JP4423940B2 - ink cartridge - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink cartridge, and more particularly to an ink cartridge that supplies ink to a recording head via a hollow ink extraction member that protrudes from an ink jet recording apparatus.

  The ink cartridge is attached to the ink jet recording apparatus by pushing the ink cartridge into the ink jet recording apparatus side. The ink cartridge is provided with a rubber stopper that seals communication between the inside and the outside of the ink cartridge. The ink jet recording apparatus is provided with a hollow needle with a pointed tip projecting, and when the ink cartridge is pushed into the ink jet recording apparatus side and attached, the hollow needle pierces the rubber stopper so that the inside of the ink cartridge and the hollow needle Communicate with each other, and ink can be supplied to the ink jet recording apparatus side. Therefore, since the hollow needle formed in the tip shape is disposed with the tip projecting on the user side, it is necessary to ensure safety against touching the tip by the user.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 3-97052 (Patent Document 1) discloses an ink jet recording apparatus provided with a protective device for protecting a hollow needle. In the protection device, a plate-shaped protection plate is disposed between the hollow needle and the ink cartridge insertion side in order to prevent the hollow needle from being exposed to the ink cartridge insertion side. When the ink cartridge is installed, the protection plate at the shielding position is unlocked and the hollow needle is exposed. Furthermore, by inserting the ink cartridge, the hollow needle is inserted into the rubber stopper. When the ink cartridge is detached, the protective plate is raised to the shielding position by the torsion coil spring and held at that position by the lock member. Therefore, the hollow needle is prevented from being touched from the user side.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-97052 (FIG. 2 etc.)

  However, as described above, an inkjet recording apparatus including a protection device requires a protection plate, a lock member, a torsion coil spring, and the like, so it is necessary to secure a space for mounting the components, and the inkjet recording apparatus is increased in scale. In addition, there is a problem that the manufacturing cost increases because the number of parts increases.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems. The ink is surely enclosed in the ink chamber of the ink cartridge, and this ink can be safely supplied even if no safety device is provided on the ink jet recording apparatus side. An object of the present invention is to provide an ink cartridge that can be supplied.

In order to achieve this object, an ink cartridge according to claim 1 is configured to be detachable from an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording by ejecting ink from a recording head, and has a hollow shape protruding from the ink jet recording apparatus. It communicates with the recording head via an extraction member, and is provided with a case for forming an ink chamber for storing ink and an opening on the outer side of the case so that the extraction member can enter. A communication chamber communicating with the ink chamber, a thin film member formed in a thin film shape that blocks communication between the communication chamber and the ink chamber, and disposed in the communication chamber and attached to the opposite side of the thin film member. be those that are energized, when mounting the ink cartridge to the ink jet recording apparatus, is pushed by the extraction member to move in the thin film member, said communication chamber E Bei the breaking member and serial ink chamber to break the thin film member so as to communicate with, when mounting the ink cartridge to the ink jet recording apparatus, the communication chamber, so that the extraction member therein is located It is configured.

  The ink cartridge according to claim 2 is the ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the thin film member is integrally formed with the case as a wall that partitions the ink chamber and the communication chamber.

  An ink cartridge according to a third aspect is the ink cartridge according to the first or second aspect, wherein the breaking member is formed in a pointed shape toward the thin film member side.

An ink cartridge according to a fourth aspect is the ink cartridge according to the third aspect, wherein the base wall from the distal end is connected to the outer peripheral wall of the breaking member in a direction connecting the distal end on the thin film member side to the proximal end on the opening side. A groove extending to the end is formed.

  The ink cartridge according to a fifth aspect is the ink cartridge according to the fourth aspect, wherein a plurality of the grooves are formed, and the plurality of grooves are formed substantially uniformly on the outer peripheral wall of the breaking member.

The ink cartridge according to claim 6 is the ink cartridge according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein an outer peripheral wall of the breaking member is formed from a tip of the breaking member on the thin film member side to the opening side. A first inclined portion inclined at a first angle with respect to the moving direction of the breaking member, and from the first inclined portion to the opening side, from the first angle with respect to the moving direction of the breaking member. A second inclined portion that is inclined with an acute second angle, and the breaking member is in contact with the thin film member when the ink cartridge is mounted on the ink jet recording apparatus. that has been contact can be configured.

The ink cartridge according to claim 7 is the ink cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the communication chamber is a valve member disposed on the opening side with respect to the breaking member. A valve member that selectively communicates and blocks the ink flow path on the thin film member side relative to the member with the extraction member, and the valve member and the breakable member when the ink cartridge is mounted on the ink jet recording apparatus There moved by being pressed by said extraction member, the ink flow path of the thin film member side along with communicating with the extraction member all SANYO breaking the thin film member, said valve member and said rupture member is formed integrally Has been.

The ink cartridge according to claim 8 is the ink cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 7 , wherein the ink jet recording apparatus is provided so as to protrude from the ink jet recording apparatus side and introduces outside air into the ink chamber. An introduction member, provided to open to the outside of the case, configured to allow the outside air introduction member to enter, and to communicate with the ink chamber; an outside air communication chamber; and the ink chamber. A second thin film member formed in a thin film shape for blocking communication, and disposed in the outside air communication chamber and biased to the opposite side of the second thin film member , wherein the ink cartridge is an ink jet recording apparatus when mounted on the pushed by the air introduction member moves to the second thin film member, prior to communicating the ink chamber and the outside air communication chamber And a second breaking member for breaking the second thin film member, when mounting the ink cartridge to the ink jet recording apparatus, the ambient air communicating chamber is constructed such that the air introduction member therein is located Yes.

The ink cartridge according to claim 9 is configured such that when the ink cartridge is mounted on the ink jet recording apparatus, the breaking member and the second breaking member move simultaneously. When the breaking member is not pressed by the extraction member, the distance between the tip of the breaking member and the thin film member is greater than the distance between the tip of the second breaking member and the second thin film member. It is configured to be large .

An ink cartridge according to a tenth aspect of the present invention is the ink cartridge according to the eighth or ninth aspect , wherein the outside air communication chamber is a second valve member disposed closer to the opening than the second breaking member. A second valve member that selectively communicates and blocks the space closer to the second thin film member than the valve member to the outside air introduction member, and an ink cartridge is mounted on the ink jet recording apparatus. Accordingly, the second valve member and the second breaking member are moved by being pushed by the outside air introducing member, and the space is communicated with the outside air introducing member and the second thin film member is broken. der is, the second valve member and the second breaking member is formed integrally.

An ink cartridge according to an eleventh aspect is the ink cartridge according to the seventh aspect, wherein a cylindrical portion having an inner diameter that is in close contact with the extraction member that has entered the communication chamber is opposed to the extraction member that has entered the communication chamber. A valve seat portion that has an opening that exposes a portion of the valve member disposed in the cylindrical portion and contacts the valve member at an outer periphery of the opening, and an ink chamber side from the outer periphery of the valve seat portion A rubber-like elastic material is provided with a biasing portion that protrudes inward so as to abut on the valve member on the opposite side of the cylindrical portion and urges the valve member in a direction to contact the valve seat portion. The support member manufactured integrally with is arranged in the communication chamber.

The ink cartridge according to claim 12 is the ink cartridge according to claim 10, wherein a cylindrical portion having an inner diameter that is in close contact with the outside air introduction member that has entered the outside air communication chamber, and the outside air introduction that has entered the outside communication chamber. A valve seat portion having an opening for exposing a portion of the second valve member disposed facing the member in the cylindrical portion and contacting the second valve member at an outer periphery of the opening; and The second valve member projects from the outer periphery of the valve seat portion toward the ink chamber and projects inward so as to contact the portion of the second valve member on the opposite side of the cylindrical portion. The second valve member contacts the valve seat portion. A supporting member in which a biasing portion that biases in the direction to be made is integrally made of a rubber-like elastic material is disposed in the outside air communication chamber.

  According to the ink cartridge of the first aspect, the communication chamber having an opening is formed on the outside of the case forming the ink chamber for storing ink, and the communication between the communication chamber and the ink chamber is formed in a thin film shape. It is blocked by a thin film member. When the breaking member is arranged in the communication chamber and the ink cartridge is mounted on the ink jet recording apparatus, the breaking member is pushed by the extraction member provided protruding from the ink jet recording apparatus and moves to the thin film member side. The member is broken to allow communication between the ink chamber and the communication chamber. Therefore, since the breaking member is disposed in the communication chamber formed in the case, the extraction member does not need to be pointed. Therefore, the extraction member provided so as to protrude from the ink jet recording apparatus can improve safety without being injured by the user, and it is not necessary to provide a protective device for protecting the extraction member on the ink jet recording apparatus side. There is an effect that can be reduced.

  According to the ink cartridge of the second aspect, in addition to the effect produced by the ink cartridge of the first aspect, the thin film member is formed integrally with the case as a wall that partitions the ink chamber and the communication chamber. A thin film member is also formed by molding. Therefore, the work process such as attaching the thin film member after the ink cartridge is manufactured can be omitted, so that the work efficiency can be improved.

  According to the ink cartridge of the third aspect, in addition to the effect exhibited by the ink cartridge of the first or second aspect, the breaking member is formed in a pointed shape toward the thin film member side. When pressed to the member side, there is an effect that the thin film member can be reliably broken.

  According to the ink cartridge of the fourth aspect, in addition to the effect exhibited by the ink cartridge of the third aspect, the outer peripheral wall of the breaking member has a groove that forms an ink flow path between the breaking member and the thin film member. Thus, when the breaking member breaks the thin film member and protrudes toward the ink chamber, the ink channel connecting the ink chamber and the communication chamber is surely formed by the groove.

  According to the ink cartridge of the fifth aspect, in addition to the effect produced by the ink cartridge of the fourth aspect, a plurality of grooves are formed, and the plurality of grooves are formed substantially evenly on the outer peripheral wall of the breaking member. More ink flow paths connecting the ink chamber and the communication chamber can be formed. Therefore, there is an effect that ink can be stably supplied to the extraction member.

  According to the ink cartridge of the sixth aspect, in addition to the effect exhibited by the ink cartridge according to any one of the third to fifth aspects, the outer peripheral wall of the breaking member is divided into two parts, a first inclined part and a second inclined part. An inclined portion is provided, and the second inclined portion has an acute angle with respect to the moving direction of the breaking member than the first angle of the first inclined portion. When the mounting of the ink cartridge to the ink jet recording apparatus is started, the breaking member is pushed to the thin film member side by the extraction member, and the thin film member is moved by the tip portion formed in a cusp by the first angle of the first inclined portion. The fracture occurs following the shape of the tip, and the fracture surface of the thin film member comes into contact with the first inclined portion. When the ink cartridge is further attached, the breaking member is pushed to a position where the second inclined portion and the thin film member come into contact with each other, and breaks while expanding the fracture surface of the thin film member. Therefore, the ink flow path connecting the ink chamber and the communication chamber can be further widened, and ink can be supplied stably. Further, when the ink cartridge is detached, it is possible to prevent the breaking member from being separated from the thin film member and being unable to move.

  According to the ink cartridge of the seventh aspect, in addition to the effect produced by the ink cartridge according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the ink passage is provided in the communication chamber on the opening side of the breaking member by the extraction member. Since the valve member that selectively communicates and blocks is arranged, after the thin film member is broken by the breaking member and the ink chamber communicates with the communication chamber, the valve member selects the communication and blocking of the ink flow path. it can. Therefore, there is an effect that ink can be prevented from leaking when the ink cartridge is detached.

Moreover, since the valve member and the breaking member are integrally formed, there is an effect that the number of parts can be reduced and the production cost can be reduced.

According to the ink cartridge of the eighth aspect , in addition to the effect exhibited by the ink cartridge of any one of the first to seventh aspects, the ink jet recording apparatus includes an outside air introduction member that introduces outside air into the ink chamber. In the ink cartridge, an outside air communication chamber having an opening is formed on the outside of the case forming an ink chamber for storing ink, and the communication between the outside air communication chamber and the ink chamber is formed in a thin film shape. It is blocked by the member. When the second breaking member is disposed in the outside air communication chamber and the ink cartridge is mounted on the ink jet recording apparatus, the second breaking member is pushed by the outside air introduction member and moves to the second thin film member side, The second thin film member is broken to allow communication between the ink chamber and the outside air communication chamber. Therefore, it is not necessary for the outside air introducing member to have a pointed tip, and the outside air introducing member provided so as to protrude from the ink jet recording apparatus has an effect that the user is not injured and safety is improved.

According to the ink cartridge of claim 9 , in addition to the effect of the ink cartridge of claim 8 , when the ink cartridge is mounted on the ink jet recording apparatus, the second thin film member is broken by the second breaking member. Thereafter, the thin film member is broken by the breaking member. Therefore, when the ink cartridge is mounted on the ink jet recording apparatus, the first thin film member is broken in a state where the second thin film member on the outside air introduction member side is broken first and the outside air can be introduced. Therefore, there is an effect that the ink can be smoothly supplied to the recording head.

According to the ink cartridge of the tenth aspect , in addition to the effect exhibited by the ink cartridge according to the eighth or ninth aspect , the outside air communication chamber is provided with an ink flow path on the opening side of the second breaking member. Since the second valve member that is selectively communicated and blocked by the member is disposed, after the second thin film member is broken by the second breaking member and the ink chamber communicates with the outside air communicating chamber, Communication and blocking of the ink flow path can be selected by the second valve member. Therefore, there is an effect that ink can be prevented from leaking when the ink cartridge is detached.

Moreover, since the 2nd valve member and the 2nd fracture | rupture member are integrally formed, there exists an effect that a number of parts can be reduced and manufacturing cost can be reduced.

According to the ink cartridge of the eleventh aspect , in addition to the effect produced by the ink cartridge according to the seventh aspect, the tubular portion that adheres to the outer periphery of the extraction member when the extraction member enters the communication chamber, A valve seat that has an opening that exposes the portion of the valve member that faces the extraction member in the cylindrical portion and contacts the valve member at the outer periphery of the opening, and rises from the outer periphery of the valve seat to the ink chamber side Also, the urging portion that protrudes inward so as to abut against the portion of the valve member on the side opposite to the cylindrical portion and urged in the direction of abutting the valve member against the valve seat portion is integrally manufactured with a rubber-like elastic material. A support member is disposed. Therefore, the valve member is urged from the ink chamber side toward the valve seat by the urging portion, so that it is possible to reliably prevent the ink from leaking from the communication chamber with the ink cartridge removed. effective.

According to the ink cartridge of claim 1 wherein, in addition to the effects of the ink cartridge according to claim 10, wherein, in the ambient air communicating chamber, close contact with the outer periphery of the air introduction member when air introduction member has entered the outside air communication chamber A cylindrical portion that has an opening that exposes the portion of the second valve member that faces the outside air introduction member in the cylindrical portion, and a valve seat that contacts the second valve member on the outer periphery of the opening; and The valve seat rises from the outer periphery of the valve seat to the ink chamber side and projects inward so as to come into contact with the portion of the second valve member on the opposite side to the cylindrical portion, so that the second valve member comes into contact with the valve seat. A support member in which the urging portion to be urged is integrally made of a rubber-like elastic material is disposed. Therefore, the second valve member is urged from the ink chamber side toward the valve seat portion by the urging portion, so that the ink can be reliably prevented from leaking from the outside air communication chamber with the ink cartridge removed. There is an effect that can be.

According to the ink cartridge of claims 11 and 12 , the cylindrical portion, the urging portion, and the valve seat portion are integrally formed of a rubber-like elastic material. Therefore, when the ink cartridge is discarded, for example, when it is discarded by incineration, it can be incinerated as it is, and the ink cartridge is disassembled and the metal compression spring compared with the case where the metal compression spring is used. Since there is no need to take out the battery, work efficiency is improved and the disposal cost can be reduced.

  Further, by providing a support member holding the valve member in the communication chamber, communication between the ink chamber and the outside can be blocked. This eliminates the need for a complicated operation step of attaching a biasing means for biasing the valve member in the region where the valve member is disposed, and thus has an effect of reducing the manufacturing cost of the ink cartridge.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an ink cartridge 1 and an ink jet recording apparatus 2 in which the ink cartridge 1 is mounted according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The ink cartridge 1 is configured to be attachable to and detachable from an ink jet recording apparatus 2 including a recording head 7 that ejects ink, and stores ink to be supplied to the recording head 7.

  The ink cartridge 1 includes a hollow box-shaped main body case 1a having an open upper surface and a lid 1b for sealing the open upper surface of the main body case 1a. The ink supplied to the recording head 7 is formed inside the main body case 1a. Stored in the ink chamber 16 (see FIG. 2). The ink jet recording apparatus 2 is provided with a plurality of ink cartridges filled with four color inks of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black.

  The ink jet recording apparatus 2 includes a mounting unit 3 that detachably mounts the ink cartridge 1, a tank 5 that stores ink supplied from the ink cartridge 1 via the ink supply tube 4, and ink stored in the tank 5. A recording head 7 for discharging the ink toward the recording paper 6, a carriage 8 on which the tank 5 and the recording head 7 are mounted and reciprocating in a linear direction, a carriage shaft 9 serving as a guide for reciprocating the carriage 8, and recording A transport mechanism 10 for transporting the paper 6 and a purge device 11 are provided.

  The mounting portion 3 includes a base portion 3a and guide portions 3b standing from both sides of the base portion 3a. From the base portion 3a sandwiched between the guide portions 3b, ink stored in the ink cartridge 1 is received. A hollow ink extraction tube 12 for extraction and a hollow outside air introduction tube 13 for introducing outside air into the ink cartridge 1 are disposed so as to protrude.

  An ink supply tube 4 is connected to one end side of the ink extraction tube 12, and the ink extraction tube 12 communicates with the tank 5 via the ink supply tube 4. An outside air introduction tube 15 is connected to one end side of the outside air introduction tube 13, and the outside air introduction tube 13 communicates with outside air via the outside air introduction tube 15.

  The ink cartridge 1 is attached to the attachment portion 3 from the vertical direction (arrow X direction). At this time, the ink extraction pipe 12 and the outside air introduction pipe 13 come into contact with the valve members 32 and 52 (see FIG. 2) provided inside the ink cartridge 1, and the valve members 32 and 52 are connected to the ink chamber 16. The ink chamber 16 is pushed up to communicate with the inside of the ink chamber 16.

  The recording head 7 is provided with a plurality of nozzle holes on the surface facing the recording paper 6, and by driving an actuator made of a piezoelectric element, ink stored in the tank 5 from the nozzle holes is directed toward the recording paper 6. Discharged. In the actual recording operation, recording is performed on the recording paper 6 while the carriage 8 on which the recording head 7 is mounted moves back and forth.

  Further, the recording head 7 is disposed above the mounting portion 3, and the ink in the nozzle hole has a negative pressure (back pressure) due to a water head difference between the ink cartridge 1 mounted in the mounting portion 3 and the nozzle hole. ) Is given.

  The purge device 11 is disposed outside the recording range and faces the recording head 7, and includes a purge cap 11a that covers the nozzle hole forming surface of the recording head 7, and a waste ink tube 11b that communicates with the purge cap 11a. And a pump 11c for sucking ink from the nozzle holes via the waste ink tube 11b.

  When executing the purge process, the carriage 8 is moved to the purge process execution position, and the nozzle hole forming surface of the recording head 7 is covered with the purge cap 11a. In this state, the pump 11c is driven to suck the defective ink containing bubbles and the like accumulated inside the recording head 7. The sucked defective ink is stored in a waste ink tank (not shown) through the waste ink tube 11b. The recording operation and the purge process are controlled under a CPU (not shown) that is a central processing unit mounted on the inkjet recording apparatus 2.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the configuration of the joint portion (portion A in FIG. 1) of the ink cartridge 1 to the ink jet recording apparatus 2 will be described. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the joint portion showing a state before being mounted on the ink jet recording apparatus 2. FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing the valve member 31.

  The main body case 1a of the ink cartridge 1 has a partition wall 1c that divides the inside of the cylindrical outer peripheral wall up and down integrally with the cylindrical outer peripheral wall, and an upper compartment is used as the ink chamber 16, and below the partition wall 1c. On the side, there are two communication chambers 30 and 50 opened downward. When the ink cartridge 1 is attached to the attachment portion 3, the ink extraction tube 12 is inserted into one communication chamber 30, and the outside air introduction tube 13 is inserted into the other communication chamber 50.

  The partition wall 1c corresponding to the ceiling of one communication chamber 30 is formed with a communication hole 21 that communicates the ink chamber 16 and the communication chamber 30, and the cylindrical wall 22 that hangs down from the partition wall 1c surrounding the communication hole 21 is formed. At the lower end, a thin film member 31 that closes the communication hole 21 is formed of a resin material integrally with the main body case 1a. Further, the partition wall 1c corresponding to the ceiling portion of the other communication chamber 50 is also provided with a communication hole 23 that communicates the ink chamber 16 and the communication chamber 50, and a cylindrical wall that hangs from the partition wall 1c so as to surround the communication hole 23. A thin film member 51 that closes the communication hole 23 is formed at the lower end of 24 by a resin material integrally with the main body case 1a. Thereby, the ink in the ink chamber 16 is surely sealed by the main body case 1a and the lid 1b until the thin film members 31, 51 are broken as will be described later. The amount of sag from the partition wall 1c of the cylindrical wall 24 is small in the thin film member 51 on the outside air introduction tube 13 side so that the gap between the thin film member 31 on the ink extraction tube 12 side and the fracture portion 72 described later is smaller. It is formed larger than the amount of drooping of the wall 22.

  Further, a cylinder member 25 is provided so as to protrude into the ink chamber 16 from the communication hole 23, and the outside air introduced from the outside air introduction pipe 13 is guided to the upper portion of the ink chamber 16 through the cylinder member 25.

  A valve device 23 is fixed to the communication chamber 30 formed in the main body case 1 a, and a valve device 24 is fixed to the communication chamber 50. Below, the valve apparatus 23 is demonstrated.

  The valve device 23 includes a support member 46 that is integrally manufactured from a rubber-like elastic member, and a valve member 32 that is made of a resin material. The support member 46 has a substantially cylindrical outer shape, and has a valve seat portion 46a at an intermediate portion in the axial direction thereof, a biasing portion 46b on the ink chamber 16 side of the valve seat portion 46a, and a side opposite to the biasing portion 46b. The cylindrical portion 35 extending from the valve seat portion 46a and the outer peripheral wall 33 extending in parallel with an interval on the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion 35 are integrally formed. The valve member 32 is urged by the urging portion 46b in a direction in contact with the valve seat portion 46a and is accommodated in the urging portion 46b.

  The outer peripheral wall 33 has a positioning portion 33a projecting radially outward at an end on the outer side of the main body case 1a, and a portion closer to the ink chamber 16 than the positioning portion 33a is outside the positioning portion 33a. The outer diameter is smaller than the diameter. In addition, the communication chamber 30 has a stepped surface 44 whose diameter increases outward in order to accommodate the positioning portion 33a.

  In addition, as shown in the enlarged view in which the fixing portion between the valve device 23 and the communication chamber 30 in FIG. 2 is enlarged, a protrusion 43 is formed on the surface of the stepped surface 44 facing the positioning portion 33, A holding wall 42 projects outwardly and is connected around the opening of the communication chamber 30 of the case body 1a. After the valve device 23 is inserted into the communication chamber 30, the holding wall 42 bends the holding wall 42 by heat while deforming the positioning portion 33 a against the protrusion 43, so that the valve device 23 is placed in the communication chamber 30. It adheres to. Thereby, the ink is prevented from flowing out from the space formed between the outer peripheral wall of the valve device 23 and the inner wall of the communication chamber 30.

  The valve seat 46a has an opening 41 penetrating in the axial direction at the center thereof. The cylindrical portion 35 has a guide path 40 into which the ink extraction pipe 12 is inserted when the ink cartridge 1 is mounted on the mounting section 3. The cylindrical section 35 communicates with the opening 41 from the valve seat portion 46 a. Connected together. The valve member 32 in contact with the valve seat 46a is exposed to the outside through the opening 41 and the guide path 40, and can face the inserted ink extraction tube 12. The guide path 40 is formed to have an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the ink extraction pipe 12 so as to be in close contact with the inserted ink extraction pipe 12, and the opening 41 is larger than the inner diameter of the guide path 40 and the ink extraction pipe 12. It is formed larger than the outer diameter. The insertion side end of the ink extraction tube 12 of the guide path 40 is formed in a tapered shape that expands outward.

  The cylindrical portion 35 and the outer peripheral wall 33 are separated by an annular groove 34, and the cylindrical portion 35 can be elastically deformed with respect to the outer peripheral wall 33 in a plane perpendicular to the central axis direction of the guide path 40. . Accordingly, the cylindrical portion 35 is easily expanded in diameter (in the direction of arrow Y in FIG. 5) as the ink extraction tube 12 is inserted into the guide path 40, and the adhesion between the guide path 40 and the ink extraction tube 12 is improved. Leakage can be prevented. Even if the ink extraction tube 12 is inserted with an inclination or a displacement with respect to the guide path 40, the ink extraction tube 12 can be inserted into the guide path 40 by the deformation of the cylindrical portion 35. Further, as the ink extraction tube 12 is inserted into the guide path 40, the inner wall portion of the guide path 40 is elastically deformed while being slightly pushed toward the valve member 32, but the deformation is absorbed in the space within the opening 41 having a large diameter, The valve member 32 is not pushed.

  The cylindrical portion 35 is formed in a length that does not reach the lower end of the outer peripheral wall 33, that is, the insertion side end portion of the ink extraction tube 12, and remains on the cylindrical portion 35 when the valve device 23 alone is placed on a desk or the like. The surface on which the ink is placed is not soiled.

  The urging portion 46b has a side wall portion 36 that rises in a cylindrical shape from the outer periphery of the valve seat portion 46a toward the ink chamber 16, and is inwardly connected to the side wall portion 36 so as to contact the ink chamber 16 side of the valve member 32. An overhanging portion 37 is formed, and an opening 37 a is formed at the center of the overhanging portion 37. The urging portion 46b urges the valve member 32 by the elastic force of the side wall portion 36 and the overhanging portion 37 in the direction in which the valve member 32 is brought into contact with the valve seat portion 46a. The part 46a is closely attached. Further, when the ink extraction tube 12 enters the guide path 40 and pushes up the valve member 32 to the ink chamber 16 side, the side wall portion 36 extends and the protruding portion 37 inclines, and the valve member 32 and the valve seat portion 46a are inclined. A gap for the ink flow path is formed therebetween.

  A thickness t1 (see FIG. 5A) of the side wall portion 36 in the radial direction (a direction orthogonal to the axial direction) is a thickness t2 (see FIG. 5A) in the direction in which the ink extraction pipe 12 enters the guide path 40 of the valve seat portion 46a. It is thinner than the thickness of the outer peripheral wall 33 in comparison with the thickness of the outer peripheral wall 33 in comparison with FIG. Therefore, when the valve member 32 is pushed up by the ink extraction pipe 12, the urging portion 46b is greatly elastically deformed compared to the valve seat portion 46a and the outer peripheral wall 33, and a gap is formed between the valve member 32 and the valve seat portion 46a. Form.

  Next, the valve member 32 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The valve member 32 includes a bottom portion 70 that comes into contact with the valve seat portion 46 a of the support member 46, a valve side wall portion 71 that extends cylindrically toward the ink chamber 16 from the outer periphery of the bottom portion 70, and a valve side wall that is substantially at the center of the bottom portion 70. It has a fracture portion 72 that protrudes more toward the ink chamber 16 than the portion 71 and has a tip formed on the ink chamber 16 side.

  The bottom portion 70 protrudes toward the valve seat portion 46a on the end surface facing the valve seat portion 46a at the center side of the valve side wall portion 71 and outside the guide path 40, and is formed in an annular shape. (See FIG. 2). In a state where the valve member 32 is housed in the support member 46, the valve side wall 71 is brought into close contact with and pressed against the lower surface of the overhanging portion 37 of the urging portion 46b. The portion 46a is elastically deformed and is in close contact with the upper surface of the valve seat portion 46a.

  In the bottom portion 70, a plurality of communication passages 38 communicating with the ink chamber 16 side and the valve seat portion 46 a side of the valve member 32 are formed penetratingly on the outer periphery of the protrusion 39 and on the inner periphery of the valve side wall 71. . In the present embodiment, eight communication paths 38 are formed, but the number is not particularly limited, and any number may be formed.

  The fracture portion 72 is composed of four plate members 73a to 73d arranged in a substantially central portion of the bottom portion 70 and combined in a substantially cross shape, and includes a groove 77 extending in parallel with the axial direction between adjacent plate members. . Each of the plate members 73a to 73d has a first angle (for example, approximately “45 degrees” in the present embodiment) with respect to the central axis extending in the same direction from the tip 76 toward the bottom 70. An inclined first inclined portion 77a, and a second angle connected to the first inclined portion 77a and extending from the first inclined portion 77a toward the bottom portion 70 to an acute angle than the first angle (for example, in this embodiment) , Approximately “10 degrees”). The fracture portion 72 protrudes through the opening 37 a of the overhang portion 37 and is disposed to face the thin film member 31 with a gap between the tip 76 and the thin film member 31.

  Next, the ink extraction pipe 12 and the outside air introduction pipe 13 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the shape near the tip of the ink extraction tube 12 on the valve member 32 side. Since the ink extraction tube 12 and the outside air introduction tube 13 have the same shape and the same dimensions, the ink extraction tube 12 will be described and the description of the outside air introduction tube 13 will be omitted.

  The tip end of the ink extraction tube 12 on the valve member 32 side is opened, and the contact surface with the valve member 32 is constituted by end surfaces 80a to 80d formed in a substantially flat surface. Further, in the ink extraction tube 12, groove-shaped communication ports 81a to 81d formed by cutting out the outer peripheral wall of the ink extraction tube 12 are formed on the mounting portion 3 side from the contact surface of the ink extraction tube 12 with the valve member 32. Has been. The communication ports 81 a to 81 d are formed to be substantially uniform on the outer peripheral wall of the ink extraction tube 12. In the present embodiment, the four communication ports 81a to 81d are formed. However, any number of the communication ports 81a to 81d may be formed.

  Since the end surfaces 80a to 80d of the ink extraction tube 12 are formed in a substantially flat surface, the contact surface of the valve member 32 can be pressed substantially evenly when contacting the valve member 32. The ink flow path can be kept constant at all times. Further, since the communication ports 81a to 81d are cut out including the contact surface with the valve member 32 of the ink extraction tube 12, even if the ink extraction tube 12 is in contact with the valve member 32, An ink flow path can be reliably formed.

  Furthermore, since the tip of the ink extraction tube 12 is formed in a substantially flat surface, the tip is not formed in a pointed shape as in the prior art even if it is provided protruding from the mounting portion 3. Will not be injured by touching the ink extraction tube 12.

  The valve device 24 arranged in the communication chamber 50 on the outside air introduction side uses exactly the same parts as the ink supply side valve device 23 and is fixed in the same manner, and each part extracts ink from the outside air introduction tube 13. Since the dimensional relationship is the same as that of the tube 12, a detailed description is omitted.

  Here, the operation of the valve device 23 when the ink cartridge 1 is attached to the ink jet recording apparatus 2 will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the ink cartridge 1 is mounted on the mounting portion 3, the ink extraction tube 12 enters the guide path 40 (FIG. 5A) and closely contacts the guide path 40 in a state that prevents ink from flowing out. . When the ink extraction tube 12 and the valve member 32 come into contact with each other and the valve member 32 is pushed to the ink chamber 16 side (FIG. 5B), the valve member 32 resists the elasticity of the urging portion 46b. Pushed away from 64a. Further, when the valve member 32 is pushed up, the tip 76 of the breaking portion 72 comes into contact with the thin film member 31 and breaks the thin film member 31. As a result, the ink in the ink chamber 16 is supplied to the communication chamber 30 and enters the opening 37a at the upper end of the valve device 23, and from the communication path 38 of the valve member 38, the lower surface of the valve member 38 and the upper surface of the valve seat 46a. The communication ports 81 a to 81 d enter the ink extraction tube 12 (ink flow path B) and are supplied to the recording head 7. The operation of breaking the thin film member 31 by the breaking portion 72 will be described in detail later.

  On the other hand, simultaneously with the penetration of the ink extraction pipe 12, the outside air introduction pipe 13 also enters the valve device 24 on the communication chamber 50 side, and pushes up the valve member 32 in the same device. The thin-film member 51 on the outside air introduction tube 13 side is broken earlier than the thin-film member 31 on the ink extraction tube 12 side because the gap between the thin film member 51 on the outside air introduction tube 13 side and the tip 76 of the fracture portion 72 is smaller than the thin-film member 31 on the ink extraction tube 12 side. . In general, the ink cartridge 1 is packaged in a packaging bag in a reduced pressure state in order to keep the ink in the deaerated state, and the ink chamber 16 is also in a reduced pressure state. As described above, by quickly breaking the thin film member 51 on the outside air introduction tube 13 side, outside air is introduced into the upper portion of the ink chamber 16 through the cylindrical member 25, and then the thin film member 31 on the ink extraction tube 12 side is broken. Thus, the ink supply to the ink extraction tube 12 is ensured. If the thin film member 31 on the ink extraction tube 12 side is broken early, air enters the ink flow path to the ink extraction tube 12 and hinders the smooth supply of ink.

  When the ink cartridge 1 is pulled up from the mounting portion 3 in order to remove the mounted ink cartridge 1 from the ink jet recording apparatus 2, the ink extraction pipe 12 and the outside air introduction pipe 13 are separated from the corresponding valve members 32, and the urging section 46. Due to the urging action, each valve member 32 returns to a state of being in close contact with the valve seat portion 46a. At this time, since the annular projecting member 39 is provided on the surface of the valve member 32 facing the valve seat portion 46a, the ink chamber 16 is reliably sealed, and ink leakage is prevented. Further, the ink remaining in the vicinity of the opening 41 of the valve seat 46a on the ink extraction tube 12 side is blocked by the valve member 32 so that atmospheric pressure does not act, and the guide path 40 has a small diameter ( When the diameter is about 2 mm), a meniscus is formed and held at that position, and does not sag outside.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 6, a state in which the thin film member 31 is broken by the breaking portion 72 will be described. The manner in which the thin film member 51 is ruptured by the outside air introduction tube 13 is the same as that of the thin film member 31 by the ink extraction tube 12, and the description thereof is omitted.

  6A-1 shows a state in which the fracture portion 72 is pushed up together with the valve member 32 toward the ink chamber 16, and the tip 76 is in contact with the thin film member 31. FIG. In this state, the thin film member 31 is not yet broken (state of FIG. 6A-2).

  FIG. 6B-1 shows a state in which the broken portion 72 is further pushed up and the thin film member 31 is broken by the first inclined portions 74a to 74d. Since the thin film member 31 is in contact with the first inclined portions 74a to 74d of the fracture portion 72 and is in close contact with the planar shape of the fracture portion 72, the groove 77 is closed in this state, and the ink flow path. Is hardly formed (FIG. 6B-2).

  FIG. 6C-1 shows a state where the ink cartridge 1 has been completely installed in the inkjet recording apparatus 2, and the thin film member 31 is pushed and spread by the second inclined portions 75a to 75d of the breaking portion 72. . Therefore, a groove 77 between the plate members 73 a to 73 d is opened, and an ink flow path C connecting the ink chamber 16 and the ink extraction tube 12 is formed. Further, four ink flow paths C are formed substantially evenly on the outer periphery of the fracture portion 72, so that ink can be supplied to the ink extraction tube 12 side substantially evenly.

  In addition, when the thin film member 31 is expanded by changing from the first inclined parts 74a to 74d to the second inclined parts 75a to 75d, the bending angle of the broken part of the thin film member 31 is changed, and the broken part is changed to each plate member. The ink flow path is formed away from the groove 77 between 73a to 73d as described above. Further, since the adhesion between the thin film member 31 and each of the plate members 73a to 73d is lowered, when the ink cartridge 1 is detached, the rupture portion 72 and the thin film member 31 are reliably connected by the urging force of the urging portion 46b. Be released.

  As described above, according to the ink cartridge, the valve member 32 having the fractured portion 72 with the tip that breaks the thin film member 31 formed in a pointed shape is held by the support member 46, and the support member 46. Is fixed in the communication chamber 30. Therefore, when the ink cartridge 1 is installed in the ink jet recording apparatus 2, the valve member 32 is pushed up to the ink chamber 16 side by the ink extraction tube 12 to open the valve, and the thin film member 31 is broken, so that the ink chamber 16 and the ink are removed. Ink channels B and C connecting the extraction tube 12 are formed. Therefore, it is not necessary to form the ink extraction tube 12 with a pointed tip, so that the user can be prevented from being injured by the ink extraction tube 12, and safety can be improved. Furthermore, since the valve member 52 and the support member 46 on the outside air introduction pipe 13 side are also formed in the same shape, safety can be further improved.

  Further, since it is not necessary to form the ink extraction tube 12 with a pointed tip, it is not necessary to newly provide a protective device or the like for preventing the ink extraction tube 12 from being exposed, and the ink jet recording apparatus is increased in scale. In addition, the number of parts does not increase, so that the production cost can be prevented from increasing.

  The present invention has been described above based on the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. It can be easily guessed.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the outer shape of the valve devices 23, 24 is slightly smaller than the inner shape of the communication chambers 30, 50, and is pressed and fixed by the pressing member 42. It may be formed slightly larger than the inner shape of the communication chambers 30 and 50, and the valve devices 23 and 24 may be pushed into and fitted into the communication chambers to be fixed.

  In the above embodiment, the ink extraction pipe 12 and the outside air introduction pipe 13 are cut out including the tip on the ink chamber 16 side to form the communication ports 81a to 81d. In addition, a communication port that communicates the inside and the outside may be formed in the side wall of the outside air introduction pipe 13.

  Moreover, in the said Example, although the valve member 32 shall integrally form the fracture | rupture part 72 in which the front-end | tip was formed in the point shape, the bottom part 70, and the valve side wall part 71, the fracture | rupture part which fractures | ruptures a thin film member And a valve for communicating and blocking between the ink chamber 16 side and the outside of the main body case 1a may be configured separately.

1 is a schematic view showing an ink cartridge of the present invention and an ink jet recording apparatus in which the ink cartridge is mounted. It is sectional drawing of the joint part which shows the state before mounting | wearing with an inkjet recording device. It is a perspective view which expands and shows a valve member. It is the perspective view which showed the shape of the front-end | tip part vicinity used as the valve member side of an ink extraction pipe | tube and an external air introduction pipe | tube. FIG. 5A is a state diagram illustrating a state change in which the ink extraction tube has entered the support member, and FIG. 5A illustrates a state before the ink extraction tube enters the guide path and contacts the valve member. 5 (b) shows a state in which the ink extraction tube is in contact with the valve member and pushed toward the ink chamber. It is the state figure which showed the state change which a thin film member fractures | ruptures with a valve member, FIG. 6 (a-1), FIG. 6 (b-1), and FIG. 6 (c-1) are the positions of a valve member and a thin film member. It is the figure which showed the side view of the relationship, and FIG. 6 (a-2), FIG. 6 (b-2), and FIG. 6 (c-2) are the figures which showed the fracture | rupture state of the thin film member.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ink cartridge 2 Inkjet recording device 7 Recording head 12 Ink extraction tube (extraction member)
13 Outside air introduction pipe (outside air introduction member)
16 Ink chambers 23 and 24 Valve device 30 Communication chambers 31 and 51 Thin film members 32 and 52 Valve member (part of the valve device)
33, 53 Positioning portion 34, 54 Groove 38, 58 Communication passage 39, 59 Protruding member 40, 60 Guide passage 44, 64 Stepped surface 46, 66 Support member (part of valve device)
46a, 66a Valve seat part 46b, 66b Energizing part 50 Communication room (outside air communication room)
74a-74d 1st inclination part 75a-75d 2nd inclination part 81a-81d Notch groove

Claims (12)

In an ink cartridge that is configured to be detachable from an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording by discharging ink from a recording head, and communicates with the recording head via a hollow extraction member that protrudes from the ink jet recording apparatus.
A case for forming an ink chamber for storing ink;
A communication chamber that is provided with an opening on the outside of the case, is configured to allow the extraction member to enter, and communicates with the ink chamber;
A thin film member formed in a thin film shape that blocks communication between the communication chamber and the ink chamber;
Wherein arranged in the communication chamber, be one that is urged on the opposite side of the thin film member, when mounting the ink cartridge to the ink jet recording apparatus, is pushed by the extraction member to move in the thin film member, the e Bei a breaking member for breaking the thin film member so as to communicate the communication chamber and said ink chamber,
The ink cartridge is configured such that when the ink cartridge is mounted on an ink jet recording apparatus, the communication chamber is configured to position the extraction member therein .   The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the thin film member is formed integrally with the case as a wall that partitions the ink chamber and the communication chamber.   The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the breaking member is formed in a pointed shape toward the thin film member side. The groove that extends from the distal end to the proximal end is formed in the outer peripheral wall of the breaking member in a direction connecting the distal end on the thin film member side to the proximal end on the opening side. The ink cartridge according to 3.   The ink cartridge according to claim 4, wherein a plurality of the grooves are formed, and the plurality of grooves are formed substantially evenly on the outer peripheral wall of the breaking member. The outer peripheral wall of the breaking member has a first inclined portion that is inclined from the tip on the thin film member side of the breaking member to the opening side with a first angle with respect to the moving direction of the breaking member; A second inclined portion inclined from the first inclined portion to the opening side with a second angle that is sharper than the first angle with respect to the moving direction of the breaking member;
6. The breakable member according to claim 3, wherein the second inclined portion is configured to be able to contact the thin film member in a state where the ink cartridge is mounted on the ink jet recording apparatus. The ink cartridge described in 1. The communication chamber is a valve member disposed on the opening side with respect to the breaking member, and a valve for selectively communicating and blocking the ink flow path on the thin film member side with respect to the valve member to the extraction member. Further comprising a member,
As the ink cartridge is attached to the ink jet recording apparatus, the valve member and the breaking member are pushed and moved by the extraction member, and the ink flow path on the thin film member side communicates with the extraction member and the thin film Breaks the member,
The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the valve member and the breaking member are integrally formed. The ink jet recording apparatus includes an outside air introduction member that protrudes from the ink jet recording apparatus side and introduces outside air into the ink chamber,
An outside air communication chamber that is provided open to the outside of the case, is configured to allow the outside air introduction member to enter, and communicates with the ink chamber;
A second thin film member formed in a thin film shape that blocks communication between the outside air communication chamber and the ink chamber;
It is disposed in the outside air communication chamber and is biased to the opposite side of the second thin film member. When the ink cartridge is mounted on the ink jet recording apparatus, it is pushed by the outside air introduction member and A second breaking member that moves to the thin film member side and breaks the second thin film member so as to communicate the outside air communication chamber and the ink chamber ;
When mounting the ink cartridge to the ink jet recording apparatus, the ambient air communicating chamber according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said air introduction member therein is configured to be positioned ink cartridge. When the ink cartridge is mounted on the ink jet recording apparatus, the breaking member and the second breaking member are configured to move simultaneously,
In the state where the breaking member is not pushed by the extraction member, a distance between the tip of the breaking member and the thin film member is larger than a gap between the tip of the second breaking member and the second thin film member. The ink cartridge according to claim 8, wherein the ink cartridge is configured as follows . The outside air communication chamber is a second valve member disposed on the opening side of the second breaking member, and the outside air introduction member is disposed in the space on the second thin film member side of the valve member. A second valve member that selectively communicates with and shuts off,
As the ink cartridge is mounted on the ink jet recording apparatus, the second valve member and the second breaking member are pushed and moved by the outside air introduction member, and the space communicates with the outside air introduction member. Breaking the second thin film member;
The ink cartridge according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the second valve member and the second breaking member are integrally formed . A cylindrical portion having an inner diameter that is in close contact with the extraction member that has entered the communication chamber, and an opening that exposes a portion of the valve member that is disposed to face the extraction member that has entered the communication chamber in the cylindrical portion. And a valve seat portion that contacts the valve member at the outer periphery of the opening, and rises from the outer periphery of the valve seat portion to the ink chamber side and contacts the valve member portion on the opposite side of the cylindrical portion. A support member that is integrally formed of a rubber-like elastic material is disposed in the communication chamber, and a biasing portion that projects inward so as to come into contact and biases the valve member in a direction to contact the valve seat portion. The ink cartridge according to claim 7. A cylindrical portion having an inner diameter that is in close contact with the outside air introduction member that has entered the outside communication chamber, and a portion of the second valve member that is disposed to face the outside air introduction member that has entered the outside communication chamber, A valve seat having an opening exposed in the tubular portion and contacting the second valve member at an outer periphery of the opening; and rising from the outer periphery of the valve seat portion toward the ink chamber and the tubular portion; An urging portion that protrudes inward so as to abut against the portion of the second valve member on the opposite side is integrated with a rubber-like elastic material to urge the second valve member in a direction to abut against the valve seat portion. The ink cartridge according to claim 10, wherein the support member manufactured in the step is disposed in the outside air communication chamber.

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