JP6709604B2 - ink cartridge - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an ink cartridge mounted in an inkjet printer, and more specifically, a negative pressure forming chamber provided in the ink cartridge enables negative pressure to be formed in the ink cartridge, thereby increasing the amount of ink stored. Regarding the ink cartridge.

An ink jet printer, which is an example of a printing apparatus, normally sends ink stored in an ink cartridge mounted in an ink cartridge mounting section in the apparatus from an ink ejection port to a recording head, and the recording head ejects a sheet or the like. Images and characters are recorded by ejecting and applying ink onto the recording medium.

In the development of an ink cartridge used in an inkjet printing apparatus, negative pressure control adapted to the driving force of an inkjet head such as a piezoelectric method or a thermal method is performed.

For example, an ink cartridge has been proposed in which a negative pressure generating member such as a sponge is provided inside the ink cartridge and a negative pressure is obtained by the capillary force of the negative pressure generating member. (For example, Patent Document 1)

In addition, an ink cartridge has been proposed in which the ink volume inside the ink cartridge can be increased to some extent by providing a substantial ink storage chamber and a two-layer negative pressure generating member inside the ink cartridge. (For example, Patent Document 2)

Further, there has been proposed an ink cartridge that has an air valve formed of a membrane valve that communicates with the atmosphere port inside the ink cartridge and that adjusts the negative pressure inside the ink cartridge. (For example, Patent Document 3)

JP, 2009-119703, A JP, 2000-33715, A JP, 2005-170027, A

However, the ink cartridge proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-242242 has a problem that the negative pressure generating member occupies a very large proportion of the ink containing chamber and the amount of ink contained in the ink cartridge is small.

In addition, the ink cartridge proposed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 2 can increase the ink capacity in the ink cartridge to some extent by providing a substantial ink containing chamber and a two-layer negative pressure generating member inside the ink cartridge. However, there are problems that the structure inside the ink cartridge becomes complicated and the manufacturing cost becomes high.

Further, the ink cartridge proposed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 3 is provided with an air valve formed of a membrane valve that communicates with the atmosphere port inside the ink cartridge, and by adjusting the negative pressure inside the ink cartridge, a sponge is formed inside the ink cartridge. Since a negative pressure material such as is not provided, it is possible to increase the ink filling amount in the ink cartridge, but there is a problem that not only the structure inside the ink cartridge becomes complicated but also the manufacturing cost increases. ..

The present invention has been made as a result of intensive research on how to increase the ink filling amount and to obtain a cartridge having a stable negative pressure with respect to an ink cartridge having the same volume.

That is, it is an object of the present invention to provide an ink cartridge which has a large ink filling amount, a stable negative pressure, and good printing without ink leakage with respect to an ink cartridge having the same volume. Further, it is another object of the present invention to provide an ink cartridge which does not leak ink even when it is subjected to shock, temperature change, and atmospheric pressure change during transportation.

This object is achieved by a combination of features described in independent claims of the invention. Further, the dependent claims define further advantageous specific examples of the present invention.

That is, the first aspect of the present invention is an ink cartridge including at least an ink storage chamber for storing ink, an ink discharge port for discharging the ink, and an atmosphere opening port, which communicates with the atmosphere opening port. A negative pressure forming chamber that communicates with the ink containing chamber forms a space with the bottom of the ink containing chamber and is provided inside the ink containing chamber, and the ink containing chamber is provided with a portion near the bottom of the ink containing chamber. A capillary having two end portions penetrating the bottom of the negative pressure forming chamber and communicating with the inside of the negative pressure forming chamber is provided, and the capillary is located near the bottom of the ink containing chamber of the two end portions of the capillary. Air from the atmosphere opening port from one end is introduced into the ink containing chamber via the negative pressure forming chamber, the bottom center portion of the bottom of the negative pressure forming chamber is configured by the bottom surface of the capillary holder, The capillary is fixed to the bottom of the negative pressure forming chamber by being inserted into a hole provided at the center of the capillary holder, the capillary is formed in a cylindrical shape, and the negative end of the two ends of the capillary is By making the other end in the pressure forming chamber into an elliptical shape obtained by obliquely cutting a cylinder, the other end of the capillary when the ink in the ink containing chamber moves into the negative pressure forming chamber. The ink cartridge is characterized by reducing the surface tension acting on the ink.

In a second aspect of the present invention, an ink reservoir is provided at the bottom of the ink storage chamber according to the first aspect of the invention, and the bottom surface of the ink storage portion is located at the bottom of the ink storage chamber. The ink cartridge is characterized in that it is lower than the position of the opening of the ink containing chamber connected to the ink ejection port.

In a third aspect of the present invention, the ink reservoir according to the second aspect is provided at a position apart from the ink containing chamber opening connected to the ink discharge port provided on the bottom surface of the ink containing chamber. The ink cartridge is characterized in that

A fourth invention of the present invention is characterized in that the one end of the capillary according to any one of the second invention to the third invention is provided in the vicinity of the bottom of the ink reservoir. It is an ink cartridge.

A fifth invention of the present invention is characterized in that an atmosphere communication passage is provided between the atmosphere opening port and the ink containing chamber according to any one of the first invention to the fourth invention, and on an outer upper surface of the ink containing chamber. An ink cartridge characterized in that it is provided.

An ink cartridge according to a first aspect of the present invention is an ink cartridge that includes at least an ink storage chamber that stores ink, an ink discharge port that discharges ink, and an atmosphere opening port, and that communicates with the atmosphere opening port. Further, a negative pressure forming chamber communicating with the ink containing chamber is provided inside the ink containing chamber by forming a space with the bottom of the ink containing chamber, and the ink containing chamber is provided from the vicinity of the bottom of the ink containing chamber to the bottom of the negative pressure forming chamber. A capillary having two ends communicating with the inside of the negative pressure forming chamber is provided, and one end of the two ends of the capillary near the bottom of the ink containing chamber is connected to the atmosphere opening port. Air is introduced into the ink containing chamber via the negative pressure forming chamber, the center of the bottom surface of the bottom of the negative pressure forming chamber is formed by the bottom surface of the capillary holder, and the capillary is inserted into the hole provided in the center of the capillary holder. fixed to the bottom portion of the negative pressure generating chamber by the capillary is formed in a cylindrical shape, the other end portion in the negative pressure generating chamber of the two ends of the capillary, and ellipsoid shape obtained by cutting a cylinder at an angle By doing so, the surface tension acting on the ink at the other end of the capillary is reduced when the ink in the ink containing chamber moves into the negative pressure forming chamber . Since the present invention is configured as described above, it is possible to perform good printing with a large ink filling amount and a stable negative pressure, and no ink leakage, with respect to ink cartridges of the same volume. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent ink leakage even with impact, temperature change, and atmospheric pressure change during transportation. Since the other end of the capillary has a shape that is slanted downward, ink easily flows downward in the negative pressure forming chamber, so that the ink rapidly moves into the negative pressure forming chamber and leaks from the atmosphere opening port. Can be prevented.

Further, in the ink cartridge of the second aspect of the present invention, the ink reservoir is provided at the bottom of the ink containing chamber, and the position of the bottom surface of the ink reservoir is connected to the ink ejection port provided on the bottom of the ink containing chamber. Since the position is lower than the position of the opening of the ink chamber, the ink remains in the ink reservoir even when the remaining amount of ink is small.Therefore, the end near the bottom of the ink containing chamber of the capillary is always placed in the ink. As a result, the negative pressure is stabilized, and good printing without ink leakage can be performed.

Further, the ink cartridge according to the third aspect of the present invention is configured such that the ink reservoir portion is provided at a position apart from the ink chamber opening portion connected to the ink ejection port provided on the bottom surface of the ink containing chamber. The ink stored in the ink reservoir is not sucked by the force of ejecting the ink, and the end of the capillary near the bottom of the ink storage chamber is always placed in the ink. Is stable, and good printing without ink leakage can be performed.

Further, in the ink cartridge according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since one end of the capillary is provided in the vicinity of the bottom of the ink reservoir, one end of the capillary can more reliably store the ink. It is possible to perform good printing with stable negative pressure and no ink leakage by placing it inside.

Further, since the ink cartridge according to the fifth aspect of the present invention has a structure in which the atmosphere communication passage is provided on the outer upper surface of the ink containing chamber between the atmosphere opening port and the ink containing chamber, the ink cartridge is separated from the ink cartridge. Since air is introduced into the ink containing chamber from the outside of the ink cartridge when ejecting, the negative pressure is stable and good printing without ink leakage can be performed.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the ink cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the ink cartridge in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing only the ink storage chamber of the present invention as a sectional view. It is explanatory drawing of the capillary in FIG. 4A and 4B are plan views of the canopy portion of the ink storage chamber in FIG. 3, as viewed from the top side and FIG.

One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to this case, and can be appropriately selected.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the ink cartridge 1 of the present embodiment is an ink cartridge 1 including at least an ink storage chamber 2 that stores ink, an ink discharge port 3 that discharges ink, and an atmosphere opening port 4. Therefore, the ink ejection port 3 is provided on the bottom portion 18 side of the ink containing chamber 2, and the atmosphere opening port 4 is provided on the upper side of the ink containing chamber 2 so as to communicate with the atmosphere opening port 4 and the ink containing chamber 2. A negative pressure forming chamber 6 is provided inside the ink containing chamber 2 by forming a space with the bottom part 18 of the ink containing chamber 2. In the ink containing chamber 2, from the vicinity of the bottom part 18 of the ink containing chamber 2 to the negative pressure forming chamber 6 is formed. Is provided with a capillary 8 having two end portions that penetrate the bottom portion 7 of the ink cartridge 2 and communicate with the inside of the negative pressure forming chamber 6. From the two end portions of the capillary 8 in the vicinity of the bottom portion 18 of the ink containing chamber 2, The air from the atmosphere opening port 4 is introduced into the ink containing chamber 2 via the negative pressure forming chamber 6.

The ink containing chamber 2 is composed of a hollow shape portion which is composed of a bottom portion 18 and side portions and is open at the upper side, and a canopy portion 13 which covers the opening portion above the hollow shape portion, and the hollow shape portion is provided in the canopy portion 13. Ink can be filled from the ink inlet 23. Below the ink cartridge 1, an ink ejection port 3 for ejecting the ink in the ink accommodation chamber 2 is provided, and at a bottom portion 18 of the ink accommodation chamber 2, an ink accommodation chamber opening 24 connected to the ink ejection port 3 is provided. By flowing the ink inside the ink storage chamber 2 from the ink storage chamber opening 24 to the ink discharge port 3, the ink can be discharged from the ink discharge port 3 to the outside of the ink cartridge 1. The bottom 18 of the ink storage chamber 2 is provided with an ink reservoir 20, and the position of the bottom surface of the ink reservoir 20 is preferably lower than the position of the ink storage chamber opening 24. Further, it is desirable that the ink reservoir 20 is provided at a position away from the ink containing chamber opening 24. More specifically, the ink reservoir 20 is provided near one end of the bottom 18 of the ink containing chamber 2 in the longitudinal direction. It is desirable to provide the chamber opening 24 near the other end of the bottom portion 18 of the ink containing chamber 2 in the longitudinal direction.

As shown in FIG. 5, the canopy portion 13 is formed with an atmosphere opening 4, an atmosphere communication passage 14, and an opening 5 so that the atmosphere can communicate between the inside and the outside of the ink containing chamber 2. When the inside of the ink containing chamber 2 is partitioned by the negative pressure forming chamber 6, two openings 21 are provided in the canopy 13 so as to be connected to each of the two divided ink containing chambers 2. It is desirable to connect the two openings 21 by a communication path 22. The opening 5, the atmosphere communication passage 14, the opening 21, and the communication passage 22 are provided on the upper surface of the canopy portion 13, but the upper surface of the canopy portion 13 is sealed except for the atmosphere opening port 4, so that the opening Only the air originally existing inside and the air newly introduced from the atmosphere opening port 4 pass through the portion 5, the atmosphere communication passage 14, the opening 21, and the communication passage 22.

As shown in FIGS. 2-3, the negative pressure forming chamber 6 has a hollow shape including a bottom portion 7 and side portions and is open at the upper side, and forms a space with the bottom portion 18 of the ink containing chamber 2 to form the ink containing chamber. The top of the ink containing chamber 2 is provided with an opening and is covered with a canopy portion 13 of the ink containing chamber 2. The negative pressure forming chamber 6 and the ink containing chamber 2 are partitioned by the side portion and the bottom portion 7 of the negative pressure forming chamber 6, and the ink in the ink containing chamber 2 passes through a capillary 8 penetrating the bottom portion 7. Only the negative pressure forming chamber 6 is moved. The movement of the ink from the ink containing chamber 2 to the negative pressure forming chamber 6 causes the ink to leak from the ink cartridge 1 to the outside when the internal air or the ink expands due to the temperature rise or the pressure change in the ink containing chamber 2. This is a function to prevent this.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the capillary 8 has two end portions that penetrate from the vicinity of the bottom portion 18 of the ink containing chamber 2 to the bottom portion 7 of the negative pressure forming chamber 6 and communicate with the inside of the negative pressure forming chamber 6. I have it. The central portion of the bottom surface of the bottom portion 7 of the negative pressure forming chamber 6 is configured by the bottom surface of the capillary holder 9, and the capillary 8 is fixed to the bottom portion 7 of the negative pressure forming chamber 6 by being inserted into the hole provided in the center of the capillary holder 9. It The capillary holder 9 is composed of an upper disc portion 10 and a lower inverted frustoconical portion 11 integrally provided on the lower surface of the disc portion 10. A hole that passes to the center of the lower surface is provided so that the capillary 8 can be fixed, and is fitted and fixed in a recess provided in the lower inside of the negative pressure forming chamber 6. Further, a hollow cylindrical slobe 12 is arranged on the upper surface of the disk portion 10 of the capillary holder 9 so as to surround the side of the capillary 8, and the lower opening of the filter storage portion 17 of the canopy portion 13 is opened above the slobe 12. The capillary holder 9 can be more reliably fixed by holding the capillary holder 9 with the canopy 13 via the slot 12 so as to be in contact with the portion. In the present embodiment, the capillary holder 9 is provided separately from the negative pressure forming chamber 6, but it may be integrated with the negative pressure forming chamber 6.

Further, one end of the capillary 8 is arranged in the negative pressure forming chamber 6 and the other end is arranged in the vicinity of the bottom portion 18 of the ink containing chamber 2, and the capillary 8 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and one end of the capillary 8 is a cylinder. It has an elliptical shape cut obliquely, and has a hole in the center from one end to the other end so that ink and air can pass in the longitudinal direction. With this configuration, the air from the atmosphere opening port 4 can be introduced into the ink containing chamber 2 via the negative pressure forming chamber 6, so that the negative pressure can be stabilized.

Since the ink remains in the ink reservoir 20 even when the remaining amount of ink is low, the other end of the capillary 8 is always provided with ink by providing the other end of the capillary 8 near the bottom of the ink reservoir 20. Since it is arranged inside, the negative pressure can be more stabilized.

Further, since one end of the capillary 8 has the above-described shape, when the ink in the ink containing chamber 2 moves into the negative pressure forming chamber 6, the area of the one end of the capillary 8 becomes large, so that one end of the capillary 8 is filled with the ink. The surface tension acting becomes small, and since one end of the capillary 8 is slanted downwardly, the ink easily flows downward in the negative pressure forming chamber 6, so that the ink suddenly enters the negative pressure forming chamber 6. It can be prevented from moving and leaking from the atmosphere opening port 4.

The atmosphere communication passage 14 is provided in the form of a narrow groove above the canopy portion 13 of the ink containing chamber 2, and connects the atmosphere opening port 4 and the opening 5 communicating with the negative pressure forming chamber 6. When sealing is performed excluding the atmosphere opening port 4 of the canopy portion 13 of the ink containing chamber 2, the atmosphere communication passage 14 becomes a narrow passage from the atmosphere opening port 4 to the opening 5, and the atmosphere communication passage 14 extends from the atmosphere opening port 4. Since it becomes a resistance against the inflow of air, the inside of the ink containing chamber 2 can be maintained in a negative pressure state.

The filter 15 has a substantially columnar shape, and one end of the filter 15 has an elliptical surface shape obtained by obliquely cutting a columnar shape, and a thin film shape that allows air to pass through and prevents ink from passing through the central portion of the elliptical surface at this one end. The air valve 16 is provided. The other end of the filter 15 has a hollow cylindrical shape, and is fitted into a hollow cylindrical filter storage portion 17 provided below the canopy portion 13 of the ink storage chamber 2. Since the inside of the filter 15 is hollow, the air that has flowed into the filter 15 through the opening 5 of the canopy portion 13 passes through the air valve 16 and flows into the negative pressure forming chamber 6.

The air valve 16 enables air to move from the atmosphere opening port 4 to the negative pressure forming chamber 6 through the atmosphere communication passage 14, and allows passage of ink that has moved from the ink containing chamber 2 and rapidly ejected from one end of the capillary 8. To prevent. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the ink from leaking from the atmosphere opening port 4. Further, since one end of the filter 15 including the air valve 16 is an inclined surface, even if the ink adheres to the air valve 16, the ink drips to the tip of the one end of the filter 15. Prevents blocking the flow path.

The ink ejection port plug 19 has a substantially columnar shape and is fitted so as to seal the ink ejection port 3. A circular hole is provided at the center of one side, and is provided so as to face the inside of the ink containing chamber 2 after fitting with the ink discharge port 3, and a slit is provided at the center of the other side, and fitted with the ink discharge port 3. The rest is provided so as to face the outer surface of the ink cartridge 1. When the ink cartridge 1 is used, the ink supply needle on the printing device side is inserted from the slit of the ink discharge port plug 19. At this time, a gap is formed between the ink supply needle and the slit of the ink discharge port plug 19, and the ink can be discharged to the outside through this gap.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the upper part of the ink containing chamber 2 is partitioned by the negative pressure forming chamber 6, the negative pressure forming chamber 6 divides the upper part of the ink containing chamber 2 into two parts. At this time, when the air from the atmosphere opening port 4 flows into the ink containing chamber 2 via the capillary, the air is biased to one of the two divided ink containing chambers 2 and the ink amount is biased.

As shown in FIG. 5, the canopy portion 13 is provided with two openings 21 so as to be connected to each of the two divided ink storage chambers 2, and the two openings 21 are connected by a communication passage 22. To do. With this configuration, movement of air occurs between the two divided ink storage chambers 2, and the air amount and the ink amount can be balanced.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Ink cartridge 2... Ink storage chamber 3... Ink ejection port 4... Atmosphere opening port 5... Opening portion 6... Negative pressure forming chamber 7... Bottom portion 8... Capillary 9... Capillary holder 10... Disk portion 11... Inverted conical trapezoidal portion 12... Slobe 13... Canopy part 14... Atmosphere communication path 15... Filter 16... Air valve 17... Filter storage part 18... Bottom part 19... Ink ejection port plug 20... Ink reservoir part 21... Opening part 22... Communication path 23... Ink injection Inlet 24... Ink chamber opening

Claims (5)

At least an ink storage chamber for storing ink, an ink discharge port for discharging the ink, and an atmosphere opening port are provided, and the ink discharge port is provided on the bottom side of the ink storage chamber, and the atmosphere opening port is for storing the ink. An ink cartridge provided on the upper side of the chamber,
A negative pressure forming chamber that communicates with the atmosphere opening port and that communicates with the ink containing chamber forms a space with the bottom of the ink containing chamber and is provided inside the ink containing chamber, and the ink containing chamber contains the ink. A capillary having two ends communicating with the inside of the negative pressure forming chamber through the bottom of the negative pressure forming chamber from the vicinity of the bottom of the storage chamber is provided, and the ink of the two ends of the capillary is provided. Air from the atmosphere opening port is introduced into the ink containing chamber from the one end near the bottom of the containing chamber via the negative pressure forming chamber,
The bottom center portion of the bottom of the negative pressure forming chamber is configured by the bottom surface of the capillary holder, the capillary is fixed to the bottom of the negative pressure forming chamber by being inserted into a hole provided in the center of the capillary holder,
The capillary is formed in a cylindrical shape, and the other end of the two ends of the capillary in the negative pressure forming chamber is formed into an elliptical shape by obliquely cutting the cylinder, thereby forming the ink containing chamber. An ink cartridge which reduces surface tension acting on the ink at the other end of the capillary when the ink moves to the negative pressure forming chamber . An ink reservoir is provided at the bottom of the ink storage chamber, and the position of the bottom surface of the ink reservoir is lower than the position of the ink storage chamber opening connected to the ink ejection port provided on the bottom of the ink storage chamber. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the ink cartridge is present. The ink cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the ink reservoir is provided at a position apart from the opening of the ink containing chamber. 4. The ink cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the one end of the capillary is provided near the bottom of the ink reservoir. 5. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising an atmosphere communication passage provided on the outer upper surface of the ink containing chamber between the atmosphere opening port and the ink containing chamber.

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