JPH07304184A - Ink cartridge and ink jet device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent erroneous mounting of an ink cartridge to be mounted and dismounted in and from an ink jet device body, and position and fix the cartridge by a simple mechanism. CONSTITUTION:On a top face of a cartridge 10, elastic and displaceable claws 101 and 103 are provided. When the cartridge 10 is mounted in a guide 3, the claws 101 and 103 interlock with the inner wall of the guide 3 and are displaced. Thus, the cartridge 10 is energized to a reference plane at a carriage 1 by reaction force due to the elastic force of the claws 101 and 103 to press the wall of the guide 3. At the same time, the front claw 101 engages with a protrusion 3a of the guide 3 so as to fix the cartridge.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink cartridge and an ink jet device to which the ink cartridge can be attached.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a recording apparatus for recording on a recording medium such as paper, OHP sheet or cloth (hereinafter also referred to as recording paper or simply paper), various recording systems have been proposed. There is. As the recording method, for example, a wire dot method, a heat-sensitive method, a thermal transfer method, or an inkjet method is known.

Among these various recording methods, the inkjet method, in particular, is one in which ink is directly discharged onto a recording paper for recording, the running cost is relatively low, and the noise associated with recording is small. have.

In such an ink jet type recording apparatus, in order to facilitate ink replenishment accompanying ink consumption due to recording, an ink tank serving as an ink supply source is made into a cartridge form and detachable from the apparatus main body, and a user replaces it. So that it can be used.

By the way, when such a cartridge type ink tank is used, when the cartridge is mounted on the main body of the apparatus, it may be inserted backwards or backwards or upside down due to a user's error, and the mounting operation may be delayed or unreasonable. The ink tank and the main body of the recording device were sometimes damaged.

In the conventional recording apparatus, as a countermeasure, it is generally known that the cross section of the ink tank and the cross section of the ink tank insertion portion on the main body apparatus side are left-right or up-down asymmetric so that they cannot be inserted in the wrong direction. ing.

Further, the positioning when mounting the ink tank is controlled by, for example, controlling the dimensions of the inner wall of the ink tank insertion portion and the outer wall surface of the ink tank of the apparatus main body, and the ink tank supply port (for example, rubber stopper) and the main body apparatus side. It is intended to prevent misalignment with the inlet (eg needle).

[0008]

However, as a recent tendency of the ink jet recording apparatus, there is a downsizing of the apparatus and a simplification of the configuration. Therefore, the ink tank is directly formed integrally with the recording head without using a tube or the like. Then, a structure in which the ink tank is mounted on the carriage or a structure in which only the ink tank is detachable from the carriage separately from the recording head is becoming popular. In such a configuration, there arises a problem that the above-mentioned reverse insertion prevention, positioning, and the click for fixing the ink tank must be provided in a very small space on the carriage.

The present invention is intended to solve the above problems,
It is an object of the present invention to provide an ink cartridge capable of surely performing erroneous ink cartridge mounting prevention, positioning and fixing even in a carriage-mounted ink cartridge, and an ink jet device capable of mounting the ink cartridge.

[0010]

Therefore, according to the present invention,
In an ink cartridge that is detachably attached to an inkjet device, engages with a recess that defines a mounting position of the ink cartridge in the inkjet device,
A restriction that generates a pressing force that presses the ink cartridge against a predetermined portion of the inkjet cartridge when engaging with the recess, and restricts the movement of the ink cartridge in the direction of being removed from the inkjet device by the engagement. It is characterized in that a member for generating a force is provided.

An ink cartridge for storing ink to be supplied to the print head in an ink jet device which uses a print head for ejecting ink and ejects ink onto a print medium to perform printing. An ink cartridge detachably mounted on the inkjet device, and a recess for defining a mounting position of the ink cartridge in the inkjet device. The ink cartridge includes the ink cartridge when the recess is engaged with the ink cartridge. A member for generating a pressing force for pressing a predetermined portion of the cartridge, and for generating a restricting force for restricting the movement of the ink cartridge in the direction of being detached from the inkjet device by the engagement. .

[0012]

According to the above construction, the ink cartridge is mounted in the correct position of the apparatus only when the member provided in the ink cartridge engages with the positioning recess at the time of mounting in the ink jet apparatus. With this,
By this member, the cartridge is pressed against the reference surface or the like at the time of mounting, and the cartridge is fixed to the device with a predetermined regulation force. That is, the above member can also serve as a member for preventing erroneous mounting of the cartridge, and pressing and fixing the cartridge to the reference surface.

[0013]

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

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ink jet printer having an ink cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention and a carriage capable of mounting the ink cartridge.

In FIG. 1, a print head 2 and a cartridge guide 3 are mounted on a carriage 1 and are slidably engaged with guide shafts 4 and 5 so that scanning along these shafts is possible. The drive system of the carriage 1 is not shown. The recording paper 6 is fed into the main body device by the paper feed roller 7, and the paper feed roller 8
A pinch roller (not shown) and a paper pressing plate 9 hold the paper and send it to the front surface of the print head 2. Further, the recording paper 6 is fed by the print width of the print head 2 for each scanning of the carriage 1, and printing is sequentially performed on the paper. Two types of ink cartridges are used: a color cartridge 10 that stores yellow, magenta, and cyan inks in separate ink chambers and a black cartridge 11 that stores black ink. Each ink supply unit is inserted and connected to each ink supply pipe on the print head 2 side. 2A and 2B are perspective views showing details of the print head 2.

As shown in FIG. 1B, on the front surface of the print head 2, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black ejection port groups are arranged in a straight line at predetermined intervals. Each ejection port group has 24 ejection ports for yellow, magenta, and cyan, and 64 ejection ports for black. The discharge groups of the respective colors have a space equal to or larger than the discharge port pitch.

Each of these ejection ports is provided with an ink liquid passage communicating with the ejection port, and a common portion for supplying ink to these liquid passages is provided behind the portion where the ink liquid passage is provided. A liquid chamber is provided (not shown).

In the ink liquid passages corresponding to the respective ejection ports,
An electrothermal conversion element that generates thermal energy used to eject ink droplets from these ejection ports and electrode wiring for supplying electric power to the electrothermal conversion element are provided.

These electrothermal converting elements and electrode wirings are formed on the substrate 12 made of silicon or the like by a film forming technique. Further, by stacking a partition wall made of a resin, a glass material, a top plate, and the like on the substrate 12, the ejection port, the ink liquid path, and the common liquid chamber are formed. A drive circuit for driving the electrothermal conversion element based on a recording signal is provided in the rear of the printed circuit board 13 in the rear side.

The silicon substrate 12 and the printed circuit board 13 are fixed on an aluminum plate 14. The ink cartridges 10 and 11 shown in FIG. 1 are inserted substantially parallel to the above-described aluminum plate 14, and the ink supply pipes 15 to 15 that also project parallel to the aluminum plate 14
Connect with 18. The pipes 15 to 18 are the silicon substrate 1
2 is provided so as to project from a distributor 19 which extends in a direction perpendicular to the No. 2 and further communicates with a flow passage inside thereof, and this flow passage further communicates with a common liquid chamber of the print head 2. This distributor 19 is made of plastic. That is, there are four channels in the distributor 19 for yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, and connect the common liquid chambers to the pipes 15, 16, 17, and 18, respectively.

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the ink cartridge 10 shown in FIG. 1, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view when the is mounted on the carriage 1.

FIG. 3 is a view of the color ink cartridge 10 as seen from the direction of the front rubber caps 125 to 127 (this direction is the front), and the pipes 15 to 17 of the print head 2 are simplified in front of this. It is shown.
As shown in the figure, the claws 101 are provided at a total of four positions on the front upper side and the front left side of the cartridge 10, and the rear upper side and the rear left side.
~ 104 are provided. Each of the claws projects from the outer wall surface of the cartridge in which it is provided, and cuts are provided on both sides of the claws. As a result, the claw portions have elasticity and can be displaced inward of the respective outer walls.

Ribs 105 to 108 extending in the inserting direction are provided on the outer wall surfaces on the opposite sides of the outer wall surface on which these claw portions are provided, whereby the print head or the carriage and the line are formed. By making contact, accurate positioning is possible without being affected by the flatness of the outer wall of each cartridge.

The manner in which the cartridge of this type is mounted on the carriage will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4, the cartridge 10 is
When inserted in the cartridge 2, the claws 101 and 103 on the upper surface of the cartridge are pushed by the wall of the cartridge guide 3 and displaced inward of the cartridge. Thereby, the nail 10
The entire cartridge 10 is pressed in the carriage direction (the direction of the arrow in the figure) by the elastic force of 1, 103. Similarly, in the left-right direction (direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 4), the entire cartridge 10 is pressed toward the print head by the elastic force generated by the displacement of the claws 102 and 104.

In this way, the cartridge 10 is pressed against the carriage side and the print head side during insertion.
In this structure, the above-mentioned ink supply pipe provided on the carriage and the rubber stoppers 125 to 1 of the cartridge.
By setting the position of 27 on the basis of each pressing surface, the ink supply pipes 15 to 1
7 and the rubber plugs 125 to 127 can be accurately aligned, and a smooth pipe can be inserted.

Further, a projection 3a (and a projection on a side surface (not shown)) is provided on a portion of the inner wall surface of the cartridge guide 3 with which the front side claws 101 and 102 come into contact, whereby the supply pipes 15 to. When the cartridge 17 is penetrated to the cartridge side and the mounting of the cartridge is completed, the ink cartridge 10 is fixed in the insertion direction.

Of course, the black ink cartridge 11 and its cartridge guide have the same structure.

FIG. 5 shows the structure of the cartridge guide 3. In the guide 3, in addition to the above-described structure, grooves 301 to 304 are formed from the entrance to the back, and the claw portions are fitted into these grooves when the cartridge 10 is inserted. With such a configuration, when the cartridge 10 is mounted in the wrong direction, for example, the top and bottom or the front and the back are opposite, the claw interferes with the wall of the guide 3 and cannot be inserted. .

As described below, according to the present embodiment, positioning of the ink cartridge by lateral displacement, prevention of erroneous insertion such as reverse insertion, and positioning of the ink cartridge in the insertion direction (click) are extremely small. And can be realized with a simple mechanism.

(Embodiment 2) FIGS. 6 and 7 are a perspective view and a sectional view, respectively, showing an ink cartridge according to another embodiment of the present invention and a mounting state thereof to a cartridge guide.

As shown in FIG. 6, the color cartridge 2
0 has grooves 201 and 202 formed on its upper surface and left side surface, the front end and the rear end of which are shallow.

On the other hand, the cartridge guide 21 is provided with pawls 213 and 214 urged by leaf springs 211 and 212, respectively, at the front end and the erroneous end on the upper surface and the side surface (not shown). As a result, the cartridge 201 can be pressed against the reference surface on the carriage side when the cartridge 201 is inserted. In addition, the claw 214 on the tip side
Can also perform the same click function as described in the first embodiment. A similar mechanism is provided on the side surface.

According to the structure of this embodiment, the mechanism of the cartridge becomes simpler, and the cost as a consumable item can be reduced.

(Third Embodiment) FIGS. 8 and 9 are views showing a cartridge according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

In these figures, the cartridge guide 3
00, a lever 33 urged by a leaf spring 34 is rotatably attached to a front end portion and a rear end portion of a corner opposed to the reference plane. In response to this, one ridge of the ink cartridge 30 has a so-called chamfered portion 30a,
30b is formed.

According to the above construction, when the cartridge 30 is normally inserted into the cartridge guide 300, the lever 33 can be pushed up by the inclined surface of the chamfered portion 30b at the leading end, which allows easy insertion, and when the insertion is completed. ,
The lever 33 presses the chamfered portion 30a, and the cartridge 3
Zero can be positioned with respect to the reference plane.

Further, the front lever 33 also locks the ink cartridge 30 in the inserting direction. In this case, the lock can be released by lifting the lever 33 when removing the ink cartridge.

(Embodiment 4) FIG. 10 shows an example in which the claw shown in Embodiment 1 is provided not only at the front and rear ends of the side surface of the ink cartridge but also at the central portion.

According to this structure, the surface contact with the reference surface can be stably obtained immediately after the tip of the cartridge 40 is inserted, and a stable mounting feeling can be obtained.

(Fifth Embodiment) FIG. 11 shows a structure according to still another embodiment of the present invention, in which hooking claws 50a to 50d are provided on the reference surface side of the ink cartridge 50, and the hooking of the cartridge guide 500 is carried out. Parts 500a to 500d (500
The cartridge can be brought into close contact with the reference surface by hooking c and 500d (not shown).

(Embodiment 6) FIG. 12 shows still another embodiment of the present invention in which the repulsive force of a magnet is used for positioning.

That is, when the ink cartridge 60 is mounted on the cartridge guide 600, magnets having the same polarity are provided at the corresponding positions, and the repulsive force is used to position the ink cartridge 60 on the two reference surfaces. It is a thing.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the construction relating to the mounting of the ink tank (cartridge) separate from the print head has been described, but the application of the present invention is not limited to this, and the ink tank and the print head are not The same can be applied to the structure for mounting the integrated body on the carriage.

Further, the ink storage portion is not limited to the bag-shaped one, and may have a form in which the ink absorber is stored.

(Others) The present invention is particularly provided with a means (for example, an electrothermal converter or a laser beam) for generating thermal energy as energy used for ejecting ink even in the ink jet recording system. The present invention brings about excellent effects in a recording head and a recording apparatus of the type in which the state of ink is changed by the heat energy. This is because such a system can achieve high density recording and high definition recording.

Regarding its typical structure and principle, see, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4740.
What is done using the basic principles disclosed in 796 is preferred. This method is a so-called on-demand type,
It can be applied to any of the continuous type, but especially in the case of the on-demand type, it can be applied to the sheet holding the liquid (ink) or the electrothermal converter arranged corresponding to the liquid path. By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recording information and giving a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling, heat energy is generated in the electrothermal converter, and film boiling is caused on the heat acting surface of the recording head. Liquid (ink) corresponding to this drive signal in a one-to-one correspondence
It is effective because bubbles can be formed inside. Due to the growth and contraction of the bubbles, the liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection opening to form at least one droplet. It is more preferable to make this drive signal into a pulse shape, because the bubble growth and contraction are immediately and appropriately performed, so that the ejection of the liquid (ink) with excellent responsiveness can be achieved. As the pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. If the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 of the invention relating to the rate of temperature rise on the heat acting surface are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the constitution of the recording head, in addition to the combination constitution of the discharge port, the liquid passage, and the electrothermal converter (the straight liquid passage or the right-angled liquid passage) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications. US Pat. No. 4,558,333, US Pat. No. 4,558,333, which discloses a configuration in which a heat acting portion is arranged in a bending region.
The structure using the specification of No. 59600 is also included in the present invention. In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 59-123670 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of the electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters, and an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy is provided. The effect of the present invention is effective even if the configuration corresponding to the ejection portion is disclosed in JP-A-59-138461. That is, according to the present invention, recording can be surely and efficiently performed regardless of the form of the recording head.

Further, the present invention can be effectively applied to a full line type recording head having a length corresponding to the maximum width of a recording medium which can be recorded by the recording apparatus. Such a recording head may have a configuration that satisfies the length by a combination of a plurality of recording heads or a configuration as one recording head integrally formed.

In addition, even in the case of the serial type as in the above example, the recording head fixed to the main body of the apparatus or the ink jet from the main body of the apparatus is electrically connected to the main body of the apparatus by being attached to the main body. The present invention is also effective when a replaceable chip-type recording head that can be supplied or a cartridge-type recording head in which an ink tank is integrally provided in the recording head itself is used.

Further, as the constitution of the recording apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable to add ejection recovery means of the recording head, preliminary auxiliary means and the like because the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. Specifically, heating is performed by using a capping unit, a cleaning unit, a pressure or suction unit for the recording head, an electrothermal converter or a heating element other than this, or a combination thereof. Examples thereof include a preliminary heating unit for performing the discharge and a preliminary discharge unit for performing discharge different from the recording.

Regarding the type and number of recording heads to be mounted, for example, only one is provided corresponding to a single color ink, or a plurality of inks having different recording colors and densities are supported. A plurality of pieces may be provided. That is, for example, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to the recording mode of only the mainstream color such as black, but it may be either the recording head is integrally formed or a plurality of combinations may be used. The present invention is also extremely effective for an apparatus provided with at least one of full-color recording modes by color mixing.

In addition, in the above-described embodiments of the present invention, the ink is described as a liquid, but an ink that solidifies at room temperature or below and that softens or liquefies at room temperature may be used. Or, in the inkjet system, it is common to control the temperature of the ink itself within the range of 30 ° C. or higher and 70 ° C. or lower to control the temperature so that the viscosity of the ink is within the stable ejection range. Sometimes, a liquid ink may be used. In addition, the temperature rise due to thermal energy is positively prevented by using it as the energy of the state change of the ink from the solid state to the liquid state, or in order to prevent the evaporation of the ink, it is solidified and heated in the standing state. You may use the ink liquefied by. In any case, by applying thermal energy such as ink that is liquefied by applying thermal energy according to the recording signal and liquid ink is ejected, or that begins to solidify when it reaches the recording medium. The present invention can be applied to the case where an ink having a property of being liquefied for the first time is used. In this case, the ink is
JP-A-54-56847 or JP-A-60-7
As described in Japanese Patent No. 1260, it may be configured to face the electrothermal converter in a state of being held as a liquid or a solid in the concave portion or the through hole of the porous sheet. In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

In addition, as the form of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, besides the one used as an image output terminal of an information processing apparatus such as a computer, a copying apparatus combined with a reader or the like, and a facsimile apparatus having a transmission / reception function are provided. It may be a form or the like.

[0055]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the ink cartridge is mounted in the correct position of the apparatus only when the member provided in the ink cartridge engages with the positioning recess at the time of mounting in the ink jet apparatus. To be done. At the same time, this member presses the cartridge against a reference surface or the like at the time of mounting, and fixes the cartridge to the device with a predetermined regulation force. That is, the above member can also serve as a member for preventing erroneous mounting of the cartridge, and pressing and fixing the cartridge to the reference surface.

As a result, an ink cartridge which can be prevented from being erroneously attached by the small size and simple structure, can be positioned for smooth insertion, and can be fixed to prevent the ink cartridge from being attached, and the ink cartridge can be attached. It is possible to provide a possible inkjet recording device.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ink jet device equipped with an ink cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2A and 2B are perspective views showing a print head used in the above apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an ink cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state when the cartridge according to the first embodiment is mounted on the carriage.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a cartridge insertion portion of the cartridge guide in the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an ink cartridge according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a state when the cartridge of the second embodiment is mounted.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an ink cartridge according to a third embodiment of the invention.

9A and 9B are a sectional view and a perspective view, respectively, showing a state in which the cartridge of the third embodiment is mounted.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a cartridge according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

11A and 11B are a cross-sectional view showing a mounted state of an ink cartridge according to a fifth embodiment of the invention and a perspective view of the ink cartridge.

12A and 12B are cross-sectional views showing a mounted state of an ink cartridge according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Carriage 2 Printhead 3,21,300,500,600 Cartridge Guide 4,5 Guide Axis 6 Recording Paper 7 Paper Feed Roller 8 Paper Feed Roller 9 Paper Press Plate 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 Color Ink Cartridge 11 Black Ink Cartridge 12 Silicon Substrate 13 Printed Circuit Board 14 Aluminum Plate 15, 16, 17, 18 Ink Supply Pipe 19 Distributor 33 Lever 34, 211, 212 Leaf Spring 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d, 101, 102, 1
03, 104, 213, 214 Claws 105, 106, 107, 108 Ribs 50a, 50b, 50c, 50d Hooking claws 60a, 60b, 60c, 600a, 600b, 600
c magnet

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An ink cartridge detachably mounted in an inkjet device, wherein the ink cartridge is engaged with a recess that defines a mounting position of the ink cartridge in the inkjet device, and when the recess is engaged with the ink cartridge, the inkjet cartridge A member for generating a pressing force for pressing a predetermined part of the ink cartridge and for generating a restricting force for restricting the movement of the ink cartridge in the direction of being detached from the inkjet device by the engagement. ink cartridge. 2. An ink cartridge detachably attached to an ink jet device, comprising a recess for determining a mounting position of the ink cartridge in the ink jet device, and a member engaging with the recess and provided on the ink jet device. , Generating a pressing force that presses the ink cartridge against a predetermined portion of the inkjet cartridge when engaged with the recess, and restricts movement of the ink cartridge in a direction to be removed from the inkjet device by the engagement. An ink cartridge characterized by generating a regulation force. 3. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the member is elastic to generate the pressing force and the regulating force. 4. The member generates the pressing force and the regulating force by a magnetic force.
Or the ink cartridge according to 2. 5. An ink-jet device that uses a print head for ejecting ink and ejects ink onto a print medium to perform printing, wherein the ink cartridge stores ink to be supplied to the print head. An ink cartridge detachably mounted to the inkjet device, and a recess for defining a mounting position of the ink cartridge in the inkjet device. The ink cartridge includes the ink cartridge when the recess is engaged with the ink cartridge. A member for generating a pressing force for pressing a predetermined portion of the cartridge, and for generating a restricting force for restricting the movement of the ink cartridge in the direction of being detached from the inkjet device by the engagement. Inkjet device. 6. An ink jet device for ejecting ink to a print medium to perform printing by using a print head for ejecting ink, the ink cartridge storing ink to be supplied to the print head, An ink cartridge detachably attached to the inkjet device, the ink cartridge having a recess for determining the attachment position; and the ink cartridge engaged with the recess, and the engagement of the ink cartridge with a predetermined portion of the inkjet cartridge. An inkjet device, comprising: a member that generates a pressing force for pressing and a restriction force that restricts the movement of the ink cartridge in the direction of being removed from the inkjet device by the engagement. 7. The ink jet apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the print head uses thermal energy to generate bubbles in the ink, and ejects the ink when the bubbles are generated. .