JPH09123472A - Regenerable ink cartridge and regenerative treatment method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To carry out the regenerative utilization of a used ink cartridge. SOLUTION: A peeling-off aiding means for removing a sealing body 2 from an ink feeding part 11. The sealing body 2 has a plurality of layers comprising a covering layer and a bonding layer. The covering layer is made of a stock material, the heat resistant temperature of which is higher than that of the material of the bonding layer. The bonding layer is made of a stock material selected from stock materials suitable for the stock material of the case 1 of an ink cartridge. In the ink cartridge 1C having a broken sealing body, the sealing body 2 is peeled off from the ink feeding part 11 by means of the peeling-off aiding means. Then an un-used sealing body 2 equipped with a peeling-off aiding means is attached to the ink feeding part 11. A sealing rubber 12 fitted into the ink feeding part 11 is pulled off by means of a notched part. Then, the ink feeding part 11 is cut off crosssectionally and a spacer corresponding to a cut-off portion is detachably mounted to the ink feeding part.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention belongs to the technical field of printers capable of collecting used ink cartridges such as ink jet printers.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, it has been widely practiced to refill a used ink cartridge, which has been used by supplying it to a printer and refilling it with ink, for recycling. There is a user refill system that uses an injection device, and a maker refill system that a manufacturer manufactures the recovered ink cartridge on a large scale (prior art).

Various ink supply means such as an ink cartridge have been proposed, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 50-74.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 341 (publicly known example 1) discloses a liquid supply device in which a cartridge-type liquid reservoir 1 is additionally provided with a rubber diaphragm 11 and a rubber leak-preventing thin film 13 having a crack 12. Also, JP-A-5-270001 (known example 2)
Discloses an ink cartridge including a polymer film, a film 20 formed by laminating a metal layer on the polymer film, or a sealing material 60 formed of a laminated film.

[0004]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION
All of the above are recognized to be effective for achieving the stated purpose, but it is explicitly stated that the used ink cartridge is regenerated as in the above-mentioned prior art. Therefore, there has been a demand from the user side to provide an ink cartridge which can easily recycle the used ink cartridge.

A first object of the present invention is to provide an ink cartridge which can be easily replaced by replacing the sealing body for sealing the ink supply portion of the used ink cartridge.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a regenerable ink cartridge which is constructed so that the sealing body damaged by use can be easily peeled off from the ink supply section.

A third object of the present invention is to provide a recycling method capable of publicly recycling used ink cartridges.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The concrete means for achieving the above object are as follows.

(1) An ink cartridge having an ink occlusion body such as foam loaded inside and an encapsulating body attached to the ink supply section, wherein the encapsulating body is removed from the ink supply section A recyclable ink cartridge which is provided with a peeling support means.

(2) The regenerable ink cartridge according to (1), wherein the exfoliation support means has a configuration in which a knob is extended to a sealing body attached to the ink supply section. .

(3) The peeling assisting means is configured to be connected to include a non-adhesive portion as long as the sealed state between the ink supply portion and the sealing body is not impaired. (1) Renewable ink cartridge described.

(4) The exfoliation support means is a multi-layered structure in which the sealing body is composed of a cover layer and an adhesive layer, and the cover layer is formed of a material having a higher heat resistance temperature than the adhesive layer,
The regenerable ink cartridge according to (1) above, wherein the adhesive layer is made of a material selected from materials that are compatible with the material of the ink cartridge case.

(5) A method of regenerating an ink cartridge having an ink occlusion body such as foam loaded inside and an encapsulation body attached to an ink supply section, which has a damaged encapsulation body In the completed ink cartridge, a step of peeling the sealing body from the ink supply section by using the peeling support means, and an unused sealing body having the peeling support means is attached to the ink supply section. A method for recycling a regenerable ink cartridge including a process.

(6) A method of reprocessing an ink cartridge having an ink occlusion body such as foam loaded inside and an encapsulation body attached to an ink supply section, which has a damaged encapsulation body In the completed ink cartridge, a step of peeling the sealing body from the ink supply section by using the peeling support means, a step of removing a seal rubber fitted in the ink supply section, and the ink supply section A step of cutting in a transverse shape, a step of removably attaching a spacer corresponding to the cut portion to an ink supply section, a step of loading a seal rubber again, and an unused sealing body provided with the exfoliation support means. And a method of regenerating a regenerable ink cartridge including the step of:

(7) Recyclable according to the above (6), including a step of engaging a take-out jig with a notch formed in the ink supply section to remove the seal rubber fitted in the ink supply section. Ink cartridge reprocessing method.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(Embodiment 1) An ink cartridge (IC) according to Embodiment 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 includes a case 1 formed by molding a synthetic resin material such as polypropylene or polystyrene, and the inside thereof. In the ink chamber 1
A and the foam chamber 1B are provided, and at the bottom thereof,
The ink supply unit 11 is provided in a protruding manner, and the seal rubber 12 is provided inside thereof.
And a sealing member 2 attached in a sealing manner on the projecting end 11A of the ink supply section 11 and having a structure outside the projecting end 11A. A knob 21 extending in one direction is extended.

Further, the sealing body 2 has the protruding end portion 11A.
Of the sealant 2 which is welded in a sealing manner by the heat-sealing means over substantially the entire area of the sealant, but is damaged if necessary for recycling of the used ink cartridge (IC).
The non-adhesive portion 11B is partially formed as long as the sealing property of the ink supply unit 11 is not impaired in order to facilitate the work of peeling off the ink (see FIG. 3).

Further, the sealing body 2 has a multi-layered structure in which two-layered sheets having different properties are laminated to form an integrated structure, and an adhesive layer 2A continuously attached to the ink supply section 11 is provided.
And a cover layer 2B continuously attached to the surface of the adhesive layer 2A (see FIG. 4).

Further, for the adhesive layer 2A, the following raw materials having a relatively low heat resistant temperature are used in consideration of the adhesiveness with the case 1, and the material of the cover layer 2B is the above-mentioned. The heat resistance temperature is relatively higher than that of the adhesive layer 2A, and it is necessary to adapt to the material of the case 1, so the following consideration was taken.

(1) Case 1 is made of polypropylene. The adhesive layer 2B was made into a sheet-like film by kneading polypropylene and polyethylene.

(2) Case 1 is made of polystyrene. The adhesive layer 2B is a mixture of polystyrene and polyethylene,
Alternatively, a raw material obtained by kneading polystyrene and ethylene vinyl alcohol was used as a film.

In any of the cases (1) and (2), a hot melt adhesive was provided as needed, but in this case, the adhesive force is strengthened and the material of the film is not always required. It was also verified that it is not limited to the above.

The ink cartridge (IC) described above
In this case, since the material of the sealing body 2 is selected so as to be compatible with the material of the case 1, the ink supply portion 11 can be effectively sealed by heat welding, and no ink leakage occurs. .

Next, regarding the recycling process of the ink cartridge (IC), the ink cartridge (IC) is
Since the sealing body 2 will be damaged during the use due to the ink supply needle (SS) of the printer rushing in, when the ink is used up and is collected, it is regenerated by the following procedure. Will be done.

○ First step. The grip portion 21 is pulled to exfoliate the sealing body 2 from the protruding end portion 11A of the ink supply portion 11. In this case, since the materials of the case 1 and the adhesive layer 2A are compatible with each other as described above. Not only does it have excellent sealing performance, but it also has a low resistance during the separation process, and the non-bonded portion 1
Because of the presence of 1B, the adhesive layer 2A is easily
It can be peeled from A.

○ Second step. The seal rubber 12 is removed from the ink supply unit 11, is subjected to a cleaning process, and depending on the state of wear, it is replaced with an unused product and reloaded.

○ Third step. By the heat welding treatment, the unused sealing body 2 is replaced with the protruding end portion 1
Adhere to 1A.

It is needless to say that the ink is refilled, though the description of the other steps is omitted.

(Second Embodiment) The characteristic features of the ink cartridge (IC ') of the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 are as follows.
The point is that when the used and recovered ink cartridge (IC ') is recycled, the ink supply unit 11' is cut off in a transverse manner to be recycled.

(1) Structure (Used) Seal rubber 12 'is fitted in the receiving portion 13' of the ink supply portion 11 'provided at the bottom of the case 1', and its surface is covered with the sealing body 2 '. However, the sealing body 2'has been damaged by the penetration of the ink supply needle (SS).

Further, the conduction hole 11 of the ink supply section 11 '.
On the inner surface of C ', a notch 11D' with which a jig (not shown) for taking out the seal rubber 12 'is engaged and a recess 11E' on the protruding end 11A 'are provided.

(2) Regeneration treatment Removal of the sealing body 2 '. The damaged sealing body 2 ′ is peeled off from the ink supply portion 11 ′ by using the grip portion 21 ′.

Take out the seal rubber 12 '. With the take-out jig, seal rubber 1 in the direction of arrow (X)
Take out 2 '.

Cutting of the ink supply unit 11 '. The cutting or cutting means cuts the ink supply portion 11 'in a transverse shape at the height (Y) shown in FIG.

Installation of spacers (SP '). The spacer (SP ') shown in FIG. 6 is adhered or ultrasonically welded to the ink supply unit 11'.

The spacer (SP ') may be removably connected to the ink supply unit 11' by a snap tool (not shown) for reuse.

Reloading the seal rubber 12 '.

Adhesion of the unused sealing body 2 '. Through the above steps, the used ink cartridge (I
C ′) can be reused just like a new one.

[0039]

According to the present invention described above, the following effects can be exhibited.

(1) Efficiently peel off the sealing body adhered to the ink supply section of the used ink cartridge, and adhere the unused sealing body to the ink supply section again to easily regenerate the ink cartridge. It can be processed.

(2) The used sealing body is easily peeled off, and the ink cartridge recycling process can be speeded up.

(3) Since the ink cartridge can be reused without being discarded, environmental pollution can be prevented and the total cost can be greatly reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an ink cartridge according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial side sectional view of the sealing body.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a main part of the ink cartridge according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the process of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 IC, IC 'Ink cartridge 1, 1' Case 11, 11 'Ink supply part 11A, 11A' Projecting end part 11B Non-adhesive part 11D 'Notch part 11E' Recessed part 12, 12 'Seal rubber 2, 2'Sealing Body 2A Adhesive layer 2B Cover layer 21, 21 'Picking portion SP' Spacer

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Hisashi Miyazawa, Hisashi Miyazawa, 3-3-5 Yamato, Suwa-shi, Nagano Seiko Epson Co., Ltd. No. Seiko Epson Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kazuo Koshino 3-35 Yamato 3-chome, Suwa City, Nagano Prefecture Seiko Epson Co., Ltd.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An ink cartridge comprising an ink occlusion body such as a foam loaded inside and an encapsulation body attached to an ink supply section, which is used when the encapsulation body is removed from the ink supply section. A regenerable ink cartridge that is equipped with exfoliation support means. 2. The regenerable ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the exfoliation support means has a configuration in which a grip portion is extended to a sealing body attached to the ink supply portion. 3. The peeling support means is configured so as to be continuously attached including a non-adhesive portion as long as the sealed state between the ink supply portion and the sealing body is not impaired. A recyclable ink cartridge according to 1. 4. The exfoliation support means has a multi-layered structure in which the sealing body is composed of a cover layer and an adhesive layer, and the cover layer is formed of a material having a heat resistant temperature higher than that of the adhesive layer. The regenerable ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the layer is made of a material selected from materials that are compatible with the material of the ink cartridge case. 5. A method of reprocessing an ink cartridge comprising an ink occlusion body such as foam loaded inside and a sealing body attached to an ink supply section, wherein the used sealing body has a damaged sealing body. In the ink cartridge, the step of exfoliating the sealing body from the ink supply part by using the exfoliation support means, and the step of additionally providing an unused sealing body equipped with the exfoliation support means to the ink supply part. A method for recycling a recyclable ink cartridge including and. 6. A method of regenerating an ink cartridge, comprising an ink occlusion body such as foam loaded inside and a sealing body attached to an ink supply section, wherein the used sealing body has a damaged sealing body. In the ink cartridge, the step of exfoliating the sealing body from the ink supply section by using the exfoliation support means, the step of removing the seal rubber fitted in the ink supply section, and the step of crossing the ink supply section. A step of cutting into a circular shape, a step of detachably attaching a spacer corresponding to the cut portion to the ink supply section, a step of loading a seal rubber again, and an unused sealing body provided with the exfoliation support means. A method of recycling a regenerable ink cartridge including a step of providing the ink supply unit. 7. The regenerable ink cartridge according to claim 6, further comprising the step of engaging a take-out jig with a notch formed in the ink supply section to remove the seal rubber fitted in the ink supply section. Recycle processing method.