JP4548029B2 - Liquid container - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid container, and more particularly to a liquid container that can be suitably used as an ink cartridge including a plurality of ink chambers used in a color ink jet printer.

  Inkjet printers are widely used as one of liquid ejecting apparatuses that eject liquid onto a target. This ink jet printer includes a carriage and a recording head mounted on the carriage. Then, while moving the carriage relative to the recording medium, ink is ejected from the nozzles formed on the recording head, and printing is performed on the printing paper. Further, in such an ink jet printer, an ink cartridge as a liquid container for storing ink is provided in a replaceable manner so that ink ejected from the recording head is supplied from the ink cartridge. It has become.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an ink cartridge that houses a plurality of ink packs in a case. Each of these ink packs forms a plurality of ink chambers. The ink pack is accommodated in the case so that a part of the ink pack overlaps with a part of the adjacent ink pack, thereby reducing the dead space in the case.

  Patent Document 2 discloses an ink cartridge in which a single ink chamber is formed by attaching a flexible plastic film to both sides of a flat rectangular frame made of a plastic plate by a method such as heat fusion. A film made of a soft plastic material is adhered or fused in a slack state on the inner peripheral surfaces of both sides of a flat plastic rectangular frame (housing peripheral wall) to form an ink chamber. The film is urged outward by a compression spring disposed inside the ink chamber to maintain the pressure in the ink chamber at a negative pressure.

JP 2003-53984 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-201019

  However, when a plurality of ink packs are stacked and stored in one case as in the ink cartridge of Patent Document 1, one ink pack comes into contact with and presses an adjacent ink pack. Since the ink bag constituting the ink pack is made of a flexible material such as a laminate film, such pressing affects the pressure of the ink stored in the ink pack. Therefore, there is a problem that a difference occurs in the pressure of the ink stored in the ink pack, that is, the ink chamber.

  In addition, in the ink cartridge of Patent Document 2, each flexible plastic film is loosened so that each flexible plastic film can move relative to the rectangular frame as the ink is consumed. At the periphery, it is affixed to a rectangular frame. There are a large number of gathers on the outer peripheral edge of the flexible plastic film, and as a result, defective sealing tends to occur when the flexible plastic film is attached to the rectangular frame by heat fusion or the like.

  This invention is made | formed in view of such a situation, The 1st objective of this invention is providing the liquid container which arrange | positioned the several liquid storage chamber formed with the flexible film efficiently. is there.

  A second object of the present invention is to provide a liquid container that can suppress a pressure difference between liquids stored in a plurality of liquid storage chambers formed of a flexible film.

  A third object of the present invention is to provide a liquid container having a plurality of liquid storage chambers hermetically sealed with a flexible film.

  In order to solve the above problems, a liquid storage container of the present invention is formed on a rigid plastic plate, a front surface side liquid storage chamber formed on the surface of the rigid plastic plate, and a back surface of the rigid plastic plate. A surface side recess formed on the surface of the rigid plastic plate, and a three-dimensionally molded surface side flexibility sealing the surface side recess. The back side liquid storage chamber is formed by a plastic film or a rubber film, and the back side liquid storage chamber has a back side recess formed on the back side of the rigid plastic plate and a three-dimensionally formed back side side flexible sealing the back side recess. The front surface side liquid storage chamber and the back surface side liquid storage chamber sandwich the rigid plastic plate, and at least It is characterized in that it is formed in a position partially overlapped.

  In the liquid storage container of the present invention, the liquid storage chamber is formed using a three-dimensionally formed flexible plastic film or rubber film. Therefore, the necessary ink storage volume can be ensured without giving the film a slack and attaching it to the rigid plastic plate. Therefore, there is no need to affix a flexible plastic film or rubber film to the rigid plastic plate with a gathered outer peripheral portion, so that the gap between the film or film and the rigid plastic plate can be reliably sealed. it can.

  In addition, liquid storage chambers are formed on the front and back sides of the rigid plastic plate, respectively, and the liquid storage chambers are arranged to overlap each other. Therefore, the required space in the plane direction is reduced as compared with the case where the liquid storage chambers are arranged side by side. Therefore, a short liquid container having a plurality of liquid containers can be realized.

  Particularly, a plurality of the front surface side liquid storage chambers and a plurality of the back surface side liquid storage chambers are formed, and the front surface side liquid storage chamber and the back surface side liquid storage chamber are arranged in a staggered manner with the rigid plastic plate interposed therebetween. When it is adopted, the required space in the plane direction is small. For example, if two liquid storage chambers are formed on the front and back surfaces, a liquid storage container integrally provided with a large number of liquid storage chambers having a short overall length can be realized.

  Here, the flexible plastic film or the rubber film may be three-dimensionally molded so as to have a configuration including a raised portion that is raised in a spherical shape and a flat portion that is continuous to the outer peripheral edge of the raised portion. Good. In this case, the flat surface portion may be fused to the front surface side flat surface portion surrounding the front surface side concave portion and the rear surface side flat surface portion surrounding the rear surface side concave portion of the rigid plastic plate. Since the flat portion of the flexible plastic film or rubber film and the flat portion of the rigid plastic plate may be fused to each other, the space between them can be reliably sealed.

  Next, a take-out port for taking out the liquid stored in the liquid storage chamber can be formed in the front-side recess and the back-side recess, respectively.

  In addition, in order to protect the flexible plastic film or rubber film forming each liquid storage chamber, and to ensure the gas barrier property and moisture proof property of each liquid storage chamber, the necessary barrier properties are provided. What is necessary is just to accommodate the rigid plastic board in which the liquid storage chamber was formed in the provided case.

  In this case, it is desirable to form a waste liquid recovery chamber for recovering the waste liquid by utilizing the empty space inside the case because the waste liquid can be recovered without increasing the size of the liquid container.

The liquid container of the present invention includes a first recess, a second recess separated from the first recess, a first flat surface surrounding the periphery of the opening of the first recess, and a second recess. A base formed with a second flat surface surrounding the periphery of the opening,
At least one flexible film bonded to the first and second flat surfaces so as to seal the first recess and the second recess;
A first supply port formed in the base and communicated with the first recess, and a second supply port communicated with the second recess.

  A plurality of recesses can be formed in a single base, and a plurality of chambers can be efficiently formed using these recesses and at least one flexible film.

  Moreover, since the 1st recessed part and the 2nd recessed part are mutually isolate | separated through the base, the liquid accommodated in the chamber formed by the 1st recessed part, and the chamber formed by the 2nd recessed part The liquid contained in the is separated through the base. Therefore, pressure transmission between the liquids stored in these chambers can be prevented by the base.

  Moreover, since at least 1 flexible film is attached to the 1st, 2nd flat surface, the airtightness between a flexible film and a base can be improved. In particular, when the flexible film is attached to the first and second flat surfaces by heat welding, the airtightness between the flexible film and the base can be ensured easily and reliably.

  In addition, since the base has first and second supply ports communicating with the first and second recesses, respectively, by attaching the first and second flexible films to the base, A flow path from the chamber to the first and second supply ports can be formed.

  In the liquid container, the first and second flat surfaces are on the same plane, and at least one flexible film is attached to both the first and second flat surfaces. A configuration including a film can be employed. A plurality of chambers can be easily formed by attaching a single film to the base.

  In this case, the single flexible film includes the first and second convolutionable portions corresponding to the first and second recesses, and the flat surface portion surrounding the first and second convolutional portions. It is preferable that the flat surface portion has a boundary between the portions where the first and second convolutions can be performed. Such a flexible film can be easily produced by three-dimensional molding.

  The liquid container includes first and second flexible films in which at least one flexible film is a separate body, the first flexible film being attached to the first flat surface, A configuration in which the second flexible film is attached to the second flat surface can be employed. This configuration is effective when the first and second flat surfaces are not arranged on the same plane, or when the first and second flat surfaces are not continuous. For example, this configuration is effective when the first concave portion is formed on the front surface side of the base and the second concave portion is formed on the back surface side of the base.

  In this case, each of the first and second flexible films preferably has a portion that can be folded and a flat surface portion surrounding the portion that can be folded. Such a flexible film can be easily produced by three-dimensional molding.

  In this liquid container, the first concave portion can be formed on the first side of the base, and the second concave portion can be formed on the second side opposite to the first side of the base. Since the plurality of chambers are completely separated from each other by the base, it is possible to reliably prevent the pressure of the liquid stored in one chamber from affecting the liquid stored in the other chamber.

  Furthermore, in this case, the first recess and the second recess can be partially overlapped and arranged on the first side and the second side of the base. Increases design freedom for placement.

  In this liquid container, the first and second recesses may be arranged on the same side of the base. That is, in order to arrange a plurality of chambers efficiently in space, the first and second recesses may be arranged on the same side of the base.

  In this liquid container, the first and second supply ports communicate with the first and second recesses via the first and second flow paths, respectively. It is preferable to open at the bottoms of the first and second recesses, respectively. As the liquid is consumed, the flexible film approaches the bottom of the recess, and when all of the liquid is consumed, the flexible film contacts the bottom of the recess. Therefore, by opening the flow path at the bottom, the liquid contained in the chamber can be consumed until the flexible film contacts the bottom. Therefore, all the liquid can be used without leaving the liquid in the liquid container.

In this liquid storage pair, each of the first and second supply ports may be used to discharge the liquid stored in the chamber formed by the recess and the film to the outside. And may be used to allow liquid to flow into the chamber formed by the film.
The liquid container of the present invention contains a liquid in a chamber formed by a recess and a film, and has a flat surface around the opening of the recess, and a plurality of planar portions of the film joined to the flat surface. A liquid container;
It is possible to employ a configuration in which the plurality of liquid storage portions are arranged so that the surfaces forming the openings of the respective recesses are arranged on a single plane.
The liquid storage container may employ a configuration in which a waste liquid recovery unit that can store waste liquid in the cartridge case is provided.
The liquid container can employ a configuration in which an absorbing member is provided in the waste liquid recovery unit.
In the liquid storage container, each of the plurality of liquid storage units includes a liquid supply port for leading out an internal liquid, and the liquid supply ports are arranged in a straight line in the alignment direction of the liquid liquid storage unit. A configuration disposed in the cartridge case can be employed.
The liquid container can adopt a configuration in which a waste liquid collection port communicating with the waste liquid collection unit is arranged on the same straight line as the plurality of liquid supply ports.
The liquid storage container may employ a configuration in which the plurality of liquid storage portions are stored in a cartridge case constituting the liquid storage container.
The liquid storage container can employ a configuration in which the concave portions of the plurality of liquid storage portions are formed by a single base member.

  The present invention is extremely advantageous for reducing the size and size of a liquid container including a plurality of liquid storage chambers such as a multicolor ink cartridge. In addition, according to the present invention, a liquid storage chamber having a high sealing property can be easily formed. Furthermore, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the pressure of the liquid stored in one liquid storage chamber from affecting the pressure of the liquid stored in another liquid storage chamber.

  Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of an ink cartridge to which the present invention is applied will be described as a liquid container with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 is an external perspective view showing a multicolor ink cartridge according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view thereof, FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof, and FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view thereof. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a rigid plastic plate.

  The ink cartridge 1 includes a plastic cartridge case 2, a rigid plastic plate 3 and a waste ink absorber 4 accommodated in the cartridge case 2, and on the front and back surfaces of the rigid plastic plate 3, Two front-side ink chambers (front-side liquid storage chambers) 5 (1), 5 (2) and back-side ink chambers 6 (back-side liquid storage chambers) (1), 6 (2) are formed. Yes. For example, black and cyan color inks are stored in the front side ink chambers 5 (1) and 5 (2), respectively, and magenta and yellow color inks are stored in the back side ink chambers 6 (1) and 6 (2), respectively. Is stored. In this embodiment, the plastic plate 3 functions as a base.

  The cartridge case 2 has a flat and horizontally long rectangular parallelepiped shape, and includes an upper plate portion 21, a lower plate portion 22, left and right side plate portions 23 and 24, and rear end plate portions 25, and the front end surface thereof is horizontally long. Of the rectangular opening 26. Insertion grooves 23a, 24a and 25a of the rigid plastic plate 3 are formed on the inner side surfaces of the side plate portions 23 and 24 and the end plate portion 25, respectively (see FIGS. 3 and 4). The cartridge case 2 is made of a plastic material having gas and water vapor barrier properties.

  The rigid plastic plate 3 includes a horizontal plate portion 31 inserted into the cartridge case 2 and a front plate portion 32 attached to the front end of the horizontal plate portion 31 at a right angle. The front plate portion 32 is a cartridge case. 2 has the same rectangular shape as the front end contour, and is adhered to the front end surfaces of the upper plate portion 21, the lower plate portion 22 and the left and right side plate portions 23 and 24 defining the rectangular opening 26, thereby The rectangular opening 26 of the cartridge case 2 is sealed. In the front plate portion 32, the ink stored in each of the front surface side ink chambers 5 (1), 5 (2) and the back surface side ink chambers 6 (1), 6 (2) is externally (on the ink jet head side). Ink supply ports 7 to 10 for supplying the ink are formed. A waste ink collection port 11 for collecting waste ink is also formed.

  The horizontal plate portion 31 of the rigid plastic plate 3 is inserted into the cartridge case 2 with the left and right side end portions 31a, 31b and the rear end portion 31c being inserted into the insertion grooves 23a, 24a, 25a of the cartridge case 2. Has been. Two front side recesses 51 and 52 are formed on the front surface 31d of the horizontal plate portion 31, and two back side recesses 61 and 62 are also formed on the rear surface 31e. In this example, these concave portions 51, 52, 61, 62 have the same shape, and are curved in a substantially spherical shape from the long oval inner peripheral edges 51a, 52a, 61a, 62a. In FIG. 2 and FIG. 5, it is indicated by a one-dot chain line so that the curved state can be seen.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the depths of the recesses 51, 52, 61, 62 are substantially the same as the plate thickness t 1 of the horizontal plate portion 31. Moreover, the plate thickness t2 of the part in which these recessed parts 51, 52, 61, 62 are formed is thin, and it is in the state which protruded up and down from the surface and back surface of the plate main-body part 31 by the part of the plate thickness t2. Yes.

  The front surface side concave portions 51 and 52 are covered with three-dimensionally molded front surface side flexible plastic films 53 and 54, and the front surface side ink chambers 5 (1) and 5 (2) are formed, respectively. Similarly, the back-side recesses 61 and 62 are also covered with the three-dimensionally formed back-side flexible plastic films 63 and 64 to form the back-side ink chambers 6 (1) and 6 (2), respectively. .

  In this example, these plastic films 53, 54 and 63, 64 have the same shape. That is, it includes raised portions 53a, 54a, 63a, 64a that are raised in a substantially spherical shape, and flat portions 53b, 54b, 63b, 64b surrounding the oval outer periphery, and the flat portions 53b, 54b, The outline shapes of 63b and 64b are rectangular shapes that are long in the front-rear direction. Further, the raised portions 53 a, 54 a, 63 a, 64 a have a shape symmetrical to the concave portions 51, 52, 61, 62 formed in the horizontal plate portion 31. Such three-dimensional plastic films 53, 54, 63, 64 can be obtained, for example, by vacuum forming a plastic film.

  The surface-side flexible plastic films 53 and 54 that are three-dimensionally molded in this way have their plane portions 53b and 54b on the surface side of the horizontal plate portion 31 by ultrasonic fusion, thermal fusion, or adhesive. A portion of the surface 31d surrounding the recesses 51 and 52, which is joined to a portion forming a flat surface, forms a liquid-tight seal portion. Similarly, the back surface side flexible plastic films 63 and 64 are also portions of the back surface 31e that surround the back surface side recesses 61 and 62 of the horizontal plate portion 31 and whose flat portions 63b and 64b form a flat surface. It is sealed.

  Note that the deformation pressure (back pressure) of a flexible plastic film can be controlled only by the thickness of the film, but it is possible to control the deformation pressure with higher accuracy by providing ribs on the film surface during three-dimensional molding of the film. It becomes.

  A rubber film may be used instead of the flexible plastic films 53 and 54. In this case, it is desirable to set the film thickness within a range of 200 microns to 1.5 mm.

  Here, as can be clearly seen from FIG. 4, the front side ink chambers 5 (1) and 5 (2) and the back side ink chambers 6 (1) and 6 (2) are the horizontal plate portion 31 of the rigid plastic plate 3. Are arranged in the width direction of the ink cartridge 1 so as to form a staggered pattern. The front side ink chambers 5 (1) and 5 (2) and the back side ink chambers 6 (1) and 6 (2) are arranged so as to partially overlap each other across the horizontal plate portion 31. For example, the front-side ink chamber 5 (2) has a width that is approximately 1/4 of the width of the ink chamber on both sides of the back-side ink chambers 6 (1) and 6 (2) that are adjacent to each other on the back side. Overlapping in the direction. Similarly, the back-side ink chamber 6 (1) has a width that is approximately 1/4 of the width of the ink chamber on both sides with respect to the front-side ink chambers 5 (1) and 5 (2) adjacent to the left and right sides on the front surface side. Overlapping in the direction.

  Next, the structure of the ink supply ports 7 to 10 in each of the ink chambers 5 (1), 5 (2), 6 (1), and 6 (2) will be described. Since these are the same, the ink supply port 7 of the front side ink chamber 5 (1) will be described mainly with reference to FIG. 3, and the description of the other ink supply ports 8 to 10 will be omitted. The ink supply port 7 includes a circular hole 71 formed from the front plate portion 32 to the horizontal plate portion 31 of the rigid plastic plate 3, and a small-diameter circular hole 72 is formed coaxially continuously at the bottom of the circular hole 71. Further, a circular ink passage 73 having a smaller diameter is formed coaxially with the bottom of the small diameter circular hole 72. An end portion of the ink passage 73 communicates with an ink outlet 74 extending in the vertical direction. The ink outlet 74 is open to the front side recess 51 and communicates with the front side ink chamber 5 (1).

  An annular seal rubber 75 is mounted in the circular hole 71 in a liquid-tight state, and a valve 76 mounted in a small-diameter circular hole 72 is disposed on the back side thereof. The valve 76 includes a valve main body 76 a pressed against the end surface of the seal rubber 75 and a hollow shaft 76 b extending coaxially from the back surface of the valve main body 76 a. The hollow shaft 76 b is inserted into the ink passage 73 in a slidable state. It is. An ink hole 76c is formed in the base portion of the valve body 76a in the hollow shaft 76b, and the hollow portion of the hollow shaft 76b communicates with the circular hole 72 through this hole. The valve 76 is always pressed against the seal rubber 75 by a valve spring 77, and an ink supply hole 75a formed at the center of the seal rubber 75 is sealed by the valve body 76a. When an ink supply needle (not shown) is inserted into the ink supply hole 75a from the outside, the valve 76 is pushed and opened, and the circular hole 72 communicates with the ink supply hole 75a, and the ink supply needle inserted therein is connected to the ink supply needle 75a. Ink can be supplied from the ink chamber 5 (1) side.

  In this example, the front side ink chambers 5 (1) and 5 (2) and the back side ink chambers 6 (1) and 6 (2) are arranged in a staggered manner with the horizontal plate portion 31 of the rigid plastic plate 3 interposed therebetween. Accordingly, the ink supply ports 7 to 10 are also arranged in a staggered manner corresponding to this.

  Next, the waste ink absorbing material 4 is inserted into the upper partition portion 28 inside the cartridge case 2 that is vertically partitioned by the horizontal plate portion 31 of the rigid plastic plate 3, and this partition portion 28 is used to collect the waste ink. Functions as a chamber. As can be seen from FIG. 2, the waste ink absorbing material 4 interferes with the raised portions 53a and 54a of the surface-side flexible plastic films 53 and 54 constituting the surface-side ink chambers 5 (1) and 5 (2). In order to avoid this, rectangular cutouts 41 and 42 are formed. At the end of the front plate portion 32 of the rigid plastic plate 3, a waste ink recovery port 11 is formed adjacent to the ink supply port 10 of the back side ink chamber 6 (2). The structure of the waste ink collection port 11 is the same as that of the ink supply ports 7 to 10. When a waste ink collection needle is inserted into the waste ink collection port 11, the waste ink collection port 11 is opened, and the waste ink absorbing material 4 causes waste ink to be collected. Can be absorbed. The partition portion 28 is opened to the atmosphere through an air communication hole (not shown) formed in the cartridge case 2 so that the waste ink can be absorbed by the waste ink absorber 4.

  Further, the cartridge case 2 has an atmosphere communication for causing atmospheric pressure to act on the ink stored in the front side ink chambers 5 (1), 5 (2) and the back side ink chambers 6 (1), 6 (2). A plurality of holes may be formed.

  As described above, in the ink cartridge 1, two front-side ink chambers 5 (1), 5 (2) and a back-side ink chamber are provided on the front and rear surfaces of the horizontal plate portion 31 of the rigid plastic plate 3, respectively. 6 (1) and 6 (2) are formed. Each ink chamber 5 (1), 5 (2), 6 (1), 6 (2) includes front side recesses 51, 52 and back side recesses formed on the front and back surfaces of the horizontal plate portion 31 of the rigid plastic plate 3. 61 and 62 are covered and sealed with three-dimensionally molded front-side flexible plastic films 53 and 54 and back-side flexible plastic films 63 and 64. In addition, these ink chambers 5 (1), 5 (2), 6 (1), and 6 (2) are staggered in a state where they overlap each other with the horizontal plate portion 31 sandwiched in the width direction of the ink cartridge 1. Are arranged in a shape.

  When the ink chambers 5 (1), 5 (2), 6 (1), and 6 (2) are filled with ink, the flexible plastic films 53, 54, 63, and 64 are held in a three-dimensionally formed state. The As the ink is consumed, the raised portions 53a to 64a of the flexible plastic films 53, 54, 63, and 64 are deflated, and the ink chamber volume is reduced. Therefore, it functions in the same manner as a conventional ink chamber in which a plastic film is joined to a rigid plastic plate in a slack state to constitute an ink chamber.

  In the ink cartridge 1 of this example, since the three-dimensionally formed flexible plastic films 53, 54, 63, 64 are used, the flat portions 53b-64b surrounding the outer peripheral edges of the raised portions 53a-64a are replaced with rigid plastic films. What is necessary is just to join and seal to the flat surface part of the surface 31d of the horizontal plate part 31 of the board 3, and the back surface 31e. Therefore, the outer peripheral edge of the plastic film is joined to the surface of the rigid plastic plate with gathers, so that the ink chamber volume is reduced by moving the plastic film in the out-of-plane direction as the ink is consumed. Unlike the case where it is comprised, since the plane part of a plastic film should just be joined to the flat surface part of a rigid plastic board, between both can be sealed reliably.

  Further, the ink chambers 5 (1), 5 (2), 6 (1), and 6 (2) are arranged in a staggered manner with the horizontal plate portion 31 sandwiched therebetween, so that The width dimension can be reduced. Therefore, it is extremely advantageous for downsizing and downsizing of the multicolor ink cartridge that needs to form a plurality of ink chambers.

(Other embodiments)
Although the case where the present invention is applied to a multicolor ink cartridge has been described, the present invention can be similarly applied to a single color ink cartridge having a plurality of ink chambers. The number of ink chambers is not limited to the above example, and may be two, three, or five or more.

  Furthermore, the shapes of the front-side concave portion and the rear-side concave portion formed in the rigid plastic plate are not limited to the above example, and may be other shapes such as a shallow circular concave portion. Similarly, the shape of the raised portion of the three-dimensionally formed flexible plastic film is not limited to the above example, and may be another shape such as a flat polygonal pyramid shape or a polygonal column shape. is there.

  As a first modification, FIG. 6-9 shows an ink cartridge having two ink chambers, each of which is formed by a polygonal columnar recess and a polygonal columnar flexible film. Details of Modification 1 will be described later.

  Furthermore, although the front surface side recessed part and the back surface side recessed part are made into the same shape, it is good also as a different shape. Similarly, the front side flexible plastic film and the back side flexible plastic film have the same shape, but may have different shapes. If they have the same shape, there is an advantage that parts can be shared. When the ink chamber of the black ink that is used in a large amount is made to have a larger capacity than other ink chambers, a flexible plastic film with a bulge portion having a larger dimension than other ink chambers may be used. A large-capacity ink chamber can be easily configured.

  As a second modification, FIG. 10-14 shows an ink cartridge using a flexible film having a different shape. Details of Modification 2 will be described later.

  Further, although the plurality of ink chambers are formed by the front surface side recesses and the back surface side recesses, the plurality of ink chambers may be formed by a plurality of front surface side recesses or a plurality of back surface side recesses.

  As a third modification, FIG. 15-17 shows an ink cartridge in which a plurality of ink chambers are formed by a plurality of concave portions on the front surface side. Details of Modification 3 will be described later.

(Modification 1)
6-9 shows the ink cartridge 101 of Modification 1. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the ink cartridge 101. FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the ink cartridge 101. FIG. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 9-9 in FIG.

  The ink cartridge 101 includes a cartridge case 102 and a base 103 accommodated in the cartridge case 102. The ink cartridge 101 has a front side ink chamber 105 and a back side ink chamber 106 (see FIG. 9). The ink cartridge 101 of Modification 1 does not have a waste ink absorbing member and a waste ink collection port, but these may be added. It is also possible to dispose a waste ink absorber in one of the front side ink chamber 105 and the back side ink chamber 106 to function as a waste ink chamber.

  The cartridge case 102 includes an upper plate portion 121, a lower plate portion 122, left and right side plate portions 123 and 124, and a rear end plate portion 125. The side end portions 131 a and 131 b and the rear end portion 131 c of the horizontal plate portion 131 of the base 103 are inserted and held in the insertion grooves 123 a, 124 a and 125 a, and the opening 126 of the cartridge case 102 becomes the front plate portion 132 of the base 103. Blocked by

  The front plate portion 132 has ink supply ports 107 and 109 communicating with the front-side ink chamber 105 and the back-side ink chamber 106, respectively.

  The horizontal plate portion 131 of the base 3 is inserted into the cartridge case 102 with the left and right side end portions 131a and 131b and the rear end portion 131c thereof being inserted into the insertion grooves 123a, 124a and 125a of the cartridge case 102. . A front surface side recess 151 is formed on the front surface 131d of the horizontal plate portion 131, and a back surface side recess 161 is formed on the back surface 131e. Each of the recesses 151 and 161 has a trapezoidal shape in both the cross section shown in FIG. 7 and the cross section shown in FIG. 9.

  Similarly, the flexible films 153 and 163 respectively corresponding to the recesses 151 and 161 have a trapezoidal shape in both the cross section shown in FIG. 7 and the cross section shown in FIG. Like this modification, it is preferable that the flexible films 153 and 163 have shapes that match the recesses 151 and 161, respectively.

  A surface 131d of the horizontal plate portion 131 has a flat surface 131dPS surrounding the periphery of the rectangular opening of the recess 151. The flat surface 131dPS is on one plane. Similarly, the back surface 131e has a flat surface 131ePS that surrounds the periphery of the rectangular opening of the recess 161. The flat surface 131dPS is on one plane.

  The films 153 and 163 have raised portions (foldable portions) 153a and 163a that are raised in a quadrangular prism shape, and flat portions 153b and 163b that surround the outer peripheral edge of the base end portion of the raised portions.

  The flat surface portion 153b is attached to a portion of the surface 31d of the horizontal plate portion 131, which forms the flat surface 131dPS, by ultrasonic fusion, heat fusion, adhesive, or the like, and is a liquid-tight seal. The part is formed. Similarly, the plane portion 163b is a portion of the back surface 131e of the horizontal plate portion 131, and is attached to a portion forming the flat surface 131ePS in a liquid-tight seal state.

  7 and 9, when the ink chamber 105 is fully filled, the film 153 is in a state indicated by a solid line. On the other hand, when all the ink in the ink chamber is consumed, the film 153 is in a state indicated by a two-dot chain line. That is, as the ink is consumed, the film 153 is gradually moved from the state shown by the solid line toward the concave portion 151 and is folded along the inner surface of the concave portion 151. It will be in the state shown by the dotted line. In the process of manufacturing the ink cartridge, when the ink is initially filled in the ink chamber 105, the air in the ink chamber 105 is vacuumed through the ink supply port 107, and the film 153 is indicated by a two-dot chain line. Put it in a state. After that, it is preferable to fill the ink chamber 105 with ink through the ink supply port 107.

  In FIG. 9, the state of the film 161 when all the ink in the ink chamber is consumed is also indicated by a two-dot chain line.

  The ink supply ports 107 and 109 of Modification 1 protrude from the front plate portion 132. In the ink supply ports 107 and 109 of the first modification, one end of the ink passage 173 is opened at a position offset from the common central axis of the circular hole 172 and the circular hole 171 at the bottom of the small diameter circular hole 172. The other end of the ink passage 173 is open at the bottom of the recesses 151 and 161 (174). Instead of the hollow shaft, a plurality of ribs 176R are provided on the outer periphery of the valve 176 pressed against the seal rubber 175 by the valve spring 177 (see FIG. 8). The plurality of ribs 176R are contact-guided with the inner peripheral surface of the circular hole 172, so that the valve 176 can move in the central axis direction of the small-diameter hole 172.

  An air communication hole may be formed in the cartridge case 102 and / or the front plate portion 132 of the base 103 so that atmospheric pressure is applied to the ink chambers 105 and 106 when the ink is consumed. In addition, the cartridge case 102 and the base 103 are joined in an airtight state, and a pressure air inlet is formed in the cartridge case 102 and / or the front plate portion 132 of the base 103, so that the space between the ink chambers 105 and 106 and the cartridge case is formed. When air is introduced into this airtight space and ink is consumed, a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure may be applied to the ink chambers 105 and 106. When one of the ink chambers 105 and 106 is used as a waste ink chamber, a pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure is applied only to the other of the ink chambers 105 and 106. In this case, by connecting the joint between the base 103 and the cartridge case 102 in an airtight state, the internal space of the cartridge case 102 is separated from the internal space of the cartridge case 102 (the region where the chamber 105 is disposed and the chamber). The area can be divided into areas in which 106 is arranged.

(Modification 2)
10-14 shows the ink cartridge 201 of the second modification. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the ink cartridge 201, FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the base 203 of the ink cartridge 201 as viewed from below, and FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view of the ink cartridge 201 taken along line 12-12 in FIG. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view of the ink cartridge 201 taken along line 13-13 in FIG. 10, and FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along line 14-14 in FIG.

  The ink cartridge 201 of the second modification uses flexible films 253 and 263 having different shapes. Also, each of the back-side recesses 261 (1), 261 (2) and 261 (3) is different in size from the front-side recess 251 (1), and the front-side recess 251 (1) Greater than each of 261 (1), 261 (2) and 261 (3). A surface-side ink chamber 205 (1) is formed by the surface-side flexible film 253 and the surface-side recess 251. For example, black ink is accommodated in the surface-side ink chamber 205 (1). A plurality of back-side ink chambers 206 (1), 206 (2), and 206 (3) are formed by the back-side flexible film 263 and the plurality of back-side concave portions 261 (1), 261 (2), and 261 (3). ) And cyan, magenta, and yellow inks are accommodated, respectively.

  The cartridge case 202 includes a front side cartridge case 202A and a back side cartridge case 202B, and these cover the base side so as to cover the front side flexible film 253 and the back side flexible film 263 attached to the base 203. It is attached to 203. The front surface side cartridge case 202A has an upper plate portion 221 and left and right side plate portions 223A and 224A. The back side cartridge case 202B has a lower plate portion 222 and left and right side plate portions 223B and 224B. By combining the front side cartridge case 202A and the back side cartridge case 202B, the left and right side plate portions 223A, 224A, 223B, and 224B form the left and right side plate portions 223 and 224 of the cartridge case 202. The rear end plate portion 225 of the cartridge case 202 constituting a part of the outer wall of the ink cartridge 201 may be provided on the front side cartridge case 202A and / or the back side cartridge case 202B. The plate portion 225 is provided on the base 203. When the cartridge cases 202 </ b> A and 202 </ b> B are attached to the base 203, the front plate portion 232 of the base 203 seals the front opening of the cartridge case 202, and the rear end plate portion 225 of the base 203 is the rear side of the cartridge case 202. The opening is sealed (see FIG. 12).

  The front plate portion 232 includes ink supply ports 207 (1), 209 (1), 207 (1), 207 (1), and 206 (3) that communicate with the front side ink chamber 205 (1) and the back side ink chambers 206 (1), 206 (2), and 206 (3), respectively. 209 (2) and 209 (3). Since the specific configuration (including the valve mechanism) of these ink supply ports 207 (1), 209 (1), 209 (2), and 209 (3) is the same as that of the first modification, detailed description thereof will be omitted. The main changes of the second modification from the first modification are as follows. Ink supply ports 207 (1), 209 (1), 209 (2), and 209 (3) are arranged in a line along the center line of the front plate portion 232. One end of the ink passage 273 opens at the bottom of the small diameter hole 272 on the common central axis of the circular hole 272 and the circular hole 272. The ink passage 273 extends in the partition wall 231P of the horizontal plate portion 231 of the base 203, which divides the front-side ink chamber 205 (1) and the back-side ink chambers 206 (1), 206 (2), and 206 (3). To do.

  The partition wall 231P forms the bottom of each of the front surface side recess 251 (1) and the back surface side recess 261 (1), 261 (2) and 261 (3). Each of the recesses 251 (1), 261 (1), 261 (2), and 261 (3) has a rectangular shape in the cross section shown in FIGS.

  The horizontal plate portion 231 of the base 203 has a box shape in which concave portions 251 (1), 261 (1), 261 (2), and 261 (3) are formed. The horizontal plate portion 231 has a surface-side flat surface 231dPS surrounding the periphery of the rectangular opening of the recess 251 (1). The flat surface 231dPS is on one plane. The horizontal plate portion 231 has a back side flat surface 231ePS that surrounds all of the rectangular openings of the recesses 261 (1), 261 (2), and 261 (3). The flat surface 231ePS is on one plane. The flat surface 231ePS is a flat surface 231ePS (1)-(2) positioned between the recesses 261 (1) and 261 (2) and a flat surface positioned between the recesses 261 (2) and 262 (3). Surface 231 (e) includes PS (2)-(3). The flat surface 231ePS (1)-(2) is adjacent to both a part of the periphery of the opening of the recess 261 (1) and a part of the periphery of the opening of the recess 261 (2). The flat surface 231ePS (2)-(3) is adjacent to both a part of the periphery of the opening of the recess 261 (2) and a part of the periphery of the opening of the recess 261 (3).

  The flexible film 253 corresponding to the recess 251 (1) includes a foldable portion 253a including a bellows portion 253aB on which a fine bellows is formed, and a plane portion 253b surrounding the outer peripheral edge of the base end portion of the foldable portion 253a. Have. The flat portion 253b is attached to the flat surface 231dPS of the horizontal plate portion 231 by ultrasonic fusion, heat fusion, adhesive, or the like, and a liquid-tight seal portion is formed.

  The flexible film 263 corresponding to the recesses 261 (1), 261 (2), and 261 (3) has a plurality of foldable portions 263a (1), 263a (2), and 263a (3) and can be folded. The portions 263a (1), 263a (2), and 263a (3) include bellows portions 263a (1) B, 263a (2) B, and 263a (3) B in which fine bellows are formed, respectively. The film 263 further includes a plane portion 263b that surrounds the entire outer peripheral edge of the base end portion of the foldable portions 263a (1), 263a (2), and 263a (3). The plane portion 263b includes the flat surface 231ePS (flat surfaces 231ePS (1)-(2), 231ePS (2)-(3)) of the horizontal plate portion 231 by ultrasonic fusion, thermal fusion, adhesive, or the like. ) To form a liquid-tight seal portion.

  12, 13, and 14, when ink is fully filled in the ink chambers 205 (1), 206 (1), 206 (2), and 206 (3), the films 253 and 263 are solid lines. It is in the state shown. On the other hand, when all the ink in the ink chamber is consumed, the films 253 and 263 are in a state indicated by a two-dot chain line. That is, as the ink is consumed, the films 253 and 263 are gradually depressed from the state shown by the solid line due to the flexibility of the film itself and the bellows portion, and the concave portions 251 (1), 261 (1), and 261 (2). , 261 (3), and is folded along the inner surface of the recesses 251 (1), 261 (1), 261 (2), 261 (3) (stretched), Finally, the state shown by the two-dot chain line is obtained.

  Ink chambers 205 (1), 206 (1), 206 are formed when air communication holes are formed in the front plate portion 232 and / or the rear end plate portion 225 of the cartridge case 202 and / or the base 203 to consume ink. It is good also as a structure which makes atmospheric pressure act on (2) and 206 (3). Further, the front side cartridge case 202A, the back side cartridge case 202B and the base 203 are joined in an airtight state, and pressurized air is introduced into the front case portion 232 and / or the rear end plate portion 225 of the cartridge case 202 and / or the base 203. When the ink is consumed by forming the opening and introducing the pressure air into the airtight space between the ink chamber 205 (1), 206 (1), 206 (2), 206 (3) and the cartridge case. In addition, a configuration in which a pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure is applied to the ink chambers 205 (1), 206 (1), 206 (2), and 206 (3) may be employed. A waste ink collection member and a waste ink collection port may be added to the ink cartridge 201.

(Modification 3)
15-17 shows the ink cartridge 301 of the third modification. 15 is an exploded perspective view of the ink cartridge 301, FIG. 16 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge 301 taken along line 16-16 in FIG. 15, and FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 17-17 in FIG. It is.
The ink cartridge 301 has a plurality of ink chambers 305 (1), 305 (2), 305 (3) by a plurality of surface side recesses 351 (1), 351 (2), 351 (3), 351 (4) of the base 303. ), 305 (4), and the black, cyan, magenta, and yellow inks are accommodated in the ink chambers 305 (1), 305 (2), 305 (3), and 305 (4). A waste ink chamber 306 (1) is formed by a single back-side recess 361 (1) of the base 303, and the waste ink absorbing member 304 is accommodated in the waste ink chamber 306 (1). The depth of the back surface side concave portion 361 (1) is shallower than the front surface side concave portions 351 (1), 351 (2), 351 (3), and 351 (4). The front plate portion 332 of the base 303 has a waste ink collection port 311 that communicates with the waste ink chamber 306 (1). The film 363 attached to the flat surface 331ePS that surrounds the rectangular periphery of the back-side recess 361 (1) may not have flexibility. At the front plate portion 332 and / or the rear end plate portion 325 of the base 303, an air communication hole communicating with the waste ink chamber 306 (1) formed by the back surface side concave portion 361 (1) and the film 363 is formed. The waste ink collection port 311 and the ink supply ports 307 (1), 307 (2), 307 (3), and 307 (4) are directly offset from the center line of the front plate portion 332 of the base 303. Arranged on the line.

  Since the ink cartridge 301 of the modification 3 is the same as the ink cartridge 201 of the modification 2 except for the above, detailed description is omitted.

  Ink chambers 305 (1) and 305 (2) are formed when air communication holes are formed in the front plate portion 332 and / or the rear end plate portion 325 of the front surface side cartridge case 302 A and / or the base 303 to consume ink. , 305 (3), 305 (4) may be configured to apply atmospheric pressure. In addition, the front side cartridge case 302A and the base 303 are joined in an airtight state, and a pressure air inlet is formed in the front side cartridge case 302A and / or the front plate portion 332 and / or the rear end plate portion 325 of the base 303. When the ink is consumed by introducing pressurized air into the airtight space between the ink chambers 305 (1), 305 (2), 305 (3), 305 (4) and the front side cartridge case 302A. A configuration in which a pressure equal to or higher than the atmospheric pressure is applied to the ink chambers 305 (1), 305 (2), 305 (3), and 305 (4) may be employed.

1 is an external perspective view showing a multicolor ink cartridge to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the ink cartridge of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the ink cartridge of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge in FIG. 1. It is a perspective view which shows the rigid plastic board of the ink cartridge of FIG. FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of an ink cartridge according to Modification 1. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of an ink cartridge according to Modification 1. FIG. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 in FIG. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 9-9 in FIG. FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of an ink cartridge according to Modification 2. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an ink cartridge base according to Modification 2 as viewed from below. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge seen in line 12-12 in FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge seen in line 13-13 in FIG. FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 14-14 in FIG. FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of an ink cartridge according to Modification 3. FIG. 16 is a longitudinal sectional view of the ink cartridge as viewed along line 16-16 in FIG. It is sectional drawing seen in line 17-17 in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ink cartridge, 2 Cartridge case, 3 Rigid plastic board, 5 (1), 5 (2) Front side ink chamber, 6 (1), 6 (2) Back side ink chamber, 51, 52 Front side recessed part, 61, 62 Back side recess, 53, 54 Front side flexible plastic film, 63, 64 Back side flexible plastic film.

Claims (3)

A rigid plastic plate,
A surface side liquid storage chamber formed on the surface of the rigid plastic plate;
A back side liquid storage chamber formed on the back side of the rigid plastic plate;
A first liquid supply port for supplying a liquid from the surface side liquid storage chamber to the outside;
A second liquid supply port for supplying liquid from the back side liquid storage chamber to the outside;
The surface-side liquid storage chamber is formed by a surface-side recess formed on the surface of the rigid plastic plate, and a three-dimensionally formed surface-side flexible plastic film sealing the surface-side recess,
The back side liquid storage chamber is formed by a back side recess formed on the back side of the rigid plastic plate, and a three-dimensionally formed back side flexible plastic film sealing the back side recess,
The front surface side liquid storage chamber and the rear surface side liquid storage chamber are liquid storage containers that are formed at positions where at least a part thereof overlaps with the rigid plastic plate interposed therebetween. In claim 1,
A plurality of the front-side liquid storage chambers and a plurality of the back-side liquid storage chambers;
These front surface side liquid storage chambers and back surface side liquid storage chambers are liquid storage containers arranged in a staggered manner with the rigid plastic plate interposed therebetween. In claim 2,
The front-surface-side flexible plastic film and the back-surface-side flexible plastic film include a raised portion that is raised in a substantially spherical shape, and a flat portion that surrounds the outer periphery of the raised portion,
The liquid storage container, wherein the flat portion is joined to a front surface side flat surface portion surrounding the front surface side concave portion and a back surface side flat surface portion surrounding the rear surface side concave portion of the rigid plastic plate.

Images