JPH0994972A - Ink cartridge and ink jet cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent an increase in water-head pressure which is caused by ink seeping from an ink cartridge, by providing an ink absorber between the negative-pressure-producing member and atmosphere communicating opening of a first storage compartment and by absorbing and holding ink seeping from the negative-pressure-producing member by means of the ink absorber. SOLUTION: The side wall of a first absorption compartment 4 formed together with a second storage compartment 3 in the container 2 of an ink cartridge 1 is provided with an ink supply opening 6 for supplying ink to the ink jet head of an ink jet printer. Also, the upper wall of the first storage compartment 4 is provided with an atmosphere communicating opening 7 which communicates with atmosphere. Further, in the first storage compartment 4, a negative-pressure-producing member 5 and the ink absorber 9 are disposed apart from each other. A hole 9A is made through the ink absorber 9, and by means of the hole 9A the negative-pressure-producing member 5 and the atmosphere communicating opening 7 communicate with each other. The ink absorber 9 is fixed between the member 5 and the opening 7.

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 cartridge which are replaceably mounted in a printing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a first accommodating chamber and a second accommodating chamber for accommodating ink have been formed as ink cartridges which are replaceably mounted in an ink jet printing apparatus, and sponge is provided in the first accommodating chamber. A device provided with a negative pressure generating member such as is proposed. The first storage chamber provided with the negative pressure generating member is provided with an atmosphere communication port for obtaining communication with the atmosphere. In the region near the atmosphere communication port in the first storage chamber, the negative pressure generation member is It is an area that does not hold. In addition, the first storage chamber is provided with an ink supply port for supplying the ink held by the negative pressure generating member to the inkjet head of the inkjet printing apparatus. The second storage chamber is communicated with the first storage chamber only through a minute communication portion provided at a position away from the atmosphere communication port of the first storage chamber. The chamber is substantially sealed and contains ink. And when using the ink cartridge,
Ink is replenished from the second storage chamber to the first storage chamber through the minute communication portion by performing gas-liquid exchange between the first and second storage chambers via the minute communication portion. Will be.

Further, as another ink cartridge, the ink that has exuded from the negative pressure generating member in the first storage chamber due to a change in temperature can be returned to the negative pressure generating member so that the ink can be used to the end. Some have been proposed. In addition, by providing a gap between the first storage chamber and the atmosphere communication port, a structure having a structure in which the ink that has exuded is temporarily stored in the gap when the ink cartridge is opened for use is already a product. Has been converted.

[0004]

Inkjet printing apparatuses are now required to perform large-format printing and mass printing, and ink cartridges used therein are also required to have a large capacity. On the other hand, for ink cartridges, in addition to pursuing space saving and price reduction, for example,
It is mounted on the scanning carriage of the inkjet printing apparatus and directly connected to the inkjet head. Ink cartridges with a simple configuration that balance such requirements and costs have also been commercialized.

However, it is necessary to increase the ink capacity of the ink cartridge in order to support large-format printing. Further, in order to reduce the number of line buffer memories in the inkjet printing apparatus, when a plurality of inkjet heads are mounted on the carriage, the distance between the inkjet heads is often set small in the scanning direction of the carriage, and inevitably,
When the ink cartridge is placed on the carriage, there are restrictions on the width of the ink cartridge, and therefore the ink capacity is increased in the height direction and the depth direction of the ink cartridge. Further, in order to reduce the foot space of the inkjet printing apparatus, it is desirable that the ink capacity can be increased only by increasing the height of the ink cartridge.

However, when the height of the ink cartridge is increased, in the ink cartridge having a structure in which the negative pressure generating member is impregnated with the ink and held, the hydraulic head pressure applied to the ink jet head is increased according to the increase in the height. On the other hand, if the density of the negative pressure generating member is increased to prevent this, the amount of ink that cannot be used in the ink cartridge will increase, and it is expected that the effective ink amount will increase in proportion to the increase in volume. Disappear.

Therefore, the above-described ink cartridge, that is, the first storage chamber provided with the negative pressure generating member,
It is conceivable to use an ink cartridge in which a second storage chamber communicating with this is formed. However, in this case, there are the following problems.

(1). Depending on the change in temperature and atmospheric pressure when the ink in the ink cartridge is used halfway,
The air in the second storage chamber expands, and the ink in the second storage chamber is pushed out into the first storage chamber. At this time, negative pressure cannot be expected to be generated by the negative pressure generating member in the first storage chamber, and the state becomes positive. As a result, the formation of the meniscus at the ink ejection port is adversely affected during printing such as printing or after the suction recovery operation. Here, the suction recovery operation is an operation of sucking and discharging the thickened ink or the like from the ink discharge port of the inkjet head.

(2). When the ink capacity is increased, the ink rises from the negative pressure generating member of the first storage chamber mainly due to the temperature change during the distribution of the ink cartridge (in particular, the volume expansion of the ink at low temperature). Depending on the distribution posture of the ink cartridge, when the temperature rises, the ink may not return to the negative pressure generating member and may accumulate at the atmosphere communication port side.In this case, ink leaks when opening the ink cartridge. It becomes easy to hang down. Further, by supplying the ink of positive pressure state to the inkjet head,
It may adversely affect printing performance such as printing.

(3). Even when the degree of the phenomenon of (2) above is small, instead of the ink pushed out from the second storage chamber into the first storage chamber, the second storage chamber is replaced by the second storage chamber through the minute communication passage. When the ink cartridge is opened after a sudden temperature rise or atmospheric pressure decrease, the ink pushed out from the second storage chamber to the first storage chamber is negatively pressured because the air moves to the second storage chamber. There is a possibility that the ink cannot be received by the generating member, and the ink may leak out from the atmosphere communicating portion to the outside. Also,
When the ink supply port is opened, the ink supply port portion in the first storage chamber is in a positive pressure state, and therefore ink may leak from the ink supply port.

An object of the present invention is to stably supply ink without being influenced by the ink that has exuded from the negative pressure generating member, and to always maintain stable printing performance. An object of the present invention is to provide an ink cartridge and an ink jet cartridge that can prevent the ink from leaking when the section is opened.

[0012]

In the ink cartridge of the present invention, a negative pressure generating member for holding the ink is accommodated, and the ink supply port for supplying the ink to the ink jet head is communicated with the atmosphere. And a minute communication passage provided at a position distant from the atmosphere communication port. A second storage chamber that communicates with the first storage chamber via only a space and stores ink in a substantially sealed state; and a negative pressure generating member of the first storage chamber and an atmosphere communication port. And a separating unit that is provided between the negative pressure generating member and the ink located at the portion.

[0013] The ink jet cartridge of the present invention comprises:
It is characterized by comprising the above-mentioned ink cartridge and an inkjet head connected to an ink supply port of the ink cartridge and capable of ejecting ink supplied from the ink supply port from an ink ejection port.

The separating means may have an ink absorber capable of absorbing and holding ink, and an ink reservoir capable of storing ink. When an ink absorber is used as the separating means, it works as follows. The same applies when an ink reservoir is used.

1. During normal use of the ink cartridge, when the ink exudes from the negative pressure generating member due to a change in atmospheric pressure or a temperature, the exuding ink is absorbed by the ink absorber and separated from the negative pressure generating member. No extra head pressure is applied by the exuded ink, and the negative pressure generated by the negative pressure generating member is stabilized. Therefore, by setting the height of the ink absorber so that it is equal to or lower than the water head pressure at which the ink is dripped from the ink ejection port of the ink jet head to which the ink is supplied, the ink is dripped from the ink ejection port and the normal printing operation is performed. There is no adverse effect on.

Further, when the suction recovery operation of the ink jet head, that is, the operation of sucking and discharging the ink from the ink discharge port in order to discharge the thickened ink and the like in the ink jet head, the ink jet head is applied to the negative pressure generating member. Even if an amount of ink that applies a head pressure to such an extent that the ink does not drip out from the ink ejection port of the first storage chamber, the ink in the first storage chamber has a resistance when passing through the negative pressure generating member, so the suction and discharge operation is performed. The ink does not drip from the ink ejection port later.

2. Vibration during distribution of ink cartridges,
Due to impact, temperature change, and the like, ink may seep out from the negative pressure generating member inside the first storage chamber and move to the atmosphere communication port. In particular, the degree of occurrence varies depending on the posture of the ink cartridge, but when the atmosphere communication port faces downward, the degree of ink seepage increases. Conventionally, when ink oozes out from the negative pressure generating member, when the ink cartridge is opened for use, the ink sometimes drips from the atmosphere communication port or the ink supply port. Further, in the case of an integrated type with an inkjet head, the ejection of ink droplets may be adversely affected. However, according to the present invention, the ink oozing out from the negative pressure generating member is absorbed by the ink absorber, so that the ink dripping due to the oozing ink and the adverse effect on the ejection of the ink droplets are prevented. It will be.

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIGS. 1 to 5 are views for explaining a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the ink cartridge 1 of this embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a view taken in the direction of arrow II in FIG. 1. The ink cartridge 1 has a thin shape as is apparent from FIG. A first storage chamber 4 and a second storage chamber 3 are formed inside the container 2 of the ink cartridge 1. The side wall of the first storage chamber 4 is provided with an ink supply port 6 for supplying ink to an inkjet head of an inkjet printing apparatus (not shown), and the upper wall of the first storage chamber 4 has an atmosphere. An atmosphere communication port 7 is provided for communicating with the. Further, the negative pressure generating member 5 and the ink absorber 9 are separately arranged inside the first storage chamber 4, and these are formed by a porous member such as a sponge. The first storage chamber 4 and the second storage chamber 3 are communicated with each other by an ink supply passage 8 as a minute communication passage, and ink can be moved between the storage chambers 4 and 3 through the ink supply passage 8. Has become. The second storage chamber 3 is only communicated with the first storage chamber 4 by the ink supply path 8, and the second storage chamber 3 itself is substantially in a sealed state.

The ink absorber 9 has a hole 9A formed therethrough. The hole 9A allows the negative pressure generating member 5 and the atmosphere communication port 7 to communicate with each other. In addition, the ink absorber 9 is
Although it is fixed between the negative pressure generating member 5 and the atmosphere communication port 7, it may be movable as long as the function is satisfied.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge 1 in use, in which the ink cartridge 1 is replaceably mounted in an ink jet printing apparatus, and ink is supplied from the ink supply port 6 to the ink jet head. In the second storage chamber 3, there is an air portion 13 corresponding to the amount of ink consumed.

The ink cartridge 1 has an air portion 1 in the second storage chamber 3 due to a decrease in external atmospheric pressure and a rise in temperature.
The internal pressure of 3 increases, and the increase of the internal pressure pushes the ink 14 in the second storage chamber 3 into the first storage chamber 4 from the ink supply path 8. At this time, since the ink supply port 6 is connected to an inkjet head having a small nozzle diameter, the ink oozes from the upper surface of the negative pressure generating member 5 before the ink drips from the nozzle.
Reference numeral 21 in FIG. 3 denotes ink that has exuded from the upper surface of the negative pressure generating member 5, and the ink 21 is absorbed by the ink absorber 9. By making the wettability of the ink absorber 9 higher than that of the negative pressure generating member 5, the ink 2 oozing out
1 is quickly absorbed by the ink absorber 9.

Ink 21 absorbed by the ink absorber 9
Does not affect the negative pressure of the ink supply port 6, so that the negative pressure when ink is supplied to the inkjet head is regulated by the characteristics of the negative pressure generating member 5 so that an appropriate negative pressure can always be applied. it can.

An ink cartridge 101 having no ink absorber 9 will be described as a comparative example with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. FIG. 1 shows an ink cartridge 10
1 is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge 1, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge 1 in use.

In the case of this ink cartridge 101, the ink 21 oozing from the upper surface of the negative pressure generating member 5 is
As shown in No. 1, the negative pressure is accumulated on the negative pressure generating member 5. When the ink 21 is accumulated on the negative pressure generating member 5, the head of the ink rises and the positive pressure is generated accordingly, which adversely affects the ejection of ink droplets from the inkjet head. Further, in a general inkjet printing apparatus, in order to maintain the ink ejection performance of the inkjet head, a suction recovery process for forcibly sucking and discharging the ink from the ink ejection port of the nozzle is performed. When the ink is discharged, the ink is supplied from the ink supply port 6 to the inkjet head by the amount of suction and discharge. At that time, if the positive pressure is equal to or higher than the predetermined limit pressure due to the ink 21 accumulated on the negative pressure generating member 5, the ink is discharged from the ink discharge port of the nozzle even after the suction recovery process is completed. There is a risk of leakage.

In the first embodiment of the present invention, since the ink 21 oozing from the upper surface of the negative pressure generating member 5 is absorbed by the ink absorber 9, such a problem does not occur.

FIG. 4 shows the ink cartridge 1 of this embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a situation during distribution exposed to a low-temperature environment with the atmosphere communication port 7 facing downward. 110 in the figure
Is ink that rises and freezes due to volume expansion. When the ink cartridge 1 in the state of FIG. 4 is exposed to a high temperature environment, as shown in FIG.
0 melts from the tip, and the melted ink 111 tries to drop toward the atmosphere communication port 7 due to gravity. However, the ink 111 is absorbed and captured by the ink absorber 9. Therefore, when opening the atmosphere communication port 7 to use the ink cartridge 1, it is possible to prevent the ink 111 from dripping from the atmosphere communication port 7.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 6 is a sectional view of an ink cartridge 1 according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the ink cartridge 1 in use.

In the present embodiment, the first storage chamber 4 is provided with an ink reservoir 39 which is recessed downward, instead of having the ink absorber 9 as in the above-mentioned embodiment, and the ink reservoir 39 thereof.
Has the same role as the ink absorber 9. Therefore, in this embodiment, the number of parts is smaller than that in the case where the ink absorber 9 is provided, which is advantageous in terms of cost.

The ink 21 oozing out from the negative pressure generating member 5 when the ink cartridge 1 is used enters the ink reservoir 39 as shown in FIG. Therefore, the ink 21 does not affect the negative pressure of the ink supply port 6 by accumulating in the ink reservoir 39, and adversely affects the ejection of ink droplets from the inkjet head, as in the above-described embodiment. There is no. Also, the ink cartridge 1
The ink 21 accumulated in the reservoir 39 can be returned to the negative pressure generating member 5 side by removing the ink from the inkjet printing apparatus and inclining the ink, so that the ink can be effectively used to the end.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 8 is a sectional view of an ink cartridge 1 according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the ink cartridge 1 in use.

In this embodiment, a rib 70 is provided at a position between the ink reservoir 39 in the second embodiment and the accommodating position of the negative pressure generating member 5. When the ink 21 exudes from the negative pressure generating member 5 when the ink cartridge 1 is used, when the ink 21 exudes more than the height of the rib 70, the ink 21 crosses over the rib 70 and enters the ink reservoir 39 as shown in FIG. .

Therefore, the ink 21 does not accumulate above the height of the rib 70 on the negative pressure generating member 5, and the maximum amount of the ink 21 is limited by the rib 70. Therefore, depending on the height of the rib 70, the positive pressure corresponding to the maximum amount of the ink 21 accumulated on the negative pressure generating member 5 is set within a range that does not hinder the printing operation, so that the inkjet head is always stable. Then, the ink droplets are ejected. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, if the head H applied to the ink jet head 200 connected to the ink supply port 6 becomes 60 mm and the print operation does not cause any particular problem, the rib 70 should be arranged so as not to exceed the head H. You can set the height of. Therefore, the rib 70 functions as a head pressure limiter. Further, similarly to the second embodiment described above, by removing the ink cartridge 1 from the inkjet printing apparatus and tilting it, the ink 21 accumulated in the reservoir 39 can be returned to the negative pressure generating member 5 side. Therefore, the ink can be effectively used to the end.

(Fourth Embodiment) FIG. 12 shows the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge 1 of the embodiment.

In this embodiment, the ink reservoir 39 is divided into three parts 39A, 39B and 39 by two ribs 71 and 72.
The rib 7 on the side separated from the negative pressure generating member 5
2 is set lower than the rib 71 near the negative pressure generating member 5. Thus, by partitioning the ink reservoir 39 into a plurality of compartments, it is possible to store the ink therein in stages so as to move away from the negative pressure generating member 5. Therefore, the ink cartridge 1 is mounted on the carriage of the printing apparatus. When used for a long time, it is possible to make it difficult for the ink in the ink reservoir 39 to return to the negative pressure generating member 5 side due to vibration of the carriage during scanning. Moreover, by dividing the ink reservoir 39 into a plurality of compartments, the ink reservoir 3 generated by vibration is generated.
It is also possible to suppress the wave of ink inside 9. Of course, the number of partitions of the ink reservoir 39 and the mode of the partitions are not limited to this embodiment. In addition, the ribs 71, so that the ink in the ink reservoir 39 does not easily return to the negative pressure generating member 5 side.
It is also possible to set 72 forms. For example, rib 7
By extending both end portions of the upper edge portions 1, 72 slightly upward along the side wall of the first storage chamber 4, the ink in the ink reservoir 39 is stopped even if the ink cartridge 1 is slightly inclined, It is possible to suppress the return to the negative pressure generating member 5 side.

(Others) By disposing the ink absorber 9 so as to contact at least a part of the inner wall surface of the communication passage between the negative pressure generating member 5 and the atmosphere communication port 7, the ink absorbing member 9 is separated from the negative pressure generating member 5. The ink 21 that has exuded can be absorbed. When a ridge line portion is formed by a plurality of inner wall surfaces in the communication passage between the negative pressure generation member 5 and the atmosphere communication port 7, the negative pressure generation member 5 is contacted with a part of the ridge line portion. The ink 21 can be efficiently absorbed by disposing the ink 21.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9, an ink jet cartridge in which the ink cartridge 1 and the ink jet head 200 are combined is formed, and the ink cartridge is exchangeably mounted on a carrier of an ink jet printing apparatus. Good.

[0039]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When the ink cartridge is used, for example, when the air present in the second storage chamber is subjected to environmental changes (temperature change, atmospheric pressure change), ink seeps out from the negative pressure generating member in the first storage chamber. Also, since the ink that has exuded to that portion is separated from the negative pressure generating member by the separating means provided in the portion between the negative pressure generating member and the atmosphere communication port, the ink exudes from the negative pressure generating member. It is possible to prevent the head pressure from rising due to the ink, and to always supply the ink stably to maintain the printing performance.

Further, by using the ink absorber as the separating means, when the ink oozes out from the negative pressure generating member due to the temperature change during the distribution of the ink cartridge, the oozing ink is absorbed by the ink absorber. Thus, it is possible to prevent the ink from dripping when the ink cartridge is opened for use.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an ink cartridge according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view on arrow II in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge of FIG. 1 in use.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge of FIG. 1 placed upside down in a low temperature environment.

5 is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge of FIG. 4 when placed in a high temperature environment.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an ink cartridge according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge of FIG. 6 in use.

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

9 is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge of FIG. 8 in use.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional ink cartridge.

11 is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge of FIG. 10 in use.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of an ink cartridge according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Ink Cartridge 2 Ink Cartridge Container 3 Second Storage Chamber 4 First Storage Chamber 5 Negative Pressure Generating Member 6 Ink Supply Port 7 Atmosphere Communication Port 8 Ink Supply Channel 9 Ink Absorber 39 Ink Reservoir

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A negative pressure generating member for holding ink is accommodated, and an ink supply port for supplying ink to an inkjet head and an atmosphere communication port for obtaining communication with the atmosphere are provided. A first storage chamber in which a region near the atmosphere communication port does not hold ink and a minute communication passage provided at a position distant from the atmosphere communication port are connected to the first storage chamber. A second storage chamber that is in communication and is in a substantially sealed state to store ink, and is provided between the negative pressure generating member and the atmosphere communication port of the first storage chamber, and is located at that portion. An ink cartridge comprising: a separating unit that separates ink from the negative pressure generating member. 2. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the separating unit has an ink absorber capable of absorbing and holding ink. 3. The ink cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the ink absorber has a hole that communicates between the first storage chamber and the atmosphere communication port. 4. The ink according to claim 2, wherein the ink absorber is in contact with a part of an inner wall surface of a communication passage between the first storage chamber and the atmosphere communication port. cartridge. 5. The ink absorber is in contact with a part of a ridge line portion formed by a plurality of inner wall surfaces of a communication passage between the first storage chamber and the atmosphere communication port. Item 5. The ink cartridge according to any one of items 2 to 4. 6. The ink cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the ink absorber has a higher wettability with respect to the ink than the negative pressure generating member. 7. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the separating means has an ink reservoir portion that is formed in a recess and is capable of storing ink. 8. The ink cartridge according to claim 7, wherein a rib having a predetermined height is provided between the ink reservoir and the negative pressure generating member. 9. The ink cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 8, and an ink jet head connected to an ink supply port of the ink cartridge and capable of ejecting ink supplied from the ink supply port from the ink ejection port. An ink jet cartridge comprising: