JP5111252B2 - Ink tank and manufacturing method thereof - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink tank and a manufacturing method thereof.

  When welding synthetic resin members to each other, it is common to form welding ribs on the welding surfaces of one member, and to weld the welding surfaces by heating, melting and pressing the welding ribs.

  At this time, the molten resin is crushed and protrudes from the weld surface, and burrs are generated on the weld surface. This burr causes a problem such as deteriorating the appearance. However, in the case of using welding and bonding for forming an ink tank for storing ink to be supplied to the ink jet recording head, the burr generated inside the tank can cause a problem. It prevents the ink holding member that is held inside the tank from being inserted and causes deformation, or drops into the garbage when the holding member is inserted, resulting in debris, degrading the function of the ink tank It is because there is a possibility of making it.

As a measure for suppressing the occurrence of burrs due to welding, proposals have been made to make the welded surface difficult to protrude out by forming irregularities around the welding ribs.
JP-A-6-285994 JP-A-2005-81736

  However, the above-described proposal requires a welding surface having a relatively large area for forming irregularities around the welding rib. Therefore, it is difficult to apply the above proposal to an ink tank that is a relatively small member. In addition, since it is necessary to form irregularities in advance on both welding surfaces of the two members to be welded and joined, existing members without irregularities cannot be used, and existing ink tanks that are consumables cannot be used. Considering the reuse of members, it is not preferable from the viewpoint of cost.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an ink tank and a method for manufacturing the same that can avoid problems caused by burrs, which reduce the function of the ink tank even if burrs occur due to welding.

To achieve the above object, an ink tank of one embodiment of the present invention includes a first tank member which top is open, and a second tank member upper and lower are open, and the lid member, inkjet An ink holding member for holding ink to be supplied to the recording head, and an opening end surface forming an opening of the first tank member and a lower opening end surface forming a lower opening of the second tank member are welded An ink storage portion is formed by bonding, the ink holding member is stored in the ink storage portion, and the lid member and the upper opening end surface forming the upper opening of the second tank member are welded and bonded to each other. In the ink tank in which the storage portion is closed, at least a part of the inner peripheral edge of the lower opening end surface of the second tank member is more than the inner peripheral edge of the opening end surface of the first tank member. And it is located inwardly.
An ink tank according to another aspect of the present invention includes a first member having a first opening forming surface that forms a first opening, a second opening forming surface that forms a second opening, and the second opening. A second member having a third opening forming surface that forms a third opening that communicates with the lid member; an ink holding member that holds ink; and the first opening forming surface and the second member. An ink tank in which the ink holding member is stored in an ink storage portion formed by welding and bonding to an opening formation surface, and the ink storage portion is closed by welding the lid member and the third opening formation surface. And at least one part of the inner peripheral part of the said 2nd opening formation surface is located inside a tank from the inner peripheral part of the said 1st opening formation surface, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided an ink tank manufacturing method including a first tank member having an upper opening, a second tank member having upper and lower openings, ink, and an ink holding member that holds the ink. And at least part of the inner peripheral edge portion of the lower opening end surface forming the lower opening of the second tank member is more than the inner peripheral edge portion of the opening end surface forming the opening of the first tank member. so as to be positioned within the tank side, the a first of said open end face of the tank member, and forming the lower opening end surface and the ink accommodating portion are welded joining of the second tank member, said ink a step of accommodating the ink holding member accommodating portion, characterized in that it and a step of injecting the ink into the ink storage portion in which the ink holding member is housed.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink tank manufacturing method comprising: a first member having a first opening forming surface that forms a first opening; a second opening forming surface that forms a second opening; A step of preparing a second member having a third opening forming surface that forms a third opening communicating with the second opening, a lid member, and an ink holding member that holds ink; The second opening forming surface and the first opening forming surface are welded and joined so that at least a part of the inner peripheral edge portion of the opening forming surface is located inside the tank from the inner peripheral edge portion of the first opening forming surface. Forming the ink storage portion, inserting the ink holding member into the ink storage portion from the third opening, welding the lid member and the third opening forming surface, And a step of closing the ink storage part in which the ink holding member is inserted. Manufacturing method of the ink tank, characterized in that.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an ink tank and a method for manufacturing the same that can avoid problems caused by burrs, such that even if burrs occur due to welding, the function of the ink tank is reduced.

[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, embodiments of the ink tank of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an ink tank 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2A is a schematic cross-sectional view of the ink tank 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2B is an enlarged cross-sectional view in the vicinity of a region surrounded by a circle in FIG. It shows a joint portion between the first tank member 1 and the second tank member 2.

  The ink tank 10 according to the first embodiment includes a first tank member 1 formed in a box shape with an upper portion opened, a second tank member 2 formed in a box shape with an upper portion and a lower portion opened, and a lid. Member 3. In the present embodiment, the first tank member 1 and the second tank member 2 are both substantially rectangular parallelepiped, and are formed so that the outer dimensions of the opening surfaces are substantially equal to each other. The lid member 3 is formed in a shape that can close the upper opening of the second tank member 2, and is generally plate-shaped here.

  In the first tank member 1 and the second tank member 2, the opening end surface 11 of the first tank member 1 and the lower opening end surface 21 of the second tank member 2 are joined by welding, and the ink storage portion 4 is connected. Forming. The ink storage unit 4 stores an ink holding member 5 that holds ink. The lid member 3 is welded and joined to the upper opening end face 22 of the second tank member 2 to close the ink storage portion 4. The lid member 3 is provided with an ink injection port (not shown), and is used to inject ink into the ink tank 10 depending on a method of manufacturing the ink tank 10 described later.

  An ink discharge port (not shown) is provided at the bottom of the box-shaped first tank member 1. The ink tank 10 of the present embodiment may be configured to be attachable to the ink jet recording head, or may be configured integrally with the ink jet recording head. Therefore, when the ink tank 10 is mounted on the ink jet recording head, the ink discharge port becomes an ink supply port for supplying ink in the ink storage unit 4 to the ink jet recording head. On the other hand, when the ink tank 10 is formed integrally with the ink jet recording head, the ink discharge port becomes an ink discharge port that discharges ink to the recording medium through the recording head.

  As shown in FIG. 2B, in the second tank member 2, a welding rib 23 is provided over the entire periphery of the lower opening end surface 21 that serves as a welding joint surface with the first tank member 1. . The welding rib 23 is formed at a position such that the opening end surface 11 of the first tank member 1 faces the inner side of the tank as much as possible.

  The first tank member 1 and the second tank member 2 are joined together by pressing the second tank member 2 provided with the welding ribs 23 against the fixed first tank member 1. This is done by applying a minute lateral vibration while applying pressure. By this minute vibration, the welding rib 23 is melted by the frictional heat with respect to the opening end surface 11 of the first tank member 1 that is opposed, and joined to the opening end surface 11.

  At this time, a burr of about 1 mm at the maximum is generated at the joint portion over the entire circumference and protrudes both inward and outward of the ink tank 10. Since the welding ribs 23 are arranged on the inner side of the tank, the burrs 6 of about 1 mm at the maximum protrude from the inside of the ink tank 10, that is, the ink storage portion 5, from the welding joint surface. The inconvenience caused by the burr 6 generated inside the tank is that the inner peripheral edge of the lower opening end surface 21 of the second tank member 2 is closer to the inner side of the tank than the inner peripheral edge of the opening end surface 11 of the first tank member 1. It is possible to avoid by performing welding so as to be positioned. In this embodiment, by forming the wall thickness of the second tank member 2 to be thicker than the wall thickness of the first tank member 1 and joining so that the outer peripheries of the two tank members 1 and 2 match, The above configuration has been achieved.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the second tank member 2 according to the present embodiment as viewed from the lower opening end face 21 side, and the shaded portion is a welded joining face joined to the opening end face 11 of the first tank member 1. Represents.

  In the lower opening end surface 21 of the second tank member 2, the inner peripheral edge (see the thick line in the figure) is more inward of the tank than the inner peripheral edge (see the broken line in the figure) of the opening end surface 11 of the first tank member 1. You can see that it is located. Thereby, as can be seen from FIG. 2B, a step is formed at the joint portion between the first tank member 1 and the second tank member 2. If the wall thicknesses of the two tank members 1 and 2 are appropriately selected so that the level difference is as high as the protruding amount of the burr 6 protruding to the ink storage unit 4, the burr 6 has the ink storage unit 5. As seen from the upper opening side of the second tank member 2, it is hidden under the second tank member 2.

  As a result, when the ink holding member 5 is inserted from the upper opening of the ink storage portion 4, the burr 6 and the ink holding member 5 do not come into contact with each other. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the burr 6 from falling into the tank caused by the contact between the burr 6 and the ink holding member 5, or the ink holding member 5 from being turned over and deformed or scratched. Become. In this way, even if the burr 6 generated by welding protrudes into the ink storage portion 4, it is possible to avoid a problem that the function as the ink tank 10 is lowered.

  The burrs protruding outward from the tank are prevented from protruding outside the tank by adjusting the melt amount without completely crushing the welding ribs 23 arranged on the inner side of the tank. be able to. This is because a slight gap is formed on the outer side of the tank between the two opening end faces 11 and 21, and burrs generated by welding fill the gap. Thereby, in this embodiment, the problem that a burr | strength impairs an external appearance cannot arise.

  The step formed at the joint between the first tank member 1 and the second tank member 2 prevents the ink holding member 5 from floating in the ink storage unit 4 in addition to avoiding the above-described problems. Also plays the role of suppressing.

  Since the ink holding member 5 needs to be in close contact with the bottom surface of the ink storage unit 4 while being stored in the ink storage unit 4, the ink holding member 5 is pressed and stored on the bottom surface of the ink storage unit 4. For this reason, when the pressed state is released after storage, the ink holding member 5 is exerted with a force to move away from the bottom surface of the ink storage unit 4. However, due to the above-described step, the ink holding member 5 that is about to float from the ink storage portion 4 comes into contact with the step, and the lift is suppressed. Therefore, this step can also provide an effect of making it difficult for the ink holding member 5 to be removed from the ink storage portion 4.

  Next, a method for manufacturing the ink tank 10 in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, as shown in FIG. 4A, the opening end surface 11 of the first tank member 1 and the lower opening end surface 21 of the second tank member 2 are welded and joined to form the ink storage portion 4. Here, welding is performed so that the outer peripheral edge portions of the respective opening end faces 11 and 21, that is, the outer peripheries of the two tank members 1 and 2 substantially coincide with each other.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4B, the ink holding member 5 is stored in the formed ink storage portion 4 from the upper opening of the ink storage portion 4. Thereafter, predetermined ink is injected into the ink storage unit 4. This ink injection step can be performed from the upper opening of the second tank member before closing the ink storage portion 4 with the lid member 3, and after closing the ink storage portion 4 with the lid member 3, It can also be performed from an ink injection port (not shown) provided in the member 3. The ink container 4 is closed by the lid member 3 by welding and joining the lid member 3 and the upper opening end surface 22 of the second tank member 2. In this way, the ink tank 10 of the present embodiment is manufactured as shown in FIG.

  Further, the present embodiment can also be realized by reusing an ink tank that is configured by the first tank member 1 of the present embodiment, in which an ink holding member is housed, and used to supply ink to the ink jet recording head. Ink tank 10 can be manufactured.

  In this case, the ink holding member stored in the first tank member 1 is taken out, the first tank member 1 and the second tank member 2 are welded and joined, and then the ink taken out from the first tank member 1 is used. An ink holding member different from the holding member can be accommodated. Alternatively, after the first tank member 1 and the second tank member 2 are welded and joined without taking out the ink holding member stored in the first tank member 1, another ink holding member is added. It may be stored.

  Thus, for example, when two or more ink holding members are stored in the ink storage unit 4, the pressure contact between the bottom surface of the ink storage unit 4 and the lowermost ink holding member stored, and the stored ink The pressure contact between the holding members is important. Even in this case, the step formed at the joint portion between the first tank member 1 and the second tank member 2 acts effectively.

  As shown in FIG. 5, when the stored uppermost ink holding member 52 is in contact with the step, the floating of all the stored ink holding members 51 and 52 can be suppressed. Thereby, it is possible to hold the pressure contact state between the bottom surface of the ink storage portion 4 and the lowermost ink holding member 51 and the pressure contact state between the ink holding members 51 and 52 to be stored.

  In the ink tank manufacturing method according to the present embodiment, it is not necessary to form a shape for suppressing the generation of burrs on both of the two members to be welded and joined, and one of them can use an existing member as it is. It is only necessary to prepare one new member. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the cost of manufacturing a new member, and as described above, it is advantageous in that a new product can be manufactured by recycling existing used products.

[Second Embodiment]
In order to form the above-described step that avoids problems caused by burrs protruding into the ink storage portion 4, the wall thickness of the second tank member 2 is made to be greater than the wall thickness of the first tank member 1 over the entire opening direction. There is no need to make it thicker. The wall thickness of the second tank member 2 is formed to be thicker than the wall thickness of the first tank member 1 only at least in the vicinity of the welding joint surface, for example, within a range of several millimeters from the lower opening end surface 21. That's fine.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the ink tank 10 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

In the present embodiment, the lower opening end of the second tank member 2a, a flange-shaped projecting portion 7a that protrudes into the tank inwardly is provided. Thereby, the burr | flash which generate | occur | produces in the welding joining surface can be hidden under the protrusion part 7a seeing from the opening part of the ink storage part 4, and a contact with a burr | flash and the ink holding member 5 can be prevented. Further, the protruding portion 7a serves as a wedge in a sense, and has an effect of making it difficult for the ink holding member 5 to be removed from the ink storage portion 4.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 7, the upper opening side of the flange-shaped protrusions 7b and 7c may be formed in a curved shape that gradually protrudes in the lower opening direction, or may be formed in a tapered shape. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, it is also possible to form the tip of the flange-shaped projecting portion 7d in a curved shape, or to form the cross section of the projecting portion 7e in a triangular shape.

  By making the cross-sectional shape of the flange-like protrusions 7a-7e into such a shape, problems due to burrs can be avoided without impairing the insertability of the ink holding member 5, and the ink storage portion of the ink holding member 5 can be avoided. It is possible to further suppress the lifting from 4. In particular, as shown in FIG. 9, it is particularly effective when two or more ink holding members 51 and 52 are stored in the ink storage portion 4.

  The configuration and manufacturing method of the ink tank 10 other than the above configuration are the same as those in the first embodiment.

[Third Embodiment]
In the above embodiment, the step at the joining portion between the first tank member 1 and the second tank member 2 is the area surrounded by the thick line and the broken line in FIG. It is formed in everything. However, in the present invention, a step may be formed in addition to the step being formed over the entire circumference, and in that case, there is an effect of avoiding the above-described problem caused by the burr. When a step is partially formed, it is necessary to form at least one step on each inner peripheral side of the ink storage unit 4. At that time, it is necessary to appropriately set the length of each step and the interval between the steps so that the ink holding member 5 does not enter the portion where the steps are not formed.

  The configuration of the second tank member 2 for forming such a step is the same as in the first and second embodiments, and the method for manufacturing the ink tank 10 is the same as in the first embodiment. is there.

It is a schematic perspective view which shows the ink tank in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the ink tank in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the 2nd tank member in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing for demonstrating the manufacturing method of the ink tank in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a state where two ink holding members are stored in the ink tank according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the ink tank in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the ink tank in another modification of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the ink tank in another modification of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the state which accommodated two ink holding members in the ink tank in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 1st tank member 11 Opening end surface 2, 2a-2e 2nd tank member 21 Lower opening end surface 22 Upper opening end surface 3 Lid member 4 Ink storage part 5, 51, 52 Ink holding member 7a-7e Protrusion part 10 Ink tank

Claims (16)

It has a first tank member which top is open, and a second tank member upper and lower are open, and the lid member, and the ink holding member for holding the ink supplied to the ink jet recording head, the said An opening end surface forming the opening of the first tank member and a lower opening end surface forming the lower opening of the second tank member are welded and joined to form an ink storage portion, and the ink holding member is used as the ink storage portion. In the ink tank in which the lid member and the upper opening end surface forming the upper opening of the second tank member are welded and joined to close the ink storage portion,
At least a part of the inner peripheral edge of the lower opening end face of the second tank member is located inside the tank from the inner peripheral edge of the opening end face of the first tank member. tank. The second tank member has a protruding portion protruding inward of the tank ,
The protrusion is characterized Rukoto to have a the inner periphery of the lower opening end face, the ink tank according to claim 1. The protrusion is characterized Rukoto to have a curved surface protruding amount to the tank inward gradually increases ing toward from the upper opening end face side to the lower opening end face side, the ink according to claim 2 tank. The ink tank according to claim 2, wherein the upper opening end face side of the protrusion is formed in a tapered shape.   The ink tank according to claim 2, wherein a tip of the protruding portion is formed in a curved surface shape. The protrusion is characterized Rukoto to have a slope protruding amount gradually increases from the upper opening end face side to the tank inwardly toward said lower opening end face side, the ink tank according to claim 2 .   The inner peripheral edge portion of the lower opening end surface of the second tank member is located inside the tank from the inner peripheral edge portion of the opening end surface of the first tank member over the entire circumference. The ink tank according to any one of claims 1 to 6.   The ink tank according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein two or more of the ink holding members are stored in the ink storage portion. The ink tank according to claim 1, wherein the ink tank is configured to be detachable from the inkjet recording head.   The ink tank according to claim 1, wherein the ink tank is formed integrally with the ink jet recording head. Preparing a first tank member having an upper opening, a second tank member having upper and lower openings, ink, and an ink holding member for holding the ink;
At least a part of the inner peripheral edge portion of the lower opening end surface forming the lower opening of the second tank member is located inside the tank from the inner peripheral edge portion of the opening end surface forming the opening of the first tank member. in a step of forming said opening end face of said first tank member, said the and lower opening end face, and fusion bonded to the ink containing portion of the second tank member,
A step of accommodating the ink holding member to said ink containing portion,
A step of injecting the ink into the ink storage portion in which the ink holding member is housed,
A method for manufacturing an ink tank, comprising: After the step of injecting the ink, the method further includes the step of sealing and closing the ink storage portion by welding and joining a lid member and an upper opening end surface forming the upper opening of the second tank member. in the step of the characterized in that the upper opening of the second tank member injecting the ink, the manufacturing method of the ink tank according to claim 11. Prior to the step of injecting the ink, the method further includes a step of welding and joining the lid member and an upper opening end surface forming the upper opening of the second tank member to close the ink storage portion, in the step of implanting, characterized in that said injecting said ink from an ink inlet provided in the lid member, the manufacturing method of the ink tank according to claim 11.   14. The method of manufacturing an ink tank according to claim 12, wherein in the step of storing the ink holding member, two or more ink holding members are stored in the ink storage portion. A first member having a first opening forming surface for forming a first opening, a second opening forming surface for forming a second opening, and a third opening for forming a third opening communicating with the second opening. A second member having an opening forming surface; a lid member; and an ink holding member for holding ink, wherein the first opening forming surface and the second opening forming surface are welded and formed. An ink tank in which the ink holding member is stored in the ink storage portion, the lid member and the third opening forming surface are welded and joined, and the ink storage portion is closed;
An ink tank, wherein at least a part of an inner peripheral edge portion of the second opening forming surface is located inward of the tank from an inner peripheral edge portion of the first opening forming surface. A first member having a first opening forming surface for forming a first opening, a second opening forming surface for forming a second opening, and a third opening for forming a third opening communicating with the second opening. Preparing a second member having an opening forming surface, a lid member, and an ink holding member for holding ink;
The second opening forming surface and the first opening forming surface such that at least a part of the inner peripheral edge portion of the second opening forming surface is located inside the tank from the inner peripheral edge portion of the first opening forming surface; Forming an ink storage portion by welding and bonding,
Inserting the ink holding member into the ink container from the third opening;
Welding the lid member and the third opening forming surface and closing the ink storage portion into which the ink holding member is inserted;
A method for manufacturing an ink tank, comprising:

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