JP3352198B2 - Liquid ejecting head and liquid ejecting apparatus using the liquid ejecting head - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting head and a liquid ejecting apparatus using the head. The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting head for performing printing and the like, and an apparatus using the head.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A recording device having a function such as a printer, a copying machine, a facsimile or the like, or a recording device used as an output device of a composite electronic device or a workstation including a computer and a word processor, etc. It is configured to record an image on a recording material such as a plastic thin plate. Note that such recording apparatuses are classified into an ink jet type, a wire dot type, a thermal type, a laser beam type, and the like according to a recording method.

In a serial-type recording apparatus employing a serial scan system in which a main scan is performed in a direction crossing a conveying direction (sub-scanning direction) of a recording material, the recording material is set at a predetermined recording position, An image is recorded (main scanning) by a recording head mounted on a carriage that moves along a recording material, and after one line of recording is completed, a predetermined amount of sheet is fed in the sub-scanning direction, and then stopped again. By repeating the operation of recording (main scanning) the image of the next row on the recording material, the entire recording material is recorded. On the other hand, in a line-type recording apparatus that performs recording only in the sub-scanning direction, which is the transport direction of the recording material, the recording material is set at a predetermined recording position, and recording is continuously performed while performing recording for one line at a time. The sheet is fed, and recording of the entire recording material is performed.

Among the above recording apparatuses, an ink jet recording apparatus (ink jet recording apparatus) performs recording by discharging ink from a recording head onto a recording material, and it is easy to make recording means compact. It can record high-definition images at high speed, can record on plain paper without special processing, has low running costs, and uses a non-impact method to reduce noise and reduce noise. It has the advantage that it is easy to record a color image using color inks. Among them,
A line-type recording apparatus using a line-type recording head having a large number of ejection openings arranged in the sheet width direction can further increase the recording speed.

[0005] In particular, an ink jet type recording head which discharges ink by using thermal energy has an etching,
Through semiconductor manufacturing processes such as evaporation and sputtering,
By forming electrothermal transducers, electrodes, liquid path walls, top plates, etc. on the substrate, it is possible to easily manufacture products having high-density liquid paths and discharge port arrangements, and to further reduce the size. Can be achieved. On the other hand, there are various demands for the material of the recording material, and in recent years, in addition to ordinary recording materials such as paper and resin thin plates (OHP, etc.), thin paper or processed paper (with a punching hole for filing). Paper, perforated paper, paper of any shape, etc.), and fabrics.

As a recording head used in the above-described ink jet recording apparatus, an ink container (hereinafter, referred to as an ink tank) for accommodating supplied ink is separately provided from a recording head having a function of discharging ink. In addition, there is known an ink jet recording apparatus in which the separate ink tank is detachably attached to a recording head. Further, as described above, the recording head and the ink tank are configured to be detachable from each other, and the ink tank is loaded with a porous member for holding the supplied ink, and the ink tank is mounted on the ink tank. A filter is provided at the protruding tip of the ink supply port (hereinafter referred to as a supply opening to distinguish it from the ink supply port) at the protruding tip portion of the recording head side cylindrical ink supply cylinder fitted to the ink supply port. It is considered to provide one.

That is, by providing such a filter in the ink supply opening on the recording head side, an object that hinders the ejection of debris, dust, etc. of the porous member loaded in the ink tank from the ink tank side. Intrusion can be prevented, and dust can be prevented from entering from outside when the ink tank is removed.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show examples of an ink supply cylinder based on the above idea and an ink supply opening provided at the tip end thereof. In these figures, reference numeral 105 denotes a cylindrical ink supply cylinder protruding from the recording head housing side to the ink tank side. In FIG. 7, the tip 105A of the ink supply cylinder 105 is fitted to the ink tank side. It is squeezed into a hemisphere for ease. Reference numeral 115 denotes a filter with a fine mesh attached to the tip 105A of an ink supply cylinder (hereinafter also simply referred to as a cylinder member). In the example shown in FIG. Are added.

[0009]

However, in the example according to the above proposal, the peripheral portion 115A of the filter 115 is exposed to the outside, and the fine surface of the filter 115 is welded to the distal end portion 105A of the cylindrical member. Because it is fixed, there are the following problems to be solved.

(1) In the case of an ink tank exchange type liquid ejecting apparatus, when the ink tank is exchanged, the filter surrounding portion 115 is used.
A may catch on the porous member loaded in the ink tank (not shown), making it difficult to attach and detach the ink tank and the head, and the filter 115 may come off from the distal end portion 105A of the tubular member 105. .

(2) In order to perform higher-definition recording, the entry of fine dust is not allowed, and the mesh of the filter 115 needs to be made finer. In this case, the welding strength of the filter peripheral portion 115A is secured. In order to secure a sufficient welding margin, the cylindrical member 105 that has been melted out by the welding protrudes into the ink supply passage 105B to prevent ink supply. Or it may be further pushed out of the filter 115A to adversely affect other components.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to pay attention to the problems to be solved as described above, and to provide a liquid ejecting head having a filter and a liquid ejecting head having such a filter that the tip of an ink supply passage is surely covered and is not likely to come off. An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid ejecting apparatus using a head.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for securely fixing a filter to a liquid receiving member of a liquid jet head.

[0014]

In order to achieve the above object, a liquid ejecting head according to the present invention has an opening and is detachably attached to an opening of a tank in which a liquid absorbing member is loaded. A liquid ejecting head having a liquid receiving member having a liquid passage formed therein, wherein the head includes a filter at a tip portion of the liquid receiving member that comes into contact with the liquid absorbing member, and the liquid absorbing member of the filter is provided. And a peripheral portion on the side in contact with the liquid receiving member is covered so that the wall of the distal end portion of the liquid receiving member is deformed inward and is wrapped by the wall, and is embedded in the wall. .

Further, the liquid ejecting apparatus of the present invention has a tank having an opening and a liquid absorbing member loaded therein, and a liquid receiving member removably mounted in the opening of the tank and having a liquid passage formed therein. A liquid ejecting head having a liquid ejecting head, wherein the head is in pressure contact with the liquid absorbing member when the liquid receiving member is mounted on the tank at a tip portion of the liquid receiving member that comes into contact with the liquid absorbing member. The filter is provided with a filter having a shape protruding toward the periphery, and a peripheral portion of the filter on the side in contact with the liquid absorbing member is such that a wall of a tip portion of the liquid receiving member is deformed inward and is wrapped by the wall. And is embedded in the wall.

Further, the method for fixing a filter according to the present invention comprises:
A method for fixing a filter to a liquid receiving member of a liquid ejecting head having an opening and having a liquid receiving member removably attached to the opening of a tank having a liquid absorbing member loaded therein and having a liquid passage formed therein. Wherein the method comprises the steps of: providing the liquid receiving member having a flat annular ledge formed at a tip thereof and an annular convex outside the annular ledge; and at least an inner side of the annular convex. Mounting a flat filter on the annular convex portion, and heating the annular convex portion with a mold having a larger diameter than the annular convex portion and a concave portion having an inclined surface formed at least in a contact portion with the annular convex portion. By pressing the filter and projecting the filter toward the concave portion, the peripheral portion of the filter is covered so as to be enveloped by the wall of the annular convex portion at the tip of the liquid receiving member, and embedded and welded in the wall. Filter the tip of the liquid receiving member Characterized in that it comprises a step of welding, to the.

[0017]

According to the present invention, the filter provided at the tip of the liquid receiving member of the liquid ejecting head so as to project toward the liquid absorbing member loaded in the tank, around the side of the filter contacting the liquid absorbing member. The portion at the tip of the liquid receiving member is covered in such a way that the wall at the tip of the liquid receiving member is deformed inward and is wrapped by the wall, and is embedded in the wall. When attaching / detaching the tank to / from the head by pressing the tip of the liquid receiving member toward the absorbing member in the tank, the periphery of the filter is caught by the absorbing member and hinders easy attachment / detachment between the head and the tank. And the liquid supply function can be prevented from being damaged due to the fact that the filter itself comes off, or the liquid receiving member is likely to protrude into the liquid passage when welding for fixing the filter.

[0018]

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

In the following embodiments, the term "recording" is used, but in the present specification, it is used to include a so-called print for recording an image on a cloth or the like.

First, an outline of the configuration of a liquid jet recording apparatus (hereinafter abbreviated as IJRA) to which the present invention can be applied is shown in FIG.
It will be described according to.

Here, reference numeral 301 denotes a lead screw which is screwed with a part of the carriage 107 and moves it along the recording sheet 112; 302, its drive motor; and 303, the drive force of the drive motor 302 to the lead screw 301. A drive transmission gear for transmission, 304 is the carriage 10
Reference numeral 305 denotes a photo-coupler for detecting when the photo-coupler 7 is guided to the vicinity of the home position. Reference numeral 305 denotes a lever protruding from the carriage 107 for opening and closing the optical path of the photo-coupler 304. Thus, when the carriage 107 is guided to a position related to the photocoupler 304,
By detecting this, the forward / reverse drive direction of the drive motor 302 is changed, and the carriage 107 can be moved rightward from the home position.

On the other hand, the recording material 112 such as paper, plastic sheet, cloth, etc.
The sheet is fed through a platen 307 by a sheet feeding means (not shown) every time a single scan is recorded by a head device 210, which is a recording means described later, mounted on the carriage 107. . 3
08 and 309 are a cap member and a cleaning blade, and 310 is a pumping means 3 related to the recovery operation.
Reference numeral 11 denotes support means for supporting the cap member 308, the cleaning blade 309, and the like.

The recording operation performed by the IJRA having such a configuration and the recovery operation for each recording head are well known, and therefore detailed description thereof will be omitted. However, as described in this embodiment, each recording operation described later by the head device 210 is performed. Since the heads are held by high-precision registration, high-quality recorded images are guaranteed, and the replacement of the heads themselves and the replacement of ink tanks due to the consumption of ink can be easily performed for each recording head.

FIG. 2 shows a head device 210 and a plurality of recording heads 100 arranged, for example, for each color of ink held in the head device 210 with high-precision registration.
The cover 2 of the head device 210 is shown separately from the replaceable ink tank 106 attached thereto.
From 10A, cylindrical members 105 as liquid receiving members, which are protruded from the respective recording heads 100 and have ink supply passages 105B formed inside, are arranged in the same direction. A filter 115 is provided on each of the tip portions 105A of these cylinder members 105, while a filter 115 is provided on the ink tank 106 side where the porous member 120 as an ink absorbing member is loaded. An ink supply port as an opening (not shown) is provided at a position where the ink is supplied.

Therefore, when the ink is consumed, only the ink tank that has run out of ink can be freely replaced. Now, when a new ink tank 106 is mounted from the direction of the arrow toward the tip end portion 105A of the corresponding cylindrical member 105, the porous member 120 in the ink tank 106 is compressed near the tip end portion 105A, thereby increasing the mesh height. The ink is supplied to the ink supply path 1 through the filter 115.
It is configured to be easily guided to 05B.

Next, the configuration of the filter-equipped tubular member according to the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the tubular member 105 according to the present invention. Here, 105B is an ink supply passage, and 115 is a substantially hemispherical bent portion in the case of the present embodiment, and the distal end 1
For example, a metal filter attached to 05A.
However, this embodiment is characterized in that the filter 115 is attached so that the peripheral portion 115A of the filter 115 bites into the distal end portion 105A of the tubular member 105. For this purpose, the tip portion 105A of the resin tubular member is once softly melted by, for example, heat,
As described later, the filter surrounding portion 115A is embedded in the wall of the member tip portion 105A.

In the cylindrical member 105 on which the filter 115 is mounted as described above, the peripheral portion 1 of the filter 115
15A can be prevented from being exposed to the outside, and a part of the member melted in the ink supply passage 105 can be prevented from protruding. Therefore, when the ink tank 106 is replaced, the filter peripheral portion 115A does not catch on the porous member 120 in the ink tank 106, so that the filter 115 does not come off or the ink supply due to the protrusion is prevented. The reliability of the recording head can be improved by the supplied ink. In this embodiment, the entire periphery of the filter peripheral portion 115A is embedded in the above-described wall. However, if the same effect can be obtained, a part of the filter peripheral portion may be embedded in the wall. It may be a non-embedded form.

Next, an apparatus for mounting the filter 115 on the cylindrical member 105 and a method of manufacturing the same will be described with reference to FIGS.

Here, reference numeral 31 denotes a welding head or mold for melting the distal end portion 105A of the tubular member 105 for mounting the filter 115, and has a substantially hemispherical guide for bending the filter 115 at its end. The surface 31A is formed. Then, the diameter of the outer peripheral portion is equal to the cylindrical member distal end portion 105.
The eye is formed somewhat larger than the outside diameter. By doing so, a convex portion on the tubular member side, which will be described later, comes to cover the filter side. On the other hand, on the cylindrical member 105 before the filter is mounted, a receiving portion (annular shelf) 105C on which the filter 115 that maintains a flat shape before bending can be placed at the distal end portion 105A, and the cylindrical member A melt-in portion (annular convex portion) 105D tapered from the peripheral edge of the 105 toward the receiving portion 105C is formed in advance. That is, the slope 105E is formed on the inner periphery of the annular convex portion 105D. In this case, it is desirable that the convex portion 105D protrude from the upper surface of the filter 115 toward the welding head 31. By protruding in this manner, the molten convex portion can easily cover the filter end.

Therefore, when the filter 115 is mounted, first, the filter 115 in a flat shape is held in the receiving portion 105C at the tip of the tubular member 105. At this time, it is desirable to prevent the filter from being inclined when the filter is mounted by disposing the filter 115 so as not to ride on the slope 105E of the above-mentioned convex portion.

Next, the welding mold 3 heated to a predetermined temperature
1 is a melted portion 105D of the cylindrical member 105 from the direction of the arrow.
Push along the outer circumference. By such an operation, the welding portion 105D is deformed inward on the guide surface 31A of the welding head 31, and the filter peripheral portion 115A is welded so as to be wrapped in the wall of the distal end portion 105A. Further, with the welding-type press contact, the filter 115 is supported on the annular shelf 105C on the tubular member side, but is not supported on the welding-type side, so that the filter 115 follows the guide surface 31A of the welding mold 31. It is formed in a curved shape.

FIG. 5 shows another example of the configuration of the filter mounting apparatus. The welding die 41 of this example is formed so that its outer diameter is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the cylindrical member 105, and has a tapered portion 41A having a tapered surface tapered from the front end side, a stepped flat portion 41B and a stepped portion. A concave portion 41C for removing the filter, which is one step deeper than the attached flat portion 41B, is sequentially formed toward the back. Further, in the case of this example, the filter 115 having a flat shape is arranged on the support portion 105F formed in an annular shape in the receiving portion 105C of the cylindrical member, so that the filter 115 slightly rises from the receiving portion 105C of the cylindrical member 105. Is held.

Therefore, in the mounting operation according to the present embodiment, the filter 115 having a flat shape is slightly floated on the annular shelf 105C of the tubular member 105 by the support portion 105F and held in a slightly faint state. Is pressed in such a manner that the tapered portion 41A is brought into contact with the distal end of the melting portion 105D of the cylindrical member 105. Thus, the melted portion 105D is deformed inward by the tapered surface of the tapered portion 41A, and the central portion of the filter 115 is released toward the recess 41C while pressing the filter 115 to be lifted by the stepped flat portion 41B. It is made to project in a dome shape, and the surrounding portion 115A of the filter 115 is melted as it is.
It can be fixed by wrapping it with 05D. In the case where the support portion 105F is provided as in this embodiment, the support portion can also be melted and welded to the filter at the same time, and there is a possibility that the ink may wet out from between the filter surface and the cylindrical member. It can even be eliminated.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view for explaining another method of fixing the filter 115 to the cylindrical member 105.

In the present embodiment, the cylindrical member 10 described above is used.
5 and the shape of the annular convex portion 105D are different. In the previous embodiment, the inclined surface 105E is formed inside the annular convex portion 105D, whereas in the present embodiment, the inclined surface 105G is formed outside. When the shape of the latter convex portion is adopted, the outer inclined surface 105G and the guide walls (31A, 41A) of the welding dies 31, 41 are efficiently bonded, so that the convex portion 105D is easily melted. 11
The five ends can be reliably welded.

A description has been given above of the head in which at least a part, preferably the entire circumference, of the peripheral portion 115A of the filter 115 is welded to the distal end portion 105A of the recording head side tubular member 105, and a specific manufacturing process thereof. Is not limited to a plurality of units configured as an integrated head device 210 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, but can be applied to a case where a plurality of units are configured by a single recording head and an ink tank. Needless to say.

The material of the cylindrical member used in the above-described embodiment may be any material that melts when the heated welding die comes into contact with the material and does not adversely affect the ink.

As the welding method, not only heating but also ultrasonic waves may be used.

In the above-described embodiment, the ink (liquid) receiving member is formed in a cylindrical shape in consideration of the fact that the connection to the tank can be made surely and easily and the ink supply property is taken into consideration. Any other shape may be used as long as it is easy and the ink supply is good.

Further, the recording apparatus is not limited to a serial printer, and is similarly applied to a line type printer in which recording is performed by a line type liquid jet recording head corresponding to the entire width or a part of a recording sheet. Needless to say, the present invention is widely applied not only to color printing but also to a recording apparatus using a plurality of recording heads of a single color or different densities, and similar effects can be expected.

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

In addition, even in the case of the serial type as described above, a recording head fixed to the apparatus main body or an electric connection with the apparatus main body and ink from the apparatus main body can be provided by being mounted on the apparatus main body. The present invention is effective even when a replaceable chip-type recording head that enables supply is used, as long as the ink tank is detachable from the recording head.

It is preferable to add recovery means for the recording head provided as a configuration of the recording apparatus, preliminary auxiliary means, and the like, since the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. To be more specific, capping means, cleaning means, pressurizing or sucking means, preheating means using an electrothermal converter or another heating element or a combination thereof for the recording head. Performing a preliminary ejection mode in which ejection is performed separately from printing is also effective for performing stable printing.

In addition, the form of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention is not only used as an image output terminal of an information processing apparatus such as a computer, but also for a copying apparatus combined with a reader or the like, and a facsimile apparatus having a transmission / reception function. It may take a form.

The shape of the filter provided on the ink supply member of the liquid jet recording head according to the present invention is as follows.
The shape is not limited to the substantially hemispherical shape as described in the above embodiment, and the shape of the protruding portion is closer to a sphere than a hemisphere, or a conical shape or a truncated conical shape. May be the shape of a parabolic rotator. Also, a configuration in which the entire ink supply path forms a filter,
A configuration in which a reinforcing member for preventing crushing is provided in the filter, a configuration in which the ink supply path is divergent, and a configuration in which the shape of the ink supply path is narrowed toward the distal end so as to be continuous according to the filter shape at the distal end. Alternatively, the reinforcing member may be arranged along the inside of the filter.

[0047]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the tank is pulled out of the head and replaced, the filter may interfere with the liquid absorbing member in the tank and come off the liquid receiving / supplying member. It is possible to prevent a part of the liquid receiving / supplying member melted at the time of welding of the filter from protruding into the liquid supply path and hindering the liquid supply. It is possible to prevent dust and small pieces of the liquid absorbing member from entering and hinder normal droplet discharge, and to obtain a sufficient liquid supply.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a liquid ejecting apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a connection operation between a head device in which a liquid ejecting head according to the present invention is incorporated and an ink tank.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a configuration of a liquid receiving member of the liquid jet head according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a method of fixing a filter to a liquid receiving member of a head according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view for explaining another method of fixing the filter to the liquid receiving member of the head according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view for explaining still another fixing method of the filter to the liquid receiving member of the head according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing an example of a filter mounting structure on a liquid receiving member.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing an example of a filter mounting structure on a liquid receiving member.

[Explanation of symbols]

 31, 41 Welding head 100 Recording head 105 Tube member 105A Tip 105B Ink supply passage 105C Receiving part (annular shelf) 105D Fusing part (annular convex part) 115 Filter 115A Peripheral part 106 Ink tank 107 Carriage 112 Recording head 120 Porous member (liquid absorbing member) 210 Head device

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-3-101972 (JP, A) JP-A-4-257452 (JP, A) JP-A-4-20776 (JP, A) JP-A-2-198861 (JP) JP-A-4-107128 (JP, A) JP-A-1-77236 (JP, U) JP 4-79824 (JP, B2) JP-B-57-31927 (JP, B1)

Claims (11)

(57) [Claims] 1. A liquid ejecting head having a liquid receiving member having an opening and removably attached to the opening of a tank in which a liquid absorbing member is loaded and having a liquid passage formed therein, Is in contact with the liquid absorbing member of the liquid receiving member.
Tip to have a filter, the peripheral portion of the liquid absorbing member and the side abutting of the filter
Is that the wall of the distal end of the liquid receiving member is deformed inward.
To be enveloped by the wall and embedded in the wall.
A liquid ejecting head characterized by being embedded therein. 2. The liquid jet head according to claim 1, wherein the filter has a shape protruding toward the liquid absorbing member. 3. The head includes a common liquid chamber communicating with a liquid passage of the liquid receiving member, a plurality of discharge ports, and a plurality of communication ports communicating each of the plurality of discharge ports with the common liquid chamber. Second
3. The liquid jet according to claim 1, further comprising: a liquid passage provided in the second liquid passage; and an electrothermal converter that is provided in the second liquid passage and generates heat energy for discharging the liquid from the discharge port. 4. head. 4. The liquid jet head according to claim 3, wherein the electrothermal transducer causes film boiling of the liquid. 5. A tank having an opening and a liquid absorbing member loaded therein, and a liquid ejecting head having a liquid receiving member detachably mounted in the opening of the tank and having a liquid passage formed therein. A liquid ejecting apparatus, wherein the head is in contact with the liquid absorbing member of the liquid receiving member.
In pressure contact with said liquid absorbing member during attachment to the tank at the tip to touch a filter of shape protruding toward it, around part of the liquid absorbing member and the side abutting of the filter
Is that the wall of the distal end of the liquid receiving member is deformed inward.
To be enveloped by the wall and embedded in the wall.
A liquid ejecting apparatus characterized by being embedded therein. 6. A liquid ejecting head having a liquid receiving member having an opening and a liquid receiving member removably attached to the opening of a tank having a liquid absorbing member loaded therein and having a liquid passage formed therein. Providing a liquid receiving member having a flat annular ledge formed at a distal end thereof and an annular convex outside the annular ledge; and at least the annular ring is provided. Placing a flat filter inside the convex portion, and heating the mold with a mold having a concave portion having a larger diameter than the annular convex portion and a slope formed at least in a contact portion with the annular convex portion. While pressing the annular convex portion, the filter is projected toward the concave portion, and the periphery of the filter is
Cover so that it is wrapped by the wall of the annular protrusion at the tip
A step of welding the filter to the tip of the liquid receiving member by embedding and welding the filter in the wall. 7. The method for fixing a filter according to claim 6, wherein the annular convex portion is tapered from a peripheral edge of the liquid receiving member toward a shelf. 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the filter is mounted on the flat shelf. 9. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of forming an annular support portion on an annular shelf at the distal end of the liquid receiving member, wherein the filter is mounted on the annular support portion. 9. The method for fixing a filter according to any one of 6 to 8. 10. The method according to claim 6, wherein an outer periphery of the annular convex portion is formed in a slope. 11. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of forming an annular support portion on an annular shelf at the tip of the liquid receiving member, wherein the filter is mounted on the annular support portion. A method for fixing a filter according to claim 10.