JP2951818B2 - Replaceable ink cartridge for inkjet - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a replaceable ink jet ink cartridge for storing ink to be supplied to an ink jet recording head.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An ink container used in an ink jet recording apparatus can supply ink in an amount corresponding to the amount of ink ejected from a recording head at the time of recording. It is required that there is no ink leakage.

When the ink container is of a replaceable type, it is required that the ink container can be smoothly attached and detached, there is no ink leakage at that time, and the ink can be reliably supplied to the recording head.

[0004] The ink container used in the conventional ink jet recording apparatus has a structure disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-87242 (hereinafter referred to as a first conventional example), that is, a foam material is arranged in the ink container. There is an ink jet recording cartridge provided with a plurality of ink ejection orifices. In this ink container, since the ink is stored in a porous medium such as a polyurethane foam, which is a foaming material, it is possible to generate a negative pressure due to the capillary force of the foam and to retain the ink (prevent ink leakage from the ink container). is there.

[0005] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-522 (hereinafter referred to as "
In the related art, there is disclosed an ink jet recording cartridge in which a porous member is connected between a primary ink storing section and a secondary ink storing section and between a secondary ink storing section and an ink jet recording head. . In the present invention, the use efficiency of the ink is improved by disposing the porous member only in the ink flow path without being built in the ink storage section. In addition, by providing the secondary ink storage unit, the ink flowing out of the primary ink storage unit is stored by the air expansion of the primary ink storage unit due to the temperature rise (pressure drop), and the negative pressure applied to the print head at the time of printing is reduced. Is maintained substantially constant.

[0006]

However, in the first conventional example, since the foam is required almost entirely in the ink storage layer, the filling amount of the ink is limited and the ink is not used in the foam. There has been a problem that the amount of remaining ink has increased and ink use efficiency has been poor. Further, there is a problem that it is difficult to detect the remaining amount of the ink and it is difficult to make the negative pressure substantially constant during the ink consumption period.

In the second prior art, when the recording is not performed, the ink is sufficiently impregnated in the porous medium because the negative pressure generating medium is disposed in the ink flow path. There has been a problem that the negative pressure due to the capillary force of the quality medium is insufficient, and the ink leaks from the orifice of the ink jet recording head due to a slight impact.
In the case of an exchangeable ink cartridge in which the ink jet recording head is formed in advance with the ink container and the ink container is mounted on the ink recording head,
There was a problem that it could not be applied.

Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 56-67269,
Alternatively, JP-A-59-98857 discloses a spring bag ink tank system using an ink bag biased by a spring in an ink tank. The spring bag method is excellent in that the internal negative pressure in the ink supply unit is generated stably using the spring force.However, there are restrictions on the spring shape to obtain a predetermined internal negative pressure, There are many problems that the process of fixing the bag is slightly complicated and the manufacturing cost is high, and the ink holding ratio is small in a thin ink tank.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-214666 discloses a divided ink chamber ink tank system in which the inside of an ink tank is divided into a plurality of ink chambers, and the ink chambers are communicated with each other through pores capable of generating a negative pressure. The divided ink chamber system disclosed in the present disclosure is a system in which an internal negative pressure in an ink supply unit is generated by capillary force of pores that connect ink chambers to each other. The divided ink chamber method is advantageous in terms of manufacturing cost because the configuration of the ink tank can be simplified as compared with the spring bag method, and is advantageous in that there are few mechanical restrictions on the shape of the ink tank. However, in the divided ink chamber system disclosed in the above disclosure, if the holding posture of the ink tank is changed, there may be a state in which there is no ink in the pores depending on the remaining amount of ink, the internal negative pressure due to the pores becomes unstable, and ink leakage occurs. In some cases, the handling of the ink tank is greatly restricted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the technical problems in the above-described various ink tank configurations, and has improved the divided ink chamber ink tank system so as to have excellent handleability, a high ink holding ratio, and environmental protection. It is an object of the present invention to provide a replaceable ink cartridge for ink jet which does not leak ink, stabilizes negative pressure characteristics, and supplies ink stably to an ink jet recording head without affecting ink discharge characteristics. Things.

[0011]

The present invention achieves the above object.
The purpose of this is to create an inkjet recording head.
It has an opening that connects to the
Negative pressure generation member housing that absorbs and holds negative pressure generation member
And a communicating portion between the negative pressure generating member accommodating portion and the bottom portion.
It is disposed substantially adjacent to the communication part except for the communication part, and is substantially sealed.
An ink container for storing the recording ink,
The negative pressure generating member housing portion and the ink housing portion except for the portion
For a replaceable inkjet equipped with a partition wall
An ink cartridge, wherein the negative pressure of the partition wall is generated.
An air introduction passage formed on the raw member housing portion side;
Compressed state or contact state of the negative pressure generating member with respect to the entrance
And a negative pressure generating member relieving section for relieving pressure.
And Further, the present invention has been made to achieve the above object.
Ejects ink using thermal energy
To generate the thermal energy to be applied to the ink.
Ink jet recording with thermal energy converter
It has an opening for connecting to the recording head and
Negative pressure generating section containing negative pressure generating member that absorbs and retains ink
Material receiving portion, and a communicating portion between the negative pressure generating member receiving portion and the bottom portion.
Are arranged substantially adjacent to each other except for the communication portion.
An ink storage unit for storing closed recording ink;
Except for the communication section, the negative pressure generating member housing section and the ink
A replaceable ink jet having a partition wall for partitioning the storage section.
A cartridge for removing the negative pressure from the partition wall.
An air introduction passage formed on the raw member housing portion side;
Compressed state or contact state of the negative pressure generating member with respect to the entrance
And a negative pressure generating member relieving section for relieving pressure.
And Here, a plurality of the air introduction paths are provided.
The negative pressure generating member easing section includes the plurality of atmospheric communication paths.
It is preferable to have a width wider than the distance between both ends of
No. Further, the negative pressure generating member is a resin porous having a communication hole.
It may be a body. The negative pressure generating member is compressed.
It is preferable that the
No. In addition, the negative pressure generating member relieving section accommodates a negative pressure generating member.
Formed by the shape of the negative pressure generating member against the inner wall of the part
You may. Further, the negative pressure generating member relieving section includes the partition
The negative pressure is generated by the concave shape provided on the wall.
It is configured to relieve the compressed state or contact state of the member
Is also good. Further, the negative pressure generating member easing section is configured to
From the middle of the partition wall provided with the passage to the communication portion.
You may comprise so. Further, the negative pressure generating member relaxing section
Are from the upper end of the atmosphere communication passage provided on the partition wall.
Has an end portion above the upper end and is configured toward the communication portion.
Good. Further, the negative pressure generating member relaxing portion is provided on the partition wall.
Constructed in a part near the upper end of the provided air communication passage
May be. In addition, the atmosphere communication passage is inside the partition wall.
The negative pressure generating member relief portion
May be formed in a part near the upper end of the atmosphere communication passage.
Good. Also, the upper end of the negative pressure generating member relaxing portion is chamfered.
Configuration may be used. In addition, the ink cartridge
The negative pressure generating member is not subjected to a heat compression process.
A sponge that compresses the sponge that has not been subjected to thermal compression
Then, it may be housed in the negative pressure generating member housing section. Also,
The negative pressure generating member of the ink cartridge is subjected to a heat compression process.
May be used as a sponge.

[0012]

According to the above arrangement, the air is supplied when the ink is supplied,
The gas is introduced from the negative pressure generating member to the air introduction path and the bottom hole communicating with the ink storage section, and the meniscus in the communication section is steadily and rapidly broken to exchange gas and liquid between the ink in the ink storage section and the atmosphere. And negative pressure characteristics are stabilized. Then, the ink stably absorbed and held by the negative pressure generating member can be normally and stably supplied to the recording head in response to ink ejection from the ink jet recording head.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

First, the structure and operating principle of an exchangeable ink jet ink cartridge which is the basis of the embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view when the joint member 7 for supplying ink to the ink jet recording head is inserted into the ink tank and pressed against the negative pressure generating member so that the ink jet recording apparatus can be operated. is there.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view schematically showing a recording head unit 20 in which four recording heads are integrated, and four ink cartridges 1a to 1d which can be individually attached to the recording heads.

As shown in FIG.
Has an opening 2 for connecting to an ink jet recording head, and has a negative pressure generating member accommodating portion 4 accommodating a negative pressure generating member 3 adjacent to the negative pressure generating member accommodating portion 4 via a rib 5. And an ink container 6 for accommodating the ink. In addition, the negative pressure generating member accommodating section 4 and the ink accommodating section 6 are
And a bottom part 11 and a gap part 8 provided therebetween. A filter 25 is provided at an end of the joint member 7 to remove dust in the ink tank.

The ink jet recording head 21 according to the embodiment of the present invention is of a bubble jet type in which recording is performed using an electrothermal converter that generates thermal energy for causing film boiling in ink in response to an electric signal. is there.

When the ink jet recording apparatus is operated, ink is discharged from the orifice of the ink jet recording head, and an ink suction force is generated in the ink tank. Ink 9
The suction force causes the ink from the ink container 6 to pass through the gap 8 between the end of the rib 5 and the bottom 11 of the ink cartridge to the negative pressure generating member housing 4 and through the negative pressure generating member 3 into the joint member 7. It is drawn and supplied to the ink jet recording head. As a result, the pressure inside the ink container 6 that is closed except for the gap 8 is reduced, and the ink container 6 is closed.
And a negative pressure generating member housing 4 causes a pressure difference. When the recording is continued, the pressure difference continues to rise. However, since the negative pressure generating member accommodating portion 4 is opened to the atmosphere through the air communication hole 13, the air passes through the negative pressure generating member 3 and the rib 5 and the ink cartridge. The ink enters the ink container 6 through the gap 8 with the bottom 11. At this point, the pressure difference between the ink storage section 6 and the negative pressure generating member storage section 4 is eliminated. This operation is repeated during ink jet recording, and a certain negative pressure is obtained in the ink cartridge. In addition, almost all the ink in the ink storage unit 6 can be used except for the ink that adheres to the wall surface in the ink storage unit 6, so that the ink use efficiency is improved.

According to the above-described operation principle, in order to quickly supply the ink in the ink storage section 6, the gap 5 or the immediate vicinity thereof, or the rib 5 for separating the ink storage section 6 and the negative pressure generating member storage section 4 from each other. It is necessary that a meniscus between the ink and the atmosphere is formed stably at the contact portion between the ink and the negative pressure generating member 3.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a replaceable ink jet ink cartridge body according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view thereof, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the surface of a rib. It is.

The ink cartridge body 1 for exchangeable ink jet includes an ink container 6 and a negative pressure generating member container 4.
An air introduction groove 31 and a negative pressure generating member adjusting chamber 32 are formed in a part of the rib 5 which is a partition wall of the above.

The air introduction groove 31 is formed on the side of the negative pressure generating member accommodating section 4 from the middle portion of the rib 5 to the end of the rib 5, that is, the gap 8 with the bottom 11 of the ink cartridge. A negative pressure generating member adjusting chamber 32 having a hollow shape is formed between the rib 5 and the negative pressure generating member 3 in contact with the vicinity of the air introduction groove 31.

Since the negative pressure generating member 3 is in contact with the inner surface of the negative pressure generating member accommodating portion 4, even if the negative pressure generating member 3 is inserted unevenly, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, for example. In addition, the contact (compression) force of the negative pressure generating member 3 is partially reduced. For this reason, when the ink starts to be consumed from the head, the ink impregnated in the negative pressure generating member 3 is consumed and reaches the negative pressure generating member adjusting chamber 32. If the ink continues to be consumed thereafter, the air tends to break the ink meniscus from the portion where the contact force of the negative pressure generating member 3 is reduced by the negative pressure generating member adjustment chamber 32, and the air is quickly introduced into the air introduction groove 31. Is introduced to make it easier to control the negative pressure.

In this embodiment, it is particularly preferable to use an elastic porous body as the negative pressure generating member 3.

At the time of non-recording, the capillary force of the negative pressure generating member 3 itself (or the meniscus force at the interface between the ink and the negative pressure generating member) is exerted to suppress the ink from leaking from the ink jet recording head.

In order to make the ink tank according to the present invention compatible with a color ink jet recording apparatus, each color ink (for example, four colors of black, yellow, magenta, and cyan) is used by being housed in a separate ink tank. Can be. In addition, the individual ink cartridges may be integrated to form an ink tank, or a replaceable ink cartridge for frequently used black ink and a replaceable ink cartridge in which another color ink is integrated may be separated. It is good. These combinations are arbitrary according to the ink jet device.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail.

In the ink tank, in order to control the negative pressure in the ink jet recording head, not only the selection, shape and size of the negative pressure generating member 3 but also the shape and size of the end of the rib 5 and the end of the rib 5 and the ink tank The shape and size of the gap 8 with the bottom 11, the volume ratio of the negative pressure generating member housing portion 4 and the ink housing portion 6, the insertion amount, shape and size of the joint member 7 into the ink tank, the shape and size of the filter 12, It is important to optimize the roughness of the eyes and the surface tension of the ink.

As the negative pressure generating member 3 used in the present embodiment, a conventionally known member can be used as long as it has the ability to hold the ink against its own weight and slight vibration of the liquid (ink). it can. For example, a cotton-like body in which fibers are meshed into a net, a porous body having communication holes, and the like can be given. A porous foam such as polyurethane, melamine, polyethylene, or polypropylene, which can easily adjust the ink holding power and the generation of negative pressure, is preferable. In particular, a foam is preferable because it can be adjusted to a desired porosity during foam production. If the foam density is further adjusted by heat-compressing the foam, decomposition products are generated by heating, changing the physical properties of the ink, which may adversely affect the recording quality. Become. In addition, in order to manufacture an ink cartridge corresponding to various ink jet recording apparatuses, a foam having a corresponding porous density is required, but has a characteristic number of cells (the number of holes per inch) which is not subjected to thermal compression. It is preferable that the foam material is cut into a desired size, compressed and inserted into the negative pressure generating member accommodating portion, and the porosity and the capillary force are adjusted.

(Changes in Environment in Inkjet Recording Apparatus) In an ink cartridge having a closed ink storage unit, changes in the external environment (temperature rise or atmospheric pressure decrease) in a state of being loaded in the ink jet recording apparatus. In some cases, the ink remaining in the ink storage unit 6 is pushed out of the ink cartridge due to the air expansion of the ink storage unit 6 (there is also ink expansion), and ink leakage may occur. However, in the ink cartridge according to the present invention, the air expansion volume (including a small amount of ink expansion) of the closed system ink storage unit 6 according to the worst-cased environmental condition is predicted, and the ink storage unit 6 associated therewith is estimated.
It is preferable that the negative pressure generating member accommodating section 4 previously has a volume corresponding to the amount of ink movement from the nozzle. The setting position of the atmosphere communication hole 13 is not particularly specified if it is above the joint opening 2 on the side of the negative pressure generating member accommodating section 4. A position far from the joint opening 2 is preferred for separating from the opening 2. The number, shape, size, etc. of the air communication holes 13 can be arbitrarily set in consideration of the evaporation of the ink.

(Distribution of the ink cartridge alone) During the distribution of the ink cartridge alone, the joint opening 2 and / or the air communication hole 13 are sealed with a sealing material or the like to evaporate the ink or expand the air in the ink cartridge 1. Is preferably provided. Examples of the sealing material include a single layer barrier called a barrier material in the packaging field, a composite material of several layers of plastic film, and a paper,
It is preferable to use a composite material such as a reinforcing material such as cloth or an aluminum foil. More preferably, a material similar to the material of the ink cartridge body 1 is used as an adhesive layer of the barrier material, and the sealing property is improved by welding with heat or the like.

Further, in order to suppress the evaporation of ink from the ink cartridge or the inflow of air from the outside atmosphere, a packaging form in which the air inside the packaging material is degassed after the ink cartridge is inserted and then sealed is adopted. It is effective. As the packaging material, it is preferable to select a barrier material as in the above-mentioned sealing material, in consideration of gas permeability and liquid permeability.

By selecting the above-described packaging form, the distribution of the ink cartridge alone becomes very reliable without ink leakage or the like.

(Manufacturing method) The material of the ink cartridge body 1 may be any material conventionally used for a molded product, but is not affected by the ink jet ink. It is necessary to select from the processed parts. It is also necessary to consider the productivity of the ink cartridge. For example, the ink cartridge main body 1 is divided into an ink cartridge bottom portion 11 and an upper portion thereof, each of which is integrally formed of a resin material. After the negative pressure generating member 3 is inserted, the ink cartridge bottom portion 11 and the upper portion are separated. The ink cartridge body 1 can be manufactured by welding. If a transparent or translucent resin material is selected, the ink in the ink container 6 can be visually recognized from the outside of the ink cartridge, so that the time for replacing the ink cartridge can be visually determined. Further, in order to facilitate welding of the sealing material or the like, it is preferable to provide a convex portion at an appropriate position on the outer surface. Further, it is preferable that the outer surface of the ink cartridge main body 1 is subjected to processing such as embossing or knurling in terms of handling and design.

Next, the effect of this embodiment will be described in more detail.

As a comparative example, an example of an ink cartridge having no negative pressure generating member adjusting chamber is shown in FIGS.

The ink cartridge of the comparative example shown in the drawing operates without any problem in an ideal state based on the above-mentioned operation principle. Needless to say, the operation is more stable than when there is no air introduction groove.

However, more stable control is required to realize more industrially stable operation or to use a resin porous body having a communication hole as a negative pressure generating member.

As shown in the enlarged sectional view of FIG. 14, the negative pressure generating member 3 comes into contact with the rib 5 and bites into the air introducing groove 31. As a result, the pressure contact force (compression force) of the negative pressure generating member 3 is not relaxed at the contact portion A, and the air hardly breaks the ink meniscus in that portion and enters the air conduction groove 31. As a result, even if the ink continues to be consumed, gas-liquid exchange is not performed, the effect of the air introduction groove 31 cannot be exerted, and there is a concern that the ink in the ink absorbing section 6 cannot be operated without being used.

Unlike the comparative example, the embodiment of the present invention is configured to exhibit excellent effects as described above.

(Other Embodiments) FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing two kinds of different sectional shapes of the rib 5, and FIG. 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional view showing the sectional shape of the rib.

As shown, the shapes of the air introduction groove 31 and the negative pressure generating member adjusting chamber 32 are different from those of the above-described embodiment.

That is, the stepped portion of the rib 5 which is in contact with the negative pressure generating member 3 is chamfered so that the effect of pressure contact and compression relaxation can be more exerted.

In order to bring out the operation and effect of the embodiment, it is necessary that the negative pressure generating member accommodating portion 4 reduces the contact force of the negative pressure generating member 3 and, for example, ribs as shown in FIGS. The effect can also be exerted by a configuration in which a partial negative pressure generating member adjustment chamber 32 is formed in the central portion of 5 (at the end of the air introduction groove).

Incidentally, in order to provide the same function as the negative pressure generating member adjusting chamber 32 of the embodiment, it is also possible to change the shape of the negative pressure generating member 3 to cope with it. Any shape and size may be used.

The present invention provides an excellent effect particularly in an ink jet type recording head and a recording apparatus in which a flying droplet is formed by utilizing thermal energy and recording is performed among ink jet recording apparatuses.

The typical configuration and principle are described in, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740.
It is preferable to use the basic principle disclosed in the specification of Japanese Patent No. 796. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and continuous type. In particular, in the case of the on-demand type, liquid (ink)
By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recorded information and providing a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling to an electrothermal transducer arranged corresponding to the sheet or liquid path in which This is effective because heat energy is generated in the electrothermal transducer, causing film boiling on the heat-acting surface of the recording head, and as a result, air bubbles in the liquid (ink) corresponding one-to-one to this drive signal can be formed. It is. 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 bubbles are performed immediately and appropriately, so that the ejection of the 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 4,345,262 are suitable. Further, if the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 relating to the temperature rise rate of the heat acting surface are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the configuration of the recording head, in addition to the combination of the discharge port, the liquid path, and the electrothermal converter (linear liquid flow path or right-angle liquid flow path) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications, A configuration using U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 or U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,600 which discloses a configuration in which the heat acting portion is arranged in a bending region may be adopted.

In addition, JP-A-59-123670 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of an electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters, and absorbs pressure waves of thermal energy. A configuration based on JP-A-59-138461, which discloses a configuration in which an opening corresponds to a discharge unit, may be employed.

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 combining a plurality of recording heads as disclosed in the above-mentioned specification. This may be either a configuration satisfying the above requirements or a configuration as a single recording head formed integrally.

In addition, the print head is exchangeable with a print head of a chip type which is electrically connected to the main body of the apparatus and can supply ink from the main body of the apparatus, or is integrated with the print head itself. Alternatively, a cartridge type recording head provided with an ink tank may be used.

It is preferable to add recovery means for the recording head, preliminary auxiliary means, and the like, since the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. Specific examples include capping means for the print head, pressurizing or suction means, preheating means using an electrothermal transducer or a heating element different from this, or a combination thereof, and ejection different from printing. Is also effective for performing stable printing.

Further, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to a recording mode of only a mainstream color such as black, and may be a single recording head or a combination of plural recording heads. Alternatively, the apparatus may be provided with at least one of full colors by color mixture.

In the embodiments of the present invention described above, the ink is described as a liquid. However, an ink which solidifies at room temperature or lower and which softens at room temperature or is a liquid, or In general, in the ink jet method, the temperature of the ink itself is controlled within a range of 30 ° C. or more and 70 ° C. or less to control the temperature so that the viscosity of the ink is in a stable ejection range. What is necessary is just to be liquid.

In addition, the temperature rise due to thermal energy can be positively prevented by using it as energy for changing the state of the ink from a solid state to a liquid state, or solidified in a standing state for the purpose of preventing evaporation of the ink. Either using ink, in any case, the ink is liquefied by the application according to the recording signal of thermal energy, such as one that is ejected as a liquid ink and one that already starts to solidify when reaching the recording medium, The use of an ink that liquefies for the first time by thermal energy is also applicable to the present invention. In such a case, the ink is disclosed in JP-A-54-5684.
No. 7 or Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-71260, in which the porous sheet is opposed to the electrothermal converter while being held in a liquid or solid state in the concave portions or through holes of the porous sheet. It may be. In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-described 0 inks is to execute the above-described film boiling method.

In addition, the recording apparatus according to the present invention may be combined with a reader or the like in addition to the one provided as an image output terminal of an information processing device such as a word processor or a computer as described above. It may take the form of a copier, or a facsimile machine having a transmission / reception function.

[0059]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When the ink is supplied, the ink in the ink container and the atmosphere can be gas-liquid exchanged stably and quickly. As a result, the negative pressure in the ink tank can be controlled stably, and the recording can be performed. The ejection stability of the head is good, and high-speed printing is possible.

Further, it is possible to provide a replaceable ink jet ink cartridge which does not cause ink leakage even when the pressure in the ink tank changes due to a change in the external environment.

In addition, a highly replaceable ink cartridge which maintains high reliability even in the case of a single physical distribution and has a simple structure and which can detect the remaining amount of ink and has high ink use efficiency.

Further, it is possible to provide a replaceable ink cartridge for ink jet cartridge which has good handleability of the replaceable ink cartridge, does not leak ink even when it is attached to or detached from the ink jet recording apparatus, and does not malfunction when mounted on the ink jet recording apparatus.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a replaceable inkjet ink cartridge main body according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the replaceable inkjet ink cartridge body of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge body showing a surface of a rib according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an ink cartridge body showing a surface of a rib according to another embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a cross-sectional shape of a rib according to another embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a replaceable ink-jet ink cartridge main body of another embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a replaceable inkjet ink cartridge main body according to another embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of an ink cartridge body showing a surface of a rib according to another embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a replaceable ink cartridge body for ink jet.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a recording head unit and an ink cartridge.

FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of a replaceable inkjet ink cartridge body of a comparative example.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a replaceable inkjet ink cartridge body of a comparative example.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of an ink cartridge main body showing a surface of a rib of a comparative example.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a cross-sectional shape of a rib of a comparative example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ink cartridge main body 2 Opening part 3 Negative pressure generating member 4 Negative pressure generating member accommodation part 5 Rib 6 Ink accommodation part 7 Joint member 8 Gap part 13 Atmospheric communication hole 31 Atmospheric introduction groove 32 Negative pressure generating member adjustment chamber

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Masami Ikeda 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Naoto Asai 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inside (72) Inventor Norifumi Kotabashi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Hitoshi Sugimoto 3-30-2, Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (56) References JP-A-6-40043 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B41J 2/175

Claims (14)

(57) [Claims] And 1. A ink jet recording head and the negative pressure producing member accommodating portion for the recording ink has an opening and the air communication hole accommodating the negative pressure generating member for absorbing and retaining connecting, said negative pressure generating member accommodating portion located adjacent communication in the communication portion of the bottom
And an ink storage section for storing recording ink which is substantially sealed except for the communication section, and the ink storage section except for the communication section.
Partition for separating the negative pressure generating member housing section and the ink housing section
A replacement type ink-jet recording ink cartridge and a wall, a large configured in the negative pressure generating member accommodating portion side of the partition wall
An air introduction passage, and the negative pressure generating member with respect to the air introduction passage.
Negative pressure generating member relieving part for relieving the compressed state or contact state of
And a replaceable ink cartridge for inkjet. 2. An ink is ejected using thermal energy.
To generate the thermal energy to be applied to the ink.
Ink jet recording with thermal energy converter
It has an opening for connecting to the recording head and
Negative pressure generating section containing negative pressure generating member that absorbs and retains ink
Material receiving portion, and a communicating portion between the negative pressure generating member receiving portion and the bottom portion.
Are arranged substantially adjacent to each other except for the communication portion.
An ink storage unit for storing closed recording ink;
Except for the communication section, the negative pressure generating member housing section and the ink
A replaceable ink jet having a partition wall for partitioning the storage section.
A cartridge which is formed on the side of the partition wall on which the negative pressure generating member is accommodated.
An air introduction passage, and the negative pressure generating member with respect to the air introduction passage.
Negative pressure generating member relieving part for relieving the compressed state or contact state of
And for an exchangeable inkjet, comprising:
cartridge. 3. A plurality of said air introduction paths are provided,
The negative pressure generating member easing part is provided on both sides of the plurality of atmospheric communication paths.
3. The replaceable ink jet ink cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the width of the ink cartridge is wider than an interval between the ends . Wherein said claims claims 1, wherein the negative pressure generating member is a porous resin body having a communicating hole
3. The replaceable inkjet ink cartridge according to any one of 2 . 5. The negative pressure generating member is compressed and accommodated in a negative pressure generating member accommodating portion .
The replaceable ink cartridge for inkjet according to claim 2 . Wherein said negative pressure generating member absorbing portions claim 1 or claim 2 noise characterized by being formed by the shape of the negative pressure generating member with respect to the inner wall surface of the negative pressure generating member accommodating portion
An exchangeable ink-jet ink cartridge according to any of the preceding claims. 7. The partition wall according to claim 7, wherein the negative pressure generating member relieving portion is provided on the partition wall.
The negative pressure generating part is provided by the concave shape.
It is characterized by reducing the compression state or contact state of the material
An exchange-type inn according to claim 1 or 2.
Ink cartridge for kujet. 8. The air pressure communication device according to claim 8, wherein the negative pressure generating member relieving section is connected to the atmosphere connection.
From the middle of the partition wall provided with the passage to the communication portion.
Claim 1 or Claim 2 characterized by being constituted in this way.
An exchangeable ink jet printer according to claim 2.
Ink cartridge. 9. The partitioning member according to claim 9, wherein said negative pressure generating member relieving portion is provided on said partition wall.
The upper end of the air communication passage provided at
Characterized in that it is configured to face the communication portion.
The exchange according to claim 1 or claim 2.
Type ink cartridge for inkjet. 10. The partition for reducing the negative pressure generating member,
In a part near the upper end of the air communication passage provided on the wall
Claim 1 or Claim which is comprised.
2. The replaceable ink jet ink cartridge according to any one of 2.
Cartridge. 11. The atmosphere communication passage extends through the inside of the partition wall.
It has a penetrating part, and the negative pressure generating member relieving part,
It is configured in a part near the upper end of the atmosphere communication passage
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein
A replaceable ink cartridge for inkjet according to the above. 12. An upper end of said negative pressure generating member relaxing portion is chamfered.
7. The method according to claim 7, wherein
2. The replaceable ink jet ink cartridge according to any one of 1.
Cartridge. 13. The negative pressure generating member is subjected to a heat compression process.
Sponge that has not been subjected to the heat compression.
The ponge is compressed and housed in the negative pressure generating member housing section.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein
6. The replaceable ink cartridge for inkjet according to 4. 14. The negative pressure generating member is subjected to a thermal compression process.
2. The sponge according to claim 1, wherein
The ink-jet ink according to claim 2,
Cartridge.