port 1401, thereby preventing ink from leaking from the air communication port 1400.

The above-described arrangement of the ribs is particularly effective because the ink storage space of the above-described ink tank IT has a rectangular shape and has long sides on the side surfaces, but has a long side in the moving direction of the carriage. Case or cube, cover member 11
By providing a rib on the whole of 00, the ink absorber
Ink supply from 900 can be stabilized. A rectangular parallelepiped shape is suitable for storing ink in a limited space as much as possible, but in order to use this stored ink for recording without waste, as described above, It is important to provide a rib capable of performing the above-mentioned operation in the two surface regions which are close to each other. Furthermore, the inner ribs of the ink tank IT in this embodiment are arranged in a substantially uniform distribution in the thickness direction of the rectangular parallelepiped ink absorber. This configuration is important because it can make the atmospheric heat distribution uniform and almost eliminate the remaining amount of ink with respect to the ink consumption of the entire absorber. Further, if the technical idea on the arrangement of the ribs is described in detail, the position where the ink supply port 1200 of the ink tank is projected on the upper surface of the rectangular parallelepiped is centered.
When an arc having a long side as a radius is drawn, the rib is arranged on a surface outside the arc so that an atmospheric heat state is given to the absorber located outside the arc at an early stage. It is important to: In this case, the atmosphere communication port of the tank is not limited to this example as long as the atmosphere can be introduced into the rib arrangement area.

In addition, in this embodiment, the ink jet cartridge
Flattening the rear surface of the IJC head minimizes the space required when assembled into the device, and minimizes the size of the device by adopting a configuration that maximizes the ink capacity. Not only that, it has an excellent configuration that can reduce the frequency of cartridge replacement. Then, using the rear part of the space for integrating the ink jet unit IJU, there is an air communication port 14 there.
A projecting portion for 01 is formed, and the inside of the projecting portion is hollowed out to form an atmospheric pressure supply space 1402 for the entire thickness of the absorber 900 described above. With such a configuration, an excellent cartridge not seen in the past can be provided. Note that the atmospheric pressure supply space 1402 is a space much larger than the conventional one, and since the air communication port 1401 is located above, even if the ink comes off the absorber due to some abnormality, this atmospheric pressure supply space 1402 does not need to be large. The air pressure supply space 1402 can temporarily hold the ink and can reliably collect the ink in the absorber, so that an excellent cartridge without waste can be provided.

The structure of the mounting surface of the unit IJU of the ink tank IT is shown in FIG. Orifice plate
Through the approximate center of the projection port 400, when L ₁ and a straight line parallel to the mounting reference plane of the surface of the bottom or carriage of the tank IT, the two engaging in the hole 312 of the support 300 positioned protrusion 1012 are on the straight line L _1. The height of the protrusion 1012 is slightly lower than the thickness of the support 300, and the support 300 is positioned. This is on the extension of the straight line L ₁ in the drawing is located pawl 2100 engagement surface 4002 of the 90 ° angle of the positioning hook 4001 of the carriage is engaged, the acting force of the positioning relative to the carriage is the straight line L ₁ And is configured to operate in a plane region parallel to the reference plane. As will be described later with reference to FIG.
These relationships are effective because the positioning accuracy of only the ink tank is equivalent to the positioning accuracy of the head ejection port.

Also, fixing holes 1900,
The protrusions 1800 and 1801 of the ink tank corresponding to 2000 are longer than the protrusions 1012 described above, and are used for fixing the support 300 to the side surface by heat-fusing the portion protruding through the support 300. It is. Assuming that a straight line L ₃ perpendicular to the above-described line L ₁ and passing through the projection 1800 and a straight line passing through the projection 1801 is L ₂ , a straight line L ₃
Since the center of the supply port 1200 is located almost at the top, it acts to stabilize the connection between the supply unit port 1200 and the supply pipe 2200, and reduces the load on these connection states even when dropped or impacted This is a preferable configuration because it is possible. Also, straight lines L ₂ and L ₃
Do not match, and there are protrusions 1800, 1801 around the protrusion 1012 on the discharge port side of the head IJH.
This has the effect of reinforcing the positioning with respect to the tank.
Incidentally, the curve indicated by L ₄ represents a outer wall position when mounting of the ink supply member 600. Since the projections 1800 and 1801 are along the curve L _4, which give the position accuracy and sufficient strength against the weight of the distal configuration of the head IJH. Reference numeral 2700 denotes a tip of the ink tank IT, which is inserted into a hole of the front plate 4000 of the carriage and provided for an abnormal time when the displacement of the ink tank becomes extremely bad. Reference numeral 2101 denotes a retainer for the carriage, which is provided for a bar (not shown) of the carriage HC.The cartridge IJC enters below the bar at a position where the cartridge IJC is pivotally mounted as described later, and is unnecessarily detached from the positioning position. This is a protection member for maintaining the mounted state even when a force acts in the upward direction.

After the ink tank IT is installed with the unit IJU, the lid 8
By covering with the 00, the unit IJU is surrounded except for the lower opening, but as the inkjet cartridge IJC, the lower opening for mounting on the carriage HC is close to the carriage HC, so it is substantially A four-sided surrounding space is formed. Therefore, the head IJH in this enclosed space
Although the heat generated from is effective as a heat retaining space in the space, the temperature rises slightly for long-term continuous use. For this reason, in this example, a slit 1700 with a width smaller than this space is provided on the upper surface of the cartridge IJC to help natural heat radiation of the support, and the temperature distribution of the entire unit IJL is uniform while preventing the temperature rise. Was made independent of the environment.

When assembled as an ink cartridge IJC, the ink is supplied from the inside of the cartridge to the supply port 1200 and the support.
After being supplied into the supply tank 600 through the hole 320 provided in the 300 and the introduction port provided on the inside and back side of the supply tank 600, and passing through the inside thereof, an appropriate supply pipe and
It flows into the common liquid chamber via the ink inlet 1500 of 0. A packing made of, for example, silicon rubber or butyl rubber is provided at the connection portion for ink communication described above, whereby sealing is performed to secure an ink supply path.

In this example, the top plate 1300 is made of a resin such as polysulfone, polyethersulfone, polyphenylene oxide, or polypropylene having excellent ink resistance,
Together with the orifice plate part 400, they are integrally molded in a mold.

As described above, the integrally molded component is an ink supply member 600,
Top plate and orifice plate integrated, ink tank body 1000
As a result, not only the assembling accuracy becomes high, but also it is extremely effective in improving the quality of mass production. Also, since the number of parts can be reduced as compared with the conventional case, excellent desired characteristics can be surely exhibited.

Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the ink supply member 600 has the upper surface 603 of the slit 17 of the ink tank IT in the assembled shape.
3, a slit S is formed as shown in FIG.
Head side end 401 of the thin plate member to which the lower lid 800 is bonded
Slit similar to slit S above (not shown)
Is formed. The slits between the ink tank IT and the ink supply member 600 substantially perform the function of further promoting the heat radiation of the slit 1700, and
Even if there is unnecessary pressure applied to IT, it is supplied directly to
In other words, it prevents the effect on the inkjet unit IJT.

In any case, the above-described configuration of the present embodiment is a configuration that has not existed in the past, and each has an effective effect alone, and also has an organic configuration due to the complex requirements of each component. ing.

(Iii) Attaching explanation of ink cartridge IJC to carriage HC In FIG. 5, reference numeral 5000 denotes a platen roller, which guides the recording medium P upward from below the sheet. The carriage HC moves along the platen roller 3000. The front plate 4000 (2 mm in thickness) located on the front side of the ink cartridge IJC and the pad of the wiring board 200 of the cartridge IJC are provided on the front platen side of the carriage. Pad 2011 corresponding to 201
Sheet having a flexible pad 4005 and a rubber pad sheet 4007 for generating an elastic force for pressing the pad against each pad 2011 from the back side thereof.
4003 and a positioning hook 4001 for fixing the ink cartridge IJC to the recording position. The front plate 4000 has two positioning projections 4010 corresponding to the positioning projections 2500 and 2600 of the cartridge support 300, respectively.
Receive a vertical force towards. For this reason, the reinforcing rib has a plurality of ribs (not shown) on the platen roller side of the front plate that are oriented in the direction of the vertical force. The ribs are slightly (approximately than the front position L ₅ of Katoritsuji IJC when mounted
(Approximately 0.1 mm) A head protection projection protruding toward the platen roller is also formed. Support plate for electrical connection 4003
Has a plurality of reinforcing ribs 4004 not in the direction of the ribs but in the vertical direction, and the projecting ratio is reduced laterally from the platen side toward the hook 4001 side. This also has the function of tilting the position when the cartridge is mounted as shown in the figure. Further, in order to stabilize the electrical contact state, the support plate 4003 is provided with a positioning surface 4006 on the hook side for exerting an acting force on the cartridge in a direction opposite to the acting direction of the two projecting surfaces 4010 on the cartridge. Two corresponding to the protruding surface 4010 to form a pad contact area therebetween, and a padded rubber sheet 40 for pad 2011.
Uniquely defines the amount of deformation of the 07 button. When these positioning surfaces are fixed at positions where the cartridge IJC can record, they come into contact with the surface of the wiring board 300. In this example, the line L ₁ which further pads 201 of the wiring board 300 described above
Are distributed so as to be symmetric with respect to each other.
The contact pressure of 01 is more stabilized. The distribution of the pads 201 in this example is two rows above and two rows below and two rows vertically.

The hook 4001 has a long hole that engages with the fixed shaft 4009, and after rotating counterclockwise from the position shown in the drawing using the moving space of the long hole, moves leftward along the platen roller 5000. By moving, the inkjet cartridge IJC is positioned with respect to the carriage HC. Although the hook 4001 can be moved in any manner, a configuration in which the hook 4001 can be moved by a lever or the like is preferable. In any case, when the hook 4001 rotates, the cartridge IJC moves to the platen roller side while the positioning projections 2500 and 2600 move to positions where the positioning protrusions 2500 and 2600 can contact the positioning surface 4010 of the front plate, and the hook 4001 moves to the left. The 90 ° hook surface 4002 is brought into close contact with the 90 ° surface of the cartridge IJC claw 2100 while rotating the cartridge IJC in the horizontal plane around the contact area between the positioning surfaces 2500 and 4010 and finally the pads 201 and 20.
Contact of 11 comrades begins. And hook 4001 is in the predetermined position,
That is, when held at the fixed position, the pads 201 and 2011 have a complete contact state, the positioning surfaces 2500 and 4010 have a complete contact, the 90-degree surface 4002 and the 90-degree surface of the claw have two contact surfaces, and 30
0 and the surface contact with the positioning surface 4006 are simultaneously formed, and the holding of the cartridge IJC with respect to the carriage is completed.

(Iv) Schematic description of apparatus main body FIG. 6 shows an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.
In the outline view of IJRA, the carriage HC that engages with the spiral groove 5004 of the lead screw 5005 that rotates via the driving force transmission gears 50111 and 5009 in conjunction with the forward and reverse rotation of the drive motor 5013
Has a pin (not shown) and is reciprocated in the directions of arrows a and b. Reference numeral 5002 denotes a paper pressing plate, which presses the paper against the platen 5000 in the carriage movement direction. Reference numerals 5007 and 5008 denote home position detecting means for confirming the presence of the carriage lever 5006 in this region by photocouplers and switching the rotation direction of the motor 5013. Reference numeral 5016 denotes a member for supporting a cap member 5022 for capping the front surface of the recording head. Reference numeral 5015 denotes suction means for sucking the inside of the cap, and recovering the suction of the recording head through the opening 5023 in the cap. 50
Numeral 17 denotes a cleaning blade, and numeral 5019 denotes a member which enables the blade to move in the front-rear direction. These members are supported by a main body support plate 5018. It goes without saying that the blade is not limited to this form, and a well-known cleaning blade can be applied to this embodiment. Reference numeral 5012 denotes a lever for starting suction for recovery of suction, which moves with the movement of the cam 5020 that engages with the carriage, and controls the movement of the drive force from the drive motor by a known transmission means such as clutch switching. Is done.

These capping, cleaning and suction recovery
When the carriage comes to the home position side area, it is configured so that the desired processing can be performed at the corresponding position by the action of the lead screw 5005, but if the desired operation is performed at a known timing, Either can be applied to this example. Each of the configurations described above is an excellent invention when viewed alone or in combination, and shows preferred configuration examples for the present invention.

In order to describe in detail the present invention which is technically related to the above-mentioned FIGS. 2 to 6, the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

 FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

Reference numeral 1 denotes an ink tank, 2 denotes an absorber (porous body) impregnated with ink in the ink tank 1, 4 denotes an ink discharge unit (also referred to as an ink jet unit), and 5 denotes an atmosphere for communicating the inside of the ink tank 1 with the atmosphere. A communication port 6 is an electrical contact for inputting a print signal from the printer main body, and 7 (hatched member) is a protective tape as a covering member that covers and protects both the ink discharge unit 4 and the electrical contact 6. .

When a print signal is given from the printer body via the electrical contact 6, ink is discharged from the discharge port of the ink discharge unit 4 in accordance with the print signal, and printing is performed on recording paper. The ink is supplied from the porous body 3 in the ink tank 1 by the capillary force of the supply path. Also, the structure is such that the air for the consumed ink can flow in from the air communication port 5 so that the inside of the ink tank 1 does not have an excessive negative pressure.

A contact portion 9a having a contact 9 with the electric contact 6 of the ink jet unit 4 is provided on a carriage 15 on the printer body side, and is connected to the printer body side via a flexible cable 16. The ink cartridge is connected to the contact portion 9a on the printer carriage 15.
Is mounted so as to be inserted into the inside from the opening 6a. At this time, since the same band-shaped protective tape 7 that protects both the ejection ports of the ink ejection section 4 is attached to the insertion section, the ink jet cartridge must be attached after being removed. This protective tape protects the discharge port of the ink discharge section 4 as shown in FIG. 1 and blocks the contact section 9a having the contact 9 on the printer side from being inserted into the internal space of the ink cartridge. In this case, the shape, length, application method, and the like of the tape are not limited, and may be determined based on ease of application, cost, and the like.

Since the opening 6b is a thin slit, the contact
9a or fingers do not get inside.

Sealing the protective tape on the discharge port of the ink discharge section 4 can prevent the discharge section from being stained by hand or other external factors before use.
This has the effect of preventing scratches and the like and preventing the ink inside the ejection port from leaking outside.

The protective tape is attached using an adhesive, but since it directly touches the ink, it is preferable to use a tape having good ink resistance.

In this embodiment, polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
A tape provided with a silicone-based or acrylic-based pressure-sensitive adhesive layer having good ink resistance on a substrate was used.

Also, to prevent ink leakage from the discharge port, 100g / 25m
m ~ 1500g / 25mm Adhesive strength, and when it is left at the discharge port when peeled, it may pinch the discharge port or degrade the print quality, it is preferable that the adhesive does not remain .

 FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

The ink cartridge of the present embodiment is of a type in which an electric contact portion is provided on an outer surface of a main body of the ink cartridge. Unlike the first embodiment, the contacts on the printer side are pressed from the side,
Since the protective tape is applied to the electrical contacts of the ink jet cartridge body, electrical connection cannot be established unless the tape is removed. Therefore, even if the ink jet cartridge is mistakenly attached to the printer main body, the ink is not ejected, and the ink jet head is not damaged. Further, since the electrical contacts of the ink cartridge are also protected at the same time, there is no possibility of contact failure due to dirt or scratches before use.

The covering member according to the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned tape-shaped member, but is excellent in that it is easy to handle (for example, it is easy to peel off) and that the discharge port is kept airtight. The tape type is most suitable because it is thin, has little effect on the size of the ink jet cartridge, and can be formed at a relatively low cost.

The present invention brings about an excellent effect particularly in a recording head and a recording apparatus of a bubble jet system among ink jet recording systems.

Regarding the representative configuration and principle, it is preferable to use the basic principle disclosed in, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740,796. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and the continuous type. In particular, in the case of the on-demand type, it is arranged corresponding to a sheet or a liquid path holding a liquid (ink). By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recording information and providing a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling to the electrothermal transducer, heat energy is generated in the electrothermal transducer, thereby reducing the recording head. This is effective because the film can be boiled on the heat acting surface, so that bubbles in the liquid (ink) can be formed one by one corresponding to the drive signal. The liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection opening by the growth and contraction of the bubble to form at least one droplet. When the drive signal is formed into a pulse shape, the growth and shrinkage of the bubble are performed immediately and appropriately, so that the ejection of liquid (ink) having particularly excellent responsiveness can be achieved, which is more preferable. As the pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,434,262 are suitable. Further, if the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 relating to the invention relating to the temperature rise rate of the heat acting surface are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As a configuration of the recording head, in addition to a combination configuration of a discharge port, a liquid path, and an electrothermal converter (a linear liquid flow path or a right-angled liquid flow path) as disclosed in each of the above-mentioned specifications, a heat acting section Configurations using U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,600, which disclose configurations arranged in a region where light is refracted, are also included in the present invention. In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Sho.
The present invention is also effective in a configuration based on Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 138461/1984, which discloses a configuration in which an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy corresponds to a discharge portion.

Further, as a full-line type recording head having a length corresponding to the width of the maximum recording medium that can be recorded by the recording apparatus, the length is determined by a combination of a plurality of recording heads as disclosed in the above specification. The present invention can exhibit the above-mentioned effects more effectively, though it may be either a structure that satisfies the condition or a structure as a single recording head formed integrally.

In addition, it is provided integrally with a replaceable chip-type storage head or the recording head itself, which can be electrically connected to the apparatus main body and supplied with ink from the apparatus main body by being attached to the apparatus main body. The present invention is also effective when a cartridge type recording head is used.

Further, it is preferable to add recovery means for the recording head, preliminary auxiliary means, and the like provided as components of the recording apparatus of the present invention since the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. More specifically, a preheating means for the recording head by a capping means, a cleaning means, a pressure or suction means, an electrothermal transducer or another heating element or a combination thereof. Performing a preliminary ejection mode in which ejection is performed separately from printing is also effective for performing stable printing.

Further, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to the recording mode of only the mainstream color such as black, and the recording head may be integrally formed or a combination of a plurality of recording heads. The present invention is extremely effective for an apparatus having at least one of the full colors.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the ejection port and the electrical contact portion or the electrical contact insertion portion are protected by a covering member such as the same protective tape so that the ink jet cartridge can be mounted on the printer. Since the electrical connection between the two cannot be established unless the cover member is removed, a print signal is not given to the energy generator while the discharge port is covered, eliminating the erroneous operation and head damage caused by the conventional operation. it can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an ink jet cartridge according to one embodiment of the present invention. 2 and 3 are an exploded perspective view and an assembled perspective view of the ink cartridge body of FIG. 1, respectively. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an ink tank of the ink jet cartridge main body of FIG. 1 as viewed from a side where an ink jet unit is mounted. FIG. 5 is a top view showing a place where the ink cartridge body of FIG. 1 is mounted on the carriage. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a main part of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the ink cartridge body of FIG. 1 is attached. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an ink jet cartridge according to another embodiment of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Ink tank 2 ... Absorber (porous body) 4 ... Ink ejection port 5 ... Atmospheric communication port 6 ... Electric contact 7 ... Protective tape 15 ... Carrier 16 ... Cable

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Norifumi Hattori 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Masami Ikeda 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Within Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Asao Saito 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Kazuaki Masuda 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Akio Saito 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Tsuyoshi Orikasa 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (56) References JP-A-62-55146 (JP, A)

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] A discharge port for discharging ink, an energy generator for generating energy used for discharging ink from the discharge port, and an electric signal for inputting an electric signal applied to the energy generator. An ink cartridge, comprising: an electrical contact; and a covering member that covers both the discharge port and the electrical contact. 2. An ink jet cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said covering member is a sealing member which seals both said discharge port and said electric contact in close contact with each other. 3. The electric contact according to claim 1, wherein the electrical contact is disposed in an internal space of the ink jet cartridge, and the cover member is a seal member that seals the discharge port and closes the internal space. The ink jet cartridge according to claim 1, wherein 4. The ink jet cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising an ink tank for storing ink ejected from said ejection port. 5. The ink jet cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the energy generator is an electrothermal converter that generates thermal energy as the energy.