JP3219394B2 - Inkjet cartridge - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink-jet cartridge detachably mounted on an ink-jet recording apparatus, and more particularly, to an ink-jet cartridge having two ink storage sections connected to each other and one of which is detachable.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, replaceable ink cartridges have been
It had two ink tanks and stored large and large volumes of ink. For example, FIG. 4 shows a conventional ink cartridge.
The supply of the ink to a was performed only by the large ink tank 61.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, the following improvements can be made.

That is, since the mass of the cartridge is large, it is not suitable for a small device.

In addition, when used in high-speed equipment, there is a problem that the inertia increases, the driving load increases, the skin current increases, and the speed decreases.

Furthermore, if the cartridge is made smaller for a small device, there is a problem that the cartridge cannot be applied to a standard device and compatibility cannot be obtained.

Further, there is a problem that the operating cost is increased due to the reduced ink capacity.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present inventor has developed a main ink tank (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as a first ink tank) and an auxiliary ink tank (hereinafter, referred to as a second ink tank) connected to a recording head. Tanks), and a removable sub-ink tank can be attached and detached, so that a standard recording device can be equipped with a cartridge with a sub-ink tank attached, and a small recording device can have the sub-ink tank removed. The present invention has been completed by mounting the sub cartridge and using the sub ink tank as a refill ink tank.

That is, according to the present invention, there is provided an ink-jet cartridge detachably mounted to an ink-jet recording apparatus, wherein the first ink-jet cartridge is mounted on a recording head for ejecting ink and contains an absorber therein. A main) ink tank, and a second (sub) ink tank that is separably connected to the first (main) ink tank and stores ink supplied to the first (main) ink tank , I
In accordance with the configuration of the ink jet recording device,
With only the first (main) ink tank mounted on the cartridge
A first form used in a state, and the first (main) ink tank
Ink tank and the second (sub) ink tank are attached.
Used in multiple forms, of the second form used in the closed state
Inkjet cartridge is provided which is characterized in the that the.

This ink jet cartridge has a first
The ink tank and the second ink tank may be configured integrally, and may be configured so that the connection between the first ink tank and the second ink tank can be cut off. Ma
In addition, this ink jet cartridge uses the first ink
The tank is the second ink tank when the second ink tank is not installed.
The connection part with the tank is used as an air communication port,
The second ink tank is connected to the second ink tank.
A configuration in which the opening provided in the vehicle is used as an air communication port
It does not matter.

According to the present invention, the basic structure is not changed, and only the structure including the second ink tank replaceable with the first ink tank as the structure on the ink tank side is provided. In addition, it is possible to provide an ink jet cartridge conforming to the form of a device used such as a small recording device or a standard recording device.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention is particularly effective in an ink jet recording type recording head and recording apparatus in which flying droplets are formed using thermal energy and recording is performed. Is to bring.

The typical configuration and principle are described in, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740.
No. 796, and the present invention is preferably performed using these basic principles. This recording method can be applied to both on-demand type and continuous type.

The recording method will be described briefly. An electrothermal transducer disposed corresponding to a sheet or a liquid path holding a liquid (ink) is provided with a liquid (ink) corresponding to recording information. By applying at least one drive signal for exceeding the nucleate boiling phenomenon and giving a rapid temperature rise that causes the film boiling phenomenon, heat energy is generated, and film boiling occurs on the heat-acting surface of the recording head. . As described above, since bubbles corresponding to the drive signal applied to the electrothermal converter from the liquid (ink) can be formed one-to-one, it is particularly effective for an on-demand type recording method. By discharging the liquid (ink) through the discharge port by the growth and contraction of the bubble, at least one droplet is formed. When the drive signal is formed into a pulse shape, the growth and shrinkage of the bubble are performed immediately and appropriately, so that the ejection of a liquid (ink) having particularly excellent responsiveness can be achieved, which is more preferable. Examples of the drive signal in the form of a pulse include those described in U.S. Pat.
Suitable are those described in US Pat. No. 45,262. 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.

The configuration of the recording head is a combination of a discharge port, a liquid flow path, and an electrothermal converter (a linear liquid flow path or a right-angle liquid flow path) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications. In addition, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,600, those having a configuration in which a heat acting portion is arranged in a bent region are also included in the present invention.

In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 123670/1984 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge port of an electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters. The present invention is also effective in a configuration based on JP-A-59-138461, which discloses a configuration in which the opening to be made corresponds to the discharge section.

Further, as a recording head in which the present invention is effectively used, there is a full line type recording head having a length corresponding to the maximum width of a recording medium on which a recording apparatus can record. The full line head may be a full line configuration by combining a plurality of recording heads as disclosed in the above specification, or may be a single full line recording head formed integrally.

In addition, the print head is replaceable with a print head of a chip type which can be electrically connected to the main body of the apparatus or supplied with ink from the main body of the apparatus, or is integrated with the print head itself. The present invention is also effective when a cartridge-type recording head provided in a fixed manner is used.

It is preferable to add recovery means for the printhead, preliminary auxiliary means, and the like to the recording apparatus of the present invention because the recording apparatus of the present invention can be further stabilized. If these are specifically mentioned, a capping unit, a cleaning unit, a pressurizing or suction unit, a preheating unit using an electrothermal converter or another heating element or a combination thereof, a recording head, It is also effective to add a means for performing a preliminary ejection mode for performing another ejection in order to perform stable printing.

Further, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to the mode for recording only the mainstream color such as black, but may be either a mode in which the recording head is integrally formed or a mode in which a plurality of recording heads are combined. However, the present invention is extremely effective for an apparatus provided with at least one of multiple colors of different colors or full color by mixing colors.

FIG. 5 is an external perspective view showing an example of an ink jet recording apparatus (IJRA) in which the recording head obtained according to the present invention is mounted as an ink jet head cartridge (IJC).

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 120 denotes an ink jet head cartridge (IJC) having a group of nozzles for discharging ink so as to face a recording surface of a recording sheet sent on a platen 124. Reference numeral 116 denotes a carriage HC that holds the IJC 120. The carriage HC is connected to a part of a drive belt 118 that transmits the driving force of the drive motor 117, and is provided with two guide shafts 119A and 119 arranged in parallel with each other.
By making it slidable with B, reciprocal movement over the entire width of the recording paper of the IJC 120 becomes possible.

Reference numeral 126 denotes a head recovery device, and IJC1
It is disposed at one end of the 20 movement paths, for example, at a position facing the home position. The head recovery device 126 is operated by the driving force of the motor 122 via the transmission mechanism 123, and the IJC 120 is capped. IJC1 by the cap 126A of the head recovery device 126
20 in connection with the capping of the head recovery device 1
The ink is sucked by an appropriate suction means provided in the ink jet printer 26 or fed by an appropriate pressurizing means provided in an ink supply path to the IJC 120, and the ink is forcibly discharged from the discharge port to increase the viscosity in the nozzle. An ejection recovery process such as removal of ink is performed. Also, by performing capping at the end of recording or the like, IJC is protected.

Reference numeral 130 denotes a blade provided on a side surface of the head recovery device 126 as a wiping member formed of silicon rubber. The blade 130 is held in a cantilever form by a blade holding member 130 </ b> A, and similarly to the head recovery device 126, a motor 122 and a transmission mechanism 123 are provided.
And the engagement with the ejection surface of the IJC 120 becomes possible. Accordingly, the blade 130 is moved to the IJC 12 at an appropriate timing in the recording operation of the IJC 120 or after the ejection recovery processing using the head recovery device 126.
In this case, the projection is made to protrude into the movement path of the IJC 120 to wipe off dew condensation, wetness, dust and the like on the discharge surface of the IJC 120 with the movement of the IJC 120.

[0025]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be specifically described below based on embodiments.

Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an ink jet cartridge of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a state where the main ink tank (first ink tank) and the sub ink tank (second ink tank) are separated.

In the figure, reference numeral 31 denotes an ink jet recording head 3
1a is a small cartridge constituted by mounting a main ink tank 31b, 31e is a contact board,
f is a head base, 31d is an absorber housed inside the main ink tank 31b. The main ink tank 31b has an opening 3 to which the sub ink tank 32 is connected.
1c is provided, and this opening 31c functions as an air communication part when the main ink tank 31b is used alone.

Reference numeral 32 denotes a sub ink tank, and a supply nozzle portion 32a of the sub ink tank 32 has a main ink tank 31b.
And the leading end of the supply nozzle 32a is in contact with the absorber 31d in the main ink tank 31b. Main ink tank 31b and sub ink tank 3
When the plug seal 33 affixed to a part of the sub ink tank 32 is peeled off in a state where the ink cartridge 2 is connected, the vent 32b is opened to the atmosphere, and the ink 32c stored in the sub ink tank 32 is supplied. The ink is supplied to the absorber 31d built in the main ink tank 32b through the nozzle portion 32a.

The sub-ink tank 3 is attached to the small cartridge 31.
2 can be used for a standard recording apparatus, and the small cartridge 31 without the sub ink tank 32 can be used for a portable small recording apparatus.

Embodiment 2 As another embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to make the sub ink tank 32 function as an ink tank for ink refill of the small cartridge 31, and the main ink tank 31b
After refilling the ink in the main ink tank, the sub ink tank 32 after refilling may be removed from the main ink tank 31b and discarded.

Embodiment 3 FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view showing an ink cartridge of the present invention in which a main ink tank 31b and a sub ink tank 32 are integrally formed via a constricted portion 32d. In this state, the ink jet cartridge can be used as an ink jet cartridge of a standard recording apparatus. However, when this ink jet cartridge is used as a small cartridge of a portable small recording apparatus, the constricted portion 32d is cut off and the sub ink tank 32 is removed and discarded. Although 32e in the figure indicates an ink absorber, a structure in which only ink is stored may be used as shown in FIG.

[0032]

As described above, the ink tank is configured to be dividable, and the configuration of the ink jet recording apparatus is reduced.
By response with the configuration used in multiple forms, it becomes possible to provide an ink jet cartridge usable with the standard recording device to both portable small size recording apparatus.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing one configuration example of an ink jet cartridge of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing one configuration example of the ink cartridge of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating another configuration example of the ink cartridge of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing one configuration example of a conventional ink jet cartridge.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view schematically showing an internal configuration of the inkjet recording apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 31 small ink cartridge 31a ink jet recording head 31b main ink tank 31c opening 31d ink absorber 31e contact board 31f head base 32 sub ink tank 32a supply nozzle 32b vent 32c ink 32d constriction 32e ink absorber 33 plug seal 61 ink tank 61a Inkjet recording head 116 Carriage 117 Drive motor 118 Drive belt 119A, 119B Guide shaft 120 Inkjet head cartridge 122 Cleaning motor 123 Transmission mechanism 124 Platen 126 Head recovery device 126A cap unit 130 Blade 130A Blade holding member

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. An ink jet cartridge detachably mounted to an ink jet recording apparatus, comprising: a first ink tank mounted on a recording head for discharging ink and containing an absorber therein; It is detachably connected to the ink tank, and a second ink tank which stores ink to be supplied to the first ink tank, so as to correspond to the form of an ink jet recording apparatus, the recording
With only the first ink tank mounted on the head
A first form used, the first ink tank and
Used with both of the second ink tanks installed
An ink jet cartridge according to the second mode, wherein the ink jet cartridge is used in a plurality of modes . 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first ink tank and the second ink tank are integrally formed, and a connecting portion between the first ink tank and the second ink tank can be cut off. The ink jet cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein 3. The ink cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the first ink tank is provided with the second ink tank.
When the ink tank is not mounted, the second ink tank
Is used as an air communication port, and the second
When connected to the ink tank, the second ink tank
It is noted that the provided openings are used as air communication ports.
The inkjet cartridge according to claim 1,
Di.