JP3215022B2 - Ink tank, ink tank manufacturing method, and ink jet recording apparatus - 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 tank and an ink jet recording apparatus using the ink tank, and more particularly to a cartridge type ink tank having an ink storage chamber and a waste ink storage chamber. The present invention relates to a manufacturing method and an inkjet recording apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an example of a conventional replaceable ink tank, an ink cartridge having the form shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is known. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing details of the ink cartridge, and is a diagram showing a side surface thereof in cross section. FIG.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a main part such as an ink coupling part of the ink cartridge illustrated in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an ink cartridge 10 includes an ink storage chamber 1 and a waste ink storage chamber 2. At the end of the ink storage chamber 1, rubber stoppers 4 for penetrating the ink supply needle are provided at two places.
A rubber stopper 4 is also provided at one end of the waste ink storage chamber 2. These rubber stoppers 4 constitute a part of an ink coupling part. Except for an ink communication part 3 through which an ink supply needle penetrates, the rubber stopper 4 is formed by a housing part 5 of an ink cartridge, an ink absorber 6 and a rubber stopper 7. It is sandwiched. With this structure, when the ink cartridge is removed from the printer, the ink adhering to the ink supply needle that comes out of the cartridge along with the ink cartridge can be removed by the ink absorber 6, and the ink adhered to the supply needle contaminates the inside of the printer. And clogging of the supply needle itself can be prevented.

The waste ink storage chamber 2 is connected at one end to a waste ink storage chamber 2.
The ink supply needle penetrates the storage portion of the lower layer so as to correspond to the storage portion of the lower layer. That is, the supply needle connected to the ink supply path of the ink jet recording apparatus penetrates into the waste ink storage chamber 2, whereby the waste ink discharged in the ejection recovery processing or the like flows into the lower part of the waste ink storage chamber 2. can do. Absorber 8 is filled in substantially the entire waste ink storage chamber 2, and the waste ink flowing into the lower layer is absorbed by absorber 8 in the lower layer. As the waste ink flows, the region of the absorber 8 that holds the waste ink gradually spreads to the upper absorber 8, and along with this, a part of the waste ink oozes out of the absorber. On the other hand, a partition wall 2A is provided adjacent to the end of the waste ink absorber 8 in the upper layer portion, so that the above-described exuded ink is removed from the partition wall until the waste ink amount exceeds the holding capacity of the absorber. 2A
Accordingly, it is impossible to move to the portion on the right side where there is no absorber. When the cumulative amount of waste ink that has flowed in exceeds the holding capacity of the absorber, the exuded waste ink is removed from the partition wall 2.
The liquid overflows from A and moves to the right-hand chamber, where the liquid level is raised to reach a predetermined waste liquid detection electrode (not shown). As a result, it is possible to detect that the waste ink storage chamber 2 is filled with the waste ink, and it is possible to prompt replacement of the ink cartridge 10 and the like. An air communication section 9 is provided above the rear end of the waste ink storage chamber 2, and the inside of the waste ink storage section 2 and the atmosphere outside the ink cartridge can communicate with each other through the communication section 9. it can.

As shown in FIG. 2, the outer diameter of the rubber stopper 4 is made larger than the inner diameter of the housing part 5 in a single state. (A direction) and then assembled in the housing part 5 along the arrow B direction.

[0006]

However, in the conventional example, since the rubber plug 4 to the housing portion 5 is compressed and assembled in the radial direction, there are the following disadvantages.

[0007] That is, it is not easy to uniformly compress an elastic body such as a rubber stopper in the radial direction. 1) An expensive device is required, so that a small-volume product is too costly. If the size of the ink is slightly changed, a new device for compression is required. 3) If the ink communication portion is extremely small, there is not enough space for the device for compression of the elastic body. 4) The performance of the product is affected by the quality of the device for compressing the elastic body, 5) The elastic body may rub on the inner wall of the housing part, 6) The size of the needle In order to create an optimal ink communication part, it is necessary to change the elastic body and a new assembling device. 7) Since it is not easy to assemble, assemble before injecting ink, Using ink note We are entering,
For this reason, there is a problem that it takes a long time to inject the needle because the diameter cannot be made large with a needle, or an excessively thick needle may damage the elastic body.

Accordingly, a first object of the present invention is to provide an ink-jet printer which does not require an expensive apparatus, and is always provided with an ink connection portion which can always stably respond to various requests independently of the state of the apparatus. Another object of the present invention is to provide a replaceable ink tank excellent in the above.

A second object of the present invention is to make it easy to assemble and to make it possible to perform ink injection before attaching an elastic body, so that a pipe having a large flow resistance such as a needle is remarkably large in size. The use of inks with extremely low flow resistance compared to equal needles can be used, reducing the number of man-hours in the work process, improving productivity, eliminating damage caused by inserting and removing needles into elastic bodies, and improving the reliability of ink. To provide a tank.

[0010]

The present invention for achieving at least one of the above-mentioned objects is as follows.

[0011] The ink tank according to claim 1 of the present invention comprises:
An ink container for storing ink used in the recording device,
A housing portion provided in the ink container, having an inner diameter larger than the inner diameter of the cylindrical hole provided at an end of the cylindrical hole for supplying the ink, and a housing portion provided with a first engagement portion; An elastic body that is inserted by a needle-like body that supplies ink to the recording device while closing the housing portion by being attached, and a second engagement portion that engages with the first engagement portion. A fixing portion having an opening through which the needle-like body can pass, and the elastic body being elastically deformed by the housing portion and the pressing portion in cooperation with each other to be pressed and held to maintain the closing of the housing portion. The elastic body has a dome shape having an outer diameter that is substantially the same as the inner diameter of the housing part before the mounting, and in the mounted state, the elastic body and the first engaging part of the housing part have the same shape. Of the fixing member Engagement between the second engaging portion, characterized in that the restoring force of the pressing retained elastic body is secured by being utilized. The ink tank according to claim 2 of the present invention is provided in a waste ink container for storing waste ink used in the recording apparatus, and provided in the waste ink container,
The housing has an inner diameter larger than the inner diameter of the cylindrical hole provided at the end of the cylindrical hole provided for taking in the waste ink, and has a first engaging portion, and the housing is provided with the housing portion. An elastic body inserted through a needle-like body for closing the housing portion and taking in waste ink from the recording apparatus; and a second engagement portion engaging with the first engagement portion. A fixing member with a pressing portion, which has an opening through which a body can pass, and which holds the housing portion closed by elastically deforming and pressing and holding the elastic body in cooperation with the housing portion and the pressing portion; The elastic body has a dome shape having an outer diameter substantially the same as the inner diameter of the housing portion before the mounting, and in the mounted state, the first engagement portion of the housing portion and the 2 staff Engagement between the parts, characterized in that the restoring force of the pressing retained elastic body is secured by being utilized. Furthermore, an ink tank according to claim 3 of the present invention stores an ink container for storing ink used in a recording apparatus, and is connectable to the ink container, and stores waste ink used in the recording apparatus. A waste ink container, a first housing provided in the ink container, having an inner diameter larger than the inner diameter of the cylindrical hole provided at an end of the cylindrical hole provided for supplying the ink, and having a first engagement portion Portion, provided in the waste ink container, having an inner diameter larger than the inner diameter of the cylindrical hole provided at the end of the cylindrical hole for taking in the waste ink,
A second housing portion provided with a second engagement portion; and a first needle-like body that is attached to the first housing portion to close the first housing portion and supply ink to the recording device. A first elastic body that is inserted into the second needle-shaped body that is attached to the second housing part to close the second housing part and to take in waste ink from the recording device. A second elastic member, a third engaging portion engaged with the first engaging portion, an opening through which the needle-like member can pass, and the first elastic member being connected to the first housing portion. And a pressing portion cooperate with each other to elastically deform and press and hold the first housing member to maintain the first housing portion closed, and a fourth engagement member to engage with the second engaging portion. With a joint portion, having an opening through which the needle-shaped body can pass A second fixing member with a pressing portion that maintains the blockage of the second housing portion by elastically deforming and pressing and holding the second elastic body in cooperation with the second housing portion and the pressing portion. The first and second elastic bodies each have a dome shape having substantially the same outer diameter as the inner diameter of the first and second housing parts before the mounting, and the first and second elastic bodies are in the mounted state. The state of engagement between the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion of the second housing portion and the third engagement portion and the fourth engagement portion of the first and second fixing members is held by the pressing. The first and second elastic bodies are secured by utilizing the restoring force. Furthermore , a chamfer or a radius may be formed at an entrance-side opening of the housing portion or a lower peripheral edge of the elastic body. The opening diameter of the fixing member and the diameter of the cylindrical hole may satisfy a relationship of opening diameter of the fixing member ≦ diameter of the cylindrical hole. Assuming that the inner radius of the housing portion is r and the radius of curvature of the elastic body when not deformed is R, the expression 1.05 <(R / r) sin ⁻¹ (r / R) <1.57 is obtained. It may be established. Assuming that the inner radius of the housing portion is r and the radius of curvature of the elastic body when it is not deformed is R, the following expression is obtained: 1.1 <(R / r) sin ⁻¹ (r / R) <1.4 It may be established. The ink container may be filled with ink. An ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention includes a loading unit to which the ink tank according to claim 1 is attachable, and a needle inserted into the elastic body when receiving ink from the ink tank to the loading unit. It has an ink supply means including a state body. In addition, an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention includes a loading unit to which the ink tank according to claim 2 can be attached, and is inserted through the elastic body when sending waste ink to the ink tank to the loading unit. It is characterized by having a waste ink processing means including a needle-like body. Furthermore, an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention includes a loading section in which the ink tank according to claim 3 can be mounted, and the first elastic body is provided when the loading section receives supply of ink from the ink tank. An ink supply unit including a first needle-like body to be inserted; a waste ink processing unit including a second needle-like body to be inserted into the second elastic body when sending waste ink to the ink tank;
It is characterized by having. The ink tank according to the present invention is provided for each ink container that stores the ink used in the recording apparatus, and has an inner diameter larger than the inner diameter of the cylindrical hole provided at the end of the cylindrical hole used for supplying the ink. A housing part having a first engagement part, an elastic body that closes the housing part, and is inserted through a needle-shaped body that supplies ink to the recording apparatus; A second engaging portion that engages with the housing and an opening through which the needle-shaped body can pass, and the housing is elastically deformed by the housing portion and the pressing portion in cooperation with each other to hold the elastic body. And a fixing member with a pressing part for maintaining the closing of the part, wherein the elastic body in the connecting part has a dome shape having an outer diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the housing part. To And which is secured by the restoring force of the elastic body engaged state is the pressing holding the second engaging portion of the fixing member and the first engagement portion of the housing portion is utilized, the two A needle for bleeding air out of the ink container into one of the two joints, sucking the air through the needle, and injecting ink into the other of the joints. The ink is injected into the ink container through the needle. The method for manufacturing an ink tank according to the present invention is provided in an ink container for storing ink, and has an outer diameter substantially equal to an inner diameter of the housing inside a housing having a first engagement portion and a cylindrical hole. A dome-shaped elastic body is inserted, the elastic body is compressed, and a second engaging portion engaged with the first engaging portion of the housing portion and an opening through which the needle-like body passes are provided. In order to close the cylindrical hole, the elastic body is fixed by a fixing member that directly holds and presses the elastic body to be compressed in cooperation with the housing section to fix the elastic body to the housing section, The engagement state between the joint portion and the second engagement portion is
It is ensured by utilizing the distorted resilience of the elastic body.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing an ink cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which 11 is an ink container, 12 is a lid of the ink container 11, and these members are used for ink. The storage chamber 1 is formed. Reference numeral 13 denotes a waste ink container.
Accommodates the absorber 14. The absorber 14 is for absorbing and holding the ink collected in the waste ink container 13. A waste ink lid is attached to the waste ink container containing the absorber 14, thereby forming a waste ink storage chamber. The lid 12 is attached to the ink container 11 by ultrasonic welding. Similarly, the waste ink container 13 and the waste ink lid 15 are assembled by an ultrasonic welding method.

At one end of the lid 12 of the ink container 11 and one end of the waste ink container 13, there are provided housings 20 each forming a communication port.
6 and a crown 17 as a fixing member are further assembled to form a connection portion with the apparatus main body for ink distribution and the like. The ink container 11 and the waste ink container 13 are engaged and united by a locking portion 18 and a locking claw 19 as described later to form an integral ink tank, that is, an ink cartridge.

Hereinafter, the manufacture of the ink tank of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flow chart of the ink cartridge manufacturing process shown in FIG.

The ink container 11 and its lid 12, the waste ink container 13, the waste ink lid 15, and the crown 17 are formed as individual components in advance by injection molding. In the present embodiment, a rubber material is used for the elastic body 16, but a material formed of this rubber or a material formed by injection or the like is used. Further, as the absorber 14, a material formed by stamping an absorbent material such as laminated paper with a die or the like can be used.

The steps are as follows: (1) Ink container 11
And the lid 12 are assembled by ultrasonic welding. At this time, since the ink container 11 and the lid 12 have a structure in which the ink is directly inserted, it is desirable that the ink container 11 and the lid 12 be cleaned as needed before being assembled. (2) Next, a leak check is performed to confirm the state of the welded portion of the assembled product. This is, for example, 2
This can be performed by using one of the two housings (see FIG. 3) as a pressure detection hole, pressurizing the inside through the other, and confirming whether or not the pressure fluctuates for a certain time in that state. However, if the welding itself is stable,
Leak checking may not be performed in all cases, but may be performed on some of the samples or not at all.

(3) Next, the absorber 1 is placed in the waste ink container 13.
(4) The waste ink lid 15 is attached to the waste ink container 13 by ultrasonic welding. (5) Also in this case, a leak check of the welded portion is performed as necessary. In this case, the internal pressurization can be performed through the atmosphere communication hole 36 (see FIG. 5).

(6) The ink container and the waste ink container assembled without leak as described above are combined. This combination can be achieved by engaging a locking portion 18 provided on the ink container 11 with a locking claw 19 provided on the waste ink container 13 as described later.

(7) Next, the ink container 11 is set in the ink injector so that the side of the ink container 11 on which the housing 20 is provided faces upward, and one of the housings 20 of the lid 12 is used as an injection port, and the other is used as the other. Is used as an exhaust port for internal air to inject the required amount of ink. (8) Thereafter, a weight check or the like is performed as necessary to confirm the ink injection amount.

When the ink injection is completed, (9) the elastic body 1
6 is assembled to the housing 20 of each of the ink container and the waste ink container, and (10) the crown 17 is fitted thereon, thus completing the assembly of the joint. Thereafter, (11) a label (not shown) is attached to a portion to be described later of the side surface of the ink container and the waste ink container, and (12) a cartridge for preventing erroneous mounting of the cartridge when mounted on the apparatus main body. Is cut into a pattern corresponding to the color of the ink contained in the color identification plate 21.

The ink cartridge is completed by the above steps. Note that the process flow described above is an example, and it is needless to say that the process flow does not necessarily have to be performed in this order.

It is also desirable to form the ink container 11 and the lid 12 integrally in advance by blow molding in view of the number of parts and the number of assembly steps.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the completed ink tank.

Next, referring to FIG. 6, a description will be given of a connecting portion which is a feature of the present invention.

In FIG. 6, reference numeral 20 denotes the above-mentioned housing, which is a portion for accommodating the elastic body 16. Housing 2
The radius r of the inner diameter of 0 and the radius r ₁ of the outer diameter of the elastic body 16 are substantially the same. Here, it is easier to incorporate the elastic body outer radius r ₁ that is slightly smaller than the inner diameter r of the housing 20, but conversely, even if r ₁ is slightly larger than r, the shape of the elastic body 16 can be changed by applying force. Since it changes easily, there is no particular problem unless r ₁ becomes extremely large. Further, forming a chamfer or a radius on the inlet side 20a portion of the housing 20 or forming a radius or a chamfer on the lower side 16a of the elastic body 16 improves the assembling property, and reduces the occurrence of roundness or the like of the elastic body 16. Become. Also,
Prewetting the elastic body with water (preferably pure water) or an ink solvent, which is a component of the ink, has the effect of making assembly easier. As can be seen from FIG. 6, the elastic body 16 has a dome shape having a curvature R by itself.

The crown 17 is mounted so as to cover the housing 20, has a claw 23 for engaging with the locking portion 25 on the housing 20, and holds the elastic body 16 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the radial direction of the elastic body 16. It has a pressing portion 22 for pressing. 2
Reference numeral 4 denotes an opening for guiding the needle of the main body. The front end 24a is formed to be wider than the rear end 24b so that the needle is positioned almost in the vicinity of the center of the elastic body with respect to the positional deviation from the needle on the main body side. I have to. 26 is a communication part (cylindrical hole) to the inside of the container
It is.

FIG. 7 shows a state in which the above three parts are assembled. As can be seen from this figure, the elastic body 16 is the crown 1
7 is shown by a broken line before assembly.
The elastic body 16 is pushed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the radial direction by the pressing portion 22 of the crown 17 and is assembled inside the housing 20 in a form as shown by a solid line. At this time, the inner diameter of the housing 16 = 2r and the elastic body 1
Since the length L in the cross-sectional direction of the unit 6 alone is in a relationship of 2r <L, the elastic body 16 tends to expand in the radial direction of the housing 20 when pushed by the crown 17. Since this expanding force is pressed down by the housing 20, the elastic body 16 is created in a state of being contracted in the radial direction by the housing 20 and the crown 17. Thus, even if the needle 27 is removed and inserted and the elastic body 16 is penetrated, the needle 2
After the hole 7 is removed, the hole of the elastic body 16 returns to its original state and is closed, so that the bleeding of the content ink can be prevented.

The pressing portion 22 of the opening 24 of the crown 17
The opening diameter 24b on the side is the inner diameter 2 of the communication part 26 on the housing side.
There is a relation of 24b ≦ 26a with 6a. When the elastic body 16 is pressed by the pressing portion 22 of the crown 17, the opening diameter 24 b is desirably as small as possible, but from the viewpoint of the needle 27, the opening diameter 24 b is desirably large. Therefore, when the opening diameter 24b is reduced to the last minute, the inner diameter of the communication portion 26 on the housing 20 side is increased in consideration of the positional deviation between the crown 17 and the housing 20 in order to fully utilize the opening diameter 24b. It is desirable to keep.

In the case of the reverse relationship, the needle 27 passing through the opening 24 of the crown 17 and penetrating the elastic body may hit the housing 20 and cannot be inserted.

However, if the inner diameter 26a of the communicating portion 26 is too large, the elastic body 16 "depresses" when the needle 27 is pierced, as shown in FIG. May be lost. Although it depends on the thickness of the elastic body 16 and the size of the needle 27, according to the experimental results, when the thickness of the elastic body 16 is about 3 mm and the diameter of the needle 27 is 1.2 mm, the inner diameter 26a is desirably φ5 mm or less. I know.

Next, regarding the radius of curvature R of the elastic body 16, the inner radius r of the housing 20, and the diameter x of the needle 27, the insertion / removal property and the presence / absence of seepage of the contents from the elastic body 16 after the needle 27 is pulled out will be described. The results of the examination are shown in Table 1 below.

In Table 1, the unit of r, R, x is mm (R / r) sin ^-1 (r / R) has no dimension. ：: good △: defective depending on conditions ×: defective Shown respectively.

[0034]

[Table 1]

As can be seen from this table, it is necessary to satisfy 1.05> (R / r) sin ^-1 (r / R) for the leakiness of the ink, and (R / r) for the needle insertion property. sin
⁻¹ (r / R) <1.57 is a necessary condition. Therefore, it is desirable to set R and r in the range of 1.05 <(R / r) sin ^-1 (r / R) <1.57. Further, in consideration of problems due to use conditions and the like, it is more preferable to set the range of 1.1 <(R / r) sin ^-1 (r / R) <1.4.

Here, the mark of the evaluation of ink leakage indicates that the needle 27 was pulled out when the elastic body 16 was subjected to permanent strain by the needle 27 while being stored in an environment such as 60 ° C. with the needle 27 inserted. It was assumed that the ink would later seep out. In addition, the evaluation of △ in the needleability indicates a level that is judged to be slightly too hard especially for women and people with weak power when considering the usability.

The ink tank of the present invention has the structure shown in FIG. 5 and the like. When the ink in the ink container chamber is no longer consumed, a needle for releasing internal air is inserted into one of the connecting portions, and a syringe or the like is inserted into the other. Can be used to re-inject the ink. Furthermore, if new parts of the crown body 17 and the elastic body 16 are prepared and recombined, the same reliability as the initial state can be reproduced.

In addition, if the waste ink container is added to a material whose internal ink absorption amount can be observed to some extent, for example, a material such as polyethylene or polypropylene which is chemically stable with respect to the ink and is hardly attacked by the ink, and the state of the internal ink is somewhat By making the material observable at least, if the amount of waste ink, that is, the ink absorption state of the absorber is observed, re-inking is repeated and the waste ink absorber becomes full of ink and overflows to the outside. Can be avoided.

Next, FIG. 9 is a view of the ink cartridge according to the present embodiment as viewed from the connection portion side.

Each connecting portion 20A, 20B and 20C is
The ink cartridge 10 is provided at a predetermined position from the two reference surfaces, and these reference surfaces come into contact with predetermined portions when the ink cartridge 10 is mounted on the apparatus main body, and thereby the supply needles and the like on the main body side are brought into contact with each other. Alignment with the joint is possible. Assuming that the horizontal reference is the left surface as shown in the figure, only the uppermost connecting portion 20A is displaced toward the reference surface side as compared with the other two connecting portions 20B and 20C, as is apparent from the drawing. Provided. A protrusion 48 is formed in a space generated by the displacement of the joint. The protrusion 48 is formed so that its height is substantially the same as the front end surface of the ink cartridge (see FIG. 5), and performs the following functions.

FIGS. 10 to 12 are views for explaining the function of the projection 48 shown in FIGS. 5 and 9, and show the mounting of the needle 275C of the supply needle unit 275 and the ink cartridge 10 on the apparatus main body side. It is a figure which shows the positional relationship at the time.

First, as the cartridge is mounted, the elastic body 16 of the connecting portion 20A of the cartridge 10 and the needle 275C
Immediately before the contact is made, no force is applied to the lever 275D, so that the valve 275A is urged by the spring 275B to close the communication passage.

Next, when the insertion of the cartridge 10 proceeds further, the lever 275D of the supply needle unit 275 comes into contact with the projection 48 of the cartridge 10 as shown in FIG. At this time, the portion having the communication port at the tip of the needle 275C has already penetrated the elastic body 16 and is in the cartridge. On the other hand, at this time, since the lever 275D has just come into contact with the convex portion 48 of the cartridge, the pressing force from the cartridge is about to start to act. Therefore, at this point, the valve 275A maintains the closed state of the communication path.

Next, as shown in FIG. 12, when the insertion of the cartridge 10 is further advanced, the pressing force from the cartridge 10 acts on the lever 275D and presses it, whereby the connecting lever 275E is supported at one end by a fulcrum. , And is displaced rightward in the figure. As a result, the connecting lever 275
The valve 275A connected to E is displaced rightward against the urging force of the spring 275B, and the connection pipe 275D and the needle 275C
The communication between the communication port and the communication port.

As is clear from the description of FIGS. 10 to 12, the supply needle unit 275 for circulating ink from a sub-tank (not shown) to the ink cartridge firstly moves along with the operation of inserting the ink cartridge 10. Needle 275C
Is connected to the cartridge, and then the valve 275 is opened. In other words, lever 2
The relationship between the length of 75D and the length of the needle 275C is determined so as to secure a series of operations as described above.

According to such a configuration, for example, before the needle is inserted into the cartridge, the valve 275A is opened and ink from the sub tank side leaks into the apparatus through the communication port of the needle 275C. Can be prevented.

As described above, the projection 48 is provided for the valve operation of the supply needle on the apparatus main body side. The projection 48 is provided so as to project from the recess of the lid 12 of the ink container. This is because of the easiness of manufacturing such as 20A and 20B. That is, in the formation of these joints, the housing 2
The elastic body 16 is attached to the cylinder 0, and the crown 17 is attached. The periphery of the attachment is a recessed space to facilitate the work. For this reason, the above-mentioned lever 275D
Is to be provided in the recess.

The above-mentioned ink supply needle 275C is for returning the ink circulating from the sub-tank (not shown) to the ink reservoir of the ink cartridge.
It penetrates the elastic body 16 of 0A. The other connecting portion 20B connects a supply needle for supplying ink to the apparatus main body, and the connecting portion 20C of the waste ink container connects a needle for flowing waste ink into the waste ink storage chamber. .
The supply needle unit of the needle connected to the coupling portions 20B and 20C does not have the above-described valve structure.

Next, the ink container 11 and the waste ink container 13
The configuration of the part for fixing and fixing the components will be described.

FIGS. 13A, 13B and 13C are enlarged sectional views of the locking portion 18 of the ink container 11 and the locking claw 19 of the waste ink container 13. FIG.

The locking portion 18 has a locking projection 29 and a spring portion 30 on the side facing the locking projection 29. In addition, the locking claw 19
Similarly have a locking projection 28.

As shown in FIG. 13A, the ink container 1
The locking claw 19 is inserted into the locking portion 18 in the direction of arrow A in FIG. afterwards,
As shown in FIG.
Of the locking projection 18 of the locking portion 18 at this time, the locking claw 19 is warped as shown in FIG. At this point, the spring portion 30 bends as shown in the figure. When the locking projection 28 exceeds the locking projection 29,
Each projection engages with each other's recess, and the spring 3
0 acts to fix this engagement. Thereby, the locking portion 18 and the locking claw 19 are tightly engaged and fixed.

Here, when a force for releasing the above-mentioned engaged state is exerted, the spring claw 19 engages the locking claw 19 with the spring portion 30.
Works to hold down, so that the engaged state can be maintained. However, if a force exceeding the spring force of the spring portion is applied, the engaged state may be released.

Next, a configuration of semi-permanent engagement and fixing will be described with reference to FIG.

Although the structures of the engaging portion 18 and the engaging claw 19 are the same as those shown in FIG. 13, here, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4A, a material 31 which hardens like an adhesive made of epoxy resin is applied to the upper surface of the spring portion 30 before the engagement.

The material which cures like the adhesive of the material 31 is preferably of a type which cures with time, and after curing, it is preferably a hard material, that is, a material having low elasticity.

When the locking claw 19 is connected to the locking portion 18, the hardening material 31 such as an adhesive is not solidified and the engagement protrusion 29 is over the engagement protrusion 29. Similarly, the spring portion 30 is depressed by the locking claw 19, but the material 31 that is hardened like an adhesive changes its shape, and does not hinder the engagement between the engaging portion 18 and the engaging claw 19. However, once in the engaged state, the material 31 that hardens like an adhesive hardens over time between the spring portion 30 and the wall surface 32 of the container. Therefore, after the curing, the bending of the spring portion 30 is suppressed, and in this state, it is difficult to release the engaging portion.

According to an experiment conducted by the inventor of the present invention, when a material 31 that hardens like an adhesive is not put in, two containers may come off when the assembled ink cartridge is dropped from a high position. However, it did not come off when using the material 31 that hardened like an adhesive.

The material 31 which hardens like an adhesive does not necessarily have to be adhered to the spring portion 30 or the wall surface 32, but only needs to be present at a position where the spring portion 30 does not bend. Obviously, such a material is not limited to an adhesive.

FIG. 15 shows an example in which a locking projection of a locking claw is further added.

Similarly to the above, the locking claw 1 is
9 is assembled from the direction of arrow A in the figure (FIG. 15A). When the locking projection 28 exceeds the locking projection 29, the added locking projection 33 also exceeds the tip 34 of the spring portion 30 (FIG. 15B). As a result, the engagement is completed as shown in FIG. As described above, the engagement between the engagement portion 18 and the engagement claw 19 causes the engagement protrusions 29 and 28 to engage with the engagement protrusion 33 and the distal end 34 of the spring portion 30, respectively. State.

In this state, for example, the engaging claw 19 such as a fall
15D, even if a force is applied to the engagement protrusion 19, the distal end 34 of the spring portion 30 and the engagement claw 19 are locked.
3 does not come off, so that when the force is removed, it returns to its original state (FIG. 10 (c)), and the connected state can be maintained.

FIG. 16 shows the engagement claw 1 shown in FIG.
9 shows a cross section of FIG.

The locking projection c33 has a shape as shown in the figure, and a groove 35 corresponding to the locking projection 33 is formed in the spring portion 30 so as to have a shape similar to that shown in FIG. Can be handled without major changes.

FIG. 17 shows a label printer as an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied in a state where the cover 111 of the roll paper supply unit 101 is removed, and the print head unit 102 is rotated upward and opened. FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing a state where the front cover 113 of the ink cartridge unit 103 is opened.

As shown in FIG. 17, the roll 126 around which the roll paper 124 accommodated in the roll paper supply unit 101 is wound has two drive rollers 301 provided at the bottom of the unit 101 (one is not shown). ), And the outer peripheral side of the roll 126 and the drive roller are in contact with each other with a pressing force due to the weight of the roll paper. In this state, when the drive roller 301 and the like rotate with the power of a motor (not shown), the outermost roll paper 124 is separated from the inner roll paper and sent out. The supply of the roll paper is performed by the printer head unit 102 and the cartridge storage unit 1.
03 is carried out substantially irrespective of the transport by the roll paper transport mechanism 104 (details not shown). Therefore, in order to adjust the conveyance between these two parts, in the above-described roll paper supply, the supply of the roll paper is controlled so as to form a loop (sag, not shown in FIG. 17) serving as a buffer. . That is, when a loop sensor (not shown) does not detect a loop due to conveyance by the conveyance mechanism 104, the driving roller is driven to supply the roll paper while forming the loop.

The paper guide 131 is used to store the roll 12
6 so as to be slidable in the width direction. That is, when storing the roll paper, the paper guide 131 is slid more than the width of the roll paper 124, the roll 126 is placed on the drive roller, and then the paper guide 131 is rolled.
It is possible to slide to a width of 26, and a part of it can be abutted against the core material 125 of the roll 126. Thus, when the roll paper 124 is supplied, it is possible to restrict the roll paper 124 from oscillating in the width direction on the upstream side of the drive roller in the supply direction while allowing a certain minute sway. The paper guide 131 is provided with a stopper 316 for fixing the slide position.

In the roll paper transport path, the transport mechanism 10
An oblique feeding unit 128 is provided near the entrance of the transport path of the transport path 4. The skew feeding unit 128 has two skew feeding rollers (not shown) that contact the lower surface of the roll paper 124 and skew rollers 129 and 130 that contact the upper surface of the roll paper 124 facing these rollers. The two skew feeding rollers oppose the skew feeding roller 130 and are driven by a driving force from the conveying mechanism 104 side, and the skew feeding roller 129.
And a driven roller that does not have a driving force and is installed so that each roller rotates obliquely to the transport direction of the roll paper (the rotation axis is inclined from the direction perpendicular to the transport direction). Have been. In addition, oblique feeding roller 1
29 and 130 are also mounted obliquely with respect to the transport direction, similarly to the skew feeding roller. By these skew feeding rollers and skew feeding rollers 129 and 130, it is possible to apply a conveying force in a diagonal direction to the conveyed roll paper so as to press the roll paper against a predetermined guide on the back side in the drawing. As a result, the roll paper 124 is transported in a direction in which the transport direction thereof is regulated, so that the roll paper 124 can be transported favorably without any deviation in the transport direction.

A roll paper transport mechanism 104 provided between the print head unit 102 and the cartridge storage unit 103
Although not shown in FIG. 17, a plurality of sheets extending in the transport direction are arranged below the roll paper 124 (accordingly, arranged on the upper surface of the cartridge storage unit 103) in the figure. And a roller provided on the upstream and downstream sides in the transport direction for driving these belts, and a spur that is disposed on the lower surface of the print head unit 102 and obtains a driving force through a predetermined belt among the belts.

In FIG. 18, the ink cartridge storage unit 103 stores four types of inks, yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C), used in the label printer of this embodiment.
And four cartridge storage chambers 140Y, 140M, 140C and 140Bk corresponding to black and black (Bk).
It has. Near the entrance of each cartridge storage room,
Shutters 142Y and 142 for substantially shielding the inside of the storage chamber
M, 142C and 142Bk are provided. These shutters are rotatably supported at their upper parts, and are provided to prevent a user from accidentally putting his / her hand inside the storage chamber and touching the ink supply needle.
When inserting the ink cartridge, the cartridge itself pushes the shutter toward the back of the storage chamber,
The insertion is performed.

[0071]

As described above, according to the present invention,
An ink tank with stable performance at low cost can be easily supplied without requiring an expensive device.

Further, according to the present invention, since the assembling is easy, the assembling is possible even after the ink injection is completed, so that the degree of freedom of the process setting is increased, and the elasticity of the injection needle at the time of the ink injection is increased. Eliminates damage to the body and improves reliability.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an ink tank which has a good needle insertion / removal property and can be securely closed after the needle is pulled out.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a conventional example of an ink tank.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an ink coupling portion of the ink tank shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing one embodiment of the ink tank of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a process of assembling the ink tank shown in FIG. 3;

5 is a cross-sectional view of the ink tank shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of each component constituting an ink coupling portion of the ink tank shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an ink connection unit assembled from the components shown in FIG. 6;

8 (a) and 8 (b) are cross-sectional views for explaining an appropriate inner diameter of the ink coupling section shown in FIG. 7, and FIG. 8 (a) shows a state where a supply needle or the like is penetrated; (B)
Indicates a state in which the supply needle and the like have been pulled out.

FIG. 9 is a front view of an end face of an ink tank having the ink coupling section shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a connection between an ink tank and a supply needle according to the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a connection between an ink tank and a supply needle according to the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a connection between an ink tank and a supply needle according to the embodiment.

FIGS. 13 (a), (b) and (c) are views for explaining engagement between an ink reservoir and a waste ink reservoir in the ink tank of the embodiment.

FIGS. 14A, 14B and 14C are diagrams illustrating another example of the engagement.

FIGS. 15 (a), (b), (c) and (d) are diagrams illustrating another example of the engagement.

FIG. 16 is a sectional view of an engagement portion in the engagement shown in FIG.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view illustrating a label printer including an ink tank to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the printer as viewed from the front.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Ink tank 11 Ink container 12 Lid 13 Waste ink container 14 Absorber 15 Waste ink lid 16 Elastic body 17 Crown (fixing member) 20 Housing part 22 Pressing part

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Hiroshi Koizumi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Kiyomi Aono 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Incorporated (72) Inventor Yuki Tajima 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (56) References JP-A-4-24761 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int) .Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 2/175

Claims (13)

(57) [Claims] 1. An ink container for storing ink used in a recording apparatus, having an inner diameter larger than the inner diameter of the cylindrical hole provided in the ink container and provided at an end of the cylindrical hole for supplying the ink. A housing part having a first engagement part, an elastic body inserted by a needle-like body that supplies ink to the recording device while closing the housing part by being attached to the housing part, A second engaging portion that engages with the first engaging portion, has an opening through which the needle-like body can pass, and elastically deforms the elastic body by cooperation of the housing portion and the pressing portion. And a fixing member with a pressing portion for maintaining the housing portion closed by pressing and holding the elastic member. The elastic body has a dome shape having an outer diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the housing portion before the mounting. hand Thus, in the mounted state, the engagement state between the first engagement portion of the housing portion and the second engagement portion of the fixing member is ensured by utilizing the restoring force of the pressed and held elastic body. An ink tank, characterized in that: 2. A waste ink container for storing waste ink used in a recording apparatus, and an inner diameter of the cylindrical hole provided in the waste ink container and provided at an end of the cylindrical hole for taking in the waste ink. A housing portion having a larger inner diameter and having a first engagement portion, and a needle-shaped body which is attached to the housing portion to close the housing portion and take in waste ink from the recording apparatus. An elastic body to be inserted; a second engaging portion engaging with the first engaging portion; an opening through which the needle-like body can pass; And a fixing member with a pressing portion that keeps the housing closed by elastically deforming and pressing and holding in cooperation with each other, wherein the elastic body has substantially the same outer diameter as the inner diameter of the housing portion before the mounting. The diameter In the mounted state, the state of engagement between the first engagement portion of the housing portion and the second engagement portion of the fixing member utilizes the restoring force of the elastic body pressed and held. An ink tank characterized by being secured by the following. 3. An ink container for storing ink used in a recording device, a waste ink container connectable to the ink container, and storing waste ink used in the recording device; A first housing portion provided with an inner diameter larger than an inner diameter of the cylindrical hole provided at an end portion of the cylindrical hole provided for supplying the ink, and provided with a first engagement portion; and provided in the waste ink container. A second housing portion having an inner diameter larger than an inner diameter of the cylindrical hole provided at an end portion of the cylindrical hole provided for taking in the waste ink, and a second housing portion provided with a second engagement portion; A first elastic body that is inserted by a first needle-shaped body that supplies ink to the recording device while closing the first housing portion by being attached, and is attached to the second housing portion. Second with closing the housing portion, and a second elastic body to be inserted by the second needle-like member to perform the capture of the waste ink from the recording device, the third engaging said first engaging portion by the An engaging portion, and an opening through which the needle-like body can pass, and the first elastic body is elastically deformed by the first housing portion and the pressing portion in cooperation with each other to hold the first elastic body. A first fixing member with a pressing portion for maintaining the closing of the first housing portion; a fourth engaging portion for engaging with the second engaging portion; and an opening through which the needle-like body can pass. A second fixing member with a pressing portion that maintains the second housing portion closed by elastically deforming and pressing and holding the second elastic body in cooperation with the second housing portion and the pressing portion; And wherein the first and second elastic bodies are each provided before the mounting. 1, which forms a dome shape having an outer diameter inner diameter substantially the same second housing portion, the first in a mounted state,
The state of engagement between the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion of the second housing portion and the third engagement portion and the fourth engagement portion of the first and second fixing members is held by the pressing. An ink tank secured by utilizing the restoring force of the first and second elastic bodies. 4. The semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein a chamfer or a radius is formed at an entrance side opening of the housing portion or a lower peripheral edge of the elastic body. The ink tank according to the item. 5. The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein an opening diameter of said fixing member and a diameter of said cylindrical hole satisfy a relationship of opening diameter of said fixing member ≦ diameter of said cylindrical hole. An ink tank according to any one of the above. 6. An equation 1.05 <(R / r) sin ⁻¹ (r / R) where r is an inner radius of the housing portion and R is a radius of curvature of the elastic body when it is not deformed. The ink tank according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein <1.57 is satisfied. 7. An equation 1.1 <(R / r) sin ⁻¹ (r / R) where r is an inner radius of the housing portion and R is a radius of curvature of the elastic body when it is not deformed. The ink tank according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein <1.4 is satisfied. 8. The ink tank according to claim 1, wherein the ink container is filled with ink. 9. An ink container according to claim 1, further comprising a loading portion to which the ink tank can be mounted, and a needle-like body inserted through the elastic body when the loading portion receives supply of ink from the ink tank. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising an ink supply unit. 10. A waste unit comprising a loading unit to which the ink tank according to claim 2 can be attached, and a needle-like body inserted into the elastic body when sending waste ink to the ink tank to the loading unit. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising an ink processing unit. 11. A loading section to which the ink tank according to claim 3 is attachable, and wherein the first section is provided when the loading section receives supply of ink from the ink tank.
An ink supply unit including a first needle-like body inserted into the elastic body; and a waste ink processing unit including a second needle-like body inserted into the second elastic body when sending waste ink to the ink tank. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: 12. An ink container for storing ink used in a recording apparatus, wherein the ink container has an inner diameter larger than the inner diameter of the cylindrical hole provided at the end of the cylindrical hole used for supplying the ink. A housing portion having a first engagement portion, an elastic body that closes the housing portion, and is inserted through a needle-like body that supplies ink to the recording device;
A second engaging portion that engages with the first engaging portion, has an opening through which the needle-like body can pass, and elastically deforms the elastic body by cooperation of the housing portion and the pressing portion. And a fixing member with a pressing portion for maintaining the housing portion closed by pressing and holding the housing portion, wherein the elastic body in the connecting portion is substantially equal to the inner diameter of the housing portion. It has a dome shape having the same outer diameter, and the state of engagement between the first engagement portion of the housing portion and the second engagement portion of the fixing member utilizes the restoring force of the elastic body pressed and held. It is secured by being, from the two of the ink container relative to the one of the coupling portion with sucking through acicular body pierced the air needle body for venting the air, of the coupling portion Inject ink into the other An ink tank, characterized by injecting through needle-shaped body of the ink in the ink container put the needle-like body for. 13. A dome-shaped elastic body having an outer diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the housing portion is provided inside a housing portion provided in an ink container for storing ink and having a first engagement portion and a cylindrical hole. A second engaging portion engaged with the first engaging portion of the housing portion and an opening through which the needle-like body passes; and a cylindrical hole of the housing portion is closed. The elastic body is fixed by a fixing member for directly holding and pressing the elastic body to be compressed in cooperation with the housing part and fixing the elastic body to the housing part, and the first engagement part and the second A method of manufacturing an ink tank, wherein an engagement state with an engagement portion is ensured by utilizing a restoring force of the distorted elastic body.