JP3238756B2 - Ink jet cartridge and recording device - 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 and a recording apparatus provided with the ink jet cartridge.
The present invention relates to an ink jet cartridge including an ink jet recording head and an ink tank, and an ink jet recording apparatus including the ink jet cartridge.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an ink jet cartridge having a structure in which an ink jet recording head for ejecting ink droplets and an ink tank for supplying ink to the ink jet head are integrated has been put to practical use. The ink tank of such an ink-jet cartridge generally has a structure in which a porous body compressed and accommodated therein is impregnated with ink. The ink supply port of this ink tank is connected to the ink introduction port of the ink jet recording head, and the ink impregnated and held in the porous body in the ink tank is led to a plurality of ejection ports via a common liquid chamber of the ink jet recording head. I will The ink in the ink tank is derived by a capillary phenomenon that occurs according to the ink consumption of the ink jet recording head.

Japanese Patent Publication No. 3-41351 discloses an ink jet cartridge in which an ink jet recording head and an ink tank are integrally formed, wherein a filter is provided at an ink supply port of the ink tank. However, in such an ink jet cartridge, an energy generating unit that is incorporated into an ink jet recording head and generates the energy for ejecting ink droplets, and an ink tank that supplies ink to the ink jet recording head are integrated, so that the ink tank When the ink runs out, expensive ink jet recording heads that can still be used must be replaced together with the ink tanks, which inevitably increases the size of the ink tanks and reduces the size in terms of cost. I couldn't do that. This has been an obstacle in reducing the size of the entire ink jet cartridge.

As a solution to such a problem, it has been proposed that an ink jet recording head and an ink tank can be separated on a carriage provided in the ink jet recording apparatus. In the on-carriage type tank / head separated type, the tank alone can be replaced repeatedly until the life of the ink jet recording head is over. As long as a normal document is printed, thousands of sheets can be printed by one inkjet recording head by repeatedly replacing only the tank. When the life of the ink jet recording head expires and printing becomes impossible, a new ink jet recording head is purchased and mounted on the carriage, so that printing can be performed again. In such an ink jet cartridge, since thousands of sheets are printed by one ink jet recording head while repeatedly replacing only the tank, external debris is generated in the ink jet recording head when the ink jet recording head is separated from the ink tank. The inkjet recording head is provided with a filter so as not to penetrate the ink jet recording head.

[0005]

However, in the above conventional example, as the number of ink tanks exchanged per ink jet recording head increases, debris from the ink tank accumulates in a filter provided in the ink jet recording head. It can cause clogging. In particular, if a porous body is used as a means for holding ink in the ink tank, fragments of the porous body itself will be garbage. However, there is a problem that it is troublesome and costly. Further, for example, when a porous body is stored in an ink tank as described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 3-41351, it is necessary to make a filter closely contact the porous body. However, in the case of a type in which the ink jet recording head and the ink tank are separated, for example, when a user repeatedly connects and separates one ink tank by mistake,
The porous body contained in the ink tank may be deformed, and the filter of the ink jet recording head may not be in close contact with the porous body, so that ink may not be supplied to the ink jet recording head. Also, when connecting the ink jet recording head and the ink tank,
Bubbles may enter the ink tank. If air bubbles enter the ink tank, the air bubbles may enter the ink supply path during the printing operation and cause defective ejection of ink droplets.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of such a conventional technical problem.
Provided is an ink jet cartridge capable of preventing clogging of a filter provided in an ink jet recording head and preventing entry of air bubbles into an ink tank when the ink jet recording head and the ink tank are combined, and a recording apparatus including the same. It is in.

[0007]

An ink jet cartridge according to the present invention is capable of discharging ink from a discharge port and has a first ink supply port for introducing ink from the outside.
An ink jet cartridge comprising: an ink jet recording head having a filter; and an ink tank which is separable from the recording head and has a second filter at an ink supply port connectable to the ink introduction port. The first filter and the second filter are located at a predetermined space in a state where the ink introduction port and the ink supply port are connected, and connect the ink introduction port and the ink supply port. At that time,
The first filter is configured to push air compressed in the space through the first filter toward the recording head.
Wherein the interface holding force of the filter is weaker than the interface holding force of the second filter.

An ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention is capable of discharging ink from a discharge port, and has a first filter at an ink introduction port for introducing ink from outside, and an ink jet recording head for the recording head. An ink tank that is separable and has a second filter at an ink supply port that can be connected to the ink introduction port; and an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording by using the recording head and the ink tank. A carriage, a driving unit for driving the recording head, a moving unit for relatively moving the carriage and the recording medium, and a recovery unit for performing a suction recovery operation for sucking ink from an ejection port of the recording head. The first filter and the second filter are configured such that the ink introduction port and the ink supply port In a continuous state, the ink supply port is located with a predetermined space therebetween, and when connecting the ink introduction port and the ink supply port, air compressed in the space is passed through the first filter to the recording head side. So that the interface holding force of the first filter is weaker than the interface holding force of the second filter. The air inside and in the recording head can be sucked and discharged from the ejection port of the recording head through the first filter.

[0009]

According to the present invention, an ink jet recording head is provided.
A first filter attached to the ink inlet;
Filter attached to the ink supply port of the ink tank
Is the connection between the ink inlet and the ink supply port.
Is located across the space in the state, the air in that space,
Move to the recording head side through the first filter.
As a result, air bubbles enter the ink tank.
To prevent ink ejection failure.

[0010]

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

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ink jet cartridge according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an ink jet recording head having a plurality of ink nozzles for ejecting ink droplets, and reference numeral 2 denotes an ink tank for supplying ink to the ink jet recording head 1. It is stored. An ink jet recording head (hereinafter, simply referred to as a “recording head”) 1 has a plurality of electrothermal transducers (not shown) corresponding to each nozzle. As the energy used to discharge the ink, thermal energy that causes film boiling in the ink is generated.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of the ink jet cartridge shown in FIG. In the case of the present embodiment, a first filter 5 is attached to an ink inlet 4 of a common liquid chamber communicating with a plurality of ink nozzles 3. Inside the ink tank 2, a porous body 6 impregnated with ink is stored. The ink tank 2 is provided with an ink supply port 7 and an atmosphere communication port 8, and a second filter 9 is attached to the ink supply port 7 in close contact with the porous body 6. The recording head 1 and the ink tank 2 are connected as shown in FIG. 2 so that the former ink introduction port 4 and the latter ink supply port 7 are connected. These can be combined on a carriage provided in an ink jet recording apparatus described later, or can be separated and removed.

Next, the operation will be described.

By controlling the driving of an electrothermal transducer (not shown) provided in the recording head 1, ink is ejected from the nozzles 3 and printing is performed, and the porous body 6 is impregnated with the consumption of the ink. The ink that has been moved is gradually moved toward the recording head 1 by capillary action and supplied, and air enters the ink tank 2 through the atmosphere communication port 8. The ink impregnated in the porous body 6 is used as the recording head 1
When supplied to the recording head 1, dust in the porous body 6 is captured by the second filter 9, and does not reach the first filter 5 on the recording head 1. Therefore, even if a plurality of ink tanks 2 are repeatedly exchanged and combined with one recording head 1, the first filter 1 is not clogged by dust in the ink tanks 2 and the ink is stable. Will be supplied. Further, since the second filter 9 is in close contact with the porous body 6, even if one ink tank 2 is repeatedly combined and separated from the recording head 1, ink is stably supplied. .

Further, the relationship between the mesh size a of the first filter 5 and the mesh size b of the second filter 9 is set to a> b, that is, the eyes of the former filter 5 are changed to those of the latter filter 9. By making it coarser, the former interface retention force on the filter 5 side becomes weaker than the latter interface retention force on the filter 9 side.
The air compressed between the first filter 5 and the second filter 9 when the recording head 1 and the ink tank 2 are combined is pushed into the recording head 1 through the former filter 5. Then, the recording head 1
The air pushed to the side is sucked out of the nozzles 3 together with the ink by the ink suction recovery operation performed when the recording head 1 and the ink tank 2 are connected. Therefore, it does not cause ink ejection failure. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the first filter 5 may be smaller than the second filter 9 to reduce the former surface area. If air bubbles enter the ink tank 2, the air bubbles do not completely escape to the outside even by the above-mentioned ink suction recovery operation, so that the air bubbles move to the recording head 1 side during the printing operation. As a result, there is a risk of causing non-ejection of ink from the nozzle 3 and
If the air bubbles are left in the ink supply path, they may grow and hinder the supply of the ink, thereby causing non-ejection of the ink.

[Second Embodiment] FIG. 3 is a view for explaining a second embodiment of the ink jet cartridge of the present invention. In this embodiment, since the configuration of the recording head is the same as that of the first embodiment, only the ink tank 2 is shown in FIG.

In this embodiment, the ink supply port 7 of the ink tank 2 is provided with a valve body 11 that closes the ink supply port 7 by the urging force of the spring 10. The valve 1
1, the ink supply port 7 is closed when the recording head is separated from the ink tank 2 as shown in FIG. 3, and when the recording head is connected, the right side in FIG. To open the ink supply port 7. Therefore, when the recording head and the ink tank 2 are separated from each other, leakage of ink from the ink supply port 7 is prevented. In addition, a recording head is coupled to the ink tank 2,
The ink supply port 7 and the ink introduction port were connected.
At this time, the valve element 11 is
2 and the first filter 5 on the recording head side (see FIG. 2).
)). Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

[Third Embodiment] FIG. 4 is a view for explaining a third embodiment of the ink jet cartridge of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the configuration of the recording head is the same as that of the above-described first embodiment. Therefore, FIG. 4 shows only the ink tank 2.

In this embodiment, a flexible bag 12 for storing ink is provided inside the ink tank 2 of the second embodiment. Other configurations are the same as those of the second embodiment.

[Fourth Embodiment] FIG. 5 shows a fourth embodiment of the ink jet cartridge of the present invention. In the case of the present embodiment, the first filter 5 and the second filter 9 each having a circular plane are provided so as to be shifted in the vertical direction in FIG. 5 so that their center lines are not concentric. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

An embodiment of a recording apparatus provided with the above-described ink jet cartridge of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

(Schematic Description of Recording Apparatus Main Body) First, a schematic configuration of the ink jet recording apparatus (printer unit) IJP of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

The lead screw 46 rotates via driving force transmission gears 51 and 49 interlocked with forward and reverse rotations of the driving motor 53, and a carriage HC having a pin (not shown) engaged with the spiral groove 45 is moved by an arrow. It is reciprocated in the directions a and b. On the carriage HC, the ink jet cartridge C of the above-described embodiment is mounted. Reference numeral 42 denotes a paper pressing plate, which presses the recording medium (paper) P against the platen 40 in the moving direction of the carriage HC. 4
Reference numerals 7 and 48 denote photocouplers constituting home position detecting means, which detect the presence of the lever 44 of the carriage HC at these positions and switch the rotation direction of the motor 53 and the like. 56 is a cap member 62 for capping the front surface of the recording head in the ink jet cartridge C.
And 55 is a cap member.
This is a suction means for sucking the inside, and performs suction recovery operation of the print head by sucking ink from nozzles of the print head through an opening 63 in the cap member 62. 57 is a cleaning blade, and 59 is a member that allows the blade 57 to move in the front-rear direction. These members are supported by a main body support plate 58. It goes without saying that not only the blade of this embodiment but also a known cleaning blade can be applied as the blade 57. Reference numeral 61 denotes a lever for starting the suction recovery operation, which moves with the movement of the cam 60 engaging with the carriage HC. These capping, cleaning, and suction recovery operations are performed when the carriage HC reaches the home position side area.

(Explanation of the whole information processing apparatus) Next, an information processing apparatus (computer) incorporating the recording apparatus of the above embodiment.
An example of the configuration and an outline of an electric circuit will be described.

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view showing the appearance of an information processing device 74 incorporating the recording device (printer unit). In the figure, IJP is the printer unit described above,
Reference numeral 72 denotes a keyboard unit having keys for inputting characters, numerals and other characters, keys for giving various instructions, and the like, and 73 a display unit provided with a display.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an electric circuit configuration of the information processing device 74.

In the figure, reference numeral 81 denotes a controller which performs a main control, and reference numeral 82 denotes a microcomputer-type CP.
U and 83 are RAMs provided with areas for expanding text data and image data and work areas, 84 are ROMs storing fixed data such as work programs and other font data, 85 are execution cycles of the CPU 82, A timer 86 controls timing necessary for a printing operation by the printer unit IJP. An interface unit 86 connects a signal from the CPU 82 to a peripheral device.

Reference numeral 87 denotes a controller of the printer unit IJP. Reference numeral 88 denotes a head driver for transmitting a recording signal or electric power to the recording head H of the ink jet cartridge C. Reference numerals 89a and 89b denote a carriage motor 102a and a transport motor 102b, respectively. 90 is a motor driver for transmitting signals and electric power necessary for driving the carriage, 90 is a carriage sensor for detecting the position of the carriage HC and determining whether or not the carriage HC is at the home position, for example, and 91 is a recording medium (paper). ) A paper sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the recording medium P in order to prevent the recording from being performed in a place other than the recording medium P when P is not inserted or when the recording is completed up to the end of the page.

Further, reference numeral 74 denotes, for example, FDD, HDD, R
An external recording device 75 such as an AM card is an external interface for communicating with other information processing devices or controlling peripheral devices by directly connecting to an internal bus.

Next, a control sequence of a recording operation by the above-described printer unit IJP will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG.

First, in response to a recording start instruction from the display operation unit of the printer unit IJP by the recording instruction key 22 or an external recording start instruction through the external interface 75 , the following series of operations is started.

First, in step S1, it is determined whether or not the display operation unit is online. This is a measure to prevent the printing operation from starting when the printer IJP is not ready, mainly when a printing operation start instruction is sent from the outside by communication or the like. Then, the process proceeds to step S2.

In step S2, it is determined whether or not the recording medium P is set in the printer unit based on a signal from the paper sensor 91 or the like. This is particularly true in a recording apparatus such as an ink jet printer unit IJP, when printing is started without the recording medium P, the ink scatters in the printer unit and contaminates the apparatus itself, or ink such as a recording agent is used. This is to prevent unnecessary consumption.

Further, in step S2, not only the presence or absence of the recording medium P, but also whether or not the pinch roller and the transport roller have been released may be determined. This is to prevent the recording medium P from being normally conveyed if the pinch roller is released, even if the recording medium P is set. The release of the pinch roller can be determined by, for example, providing a mechanical switch on the release lever. If it is determined that the recording medium P has not been set normally, the process proceeds to step S3.

In step S3, a message is issued to draw the operator's attention and set the recording medium P. As a method of generating the message, for example, a message may be displayed by turning on a light on the display operation unit, or a method of sounding a buzzer may be used. If it is determined in step S3 that the recording medium P has been set, the process proceeds to step S4.

In step S4, a recording operation is started. That is, in response to an instruction from the CPU 82, the head driver 8
8 drives the ink jet cartridge C, and in synchronization with this, the motor drivers 89a and 89b drive the carriage motor 102a and the transport motor 102b, respectively, so that the carriage HC moves in the main scanning direction and the recording medium P moves in the sub scanning direction. The recording is performed while cleaning the recording head H and the like.

Finally, in step S5, for example, the CP
The end of the recording operation is instructed by a signal from U82,
Alternatively, when it is determined that the number of recording lines in the sub-scanning direction within one page has reached a predetermined number and recording on the recording medium P cannot be performed any longer, or the paper sensor 91 has detected the end of the recording area of the recording medium P. In some cases, it is determined that the recording operation has ended.

As a procedure for terminating the printing operation in step S6, first, the carriage HC is returned to the home position. This is because a cap is provided to protect the ink ejection surface of the print head H in case of turning off the power after the printing operation is completed. Next, for example, the transport motor 10
The recording medium P is discharged by driving the recording medium 2b by a predetermined amount or by driving the transport motor 102b until the paper sensor 91 confirms that the recording medium P has been discharged. Then, the CPU 82 displays the end of recording on the display / operation unit or notifies the peripheral device via the external interface 75 , and the recording operation is completed.

In this embodiment, the recording head and the ink tank are separable, and the ink jet recording is performed so that the separation or integration operation can be performed with the carriage HC mounted or removed from the carriage HC. The following effects can be obtained by configuring the device IJP.

That is, since the ink tank is mounted on the carriage HC, a tube or the like for supplying ink is not required, and the apparatus can be downsized. Further, when the ink runs out, only the ink tank need be replaced instead of the entire cartridge integrated with the head, so that the running cost can be reduced. Further, when either the recording head or the ink tank needs to be replaced, only the one that needs replacement needs to be replaced, so that the economy is improved.

When the recording head and the ink tank are separated by a lever or the like on the carriage HC, the pulling speed can be adjusted to prevent the ink from being scattered from the ink introduction port or the ink supply port. Can be. Further, when the print head and the ink tank are separated on the carriage HC, it is not necessary to directly hold the print head by hand, so that the vicinity of the ink discharge nozzle of the print head is not touched by hand, which adversely affects printing. Unnecessary pollution can be prevented. Further, when the recording head and the ink tank are separated on the carriage HC, a portion of the ink tank to which the force is applied is specified. The weight can be reduced and the internal volume can be increased. In addition, when the ink color needs to be exchanged, the recording head and the ink tank can be exchanged while being integrated, so that there is an effect that the ink colors can be easily exchanged without being mixed.

(Others) It should be noted that the present invention includes a means (for example, an electrothermal conversion element or a laser beam) for generating thermal energy as energy used for performing ink ejection, particularly in an ink jet recording system. An excellent effect is obtained in a recording head and a recording apparatus of a type in which the state of ink is changed by the thermal energy. This is because according to such a method, it is possible to achieve higher density and higher definition of recording.

The typical structure 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 is a so-called on-demand type,
Although it can be applied to any of the continuous type, especially in the case of the on-demand type, it can be applied to the sheet holding the liquid (ink) or the electrothermal conversion element arranged corresponding to the liquid path. By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recorded information and giving a rapid temperature rise exceeding the nucleate boiling, heat energy is generated in the electrothermal transducer, and film boiling occurs on the heat-acting surface of the recording head. This is effective because bubbles can be formed in the liquid (ink) corresponding to this drive signal on a one-to-one basis. Due to the growth and contraction of this bubble, the liquid (ink)
To form at least one droplet. When this drive signal is formed into a pulse shape, the growth and shrinkage of the bubble are performed immediately and appropriately, so that the liquid (ink) having particularly excellent responsiveness can be obtained.
Discharge can be achieved, which is more preferable. The driving signal in the form of a pulse is disclosed in US Pat. No. 4,463,359,
The one described in the specification of US Pat. No. 4,345,262 is 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 a discharge port, a liquid path, and an electrothermal conversion element (a linear liquid flow path or a right-angled liquid flow path) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications, U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 and U.S. Pat.
A configuration using the specification of Japanese Patent No. 459600 is also included in the present invention. In addition, for multiple electrothermal conversion elements,
JP-A-59-123670 which discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of an electrothermal conversion element, and JP-A-59-123670 which discloses a configuration in which an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy corresponds to a discharge portion. The effect of the present invention is effective even in a configuration based on JP-A-138461. That is, according to the present invention, recording can be reliably and efficiently performed regardless of the form of the recording head.

Further, the present invention can be effectively applied to 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. Such a recording head may have a configuration that satisfies the length by a combination of a plurality of recording heads, or a configuration as one integrally formed recording head.

It is preferable to add a recording head ejection recovery unit, a preliminary auxiliary unit, and the like as the configuration of the recording apparatus of the present invention since the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. Specifically, heating is performed on the recording head by using a capping unit, a cleaning unit, a pressurizing or suctioning unit, an electrothermal conversion element, another heating element, or a combination thereof. Pre-heating means for performing the pre-heating and pre-discharging means for performing the discharging other than the recording can be used.

The type and number of recording heads to be mounted are, for example, not only one provided for a single color ink but also a plurality of inks having different recording colors and densities. A plurality may be provided. That is, for example, the printing mode of the printing apparatus is not limited to a printing mode of only a mainstream color such as black, but may be any of integrally forming a printing head or a combination of a plurality of printing heads. The present invention is also very effective for an apparatus provided with at least one of the recording modes of full color by color mixture.

In addition, 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 or liquefies at room temperature may be used. In general, the ink jet method generally controls the temperature of the ink itself 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. Sometimes, the ink may be in a liquid state. In addition, in order to positively prevent temperature rise due to thermal energy by using it as energy for changing the state of the ink from a solid state to a liquid state, or to prevent evaporation of the ink, the ink is solidified in a standing state and heated. May be used. In any case, the application of heat energy causes the ink to be liquefied by the application of the heat energy according to the recording signal and the liquid ink to be ejected, or to start solidifying when it reaches the recording medium. The present invention is also applicable to a case where an ink having a property of liquefying for the first time is used. In such a case, the ink
JP-A-54-56847 or JP-A-60-7
As described in Japanese Patent No. 1260, a mode may be adopted in which the liquid sheet or the solid substance is held in the concave portion or through hole of the porous sheet and faces the electrothermal conversion element. In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

In addition, the form of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention is not limited to those used as image output terminals of information processing equipment such as computers, copying apparatuses combined with readers and the like, and facsimile apparatuses having a transmission / reception function. It may take a form.

[0050]

As described above, according to the present invention,
In an ink jet cartridge including an ink jet recording head and an ink tank separable thereto, a first filter is attached to an ink inlet of the ink jet recording head, and a first filter is attached to an ink supply port of an ink tank for supplying ink. By installing the second filter, dust from the ink tank can be prevented from clogging the first filter on the ink jet recording head side, and the management of the dust in the ink tank can be made unnecessary. In particular, when a porous body is used for the ink tank, the porous body is not washed and the cost is reduced. In addition, even if the recording head and the ink tank are repeatedly separated and connected, the filter and the porous body are in close contact with each other on the ink tank side, so that the ink can be supplied stably.

In addition, the first filter attached to the ink inlet of the ink jet recording head and the second filter attached to the ink inlet of the ink tank are connected in a state where the ink inlet and the ink inlet are connected. The air in the space is moved to the recording head side through the first filter, thereby preventing the intrusion of bubbles into the ink tank and reducing the ink ejection failure. Can be eliminated. For example, by setting the mesh size of the second filter to be equal to or less than the mesh size of the first filter, the interface holding force of the second filter on the ink tank side is stronger than the interface holding force of the first filter on the recording head side. That is, when the print head and the ink tank are combined, air between the first and second filters can be moved so as to be pushed from the first filter toward the print head, and air bubbles enter the ink tank. to prevent, can be eliminated ink discharge failure due to the presence of air bubbles in the ink supply path. Further, by sucking and discharging the ink from the discharge port of the recording head after being combined with the ink tank, the air between the first and second filters and in the recording head can be externally discharged from the first filter through the recording head side. Can also be discharged.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an ink jet cartridge according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of the ink jet cartridge shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view showing a main part of an ink jet cartridge according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view showing an ink jet cartridge according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view showing an ink jet cartridge according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an information processing apparatus in which the recording device shown in FIG. 6 is incorporated.

8 is a block diagram for explaining a circuit configuration of the information processing apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining a control sequence of a recording operation of the information processing apparatus shown in FIG. 6;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ink jet recording head 2 Ink tank 3 Nozzle 4 Ink inlet 5 First filter 6 Porous body 7 Ink supply port 8 Atmospheric communication port 9 Second filter 10 Spring 11 Valve body 12 Flexible bag

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-4-257452 (JP, A) JP-A-2-198861 (JP, A) JP-A-3-92356 (JP, A) JP-A-3-257 207663 (JP, A) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 2/175 B41J 2/01

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] An ink jet recording head having a first filter at an ink inlet for introducing ink from the outside while being capable of discharging ink from an outlet, and being separable from the recording head, An ink-jet cartridge comprising: an ink tank having a second filter at an ink supply port connectable to the ink introduction port; wherein the first filter and the second filter include the ink introduction port and the ink supply port. When the ink supply port is connected to the ink supply port, the air compressed in the space is passed through the first filter and the recording is performed. The interface holding force of the first filter is weaker than the interface holding force of the second filter so as to be pushed into the head side. Ink jet cartridge, characterized in that the. 2. The ink jet cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the first filter has a larger mesh size than the second filter. 3. The ink supply port of the ink tank has a valve interposed between the first filter and the second filter when the ink supply port and the ink supply port are connected. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein
Or the inkjet cartridge according to 2. 4. The ink tank according to claim 1, wherein the ink tank has a porous body capable of impregnating and holding ink, and the porous body is in close contact with the second filter.
The inkjet cartridge according to any one of the above. 5. An ink jet recording head capable of discharging ink from a discharge port and having a first filter in an ink introduction port for introducing ink from the outside, and separable from the recording head, An ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording using an ink tank having a second filter at an ink supply port connectable to the ink introduction port; a carriage capable of mounting the recording head and the ink tank; and the recording head. A driving unit that drives the carriage, a moving unit that relatively moves the carriage and the recording medium, and a recovery unit that performs a suction recovery operation that suctions ink from an ejection port of the recording head, wherein the first filter is provided. And the second filter, when the ink introduction port and the ink supply port are connected, a predetermined empty space. When connecting the ink introduction port and the ink supply port, the first compressed air is pushed into the recording head through the first filter toward the recording head. The interface holding force of the filter is made weaker than the interface holding force of the second filter, and the recovery means is configured to remove air in the space and the print head when the print head and the ink tank are combined. An ink jet recording apparatus capable of sucking and discharging the ink from the discharge port of the recording head through the first filter.