JP3449107B2 - Ink cartridges and sealing sheets for printers, etc. - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention belongs to the technical field of ink cartridges that can be reused by refilling used ink cartridges such as ink jet printers with fresh ink.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in this kind of technical field, immediate disposal of used ink cartridges should not only be reviewed from the viewpoint of effective use of resources but also cause environmental pollution. Therefore, it is widely recognized that it is important to collect and reuse the ink cartridge, and various creative ideas for refilling the ink cartridge to make it reusable have been proposed.

By the way, in the conventional ink cartridge, in order to prevent the leakage and evaporation of the ink contained therein and to maintain the required degree of degassing, it is highly airtight and kept so as not to mix air bubbles. It is essential to guarantee the printing quality of the printer.

Japanese Patent Application No. 7-119289 can be cited as an example of the invention proposed to meet the above demands.

In the invention of this earlier application, FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 3, the ink inlet B opened in the lid A is connected to the atmosphere communication groove D via the meandering groove C, and the ink is kept airtight by covering the surface with the seal E. The seal E has a structure in which a peelable tongue E3 is continuously provided via a constricted portion E2 following the main body E1.

Therefore, for reuse when the ink in the ink cartridge IC has been consumed, after the main body E1 of the seal E remaining on the lid A is peeled from the lid A (see FIG. 8), fresh ink is injected into the ink cartridge IC from the ink injection hole B by the ink injection tool IS, and if necessary, refilling processing is performed with the support of the ink extraction action from the extraction needle IE. (Fig. 9
The unused seal E is attached to the lid A for reuse of the ink cartridge IC. In use, the tongue piece E3 is peeled off to remove the ink cartridge IC from the ink cartridge IC. The ink can be supplied to the printer, and the ink can be always kept airtight.

[0007]

As described above, the invention of the prior application has great utility in that the ink in the ink cartridge IC can be kept airtight and the printing quality can be guaranteed. As a problem to be improved, when the seal E is peeled off, since a mark remains on the seal E, it cannot be airtightly attached when the next seal is attached.

[0008] There was a need to facilitate the reuse because the process for eliminating the marks must be performed, and to increase the number of reuses because the number of reuses is limited.

A first problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an ink cartridge which can be refilled quickly and easily.

A second problem to be solved by the present invention is that it is not necessary to exfoliate a used seal body, so that the ink cartridge can be recycled in a clean state and with a small number of treatment steps.

A third problem to be solved by the present invention is that the number of reuses of the ink cartridge can be known only by detecting the number of the seals by superposing the unused seals. It is to provide something that has great utility.

A fourth problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an ink cartridge which can remarkably reduce the cost required for the regenerating process of the ink cartridge.

[0013]

[Means for Solving the Problems] Effectively Addressing the Problems
Means for solving the problems are described in the claims.
Means and that are common.

That is, the respective means are as follows.

(1) Communication with the ink injection hole opened in the lid
Meandering groove and an air communication groove communicating with the meandering groove
An ink cartridge comprising:
Remains on the lid covering the hole and the region of the serpentine groove
The ink injection hole and the meandering groove are formed on the sealing sheet.
Communication with the main part that has an outer shape that covers the area of
External dimensions that cover the groove in a sealed manner and can be peeled off
The sub-part and the sub-part that were
Ink cartridge with a recycled encapsulating sheet .

(2) Communication with the ink injection hole opened in the lid
Meandering groove and an air communication groove communicating with the meandering groove
An ink cartridge comprising:
Remains on the lid covering the hole and the region of the serpentine groove
Following the meandering groove formed on the lid on the sealing sheet
Equipped with a window part that exposes only the air communication groove, and is attached on the lid
A main part that can be installed and the atmosphere communicating groove are covered to cover the transparent window part.
It is affixed on the main part so that it can be sealed and can be peeled off.
An ink cartridge including a remanufacturing encapsulating sheet including the sub-part .

(3) Communication with the ink injection hole opened in the lid
Meandering groove and an air communication groove communicating with the meandering groove
An ink cartridge comprising:
Remains on the lid covering the hole and the region of the serpentine groove
Align with the ink injection hole opened on the lid on the sealing sheet
Ink filling hole formed in a position
A first sheet that has a window part that exposes
Cover the ink filling hole and the transparent window.
And a second sheet portion attached on the first sheet.
An ink cartridge including the formed encapsulating sheet for reproduction .

(4) The outer shape of the encapsulating sheet for reproduction is a lid
Larger than the outer shape of the used sealing sheet remaining on the top,
The aforesaid structure configured to completely cover the residual sheet.
The ink cartridge according to any one of (1) to (3) .

The function of each of the above-mentioned solutions is to implement the invention.
As described in the column of the form of
Then it is as follows.

The first point is that the ink car can be quickly and easily
The point is that the ink can be refilled in the tripod.

The second point is that it is clean and less
The point is that it can be recycled in the treatment process.

The third point is that the cost for reproduction processing is
This is a point that can be reduced.

In addition, the effects obtained by these means
This is the same as the description in the "Effect of invention" section.
It

[0024]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) As shown in FIG. 1, on a lid LI of a used ink cartridge IC lacking ink, a seal E shown in the previous application is provided so as to cover an ink injection hole IP. Since the main body E1 of the sealing sheet 1 remains, the main portion 10 of the encapsulating sheet 1 has the main portion 10 having an outer dimension somewhat larger than that of the main body E1 and the sub-portion 30 is connected via the breakage portion 20. Not only the ink injection hole IP but also the main body E1 of the seal E is completely covered by 10 and the first adhesive portion 50 is surrounded by the sub-portion 30 so as to cover the atmosphere communication groove D. The atmosphere communication groove D is made airtight so that the encapsulating sheet 1 can be attached on the lid LI.

Therefore, when the used ink cartridge is reused, the main body E1 of the seal E remaining on the lid LI is pierced so that the ink injector IS as shown in FIG. Porous body P in IC
When the sealing sheet 1 is attached to the lid LI as shown in FIG. 1 by using the first adhesive portion 50 after replenishing by penetrating into the R, the regeneration process of the ink cartridge IC is completed. It is a thing.

Since the sealing sheet 1 is formed by stacking the seal E, which is somewhat different in size or color, from the seal E, which is pasted on the sealing sheet 1, the sealing sheet 1 is overlaid. By detecting the stop sheet 1, it is possible to easily confirm the number of times that the ink cartridge IC is regenerated.

Further, the sealing sheet 1 having an outer shape larger than that of the previously attached sticker E is overlapped so as to cover the sticker E, and the sticker E and the lid body LI are stuck by the adhesive portion 50.
Ink is prevented from leaking from the stepped portion at the boundary between and.

(Embodiment 2-1) The encapsulating sheet 1B shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is a lid LI of an ink cartridge IC.
The size and shape that can cover
A first portion 11 having a shape in which only the atmosphere communicating groove D can be exposed from the window portion 11a, and a peelable second portion 11 attached to the first portion 11 so as to cover the atmosphere communicating groove D. And the first bonding portion 11 is attached to the lid LI so that the entire surface of the lid LI is sealed by the fourth adhesive portion 53.
In addition, the second portion 12 can be attached on the first portion 11 so that the fifth communication portion 54 seals the atmosphere communication groove D.

Therefore, since the sealing seal 1B is adhered while the main body E1 of the seal E remains, the airtight state of the ink cartridge IC can be safely maintained. Ink can be supplied by loading 12 into the printer after peeling off 12 from the first part 11.

(Embodiment 2-2) When the ink cartridge IC in the state of FIG. 3 is refilled over and over again, the sealing sheet 1A shown in FIG. 2 is attached.

The encapsulating sheet 1A shown in FIG. 2 has the same outer shape as the encapsulating sheet 1 of the first embodiment, but is characterized by its second and third adhesive parts 51, 52. The main portion 10A is provided with a second adhesive portion 51 for sealing the outer periphery of the ink injection hole IP, and the sub portion 30A thereof is provided with a third adhesive portion for sealing the outer periphery of the air communication groove D. The ink cartridges 52 are arranged independently of each other, and the regenerating process of the ink cartridge IC is completed only by sticking them on the lid LI of the ink cartridge IC shown in FIG.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 5 shows an encapsulating sheet 1C made of a plastic material or the like, in which an ink filling hole 16 and a transparent window portion 17 exposing the atmosphere communicating groove D are formed. The sealing sheet 1 or 1A as shown in FIG. 1 or FIG.

Therefore, the used ink cartridge I
After sticking the sealing sheet 1C on the main body E1 of the sheet E on the lid LI of C so as to seal the entire surface of the lid LI and the periphery of the ink filling hole 16 by the sixth adhesive portion 55, The ink is injected and then covered with the sealing sheet 1 or 1A.

Predicting the refill process, as shown in FIG. 6, a sealing sheet 1C made of a plastic sheet is preliminarily provided on the lid LI of the unused ink cartridge IC.
If the one attached by the adhesive portion 56 is prepared, the work of attaching the encapsulating sheet 1C at the time of the refilling process is omitted, and the recovered ink cartridge I
The reproduction process of C can be simplified.

Incidentally, the above-mentioned first to seventh adhesive parts 50 to 5
It is needless to say that No. 6 is not limited to the bonding method using heat or a solvent, and the same result can be obtained even if an adhesive is adhered if necessary.

[0037]

According to the sealing sheet of the present invention described above, the following effects can be expected.

By pasting the sealing sheet, it is possible to quickly and easily recycle the used ink cartridge.

It is not necessary to peel off the remaining sealing sheet from the used ink cartridge, and the ink cartridge can be effectively recycled.

The encapsulating sheet allows the ink in the ink cartridge to be held safely and airtightly.

The encapsulating sheet allows the ink cartridge to be recycled at a low cost.

Since the number of times the ink cartridge is reused can be known by the state of the sealing sheets being overlaid, it is highly practical.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an ink cartridge including the sealing sheet according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an ink cartridge including the encapsulating sheet according to the embodiment 2-2.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an ink cartridge having the first part of the sealing sheet according to the embodiment 2-1 attached thereto.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of an ink cartridge having the second portion of FIG. 3 attached.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of an ink cartridge including the sealing sheet according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of an unused ink cartridge to which a sealing sheet IC has been attached in advance according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a partially cut plan view of the ink cartridge of the invention of the earlier application.

8 is a plan view of an ink cartridge having only the residual portion of the seal of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a state of injecting ink into the ink cartridge.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 1A, 1B, 1C sealing sheet 10, 10A main part 20 Break 30, 30A Sub-part 50-56 1st-7th adhesion part 11 Part 1 11a, 17 through window 12 Part 2 16 Ink filling hole

Continuation of front page (56) Reference JP-A-7-266575 (JP, A) JP-A-4-144755 (JP, A) JP-A-7-178920 (JP, A) JP-A-7-276659 (JP , A) Actual Kaihei 6-79544 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 2/175

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. An ink cartridge having a meandering groove communicating with an ink injection hole formed in a lid and an atmosphere communication groove communicating with the meandering groove, the region of the ink injection hole and the meandering groove. On the encapsulating sheet covering the cover and remaining on the lid, the area of the ink injection hole and the meandering groove is
The main part that has an outer shape that covers the area and the atmosphere communication groove
The external dimensions are such that it covers in a sealed form, and it can be peeled off.
It was attached to the lid by continuing the broken part and the broken part.
Ink cartridge with a recycling encapsulation sheet . 2. An ink injection hole opened in the lid body.
Equipped with a meandering groove and an air communication groove communicating with the meandering groove
The ink cartridge, which is the same as the ink injection hole.
And a seal remaining on the lid covering the region of the serpentine groove.
Atmosphere following the meandering groove formed in the lid on the sheet
Equipped with a transparent window part that exposes only the communication groove, it is attached on the lid.
Sealing the air communication groove by covering the main part and the transparent window part.
So that it can be peeled off.
An ink cartridge including a remanufacturing sealing sheet composed of a sub portion . 3. An ink injection hole opened in the lid body.
Equipped with a meandering groove and an air communication groove communicating with the meandering groove
The ink cartridge, which is the same as the ink injection hole.
And a seal remaining on the lid covering the region of the serpentine groove.
On the sheet, align with the ink injection hole opened in the lid.
The ink filling hole formed in the printer and the air communication groove.
A first sheet portion that has a window portion to be presented and can be attached on the lid body
And to cover the ink filling hole and the transparent window.
It is composed of a second sheet portion attached on the first sheet.
Ink cartridge with a recycled encapsulating sheet . 4. The outer shape of the reproduction encapsulating sheet is on the lid.
Larger than the outer shape of the remaining used sealing sheet,
The structure of claim 1, wherein the retaining sheet is completely covered.
4. The ink cartridge according to any one of items 3 to 3 .