JP5996817B1 - Reproduction method of ink cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

A reproduction method for improving production efficiency at the time of ink cartridge reproduction is provided. An ink cartridge is collected from a printing apparatus, an outer packaging body of the collected ink cartridge is disassembled, and an ink container is taken out. Next, the communication tag is removed from the engaging portion 30 attached to the taken out ink container 10, and the supply portion of the ink supply device and the supply port portion of the ink container 10 are fitted to supply a predetermined amount of ink. I do. When the ink replenishment process is completed, a replacement communication tag that newly stores cartridge information indicating the specifications of the ink cartridge 1 to be reproduced at a predetermined location of the engaging portion 30 is attached. When the replacement communication tag is attached to the engaging portion 30, a new exterior body 20 is assembled, and after the ink container 10 is inserted and accommodated in the assembled exterior body 20, the label 31 is pasted and fixed. The ink cartridge 1 is reproduced. [Selection] Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for remanufacturing an ink cartridge that is attached to and detached from an ink jet printing apparatus that prints an image by ejecting ink onto a printing medium.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an inkjet printing apparatus that prints a desired image on a sheet serving as a printing medium is used for an inkjet recording apparatus that contains an ink container having an ink lead-out portion and an ink storage portion for supplying ink to an ink head. An ink cartridge (hereinafter simply referred to as “ink cartridge”) is used.

  There is a demand for this ink cartridge to be easily detachable from an ink jet printing apparatus, to be resistant to drops during transportation and handling, vibration during transportation, and to be manufactured at low cost. . In order to meet these demands, the applicant of the present application provides an ink cartridge as disclosed in Patent Document 1 below.

JP 2010-82994 A

  This type of ink cartridge stores ink cartridges that are communicated by short-range wireless communication with a printing apparatus that is a loading destination and various types of information related to ink (hereinafter, these information are collectively referred to as “cartridge information”). A communication tag provided with a memory (storage means) is provided.

  The printing apparatus reads the cartridge information stored in the communication tag of the loaded ink cartridge, recognizes the state of the loaded ink cartridge, and performs control according to the current state of the ink cartridge. ing.

Therefore, when the ink head control during ink ejection differs for each ink, there is a problem that the ink head is clogged if the ink type in the ink cartridge and the ink type recorded in the communication tag are different.
In addition, since the user transmits the print job while monitoring the remaining amount of ink, if the remaining amount of ink in the ink container is different from the remaining amount of ink recorded in the communication tag, the remaining amount of ink is included in the print job. There is a problem that the printing process is interrupted due to the absence of the printing process.
Furthermore, since the cartridge information is stored in a wide variety of information such as ink remaining information and empty information, compatibility information with the printing apparatus, and user service information, accurate information is stored. Otherwise, there is a problem that stable functions and performance cannot be provided to the user.

  As described above, the information stored in the communication tag is very important information for performing the printing process smoothly and stably, and needs to correspond to the ink cartridge to be manufactured.

  However, when the ink cartridge is remanufactured, the specifications and state of the corresponding ink cartridge change, so the cartridge information must be rewritten accordingly. However, this rewriting operation is very laborious. In addition, since the cartridge information is stored in a wide variety of information such as ink remaining information and empty information, compatibility information with the printing apparatus, and user service information, all these information are correct. An operation for confirming whether or not the data has been rewritten is necessary, which is very complicated.

  Furthermore, since the communication tag is an electronic device that is sensitive to moisture such as ink, it is necessary to remove it from the cartridge once so that the ink injected into the ink container is not scattered and the communication tag is damaged or soiled. Is rewritten, the removed communication tag must be attached to the corresponding ink cartridge again, which necessitates management work for the communication tag, which is complicated.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an ink cartridge remanufacturing method capable of accurately performing a remanufacturing process using a communication tag storing cartridge information corresponding to the ink cartridge. Is intended to provide.

To achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention has a communication tag cartridge information including ink information concerning the ink amount specified in (a) ink container is filled is written,
A method of reproducing an ink cartridge attached to a printing apparatus having a function of reading the cartridge information and supplying ink in the ink container,
The ink cartridge is
A box-shaped exterior body having an opening;
A supply port for communicating the inside and the outside of the ink container accommodated in the exterior body;
A fitting rib formed on the peripheral edge on the back side of the main body, an engagement hole formed in a substantially central portion of the main body to engage with the supply port, and a peripheral edge of the engagement hole in the same direction as the fitting rib A sticking region formed in a position adjacent to the engagement hole in a region where a communication tag that performs short-distance wireless communication between the engaging rib that is erected and the printing device is attached; A tag peeling hole formed at a position deviated from a corner of the fitting rib in the sticking region for inserting a rod-like member to peel off the communication tag, and the ink container is attached to the exterior body. An engaging portion that fits into the opening of the exterior body when housed,
With
Injecting a predetermined amount of ink into the ink container having less ink than the specified amount;
Removing the communication tag from the engagement portion by pulling picking said portion while floated portion of the communication tags attached plug the rod member to the tag peeled hole,
Arranging a replacement communication tag in which cartridge information corresponding to the ink cartridge to be reproduced is written at a predetermined position of the corresponding ink cartridge;
An ink cartridge remanufacturing method characterized by comprising:

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the ink cartridge remanufacturing method according to the first aspect, the tag peeling hole is further away from the center of gravity of the communication tag attached to the engaging portion. An ink cartridge reproduction method characterized by being formed .

A third aspect according to the present invention includes a communication tag in which cartridge information including ink information related to ink with which a prescribed amount is filled in an ink container is written,
A method of reproducing an ink cartridge attached to a printing apparatus having a function of reading the cartridge information and supplying ink in the ink container,
The ink cartridge is
And box-shaped outer body having an open mouth,
An ink supply unit having a supply port for communicating between the inside and the outside of the ink container housed in the exterior body ;
A fitting rib formed on the peripheral edge of the back surface side of the main body having a rectangular shape, an engaging hole formed in a substantially central portion of the main body to engage with the supply port, and the fitting on the peripheral edge of the engaging hole An engagement rib standing in the same direction as the rib, and a string portion and an arc portion , and the string portion is in contact with the proximal end of the fitting rib on the short side at a position adjacent to the engagement hole in the lateral direction. Of the engagement portion passing through the center O with the center O of a virtual circle VC formed by connecting the sticking region of the communication tag formed in a state and each end of the arc portion of the sticking region as the origin In an orthogonal coordinate system having a virtual line X parallel to the long side and having a positive direction as approaching the engagement rib and a virtual line Y passing through the center O in a direction perpendicular to the virtual line X as coordinate axes formed in the first quadrant and the bonded area in a formation region E a in the region in the fourth quadrant when the compartment A tag peeling hole, and an engagement portion that fits into an opening of the exterior body when the ink container is accommodated in the exterior body,
With
Injecting a predetermined amount of ink into the ink container having less ink than the specified amount;
Removing the communication tag from the engagement portion by pulling and pulling the part of the communication tag that is attached by inserting a stick-like member into the tag peeling hole ; and
Arranging a replacement communication tag in which cartridge information corresponding to the ink cartridge to be reproduced is written at a predetermined position of the corresponding ink cartridge;
An ink cartridge remanufacturing method characterized by comprising:

A fourth aspect according to the present invention has a communication tag in which cartridge information including ink information related to ink with which a prescribed amount is filled in an ink container is written,
A method of reproducing an ink cartridge attached to a printing apparatus having a function of reading the cartridge information and supplying ink in the ink container,
The ink cartridge is
A box-shaped exterior body having an opening;
An ink supply portion having a supply port portion for communicating between the inside and the outside of the container, and an ink container housed in the exterior body;
A fitting rib formed on the peripheral edge of the back surface side of the main body having a rectangular shape, an engaging hole formed in a substantially central portion of the main body to engage with the supply port, and the fitting on the peripheral edge of the engaging hole An engagement rib standing in the same direction as the joint rib, and a position covered by a communication tag stuck between the engagement rib and the engagement rib, and passing through the center of gravity G of the communication tag A tag peel-off hole formed at least in part in a formation region Ee that is a region on the engagement rib side that is partitioned by a virtual perpendicular PL that forms a right angle with the fitting rib on the long side, and the ink container A rectangular engagement portion that fits into the opening of the exterior body when accommodated in the exterior body,
Injecting a predetermined amount of ink into the ink container having less ink than the specified amount;
The communication tag is removed from the engaging portion by picking and pulling the part of the communication tag that is attached to the tag peel-off hole formed in the formation region Ee while floating a part of the communication tag. Process,
Arranging a replacement communication tag in which cartridge information corresponding to the ink cartridge to be reproduced is written at a predetermined position of the corresponding ink cartridge;
An ink cartridge remanufacturing method characterized by comprising:

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the ink cartridge reproduction method according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the replacement communication tag is adjusted to at least a part of the replacement communication tag. An ink cartridge remanufacturing method, wherein a member is interposed and disposed at a position facing the tag peeling hole.
Further, a sixth aspect of the present invention is the method of remanufacturing ink cartridge according to the first to fifth any aspects, further wherein the engagement portion of the exchange communication tags digits set is attached An ink cartridge remanufacturing method comprising a step of loading the ink container into a replacement outer package.

According to the ink cartridge remanufacturing method according to the first to sixth aspects, the replacement of the communication tag that stores cartridge information based on the specification of the ink cartridge to be attached to the communication tag is used. It is not necessary to perform complicated rewrite processing of cartridge information stored in a communication tag that has already been completed, and the ink cartridge can be easily reproduced.

Further, according to the ink cartridge remanufacturing method according to the first aspect, since the tag peeling hole is formed at a position removed from the fitting rib of the engaging portion, when removing the communication tag, the tag peeling is performed. By inserting the rod-shaped member into the hole, it is possible to lift a part of the communication tag in a region away from the corner of the engaging portion, so that an operator can easily insert a finger into the portion that is lifted off by the rod-shaped member The lifted part can be easily picked.
Further , according to the ink cartridge remanufacturing method according to the second aspect, since the tag peeling hole is formed at a position disengaged from the fitting rib of the engaging portion and further from the center of gravity of the communication tag, the communication tag Since the part of the communication tag can be lifted in the area away from the corners of the engaging part and the fitting rib by inserting the rod-like member into the tag peeling hole, the operator can A finger can be easily inserted into the part that has been lifted off by the member, and the part that has been lifted can be easily picked.
Further, according to the ink cartridge remanufacturing method according to the third aspect, the center O of the virtual circle VC formed by connecting each end of the arc portion of the sticking region D to the engaging portion of the ink cartridge. A region in the sticking region D in the first quadrant and the fourth quadrant in the Cartesian coordinate system with the imaginary lines X and Y as the coordinate axes is defined as a forming region Ea, and a tag peeling hole is formed in the forming region Ea. Because it is formed, the tag peeling hole is off the center of the communication tag, and when the communication tag is peeled off by inserting a rod-like member into the tag peeling hole, it is from the corner of the engaging part where the operator's finger can be easily inserted. Since the detached part is lifted, it can be easily picked and peeled off.

According to the ink cartridge reproduction method according to the fourth aspect, the tag peeling hole is formed at a position closer to the engaging rib than the center of gravity G of the communication tag, so that a part of the communication tag having an arbitrary shape is formed. When peeling and floating, it can be lifted at the corner of the engaging part and the part away from the fitting rib, and the operator can easily insert the finger into the part lifted off by the rod-shaped member, and easily lift the raised part Can be picked.

According to the ink cartridge remanufacturing method of the fifth aspect, when the ink cartridge is remanufactured by interposing the adjusting member on the sticking surface side of the communication tag, the exchanged communication tag, the cartridge loading destination, The communication distance and communication angle between the communication tag and the wireless communication unit can be fine-tuned so that the communication state with the printing device becomes stable. Can be given.

According to the ink cartridge remanufacturing method of the sixth aspect, an ink container provided with a replacement communication tag without using a used exterior body that has ink stains, rubbing, creases, etc. in use Is loaded into a newly assembled exterior body for replacement, so that the quality of the remanufactured product can be the same as that of a new product.

(A) is the schematic plan view which showed the structure of the inkjet printing apparatus which loads the ink cartridge based on this invention, (b) is a schematic front view of the apparatus, (c) is a schematic side view of the apparatus. It is. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the function of a printing apparatus and the ink cartridge of this invention. (A) is a schematic perspective view showing the appearance and the inside of the cartridge, and (b) is a schematic perspective view of the appearance of the cartridge as seen from the back side. (A) is a front view of the engaging part of the cartridge, and (b) is a partially enlarged schematic side sectional view in the vicinity of the engaging part. (A) is the schematic perspective view seen from the back side of the abutting surface used as the surface of an engaging part, (b) is the schematic plan view which looked at the engaging part from the abutting surface side, (c) is an engaging part. It is the schematic plan view seen from the back side. (A)-(d) is a figure which shows 1st Embodiment in the formation area of the tag peeling hole formed in an engaging part. (A) is a figure which shows the hole formation position when performing comparative evaluation with the tag peeling hole of the conventional product, and the tag peeling hole formed in formation area Ea-Ed, (b) shows the result of the comparative evaluation. It is a table | surface which shows. (A), (b) is a figure which shows 2nd Embodiment in the formation area of the tag peeling hole formed in the engaging part of the cartridge. (A) is a figure which shows the hole formation position when comparative evaluation of the tag peeling hole of a conventional product and the tag peeling hole formed in the formation area | region Ee and Ef was performed using the rectangular communication tag, (b ) Is a table showing the results of the comparative evaluation. (A) is a figure which shows the hole formation position when comparative evaluation of the tag peeling hole of the conventional product and the tag peeling hole formed in formation area Ee, Ef was performed using the circular communication tag, (b ) Is a table showing the results of the comparative evaluation. It is a figure which shows the apparatus structure of the ink supply apparatus at the time of reproduction of an ink cartridge.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention is not limited by this embodiment, and other forms, examples, operation techniques, and the like that can be considered by those skilled in the art based on this form are all included in the scope of the present invention. To do.

  In the present specification, in the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, when the words “up”, “down”, “left”, and “right” are used to indicate directions and positions, this is shown in FIG. Matches top, bottom, left, and right.

  Further, the direction in which the ink cartridge 1 according to the present invention is horizontally attached to and detached from the printing apparatus 100 is “attachment / detachment direction A”, and the direction in which the ink cartridge 1 is inserted into the printing apparatus 100 and loaded is “loading direction A1”. A direction in which the ink cartridge 1 is detached from the printing apparatus 100 and removed is referred to as a “separation direction A2”.

  Furthermore, the loading direction A1 is the same as the direction in which the ink filled in the ink cartridge 1 flows out to the printing apparatus 100 (hereinafter referred to as “ink outflow direction B”), and the ink container 10 is stored in the exterior body 20. The direction of insertion into the direction is the same as the direction of separation A2.

[1. Overall configuration of printing device]
As shown in any of FIGS. 1A to 1C, a printing apparatus 100 loaded with an ink cartridge 1 according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of ink heads each having a plurality of nozzles, and each ink head. An ink-jet line color printer that discharges inks of different colors and prints in units of lines and forms a plurality of images so as to overlap each other on a printing paper on a conveyance belt will be described as an example.

  In this embodiment, four line-type ink heads are provided, and the four color inks of black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) are ejected from each ink head. However, the number of ink heads and the number and type of ink colors are not particularly limited.

  In addition, the printing apparatus 100 includes a control unit 110 that performs overall control of each unit included in the apparatus to execute a printing process corresponding to the print job. This control unit 110 performs control related to ink supply from the ink cartridge 1 in addition to the above-described printing process by the ink head and drive control of the transport mechanism.

  Further, the control unit 110 is connected to a setting operation unit 120 including an input device including, for example, operation keys and a display / input panel, and receives an instruction and a setting operation by the user through the setting operation unit 120. be able to.

  As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1C, a plurality of cartridge mounting mechanisms 130 for attaching the ink cartridge 1 are provided on the upper portion of the apparatus main body 100a of the printing apparatus 100 for each ink head (the number of ink heads in the figure). 4).

  An upper surface device 140 is disposed so as to cover the upper part of the cartridge mounting mechanism 130. The ink cartridge 1 is loaded by inserting it horizontally between the lower surface of the upper surface device 140 and the upper surface of the main body of the printing apparatus 100. The upper surface device 140 includes, for example, an image reading device (scanner) that optically reads a document set on an ADF (auto document feeder) as it is conveyed and converts it into digital data, and the setting operation unit 120.

  Furthermore, the cartridge attachment mechanism 130 is provided with a holder portion 131 that fits into the engagement portion 30 described later when the ink cartridge 1 is loaded in the printing apparatus 100.

  The holder part 131 includes a holder-side joint part (not shown) that fits with a supply part-side joint part 18 provided in the supply part 13 so as to cover an ink supply part 13 to be described later assembled to the engagement part 30. . When the ink cartridge 1 is loaded in the printing apparatus 100, the engagement portion 30 and the holder-side joint portion are fitted, so that the below-described inner plug 15 is pushed against the urging force of the urging means 16. The inside and outside of the ink supply unit 13 communicate with each other. Accordingly, an ink outflow path between the ink container 10 and an ink path (not shown) provided in the printing apparatus 100 is opened, so that the ink in the ink container 10 can flow out in the ink outflow direction B.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, the printing apparatus 100 uses a communication tag 36 provided on the ink cartridge 1 to specify later-described cartridge information indicating the specifications and status of the ink cartridge 1 (details of specific information will be described in detail later). ) Read / write (read / write) function, and a control unit 160 that performs overall drive control of each part of the printing apparatus 100.

  The wireless communication unit 150 is configured by a reader / writer terminal that communicates with the communication tag 36 by near field radio communication (NFC), and is stored in the communication tag 36 under the control of the control unit 160. Cartridge information is read and updated information is written as necessary.

  There are various standards for short-range wireless communication. However, if non-contact communication of at least several centimeters to several tens of centimeters is possible, the specifications of the printing apparatus 100, the usage environment of the apparatus, the configuration of the communication tag 36, etc. What is necessary is just to set an appropriate thing according to it.

  The control unit 160 is configured by a CPU (central processing unit) or the like, and performs printing control according to a print job (for example, control of ink discharge amount according to monochrome / color printing, paper supply / discharge control of paper serving as a printing medium) In addition, the drive control of each part constituting the printing apparatus 100 is comprehensively performed.

  In addition, when a communication state is established between the communication tag 36 and the wireless communication unit 150, the control unit 160 controls the wireless communication unit 150 to read cartridge information stored in the communication tag 36. Based on the cartridge information read via the wireless communication unit 150, the control unit 160 performs ink ejection control and paper supply / discharge control so that a printing process corresponding to the print job is performed.

  Further, when the printing process is performed, the control unit 160 updates the information (for example, remaining ink information and empty information) that needs to be updated among the cartridge information stored in the communication tag 36. Is obtained from a predetermined calculation process or the like. Then, the control unit 160 controls the wireless communication unit 150 and overwrites (or newly writes) cartridge information to be updated in the communication tag 36.

[2. Overall configuration of ink cartridge]
Next, the configuration of the ink cartridge 1 according to the present invention will be described.
As shown in FIG. 3A or 3B, the ink cartridge 1 is an elongated casing having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape that is attached / detached along an attaching / detaching direction A that is a horizontal direction with respect to the printing apparatus 100. The ink cartridge 1 includes an ink container 10 made of a thermoplastic film 11 filled with predetermined ink, an exterior body 20 that is an outer box into which the ink container 10 is inserted, and one end portion in the longitudinal direction of the ink container 10. And an engaging portion 30 that engages with the cartridge mounting mechanism 130 of the printing apparatus 100.

<2-1. Ink container>
The ink container 10 is a bag body in which ink is enclosed. In the present embodiment, two rectangular thermoplastic films 11 are stacked, and the periphery is joined by thermal welding in a state where an ink supply unit 13 (described later) is interposed at one end in the longitudinal direction. The ink container 10 is manufactured as the ink cartridge 1 by being inserted through the opening of the exterior body 20 and fitting the engaging portion 30 assembled with the ink supply portion 13 into the opening.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, an ink supply unit 13 that supplies ink filled in the container when loaded in the printing apparatus 100 is provided at the end of the ink container 10 on the loading direction A1 side. It is attached.

  When the ink container 10 is manufactured, the ink supply unit 13 is attached by thermal welding while being interposed at a predetermined position between the ink container 10 and the ink supply unit 13 is assembled to the engagement unit 30 in this state.

  4B, the ink supply unit 13 is engaged with the engagement hole 35 of the engagement unit 30 to communicate the inside and the outside of the ink container 10, and An inner plug 15 that opens or closes the communication of the supply port portion 14, an urging means 16 that urges the inner plug 15 in the ink outflow direction B to close the supply port portion 14, and a medium that accompanies attachment / detachment of the ink cartridge 1. It is composed of a protective member 17 that guides the sliding of the stopper 15 along the attaching / detaching direction A and covers and protects the shaft portion of the inner stopper 15 regardless of the presence or absence of sliding.

  In the present embodiment, before the ink cartridge 1 is loaded into the printing apparatus 100, the plug portion 15a is pressed toward the opening 14a by the biasing force of the biasing means 16. Thereby, the plug portion 15a closes the opening 14a, and the O-ring 15d fills the gap between the plug portion 15a and the supply port portion 14, so that the supply port portion 14 is closed.

  Further, when the ink cartridge 1 is loaded in the printing apparatus 100, the engagement receiving portion 15c provided at the tip of the plug portion 15a engages with a pressing portion (not shown) of the cartridge mounting mechanism 130. As a result, the plug portion 15a is pressed against the urging force of the urging means 16 and the plug portion 15a is separated from the opening 14a, so that the supply port portion 14 is opened and the ink can flow out in the ink outflow direction B. Become.

  Further, around the supply port portion 14 in the ink supply portion 13, there is provided a concave supply portion side joint portion 18 that fits with a holder side joint portion (not shown) provided in the holder portion 131.

  Furthermore, when the ink cartridge 1 is loaded in the printing apparatus 100 at the tip of the supply port portion 14, a slight gap is provided between the opening 14a and the holder side joint portion so that the amount of ink flowing out is appropriate. A protrusion 14b is provided for the purpose of conversion. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4A, three protrusions 14b are provided around the opening 14a at substantially equal intervals.

<2-2. Exterior body>
The exterior body 20 has a bottomed structure in which one end in the longitudinal direction is opened and the other end is closed by bending a fold side set on a sheet member made of paper (for example, cardboard) and bonding an adhesive margin portion together. It is assembled in a box shape that forms a hollow rectangular parallelepiped.

  In the present embodiment, a rectangle in which the ratio of the horizontal side in which the opening of the exterior body 20 is parallel to the horizontal plane including the attachment / detachment direction A of the ink cartridge 1 and the vertical side perpendicular to the horizontal plane is about 2 to 1. It has a shape. In other words, as shown in FIG. 3A, when the ink cartridge 1 is attached to the printing device 100 in the loading direction A1, the engagement portion 30 on the printing device 100 side is the front, and the ink The ratio of the width w to the height h of the cartridge 1 is about 2: 1.

  In addition, an engagement portion 30 that engages with the cartridge mounting mechanism 130 on the printing apparatus 100 side is fitted into the opening of the exterior body 20 (the opening on the printing apparatus 100 side when the cartridge is loaded). It is an abutting surface with the cartridge mounting mechanism 130.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3B, a pullout recess 21 penetrating the surface of the exterior body 20 is formed on the lower surface of the exterior body 20. The concave portion 21 is formed by making a predetermined cut at a concave portion forming portion of the outer package 20 and bending the cut portion on the inner surface side and the terminal side on the member surface of the outer package 20. .

  A partition member 22 that secures the shape of the internal space between the inner surface of the outer package 20 and the pointed outer surface of the terminal portion 12 of the ink container 10 is disposed at the inner end of the outer package 20. The space secured by the partition member 22 has a triangular side cross section, and is located in the exterior body 20 at a position corresponding to the back surface of the recess 21.

  In the present embodiment, a part of the outer package 20 that is bent when the recess 21 is formed is bent toward the terminal side of the outer package 20 so as to be positioned in the internal space secured by the partition member 22. There is a notch. Moreover, about the partition member 22, what is necessary is just to close an opening part, after inserting and incorporating the partition member 22 so that it may be arrange | positioned at the termination | terminus of the exterior body 20, before closing the termination | terminus side, for example.

  As described above, the ink cartridge 1 includes the partition member 22 inside the exterior body 20 and the recess 21 on the surface of the exterior body 20. As a result, when the user performs the attachment / detachment operation of the ink cartridge, the user can grasp the concave portion 21 at the end of the exterior body 20 and pull out the ink cartridge, so that the ink cartridge 1 can be easily attached / detached and the workability is improved. Further, when the user grasps the recess 21 and attaches / detaches the ink cartridge 1, the user's hand does not directly touch the ink container 10, so that the ink container 10 is damaged due to contact of the user's nails or ornaments when attaching / detaching the cartridge. Can be prevented.

  Furthermore, since the insertion direction of the ink container 10 with respect to the exterior body 20, the attachment / detachment direction A, and the ink outflow direction B at the time of ink replenishment are located on the same axis, excessive stress is not generated on the exterior body 20. The attachment / detachment mechanism such as the supply unit 13 and the holder unit 131 and the possibility that the exterior body 20 main body is damaged can be reduced.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3A, a label peeling notch 23 is formed on the top surface of the exterior body 20 so as to overlap an end portion of a label 31 described later. This cut 23 is formed on the surface side of the exterior body 20 in a state where a part becomes a fold and the other part is broken and connected to the exterior body 20. When the notch 23 is pushed inward by a user's finger, a part of the outer package 20 is broken and broken while a part of the label 31 is adhered.
Therefore, the user pushes the notch 23 with the finger inward of the exterior body 20, grips the broken portion, and peels off the label 31 and the exterior body 20, whereby the label 31 and the part of the exterior body 20 where the label 31 is broken Since they can be peeled off together, the separation work can be easily performed.

<2-3. Engagement section>
The engaging portion 30 is made of a hard material such as resin or metal, and the abutting surface 30a with the holder portion 131 is directed in the loading direction A1, and when the ink cartridge 1 is loaded into the printing apparatus 100, the engaging portion 30 and It functions as an attaching / detaching mechanism to be engaged. Further, since the engaging portion 30 is fitted with the opening portion of the exterior body 20, the engaging portion 30 is formed with a size substantially equal to the size of the opening portion.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b), after the engaging portion 30 is fitted into the opening of the exterior body 20, a seal-like label 31 having adhesiveness on the back surface (for example, film method synthetic paper) In this way, the sheet is affixed and fixed with a sheet material in which an adhesive is applied to the back surface of the synthetic paper whose main component is synthetic resin. The label 31 extends from the side surface of the opening portion of the exterior body 20 through the abutting surface 30a of the engagement portion 30 to the side surface of the opening portion on the opposite side in a state where the engagement portion 30 is fitted to the exterior body 20. The engaging part 30 is assembled and fixed to the exterior body 20 by being wound.

  In addition, on the upper and lower sides of the central portion of the engaging portion 30, a fitting portion 32 that is fitted so as to be gripped by gripping means (not shown) provided on the printing apparatus 100 side is formed. Triangular convex portions are arranged in the fitting portion 32 and are fitted to gripping means provided on the holder portion 131 of the printing apparatus 100. This gripping means has a mechanism for gripping a pair of upper and lower concave portions by elastic force, and the convex portion of the fitting portion 32 is pushed between the concave portions of the gripping means between the gripping means. The fitting portion 32 is fitted with a click feeling.

In addition, a pair of shielding protrusions 33 project from the upper portion of the engaging portion 30. The shielding convex portion 33 is provided only at one end edge so as not to make a mistake in the vertical direction when the cartridge is attached. When the shielding convex portion 33 is fitted to the printing apparatus 100, it is detected by an attachment detection sensor (not shown) provided on the printing apparatus 100 side.
Specifically, the attachment detection sensor is an optical sensor such as a light projecting / receiving sensor, and detects the presence of the shielding object by blocking light reception. The shielding convex part 33 is approached to the attachment detection sensor at the time of attachment, and the attachment is detected by blocking light reception of the sensor.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5C, a fitting rib 34 is erected in the detaching direction A <b> 2 on the rear surface side periphery of the abutting surface 30 a in the engaging portion 30 that abuts the holder portion 131. . The fitting rib 34 plays a role of a guide when fitting into the opening of the exterior body 20 and a role of preventing removal from the exterior body 20 after the fitting.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 5B and 5C, the supply port portion 14 of the ink supply portion 13 is engaged with the substantially central portion of the engagement portion 30 when the ink supply portion 13 is assembled. An engagement hole 35 is formed. In this embodiment, the formation position of the engagement hole 35 with respect to the engagement portion 30 is formed at a substantially central portion of the engagement portion 30 as shown in FIG.

  Further, on the periphery of the engagement hole 35, an engagement rib 35a serving as a guide when the supply port portion 14 is engaged and holding the supply port portion 14 after the engagement is provided. And in the same direction (separation direction A2) with the same height.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5C, on the back surface side of the abutting surface 30a of the engaging portion 30, a position adjacent to the engaging hole 35 in the lateral direction (in the vicinity of the left end portion of the engaging portion 30 in the drawing). And between the end portion and the engagement hole 35), there is an attachment region D for attaching a communication tag 36 for performing short-range wireless communication with the wireless communication unit 150 of the printing apparatus 100. It is formed in the position which opposes.

  In this embodiment, the sticking area | region D is shape | molded according to the shape of the communication tag 36 (hatched part in FIG.5 (c)) to stick. That is, the sticking region D is a string part Da that functions as a positioning side for positioning when the communication tag 36 is stuck by contacting a string of the communication tag 36 to be described later, and an arc that contacts the arc of the communication tag 36. It has a bowl shape (substantially D shape) having a portion Db. As shown in FIG. 5C, the string portion Da is formed in contact with the base end of the fitting rib 34 provided at the left end portion of the engaging portion 30. Thereby, if it sticks in the state which aligned the string of the communication tag 36 to the string part Da, the communication tag 36 can be appropriately stuck to the sticking area | region D. FIG.

  The communication tag 36 attached to the attachment region D is, for example, an RFID (Radio) in which a coil pattern for radio wave communication and an IC chip are mounted on a substrate composed of an arc exceeding 180 degrees and a string of the arc that abuts against the string portion Da. Frequency identification) tag. An adhesive material (double-sided tape, glue, etc.) is applied to the entire back surface of the communication tag 26.

  In addition, the communication tag 36 includes a storage unit 36 a including a non-volatile memory that stores various types of information necessary for performing short-range wireless communication with the printing apparatus 100. The storage unit 36a stores cartridge information which is information necessary for improving user service when using the ink cartridge.

  The cartridge information includes, for example, compatibility information (information for specifying a compatible printing apparatus model), ink color information (color information of ink filled in the ink container 10), expiration date information (date of manufacture of the ink cartridge 1). Information indicating the warranty expiration date of the product calculated from the date), ink remaining amount information (information indicating the remaining amount of ink determined by subtracting the used amount from the total amount of ink filled in the ink container 10), Empty information (information indicating that the container has been emptied when the ink in the ink container 10 falls below a predetermined amount), protection information (distinguish between genuine and counterfeit products, and malfunction of the printing device due to the use of counterfeit products Information), reuse information (information indicating the number of reuses of each part of the ink cartridge such as an ink container), traceability information (manufacturer's factory, sales) Store contains information such as the information of the (office)). When the cartridge is detected in the cartridge mounting mechanism 130, the communication tag 36 starts communication with the wireless communication unit 150 of the printing apparatus 100 and transmits data stored in the own device.

  In the communication method between the communication tag 36 and the wireless communication unit 150 in the present embodiment, internal power is generated by receiving radio waves transmitted from the wireless communication unit 150, and the power is used for the storage unit 36a in the tag IC chip. A passive system that reads and writes data and transmits and receives data through an antenna is employed.

  Note that the communication method of the communication tag 36 may employ an active method or a semi-active method by changing the configuration of the printing apparatus 100 or the specification of the communication tag 36 in addition to the passive method as in the present embodiment. Further, the communication tag 36 has a saddle shape composed of an arc and a chord as described above, but a tag described later that is formed in the sticking region D at least on the back surface side of the abutting surface 30a of the engaging portion 30. If it has the size and shape which can be stuck so that the peeling hole 37 may be covered, it will not specifically limit.

  Further, the communication tag 36 is attached in a state in which the tag itself is directly attached in the attachment region D, and the adjustment member 36b having an adhesive region formed of an adhesive tape or an adhesive is interposed. You may affix on the area | region D.

  The adjusting member 36b is made of a material that can be adjusted to an appropriate size by bending, for example, like paper, and when the communication tag 36 performs short-range wireless communication with the printing apparatus 100, communication between them is performed. It is a member for adjusting the arrangement position of the communication tag 36 so that the distance and the communication angle are optimally arranged.

  The ink cartridge 1 of the present invention can be remanufactured by replenishing ink to a predetermined amount when, for example, the ink in the ink container 10 is less than a specified amount. Therefore, when the ink cartridge 1 is reproduced, wireless communication with the communication tag 36 is performed using the adjustment member 36b so that the communication state between the replaced communication tag 36 and the printing apparatus 100 that is the cartridge loading destination is stabilized. Since the communication distance and communication angle with the unit 150 can be finely adjusted, the types of communication tags 36 that can be used are increased, and versatility can be provided.

  In addition, a tag peeling hole 37 is formed in the sticking area D for inserting the sticky communication tag 36 from the abutting face 30a side and peeling off a part from the adhesive face side of the communication tag 36 to float. Yes. In this embodiment, one tag peeling hole 37 is formed in the sticking region D, but a plurality of tag peeling holes 37 may be formed.

  In the ink cartridge disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-82994, which is disclosed as a prior art, when the communication tag 36 is separated, a rod-shaped member is inserted from the tag peeling hole 37 and a part of the communication tag 36 is peeled off. The part that has been peeled off and picked up is picked and removed. However, at the position of the tag peeling hole 37, a part of the communication tag 36 that is lifted is generated at the corner of the engaging portion. Therefore, the fitting ribs 34 standing on the periphery of the engaging surface are obstructive. It was difficult to insert a finger and to pick up the raised part.

Therefore, the tag peeling hole 37 of the ink cartridge 1 according to the present invention has the following formation conditions to facilitate separation of the engaging portion 30 and the communication tag 36 when the ink cartridge 1 is discarded. Two conditions are met.
Condition 1: When the communication tag 36 is peeled off from the abutting surface 30a side with a rod-shaped member and lifted, the floating portion is formed so that it can be easily picked up.
Condition 2: Since the entire back surface of the communication tag 36 is relatively firmly bonded to the sticking region D, the communication tag 36 is large when the communication tag 36 is peeled off and lifted by the rod-shaped member and inserted. The position should not damage the tag itself without applying force.

  Here, a first embodiment of the tag peeling hole 37 formed in the engaging portion 30 of the ink cartridge 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In Embodiments 1 to 4 described below, as shown in FIGS. 6A to 6D, when the back surface side of the engaging portion 30 is viewed in plan, each end of the arc portion of the sticking region D X is a virtual line passing in the horizontal direction with the center O of a virtual circle VC (one-dot chain line) formed by connecting the parts as an origin, and Y is a virtual line passing through the center O in a direction (vertical direction) orthogonal to the virtual line X A description will be given using an orthogonal coordinate system having two virtual lines X and Y as coordinate axes. Further, in this orthogonal coordinate system, four regions obtained by partitioning with virtual lines X and Y are arranged in order of “first quadrant”, “second quadrant”, “third quadrant”, “ The fourth quadrant.

  Furthermore, since the formation area of the following formation examples 1 to 4 slightly changes depending on the diameter of the tag peeling hole 37, the shape and size of the formation area shown in FIGS. It is not limited. Moreover, in each figure, in order to express clearly the area | region of formation area Ea-Ed, the code | symbol of each part in the engaging part 30 is abbreviate | omitted.

(Example 1)
As shown in FIG. 6A, the formation area Ea of the tag peeling hole 37 defined in the first embodiment includes the first quadrant and the second quadrant among the four quadrants of the virtual circle VC defined by the virtual lines X and Y. It is the area | region in the sticking area | region D in a four quadrant.

  In the first embodiment, the tag peeling hole 37 deviates from the center (center of gravity) of the communication tag 36 to which a large force is applied by the insertion operation by the rod-like member when the communication tag 36 is peeled off, and the corner portion of the engaging portion 30 It will be out of the position. For this reason, the operator can easily insert his / her finger into the part lifted off by the stick-shaped member, and can easily pick the part lifted up.

(Example 2)
As shown in FIG. 6B, the formation area Eb of the tag peeling hole 37 defined in the second embodiment is based on the formation area Ea of the first embodiment. In Embodiment 2, first, two virtual lines connecting the center O of the virtual circle VC and the peripheral end of the engagement hole 35 are drawn, and the two virtual lines pass through the circumference on the first quadrant side from the center O. An imaginary line to be transmitted is denoted by L1, and an imaginary line passing through the circumference on the fourth quadrant side from the center O is denoted by L2. Then, an area between the virtual line L1 and the virtual line Y in the formation area Ea in the first quadrant, and an area between the virtual line L2 and the virtual line Y in the formation area Ea in the fourth quadrant, The formation region of Embodiment 2 is used. The tag peeling hole 37 is formed in the formation region Eb defined in the second embodiment.

  When the tag peel-off hole 37 is formed in the formation area Eb defined in the second embodiment, the formation area is removed when the operator picks up the portion that is off the center (center of gravity) of the communication tag 36 and is lifted off by the stick-shaped member. Since a part of the communication tag 36 can be lifted at a position farther from the engagement rib 35a than the tag peeling hole 37 formed in Ea, it is easy to insert the operator's finger without contacting the engagement rib 35a. Become.

(Example 3)
As shown in FIG. 6C, the formation area Ec of the tag peeling hole 37 defined in the third form example is based on the formation area Eb of the second form example. In the formation area Ec of the third embodiment, a virtual circle VC1 that is a concentric circle of the virtual circle VC is formed with a radius ra that is half the radius r of the virtual circle VC, and the formation area Eb in the first quadrant and the fourth quadrant Of these, the virtual circle VC1 is a region where the hole center is arranged on the circumference and a region outside the virtual circle VC1. Therefore, the size of the formation region Ec defined in the third embodiment is defined by the diameter of the tag peeling hole 37.

  When the tag peeling hole 37 is formed in the formation area Ec defined in the configuration example 3, the position where the communication tag 36 is peeled is outside the formation area Eb defined in the configuration example 2, so that the communication tag 36 is further separated. It is easy to pick up the part that has been peeled off and lifted up.

  Further, when the tag peeling hole 37 is provided at the center (center of gravity) of the communication tag 36, the tag itself may be damaged when the tag is peeled off by the rod-shaped member, and the position where the peeling starts is not determined and the floating portion is difficult to pick. The problem of floating in position can occur. However, if the tag peeling hole 37 is formed in the formation region Ec defined in the third embodiment, a part of the tag is peeled off and floated at a position deviated from the center (center of gravity) of the communication tag 36. I don't get up.

(Example 4)
As shown in FIG. 6D, the formation area Ed of the tag peeling hole 37 defined in the embodiment 4 is based on the formation area Ec of the embodiment 3. First, a virtual line L3 is drawn from the center O toward the circumference on the first quadrant side in the virtual circle VC so that the first quadrant side of the formation region Ec is equally divided (bisected). Further, a virtual line L4 is drawn from the center O toward the fourth quadrant side circumference in the virtual circle VC so that the fourth quadrant side of the formation region Ec is equally divided (bisected). Then, the region on the side delimited by the virtual line L3 and the virtual line L1 in the formation region Ec on the first quadrant side, and the region on the side delimited by the virtual line L4 and the virtual line L2 in the formation region Ec on the fourth quadrant side A region where the hole center is arranged on the virtual line L3 and the virtual line L4 is defined as a formation region Ed. Therefore, the formation area Ed defined in the fourth embodiment is defined by the diameter of the tag peeling hole 37.

  When the tag peeling hole 37 is formed in the formation area Ed defined in the fourth embodiment, the position where the communication tag 36 is peeled from the formation area Ec defined in the third embodiment is a position away from the fitting rib 34. For this reason, compared with the tag peeling hole 37 in the formation area Ec, the operator's finger is hardly in contact with the fitting rib 34 or the engaging rib 35a, and it is easier to pick up the portion that is lifted off after the communication tag 36 is peeled off. Become.

  As described above, the formation regions Ea to Ed of the tag peeling holes 37 are at positions away from the fitting ribs 34 standing at least on the short side of the engagement portion 30 so as to satisfy the two formation conditions described above. The first quadrant and the fourth quadrant are formed. For this reason, when the communication tag 36 is peeled off and picked up, the lifted portion is separated from the corner of the engaging portion 30, so that the operator's finger can be easily inserted.

  Further, as the formation region becomes Ea → Eb → Ec → Ed, the position where the tag peeling hole 37 is formed is separated from the center (center of gravity) of the communication tag 36 and away from the fitting rib 34 and the engaging rib 35a. Will become the position. Therefore, when the communication tag 36 is peeled off, the communication tag 36 can be peeled off with a smaller force, and the portion lifted off and lifted up can be easily picked. Therefore, among the formation regions Ea to Ed shown in the first to fourth embodiments, the formation region Ed is the most suitable position as a region for forming the tag peeling hole 37.

Next, comparative evaluation of the tag peeling holes 37 formed in the above-described formation regions Ea to Ed will be described with reference to FIG.
In the following comparative evaluation, as shown in FIG. 7 (a), the tag peel-off hole formed in the formation region Ea defined in the above-described embodiment 1 is set as the “comparative example” as the position where the conventional tag peel-off hole is formed. The position of the tag peel-off hole 37 formed in the formation area Eb defined in the embodiment 2 is defined as “example 2”, and the position of the position 37 is formed in the formation area Ec defined in the embodiment 3. The position of the tag peeling hole 37 is referred to as “Example 3”, and the position of the tag peeling hole 37 formed in the formation region Ed defined in Embodiment 4 is referred to as “Example 4”. Then, the evaluation based on the “peeling degree” and the “picking degree” was performed as the degree indicating the ease of peeling of the communication tag 36.

Here, the “degree of peeling” refers to a communication tag using a push-pull gauge (MODEL 9500 series) manufactured by Aiko Engineering Co., Ltd. as a rod-shaped member by inserting a ball driver (P1-140) manufactured by Vessel Co., Ltd. from the tag peeling hole 37. This is a result of measuring the N value required to make a state where a part of 36 is peeled off and is lifted, and evaluating with reference to 15N as a reference value. As an evaluation result, less than 15N is “◯”, 15N or more is “Δ”, and when the communication tag 36 is damaged, it is “x”.
Note that “15N”, which is a reference value for evaluating the degree of peeling, is that when the bar-like member (driver) is pierced, if the value exceeds this value, the bar-like member is largely protruded by the remaining force peeled off, and the communication tag 36. Is a value that will be damaged.

  The “pick degree” is a result of relatively evaluating the ease of picking when a plurality of experimenters pick with their fingers. As a result of the evaluation, when a part of the communication tag 36 that is lifted by inserting a rod-like member from the tag peeling hole 37 is picked, the experimenter's finger is engaged with the fitting rib 34 or the engaging rib 35a around the hole 37. The position judged to be picked without contact is set to “◯”, which is the highest picking degree, and the experimenter's finger is only one of the fitting rib 34 and the engaging rib 35a around the hole 37 and one place. The position determined to be picked in the contacted state is set to “Δ”, which is lower than “◯”, and the experimenter's finger is placed at two or more places with the fitting rib 34 and the engaging rib 35 a around the hole 37. The position at which it was determined that the object had to be picked in contact was defined as “x” having the lowest degree of picking.

As shown in FIG.7 (b), as a result of comparing with Examples 1-4 and a comparative example, in both points, there is no big difference in the point of peeling. However, in terms of the degree of picking, the comparative example was “x”, whereas Examples 1 to 4 were generally highly evaluated.
That is, as in the present invention, if the tag peel-off hole 37 is formed in any one of the formation regions Ea to Ed defined in the first to fourth embodiments, the communication tag 36 is more than the conventional product. It was proved that peeling was easy.

  Next, a second embodiment of the tag peeling hole 37 formed in the engaging portion 30 of the ink cartridge 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The tag peeling hole 37 of the second embodiment is a communication having an arbitrary shape (for example, a polygon, a circle, an ellipse, etc.) attached between the engagement rib 34 and the engagement rib 35a in the engagement portion 30. It is assumed that it is formed under the tag 36 (that is, an area covered with the communication tag 36).

In addition, an area where the communication tag 36 is attached on the back side of the engaging portion 30 is referred to as an attachment area D. That is, in the above-described embodiment, the attachment region D is formed in accordance with the shape of the communication tag 36 in order to function as a guide for attaching the communication tag 36. However, in this embodiment, the communication tag having an arbitrary shape. 36, the communication region 36 attached between at least the fitting rib 34 and the engaging rib 35a in the engaging portion 30 is formed without forming the attaching region D in the engaging portion 30. The pasted area is defined as a pasted area D.
Therefore, in this embodiment, if the communication tag 36 has a rectangular shape as shown in FIG. 8A, the sticking area D forms a rectangle having the same shape as the tag. Further, in the case of a circular communication tag 36 as shown in FIG. 8B, the sticking area D has a circular shape that is the same as the tag. Note that the shape and size of the communication tag 36 shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B are examples, and the shape and size can be arbitrarily designed.

(Example 5)
As shown in FIG. 8A, the formation region Ee defined in the fifth embodiment is, for example, the engagement portion 30 through the gravity center G of the communication tag 36 with respect to the sticking region D of the rectangular communication tag 36. An imaginary perpendicular line PL perpendicular to the fitting rib 34 provided on the long side is drawn. And the area | region by the side of the engagement rib 35a among the sticking area | regions D divided | segmented by the virtual perpendicular | vertical line PL is made into the formation area Ee. Further, as shown in FIG. 8 (a), at least a part of the tag peeling hole 37 only needs to be positioned closer to the engaging rib 35a than the position of the center of gravity G, and thus is delimited by the virtual perpendicular PL. It is formed so as to extend toward the fitting rib 34 side on the short side side by the size of substantially the whole hole rather than the region.
In other words, the size and position of the formation region Ee are defined by the shape of the communication tag 36, the attachment position, and the diameter of the tag peeling hole 37.

  When the tag peeling hole 37 is formed in the formation area Ee defined in the fifth embodiment, the hole is formed at a position closer to the engaging rib 35a than the center of gravity G of the communication tag 36. Therefore, the communication tag 36 having an arbitrary shape. Can be lifted at a portion away from the corner of the engaging portion 30 and the fitting rib 34 when the portion is lifted off, so that the operator can easily insert a finger into the portion lifted off by the rod-shaped member The lifted part can be easily picked.

(Example 6)
The formation region Ef defined in the sixth embodiment is premised on the formation region Ee defined in the fifth embodiment. As shown in FIG. 8B, the formation region Ef of the sixth embodiment is a corner portion where the short-side fitting rib 34 and the long-side fitting rib 34 of the engaging portion 30 first intersect. Virtual lines L5 and L6 that connect the corner on the communication tag 36 side and the center O1 of the engagement hole 35 are drawn. Then, a region defined by the virtual lines L5 and L6 in the formation region Ee is defined as a formation region Ef. Further, as shown in FIG. 8 (b), the tag peeling hole 37 only needs to be at a position closer to the engaging rib 35a than the position of the center of gravity G, and is therefore separated by a virtual perpendicular PL. It is formed so as to extend toward the fitting rib 34 side on the short side side by the size of substantially the whole hole rather than the region.
That is, the size and position of the formation region Ef are defined by the shape of the communication tag 36, the attachment position, and the diameter of the tag peeling hole 37.

  The formation area Ef defined in the embodiment 6 has a position at which the communication tag 36 is peeled away from the fitting rib 34 and the engagement rib 35a as compared with the formation area Ee defined in the embodiment 5, and there is a gap between each rib. Therefore, the communication tag 36 is more likely to be peeled off and the floating part is larger, and the part that is peeled off and lifted is easier to pick.

  Thus, by forming the tag peeling hole 37 in the formation regions Ee and Ef described above, the position of the hole is formed closer to the engaging rib 35a than the position of the center of gravity G of the communication tag 36. . Therefore, it becomes easier to insert a finger when a rod-like member is inserted into the tag peeling hole 37 formed at a position covered with the communication tag 36 and a part of the tag is lifted off, as in the first to fourth embodiments. The raised portion can be easily picked.

Next, comparative evaluation of the tag peeling holes 37 formed in the formation regions Ee and Ef described above will be described with reference to FIGS.
In the following comparative evaluation, as shown in FIGS. 9 (a) and 10 (a), the formation position of the conventional tag peel-off hole is defined as “comparative example”, and within the formation region Ee defined in the above-described fifth embodiment. The position of the tag peel-off hole 37 formed in the above example is “Example A”, the position of the tag peel-off hole 37 formed in the formation region Ef defined in the embodiment 6 is “Example B”, and the communication tag 36 can be easily peeled off. As the degree indicating the thickness, the evaluation was performed based on the “peeling degree” and the “picking degree”. In addition, the communication tag 36 in this embodiment has a rectangular shape, and the “peeling degree” and the “picking degree” are described in [3. It was the same as the evaluation criteria shown in Example.

As shown in FIG. 9B, as a result of comparison between Examples A and B and the comparative example, there is no great difference in the degree of peeling between the two. However, in terms of the degree of picking, the comparative example was “x”, whereas Examples A and B were generally highly evaluated.
That is, as in the present invention, if a part of the hole is formed in any one of the formation regions Ee and Ef defined in the above-described Embodiments 5 and 6 as in the case of the tag peeling hole 37, the conventional product will be used. It has also been proved that the communication tag 36 can be easily peeled off.

Moreover, as shown in FIG.10 (b), as a result of comparing with Examples C and D and a comparative example, there is no big difference in terms of the degree of peeling. However, in terms of the degree of picking, the comparative example was “x”, whereas the evaluations in Examples C and D were generally high.
That is, as in the present invention, if a part of the hole is formed in any one of the formation regions Ee and Ef defined in the above-described Embodiments 5 and 6 as in the case of the tag peeling hole 37, the conventional product will be used. It has also been proved that the communication tag 36 can be easily peeled off.

[3. Ink cartridge reproduction method]
Next, processing steps at the time of remanufacturing the ink cartridge 1 having the above-described configuration will be described.

  In the following process example, the ink cartridge 1 of the present invention is collected until the operator collects the ink container 1 loaded in the printing apparatus 100, and reuses the collected ink container 10 to regenerate the ink cartridge 1. A series of flows are shown.

<3-1. Configuration of ink supply device>
In the remanufacturing method of the ink cartridge 1 according to the present invention, a predetermined amount of ink is supplied using the ink supply device 200 for supplying ink to the ink container 10.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the ink supply device 200 includes a supply unit 201 that fits with the supply port unit 14 of the ink container 10 to be reused and opens the supply port unit 14, and ink that stores ink to be supplied. A tank 202, a liquid feed pump 203 for feeding ink stored in the ink tank 202 to the ink container 10, and an ink flow path between the ink container 10 and the ink tank 202 via the liquid feed pump 203 The replenishment ink flow path R1 is provided.

  Further, in the case of a configuration in which new ink is replenished in a state where the remaining ink remaining in the ink container 10 is removed and emptied, a configuration surrounded by an alternate long and short dash line in the figure is added. That is, the suction pump 204 that sucks the remaining ink in the ink container 10 and sends it to a drain tank (not shown), the replenishment ink path R1 between the liquid feed pump 203 and the supply unit 201, and the suction pump 204 A draining ink path R2 with the supply unit 201 is configured to include a switching unit 205 including a switching valve that switches according to ink supply / drainage processing.

  In such a configuration, the ink discharge process and the ink replenishment process are performed by appropriately controlling the liquid feed pump 203, the suction pump 204, and the switching unit 205 at a predetermined timing during ink replenishment and ink drainage. What should I do?

<3-2. Reproduction production process>
As a processing step at the time of remanufacturing the ink cartridge 1 according to the present invention, first, an operator collects the ink cartridge 1 from the printing apparatus 100, disassembles the exterior body 20 of the collected ink cartridge 1 and installs the ink container 10 into the ink cartridge 1. Take out.

Next, the process of removing the communication tag 36 from the engaging part 30 attached to the taken out ink container 10 is performed.
Since the tag peeling hole 37 is formed so as to cover the communication tag 36 in any one of the formation areas Ea to Ef defined in the first to sixth embodiments, the operator can remove the tag peeling hole. By inserting a rod-shaped member into the contact surface 30a from 37, a part of the communication tag 36 attached to the engaging portion 30 can be peeled off and lifted, and the peeled and lifted portion can be picked and peeled (removed). .

Next, a process of supplying a predetermined amount of ink by fitting the supply unit 201 of the ink supply device 200 and the supply port 14 of the ink container 10 is performed.
By this fitting operation, the plug portion 15a of the inner plug 15 provided in the ink supply portion 13 is pressed against the urging force of the urging means 16, so that the plug portion 15a is separated from the opening 14a. Since the section 14 is opened, ink can be supplied.

  Since the amount of ink supplied to the ink container 10 is defined by the specifications of the ink cartridge 1 to be reproduced, the ink container 10 does not necessarily need to be replenished with a specified amount (for example, the ink amount when full). . For example, if the ink amount is reduced to half of the specified amount, it becomes possible to sell the ink cartridge at a lower cost by the amount of the reduced ink amount. When such an ink cartridge 1 is reproduced, the amount of ink to be replenished is half of the specified amount. And it is sufficient. Further, when there is residual ink in the ink container 10, the ink may be replenished so as to reach a predetermined amount from that state.

  When the ink replenishment process is completed, a replacement communication tag 36 that newly stores cartridge information indicating the specifications of the ink cartridge 1 to be reproduced at a predetermined location of the engaging portion 30 is attached.

  As a region to which the communication tag 36 is attached, when the tag peeling hole 37 is formed in the above-described formation regions Ea to Ed, the position to be covered with the tag peeling hole 37 in the attaching region D formed in the engaging portion 30. Adhere to. Further, when the tag peeling hole 37 is formed in the formation regions Ee and Ef, the communication tag 36 is stuck between the fitting rib 34 and the engaging rib 35a.

  Furthermore, cartridge information based on the specifications of the remanufactured ink cartridge 1 to be attached is newly stored in the replacement communication tag 36.

  Then, when the replacement communication tag 36 is attached to the engaging portion 30, a new exterior body 20 is assembled, and after the ink container 10 is inserted and accommodated in the assembled exterior body 20, the label 31 is pasted. When the ink cartridge 1 is fixed, the reproduction process of the ink cartridge 1 is completed. Further, when air remains in the container depending on the amount of ink replenished, it is preferable that the side surface of the container is pushed to remove air from the supply port portion 14.

  In the above-described remanufacturing method, in order to prevent other ink from entering during the ink replenishment step, the same color ink is replenished with the same component as the ink before replenishment. The ink container 10 can be once washed to supply other ink.

  In addition, when the ink stored in the ink container 10 is discarded and then replenished, the ink replenishing device 200 having the configuration of the alternate long and short dash line shown in FIG. 11 is used. Since the ink draining process is performed before the ink replenishing process, the switching unit 205 is controlled to switch the ink path to the draining ink path R2, and then the suction pump 204 is controlled to remain in the ink container 10. Remove the remaining ink. Then, the ink container 10 is emptied, and the switching unit 205 is controlled to switch the ink path to the replenishment ink path R1, and the liquid feed pump 203 is controlled to supply a predetermined amount of new ink to the ink container 10. Then, the ink cartridge 1 is reproduced.

  If air remains in the container depending on the ink replenishment amount, the switching unit 205 is controlled again to switch the ink path to the draining ink path R2, and only the air or air and some ink are used by the suction pump 204. Are preferably sucked at the same time so that the inside of the container is in an ink-only state.

  As described above, according to the above-described method for remanufacturing the ink cartridge 1, the replacement communication tag 36 that stores cartridge information based on the specifications of the ink cartridge 1 to be attached to the communication tag 36 is used. Thus, it is not necessary to perform complicated rewrite processing of the cartridge information stored in the used communication tag 36, and the ink cartridge 1 can be easily reproduced.

  Further, the engagement portion 30 of the ink cartridge 1 is orthogonal with the virtual lines X and Y having the center O of the virtual circle VC formed by connecting each end of the arc portion of the sticking area D as the coordinate axes. A region in the sticking region D in the first quadrant and the fourth quadrant in the coordinate system is defined as a forming region Ea, and the tag peeling hole 37 is formed in the forming region Ea. When the communication tag 36 is peeled off by inserting a rod-like member from the tag peeling hole 37 and separating from the center (center of gravity) of the 36, the location where the operator's finger is easily inserted can be lifted. Can be easily picked and peeled off.

  Further, since the tag peeling hole 37 is formed at a position closer to the engaging rib 35a than the center of gravity G of the communication tag 36, when a part of the communication tag 36 having an arbitrary shape is peeled off and floated, It can be lifted off at the corners or at portions away from the fitting ribs 34, and the operator can easily insert his / her finger into the portion lifted off by the stick-shaped member, and can easily pick up the raised portion.

  Further, by interposing the adjusting member 36b on the sticking surface side of the communication tag 36, when the ink cartridge 1 is reproduced, the communication state between the replaced communication tag 36 and the printing apparatus 100 that is the cartridge loading destination. Since the communication distance and the communication angle between the communication tag 36 and the wireless communication unit 150 can be finely adjusted so as to be stable, the types of communication tags 36 that can be used are increased, and versatility can be provided.

  In addition, the exterior body 20 newly assembled as a replacement for the ink container 10 provided with the replacement communication tag 36 is used without using the used exterior body 20 with ink stains, rubbing, creases, and the like during use. The quality of the remanufactured product can be made the same as that of a new product.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Ink cartridge 10 ... Ink container 11 ... Thermoplastic film 12 ... Terminal part 13 ... Ink supply part 14 ... Supply port part (14a ... Opening, 14b ... Projection part)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 ... Inner plug (15a ... Plug part, 15b ... Shaft part, 15c ... Engagement receiving part, 15d ... O-ring) 16 ... Energizing means 17 ... Protection member 18 ... Supply part side joint part 20 ... Exterior body 21 ... Recessed part 22 ... partition member 23 ... notch 30 ... engagement part (30a ... abutting surface)
31 ... label 32 ... fitting part 33 ... shielding convex part 34 ... fitting rib 35 ... engagement hole (35a ... engagement rib)
36 ... Communication tag (36a ... Storage means)
37 ... tag peeling hole 100 ... printing device (100a ... device main body)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 110 ... Control part 120 ... Setting operation part 130 ... Cartridge attachment / detachment mechanism 131 ... Holder part 140 ... Upper surface apparatus 150 ... Wireless communication part 160 ... Control part 200 ... Ink replenishment apparatus 201 ... Supply part 202 ... Ink tank 203 ... Liquid feed pump 204 ... Suction pump 205 ... Switching part A ... Removal direction (A1 ... loading direction, A2 ... removal direction)
B: Direction of ink outflow D: Adhering area (Da: string portion, Db: arc portion)
Ea to Ef: Tag peel-off hole formation region L1 to L6, X, Y ... Virtual line PL ... Virtual perpendicular VC, VC1 ... Virtual circle r, ra ... Virtual circle radius O ... Virtual circle center O1 ... Engagement hole Center R1 ... ink path for replenishment R2 ... ink path for drainage

Claims (6)

Having a communication tag in which cartridge information including ink information relating to ink to be filled in a prescribed amount in an ink container is written;
A method of reproducing an ink cartridge attached to a printing apparatus having a function of reading the cartridge information and supplying ink in the ink container,
The ink cartridge is
A box-shaped exterior body having an opening;
A supply port for communicating the inside and the outside of the ink container accommodated in the exterior body;
A fitting rib formed on the peripheral edge on the back side of the main body, an engagement hole formed in a substantially central portion of the main body to engage with the supply port, and a peripheral edge of the engagement hole in the same direction as the fitting rib A sticking region formed in a position adjacent to the engagement hole in a region where a communication tag that performs short-distance wireless communication between the engaging rib that is erected and the printing device is attached; A tag peeling hole formed at a position deviated from a corner of the fitting rib in the sticking region for inserting a rod-like member to peel off the communication tag, and the ink container is attached to the exterior body. An engaging portion that fits into the opening of the exterior body when housed,
With
Injecting a predetermined amount of ink into the ink container having less ink than the specified amount;
Removing the communication tag from the engagement portion by pulling picking said portion while floated portion of the communication tags attached plug the rod member to the tag peeled hole,
Arranging a replacement communication tag in which cartridge information corresponding to the ink cartridge to be reproduced is written at a predetermined position of the corresponding ink cartridge;
An ink cartridge remanufacturing method comprising: 2. The ink cartridge remanufacturing method according to claim 1 , wherein the tag peeling hole is further formed at a position deviating from a center of gravity of the communication tag attached to the engaging portion . Having a communication tag in which cartridge information including ink information relating to ink to be filled in a prescribed amount in an ink container is written;
A method of reproducing an ink cartridge attached to a printing apparatus having a function of reading the cartridge information and supplying ink in the ink container,
The ink cartridge is
And a box-shaped outer body having an open mouth,
An ink supply unit having a supply port for communicating between the inside and the outside of the ink container housed in the exterior body ;
A fitting rib formed on the peripheral edge of the back surface side of the main body having a rectangular shape, an engaging hole formed in a substantially central portion of the main body to engage with the supply port, and the fitting on the peripheral edge of the engaging hole An engagement rib standing in the same direction as the rib, and a string portion and an arc portion , and the string portion is in contact with the proximal end of the fitting rib on the short side at a position adjacent to the engagement hole in the lateral direction. Of the engagement portion passing through the center O with the center O of a virtual circle VC formed by connecting the sticking region of the communication tag formed in a state and each end of the arc portion of the sticking region as the origin In an orthogonal coordinate system having a virtual line X parallel to the long side and having a positive direction as approaching the engagement rib and a virtual line Y passing through the center O in a direction perpendicular to the virtual line X as coordinate axes formed in the first quadrant and the bonded area in a formation region E a in the region in the fourth quadrant when the compartment A tag peeling hole, and an engagement portion that fits into an opening of the exterior body when the ink container is accommodated in the exterior body,
With
Injecting a predetermined amount of ink into the ink container having less ink than the specified amount;
Removing the communication tag from the engagement portion by pulling and pulling the part of the communication tag that is attached by inserting a stick-like member into the tag peeling hole ; and
Arranging a replacement communication tag in which cartridge information corresponding to the ink cartridge to be reproduced is written at a predetermined position of the corresponding ink cartridge;
Remanufacturing method features and to Louis ink cartridge that has a. Having a communication tag in which cartridge information including ink information relating to ink to be filled in a prescribed amount in an ink container is written;
A method of reproducing an ink cartridge attached to a printing apparatus having a function of reading the cartridge information and supplying ink in the ink container,
The ink cartridge is
A box-shaped exterior body having an opening;
An ink supply portion having a supply port portion for communicating between the inside and the outside of the container, and an ink container housed in the exterior body;
A fitting rib formed on the peripheral edge of the back surface side of the main body having a rectangular shape, an engaging hole formed in a substantially central portion of the main body to engage with the supply port, and the fitting on the peripheral edge of the engaging hole An engagement rib standing in the same direction as the joint rib, and a position covered by a communication tag stuck between the engagement rib and the engagement rib, and passing through the center of gravity G of the communication tag A tag peel-off hole formed at least in part in a formation region Ee that is a region on the engagement rib side that is partitioned by a virtual perpendicular PL that forms a right angle with the fitting rib on the long side, and the ink container A rectangular engagement portion that fits into the opening of the exterior body when accommodated in the exterior body,
Injecting a predetermined amount of ink into the ink container having less ink than the specified amount;
The communication tag is removed from the engagement portion by picking and pulling the part of the communication tag that is attached to the tag peel-off hole formed in the formation region Ee while floating a part of the communication tag. Process,
Arranging a replacement communication tag in which cartridge information corresponding to the ink cartridge to be reproduced is written at a predetermined position of the corresponding ink cartridge;
Remanufacturing method features and to Louis ink cartridge that has a. The exchange communication tag is arranged at a position facing the tag peeling hole with an adjustment member interposed in at least a part of the exchange communication tag. A method for regenerating the ink cartridge as described. The ink according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a step of loading the ink container, to which the engagement portion provided with the replacement communication tag is attached, into a replacement exterior body. Cartridge remanufacturing method.