JPH11170558A - Ink cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink cartridge for an ink jet recording apparatus capable of smoothly supplying ink by stable negative pressure. SOLUTION: The negative pressure generating means 12 connected to an ink tank 13 is equipped with first and second ink chambers demarcated by a movable valve 123 and the first ink chamber is allowed to communicate with the ink tank and the second ink chamber is allowed to communicate with a head part 11 and the through-hole of the cylindrical part of a movable valve 123 is made closable by the semispherical valve stopper 134 provided to the ink tank 13 and the movable valve 123 is urged toward the valve stopper 134 by an elastic material such as a coil spring or the like and the tapered part coming into contact with the valve stopper 134 is provided to the cylindrical part of the movable valve 123 and the thick-walled ring part of the outer periphery of the movable valve 123 is held between a valve fixing frame 121 and a valve fixing ring and the movable valve 123 is supported in a liquidtight state by the tapering part of the valve fixing ring and a filter is interposed between the ink tank and the first ink chamber and a spring seat is arranged on the movable valve 123 on the side of the second ink chamber.

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 an ink cartridge for supplying ink to an ink jet recording apparatus or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a known example of this type of ink cartridge, which is provided with a negative pressure generating means for supplying ink to a print processing means without any trouble, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 8-174860 is known. )
Invention.

The point of this known example is that the upper and lower regions are divided by a membrane valve seat in a negative pressure generating means following the ink chamber, and the through hole is configured to be opened and closed by a hemispherical lower end of a valve body. Things.

[0004]

The above-mentioned known ink cartridge has the following points that require further improvement.

[0005] Since the membrane valve seat is in the form of a thin film, the periphery of the through hole may be broken during use, which may hinder stable supply of ink.

[0006] The mounting state of the membrane valve seat is unstable, and there is concern about the liquid-tight independence between the upper and lower regions.

[0007] Since the elasticity of the membrane valve seat is simply used, creep may occur and a decrease in the pressing force between the membrane valve seat and the seal member may cause a decrease in negative pressure.

[0008] Dust and fluff generated during assembly may be pinched, and the liquid tightness of the membrane valve seat may be reduced.

A first problem to be solved by the present invention is that the movable valve is supported in a liquid-tight manner, the independence of the first and second ink chambers is improved, and the negative pressure is prevented from lowering. To provide an ink cartridge.

A second problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a movable valve which is urged in the direction of a valve stopper by an elastic means to ensure stable generation of negative pressure.

A third problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an ink cartridge in which dust or the like is prevented from entering the valve portion from the ink flow passage.

A fourth problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an ink cartridge in which a spring seat is provided on a movable valve to stabilize the operation of the movable valve and prevent damage during use. It is to be.

[0013]

Means for solving the above problems are as follows.

(1) An ink cartridge capable of supplying ink to a head section of an ink jet recording apparatus, wherein a negative pressure generating means connected to an ink tank defines first and second ink chambers defined by movable valves. The first ink chamber communicates with the ink tank and the second ink chamber communicates with the head, and the through hole in the cylinder of the movable valve can be closed by a hemispherical valve stopper provided in the ink tank. An ink cartridge characterized by:

(2) The movable valve is urged toward the valve stopper by an elastic material.
(1) The ink cartridge described.

(3) The ink cartridge according to (2), wherein the elastic material is a coil spring.

(4) The ink cartridge according to (1), wherein the cylindrical portion of the movable valve is provided with a tapered portion abutting on the valve stopper.

(5) A thick ring portion on the outer periphery of the movable valve is sandwiched between a valve fixing frame and a valve fixing ring, and the movable valve is carried in a liquid-tight manner by a tapered ring portion of the valve fixing ring. The ink cartridge according to the above (1) or (2), wherein

(6) A filter is interposed between the ink tank and the first ink chamber.
(1) The ink cartridge described.

(7) A spring seat is provided on the movable valve on the second ink chamber side, and the movable valve is urged in the valve stopper direction by an elastic material such as a coil spring.
The ink cartridge according to any one of (2) to (6).

According to the above-mentioned corresponding means, the ink supplied from the ink tank is stably supplied to the head section through the first and second ink chambers under an appropriate negative pressure.

[0022]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) 1. Means Overall Configuration As shown in the longitudinal section of FIG. 1, the ink cartridge 10 is provided with a sub-tank 14 and an ink tank 13 having a negative pressure generating section 12 which can supply ink to a head section 11 in a horizontal direction. It is configured to be attachable and detachable in a shape.

Configuration of Each Part (A) Ink Tank 13 In the ink tank 13 having a substantially L-shaped vertical cross section, a vent 132 provided with a water-repellent film 131 and a groove 133 for preventing ink evaporation are formed. And seal the surface 1
60, a hemispherical valve stopper 134 to be engaged with the negative pressure generating part 12 described later is ridged, and further, a first connecting part 135 protruding to the side of the main tank 13 has a first part. The first sealing valve 13 urged outward by a spring 136 and capable of sealing the receiving opening 137 of the main tank 13
8 is movably formed.

(B) Sub-tank 14 The inside of the sub-tank 14 has first and second partitions 141A and 141B.
The first to third ink chambers 142A to 142C are arranged side by side, and the lower edge of each of the partitions 141A and 141B has the first and second ink chambers that determine the height of the liquid surface to be opened to the atmosphere.
The second openings 143A and 143B are opened, and this opening 1
Regarding the height positional relationship between 43A and 43B, the opening 143A is made higher than the opening 143B, and the height of the receiving opening 137 of the connection portion 135 of the ink tank 13 inserted into the insertion opening 144 of the sub tank 14 is adjusted. It is arranged to be higher than the opening 143A.

Further, a second spring 146 is contracted between a second sealing valve 145 capable of opening and closing the insertion port 144 and the first partition 142A. Is configured to be able to abut on the first sealing valve 138.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 147 denotes a sealing ring for preventing ink leakage, which can attach the connection portion 135 of the ink tank 13 to the insertion port 144 of the sub-tank portion 14 in a liquid-tight manner.

(C) Negative Pressure Generating Unit (Means) As shown in FIG. 2, the negative pressure generating unit 12 is a valve fixing frame 1 connected to the recess 130 of the ink tank 13.
A flexible movable valve 123 fixed by a valve fixing ring 122 is provided on the inner surface of the valve fixing frame 122.
The movable valve 1 urged inward by a coil spring 125 guided by a spring guide 124 formed in the movable valve 1
23 is arranged so as to be in contact with the valve stopper 134 so that the first and second
To form ink chambers C1 and C2.

The movable valve 123 is formed integrally with a valve fixing ring 122 made of a resin material such as polypropylene or high-density polyethylene.

In the center of the thin film portion 123A, a through hole 123B
Is formed into a thick-walled cylindrical portion 123C, and further a cylindrical portion 1 is formed.
A tapered portion 123Ca protruding from the inner surface of 23C is made freely engageable with the valve stopper 134.

A thick ring portion 123D is formed on the outer periphery of the thin film portion 123A so as to be elastically deformable.

The valve fixing frame 121 and the valve fixing ring 122
Are formed separately from each other and integrally formed by ultrasonic welding, vibration welding or heat welding means. The valve fixing ring 122 and the thick ring portion 123D of the movable valve 123 are formed by two-color molding or insert molding. It is configured integrally.

Further, the valve fixing frame 121 has the second
A valve flow path 126 communicated with the ink chamber C2 is opened, and ink is supplied to the head unit 11 via the valve flow path 126 which is formed by adhering a valve flow path forming film 170. It is configured so that:

The movable valve 123 can be fixed in a liquid-tight manner on the tapered ring portion 127 formed on the inner surface of the valve fixing frame 121.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 139A denotes a filter arranged so as to cover the ink inlet 139B.
The filter 139A has an opening diameter of 10 μm or less and is a filter for preventing inflow of dust and bubbles.

2. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the negative pressure generating section 12 is provided with a thick ring section 123 of a movable valve 123 on a tapered ring section 127 of a valve fixing frame 121 in advance.
The movable valve 123 is fixedly mounted in a liquid-tight manner by holding the valve fixing frame 121 and the valve fixing ring 122 while facing D.

When the negative pressure generator 12 is mounted on the ink tank 13, the movable valve 123 is bent outward against the coil spring 125 by the hemispherical valve stopper 134 as shown in FIGS. As shown in FIG.
It is to be mounted within 0.

The procedure for mounting the sub-tank 14 on the ink tank 13 is as follows. When the connection portion 135 is inserted into the insertion port 144 as shown in FIGS. Receiving opening 1 by a first ink leakage sealing valve 138 urged by a spring 136 of
37 is sealed, and the insertion port 144 of the sub tank 14 is
Since the ink is sealed by the second ink leakage sealing valve 145 urged by the second spring 146, leakage of ink from both the ink tank 13 and the sub tank 14 is safely prevented.

In this state, the sub tank 14 is further connected to the connecting portion 1.
35, the first ink leakage sealing valve 138 is pushed in by the second ink leakage sealing valve 145 to open the receiving opening 137 as shown in FIG. When the joining operation is continued, finally, as shown in FIG. 5, the connection portion 135 is fully inserted into the insertion port 144, and conversely, the first ink leakage sealing valve 138 causes the second ink leakage sealing valve 138. 145 is pushed back to insert slot 14
4, the ink tank 13 and the sub-tank 14 are in communication with each other, and the mounting of the sub-tank 14 is completed as shown in FIG.

3. Use process The ink in the ink tank 13 which has been pre-filled is used, and the liquid level is lowered.
When the height reaches 37, air flows into the first ink chamber 142A of the sub-tank 14, and as a result, the ink in the first ink chamber 142A is consumed.

Next, when the liquid level of the ink in the first ink chamber 142A drops and reaches the height of the first opening 143A, the air subsequently flows into the second ink chamber 142B to supply the ink. Is continued.

Further, the ink in the second ink chamber 142B is used to lower the ink level, so that the second opening 143 is formed.
When the height reaches the height B, air flows into the third ink chamber 142C, and the same volume of ink is continuously supplied.

As described above, following the ink tank 13, the first to third ink chambers 142A to 142A of the sub tank 14 are formed.
The ink can be supplied to the head unit 11 sequentially from 42C. The function of the negative pressure generating unit 12 at this time is as follows.

When ink is supplied from the head section 11 in the state shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and is provided for printing processing, ink from the second ink chamber C 2 outside the movable valve 123 passes through the valve flow path 126. As a result, the liquid pressure of the ink supplied to the head section 11 and in the second ink chamber C2 decreases.

In response to the decrease in the hydraulic pressure, the coil spring 125
The movable valve 123 is displaced outward against the cylindrical portion 123C.
The tapered portion 123Ca is disengaged from the valve stopper 134, the through hole 123B is gradually opened, and the ink in the first ink chamber C1 is moved into the second ink chamber C2.

As a result, when the ink pressure in the second ink chamber C2 rises, the movable valve 123 is displaced inward by the help of the coil spring 125, and the tapered portion 1 is again moved.
23Ca comes into contact with the hemispherical valve stopper 134, and the through hole 123B is closed.

As a result, the replenishment of ink from the ink tank 13 to the first ink chamber C1 via the ink inflow hole 139B is stopped, and the ink supply to the head 11 during the ink supply process is stopped. The pressure is maintained substantially constant, and good ink supply can be continued.

Further, even when the ambient air temperature changes, for example, when the air temperature rises in summer, even if the ink pressure in the second ink chamber C2 rises, the thin film portion 123A of the movable valve 123 remains in the first ink chamber C1. Since the liquid pressure in the second ink chamber C2 can be automatically reduced by deforming to the side, excessive ink pressure is applied to the head portion 11 and there is no danger of ink ejection or the like. .

Further, since the tapered portion 123Ca is in contact with the valve stopper 134, the ink pressure is stable in that the liquid-tightness of the through hole 123B is good.

Also, between the first and second ink chambers C 1 and C 2, the ink pressure varies even at the point that the thick-walled ring portion 123 D is sufficiently sealed and supported by the tapered ring portion 127. It will be stabilized.

In addition, since the through-hole 123B is opened in the cylindrical portion 123C, the through-hole 123B is caused by a displacement operation during use.
Cracking of the hole side of 3B is prevented.

Further, the movable valve 1 is moved by the coil spring 125.
Since the film 23 is biased, it can be operated stably even if the elasticity of the thin film portion 123A is insufficient.

(Embodiment 2) The characteristic structure of the negative pressure generating section 220 of the ink cartridge 200 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is that a spring seat 280 is provided on a movable valve 223 having a thin film section 223A. Spring 2 provided in second ink chamber C22
90 has an inner end in contact with a spring seat 280,
The movable valve 223 is biased in the direction of the valve stopper 234 by a spring 290.

In the drawing, reference numeral 281 denotes a radial cutout of the spring seat 280 for supporting the flow of ink. Reference numeral 110 denotes a head portion, reference numeral 230 denotes an ink tank. The configuration common to the ink cartridge 10 of the first embodiment is indicated by reference numerals in the 200s.

In the negative pressure generating portion 220 of the ink cartridge 200, since the movable valve 223 is urged toward the valve stopper 234 by the spring 290 via the spring seat 280, the thin film portion 223A is bent. , Valve stopper 23 caused by changes in environment, changes in material hardness, etc.
The instability of the pressing force against the ink cartridge 4 is safely eliminated, the pressurized state is stabilized, and the fluctuation of the ink pressure can be further stabilized.

(Embodiment 3) The negative pressure generating section 320 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 is used by inserting it into an ink cartridge (not shown). In the thin film portion 323A, a movable valve 323 formed by forming a concentric wavy portion is fixed on a valve fixed frame 321 and the fixed valve portion 392 is brought into contact with the movable valve 323C from the state of FIG. It is assembled integrally so as to be in the state of FIG.

According to the negative pressure generating section 320, the movable valve 32
Reference numeral 3 indicates that the thin film portion 323A can be bent with good responsiveness by the concentric corrugated portion, so that the valve function is improved, and the thin film portion 323A is stably held between the valve fixing frame 321 and the fixed valve portion 392, and ink Is smoothly transferred from the inflow path P2 to the outflow path P1.

FIGS. 10 to 17 show modifications of the shape of the movable valve. In the first modification shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, a valve fixing ring 1100 is provided around the outer periphery of the movable valve 1000. Are brought into radial contact with each other to improve the adhesion.

In the second modified example shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the tapered portion 21 is provided outside the cylindrical portion 2100 of the movable valve 2000.
10 are provided.

In the third modification shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the tapered portion 31 is provided inside the cylindrical portion 3100 of the movable valve 3000.
10 are provided.

In the fourth modification shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the cylindrical portion 4100 of the movable valve 4000 is projected only outward.

[0062]

The effects provided by the present invention described above are as follows.

Since the through hole of the movable valve is provided in the cylindrical portion, it is not damaged, and the ink pressure can be stabilized (claim 1).

Since the movable valve is urged in the valve stopper direction by an elastic material such as a coil spring, the negative pressure can be prevented from lowering.

Since the tapered portion of the cylindrical portion is brought into contact with the hemispherical valve stopper, the ink can move smoothly even when the dynamic pressure of the ink is reduced.

Since the movable valve is fixed in a liquid-tight manner, it is possible to prevent a decrease in ink pressure (claim 5).

The inflow of dust can be prevented by the filter (claim 6).

Since the elastic material is carried by the spring seat, the pressurized state of the movable valve can be stabilized (claim 7).

[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 vertical sectional view of a main part of the ink tank of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part in a state immediately before connection in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view during connection following FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view at the time of completion of connection, following FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a negative pressure generating unit according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the spring seat of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a negative pressure generating unit according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view of the assembly in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a first modified example of the movable valve.

11 is a longitudinal sectional view of FIG.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of a second modification of the movable valve.

FIG. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view of FIG.

FIG. 14 is a plan view of a third modified example of the movable valve.

FIG. 15 is a longitudinal sectional view of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a plan view of a fourth modified example of the movable valve.

FIG. 17 is a longitudinal sectional view of FIG. 16;

[Explanation of symbols]

10, 200 Ink cartridge 11, 110 Head unit 12, 220, 320 Negative pressure generating means (part) 121, 321 Valve fixing frame 122 Valve fixing ring 123, 223, 323, 1000 to 4000 Movable valve 123B Through hole 123C, 223C, 323C cylindrical portion 123Ca, 2110, 3110 tapered portion 123D thick ring portion 125 elastic material (coil spring) 127 tapered ring portion 13, 230 ink tank 134, 234 valve stopper 280 spring seat 290 spring C1, C21 first ink chamber C2 , C22 Second ink chamber

Claims (7)

[Claims] An ink cartridge capable of supplying ink to a head portion of an ink jet recording apparatus, wherein a negative pressure generating means connected to an ink tank has first and second ink chambers partitioned by a movable valve. The first ink chamber communicates with the ink tank and the second ink chamber communicates with the head, and the through hole in the cylinder of the movable valve can be closed by a hemispherical valve stopper provided in the ink tank. An ink cartridge characterized in that: 2. The valve according to claim 1, wherein the movable valve is urged toward the valve stopper by an elastic material.
The described ink cartridge. 3. The ink cartridge according to claim 2, wherein said elastic material is a coil spring. 4. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the cylindrical portion of the movable valve is provided with a tapered portion that contacts the valve stopper. 5. The movable valve is characterized in that a thick ring portion on the outer periphery of the movable valve is sandwiched between a valve fixing frame and a valve fixing ring, and the movable valve is supported in a liquid-tight manner by a tapered ring portion of the valve fixing ring. The ink cartridge according to claim 1 or 2, wherein 6. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a filter is interposed between said ink tank and said first ink chamber. 7. A movable seat on the movable valve on the second ink chamber side, wherein the movable valve is urged in a valve stopper direction by an elastic material such as a coil spring.
7. The ink cartridge according to any one of items 1 to 6.