JP4089400B2 - ink cartridge - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an ink cartridge for supplying ink to a recording head of a recording apparatus such as an ink jet printer.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As shown in Patent Document 1, a sensor made of a piezoelectric vibrating body is attached to the side surface of an ink container so that the piezoelectric vibrating body is in contact with ink, and when the piezoelectric vibrating body is in contact with ink and when exposed to the atmosphere It has been proposed to detect whether or not ink exists above the piezoelectric vibrator from the difference in residual vibration between the piezoelectric vibrator and the piezoelectric vibrator.
In addition, since the bubble has an intermediate characteristic between the liquid and the atmosphere, there is a problem that the residual characteristic of the piezoelectric vibrator becomes unstable and a detection error occurs.
In order to solve such a problem, as shown in Patent Document 2, a device is provided to prevent the bubbles from directly touching the liquid level sensor by providing a wall extending in the horizontal direction in the area where the liquid level sensor is accommodated. ing.
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-328278
[Patent Document 2]
European Patent Application No. 1053877, page 42, paragraph 320, FIG. 79
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, since the ink contains a surfactant or the like in its components, when a large amount of ink is consumed by the recording head due to image printing or the like, bubbles are generated by the air entering from the air communication hole, It generates a large amount of bubbles and accumulates, and the bubbles adhere to the sensor. Naturally, since bubbles have an intermediate characteristic between liquid and air, there is a problem that residual characteristics of the piezoelectric vibrator become unstable and an ink level detection error occurs.
The present invention has been made to solve such a technical problem, and it is possible to stably detect an ink level or an ink amount by preventing a detection error due to bubble adhering due to bubbles generated in ink. It is an object of the present invention to provide an ink cartridge that can be used.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  The invention of claim 1, which has been made to achieve the above object, includes a container provided with an ink storage chamber, a partition wall that partitions a part of the ink storage chamber to form a liquid level sensor storage region, A liquid level sensor provided with a piezoelectric element that is disposed on a side wall of the ink storage chamber forming a liquid level sensor storage region and detects the ink consumption state of the ink storage chamber;
  At least the upper and lower portions of the partition wall are formed with an upper gap and a lower gap that communicate the liquid level sensor accommodation area of the ink accommodation chamber with other areas of the ink accommodation chamber,
  The upper gapThe dimension between the upper edge of the partition wall and the top wall of the ink storage chamber is0.5mm to 1mm,
  The dimension between the lower edge of the partition wall of the gap of the lower partition wall and the side wall of the ink storage chamber is smaller than 0.5 mm,
  The distance between the upper gap of the partition wall and the liquid level sensor is at least 8 mm or more,
  The partition wall is disposed at an angle of 30 degrees or more and 60 degrees or less with respect to the side wall, and the tip of the partition wall on the upper gap side is inclined in a direction away from the liquid level sensor.In addition, the dimension of the partition wall in the width direction perpendicular to the direction connecting the upper gap and the lower gap and parallel to the side wall surface is the same as the depth dimension of the ink storage chamber in the same direction to the extent that bubbles do not enter. Set to degree.
  Because of this structure, before the foam fluid force exceeds the criticality of the capillary force due to the upper gap, even if the foam accumulates in the upper part of the ink containing chamber, it does not pass through the upper gap of the partition wall, Inflow into the area is blocked. Then, when the number of bubbles on the liquid surface increases and the foam fluid force exceeds the criticality of the capillary force of the gap, the bubbles move while expanding from the gap into the sensor accommodating region, and disappear in this process. Accordingly, bubbles are prevented from entering and gathering around the sensor peripheral portion, thereby preventing erroneous detection of the liquid level by the piezoelectric elements constituting the liquid level sensor.
[0005]
  Claim2In this invention, since a plurality of the partition walls are spaced apart in the horizontal direction, it is possible to more reliably prevent bubbles from entering the sensor accommodation region.
  Claim3Since the partition plate is arranged so that the vicinity of the liquid level sensor accommodation area side of the upper gap forms an open space on the liquid level sensor accommodation chamber side, the invention passes through the upper gap. Easily extinguishes without hindering the expansion of bubbles to be attempted.
[0007]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an ink cartridge to which the present invention is applied and an ink jet recording apparatus using the ink cartridge will be described based on embodiments shown in the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an outline of the overall configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. A carriage 121 having an ink jet recording head 120 provided on a lower surface thereof has ink applied to the recording head on an upper surface thereof. A black ink cartridge 122 to be supplied and a color ink cartridge 123 formed to be narrower than the black ink are detachably mounted.
[0008]
Next, an example of the above-described ink cartridge will be described using a color ink cartridge as an example.
FIGS. 2A and 2B are perspective views showing the appearance of the ink cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The container body 2 has a substantially rectangular plane that is open on one side, and the container body 2 is shown in FIGS. The lid 3 that seals the opening constitutes a container for containing ink.
[0009]
An ink supply port 4 that can be connected to a hollow ink supply needle (not shown) that communicates with the recording head is provided at the lower part of the container body 2, and a locking member 5 that can be attached to and detached from the carriage of the recording apparatus at the upper side, A gripping member 6 is provided integrally. A storage means 7 is disposed below the locking member 5, and a valve housing chamber 8 is disposed below the gripping member 6.
The ink supply port 4 accommodates a valve body (not shown) that opens and closes when an ink supply needle is inserted and removed.
[0010]
Next, the internal space of the container body 2 (inside the ink cartridge) will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 (a), 3 (b) and FIG. 3A and 3B are cross-sectional views schematically showing the internal structure of the ink cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the main part of the ink cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[0011]
As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the internal space of the container body 2 is divided into upper and lower portions by a partition wall 10 extending so that the ink supply port side with respect to the recording head is slightly below. . A lower region of the internal space is a lower ink storage chamber 11 that opens to the atmosphere when the cartridge is connected to the recording head. On the other hand, the upper region is a first upper ink storage chamber 16 and a second upper ink storage chamber 17 located above the lower ink storage chamber 11. These upper ink storage chambers 16 and 17 are adjacent to each other through a vertical wall 41. A communication port 41 a that opens in the left-right direction is formed in the lower portion of the vertical wall 41.
[0012]
In the lower ink storage chamber 11, a compartment 19 is formed that communicates with the first upper ink storage chamber 16 via a communication channel 18. As a result, the ink A (see FIG. 4) from the compartment 19 rises in the communication flow path 18 and flows toward the first upper ink storage chamber 16. The compartment 19 is provided with an upper circulation port 19 a that opens in an upper region of the lower ink storage chamber 11 and a lower circulation port 19 b that opens in a lower region thereof.
[0013]
In addition, a through hole (open port) 67 that communicates with the atmosphere via an air flow path (region 43 or the like) when mounted on the carriage 121 on the recording apparatus side is provided in the upper portion of the lower ink storage chamber 11. Is formed. Thus, when the ink cartridge 1 is mounted on the cartridge holder, the atmosphere is introduced into the most upstream ink storage chamber, in this embodiment, the lower ink storage chamber 11 via the air flow path.
In the cartridge of this embodiment, the hole diameters of the lower flow port 19b and the communication port 41a are set so that the ink is consumed in the order of the lower ink storage chamber 11, the first upper ink storage chamber 16, and the second upper ink storage chamber. ing.
[0014]
The first upper ink storage chamber 16 is disposed on the upstream side of the second upper ink storage chamber 17 and on the downstream side of the lower ink storage chamber 11. A liquid level sensor 61 that is opposed to the vertical wall 41 and is located above the through hole 67 is attached near the upper corner (side wall) in the first upper ink storage chamber 16. The liquid level sensor 61 includes a sensor having a piezoelectric element for detecting the ink level in the first upper ink storage chamber 16.
[0015]
FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the liquid level sensor 61 described above. The case 100 has a metal diaphragm as a bottomed cylindrical body having a window 101 that exposes a sensor chip 110, which will be described later, formed at the bottom. It is configured by processing and injection molding of polymer material.
A bottom plate 103 having a through hole 102 that can expose the vibration region of the sensor chip 110 is fixed to the bottom surface of the case 100 via an adhesive layer 104, and the sensor chip 110 is placed on the window 101. The anisotropic conductor 105 is accommodated in contact with the surface of the sensor chip 110.
[0016]
A wiring board 106 such as a flexible cable is placed on the surface of the anisotropic conductor 105, and the anisotropic conductor 105 is fixed in a compressed state with an adhesive tape 107 with a lid or the like interposed as necessary. Thus, the liquid level sensor 61 is configured in a state where the wiring board 106 is pulled out to the surface of the cartridge.
[0017]
6 (a) and 6 (b) each show an embodiment of the sensor chip 110 described above. A through hole 112 is formed in the center of the plate 111, and a diaphragm 113 is provided on the outer surface. A substrate 114 is formed by stacking and fixing. A lower electrode 115, a plate-like piezoelectric element 116, and an upper electrode 117 are formed on the surface side of the diaphragm 113, and each of the electrodes 115 and 117 is a connection terminal 118 formed so as to slightly protrude from the other region. 119 is connected.
[0018]
The liquid level sensor 61 configured as described above supplies a drive signal to the piezoelectric element 116 and vibrates the vibration region of the diaphragm 113 and the piezoelectric element 116 a predetermined number of times. And a back electromotive force is generated in the piezoelectric element 116.
Since this residual vibration depends on a change in acoustic impedance caused by the presence or absence of contact between the diaphragm 113 and the ink, whether the vibration area of the liquid level sensor 61 is in contact with the ink by measuring the back electromotive force, You can know whether or not. For this reason, when the ink in the first upper ink storage chamber 16 is consumed and the ink level falls below the vibration region of the ink sensor, at least a difference in acoustic impedance due to this level change is detected. Then, it is possible to detect whether “the ink is sufficiently stored” in the first upper ink storage chamber 16 or “a state where more than a certain amount of ink is consumed”.
[0019]
Returning to FIG. 3 again, a partition wall 62 is arranged in the first upper ink containing chamber 16 so as to be divided into a sensor containing area 65 where the liquid level sensor 61 is arranged and another ink containing area. ing. In this embodiment, a partition wall 62 is disposed so as to face the liquid level sensor, and this partition wall 62 has a gradient (sensor) that rises from the side wall of the first upper ink storage chamber 16 toward the vertical wall 41. A wall having a width that can be partitioned to a degree that is about the depth of the first upper ink storage chamber 16, that is, a bubble that does not enter, and in this embodiment, the container main body 2 It is formed by integrally formed inclined ribs. As a result, the bubbles a (shown in FIG. 7) generated as a result of ink consumption can be guided upward from below and captured on the opposite side of the liquid level sensor 61. A sensor housing area 65 is formed between the partition wall 62 and the inner wall (upper surface wall and side wall) of the first upper ink housing chamber 16. The sensor housing area 65 has an upper gap 63 as a first gap and a lower gap 64 as a second gap. A part of the liquid level sensor 61 is accommodated, and the bubbles a that have passed through the upper gap 63 are extinguished.
[0020]
The upper gap 63 is formed between the upper edge of the partition wall 62 and the upper wall of the first upper ink storage chamber 16. The upper gap 63 is set to a size of about 0.5 mm to 1 mm. Thus, before the flow force of the bubble a ′ in the other ink containing area outside the sensor containing area 65 exceeds the criticality of the capillary force by the upper gap 63, that is, the holding force of the meniscus of the ink formed in the upper gap 63. The bubbles a ′ are not introduced from the upper gap 63 into the sensor accommodation area 65. Further, when the flow force of the bubble a ′ exceeds the criticality of the capillary force by the upper gap 63, the bubble a ′ is introduced from the upper gap 63 into the sensor accommodating region 65.
If the upper gap 63 is smaller than 0.5 mm, the bubbles a ′ do not flow from the upper gap 63 into the sensor accommodation area 65 but remain in the upper part of the first upper ink accommodation chamber 16. On the other hand, if the upper gap 63 is larger than 1 mm, the bubbles a ′ flow from the upper gap 63 into the sensor accommodating area 65 as they are, and the bubbles adhere to the liquid level sensor 61.
[0021]
On the other hand, the lower gap 64 is formed between the lower edge of the partition wall 62 and the side wall of the first upper ink storage chamber 16. The lower gap 64 is set to a size smaller than 0.5 mm. As a result, the bubble a ′ does not flow from the lower gap 64 into the sensor accommodation area 65, and only the ink A flows, and the ink level in the sensor accommodation area 65 and the sensor accommodation area 65 other than the sensor accommodation area 65 in the first upper ink accommodation chamber 16. The ink level of the ink storage area is configured to match.
The size of the lower gap 64 is such that the position of the communication port 18a between the first upper ink storage chamber 16 and the lower ink storage chamber 11 is horizontally separated so as not to be vertically related to the lower gap 64. It is possible to make it larger than 0.5 mm, and in that case, the dimension is desirably about 0.5 mm to 3 mm.
[0022]
The second upper ink storage chamber 17 is disposed adjacent to a side portion of the first upper ink storage chamber 16. A filter chamber 34 is formed in the second upper ink storage chamber 17 by the annular wall 24.
On the back side of the filter chamber 34, as shown in FIG. 3B, a differential pressure valve accommodating chamber 33 is disposed via a partition wall 25. The differential pressure valve housing chamber 33 communicates with the ink supply port 4 through a recess 35. The partition wall 25 is provided with a through hole 25 a that guides the ink A from the filter chamber 34 to the differential pressure valve storage chamber 33.
[0023]
Between the partition wall 24 and the partition wall 10, a partition wall 26 having a communication port 26 a that opens to both sides (left and right direction) is provided. A partition wall 27 having a communication port 27a that opens in the left-right direction is provided on one side of the partition wall 24 (on the side opposite to the first upper ink storage chamber 16). Between this partition wall 27 and the said container main body 2, the communicating path 28 connected to the said communicating port 27a and extended in an up-down direction is provided. The communication passage 28 is communicated with the filter chamber 34 through the through hole 29 and the regions 30 and 30a.
[0024]
With the above configuration, when the ink cartridge 1 is mounted in the cartridge holder on the recording apparatus side, the lower ink storage chamber 11 is opened to the atmosphere via the through hole 67 and the air flow path (region 43 and the like). Further, a valve body (not shown) in the ink supply port 4 is opened by inserting an ink supply needle (not shown).
When the ink A is consumed by the recording head, the pressure of the ink supply port 4 drops below a specified value, so that the differential pressure valve in the differential pressure valve storage chamber 33 is opened (the pressure of the ink supply port 4 is specified). When the pressure rises above the value, the differential pressure valve closes), and the ink A in the differential pressure valve housing chamber 33 flows into the recording head via the ink supply port 4.
Further, as the ink consumption of the recording head proceeds, the ink A in the lower ink storage chamber 11 flows into the first upper ink storage chamber 16 via the compartment 19 and the communication channel 18.
[0025]
On the other hand, as ink is consumed, air flows from the through hole 67 communicating with the atmosphere, and the ink level in the lower ink storage chamber 11 is lowered. Further, when the ink A is consumed and the ink level reaches the communication port 19 a, the ink from the lower ink storage chamber 11 flows into the first upper ink storage chamber 16 along with the air via the communication flow path 18. Along with this, the bubbles a rise in the first upper ink storage chamber 16 due to buoyancy, and only the ink A flows into the second upper ink storage chamber 17 through the communication port 41a at the lower portion of the vertical wall 41. Then, the second upper ink storage chamber 17 passes through the communication port 27a of the partition wall 27 and rises in the communication passage 28, and flows from the communication passage 28 into the upper portion of the filter chamber 34 through the through hole 29 and the regions 30 and 30a. .
[0026]
Thereafter, the ink A in the filter chamber 34 passes through the filter and flows into the differential pressure valve accommodating chamber 33 from the through hole 25a, and further passes through the through hole opened by opening the differential pressure valve, and then descends in the recess 35. Then, the ink flows into the ink supply port 4. In this way, ink can be supplied from the ink cartridge to the recording head.
[0027]
Next, the effect | action of the partition wall 62 is demonstrated based on FIG.
As the ink is consumed, the partition wall 62 causes the ink from the lower ink storage chamber 11 to flow into the first upper ink storage chamber 16 together with the air via the communication flow path 18, so that the interior of the first upper ink storage chamber 16 The function is exhibited when the bubbles a rise in the ink A.
That is, when the ink A is consumed, the bubble a enters corresponding to the consumption of the ink A. The bubble a moves to a position away from the sensor accommodation region 65 by the partition wall 62 arranged to be inclined with respect to the liquid surface (FIG. 7A). The bubbles a stay in the upper space as bubbles a ′ by the action of a surfactant or the like contained in the ink.
[0028]
When the number of bubbles a that have entered as the ink is consumed increases, the number of bubbles a ′ in the upper space S increases (FIG. 7B), and finally reaches the upper space 63 of the partition wall 62.
When the ink A is further consumed in this state, a force for moving the space a from the space S to the upper gap 63 by the buoyancy acts on the bubble a ′ due to the bubbles a, and this force is generated in the meniscus in the upper gap 63. Since it is smaller than the capillary force of M, it cannot rise through the upper gap 63 and rises to enlarge the upper gap 63 (FIG. 7C). Although the sensor accommodation area 65 is communicated via the lower gap 64 of the partition wall 62, since the bubbles do not enter the sensor accommodation area 65, the level of the ink A is maintained in the initial state.
[0029]
When the consumption of the ink A further progresses and the flow force of the bubble a ′ in the vicinity of the ink liquid surface exceeds the criticality of the capillary force of the meniscus M in the upper gap 63, the bubble a ″ which is united and enlarged in this region. Flows into the upper gap 63 while being squeezed (FIG. 7D), flows out while diffusing out of the upper gap 63 (inside the sensor receiving area 65), and expands to a limit point like a soap bubble. It disappears in the accommodation area 65.
That is, the bubble a ″ that has flowed into the sensor housing area 65 is formed so that the sensor housing area 65 gradually expands from the upper gap 63 toward the sensor side, and thus gradually expands and disappears in the sensor housing area 63. To do.
In this embodiment, since the partition plate 62 is arranged so as to expand toward the sensor accommodation area 65, the bubble a ″ moving from the upper gap 63 to the sensor accommodation area 63 is inhibited from expanding. Disappears easily.
Thereafter, when the number of bubbles a ′ increases and expands in the upper gap 63, it expands into the sensor storage area 65 as described above and disappears, and each time the ink level in the sensor storage area 65 becomes the first upper ink storage. It changes so as to correspond to the ink level of the chamber 16 (FIG. 7E).
[0030]
Therefore, in this embodiment, foaming by the ink A around the sensor is suppressed, so that it is possible to reliably prevent a large number of individual small bubbles a ′ from flowing into or adhering to the area of the liquid level sensor 61. Thus, fluctuations in the frequency characteristics of the residual vibration for level detection can be suppressed, and the ink level of the ink cartridge can be detected stably and with high accuracy.
Further, in the present embodiment, since the partition wall 62 is formed by the inclined rib, the bubble a ′ is caused to flow from the upper gap 63 into the sensor accommodating region 65 and is gradually enlarged by the expansion of the sensor accommodating region 65. Can be extinguished. Thereby, the spread of the droplet generated by the disappearance of the bubble a ′ is reduced, and the liquid level can be reliably detected by preventing the fluctuation of the acoustic impedance due to the droplet as much as possible.
[0031]
In the present embodiment, the case where the partition wall 62 is inclined by 35 ° with respect to the mounting surface of the liquid level sensor 61 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and bubbles rising in the ink are accommodated in the sensor. If the angle is set to an angle of 30 ° to 60 ° so as to incline away from the region 65, the bubbles a are easily guided by the partition wall 62 from below to above.
The inclination angle with respect to the liquid surface is preferably in the range of 30 to 60 °. The liquid level referred to here is the liquid level when the ink cartridge is mounted on the recording apparatus.
[0032]
In the present embodiment, it is desirable that the gap (shortest dimension) between the partition wall 62 and the liquid level sensor 61 is set to a dimension of 8 to 12 mm. If this gap is in the above range, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection of the ink level caused by touching the liquid level sensor 61 before the expanded bubbles disappear. Further, the rigidity of the container body 2 around the liquid level sensor can be increased, and good detection (vibration) characteristics can be obtained in the liquid level sensor 61.
[0033]
In addition, in the present embodiment, the case where the partition wall 62 is an inclined rib has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the arc-shaped rib 201 as shown in FIG. 8 or as shown in FIG. The hook-shaped rib 202 can provide substantially the same effect as the embodiment.
[0034]
FIG. 10 (a) shows another embodiment of the present invention with the structure of the container body 2. In this embodiment, the first upper ink storage chamber 16 formed above the lower ink storage chamber 11 is shown. , And a wall 41 that partitions the second upper ink storage chamber 17 is configured as a slope 41c whose bottom portion is inclined to the vertical wall 41b and whose upper portion is inclined toward the side wall.
[0035]
Further, a liquid level sensor 61 is disposed in the second upper ink storage chamber 17 so as to be located within the projection surface of the inclined surface 41c, and the lower end is between the inclined surface 41c and the opposite side so as to sandwich the liquid level sensor 61 therebetween. An oblique wall 72 is formed so as to form the gap 70 and the upper end and the gap 71.
As a result, as shown in FIG. 10B, the vicinity of the gap 71 is expanded inside the sensor housing chamber 73 at a predetermined angle θ, and bubbles are pushed out of the gap 71 into the sensor housing chamber 73. Will easily swell and disappear.
[0036]
The wall 72 includes the liquid level sensor 61 in the projection plane, and the upper part is inclined so that the distance from the liquid level sensor 61 is large, and is wide enough to partition the second upper ink storage chamber 17. Alternatively, the width is selected so that bubbles do not enter from the side surface, and the sensor accommodating region 73 is formed by the inclined surface 41c and the wall 72 so that the upper side is expanded.
The lower gap 70 is preferably narrower than the size of the bubbles generated and raised in the ink, and is set to such an extent that does not hinder the flow of the ink, for example, about 0.5 mm.
[0037]
According to this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11A, the ink that has flowed into the first upper ink storage chamber 16 via the communication flow path 18 passes through the communication port 41a at the bottom of the wall 41 to the second upper portion. It flows into the ink storage chamber 17. Even if the bubble a is included in the flowing ink, the bubble a rises along the vertical wall 41 b and further rises in the direction away from the liquid level sensor 61 along the oblique wall 72. As a result, the bubbles stay in the upper part of the second upper ink containing chamber 17 without entering the sensor containing area 73. Accordingly, when the ink A is sufficiently present, an air layer is prevented from being generated due to the bubble a entering the sensor accommodation region 73.
[0038]
On the other hand, when the ink A is consumed and the ink in the first upper ink storage chamber 16 is exhausted, and the liquid level of the ink A in the second upper ink storage chamber 17 is lowered, the sensor as shown in FIG. Ink in the storage area 73 flows out of the gap 70, and an air layer B is generated above the sensor storage area 73.
[0039]
As a result, since the back electromotive force generated by the residual vibration of the piezoelectric element 116 constituting the liquid level sensor 61 changes as described above, the liquid level of the ink A is lower than the detection surface of the liquid level sensor 61. It can be detected.
[0040]
In this embodiment, since the liquid level sensor 61 is arranged so that the detection surface 61a faces the liquid level of the ink, the time point when the liquid level of the ink is separated from the liquid level sensor 61 is described above. It can be detected more clearly than the example.
In addition, since the liquid level sensor 61 is disposed on the top of the cartridge, ink leakage from the mounting area of the liquid level sensor 61 can be prevented in a state where the liquid level sensor 61 is mounted on the recording head. Even when mounted on the carriage, it is positioned on the open upper surface, so that it is not necessary to unnecessarily reduce the thickness of the sensor, and the degree of freedom of assembly is improved.
[0041]
In the above-described embodiment, the partition walls 63 and 72 for preventing the entry of bubbles and eliminating the bubbles are made of plate materials arranged so as to form a gap with the wall of the container, but the size is smaller than the bubbles. It can also be realized by using a mesh or a plate material provided with a slit and appropriately adjusting the hole diameter of the mesh, the width of the slit, etc. so as to have the above-described effects at the upper and lower portions. Moreover, although the partition walls 63 and 72 are formed integrally with the container main body 2, the same effect can be obtained even when formed separately from the lid body 3.
[0042]
In the above-described embodiment, the sensor housing area is partitioned by one partition wall. However, as shown in FIG. 12, the sensor housing area is spaced apart horizontally, and the gap 74 is the same as the upper gap 63 described above. When the other partition wall 75 is arranged so that the side of the sensor accommodation region 73 is expanded, the outer partition wall 75 guides to the upper part of the partition wall 75 while blocking air bubbles, and the upper gap is formed. 74 can eliminate the bubbles. The few bubbles generated between the partition wall 75 and the partition wall 73 can be further eliminated in the upper space 71 of the partition wall 72.
Accordingly, since the bubbles disappear in two stages, it is possible to reliably prevent the bubbles from entering the sensor accommodating region 73 and reliably prevent the bubbles from adhering to the liquid level sensor 61 disposed on the upper portion. .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a basic configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS. 2A and 2B are perspective views showing the appearance of the ink cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
FIGS. 3A and 3B are cross-sectional views schematically showing the internal structure of an ink cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of a sensor accommodation area of the ink cartridge in FIG.
FIG. 5 is an assembled perspective view showing an embodiment of a liquid level sensor attached to the ink cartridge.
FIGS. 6A and 6B are a top view showing an embodiment of a sensor chip constituting the liquid level sensor, and a cross-sectional view taken along line AA.
FIGS. 7A to 7E are cross-sectional views illustrating the function of a partition wall in an ink cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the partition wall of the ink cartridge.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the partition wall of the ink cartridge.
FIGS. 10A and 10B are a front view showing another embodiment of the ink cartridge of the present invention in the structure of the ink storage chamber, and an enlarged space area formed in the upper part. It is a front view.
FIGS. 11A and 11B are explanatory views showing the ink detection operation of the same ink cartridge. FIG.
FIG. 12 is a front view showing another embodiment of the ink cartridge of the present invention in the structure of an ink storage chamber.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ink cartridge, 4 Ink supply port, 10 Partition wall, 11, 16, 17 Ink storage chamber, 61 Liquid level sensor, 62, 72 Partition wall, 63 Upper space | gap, 64 Lower space | gap, 65 Sensor storage region, 73 Sensor storage region A bubble, a 'bubble

Claims (8)

A container having an ink storage chamber, a partition wall that partitions a part of the ink storage chamber to form a liquid level sensor storage region, and a side wall of the ink storage chamber that forms the liquid level sensor storage region And a liquid level sensor including a piezoelectric element for detecting a consumption state of ink in the ink storage chamber,
At least the upper and lower portions of the partition wall are formed with an upper gap and a lower gap that communicate the liquid level sensor accommodation area of the ink accommodation chamber with other areas of the ink accommodation chamber,
The dimension between the upper edge of the partition wall of the upper gap and the top wall of the ink storage chamber is 0.5 mm to 1 mm,
The dimension between the lower edge of the partition wall of the gap of the lower partition wall and the side wall of the ink storage chamber is smaller than 0.5 mm,
The distance between the upper gap of the partition wall and the liquid level sensor is at least 8 mm or more,
The partition wall is at an angle of 30 degrees to 60 degrees with respect to said side walls, together with the upper air gap side tip of the partition wall is disposed inclined in a direction away from the liquid level sensor, the partition The width dimension of the wall, which is perpendicular to the direction connecting the upper gap and the lower gap, and parallel to the side wall surface, is set to be the same as the depth dimension of the ink storage chamber in the same direction so that bubbles do not enter. ink cartridge, characterized in that that. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the partition walls are spaced apart in the horizontal direction. 2. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the partition plate is disposed so that the liquid level sensor accommodation region in the vicinity of the upper gap forms a space that is expanded on the inner side of the liquid level sensor accommodation chamber. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the partition wall is formed in a flat plate shape. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the partition wall has an arcuate cross section. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the partition wall is formed in a cross-sectional shape. The ink according to claim 1, wherein the container includes a container main body and a lid body that seals an opening of the container main body, and the partition wall is formed integrally with the container main body or the lid body. cartridge. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the liquid level sensor is arranged in an upper region or a side region of the ink containing region.

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