JPH07125232A - Cartridge for ink jet, ink jet head and printer, and manufacture of the cartridge for ink jet - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To optimize an ink cartridge respectively corresponding to storage and using conditions thereof as well as a printing condition and to prevent an ink from leaking from the ink cartridge due to the variation of an environmental condition. CONSTITUTION:An area in the vicinity of an air-communication section 10 of a negative pressure-generating member 3 does not hold an ink. A first storage chamber that houses the negative pressure-generating member 3 and is equipped with the air-communication section 10 for obtaining the air-communication comprises the area not holding the ink in the vicinity of the air-communication section 10 of the negative pressure-generating member 3. A second storage chamber 6 that is substantially in a sealed condition and communicates to the first storage chamber via only a small communication section 8, directly stores the ink to be supplied to the first storage chamber.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet cartridge containing a liquid ink, a manufacturing method for producing the same, an ink jet head and a printer using this cartridge, and a recording device such as a copying machine or a facsimile. The present invention relates to an invention applicable to communication equipment, office equipment, multifunction equipment, printers, and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an ink jet ink cartridge is integrated with an ink jet head, and when the ink in the cartridge cannot be ejected, it is often discarded together with the head. Even if improvements are made, the amount of ink remaining in the cartridge at this stage is relatively large due to the ink holding capacity of the sponge, which is the negative pressure generator that is stored almost entirely in the cartridge. It was dead.

An ink container of this type is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-6.
No. 3242 can be mentioned. That is, it is a cartridge of one inkjet recording head in which a foam material is arranged in an ink container and which is provided with a plurality of ink ejection orifices. In this ink container, since ink is stored in a porous medium such as polyurethane foam, which is a foam material, a negative pressure is generated by the capillary force of the foam and the ink is retained (prevention of ink leakage from the ink container). However, since the foam is required almost entirely in the ink storage layer, the filling amount of the ink is limited and the amount of the ink that remains unused in the foam is large, resulting in poor ink use efficiency. was there. Further, there is a problem that it is difficult to detect the remaining amount of ink, and the negative pressure gradually changes during the ink consumption period, making it difficult to maintain a substantially constant negative pressure.

In contrast to this structure, there is a publication which discloses a cartridge which adopts a structure in which the ink cartridge holds substantially only ink. That is, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-522, an ink jet in which a small amount of a porous member is arranged between a primary ink storage section located above and holding a large amount of ink and an ink jet recording head located below. An ink cartridge integrated with a recording head is disclosed. According to the present invention, the use efficiency of ink can be improved by disposing the porous member only in the ink flow path without incorporating it in the ink storage unit. Further, by providing a secondary ink storage part as a space capable of holding ink on the side of the porous member, the primary ink storage due to the expansion of the air in the primary ink storage part due to the temperature rise (pressure drop) It is said that the negative pressure on the recording head at the time of recording can be kept substantially constant by collecting the ink flowing out from the section.

However, according to the invention of this publication, in the non-recording time, the porous member is soaked with the ink from the primary ink storage portion which is located above and holds a large amount of the ink so much that the ink is too much. Therefore, the generation of negative pressure in the porous member itself is almost eliminated.
Therefore, there is a problem that the ink leaks from the orifice of the inkjet recording head with a slight impact.
Not suitable for practical use. In addition, the adoption of the exchangeable ink cartridge type in which the ink container is attached to the ink recording head has a problem that it cannot be put to practical use because the state of the porous member causes ink leakage.

On the other hand, there is also known an ink cartridge in which ink is enclosed in a bag and a spring structure is added to make the negative pressure of the bag constant, but it is not only expensive but also expensive. Maintaining the performance of the spring configuration and achieving mass production has been difficult.

In any case, no inexpensive (non-contact recording print type) ink cartridge has been provided in the field of ink jet printing which is at a reasonable technical level in the field of ink jet printing.

[0008]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present inventors have found that, as an ink container suitable for the technical field of ink jet printing, it is possible to satisfactorily supply ink corresponding to the amount of ink ejected from a recording head during printing. Both sides of the fact that there is no inconvenience such as ink leakage from the ejection port during printing were examined. As a result, as a basic configuration, the negative pressure generating member is accommodated, and the first storage chamber provided with an atmosphere communication portion for obtaining communication with the atmosphere and the first storage chamber communicates with the first storage chamber, but is in a substantially sealed state. Therefore, the structure having the second storage chamber for directly storing the ink to be supplied to the first storage chamber has become an important prerequisite for the characteristics of the inkjet.

On the other hand, the present inventors have studied the contact recording technique different from the technical field of the present invention,
We decided to reexamine the technical peculiarities of the inkjet printing field. Generally, a recording instrument pen that makes contact with a recording medium to perform recording supplies ink to a recording core that has ink absorbability and retention, and therefore the recording core itself is exposed to the atmosphere. , The technical content of the inkjet field is fundamentally different.

As a result of investigation, it was found that Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 16385/1982.
I found the publication. This publication discloses a recording instrument pen that is premised on the use of a recording core (a porous ink-absorbent core) that makes contact with a recording medium to perform recording. Only the ink overflowed.

This publication discloses a first contact for contacting a lower recording core.
The liquid absorbent material and a second liquid absorbent material that slightly absorbs the ink on the upper air communication port side but is less likely to contain the ink than the first liquid absorbent material are provided, and the recording core is projected downward at the center. This is an invention in which a chamber and a hermetically sealed ink containing chamber for supplying ink to both sides of the chamber are essential components. According to this configuration, the air in the hermetically sealed ink storage chamber expands due to the rise in ambient temperature, the ink in the hermetically sealed ink storage chamber reaches the first liquid absorbing material, and the ink that cannot be held by the first liquid absorbing material is reached. By absorbing the second liquid absorbing material, it is possible to prevent the ink from overflowing and falling from the recording core. Further, in this publication, when one of the two hermetically sealed ink storage chambers contains only air, a groove having a constant width is provided to allow the expansion of the air to escape to the atmosphere communication port side. It also discloses that it is provided from the lowermost end to the uppermost end of a side surface different from the partition wall.

The inventors of the present invention focused on applying only this tank configuration to a non-contact recording ink jet head having few technical similarities. A new phenomenon of ink overflow was confirmed.

This novel phenomenon has not been recognized in the field of recorder instrument pens.

Further, since the groove having a constant width in the above publication also has a function of promoting discharge of ink together with air, it further promotes ink overflow from the atmosphere communication port.

Further, the ink consumption from the ink storage chambers on both sides is not equal, and when the ink in one ink storage chamber is exhausted first, the ink jet recording is performed even though a large amount of ink remains in the other ink storage chamber. I couldn't do it. This was a result of wasting the ink in the ink storage chamber, which was fundamentally contrary to the object of the present invention. This was because a large amount of air had entered the first liquid absorbent material, and as a result, ink could not be supplied.

[0016]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The main object of the present invention is to accommodate a negative pressure generating member and to communicate with the first storage chamber having an atmosphere communication portion for establishing communication with the atmosphere. Is provided with a characteristic that it can effectively function as an inkjet printer, to a cartridge of a pre-requisite having a second storage chamber for directly storing ink to be supplied to the first storage chamber in a substantially closed state. It is to provide a revolutionary ink cartridge that solves the problem. Another object of the present invention is to provide a replaceable ink cartridge capable of keeping a negative pressure substantially constant from the beginning to the end of use of the ink cartridge and capable of high-speed recording, and an inkjet head using the same. It is also to provide a printer.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a replaceable ink cartridge which develops a negative pressure in the ink cartridge even during non-recording and does not leak ink from the opening due to a slight impact.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an ink cartridge which can reduce the amount of ink remaining in the ink cartridge as much as possible.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a replaceable ink cartridge which is cheaper under the conditions of distribution and manufacture of the replaceable ink cartridge alone and has an increased ink leakage prevention function. is there.

The present invention is based on a technical point of view that the conventional state of the art is wiped out regardless of the storage state or the use state of the ink cartridge. The area in which the ink is not held can prevent the ink in the ink cartridge from leaking from the atmosphere communicating portion in response to changes in environmental conditions. In particular, when the seal member seals the atmosphere communicating portion, it also has the effect of preventing the seal member from peeling off. In addition, in the usage state, this area can efficiently supply the amount of air into the cartridge as needed, and also has an effect of suppressing the negative pressure change in the inkjet cartridge. It is preferable that the region in the vicinity of the atmosphere communicating portion is not wetted by the ink at all, because the permeation speed of the ink itself can be further reduced, but it may be a region in which the ink is removed after being previously wetted with the ink. .

In addition, the present invention is based on the above preconditions.
By providing an ink supply opening or a compression (or compressible) region of the negative pressure generator by a supply pipe on the side facing the partition wall forming the minute communication portion,
The ink in the second storage chamber can secure a stable and substantial ink supply passage inside the negative pressure generator, and the ink supply opening is located above the minute communicating portion with respect to the lower surface of the ink cartridge so as to further stabilize the ink supply passage. It can be mentioned that it is located at. The "supply pipe" referred to in the present invention
Includes not only an insertion tube peculiar to an ink jet, but also a valve structure attached to a cartridge to compressively deform a negative pressure generator and a connecting member. The effect of this arrangement relationship is that the substantial ink movement direction can be made constant, and all the ink in the second storage chamber can be consumed. After this consumption, the atmosphere moves from the partition wall side to the opposing opening side. By interposing, the ink in the negative pressure generator can be consumed as a result, and the residual ink can be reduced.

In particular, with respect to the above premise, a region which is not compressed by the supply pipe of the negative pressure generator from the partition wall forming the minute communication portion toward the side facing the wall,
By having the regions compressed by the supply pipe of the negative pressure generator in this order, the above-mentioned one-direction ink supply path can be formed in the uncompressed region, and the same effect can be obtained. With this, the ink remaining amount can be further reduced.

Therefore, the more preferable invention of the present invention can satisfy the three configurations listed above,
Of course, it can be understood that the above-mentioned configurations alone or a combination of any two configurations can obtain excellent effects.

On the other hand, in the ink jet cartridge of the present invention, the operator's finger is touched, but normally, the inconvenience is unlikely to occur, but if a strong pressure is applied, the size of the storage chamber for storing only the ink is large. Although it depends, it is easy to deform. Therefore, as a structure for solving the problem caused by the external pressure, it is preferable to provide a partition plate having a larger gap than the partition wall forming the minute communication portion in the ink-only chamber. From the viewpoint of deformation, when these cartridges are made of resin, the wall thickness Ti of the ink containing chamber is 0.8 mm (point G in FIG. 20) or more,
It is preferable that the wall thickness Ts of the storage chamber that stores the sponge or the like as the negative pressure generating member is 1.3 mm (point J in FIG. 20) or more. Further, it was found that it is more preferable that the wall thickness Ts is in the range of 1.2 times or more and 3 times or less of the wall thickness Ti.

As the ink jet printer of the present invention, in accordance with mounting of the above-mentioned cartridge of the present invention, ink is automatically or instructed to be discharged from the inside of the cartridge by suction or ejection by a suction means through a head. That is, since the ink state in the negative pressure generating body can be corrected before printing, the original function of the cartridge can be used without being affected by the state of the cartridge left unattended.

In the method for manufacturing the cartridge of the present invention, the minute communicating portion is formed between the lid member and the partition wall by fixing the lid member for housing the negative pressure generating member in the recess of the housing chamber to the main body. Since the negative pressure generating member in the vicinity of the minute communication portion can be stabilized, the mass production is excellent and the stability of the performance is ensured.

The height of the minute communication part to the partition wall is
Larger than the average pore diameter of the negative pressure generating member (preferably the average pore diameter in the vicinity of the minute communication portion) (practically 0.1 mm or more), 5
mm or less is suitable. If more stabilization is expected, it is preferably 3 mm or less. Further, the ratio of the volume of the storage chamber of the negative pressure generating member to the volume of the storage chamber of only ink can be set in the range of 1: 1 or more and 1: 3 or less as the practically optimum range.

The effects and characteristics of other inventions according to the present invention can be understood from the following embodiments.

[0029]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

1 to 6, in addition to the preconditions of the present invention, for supplying ink to the surface of the negative pressure generating member accommodating portion facing the partition wall 5 forming the minute communicating portion 8 with the bottom surface of the cartridge. It is an example of a configuration in which an opening is provided.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a part of the ink container of the first embodiment in a cutaway manner, and FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of the first embodiment.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the ink cartridge main body 1 of this embodiment, an opening 2 for connecting with an ink jet recording head is provided with a gap 8 as a minute communicating portion.
The negative pressure generating member accommodating portion 4 having the position displaced to the side and accommodating the negative pressure generating member 3 is adjacent to the negative pressure generating member accommodating portion via the partition wall 5 and communicated with the ink cartridge bottom portion 11. The ink storage unit 6 stores only ink.

With this configuration, the atmosphere is supplied from the opening 2, but what is important is that the ink in the ink containing section 6 is only passed through the communicating section 8 as compared with the configuration of the atmosphere communicating section. That is, the ink is reliably supplied to the opening 2 side along the ink cartridge bottom 11. As the ink is supplied, the atmosphere is replaced with the ink in the ink container 6 and is replenished.

Here, a state in which the negative pressure generating member in the region near the opening of the negative pressure generating member accommodating portion 4 that can be compressed and deformed by the supply pipe is compressed and deformed by the supply pipe will be described. In FIG. 3, a joint member 7 as a supply pipe for supplying ink to an ink jet recording head is inserted into the replaceable ink cartridge of the present invention, and the ink jet recording apparatus is brought into a operable state by being pressed against the negative pressure generating member. It is a schematic cross section at the time. A filter may be installed at the end of the joint member to remove dust inside the ink cartridge.

When the ink jet recording apparatus operates, ink is ejected from the orifice of the ink jet recording head, and an ink suction force is generated in the replaceable ink cartridge. The suction force of the ink 9 causes the gap 8 between the end of the partition wall and the bottom 11 of the ink cartridge from the ink containing portion 6 to be sucked.
Through the negative pressure generating member accommodating portion 4, the negative pressure generating member 3, the negative pressure generating member 3 is drawn into the joint member 7, and the ink is supplied to the inkjet recording head. As a result, the pressure inside the ink container 6 that is closed except for the gap 8 is reduced, and a pressure difference is generated between the ink container 6 and the negative pressure generating member container 4. The pressure difference continues to increase as recording continues, but since the negative pressure generating member portion is open to the atmosphere by the gap 12 between the joint member portion and the joint opening portion, air passes through the negative pressure generating member. The ink container 4 enters through the gap 8 between the partition wall end 8 and the ink cartridge bottom 11. At this point, the ink containing portion 6 and the negative pressure generating member containing portion 4
The pressure difference between and is eliminated. This operation is repeated during inkjet recording, and a certain negative pressure is obtained in the ink cartridge. Further, almost all of the ink in the ink containing portion can be used except the ink attached to the wall surface in the ink containing portion, so that the ink use efficiency is improved.

At the time of non-recording, a capillary force of the negative pressure generating member itself (or a meniscus force at the ink-negative pressure generating member interface) is generated, and in particular, when the ink of the ink in the ink containing portion starts to be consumed. The ink holding state in the negative pressure generating member storage portion is substantially constant, and the gas collected in the ink storage portion is in a substantially negative pressure state, so that the pressure balance in the cartridge is extremely stable, and ink jet recording Prevents ink from leaking from the head.

Therefore, if the negative pressure generating member is selected according to the ink jet recording head to be jointed and the ratio between the negative pressure generating member accommodating portion and the ink accommodating portion is designed, the configuration shown in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 19 (A) and 19 (B), the ink of each color (for example, four colors of black, yellow, magenta, and cyan) is used to make the exchangeable ink cartridge of the present invention compatible with a color ink jet recording apparatus. Can be housed in individual replaceable ink cartridges and used. Further, as shown in FIG. 19 (A), individual ink cartridges may be integrated into a replaceable ink cartridge, or as shown in FIG. 19 (B), a replaceable ink cartridge for frequently used black ink. It may be a replaceable ink cartridge in which the other color ink integrated cartridge is separated. These combinations are arbitrary according to the inkjet device.

In the exchangeable ink cartridge of the present invention, in order to control the negative pressure in the ink jet recording head, not only the negative pressure generating member 3 is selected, the shape and the dimension thereof, but also the shape, the dimension, and the end portion of the partition wall 5, The shape and size of the gap 8 between the partition wall end portion 8 and the ink cartridge bottom portion 11,
The volume ratio of the negative pressure generating member accommodating part 4 and the ink accommodating part 6, the insertion amount of the joint member 7 into the exchangeable ink cartridge, the shape, the size, the shape and size of the filter 12, the roughness of the eyes, the surface tension of the ink, etc. It is more preferable to optimize according to the conditions used.

As the negative pressure generating member used in the present invention, a conventionally known member can be used as long as it has the ability to retain the ink itself against the own weight of the liquid (ink) and a slight vibration. For example, a cotton-like material in which fibers are meshed or a porous material having communication holes can be used. A sponge such as polyurethane foam is preferable because it is easy to adjust the ink holding power and the generation of negative pressure. In particular, in the case of foam, it is preferable because it can be adjusted so as to have a desired porosity during foam production. When the foam is subjected to a heat compression treatment to further adjust the porosity, decomposition products due to heating may be generated, which may change the physical properties of the ink and adversely affect the recording quality. Become. Further, in order to manufacture a replaceable ink cartridge compatible with various ink jet recording devices, a foam having a corresponding porosity is required, but a specific number of cells not subjected to thermal compression (the number of holes per inch). It is preferable to cut a foam material having a size of 1 to a desired size and insert it into the negative pressure generating member accommodating portion by compression to adjust the porosity and the capillary force.

In the above example, the joint member 7 and the joint opening 2 are provided with a gap to take in the atmosphere from the outside of the ink cartridge, but the present invention is not limited to this and the joint member and the joint opening portion. Any structure and shape may be used.
When the negative pressure generating member is a porous member such as a sponge, the porous member is prevented from escaping from the bottom of the ink cartridge when the joint member is inserted, as shown in FIGS. In order to maintain and secure the pressure contact surface between the filter portion and the negative pressure generating member, the end portion of the joint member 7 preferably has an arbitrary angle (taper) with respect to the joint member insertion direction. When the insertion amount of the joint member is too large, the tapered portion at the tip may cause cracks in the negative pressure generating member. Therefore, a surface structure as shown in FIG. 3C may be used.

Further, it is conceivable that the outer wall of the joint member is provided with irregularities for introducing the atmosphere so as to serve as an inlet for the atmosphere, but as shown in FIG. 5, the shape of the opening 2 is also a groove (see FIG. 5).
(A)) desired shape, that is, FIG. 5 (b) is rectangular,
It is possible to select a triangular shape as shown in FIG. The shape of the opening 2 is preferably such that a gap is provided such that the joint member and the opening are not sealed, or the opening 2 is located below the opening (on the bottom side of the ink cartridge), close to the outer periphery of the joint member, and opened at the upper portion of the opening. It has a shape like.

As described above, the replaceable ink cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention can serve as both the joint opening and the portion for taking in the atmosphere, and can have a simpler structure. The amount of the joint member 7 to be inserted into the exchangeable ink cartridge does not cause ink leakage at the time of insertion in consideration of the shape of the joint member, the negative pressure generating member, the shape of the ink cartridge, etc. It is preferable to set the compression region of the negative pressure generating member so as not to cause the above.

In contrast to the above embodiment, providing a communication hole to the atmosphere in addition to the joint opening on the side of the negative pressure generating member accommodating portion means that the negative pressure generating member region of the present invention that does not hold ink is formed. It is also effective for adopting the configuration provided in the vicinity of the atmosphere communicating portion, and is a suitable means for improving the reliability against environmental changes in the inkjet recording apparatus described later.

The shape and size of the gap 8 between the end of the partition wall and the bottom of the ink cartridge are arbitrary, but if the gap 8 is too narrow, the meniscus force with ink becomes strong and ink leakage from the joint opening can be suppressed. In addition, a force is required to supply ink to the negative pressure generating member accommodating portion, and ink may run out during use. Also, if it is too wide, the opposite phenomenon may occur, so the height of the minute communication part to the partition wall is larger than the average hole diameter of the negative pressure generating member (preferably the average hole diameter in the vicinity of the minute communication part). (Practically 0.1 mm or more) 5 mm or less is suitable. If more stabilization is expected, it is preferably 3 mm or less. Figure 7
Shows an example of the shape of the gap 8. FIG. 7A shows the most stable constructional shape for the present invention, which is used in the previous embodiment, and is provided at a constant height over the entire width of the cartridge. 7 (b) and 7 (c), the communicating portion is formed and meanders only in a part of the entire width of the cartridge. This configuration is effective when the volume of the entire cartridge is large, but is low in normal printers. FIG. 7D has a plurality of tunnel-shaped communication portions, and the ink easily moves to the inner surface of the cartridge, so that gas introduction for gas-ink exchange can be concentrated. 7 (e) and 7 (f), in addition to the configuration of FIG. 7 (a), a recess is formed in the partition wall on the ink storage chamber side in the vertical direction. Therefore, the gas that has reached the lower end of the partition wall is effectively introduced into the ink storage chamber relatively in the recess, and the gas recovery efficiency can be improved.

Incidentally, it is a more preferable condition to determine the gap 8 in consideration of the position of the joint opening. 6 (a) and 6 (b), (a)
Is at a position where the end of the partition wall is lower than the lower end of the joint opening, and the ink held in the negative pressure generating member is lower than the lower end of the joint opening, which is advantageous in suppressing ink leakage. On the other hand, in (b), the end of the partition wall is higher than the lower end of the joint opening, and the ink held in the negative pressure generating member is above the lower end of the joint opening, so ink leakage is suppressed. Less effective and not preferable. Therefore, there is an advantage that the effect of the present invention can be further stabilized by designing the size of the gap 8 such that the position of the end of the partition wall is the same as or lower than the lower end of the joint opening. Although it depends on the shape and size of the replacement ink cartridge, it can be put to practical use by selecting the height of the gap 8 from the maximum range of heights of 0.1 mm or more and 20 mm or less, and more preferably 0.5 to 5 mm. It is a degree. Further, the shape of the partition wall end may be any shape as long as the position with the joint opening is taken into consideration, but if it is shown as an example, the description is omitted, but FIGS. ).

Furthermore, various structural relationships can be considered at the boundary between the end of the partition wall 5 and the negative pressure generating member 3. FIG. 9 shows this. 9 (a) to 9 (d)
Since the negative pressure generating member is not compressed by the end of the partition wall and the density of the negative pressure generating member is not locally increased, the ink flow and the air flow become relatively quick, and high-speed recording and It is preferable for color recording. On the other hand, in FIGS. 9E and 9F, the negative pressure generating member 3 is compressed by the end of the partition wall, and the density of the member increases, which causes resistance to the flow of ink and the flow of air, but a slight amount. With respect to environmental changes, it is possible to suppress troubles such as ink leakage.
Therefore, these selections may be designed in consideration of the type of inkjet recording device and the environmental conditions used.

The volume ratio of the negative pressure generating member accommodating portion 4 and the ink accommodating portion 6 must be determined in consideration of the type of ink jet recording apparatus and the environmental conditions used. Also,
The relationship with the negative pressure generating member used is also important. In order to improve the use efficiency of ink, it is preferable to increase the volume of the ink containing portion, and at that time, a negative pressure generating member having a high negative pressure generating force (a compression rate of a sponge is high) is used. Will be effective. Therefore, if it is noted that the negative pressure generation force of the negative pressure generation member is increased as the volume ratio of the ink storage portion is increased, the volume of the storage chamber of the negative pressure generation member and the volume of the storage chamber of only ink are A ratio in the range of 1: 1 or more and 1: 3 or less can be mentioned as an optimum range for practical use.

The shape, size, and roughness of the filter 11 can be arbitrarily set depending on the type of the ink jet recording apparatus. However, in order to prevent dust from entering from the ink cartridge and not clog the nozzle of the recording head, the orifice of the orifice is selected. It is preferable to use a filter having an eye smaller than the diameter.

The amount of ink to be filled in the replaceable ink cartridge of the present invention is arbitrary within the ink cartridge internal volume, and the ink container may be filled up to the volume limit, but immediately after opening the replaceable ink cartridge. In order to maintain the negative pressure, it is preferable that the ink filling amount in the negative pressure generating member is set to be equal to or less than the limit of the ink holding force of the negative pressure generating member. Here, the ink holding force refers to the ability of the negative pressure generating member to hold the ink by itself when the negative pressure generating member is impregnated with the ink.

In the case of an ink cartridge having a closed ink container, the external environment changes (temperature rise or atmospheric pressure drop) when loaded in the ink jet recording apparatus.
On the other hand, due to the air expansion of the ink container (there is also the expansion of the ink), the ink remaining in the ink container may be pushed out of the ink cartridge, and ink may leak. However, in the replaceable ink cartridge of the present invention, the air expansion volume (including a small amount of ink expansion) of the closed system ink accommodating portion is predicted according to the worst-case environmental condition, and the ink accommodating portion accordingly It is preferable that the negative pressure generating member accommodating portion is provided with the amount of ink movement from the above in advance. At this time, as shown in FIGS. 10 (c) and 10 (d), it is necessary to provide an atmosphere communication hole on the side of the negative pressure generating member accommodating portion other than the joint opening so that the negative pressure is generated from the ink chamber due to the expansion of the air in the ink accommodating chamber. The ink that has moved into the member can be guided to the atmosphere communication side, which is very effective. The installation position of the atmosphere communication hole is
There is no particular designation as long as it is above the joint opening on the side of the negative pressure generating member storage part, but in order to separate the ink flow in the negative pressure generating member from the joint opening when the environment changes, it is located far from the joint opening. Preferably. Further, the number, shape, size, etc. of the atmosphere communication holes can be arbitrarily set in consideration of ink evaporation.

In the distribution of the ink cartridge alone, it is preferable to seal the joint opening and / or the air communication hole with a sealing material to prepare for evaporation of ink and air expansion in the ink cartridge. As a sealing material,
In the packaging field, it is preferable to use a single layer barrier called a barrier material and a composite of several layers of plastic film, and a composite barrier material in which these are combined with a reinforcing material such as paper and cloth, or an aluminum foil. . It is more preferable to use a material similar to the material of the ink cartridge main body as an adhesive layer of the barrier material, and improve the hermeticity by welding with a heat or the like.

In order to suppress the evaporation of ink from the ink cartridge or the inflow of air from the outside atmosphere, after the ink cartridge is inserted, the air inside the packaging material is degassed and then sealed. It is effective if taken. The packaging material is preferably selected from the barrier materials in the same manner as the above sealing material in consideration of gas permeability and liquid permeability.

By selecting the packaging form as described above, the physical distribution of the ink cartridge alone becomes extremely reliable without ink leakage.

The material of the ink cartridge body may be any material conventionally used for molded articles, but it should be selected from materials which do not affect the ink jet ink or members which are treated so as not to affect the ink. is there. It is also necessary to consider the productivity of the ink cartridge. For example, the ink cartridge body is divided into an ink cartridge bottom portion 11 and an upper portion thereof, which are integrally molded with a resin material, and after a negative pressure generating member is inserted, the ink cartridge bottom portion 11 and the upper portion thereof are welded. The ink cartridge body can be manufactured. If the resin material is selected to be transparent or semi-transparent, the ink in the ink containing portion can be visually recognized from the outside of the ink cartridge, so that the replacement time of the ink cartridge can be visually determined. Further, it is preferable to provide a convex portion in order to facilitate the welding of the sealing material and the like. Further, it is also preferable in terms of design to give the outer surface of the ink cartridge body a texture.

Both the pressurizing method and the depressurizing method can be used for filling the ink. It should be noted that it is preferable to provide an ink filling port in any one of the tank main bodies for ink filling because it does not stain other ink cartridge openings. The ink filling port after filling the ink is preferably plugged with a plastic or metal material.

The configuration and shape of the replaceable ink cartridge can be variously modified without departing from the scope of the present invention. As described above, the replaceable ink cartridge of the present invention is a replaceable ink cartridge that maintains high reliability even during a single physical distribution and that has a simple structure and is capable of detecting the remaining amount of ink and having high ink usage efficiency. .

In addition, an exchangeable type that maintains a suitable negative pressure during recording and non-recording from the beginning of use to the end of use for high-speed recording and does not leak ink even under the environmental conditions of the inkjet recording apparatus. It becomes an ink cartridge.

Furthermore, the replaceable ink cartridge is easy to handle, does not leak when attached to or detached from the ink jet recording apparatus, and does not malfunction when mounted in the ink jet recording apparatus.

FIG. 11 shows a method of manufacturing an ink tank as a cartridge according to the present invention, which has a partition plate 61 described later and a wall portion which forms two recesses for storage chambers through a partition wall 5. After inserting the absorber 3 as a negative pressure generating member into the recessed portion on the side of the opening 2 with respect to the main body (diagonal section: diagonally downward left), the bottom member 11 as a lid member is inserted.
It shows a configuration integrated processing in. FIG. 11 is a partially cutaway schematic view showing a state in which the recording head HD is mounted on the ink tank 1. The ink tank is configured by covering a container divided into two chambers by the partition wall 5 with a flat bottom member 11 that forms the bottom of the ink tank. In this way, the same minute communication passage 8 as the tip of the partition wall 5 of the container can be formed with a simple structure of covering the lid. It should be noted that the atmosphere communicating portion 10 is located in an upper portion on the same surface as the surface on which the opening 2 is provided.

On the other hand, the head is mounted by inserting the joint portion 7 as a supply pipe into the opening of the ink tank, and the joint portion 7 has an oblique structure in which the upper portion in the drawing is forward from the lower portion. . Further, the ink flow path inside the joint has a horn structure that opens upward. With such a structure, the ink from the absorber can be satisfactorily introduced to the head side.

The ink jet recording apparatus is provided with a heating element 72 as means for generating thermal energy as energy used to eject ink from the ejection port 71 of the nozzle 73, and the state change of the ink is caused by the thermal energy. In the recording apparatus having the recording head HD of the type that causes
Higher recording density and higher definition can be achieved especially for color recording.

As described above, the replaceable ink cartridge of the present invention maintains high reliability even in the case of a single physical distribution, and is a replaceable ink cartridge having a simple structure and capable of detecting the remaining amount of ink and having high ink use efficiency. Becomes

Also, a replaceable type that maintains a suitable negative pressure during recording and during non-recording and supports high-speed recording from the beginning of use to the end of use, and does not leak ink even under the environmental conditions of use of the inkjet recording apparatus. It becomes an ink cartridge.

Furthermore, the replaceable ink cartridge is easy to handle, does not leak when attached to or detached from the ink jet recording apparatus, and is a replaceable ink cartridge which does not have a mounting error operation in the ink jet recording apparatus.

Supplementally, a method of manufacturing an ink cartridge will be described. It has a negative pressure generating member storage chamber containing the absorber described above and a communication portion 8 as a minute communication portion.
When the ink storage chamber having a substantially closed structure in the sense that the ink is first discharged by exchanging the gas and the liquid is integrally formed, the ink is filled from the opening 13 on the ink storage chamber side of the lid member 11. As a result, when the ink storage chamber is filled with the ink, the negative pressure generating member 4 itself is also supplied with the ink from the minute communication portion, and the ink is supplied in a considerable range.

Here, the negative pressure generating member near the atmosphere communicating portion is made to exist as a region where ink is not applied and ink is not retained. Thereafter, the opening 13 is sealed by the ball 14, and the opening 2 and the atmosphere communicating portion are the same seal member S.
Sealed (may be different).

A pre-use ink jet cartridge in this state is shown in FIG. In this figure, it is assumed that the ink storage chamber 6 is filled with ink.

FIG. 12 shows the ink jet cartridge 1 in the hermetically sealed state, and also shows a schematic view of a printer using the ink jet cartridge 1. In this ink jet cartridge 1, a negative pressure generating body region 3A located in the vicinity of the atmosphere communicating portion 10 is provided in an upper corner portion of the cartridge as a region that does not hold ink. The negative pressure generator region 3B located below the region 3A is a compressible region that is compressed and deformed by inserting an ink supply pipe (not shown). The negative pressure generators other than these regions 3A and 3B hold the filled ink without other external influences. Of course, the region 3B is a region facing the opening 2 for mounting the ink supply pipe, which is provided on the same surface below the atmosphere communicating portion 10. The opening 2 is located above the minute communication portion 8 and has all of the above-described characteristic configurations of the present invention.

The cartridge 1 of FIG. 12 can be used by removing the seal member S described above, but since the area 3A does not hold ink, there is no vibration or pressure change when the seal is removed. However, it does not leak ink.

In the present embodiment, regardless of the storage state or the use state of the ink cartridge, as a technical point of view that the conventional technical level is wiped out, the area near the atmosphere communicating portion of the negative pressure generating member is an area not holding ink. By doing so, it is possible to prevent the ink in the ink cartridge from leaking from the atmosphere communicating portion in response to changes in environmental conditions. In particular, when the seal member seals the atmosphere communicating portion, it also has the effect of preventing the seal member from peeling off. Also, when in use,
In this region, the atmosphere can efficiently supply the required amount to the inside of the cartridge, and also has the effect of suppressing the negative pressure change in the inkjet cartridge. It is preferable that the region in the vicinity of the atmosphere communicating portion is not wetted by the ink at all, because the permeation speed of the ink itself can be further reduced, but it may be a region in which the ink is removed after being previously wetted with the ink. .

In this embodiment, the ink supply opening or the ink supply opening is provided on the side facing the partition wall forming the minute communication portion.
By configuring the compression (or compressible) region of the negative pressure generator by the supply pipe to exist, a stable and substantial ink supply path for the ink in the second storage chamber can be secured in the negative pressure generator. As a more stable configuration, the ink supply opening may be located above the minute communication portion with respect to the lower surface of the ink cartridge. The effect of this arrangement relationship is that the direction of movement of the ink can be substantially constant, all the ink in the second storage chamber can be consumed, and after this consumption, the air in the second storage chamber moves to the facing opening side. By interposing, the ink in the negative pressure generator can be consumed as a result, and the residual ink can be reduced.

In particular, a region which is not compressed by the supply pipe of the negative pressure generator and a region which is compressed by the supply pipe of the negative pressure generator are provided from the partition wall forming the minute communication portion toward the side facing the wall. In this order, the above-mentioned one-direction ink supply path can be formed in the non-compressed region, and the same effect can be obtained, and the remaining ink amount can be further reduced by the ink securing capacity of the compressed region.

The ink jet printer of the present embodiment automatically or manually discharges ink from the inside of the cartridge by suction or ejection by the suction means via the head in response to mounting of the cartridge 1. It has a head recovery means HR. As a result, the ink state in the negative pressure generating body can be corrected before printing, so that the original function of the cartridge can be utilized without being affected by the state in which the cartridge is left.

In FIG. 12, the tank 1 mounted on the ink jet head HB held by the scanning type carriage CR is the same as the cartridge 1 shown in FIG. In the tank 1 mounted on the carriage, the ink supply pipe of the head passes through the opening 2 and compresses and deforms the compressible region 3B of the negative pressure generating member 3. In this example, the negative pressure generating member 3 is deformed toward the minute communication portion 8 side. At this time, the mounting signal LP is sent to the printer control means CC by the tank attachment / detachment detection means (not shown because it is substituted by a known mechanical or electrical detection means).
Entered in. In response to this, the head recovery means HR operates before the start of recording to discharge the ink in the tank 1 and improve the state of the ink in the tank.

In FIG. 13A, the inner surface of the ink storage chamber of the ink jet cartridge shown in FIG. 12 is changed so that the space shape 22 is convex upward by the capacity thereof. The inner surface 20 is a curved surface that rises as it moves away from the minute communication port 8. The structure of the inner surface 20 supplies minute residual droplets due to the surface tension of the ink to the negative pressure generating member 3 side, and the upwardly projecting portion 21 serves as a holding portion for the operator to prevent the tank from being deformed during the operation. To do. Figure 1
3 (B) shows an obliquely arranged partition wall 51 for making the ink storage chamber large and the negative pressure generating unit 3 storage chamber side small for an equivalent capacity tank.

FIG. 13C shows the above manufacturing method.
This is an example in which a lid member 11 that forms a gap 8 with respect to the partition wall 5 is inserted and fixed between the side plates 101 and 100 of the cartridge body. SE indicates the end of the lid member 11. In the case of FIG. 13C, the distance SP of the gap 8 is not constant if the adhesive fixation has a variation. for that reason,
It is also preferable to dispose the spacers 110 in contact with the end portions SE of the partition wall on both sides as shown in FIG. 13 (D). The spacer 110 may be provided on the lid member 11. Further, the convex portion 30 located within the distance SP of the gap 8 may be provided on the lid member to enhance the collectability of air into the ink containing portion.

14 (A) and 14 (B) respectively show the possible state inclination range of the print or ink supply state of the embodiment of the present invention, and 40 in the figure indicates the horizontal plane. A more preferable state for the present invention is that the minute communication portion is located on the lower side, and ideally it is parallel to the horizontal surface 40 on the lower surface of the cartridge. However, in practice, in the case of a two-chamber configuration as in this example, (A),
The angle θ as shown in the diagram (B) is within the range of 0 ≦ θ ≦ 15 degrees without any inconvenience in use. When mounted on a scanning type carriage and moved, the range of 0 ≦ θ ≦ 5 degrees is preferable.

The negative pressure generating member of the above-described embodiment of the present invention may be composed of a plurality of members. However, if an interface (inter-member interface) between them occurs, the movement of the atmosphere occurs there, which is likely to cause inconvenience. In some cases, the negative pressure generating member is more preferably a single porous chamber body.

Further, the ink containing chamber can be included as a chamber for substantially containing ink as long as it contains a larger amount of ink than the negative pressure generating member containing chamber.

Here, the partition plate 61 in the ink containing chamber disclosed in the previous embodiment will be described.
Ink leaks from the orifice of the inkjet recording head due to deformation of the outer wall surface of the cartridge due to the load when the user holds it by hand or the environmental conditions during distribution, or the pressure inside the cartridge that is provided in part of the cartridge. A description will be given of an embodiment capable of solving the problem that ink leaks from the atmosphere communication port that makes the same as the atmosphere.

The following examples were made to solve the technical problems in the above various ink tank tank configurations, and ink leakage may occur due to external forces during handling and transportation, and environmental changes such as temperature and atmospheric pressure. It is an ink cartridge for ink jet recording which has high ink use efficiency.

FIG. 15 (A) is a perspective sectional view of an embodiment in which the side wall surface is omitted, FIG. 5 (B) is a lateral sectional view of the embodiment, and FIG. 16 is an ink supply operation of the embodiment. Explanatory drawing, Figure 1
7 is a sectional view for explaining the distortion of the side wall when a load is applied to the side wall of the embodiment.

As shown in FIGS. 15 (A) and 15 (B), the ink cartridge body 1 has an opening 2 for connecting with an ink jet recording head and an atmosphere communicating portion 10 provided above the opening 2 for taking in the atmosphere. And a negative pressure generating member accommodating portion 4 accommodating the negative pressure generating member 3 that absorbs and holds the recording ink, and an ink accommodating portion that adjoins the negative pressure generating member accommodating portion 4 via the rib 5 and accommodates the ink. It consists of 6. The ink containing portion 6 and the negative pressure generating member containing portion 4 communicate with each other through a gap portion 8 provided between the rib 5 and the bottom surface. In the ink containing portion 6, a partition plate 61 is provided below the gap 8 and above. The side walls are connected to both sides leaving behind.

In FIG. 16A, the joint member 7 for supplying the ink to the ink jet recording head is inserted into the opening 2 of the ink cartridge body 1 of the embodiment and pressed against the negative pressure generating member 3 so that the ink jet recording apparatus is operated. It is a schematic cross section which shows the state which became operational. A filter may be installed at the end opening of the joint member 7 to remove dust in the ink cartridge.

When the ink jet recording apparatus operates, ink is ejected from the orifice of the ink jet recording head, and ink suction force is generated in the ink tank. Ink 9
Due to this suction force, the ink is passed from the ink storage portion 6 through the gap portion 8 between the end of the rib 5 and the ink cartridge bottom portion 11 to the negative pressure generating member storage portion 4, and through the negative pressure generating member 3 into the joint member 7. It is drawn in and supplied to the inkjet recording head. As a result, the pressure inside the ink container 6 that is closed except for the gap 8 is reduced, and the ink container 6 is closed.
And a pressure difference is generated between the negative pressure generating member accommodating portion 4. When the recording is continued, the pressure difference continues to rise, but since the negative pressure generating member accommodating portion 4 is open to the atmosphere through the atmosphere communicating hole 10, the air is a negative pressure generating member as shown in FIG. 16B. The ink container 6 enters through the gap 8 between the rib 5 and the ink cartridge bottom 11 through the ink container 3. At this point, the pressure difference between the ink containing portion 6 and the negative pressure generating member containing portion 4 is eliminated. This operation is repeated during inkjet recording, and a certain negative pressure is obtained in the ink cartridge. In addition, since the ink in the ink containing portion 6 can be used almost all except the ink attached to the wall surface in the ink containing portion 6, the ink use efficiency is improved (FIG. 16C).

During non-recording, the capillary force of the negative pressure generating member 3 itself (or the meniscus force at the interface between the ink and the negative pressure generating member) is exerted to prevent ink from leaking from the ink jet recording head.

From the above functions, the cross section of FIG. 18 is shown as another embodiment according to the selection of the negative pressure generating member 3 according to the jointed ink jet recording head and the volume ratio of the negative pressure generating member accommodating portion 4 and the ink accommodating portion 6. As shown in the drawing, the ink containing portion 6 may be provided with a plurality of partition plates 61.

A structure effective as a measure for improving the strength of the side wall will be described below.

It is important for the ink cartridge to have a structure that withstands external force during hand linking, changes in the environment during distribution, and enhances ink use efficiency.

In the embodiment, the side walls 12a, 12b and 12c of the negative pressure generating member accommodating portion 4 and the ink accommodating portion 6 are configured to have the same displacement amount with respect to the external force.

For example, the cartridge material is usually a plastic mold, but as shown in FIGS. 15B and 17, the thickness of the side wall surface 12a of the negative pressure generating member accommodating portion 4 is set to the side wall surface of the ink accommodating portion 6. The partition plates (ribs) 61 are arranged between the inner surfaces of both side walls at positions such that they are thicker than the thicknesses of 12b and 12c, and the volume of the ink containing portion 6 is equally divided. The amount of wall surface deformation Δt6 for an equivalent load per area is reduced, and
The side wall surfaces 12b and 12c on both sides of the same are changed. Further, by making the deformation amount Δt4 of the negative pressure generating member accommodating portion 4 substantially equal, the purpose of preventing ink leakage due to deformation on the wall surface is achieved.

In the ink cartridge of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 15B and 17, the material is polypropylene (P
P), outer diameter dimension is length 48m / m x height 35m x thickness 1
In the case of 1 m / m, the heat of the side wall surface 12a of the negative pressure generating member accommodating portion 4 is 1.5 mm, the heat of the side wall surfaces 12b and 12c of the ink accommodating portion 6 is 1 mm, and the ink is approximately at the center of the length of 48 m / m. By arranging the rib 61 of the accommodating portion 6 at a position of about 10 mm from each wall surface, it was possible to obtain a structure in which a margin more than twice the load (about 2 kg) during handling was secured. At the same time, it has become possible to obtain sufficient strength against changes in atmospheric pressure and temperature during distribution.

In the above embodiment, the number of ribs 61 of the ink containing portion 6 is one due to the size of the tank. However, the number of ribs 61 is not limited to one, and it is adjusted to the size of the ink cartridge as shown in FIG. It is possible to deal with this by changing the number and position of the ribs and the thickness of the wall surface, for example, by providing the ribs 61 at two locations.

FIG. 20 shows the relationship between the wall thickness of the negative pressure generating member accommodating portion 4, the thickness of each wall surface investigated to determine the wall thickness of the ink accommodating portion 6, and the ink leakage in the handling and distribution environment. Is data indicating.

Increasing the thickness of each wall increases the strength against ink leakage, but in order to satisfy the objective of downsizing and high ink use efficiency, the wall should be thinned as much as possible. It is necessary to increase the internal volume, and based on the data shown in FIG. 20, the side wall thickness of the negative pressure generating member accommodating portion 4 is 1.5 mm and the side wall thickness of the ink accommodating portion 6 is 1.0 mm.

According to the size of the ink cartridge, the above dimensions can be determined with reference to FIG. 20, and the outer wall thickness of the negative pressure generating member accommodating portion 4 is 1.2 to 3 times the outer wall thickness of the ink accommodating portion 6. It is preferable to configure within the range.

As described above, the present invention can provide a rational and effective cartridge as an ink jet ink cartridge in the field of ink jet printing from the idea of reversal that has not been conventionally found. Of course, the advantage of enabling miniaturization of the color printer itself, which requires a plurality of color inks, is remarkable. Further, the ink cartridge can be replaced for a long period of time, and the operability is excellent.

[0099]

As can be understood from the above description of each item, the present invention can provide an ink cartridge capable of reducing the amount of ink remaining in the ink cartridge as much as possible, and preferably from the initial stage of use to the end of use. It is also possible to provide a replaceable ink cartridge capable of keeping the negative pressure substantially constant during most of the time interval and capable of high-speed recording, and an inkjet head and printer using the same.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a partially cutaway ink container of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG.

3 (a), (b), and (c) are explanatory views of a combination example of the cartridge and the supply pipe of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a comparative example for explaining more preferable conditions of the present invention.

5A, 5B, and 5C are explanatory views of an ink supply unit of the invention.

6A, 6B, and 6C are explanatory views for explaining the positional relationship between the ink supply unit and the minute communication unit.

7 (a), (b) (c), (d), (e)
(F), It is a structure explanatory view of a minute communication part, respectively.

FIGS. 8A to 8H are shape explanatory views of end portions of the partition wall on the minute communication portion side.

9 (a) to 9 (f) are explanatory diagrams of states of the end portions of the absorber near the partition wall, respectively.

10 (a), (b), (c) and (d) are explanatory views of the state inside the absorber with respect to environmental changes.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram for explaining the manufacturing method of the present invention and an inkjet head.

FIG. 12 is a schematic explanatory diagram of an inkjet cartridge of the present invention and an inkjet printer using the same.

13 (A), (B), (C), and (D) are diagrams for explaining a modified example of a main part of the present invention.

14 (A) and 14 (B) are cross-sectional views for explaining a tiltable range of a use state of the ink cartridge of the present invention.

15 (A) and 15 (B) are shape explanatory views of an optimum embodiment of the present invention.

16 (a), (b), and (c) are explanatory diagrams sequentially showing changes in the print state of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a pressure state on the outer wall of the cartridge of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a sectional view of a modified example of the cartridge of the present invention.

19 (A) and (B) are perspective views showing a color tank configuration of a cartridge embodying the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a graph showing the correlation between the wall thickness of the present invention and ink leakage due to external pressure deformation.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Inkjet Cartridge 2 Opening Part 3 Negative Pressure Generating Member 4 First Storage Room 6 Second Storage Room 8 Micro Communication Section 10 Atmosphere Communication Section

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued Front Page (72) Inventor Naoto Asai 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Riki Abe 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Incorporated (72) Inventor Seiichiro Karita 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc.

Claims (23)

[Claims] 1. An atmosphere communicating portion for accommodating a negative pressure generating member and for establishing communication with the atmosphere, wherein a region in the vicinity of the atmosphere communicating portion of the negative pressure generating member is a region not holding ink. The first storage chamber communicates with the first storage chamber only via the first storage chamber and the minute communication unit provided at a position distant from the atmosphere communication unit, but is in a substantially sealed state and is supplied to the first storage chamber. Ink jet cartridge having a second storage chamber that directly stores the ink for ink. 2. The ink jet cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the minute communication portion is formed between a partition wall that divides the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber and an inner surface of the ink jet cartridge. Further, an ink supply opening is formed on a surface of the first storage chamber facing the partition wall, and an ink jet cartridge is provided with means for sealing the ink supply opening and the atmosphere communicating portion. 3. The ink jet cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the minute communication portion is formed between a partition wall that divides the first and second storage chambers and an inner surface of the ink jet cartridge, and the partition. The first facing the wall
An opening for ink supply is formed on the surface of the storage chamber,
The ink supply opening allows insertion of a supply pipe of the ink jet head, and the negative pressure generating member near the ink supply opening is a compressible region in which the supply pipe is compressed toward the minute communicating portion side. An inkjet cartridge. 4. The inkjet cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the minute communication portion is formed between a partition wall that divides the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber and an inner surface of the inkjet cartridge. Further, an opening for ink supply is formed on a surface of the first storage chamber different from the partition wall. The negative pressure generating member near the ink supply opening is a compressible region that is compressed toward the minute communicating portion side by inserting the supply pipe of the inkjet head, and the negative pressure generating member is the compressible region and the minute communicating portion. An ink jet cartridge having a region between itself and which is not compressed by the insertion of the supply pipe. 5. The ink jet cartridge according to claim 4, wherein the different surface is a surface facing the partition wall, the ink supply opening is at a position displaced toward the minute communication portion side, and the minute communication portion Inkjet cartridge that is also installed above. 6. The inkjet cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the second storage chamber has a partition plate that forms a gap larger than a gap of the minute communication portion with an inner surface of the inkjet cartridge. Cartridge for. 7. The ink jet cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the volume ratio of the first storage chamber to the second storage chamber is 1: 3.
An ink jet cartridge having a ratio within the range of 1: 1. 8. The ink jet cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the height of the minute communication portion is the first pressure of the negative pressure generating member.
An inkjet cartridge having a value within a range of 5 mm or less, which is larger than the average pore diameter in the storage chamber. 9. A first storage chamber having a negative pressure generating member and an atmosphere communicating portion for communicating with the atmosphere, and only a minute communicating portion provided at a position distant from the atmosphere communicating portion. And a second storage chamber that communicates with the first storage chamber but is substantially in a hermetically sealed state and directly stores ink to be supplied to the first storage chamber. It is formed between a partition wall that divides the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber and the inner surface of the ink jet cartridge, and the surface of the first storage chamber that faces the partition wall is for ink supply. An opening is formed,
The ink supply opening allows insertion of a supply pipe of the ink jet head, and the negative pressure generating member near the ink supply opening is a compressible region in which the supply pipe is compressed to the side of the minute communicating portion. An inkjet cartridge. 10. The ink jet cartridge according to claim 9, wherein the ink jet cartridge is removed before the supply pipe of the ink jet head is inserted, and the ink supply opening and the atmosphere communicating portion are sealed. An ink jet cartridge provided with a means for performing. 11. A first accommodating chamber for accommodating a negative pressure generating member and having an atmosphere communicating portion for establishing communication with the atmosphere, and via only a minute communicating portion provided at a position distant from the atmosphere communicating portion. And a second storage chamber that is in a substantially sealed state and that communicates with the first storage chamber, and that the second storage chamber directly stores ink for supplying to the first storage chamber. The portion is formed between a partition wall that divides the first and second storage chambers and the inner surface of the inkjet cartridge, and an ink supply opening is formed on a surface of the first storage chamber that is different from the partition wall. The ink supply opening allows the insertion of the supply pipe of the ink jet head, and the negative pressure generating member near the ink supply opening is a compressible region that is compressed by the insertion of the supply pipe.
Further, the negative pressure generating member is an ink jet cartridge having an area between the compressible area and the minute communication portion that is not compressed by the insertion of the supply pipe. 12. A first storage chamber having a negative pressure generating member and an atmosphere communicating portion for communicating with the atmosphere.
Ink that communicates with the first storage chamber only through a minute communication portion provided at a position distant from the atmosphere communication portion, but directly stores ink to be supplied to the first storage chamber in a substantially sealed state. An ink jet cartridge having a second storage chamber: the minute communication portion is formed between a partition wall that divides the first and second storage chambers and an inner surface of the ink jet cartridge, and further the partition wall. The first different
An opening for supplying ink is formed on the surface of the storage chamber.
An ink jet head having an ink supply tube that is inserted into the ink supply opening to form a compressible region in which the negative pressure generating member is compressed: By these, the negative pressure generating member communicates with the compressible region and the minute communication. An ink jet cartridge having a region which is not compressed by insertion of an ink supply pipe between the ink jet cartridge and the ink jet printer. 13. The inkjet head according to claim 12, wherein a region near the atmosphere communicating portion of the negative pressure generating member of the first storage chamber is a region that does not hold ink. 14. An inkjet head provided with an inkjet cartridge, comprising: a first storage chamber for accommodating a negative pressure generating member and having an atmosphere communication portion for obtaining communication with the atmosphere; and the atmosphere communication portion. The first through only the minute communication portion provided at a distant position.
An ink jet cartridge having a second storage chamber that communicates with the storage chamber but directly stores ink to be supplied to the first storage chamber in a substantially sealed state: the minute communication section includes the first, It is formed between a partition wall that divides the two storage chambers and the inner surface of the ink jet cartridge, and an opening for ink supply is formed on a surface of the first storage chamber that is different from the partition wall. An area near the atmosphere communicating portion of the negative pressure generating member of the chamber is an area that does not hold ink. An ink jet head having an ink supply pipe that is inserted into the ink supply opening to form a compressible region in which the negative pressure generating member is compressed. 15. A printer using the inkjet head according to claim 14, wherein a surface of the first storage chamber different from the partition wall is a surface facing the partition wall, the ink supply opening and the ink supply opening. A printer in which the minute communication section is located below the ink jet cartridge, the minute communication section is located below the ink supply opening, and the atmosphere communication section vicinity area is located above. 16. A first storage chamber that accommodates a negative pressure generating member and that has an ink communicating opening and an atmosphere communicating portion for establishing communication with the atmosphere, and is provided at a position apart from the atmosphere communicating portion. And a second storage chamber, which communicates with the first storage chamber only through the minute communication portion but directly stores ink in a substantially sealed state, has a common partition wall so as to be adjacent to each other. A method for manufacturing an ink jet cartridge for forming a minute communication portion, wherein the recess of the first storage chamber and the recess of the second storage chamber, which have the ink supply opening and the atmosphere communication portion, are common to each other. A step of providing a main body integrally formed with the partition wall; a step of compressing and loading the negative pressure generating member in the concave portion of the first storage chamber; A lid portion to be stored in the recess of the first storage chamber Step of fixing the material to the main body: a method for manufacturing an ink jet cartridge in which the minute communication portion is formed between the lid member and the partition wall in the fixing step. 17. The inkjet according to claim 16, wherein the ink supply opening is provided on a surface facing the partition wall, is located close to the lid member, and the atmosphere communicating portion is also provided on the facing surface. Manufacturing method for car cartridge. 18. The method for manufacturing an ink jet cartridge according to claim 16 or 17, wherein after the fixing step, the negative pressure generating member of the first storage chamber is provided in a region other than a region near the atmosphere communicating portion. A method for manufacturing an inkjet cartridge, which comprises the steps of filling ink and filling the second storage chamber with ink. 19. The method for manufacturing an inkjet cartridge according to claim 18, further comprising the step of sealing the atmosphere communicating portion and the ink supply opening after filling the ink. 20. A first storage chamber that accommodates a negative pressure generating member and that has an ink supply opening and an atmosphere communication portion for establishing communication between the atmosphere and the first storage chamber, and is provided at a position distant from the atmosphere communication portion. And a second storage chamber, which communicates with the first storage chamber only through the minute communication portion but directly stores ink in a substantially sealed state, has a common partition wall so as to be adjacent to each other. A printer that prints by mounting an ink jet cartridge that forms a minute communication portion so that the atmosphere communication portion is located above and the minute communication portion and the ink supply opening are located relatively below Accordingly, the ink held at least in the negative pressure generating member in the cartridge is discharged from the ink supply opening before the printing is started in response to the mounting of the ink jet cartridge. Printer, characterized in that it comprises means for. 21. The printer according to claim 20, wherein a region near the atmosphere communicating portion of the negative pressure generating member of the first storage chamber is a region that does not hold ink. 22. The printer according to claim 20, wherein the ink supply opening is provided on a surface of the first storage chamber facing the partition wall. 23. The ink supply opening permits the insertion of a supply pipe of an ink jet head, and the negative pressure generating member near the ink supply opening is a compression region compressed by the insertion of the supply pipe, 21. The printer according to claim 20, wherein the negative pressure generating member includes a region between the compression region and the minute communication portion that is not compressed by the insertion of the supply pipe.