JP5229138B2 - Ink filling jig, ink filling device, ink filling method, ink filling kit - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink filling jig, an ink filling device, an ink filling method, and an ink filling kit.

  As an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile machine, a copying apparatus, a plotter, and a complex machine of these, for example, an ink jet recording apparatus is known as an image forming apparatus of a liquid discharge recording method using a recording head for discharging ink droplets. .

  An image forming apparatus of a liquid discharge recording system means a sheet on which ink droplets are transported from a recording head (not limited to paper, including OHP, etc., and can be attached to ink droplets and other liquids). And recording medium or recording medium, recording paper, recording paper, etc.) to form an image (recording, printing, printing, and printing are also used synonymously). A serial type image forming apparatus that forms an image by discharging droplets while the recording head moves in the main scanning direction, and a line type head that forms images by discharging droplets without moving the recording head. There is a line type image forming apparatus to be used.

  In the present application, the “image forming apparatus” of the liquid ejection type means an apparatus that ejects liquid droplets onto a medium such as paper, thread, fiber, fabric, leather, metal, plastic, glass, wood, ceramics, etc. "Image formation" is not only the application of images with meanings such as characters and figures to the medium, but also the addition of images with no meaning such as patterns to the medium (simply applying droplets to the medium) It also means landing, that is, a liquid ejection device. “Ink” is not limited to ink, but is used as a general term for all liquids capable of image formation, such as recording liquid, fixing processing liquid, and liquid. DNA samples, resists, pattern materials, resins and the like are also included.

  In such an image forming apparatus (hereinafter, also simply referred to as “inkjet recording apparatus”), for example, a sub tank (also referred to as a buffer tank or a head tank) that supplies ink to the recording head on a carriage on which the recording head is mounted. ) And a main ink cartridge (also referred to as a main tank) is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus main body (hereinafter simply referred to as “apparatus main body”) side, and the sub tank is connected to the ink cartridge on the apparatus main body side. An ink replenished and supplied is known.

  As an ink cartridge, for example, an ink containing bag in which a holding member having a supply port portion and an ink filling port portion is fixed to the bag body by fusion or the like is stored in a divided cartridge case, and the holding member is used as the cartridge case. Those held by the holding means are known (Patent Documents 1 and 2). In addition, the head-integrated ink cartridge includes an ink discharge portion including an ink discharge nozzle and a shutter member that capping or releasing the discharge nozzle according to temperature, and the shutter member is discharged from the ink discharge portion. Is known that opens and closes an ink discharge section by sliding it in a direction orthogonal to (Patent Document 3).

  Further, as a method of supplying ink from the ink cartridge to the apparatus main body, a method of inserting (piercing) a hollow needle from the apparatus main body into the supply opening of the ink cartridge and sucking it (see Patent Document 1), the inside of the ink cartridge is deformed. As a double bag of a possible ink bag and a gas bag (outer bag) for storing the ink bag, a method of crushing the ink bag by injecting gas into the gas bag and supplying ink from the ink bag (Patent Document) 4, 5).

Japanese Patent No. 3919734 JP-A-6-06-328718 JP-A-6-06-328718 JP 2004-306505 A JP 2003-220710 A

As described above, in the image forming apparatus in which the ink cartridge is detachably attached to the apparatus main body, when the ink cartridge is used up, the user replaces the ink cartridge. In this case, when the supply nozzle member (ink suction nozzle member, hollow needle) on the apparatus main body side is removed from the supply port portion of the used ink cartridge, ink may adhere to the supply port portion. It is necessary to handle so that the hands and other members are not soiled by the ink of the portion.

  On the other hand, when a new ink cartridge is removed from the packaging member and attached to the apparatus main body, there is a risk that foreign matter or grease may adhere to the supply opening due to the user touching the supply opening of the ink cartridge. When attached, foreign matter, grease, or the like enters the ink supply path, resulting in a drop ejection failure.

  As described above, the conventional ink cartridge has a problem that handling of the used ink cartridge is particularly troublesome and there is a risk of causing a droplet ejection failure.

  Also, if the ink ejection operation is performed with the ink cartridge not installed, air will be mixed into the ink supply path and an ejection failure will occur. Therefore, the ink cartridge is usually detected by detecting whether or not the ink cartridge is installed. When not installed, the recording operation is stopped.

  Therefore, the ink storage means stored in the cartridge case has a supply port portion through which the supply nozzle member (ink suction nozzle member) on the image forming apparatus main body side is inserted through the opening of the cartridge case. The nozzle member is held movably between a supply position through which the nozzle member can be inserted and a shielding position shielded from the outside. When the nozzle member is inserted into the image forming apparatus body, the supply port is moved to the supply position, By including a moving unit that moves the supply port portion to the shielding position when extracting, it is possible to improve the handleability of the ink cartridge and reduce the possibility of causing droplet ejection defects.

  When the ink cartridge having such a configuration is used, it is difficult to fill the ink containing means with ink because the supply port portion of the ink containing means is in the shielding position shielded from the outside.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to improve the workability of an ink filling operation for an ink cartridge in which a supply port portion is shielded from outside.

In order to solve the above problems, an ink filling jig according to the present invention is:
Ink containing means for containing ink;
A cartridge case containing the ink containing means;
A supply port connected to the ink storage means and through which a supply nozzle member is inserted from the image forming apparatus main body side;
The ink containing means of an ink cartridge comprising: a moving means for moving the supply port portion between a supply position through which the supply nozzle member can be inserted and a shielding position at which insertion of the supply nozzle member is blocked. An ink filling jig to be used when filling ink,
A fixing portion for fixing the moving means to a supply position where the supply nozzle member can be inserted into the supply port portion;
And a holding portion in which filling means having a filling nozzle member that can be inserted into the supply port portion is set.

The ink filling device according to the present invention is:
Ink containing means for containing ink;
A cartridge case containing the ink containing means;
A supply port connected to the ink storage means and through which a supply nozzle member is inserted from the image forming apparatus main body side;
The ink containing means of an ink cartridge comprising: a moving means for moving the supply port portion between a supply position through which the supply nozzle member can be inserted and a shielding position at which insertion of the supply nozzle member is blocked. An ink filling device for filling the ink with
An ink filling jig according to the present invention;
The ink filling jig is held by an elastic member so as to be movable back and forth, and has a filling means having a filling nozzle member that can be inserted into the supply port.

The ink filling method according to the present invention includes:
Ink containing means for containing ink;
A cartridge case containing the ink containing means;
A supply port connected to the ink storage means and through which a supply nozzle member is inserted from the image forming apparatus main body side;
The ink containing means of an ink cartridge comprising: a moving means for moving the supply port portion between a supply position through which the supply nozzle member can be inserted and a shielding position at which insertion of the supply nozzle member is blocked. An ink filling method for filling the ink with
Using the ink filling jig according to the present invention,
Fixing the moving means to a supply position where the supply nozzle member can be inserted into the supply port;
The filling nozzle member of the filling means is inserted into the supply port portion for filling.

The ink filling kit according to the present invention is:
Ink containing means for containing ink;
A cartridge case containing the ink containing means;
A supply port connected to the ink storage means and through which a supply nozzle member is inserted from the image forming apparatus main body side;
The ink containing means of an ink cartridge comprising: a moving means for moving the supply port portion between a supply position through which the supply nozzle member can be inserted and a shielding position at which insertion of the supply nozzle member is blocked. An ink filling kit for filling the ink with
An ink filling jig according to the present invention;
Filling means having a filling nozzle member that can be held in the ink filling jig and can be inserted into the supply port;
The ink filling jig and a storage means for storing the filling means are provided.

According to the ink filling jig according to the present invention, it moves to the feed position supply port via the moving means when mounting the jig in (a) ink cartridge, inserted into the supply port of the filling nozzle member Thus, it is possible to perform ink filling, and it is possible to improve the workability of the ink filling operation for the ink cartridge whose supply port portion is shielded from the outside.

According to the ink filling apparatus according to the present invention, the i ink filling jig is attached to the ink cartridge, the supply nozzle member is fixed to the insertable supply position moving means to the supply port portion, for filling the filling means Ink filling can be performed by inserting the nozzle member into the supply port, and the workability of the ink filling operation for the ink cartridge whose supply port is shielded from the outside can be improved.

According to the ink filling method according to the present invention, it is possible to improve the workability of the ink filling operation for the ink cartridge supply opening is shielded from the outside by a single body.

According to the ink filling kit according to the present invention, by mounting the jig in (a) ink cartridge moves the supply port to the supply position, it is possible to perform insertion to the ink filling the supply opening of the filling nozzle member In addition, it is possible to improve the workability of the ink filling operation with respect to the ink cartridge whose supply port portion is shielded from the outside as a single unit.

1 is an external perspective view illustrating an example of an image forming apparatus. 2 is a schematic side view illustrating an outline of a mechanism unit of the image forming apparatus. FIG. Similarly it is principal part plane explanatory drawing. 2 is a schematic explanatory diagram of an ink supply system in the apparatus. FIG. FIG. 3 is an external perspective view illustrating an example of an ink cartridge that is filled with ink using the ink filling jig according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a perspective explanatory view showing a state where a cartridge case of the ink cartridge is removed. FIG. 3 is an explanatory front view of the ink cartridge. FIG. 3 is an explanatory front view of the inside of the ink cartridge. FIG. 4 is an explanatory side sectional view of the ink cartridge. FIG. 6 is a perspective explanatory view of an ink cartridge slot on the apparatus main body side. It is side sectional explanatory drawing of the slot. It is front explanatory drawing explaining opening of the slot. It is sectional drawing which follows the AA line of FIG. 11, and explanatory drawing with which it uses for description of an interlock with the pump for air injection. It is sectional explanatory drawing which follows the BB line of FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a process of mounting the ink cartridge in a slot. FIG. 16 is also an explanatory diagram for explaining the process following FIG. 15. It is explanatory drawing with which it uses for description of the state in which mounting | wearing was completed similarly. It is front explanatory drawing which shows 1st Embodiment of the jig for ink filling which concerns on this invention. It is a side half sectional explanatory drawing similarly. FIG. 11 is a perspective explanatory view for explaining an operation when the jig is mounted on an ink cartridge to perform ink filling. It is a section explanatory view of a 2nd embodiment of a jig for ink filling concerning the present invention. FIG. 11 is a perspective explanatory view for explaining an operation when the jig is mounted on an ink cartridge to perform ink filling. It is an isometric view explanatory drawing used for description of other embodiment of the ink filling apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a typical perspective explanatory view of an example of an ink filling kit concerning the present invention. It is typical perspective explanatory drawing of the other example of the ink filling kit which concerns on this invention.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, an example of an ink jet recording apparatus as an image forming apparatus including an ink cartridge that can be filled with ink using an ink filling jig, an ink filling apparatus, an ink filling method, and an ink filling kit according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. This will be described with reference to FIG. 1 is an explanatory perspective view of the external appearance of the recording apparatus, FIG. 2 is an explanatory plan view of a printing mechanism portion of the recording apparatus, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory perspective view of a carriage and a maintenance / recovery mechanism portion.

  This ink jet recording apparatus is a serial type ink jet recording apparatus. Inside the recording apparatus main body 1, guide rods 3 and guide rails 4 are spanned on both side plates (not shown), and these guide rods 3 and guide rails 4 are spanned. A carriage 5 is slidably held in the main scanning direction. The guide rail 4 is configured such that a sub guide roller 6 rotatably supported on the rear portion of the carriage 5 is in contact with the guide rail 4.

  The main scanning mechanism that moves and scans the carriage 3 is disposed on one side in the main scanning direction, a driving pulley 12 that is rotationally driven by the driving motor 11, and on the other side in the main scanning direction. A driven pulley 13 and a timing belt (belt member) 14 wound around the drive pulley 12 and the driven pulley 13 are provided. The driven pulley 13 is tensioned outward (in a direction away from the drive pulley 12) by a tension spring.

  Here, the driving pulley 12 and the driven pulley 13 are arranged such that the pulley axial direction is located in a direction along the ink droplet ejection direction. The belt member 14 hung between the driving pulley 12 and the driven pulley 13 is partly fixed and held by a belt fixing portion provided on the back side of the carriage 5 so that the main scanning direction can be obtained. It is arranged on one side of the carriage 5 in the orthogonal direction.

  Further, the carriage 5 has ten buffer tanks (sub tanks) including liquid discharge heads having nozzles for discharging ink droplets of black (K), yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C). The attached recording heads 20a to 20j (referred to as “recording head 20” when not distinguished from each other) are arranged on a head base (not shown). Here, the recording heads 20a and 20b and the recording heads 20c and 20d are used in a staggered arrangement with their positions shifted in the paper transport direction, for example, as heads that eject black ink droplets. The recording heads 20e to 20g and the recording heads 20h to 20j are shifted in the paper conveyance direction to form a staggered arrangement. For example, the recording heads 20e and 20h have cyan ink droplets, and the recording heads 20f and 20i have magenta ink droplets. The recording heads 20g and 20j are used as heads for ejecting yellow ink droplets, respectively, so that the area in the paper feed direction for two heads can be printed by the same main scanning.

  On the other hand, in the recording area of the main scanning area of the carriage 5, the paper 10 is intermittently conveyed by being guided by a platen member in a direction (sub-scanning direction) perpendicular to the main scanning direction of the carriage 5 by a paper feed mechanism (not shown). Is done. The platen member is disposed to face the recording head 20 at least in the recording area along the main scanning area of the carriage 5.

  In addition, a maintenance / recovery mechanism 8 that performs maintenance / recovery of the recording head 20 is disposed in one end side region of the main scanning region. The maintenance / recovery mechanism 8 includes a cap 30 that seals (capping) each nozzle surface of the recording heads 20a to 20j, a wiper member that wipes a nozzle surface (not shown), and the like.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, an ink cartridge (main tank) 100 according to the present invention, which contains ink of each color supplied to the recording head 20, is detachably mounted outside one main scanning area.

  In this ink jet recording apparatus, the carriage 5 is moved in the main scanning direction, and the recording head 20 is driven according to the image information while the paper 10 is intermittently sent in the sub-scanning direction, thereby ejecting droplets. A required image is formed on 10.

Next, an outline of an ink supply system in the ink jet recording apparatus will be described with reference to a schematic explanatory diagram of FIG.
A recording head 20 having a head portion 21 composed of a liquid discharge head for discharging droplets and a buffer tank (sub tank) 22 for supplying ink to the head portion 21 and an exchange as a main tank for storing ink to be supplied to the recording head 20 Ink is supplied to the buffer tank 22 from the ink cartridge 100 through the supply tube 24 according to the ink consumption of the recording head 20.

  The ink cartridge 100 contains an ink bag 102 which is an inner bag portion as an ink containing means for containing the ink 300 in a cartridge case 101, and the ink bag 102 is housed inside in a sealed state. An air bag 103 which is an outer bag part that pressurizes the ink bag 102 and supplies the ink 300 in the ink bag 102 to the outside of the ink cartridge 100 by introducing (injecting) gas (here, air) into the space. The ink 300 is supplied to the recording head 20 side by injecting air into the air bag 103 by the air supply pump 25 on the image forming apparatus main body side and pressurizing the ink bag 102. The The supply tube 24 and the ink bag 102 are detachably connected by a hollow needle 400 as a supply nozzle member, and the air supply pump 25 and the air bag 103 are detachably connected by an injection nozzle 500.

Next, details of the ink cartridge 100 that can be filled with ink using the ink filling jig, ink filling device, ink filling method, and ink filling kit according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. . 5 is an external perspective view of the ink cartridge, FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the ink cartridge with the cartridge case removed, FIG. 7 is a front view of the ink cartridge, and FIG. 8 is the ink cartridge. FIG. 9 is an explanatory side sectional view of the ink cartridge.
As described above, the ink cartridge 100 is a cartridge case 101 in which a double bag 104 including an ink bag 102 for containing ink and an air bag 103 is stored.

  On the front side of the cartridge case 101 (the front side of the ink cartridge means the front side when the ink cartridge is inserted into the apparatus main body 1 in the attachment / detachment direction of the ink cartridge, and the opposite side of the front side is called the back side). An opening 111 through which the needle 400 passes and an opening 112 through which the injection nozzle 500 passes are formed.

  The ink bag 102 is a sealed bag-like member made of, for example, a flexible film member. The material of the ink bag 102 is preferably a flexible film member. In this case, a film member made of one kind of resin composition or a film member having a layer structure made of plural kinds of resin compositions may be used. Moreover, the structure which has a metal thin film layer in the surface or an intermediate | middle layer may be sufficient. A good resin composition is an olefin resin composition, and a polyethylene film is particularly good because of its wettability with ink. Moreover, as a metal thin film layer, what suppresses the moisture permeability of a film or gives the rigidity of a film is preferable, for example, an aluminum thin film is especially preferable.

  A swing member 121 as a moving means is attached to the front side of the double bag 104 by fusion or the like. A supply port portion 122, which is a hollow needle insertion member through which the hollow needle 400 is inserted, is provided on the ink bag 102 in order to supply the ink in the ink bag 102 to the apparatus body 1 side. The supply channel 122a is formed in the supply port part 122, and the elastic member 122b through which the hollow needle 400 is pierced is attached. Further, the other end side of the swing member 121, that is, the side opposite to the supply port 121 is connected to the injection nozzle 500 in order to inject air into the space between the ink bag 102 and the air bag 103. A nozzle connecting portion 123 is provided. The hatched portion of the double bag 104 in FIG. 9 is a welded portion.

  Furthermore, the swing member 121 is provided with an ink injection portion 125 (sealed by welding after filling) used when filling the ink in the ink bag 102, and the swing member 121 is provided with the ink injection portion. 125 is swingably supported by support bearings 115 and 115 on the cartridge case 101 side. The direction along the rotation center of the swing member 121 is substantially the same as the insertion direction of the hollow needle 400. Thereby, even if the hollow needle 400 is inserted at a certain depth, there is no change in dimension as seen from the insertion direction before and after the insertion, and it is easy to suppress dimensional variations. Therefore, even if the elastic member 122b of the supply port portion 122 is repeatedly pierced with the hollow needle 400, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of holes.

  The swing member 121 is integrally provided with a pressed portion 127 on the supply port 122 side, and a protrusion 128 serving as an operating unit is integrally provided on the nozzle connecting portion 125 side. The pressed portion 127 protrudes from the opening 113 of the cartridge case 101, and the protrusion 128 is the opening 114 of the cartridge case 101 by the elastic member 129 interposed between the end of the portion 122 and the inner wall surface of the cartridge case 101. Is biased to a position where it is housed inside.

  Here, when the ink cartridge 100 is mounted on the apparatus main body 1 side, the pressed portion 127 of the swing member 121 is directed toward the inside of the cartridge case 101 by the pressing section on the apparatus main body 1 side, that is, as described later. 8 is pressed from the position indicated by the phantom line in FIG. 8 to the position indicated by the solid line in the direction of the arrow, whereby the swing member 121 is swung in the direction of the arrow. When the pressed portion 127 of the swinging member 121 is not pressed by the pressing portion of the apparatus main body 1, as described above, the swinging member 121 is moved to the position indicated by the phantom line in FIG. Is kept moving.

As described above, the swinging member 121 swings, so that the supply port 122 is formed by the supply position of the cartridge case 101 facing the hollow needle opening 111 and a part of the cartridge case 101. insertion of the hollow needle is moved between the blocking position is shielded section 116 opposite to the (Figure 5). The nozzle connecting portion 125 also faces the injection position (connection position) facing the injection nozzle opening 112 of the cartridge case 101 and the shielding portion 117 (FIG. 7) formed by a part of the cartridge case 101. And move between the shielding position (non-connection position) shielded from the outside.

  Accordingly, when the ink cartridge 101 is not attached to the apparatus main body 1, the supply port portion 122 is in the shielding position, so that when the used or in-use ink cartridge 1 is removed from the apparatus main body 1, Touching is prevented and the handling of the ink cartridge is improved, and the risk of causing droplet ejection defects due to contact with the oil and fat in the supply port 122 is also reduced.

  Further, in conjunction with the movement of the swing member 121 to move the supply port 122 from the shielding position to the supply position, a protrusion 128 that is an operating means provided at the end of the swing member 121 opposite to the supply port 122. Moves to the operating position protruding from the cartridge case 101. As a result, the means that contributes to the ink supply operation on the apparatus main body 1 side is activated, so that the ink supply operation can be performed on the apparatus main body 1 side, and the ink supply operation is performed without the ink cartridge 100 being mounted, and air is generated. It is possible to prevent ink from entering the ink supply path and causing droplet ejection defects.

  In this case, the supply port portion 122 and the projection portion 128 are arranged on the opposite side with respect to the oscillation center of the oscillation member 121, so that the supply port portion 122 and the projection portion 128 are arranged on the same side. The supply port 122 and the protrusion 128 can be moved to a required position with a small swing angle compared to the case where the ink bag 102 is twisted, and the twisting load caused by the swing member 121 on the ink bag 102 can be reduced. The durability of the connecting portion (here, the fused portion) between the air bag 103 and the air bag 103 and the swing member 121 can be improved, and the width of the ink cartridge can be reduced.

  Further, on the outer surface side of the cartridge case 101, a position to be described later on the apparatus main body 1 side that detects that the protrusion 128 is mounted in a state of protruding from the opening 114 due to a malfunction of the moving means (the swinging member 121). An escape groove 118 for allowing the detection member to escape is formed along the mounting direction of the ink cartridge 100.

  The cartridge case 101 is provided with an elastically deformable handle 120 having a color identification rib 119 corresponding to the color of the accommodated ink and a fixing lock claw portion 120a.

Next, the ink cartridge slot on the apparatus main body 1 side will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 is a perspective explanatory view of the slot, FIG. 11 is a side cross-sectional explanatory view of the slot, FIG. 12 is a front explanatory view illustrating the opening of the slot, and FIG. 13 is a cross section taken along the line AA in FIG. FIG. 14 is an explanatory view, and FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional explanatory view taken along line BB in FIG.
The ink cartridge slot 200 on the apparatus main body 1 side has an opening 201 into which the ink cartridge 100 is inserted. A hollow needle 400 to which the ink supply tube 24 is connected and an injection nozzle 500 to which the tube 26 connected to the air supply pump 25 is connected are disposed on the inner side surface of the opening 201.

  Further, on the back side surface of the opening 201, when the ink cartridge 100 is mounted, a pressing portion that contacts the pressed portion 127 and presses the pressed portion 127 toward the inside of the cartridge case 101 by the insertion operation of the ink cartridge 100. A trigger portion (rib) 203 is provided.

  Further, on one side wall surface of the opening 201, there are an escape groove 206 that escapes the pressed portion 127 of the ink cartridge 100 when the ink cartridge 100 is inserted, and an escape groove 207 that escapes the rib on the outer periphery of the escape groove 118. It is formed along. A position detection member (protrusion) 209 that comes into contact with the protrusion 128 when the protrusion 128 is inserted from the cartridge case 101 is provided in the middle of the escape groove 207.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 13, an interlock contact 211 that is pushed outward by a projection 128 as an operating means of the ink cartridge 100 is provided near the end of the relief groove 207 of the opening 201. A contact 212 is provided outside the interlock contact 211 when the contact 211 is pushed outward.

  Here, the drive control of the air supply pump 25 will be described with reference to FIG. 13. When the interlock contact 211 and the contact 212 are not in contact with each other, the controller 300 does not drive the air supply pump 25. No air is injected into 100, and no ink is supplied from the ink cartridge 100. In contrast, when the interlock contact 211 and the contact 212 come into contact with each other, the control unit 300 can drive the air supply pump 25 through the driver 301 and the pump drive unit 302 at a required timing. Then, air can be injected into the ink cartridge 100 so that ink can be supplied from the ink cartridge 100 to the apparatus main body 1 side.

  In other words, in this embodiment, the interlock contact 211 serves as a means for contributing to the ink supply operation, and the interlock contact 211 is actuated by the projection 127 as the actuating means. The drive prohibition state of the supply device (specifically, the air supply pump 25) is released, and the ink supply operation becomes possible. In this case, the interlock is configured with a mechanical contact type contact point here, but the interlock can be configured without contact. For example, a magnet as an actuating means may be disposed on the ink cartridge 100 side so that an ink supply operation can be performed when detected by a Hall element or the like.

  A recess 231 corresponding to the color identification rib 120 is formed in the upper portion of the slot 200, and the position in the direction orthogonal to the insertion direction is different for each color of the ink cartridge 100.

The operation when the ink cartridge 100 configured as described above is mounted in the slot 200 of the apparatus main body 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.
First, as shown in FIG. 15A, since the interlock contact 211 is not in contact with the contact 212 before the ink cartridge 100 is installed in the slot 200, the air supply pump 25 by the control unit 300 is not contacted. Driving is prohibited.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 15B, when the ink cartridge 100 is inserted into the slot 200 and the protrusion 128 of the ink cartridge 100 passes through the position detection member 209 of the slot 200, the state of the ink cartridge 100 is reached. If the ink cartridge 100 is normal, the protrusion 128 is housed in the cartridge case 101, so that the ink cartridge 100 is inserted directly into the slot 200 without the protrusion 128 interfering with the position detection member 209. Can do. On the other hand, when the swinging member 121 that is the moving means on the ink cartridge 100 side is not functioning normally and the protrusion 128 protrudes outside the cartridge case 101, it interferes with the position detection member 209, No further ink cartridge 100 can be inserted.

  That is, when the moving means is functioning normally and the supply port portion (hollow needle insertion portion) is in the shielding position with the ink cartridge alone, the position detection member on the device main body side is attached to the device main body. When mounting is completed without hitting, and the supply port (hollow needle insertion portion) is not in the shielding position in a single ink cartridge due to a failure of the moving means, etc. The contact with the detection member is impeded.

  In this way, when the prohibition of the ink supply operation on the apparatus main body side is released in conjunction with the operation of the moving means (actuating the means contributing to the ink supply operation), the moving means is in an abnormal state and the hollow needle To prevent ink cartridges that may be exposed in a single product state from being inserted (supply port), and as a result, prevent ink ejection failure caused by the supply port with foreign matter attached Can do.

  As shown in FIG. 16A, when the ink cartridge 100 is inserted to the vicinity of the back side of the slot 200, the rib (pressing portion) 203 contacts the pressed portion 127 of the swing member 121 of the ink cartridge 100. Then, the pressed portion 127 is pressed toward the cartridge case 101 by inserting the ink cartridge 100. As a result, the swing member 121 swings, the supply port 122 of the ink cartridge 100 moves from the shield position to the supply position facing the hollow needle opening 111, and the nozzle connecting portion 123 also moves from the shield position. The nozzle moves to a connection position facing the nozzle connection opening 112. Further, the projecting portion 128 serving as the operating means also protrudes outside the cartridge case 101 from the opening 114.

  At this stage, neither the hollow needle 400 nor the air injection nozzle member 500 is inserted into the ink cartridge 100. If the hollow needle 400 and the air injection nozzle member 500 are inserted into the ink cartridge 100 before the supply port portion 122 and the nozzle connection portion 123 of the ink cartridge 100 complete the movement to the supply position and the connection position, the ink cartridge 100 is damaged. This is because there is a fear. That is, the length of the rib 203 in the cartridge insertion direction is such that the supply port portion 122 and the nozzle connection portion 123 are moved to the supply position and the connection position before the hollow needle 400 and the air injection nozzle member 500 are inserted into the ink cartridge 100. The ink cartridge 100 is set to such a length that the ink cartridge 100 is further inserted while the movement is completed.

  Further, at this stage, even if the projecting portion 128 serving as the operating means protrudes out of the cartridge case 101, it is not in contact with the interlock contact 211. When the interlock contact 211 comes into contact with the contact 212 at this stage, the air injection pump 24 can be driven without the hollow needle 400 being inserted, and there is a possibility that air may enter when the ink supply operation is performed. Therefore, as described above, the supply port portion 122 and the nozzle connection portion 123 complete the movement to the supply position and the connection position, and the hollow needle 400 and the air injection nozzle member 500 are connected to the supply port portion 122 and the nozzle connection portion 123. The interlock is not released until it is connected.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 16B, when the ink cartridge 100 is further inserted, first, the hollow needle 400 and the air injection nozzle member 500 are respectively connected to the supply port portion 122 and the nozzle connecting portion 123. At this time, the protrusion 128 as the operating means slightly presses against the interlock contact 211, but the contact 211 is not in contact with the contact 212.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 17, when the ink cartridge 100 is completely inserted to the back of the slot 200, the protrusion 128 as the operating means moves the interlock contact 211 until it contacts the contact 212. As a result, the air injection pump 25 can be driven, and the ink supply operation can be performed.

  Thus, according to the ink cartridge, the supply port is moved between the supply position where the hollow needle can be inserted and the shielding position shielded from the outside, and the ink is linked to the movement means. And operating means for activating means for contributing to the ink supply operation on the apparatus main body side when the cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body side. In addition, the ink supply operation can be stopped when the ink cartridge is not mounted on the apparatus main body side with a simple configuration.

  On the other hand, the image forming apparatus including the ink cartridge includes a unit that enables an ink supply operation by an operation unit of the ink cartridge. Therefore, the risk of droplet discharge failure is reduced, and the ink cartridge has a simple configuration. It is possible to stop the ink supply operation when it is not installed.

  Next, a first embodiment of the ink filling jig according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 18 is an explanatory front view of the jig of the embodiment, FIG. 19 is an explanatory side half-sectional view, and FIG. 20 is a perspective explanation for explaining the operation when the jig is mounted on an ink cartridge to fill ink. FIG.

  The ink filling jig 600 is attached to the opening 111 of the cartridge case 103 of the ink cartridge 10, and a filling device 700 is set as a filling means having a filling nozzle member 703 that can be inserted into the supply port 122. A holding part 601 that is also a jig body part, and a fixing part (fixing member) 602 that fixes the swing member 121 that is a moving means to the supply port part 122 at a supply position where the hollow needle 400 that is a supply nozzle member can be inserted. And.

  The holding portion 601 has a boss portion 603 that fits into the opening 111 of the cartridge case 101, and a positioning hole 604 into which a cylindrical portion 702 provided on the front surface of the container body 701 of the filling device 700 is fitted. .

  The fixing portion 602 is fixed to the holding portion 601 via the arm portion 605 and enters the inside of the case through the opening 113 through which the pressing portion 203 that presses the swinging member 121 of the cartridge case 101 passes. The swinging member 121 is fixed at the supply position by being sandwiched between the pressed portion 127 and the inner wall surface of the cartridge case 101.

  As described above, the filling device 700 as the filling means has the same configuration as a so-called syringe including a container body 701, a cylindrical portion 702 integrated with the container body 701, and a filling nozzle member 703 formed of a hollow needle. Is.

  The ink filling jig 600 and the filling device 700 described above constitute an ink filling device according to the present invention. Here, a syringe-like one (syringe) is used as the filling device 700 as the filling means, but a nozzle member 703 is connected to an ink tank (not shown) via a tube or the like, and ink is supplied by an ink feed pump. A device that feeds ink from the tank to the filling nozzle member 703 can also be used.

An ink filling method according to the present invention for filling ink into the ink bag 102 of the ink cartridge 10 using the ink filling jig 600 and the filling device 700 configured as described above will be described.
First, as shown in FIG. 20, the ink filling jig 600 is fitted into the boss portion 603 of the holding portion 601 in accordance with the opening 111 of the cartridge case 101 of the ink cartridge 10, so that the jig 600 is It is attached to. At this time, the fixing portion 602 rotates the rotating member 121 against the urging force of the spring 129 inside the cartridge case 101, while the pressed portion 127 of the rotating member 121 and the inner wall surface of the cartridge case 3. The swinging member 121 is fixed to a supply position where the supply nozzle member can be inserted into the supply port 122. At this time, since the fixing portion 602 receives the urging force of the spring 129, the fixing portion 602 is fixed between the pressed portion 127 and the inner wall surface of the cartridge case 3.

  Therefore, by inserting the cylindrical portion 702 of the filling device 700 into the positioning hole 604 of the holding portion 601 of the jig 600, the filling nozzle member 703 is inserted into the supply port portion 122 and stops at a predetermined position. Thereafter, the ink can be filled into the ink bag 102 of the ink cartridge 10 by operating or operating the filling device 700 to feed the ink.

  As described above, the ink filling jig fixes the moving means for moving the supply port portion of the ink cartridge between the supply position and the shielding position to the supply position where the supply nozzle member can be inserted into the supply port portion. And a holding portion in which a filling means having a filling nozzle member that can be inserted into the supply port portion is set, so that the supply port portion moves when the jig is mounted on the ink cartridge. Ink filling operation for an ink cartridge that is moved to the supply position via the nozzle and can be filled with ink by inserting the filling nozzle member into the supply port, and the supply port is shielded from the outside by itself. Workability can be improved.

  Further, the ink filling device includes the above-described ink filling jig and filling means, so that the ink filling jig is attached to the ink cartridge, and the moving means is supplied to the supply port. The nozzle member can be fixed at a supply position through which the nozzle member can be inserted, and the filling nozzle member of the filling means can be inserted into the supply port portion to perform ink filling. The workability of the ink filling work can be improved.

  In addition, the ink filling method uses the above-described ink filling jig to fix the moving means to a supply position where the supply nozzle member can be inserted into the supply port, and the filling nozzle member of the filling means is connected to the supply port. By being configured to be inserted and filled, it is possible to improve the workability of the ink filling operation with respect to the ink cartridge whose supply port portion is shielded from the outside by itself.

  Next, a second embodiment of the ink filling jig according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 21 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of the jig of the embodiment, and FIG. 22 is a perspective explanatory view for explaining the operation when the jig is mounted on the ink cartridge to perform ink filling.

  The ink filling jig 610 is a jig body 611 that also serves as a holding unit in which a filling device 700 as a filling means having a filling nozzle member 703 that can be inserted into the supply port portion 122 is set, and a moving means. A fixing portion (fixing member) 602 that fixes the swing member 121 to the supply port portion 122 at a supply position where the hollow needle 400 as a supply nozzle member can be inserted is provided.

  The jig body 611 has a boss 613 that fits into the opening 111 of the cartridge case 101, and a positioning hole 614 into which the cylindrical part 702 provided on the front surface of the container body 701 of the filling device 700 is fitted. ing.

  The fixing portion 612 is provided integrally with the jig body portion 611 and has an outer peripheral shape that can be inserted into the nozzle connecting portion 123 of the swing member 121 of the cartridge case 101. A cylindrical step portion (boss portion) 615 that fits into the opening 112 of the cartridge case 101 is formed on the base side of the fixing portion 612. The fixed member 612 is inserted into the nozzle connecting portion 123 of the swing member 121 so that the swing member 121 is fixed at the supply position.

  In addition, the jig body 611 is formed with a fixed portion 612, a cylindrical step 615, and a gas (air) communication path 616 that penetrates the jig body 611. The gas communication path 616 allows the air in the air bag 103 to escape as the ink bag 102 expands during ink filling, and the air pressure in the air bag 103 becomes the same as the atmospheric pressure during filling. The filling operation is not hindered.

  When ink filling is performed using the ink filling jig 610, the boss 613 of the jig main body 611 is fitted into the opening 111 of the cartridge case 101, and the cylindrical step 615 is inserted into the opening 111 of the cartridge case 101. And the fixed portion 612 is inserted into the nozzle connecting portion 123 of the swing member 121 so that the swing member 121 is fixed at the supply position. In this case, since the swing member 121 is urged toward the shielding position by the spring 129, the pressed portion 127 is manually pushed inward until the nozzle connecting portion 123 of the swing member 121 faces the opening 112. After the movement, the fixed portion 612 is inserted into the nozzle connecting portion 123 of the swing member 121.

  Therefore, by inserting the cylindrical portion 702 of the filling device 700 into the positioning hole 614 of the jig 610, the filling nozzle member 703 is inserted into the supply port portion 122 and stops at a predetermined position. Thereafter, the ink can be filled into the ink bag 102 of the ink cartridge 10 by operating or operating the filling device 700 to feed the ink.

Next, another embodiment of the ink filling apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 23 is an explanatory perspective view for explaining the embodiment.
The ink filling device 620 is obtained by, for example, integrating the ink filling jig 600 and the filling device 700 according to the first embodiment described above through an elastic member 621 such as a spring. The ink filling jig 600 is provided with a boss portion 606 on which one end portion of the elastic member 621 is fitted.

  Here, the filler 700 is kept away from the jig 600 until the supply port 122 of the ink cartridge 10 is moved to the supply position by the ink filling jig 600 provided at the tip. That is, the jig 600 pushed toward the ink cartridge 10 rotates the swinging member 121 against the spring 129 by the fixing portion 602, so that the resistance force generated at this time, that is, the direction in which the elastic member 621 is compressed. This force is set to be greater than the force required to compress the spring 129.

  With such a configuration, the insertion operation of the filling device 700 can be performed after the pivoting of the swing member 121 to the supply position by the jig 600 is completed, and the swing member 121 is being rotated. A situation where the nozzle member 703 of the filling device 700 is stuck can be prevented.

Next, an example of the ink filling kit according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 24 is a schematic perspective explanatory view of the kit.
In this ink filling kit 630, the ink filling jig 610, the filling device 600, and the ink container 631 containing the filling ink are stored in a storage bag 632 as storage means. A cover 633 is attached to the tip of the nozzle member 703 of the filling device 700. Further, the storage means is not limited to the bag-like member, and may be a simple container.

  The ink filling method using the ink filling kit 630 is the same as that described in the second embodiment of the ink filling jig.

  Thus, according to this ink filling kit, the filling means having the ink filling jig according to the present invention and the filling nozzle member that can be held in the ink filling jig and can be inserted into the supply port portion. And an ink filling jig and a storage means for storing the filling means, the jig is attached to the ink cartridge, the supply port is moved to the supply position, and the filling nozzle member is supplied. The ink can be filled by being inserted into the opening, and the workability of the ink filling operation for the ink cartridge whose supply opening is shielded from outside can be improved.

Next, another example of the ink filling kit according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 25 is a schematic perspective view of the kit.
This ink filling kit 640 includes a portion in which the ink filling jig 600 and the elastic member 621 of the ink filling device 620 described above are integrated, a filling device 700, and ink containers 641y and 641m containing four colors of filling ink. 641c and 641k are stored in a storage container 642 which is a storage means.

  When ink filling is performed using the ink filling kit 640, the filling device 700 is fitted into the elastic member 621 and used in an integrated manner. The ink filling method using the ink filling kit 640 is the same as that described in the first embodiment of the ink filling jig.

  In the above embodiment, an example is described in which the ink cartridge is a pressure type (a system in which ink is supplied by pressurizing the ink bag from the outside). However, the suction type (suction from the ink bag with a hollow needle) is described. Thus, the present invention can be similarly applied to a system in which ink is supplied.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Apparatus main body 5 Carriage 20a-20f Recording head 24 Supply tube 25 Air supply pump 100 Ink cartridge 101 Cartridge case 102 Ink bag 103 Air bag 104 Double bag 121 Oscillating member (moving means)
122 Supply Port Portion 123 Nozzle Connection Portion 127 Pressed Portion 128 Protruding Portion (Operating Means)
200 slot 203 pressing part (trigger part, rib)
211 Contact for interlock 300 Control unit 400 Hollow needle (supply nozzle member)
500 Nozzle member for air injection 600, 610 Ink filling jig 700 Filler 703 Nozzle member for filling

Claims (8)

Ink containing means for containing ink;
A cartridge case containing the ink containing means;
A supply port connected to the ink storage means and through which a supply nozzle member is inserted from the image forming apparatus main body side;
The ink containing means of an ink cartridge comprising: a moving means for moving the supply port portion between a supply position through which the supply nozzle member can be inserted and a shielding position at which insertion of the supply nozzle member is blocked. An ink filling jig to be used when filling ink,
A fixing portion for fixing the moving means to a supply position where the supply nozzle member can be inserted into the supply port portion;
An ink filling jig, comprising: a holding unit in which filling means having a filling nozzle member that can be inserted into the supply port portion is set.   The ink filling jig according to claim 1, wherein the fixing portion fixes a portion protruding outside the cartridge case to the cartridge case. The ink cartridge houses the ink containing means in a sealed state, gas containing means for injecting gas into a space between the ink containing means, and the gas containing means from the image forming apparatus main body side. An injection nozzle member for injecting gas and a nozzle connecting portion provided to be connectable;
The ink filling jig according to claim 1, wherein the fixing portion fixes the nozzle connecting portion at a position where the injection nozzle member is connected.   The ink filling jig according to claim 3, wherein the fixing portion has a gas communication path that communicates the gas storage means with the outside of the cartridge case. Ink containing means for containing ink;
A cartridge case containing the ink containing means;
A supply port connected to the ink storage means and through which a supply nozzle member is inserted from the image forming apparatus main body side;
The ink containing means of an ink cartridge comprising: a moving means for moving the supply port portion between a supply position through which the supply nozzle member can be inserted and a shielding position at which insertion of the supply nozzle member is blocked. An ink filling device for filling the ink with
An ink filling jig according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
An ink filling apparatus comprising: a filling means having a filling nozzle member that is held by the ink filling jig through an elastic member so as to be movable back and forth, and that can be inserted into the supply port portion. Ink containing means for containing ink;
A cartridge case containing the ink containing means;
A supply port connected to the ink storage means and through which a supply nozzle member is inserted from the image forming apparatus main body side;
The ink containing means of an ink cartridge comprising: a moving means for moving the supply port portion between a supply position through which the supply nozzle member can be inserted and a shielding position at which insertion of the supply nozzle member is blocked. An ink filling method for filling the ink with
Using the ink filling jig according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
Fixing the moving means to a supply position where the supply nozzle member can be inserted into the supply port;
An ink filling method, wherein filling is performed by inserting a filling nozzle member of a filling means into the supply port portion. Ink containing means for containing ink;
A cartridge case containing the ink containing means;
A supply port connected to the ink storage means and through which a supply nozzle member is inserted from the image forming apparatus main body side;
The ink containing means of an ink cartridge comprising: a moving means for moving the supply port portion between a supply position through which the supply nozzle member can be inserted and a shielding position at which insertion of the supply nozzle member is blocked. An ink filling kit for filling the ink with
An ink filling jig according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
Filling means having a filling nozzle member that can be held in the ink filling jig and can be inserted into the supply port;
An ink filling kit, comprising: the ink filling jig; and a storage means for storing the filling means.   The ink filling kit according to claim 7, wherein filling ink is stored in the storage unit.

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