JPH11192718A - Ink package - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink package capable of applying a negative pressure to ink supplied to a print head without using a spring member. SOLUTION: An inner package 31a of an ink cartridge is wrapped in an outer package 31b and ink sealed in the inner package 31a is supplied to a print head by means of an ink extracting member, then printing is performed. A property of shape restoring of a film material having a laminated structure forming the outer package 31b is set to be greater than that of a film material having a laminated structure forming the inner package 31a. As a result, shape change of the outer package 31b is suppressed and the inner pressure of an inner space 31b2 of the outer package 31b is maintained in the negative pressure even when the inner pressure of an ink sealing section 31a2 is lowered to be in a low negative pressure and it becomes hard to suppress shape change of the inner package 31a as the ink is extracted. Then, the inner pressure of the inner package 31a is maintained in the adequate negative pressure by a balance between the inner pressure of the inner space 31b2 and the inner pressure of the ink sealing section 31a2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an ink package for sealing an ink supplied to a print head and used for printing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an ink jet printer which performs printing by discharging ink, ink is supplied to a print head from an ink package filled with ink, and the print head discharges ink onto paper to perform printing. .
In such an ink-jet printer, it is necessary to maintain the ejection property of the ink ejected from the print head in a preferable state in order to maintain a good print result. The ink ejection property is maintained by forming a concave meniscus (curved surface) on the liquid surface of the ink supplied into the nozzles of the print head. The liquid surface of the meniscus ink is formed by adjusting the supply pressure of the ink supplied into the nozzles to a negative pressure within a predetermined range.

Various proposals have been made for adjusting the ink supply pressure. For example, JP-A-6-183
The ink package described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 023 is filled with ink and encloses an elastically deformable spring member therein. In such an ink package, even if the ink is extracted from the ink package and the internal pressure of the ink package is reduced, a change in shape of the ink package is suppressed by the spring member encapsulated therein, so that the internal pressure of the ink package is reduced to a negative pressure. As a result, the supply pressure of the ink supplied to the print head is adjusted to a negative pressure.

[0004]

However, such an ink package requires not only a separate spring member for suppressing the contraction of the ink package due to consumption of ink, but also encloses the spring member in the ink package. However, there is a problem that the manufacturing process becomes complicated and the manufacturing cost increases. When a spring member is used, the displacement of the spring member increases as the amount of ink in the ink package decreases, so that the negative pressure in the ink package rapidly increases. Therefore, there is a problem that the meniscus is destroyed by an excessively large negative pressure even though the ink remains in the ink package, and the ink cannot be completely used up.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an ink package capable of applying a negative pressure to ink supplied to a print head without using a spring member. It is an object.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided an ink package for sealing an ink supplied to a print head and used for printing, wherein the ink is sealed. An inner package formed of a film material having shape restoration properties, an outer package enclosing the inner package and formed of a film material having shape restoration properties, and formed between the inner package and the outer package. And a gap formed.

According to the ink package of the present invention, the ink sealed in the inner package is extracted from the inner package, supplied to the print head, and used for printing. Both the inner package and the outer package are formed of a film material having a shape restoring property, and a gap is formed between the inner package and the outer package. Therefore, the decrease in the volume of the ink extracted from the inner package is distributed not only to the inner package but also to the outer package, so that the shape changes of both packages are suppressed, and the negative pressure of the inner package does not increase rapidly. A proper negative pressure is maintained.

An ink package according to claim 2, wherein the ink package is supplied to a print head and seals ink used for printing, and the ink package is sealed and formed of a film material having a shape restoring property. And an external package formed of a film material while enclosing the internal package, and a container body formed of a rigid material bonded to the external package while accommodating the external package, The rigid material forming the container body to which the outer package is joined is formed to have higher rigidity than the film material forming the inner package.

According to the ink package of the present invention, the ink sealed in the inner package is extracted from the inner package, supplied to the print head, and used for printing. The inner package is formed of a film material having shape resilience, and the outer package enclosing the inner package is joined to a container body formed of a rigid material having a higher rigidity than the inner package, so that the shape of the inner package is improved. Changes are suppressed. Therefore, even if the internal pressure of the internal package is reduced to a low negative pressure due to the extraction of the ink, and it becomes difficult to suppress the shape change only by the shape resilience of the internal package, the external package joined to the container body Accordingly, the change in shape of the internal package is suppressed, and the internal pressure of the internal package is maintained at an appropriate negative pressure.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the ink package according to the first or second aspect, the film material has a laminated structure in which a plurality of film sheets made of polyethylene resin or the like are laminated. I have.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the ink package according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the film material forming the outer package is more resilient than the film material forming the inner package. Are formed large.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the ink package according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, a gap between the outer package and the inner package is used to suppress a change in shape of the inner package. Cushioning material is provided.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the ink package according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, a gap between the outer package and the inner package is provided to suppress a change in shape of the inner package. Is provided, and the buffer material is formed of a fluid having fluidity.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the ink package according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, a gap between the outer package and the inner package is provided to suppress a change in shape of the inner package. The cushioning material is formed of a foam material that joins the inner package and the outer package and that can be impregnated with the ink.

An ink package according to an eighth aspect is the ink package according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, wherein the inner package is fixed to the outer package.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the ink package according to the eighth aspect, the inner package is fixed to the outer package by fixing both sides of the inner package to the outer package.

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a desktop printer 1 using an ink cartridge 30 according to one embodiment of the present invention.
The mounting direction of the ink cartridge 30 is shown. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, a desktop printer 1 includes a printer body 2 formed in a substantially rectangular box shape, a printer cartridge 3 in a substantially rectangular box shape detachably formed on an upper portion thereof, and mounted on the printer cartridge 3. Cartridge 30 of a substantially rectangular box shape filled with ink to be used for printing
And In FIG. 1, the main body frame 4 of the printer main body 2, the paper carry-out port 16, the head moving groove 17, and the cartridge frame 21 of the printer cartridge 3 are indicated by two-dot chain lines.

The main body frame 4 of the printer main body 2 is formed in a substantially rectangular box-like body, and contains a printing paper PP inside.
A platen roller 5, which is a roller member for conveying (see FIG. 2), is rotatably supported on a shaft, and a guide rod 6 is disposed in parallel with the platen roller 5. A driven gear 5a is provided at the left end of the platen roller 5.
The driven gear 5a is provided with an LF motor 7
The gear is meshed with the drive gear 7a rotated by the rotation. Therefore, by driving the LF motor 7, the platen roller 5 is rotated, and the printing paper PP can be transported. The guide rod 6 is penetrated by the carriage 8 so that the carriage 8 can move in the axial direction of the platen roller 5, that is, in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the printing paper PP. In FIG. 1, a part of the guide rod 6 is omitted.

The carriage 8 includes a print head 22 described later.
Is formed in a rectangular frame. The carriage 8 includes a driving pulley 9a rotated by a CR motor 9 mounted on a right end portion of the main body frame 4 and a belt 9c wound around a driven pulley 9b provided on a left end portion of the main body frame 4. The printer 1 is configured to be able to reciprocate in a direction (axial direction) parallel to the axis of the guide rod 6 and the platen roller 5, that is, in the longitudinal direction of the printer main body 2. Therefore, the print head 22 mounted on the carriage 8 can reciprocate in the longitudinal direction of the printer main body 2 to perform printing on the printing paper PP. It should be noted that the belt 9c is partially omitted in the drawing to facilitate understanding of the platen roller 5 and the guide rod 6.

At the left end of the printer body 2, a plurality of nozzle openings 22b in the nozzle portion 22a of the print head 22 are provided.
A suction cap 10 capable of sealing (see FIG. 2) and a suction pump 11 for sucking ink in each nozzle port 22b sealed by the suction cap 10 are provided. Therefore, a concave meniscus M formed by the ink liquid level filled in the nozzle port 21b (see FIG. 2)
Is not formed in the nozzle opening 21b due to ink clogging or the like, the suction cap 10 and the suction pump 1
By means of 1, processing (purge processing) for recovering the ink ejection state can be performed.

When purging, the CR motor 9 is used.
Then, the carriage 8 on which the print head 22 is mounted is moved to the left side of the desktop printer 1, and each nozzle port 22 b of the print head 22 is sealed with the suction cap 10. Thereafter, when the suction pump 11 is operated, air bubbles and dried and solidified ink are sucked from the nozzle port 22b, and the nozzle portion 2
The ejection state of the nozzle port 22b of 2a is restored.

At the left side of the suction cap 10, a protective cap 1 that covers the nozzle portion 22 a of the print head 22.
2 are provided. The protection cap 12 is used when the printing is not performed by the print head 22, that is, when the carriage 8
When the printer is in the standby state, it covers the nozzle portion 22a, prevents evaporation of the ink inside the nozzle portion 22a, and avoids drying of the ink in each nozzle port 22b.

A control circuit board 13 mounted with a CPU 13a for controlling the desktop printer 1 in accordance with a control program relating to the operation contents of the desktop printer 1 is provided below the printer main body 2. It is electrically connected to the PC card 15 via the connection cord 14. The PC card 15 is inserted into a PC card slot of a personal computer (not shown) and inputs print data and the like output from the personal computer to the desktop printer 1. The desktop printer 1 has a PC card 15 inserted into a PC card slot.
Power is supplied from a personal computer (not shown) via the connection cord 14. Therefore, when printing is performed using the desktop printer 1, the desktop printer 1 and A
There is no need to connect to the C power supply. For example, the desktop printer 1 can be carried together with a notebook personal computer or a notebook personal computer, and the desktop printer 1 can be used outside the office.

On the side wall on the front side of the main body frame 4 of the printer main body 2, a paper outlet 16 for carrying out the printed printing paper PP from the printer main body 2 is provided. Unused printing paper P is placed on the back side wall of the main body frame 4, that is, on the side wall facing the side wall where the paper outlet 16 is provided, facing the paper outlet 16.
A paper insertion port (not shown) for inserting P into the printer main body 2 is provided. Further, a head moving groove 17 which is a rectangular opening is provided on the upper surface of the main body frame 4. When the printer cartridge 3 is mounted on the printer main body 2, the print head 2 is moved through the head moving groove 17.
2 can be mounted on the carriage 8.

A connector 18 for supplying an electric signal based on image data to the print head 22 and electric power for driving the print head 22 is provided on the upper surface of the main body frame 4 at a position behind the head moving groove 17. Has been established. The connector 18 is electrically connected to a control circuit board 13 (not shown) disposed on the bottom of the main body frame 4 and has a plurality of connection holes 18a formed in the upper surface thereof. Each of the connection holes 18a is formed so that a plurality of connection pins (not shown) provided on the lower surface of a mounting member 25 provided in the printer cartridge 3 described later can be inserted.

According to the printer main body 2 configured as described above, since the heavy parts such as the LF motor 7 are disposed in the printer main body 2 disposed below the desktop printer 1, The center of gravity of the desktop printer 1 can be located on the printer main body 2 side. Therefore, since the desktop printer 1 can be installed in a stable state, the desktop printer 1 is driven when the carriage 8 and the platen roller 5 are driven.
Is suppressed, and the desktop printer 1 can be prevented from falling over due to the vibration. In addition, the printer main body 2 is prevented from tipping over when the printer cartridge 3 is replaced.

The printer cartridge 3 has a cartridge frame 21 which is formed in a substantially rectangular box shape and is detachably formed on the upper portion of the printer main body 2. The cartridge frame 21 has a print head 22 and an ink extraction member 26.
, The ink supply tube 24, and the mounting members 23 and 25 are housed therein. The print head 22 performs printing by discharging ink supplied from the ink cartridge 30, and includes a nozzle portion 22a formed of a piezo element (piezoelectric element). As described above, in the desktop printer 1 of the present embodiment, since the nozzle portion 22a of the print head 22 is constituted by the piezo element, the power consumption when driving the print head 22 is reduced as compared with the printer using the bubble jet method. can do. Therefore, the power consumption of the desktop printer 1 is reduced, so that power can be supplied to the desktop printer 1 from a small power source (small dry battery, secondary battery, or the like) of the notebook personal computer or notebook personal computer. it can.

A mounting member 23 for connecting the print head 22 and one end of the ink supply tube 24 is disposed above the print head 22. The other end of the ink supply tube 24 is connected via the mounting member 23. Ink extraction member 26
Attached to. The ink extracting member 26 is for extracting ink from an ink package 31 described later housed in the ink cartridge 30.
The ink extracted by the ink extraction member 26 can be supplied to the print head 22 via the ink supply tube 24 and the attachment members 23 and 25.

The ink supply tube 24 is
It is greatly curved in the vicinity, and the other parts are arranged so as to be substantially linear. Therefore, the length of the ink supply tube 24 is shorter than that of a conventional ink supply tube that is bent at a plurality of locations. Accordingly, the flow path resistance inside the ink supply tube 24 through which the ink supplied to the print head 22 flows can be reduced, and the amount of ink sucked by the purge process can be reduced. Further, since the length of the ink supply tube 24 is formed shorter than that of a conventional ink supply tube or the like, the manufacturing cost can be reduced as compared with a conventional printer.

The ink supply tube 24 is integrally formed with a harness (not shown) for supplying electric power for driving the print head 22 and an electric signal based on image data. Print head 22
And the mounting member 25 are electrically connected. On the lower surface of the attachment member 25 to which the ink supply tube 24 integrally formed with the harness and the like is connected, a plurality of connection holes formed so as to be inserted into a plurality of connection holes 18a formed in the upper surface of the connector 18. A pin (not shown) protrudes. The connection pins of the mounting member 25 can be inserted into the connection holes 18a of the connector 18 by mounting the printer cartridge 3 on the printer main body 2. Therefore, the print head 22 and the control circuit board 13 are connected to the mounting member 23, the ink supply tube 24 in which the harness and the like are integrally formed,
Since it is electrically connected via the mounting member 25 and the connector 18, an electric signal based on image data and electric power for driving the print head 22 can be supplied from the control circuit board 13 to the print head 22.

The print head 22, the ink extraction member 26, the ink supply tube 24, and the mounting members 23, 2
The print heads 5 (hereinafter, referred to as print heads 22 and the like) are joined or attached by welding or bonding with an adhesive or the like. That is, the printer cartridge 3 does not use a detachable seal member such as an O-ring. Therefore, when a defect such as a failure occurs in any part of the printer cartridge 3, the printer cartridge 3 having such a defect is discarded, and a new printer cartridge 3 of the same type is separately attached to the printer main body 2. In this way, it is possible to eliminate troubles such as failures. For this reason, since it is not necessary to replace each part of the printer cartridge 3 individually, it is possible to prevent the hands from being stained with ink at the time of this part replacement, and the desktop printer 1 can be easily maintained.

Further, the joining portion and the attaching portion of the print head 22 and the like are joined or attached by welding or bonding with an adhesive or the like, and the airtightness is maintained. Therefore, infiltration of air or the like into the print head 22 or the like,
It is possible to prevent ink leakage from the inside of the second or the like.

The ink extracting member 26 is made of a metal material such as stainless steel having corrosion resistance, a ceramic material, or the like. The ink extracting member 26 is inserted into an internal package 31b of an ink package 31, which will be described later, and is sealed therein. This is to extract ink. The ink extraction member 26 is formed in a hollow needle-like body (see FIG. 3), and has a tip provided with an ink sealing portion 31 of an internal package 31b described later.
An ink extraction port 26a for extracting the ink in b1 is formed, and the ink extraction port 26a is formed so as to communicate with the ink supply tube 24.

The printer cartridge 3 having the above-described structure is composed of a printer main body 2 on which heavy parts such as the guide rod 6, the LF motor 7 and the CR motor 9 are mounted.
In contrast, relatively light components such as the print head 22 and the ink supply tube 24 are provided. That is, since the weight of the printer cartridge 3 is reduced, when the replacement operation of the printer cartridge 3 is performed, the replacement operation can be easily performed, and even if the printer cartridge 3 is accidentally dropped, there is a risk of injury. There is no sex.

According to the desktop printer 1 configured as described above, the carriage 8 is formed so that only the print head 22 can be mounted, and the ink cartridge 30 is formed so as to be mounted on the left end portion of the cartridge frame 21. I have. Therefore, it is not necessary to mount the ink cartridge 30 on the carriage 8, and the load applied when driving the carriage 8 can be reduced. Therefore, in the desktop printer 1, compared to the power for driving the carriage on which the conventional ink cartridge is mounted, the carriage 8
Power for driving the motor can be reduced. Therefore, the load such as the rising torque applied to the CR motor 9 is reduced, and the power generation time (through-up time) to the CR motor 9 is shortened, so that the power consumption of the CR motor 9 can be reduced. The carriage 8 can be moved at high speed and in a stable state by the CR motor 9.

Further, since the load applied to the carriage 8 can be reduced, a small motor having a low torque can be used for the CR motor 9, and the printer main body 2 of the desktop printer 1 can be downsized. Therefore, the portability of the desktop printer 1 can be improved, and the desktop printer 1 can be easily carried along with a notebook personal computer or a notebook personal computer.

Further, according to the desktop printer 1 of the present embodiment, the ink cartridge 30 is arranged at a predetermined position of the printer cartridge 3, so that the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the printer cartridge 3 and moves like a conventional carriage. The load applied to the carriage 8 does not change with the consumption of ink. Therefore, since the fluctuation of the moving speed of the carriage 8 due to the consumption of ink is prevented, the control means for controlling the fluctuation of the moving speed of the carriage 8 becomes unnecessary.

FIG. 2 shows the nozzle portion 22a of the print head 22.
FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of nozzle ports (ink ejection ports) 22b are provided in the nozzle section 22a of the print head 22 described above. Each nozzle opening 22b is filled with ink supplied from the ink package 31. As described above, when a voltage is applied to the nozzle portion 22a formed of the piezo element, a distortion proportional to the voltage occurs, and the nozzle portion 22b contracts due to the distortion of the nozzle portion 22a. Can be. Therefore, printing can be performed by discharging the ink filled in each nozzle port 22b onto the printing paper PP. Also, each nozzle port 22b is approximately 180d
They are provided at a pitch (interval) corresponding to pi. Therefore, when the carriage 8 on which the print head 22 is mounted moves forward or backward in the longitudinal direction of the printer main body 2 (see FIG. 1), monochrome printing with a resolution of 180 dpi can be performed.

A concave meniscus M is formed on the ink liquid surface below the inside of each nozzle port 22b, and the ink meniscus M of the print head 22 is formed by forming this meniscus M in each nozzle port 22b. Dischargeability is maintained, and a clear printing result can be obtained. The concave meniscus M can be formed in each nozzle port 22b by maintaining the ink supply pressure of the ink filled in each nozzle port 22b at a negative pressure. For example, in the print head 22 of this embodiment, the ink supply pressure is about 0 mmAq (water column) or more and about -300 mmAq with respect to the atmospheric pressure.
(Water column) Within the following range (operating pressure range), a concave meniscus M can be formed on the ink liquid surface in each nozzle port 22b.

The optimum operating pressure range (optimal operating pressure range) of the print head 22 when printing with the desktop printer 1 of the present embodiment is approximately -30 mmAq (water column) or less with respect to the atmospheric pressure. It is a pressure value of 100 mmAq (water column) or more.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the ink cartridge 30, and an arrow X in the drawing indicates a mounting direction of the ink cartridge 30. As shown in FIG. 3, the ink cartridge 30 is formed in a rectangular box shape, and is formed so that the printer cartridge 3 can be attached and detached. The ink cartridge 30 includes an ink package 31 housed therein, and a case 32 enclosing the ink package 31.

The ink package 31 is formed in a substantially rectangular bag shape, and has a laminated structure formed by laminating a plurality of (for example, about 10) film sheets made of a synthetic resin such as a transparent polyethylene resin. It is formed of a film material (a film material having a shape restoring property). The ink package 31 mainly includes an inner package 31a in which ink used for printing is sealed (filled), and an outer package 31b that encloses the inner package 31a. The inner package 31a is formed in a substantially rectangular bag shape, and the inner package 31
A concave portion 31a1 formed in a substantially concave shape is provided inward of a.

An outer package 31b formed in a substantially rectangular bag shape is formed around the inner package 31a, and the outer package 31b covers the inner package 31a. On the outer surface of the left edge portion of the outer package 31b, that is, on the surface facing the recess 31a1 of the inner package 31a, there is provided a recess 31b1 formed in a substantially concave shape toward the inside of the outer package 31b. The concave portion 31b1 of the outer package 31b and the concave portion 31a1 of the inner package 31a are portions for stabbing the ink extracting member 26 described above. Are formed in a substantially concave shape.

Each of the concave portions 31a1 and 31b1 is formed in a substantially concave shape inward by forming and supporting welded portions 31c and 31d at both ends. Each recess 31a is an edge portion of the ink package 31.
Welding portions 31c, 31d, 31e are formed on the respective edge portions except for the edge portions formed with 1, 31b1. Each of the welding portions 31c, 31d, 31e compresses the laminated structure film material forming the ink package 31. And heated. These welds 31c, 31d, 3
1e, the inner package 31a becomes the outer package 3
1b. Therefore, for example, when the ink extraction member 26 penetrates into the inner package 31a, the inner package 31a is prevented from moving in the outer package 31b, so that the ink extraction member 26 can easily penetrate into the inner package 31a. Can be.

Further, since the ink package 31 is formed of the above-mentioned laminated structure film material, when the ink extracting member 26 is stabbed, the ink package 31 adheres to the outer peripheral surface of the stabbed ink extracting member 26 ( (Adhesion). Therefore, it is possible to prevent ink leakage from the inner package 31a and intrusion of air or the like into the inner package 31a. In particular, when ink extraction (ink consumption) is performed by the ink extraction member 26, the internal package 3
Since the infiltration of air or the like into 1a is prevented, the volume corresponding to the ink consumption in the internal package 31a is not replaced by air or the like. Therefore, the inner package 31
Thus, the internal pressure of “a” can be maintained at a negative pressure. As a result, there is no need to provide a seal member such as a packing for preventing ink leakage or intrusion into air or the like in the ink package 31 or the case body 32, so that the manufacturing cost of the ink cartridge 30 as a whole can be reduced.

The case body 32 for housing the ink package 31 is made of a synthetic resin such as an ABS resin and has a substantially rectangular box shape. The housing body 32a on which the ink package 31 is placed and the housing body 32a are mainly provided. And a lid 32b that is overlaid on top of the upper portion 32a. The storage body 32a has a rectangular opening at an upper portion for storing the ink package 31, and an insertion hole 32a1 is provided at a substantially central portion of a left side wall thereof.
Are drilled. The lid 32b is formed in a substantially rectangular plate shape slightly larger than the opening area of the upper portion of the storage body 32a, and is made of a synthetic resin such as an ABS resin, like the storage body 32a. The lid 32b covers an opening formed in the upper part of the storage body 32a, and is fixed to the upper part of the storage body 32a by welding. In addition, this lid 32
When b is attached to the housing 32b, the two may be adhered with an adhesive or the like.

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of the ink package 31. As shown in FIG. 4, the above-described ink package 31 includes an inner package 31a and an outer package 31b, and an ink sealing section 31 in which ink used for printing is sealed inside the inner package 31a.
a2 is formed. Further, an inner space 31 in which the inner package 31a is stored is provided inside the outer package 31b.
A fluid layer S made of a fluid (fluid) having fluidity such as air (gas) is formed in a gap between the inner package 31a and the outer package 31b. This fluid layer S is for suppressing a change in the shape of the internal package 31a, and is adjusted to a negative pressure with respect to the atmospheric pressure.

Further, by enhancing the rigidity of the laminated structure film material forming the ink package 31, the laminated structure film material can be given shape resilience, and the inner package 31a and the outer package 31b of the ink package 31 can be provided. Can be suppressed from changing. Therefore, when ink is extracted from the inner package 31a by the ink extracting member 26, the outer package 31b is suppressed from being crushed by atmospheric pressure or the like, and the inner pressure of the inner space 31b2 of the outer package 31b (relative to the fluid layer S). Pressure, i.e., the gauge pressure) can be maintained at a negative pressure. In addition, since the inner package 31a is also prevented from being crushed by the inner pressure of the inner space 31b2 of the outer package 31b, the inner pressure of the ink sealing portion 31a of the inner package 31a can be maintained at a negative pressure.

In addition to this, the laminated structure film material forming the outer package 31b has higher rigidity than the laminated structure film material forming the inner package 31a, and the outer package 31b has greater shape resilience than the inner package 31a. I have. Therefore, by extracting ink from the internal package 31a by the ink extracting member 26, the internal pressure of the ink sealing portion 31a2 is reduced to a low negative pressure, and it becomes difficult for the internal package 31a to suppress its shape change. However, since the shape change of the external package 31b is suppressed, the internal pressure of the internal space 31b2 of the external package 31b, that is, the gauge pressure of the fluid layer S can be maintained at a negative pressure.

In this case, since the balance between the internal pressure of the internal space 31b2 and the internal pressure of the ink sealing portion 31a2 is maintained, the internal package 31a is expanded by the fluid layer S maintained at the negative pressure, and the internal package 31a is expanded. Is suppressed, and the internal pressure of the ink sealing portion 31a2 can be maintained at a negative pressure. As a result, the ink extraction member 26
When the ink extracted by the above is supplied to the print head 22, the ink supply pressure of the ink can be maintained at a negative pressure.

FIG. 5 is a diagram comparing the performance of the ink package 31 and various conventional ink packages based on the relationship between the ink consumption V and the internal pressure P.
Is the internal package 31a of the ink package 31
Consumption V, which is the consumption of ink sealed in the ink sealing portion 31a2 of FIG.
The vertical axis 42 indicates the internal pressure P of the ink sealing portion 31a2 and various conventional ink packages.
In FIG. 5, the internal pressure P is shown as a relative pressure (gauge pressure) with respect to the atmospheric pressure. That is, when the internal pressure P of the ink sealing portion 31a2 or various ink packages is 0 mmAq, the internal pressure P is substantially equal to the atmospheric pressure.

Curve 45 (dotted line) is an ink package formed of the above-described laminated film material,
The performance of the ink package formed by removing the outer package 31b and the fluid layer S from the ink package 31 in which the thickness of the laminated structure film material is formed to 80 μm, that is, the performance of the ink package formed only from the inner package 31a, It is shown by the relationship between the ink consumption V and its internal pressure P. A curve 46 (two-dot chain line) shows the performance of the ink package obtained by changing the thickness of the laminated structure film material of the ink package having the performance shown in the curve 45 to 160 μm according to the relationship between the ink consumption V and the internal pressure P thereof. Is shown.

According to each of the ink packages having the performances of the curves 45 and 46, the ink sealed therein is
The inside is sealed with a positive pressure without adjusting the inside to a negative pressure. Therefore, as shown by the curves 45 and 46, when the ink consumption V of each ink package is around 0 cc, the internal pressure P of each ink package is positive.
Therefore, in each of the ink packages having the performances of the curves 45 and 46, when the ink consumption V is small, the ink supply pressure to the print head 22 cannot be maintained at the negative pressure. Further, as shown by the curves 45 and 46, the internal pressure P of each ink package decreases (falls) to a negative pressure as the ink consumption V increases, and the falling gradient of the internal pressure P of each ink package sharply decreases. Has become. Therefore, the sections dV45 and dV46, which are the ranges of the ink consumption V in which the internal pressure P of each ink package can be maintained within the optimum operating pressure range, become extremely small.

A curve 44 (dotted line) shows the performance of the ink package having the performance shown by the curve 45 in which the shape change is suppressed by the conventional spring member, by the relationship between the ink consumption V and the internal pressure P thereof. According to the ink package of the curve 44, even if the ink consumption V is around 0 cc, the internal pressure P can be maintained within the optimum operating pressure range by the action of the spring member. Moreover, when the ink consumption V is small, the descending slope of the curve 44 is small. That is, the section dV44, which is the range of the ink consumption V that can maintain the internal pressure P of the ink package within the optimum operating pressure range, can be maintained relatively long. However, the restoring force of the spring member that suppresses the shape change of the ink package is larger than the restoring force of the laminated film material that suppresses the shape change of each ink package used in the curves 45 and 46. The ink in the package cannot be completely used up.

The curve 43 (solid line) indicates the performance of the ink package 31 of the present embodiment in terms of the ink consumption V and the ink sealing portion 3.
This is shown by the relationship between 1a2 and the internal pressure P. This curve 4
According to the ink package 31 having the performance shown in FIG.
The inner package 31a in which the ink is sealed is enclosed in the outer package 31b, and the fluid layer S formed between the inner package 31a and the outer package 31b is adjusted to a negative pressure. Therefore, when the ink consumption V is near 0 cc, the internal pressure P of the ink sealing portion 31a2 can be maintained within the optimum operating pressure range. Also, curve 43
Has a gentler descending slope than the other curves 44, 45, 46. This is because the ink package 31 does not use a spring member like the ink package of the curve 44, and the volume decrease of the ink sealing portion 31a2 with the increase of the ink consumption V is caused by the external package 31b and the fluid layer S. This is because it is suppressed by

As a result, the ink package 31
Is a section dV that is a range of the ink consumption V that can maintain the internal pressure P of the ink sealing portion 31a2 within the optimum operating pressure range.
43 can be made larger than the sections dV44, dV45, dV46 described above. Therefore, the ink package 3
The first advantage is that a larger amount of ink can be supplied to the print head 22 at an ink supply pressure within an optimum operating pressure range as compared with the above-described various conventional ink packages.

As shown in FIG. 5, from the above description, the ink package 31 (curve 43) has a larger ink consumption than the conventional ink package (curves 44, 45 and 46) even if the ink consumption V is larger. The internal pressure P of the portion 31a2 is set within the operating pressure range (approximately −0 mmAq or more and approximately −300 mmAq
Below) can be maintained. Therefore, according to the ink package 31 of the present embodiment, even if the ink consumption amount V increases, it is possible to maintain the ink ejection property from each nozzle port 22b of the print head 22, and obtain a good quality printing result. Can be.

The ink package 31 thus formed
By supplying ink to the print head 22 using the ink extraction member 26 and the ink extraction member 26, the ink supply pressure is adjusted and maintained at a negative pressure. Therefore, there is no need for a sub-tank or an ink supply pump device (ink supply pressure adjusting means) around the lower part of the print head 22 for reducing the ink supply pressure to a negative pressure, and the number of components of the desktop printer 1 is reduced. Manufacturing costs can be reduced. Further, since the ink supply pump and the like are not required, the power consumption of the desktop printer 1 can be reduced.

Next, a method of assembling the desktop printer 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. First, when the ink cartridge 30 is slid in the arrow X direction while the insertion hole 32a1 of the ink cartridge 30 and the ink extraction member 26 face each other, the ink extraction member 26 is inserted into the insertion hole 32a1 of the ink cartridge 30. After the insertion of the ink extraction member 26, the ink extraction member 26 is stabbed into the concave portion 31b1 formed in the external package 31b of the ink package 31, and penetrates into the inner space 31b2 of the external package 31b. That is, the ink extraction member 26 penetrates into the fluid layer S. The ink cartridge 30 has an arrow X
When the ink extracting member 26 is further slid in the direction, the ink extracting member 26 is inserted into the concave portion 31a1 of the inner package 31a and penetrates into the ink sealing portion 31a2 of the inner package 31a. In addition, each recess 31a1,
31b1 is supported at its both ends by the welded portions 31c and 31d, respectively.
, The deformation of the ink package 31 due to the load caused by the piercing can be suppressed.

Thereafter, the arrow X of the ink cartridge 30
When the sliding in the direction is further continued, the ink cartridge 30 reaches the position indicated by the two-dot chain line (the left side in FIG. 1) of the printer cartridge 3 in FIG. 1, and the mounting of the ink cartridge 30 into the printer cartridge 3 is completed. After the installation of the ink cartridge 30 is completed, the ink cartridge 30
1 is a state in which the printer cartridge is inclined downward toward the side where the mounting member 25 is disposed (the left side in FIG. 1), that is, in a state where the printer cartridge is inclined downward from the left end of the ink cartridge 30 to the left end of the ink cartridge 30 shown in FIG. 3 is attached. Therefore, for example, when air or the like is mixed into the ink package 31 at the time of manufacturing the ink package 31, such air or the like is collected above the left end portion of the ink cartridge 30 shown in FIG. Air and the like can be prevented from being mixed. Further, since the laminated film material forming the ink package 31 and the outer peripheral surface of the ink extracting member 26 are in close contact with each other, ink leakage from the internal package 31a of the ink package 31 and air or the like to the internal package 31a and the external package 31b are prevented. Infiltration is prevented. The printer cartridge 3
The inclination angle of the ink cartridge 30 attached to the
The angle should be approximately 10 ° to approximately 10 °, and most preferably approximately 0 ° to approximately 3 °.

The ink sealing portion 31 of the internal package 31a
The ink extraction member 26 stabbed into a2 extracts the ink into the inside through the ink extraction port 26a, and causes the ink to flow into the ink supply tube 24 through the attachment member 25. The ink flowing into the ink supply tube 24 is supplied to the print head 22 via the mounting member 23. The laminated structure film material forming the ink package 31 has a shape restoring property, and a change in shape of the inner package 31a and the outer package 31b of the ink package 31 is suppressed. Therefore, when ink is extracted from the inner package 31a by the ink extracting member 26, the outer package 31b is suppressed from being crushed by atmospheric pressure or the like, and the inner pressure of the inner space 31b2 of the outer package 31b (relative to the fluid layer S). The pressure (ie, the gauge pressure) is maintained at a negative pressure. Moreover, the internal package 31a is also prevented from being crushed by the internal pressure of the internal space 31b2 of the external package 31b, and the internal pressure of the ink sealing portion 31a of the internal package 31a is maintained at a negative pressure. As a result, the ink extracted by the ink extracting member 26 is
When supplying to the ink, the ink supply pressure of the ink is maintained at a negative pressure.

In addition to this, the laminated structure film material forming the outer package 31b has higher rigidity than the laminated structure film material forming the inner package 31a, and the outer package 31b has a greater shape restoring property than the inner package 31a. I have. Therefore, by extracting ink from the internal package 31a by the ink extracting member 26, the internal pressure of the ink sealing portion 31a2 further decreases to a negative pressure, and it becomes difficult for the internal package 31a to suppress its shape change. Also, the shape change of the outer package 31b is suppressed, and the inner space 31 of the outer package 31b is
The internal pressure of b2, that is, the gauge pressure of the fluid layer S is maintained at a negative pressure.

In this case, since the balance between the internal pressure of the internal space 31b2 and the internal pressure of the ink sealing portion 31a2 is maintained, the internal package 31a is expanded by the fluid layer S maintained at the negative pressure, and the internal package 31a is expanded. Is suppressed, and the internal pressure of the ink sealing portion 31a2 is maintained at a negative pressure. Therefore, when the ink extracted by the ink extraction member 26 is supplied to the print head 22, the ink supply pressure of the ink is maintained at a negative pressure. Therefore, the meniscus M can be formed in each nozzle opening 22b, so that the ink ejection property of the print head 22 is maintained, and a clear printing result can be obtained.

Next, the printer cartridge 3 is mounted on the printer main body 2 while the print head 22 disposed on the printer cartridge 3 is mounted on the carriage 8 disposed on the printer main body 2. When the PC card 15 of the desktop printer 1 is inserted into the PC slot of the personal computer after the printer cartridge 3 is mounted, the desktop printer 1 can transmit and receive print data and the like to and from the personal computer, and can receive power from the personal computer. Receiving the supply, it becomes operable.

When the desktop printer 1 receives the transmission of the print data from the personal computer, the desktop printer 1
Print on P. In this case, first, the unused printing paper P
When P is inserted into the paper insertion slot (not shown), the printing paper PP is transported by the platen roller 5 along the transport path below the print head 22 mounted on the carriage 8. The transported printing paper PP is printed with ink ejected from each nozzle port 22b of the print head 22 when passing through a transport path below the print head 22, and the printed printing paper PP is fed to a paper exit. 16 to be carried out.

As described above, according to the ink cartridge 30 of the present embodiment, the inner package 31a and the outer package 31b of the ink package 31 are formed of a laminated film material having a shape restoring property. Is extracted, even if the internal pressure of the ink sealing portion 31a2 of the internal package 31a decreases, the internal package 31a and the external package 31b
Of the ink sealing portions 31a2
And the internal pressure of the internal space 31b2 can be maintained at a negative pressure.

Further, the laminated structure film material forming the outer package 31b has a greater shape restoring property than the laminated structure film material forming the inner package 31a.
Therefore, by extracting the ink, even if the internal pressure of the ink sealing portion 31a2 of the internal package 31a decreases to a low negative pressure, and it becomes difficult to suppress the shape change of the internal package 31a, The shape change is suppressed, and the inner space 31b of the outer package 31b is reduced.
2, the gauge pressure of the fluid layer S can be maintained at a negative pressure.

In this case, since the balance between the internal pressure of the internal space 31b2 and the internal pressure of the ink sealing portion 31a2 is maintained, the internal package 31a is expanded by the fluid layer S maintained at the negative pressure. Package 31a
Of the ink sealing portion 3 can be suppressed.
The internal pressure of 1a2 can be maintained at a negative pressure. Therefore,
It is not necessary to separately attach a spring member for suppressing a change in shape of the inner package 31a in which the ink is sealed, so that the manufacturing operation of the ink cartridge 30 can be simplified and the manufacturing cost of the ink cartridge 30 as a whole can be reduced. it can.

Since the shape change of the inner package 31a is suppressed by the outer package 31b and the fluid layer S, a sharp decrease in the internal pressure of the ink sealing portion 31a of the inner package 31a due to the extraction of ink is suppressed. Thus, the negative pressure applied to the ink supplied to the print head 22 can be maintained within the optimum operable range of the print head 22.

Since the inner package 31a in which the ink is sealed is enclosed in the outer package 31b, when the ink extracting member 26 is pulled out of the inner package 31a, the inner package 31a is closed by the ink sealed portion 31a2 of the inner package 31a. Transfer the leaked ink to the external package 31
b stored in the inner space 31b2 of the external package 31.
b can prevent the ink from leaking to the outside.

Although the present invention has been described based on the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. That can be easily inferred.

In this embodiment, the outer package 31b of the ink package 31 is replaced with the inner package 31a in the same manner as the inner package 31a.
It was formed of the above-mentioned laminated structure film material. However, the film material forming the external package 31b does not necessarily have to be a laminated film material, and is, for example, a single-layer film material made of a synthetic resin such as polyethylene resin, that is, a film material having no shape restoring property. To form an external package, and the outer surface of the external package may be bonded to the inner wall surface of the case body with an adhesive or the like. As described above, even if the outer package is formed of a film material having no shape restoring property, by changing the outer surface of the outer package to the inner wall surface of the case body, the shape change of the outer package is suppressed, and the inner pressure of the outer package is reduced. Is maintained at a negative pressure.

In this embodiment, the internal package 31
a of recess 31a1 and recess 31b of external package 31b
1 and a gap was formed. However, each recess 31
It is not always necessary to form a gap between a1 and 31b1, and for example, the ink package may be formed by bringing the concave portion of the inner package into close contact with the concave portion of the outer package.

In this embodiment, the internal package 31
A fluid layer S made of a fluid having fluidity such as air is formed in a gap between the inner package 31a and the outer package 31b, but a urethane foam or the like that joins both in the gap between the inner package 31a and the outer package 31b ( (Foaming material). By filling the urethane foam in this way, when the ink leaks from the internal package, the ink can be impregnated into the inside of the urethane foam or the like, and the ink can be prevented from leaking to the outside of the external package. You can.

[0075]

According to the ink package of the present invention, the outer package and the inner package are both formed of a film material having shape resilience, and the inner package is covered with a gap in the outer package. Is wrapped. Therefore, the volume reduction due to the extraction of ink is
Since it is distributed not only to the internal package but also to the external package, the shape change of both packages is suppressed, and the negative pressure of the internal package can be maintained at an appropriate negative pressure without suddenly increasing. is there. Further, according to the above configuration, it is not necessary to separately attach a spring member for suppressing a shape change to the inner package, so that the manufacturing process of the ink package can be simplified and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. effective.

According to the ink package of the present invention, the inner package is formed of a film material having a shape restoring property, and the outer package is formed of a container made of a rigid material having higher rigidity than the inner package. By joining, a change in shape is suppressed. Therefore, even if the internal pressure of the internal package is reduced to a low negative pressure due to the extraction of the ink, and it becomes difficult to suppress the shape change only by the shape resilience of the internal package, the external package joined to the container body Accordingly, there is an effect that the shape change of the internal package is suppressed, and the internal pressure of the internal package can be maintained at an appropriate negative pressure. Further, according to the above configuration, it is not necessary to separately attach a spring member for suppressing a shape change to the inner package, so that the manufacturing process of the ink package can be simplified and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. effective.

According to the ink package of the third aspect, in addition to the effects of the ink package of the first or second aspect, in addition, the film material has a laminated structure in which a plurality of film sheets made of polyethylene resin or the like are laminated. have. Therefore, for example, when ink is extracted from the inner package with an ink extraction needle or the like, the film material can be brought into close contact with the ink extraction needle or the like, and ink leakage from the gap between the two and the package This has the effect of preventing air or the like from entering the air.

According to the ink package of the fourth aspect, in addition to the effects of the ink package of any one of the first to third aspects, the film material forming the outer package is less than the film material forming the inner package. Shape resilience is increased. Therefore, even if the internal pressure of the internal package is reduced to a low negative pressure due to the extraction of the ink, and it is difficult to suppress the change in the shape, the shape change of the internal package is reduced by the shape resilience of the external package. Thus, the internal pressure of the internal package can be maintained at an appropriate negative pressure.

According to the ink package according to the fifth aspect, in addition to the effects of the ink package according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the gap between the inner package and the outer package has a change in shape of the inner package. Is provided. Therefore, since the shape change of the internal package is suppressed by the cushioning material, a sharp decrease in the internal pressure of the internal package due to the extraction of ink is suppressed. Accordingly, there is an effect that the negative pressure applied to the ink supplied to the print head can be maintained at an appropriate negative pressure within the operable range of the print head.

According to the ink package of the sixth aspect, in addition to the effect of the ink package of the first aspect, the gap between the inner package and the outer package has a shape change of the inner package. In order to suppress such a situation, a cushioning material formed of a fluid having fluidity is provided. Therefore, since the shape change of the internal package is suppressed by the cushioning material formed by the fluid, a sharp decrease in the internal pressure of the internal package due to the extraction of the ink is suppressed. Accordingly, there is an effect that the negative pressure applied to the ink supplied to the print head can be maintained at an appropriate negative pressure within the operable range of the print head.

According to the ink package of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the ink package of any one of the first to fifth aspects, the cushioning material is formed of a foam material which can be impregnated with ink. Even when ink leaks from the internal package, the ink can be impregnated inside the foam material. Therefore, outside the external package,
That is, there is an effect that ink leakage to the outside of the ink package can be prevented.

According to the ink package of the eighth aspect, in addition to the effects of the ink package of the first aspect, the inner package is fixed to the outer package. Therefore, for example, when extracting ink by penetrating an ink extraction needle or the like into the internal package, it is possible to prevent the internal package from moving in the external package. Therefore, there is an effect that the needle for ink extraction can easily penetrate into the internal package.

According to the ink package of the ninth aspect, in addition to the effect of the ink package of the eighth aspect, the inner package is fixed to both sides of the inner package and fixed to the outer package. ing. Therefore, for example, when ink is extracted by penetrating an ink extraction needle or the like into the internal package, both sides of the internal package are supported by the external package. There is an effect that it can easily penetrate.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a desktop printer using an ink cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of a partial cross section of a nozzle portion of a print head.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the ink cartridge.

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the ink package.

FIG. 5 is a diagram comparing the performance of an ink package and various conventional ink packages according to the relationship between ink consumption and internal pressure.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Desktop printer 2 Printer main body 3 Printer cartridge 22 Print head 26 Ink extraction member 30 Ink cartridge 31 Ink package 31a Inner package 31b Outer package 31a1, 31b1 Depression 31a2 Ink sealing part 31b2 Inner space 31c, 31d Welding part (both sides of inner package) 31e welding part 32 case body (container body) 32a1 insertion hole PP printing paper S fluid layer (buffer material)

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An ink package which is supplied to a print head and seals ink used for printing, wherein the ink is sealed and formed of a film material having a shape restoring property, and the inner package is encapsulated. And an outer package formed of a film material having a shape restoring property, and a gap formed between the inner package and the outer package. 2. An ink package which is supplied to a print head and seals ink used for printing, comprising: an inner package formed of a film material which is sealed and has a shape restoring property, and encloses the inner package. And an external package formed of a film material, and a container body containing the external package and formed of a rigid material bonded to the external package. An ink package, wherein the rigid material to be formed is formed to have higher rigidity than the film material forming the internal package. 3. The ink package according to claim 1, wherein the film material has a laminated structure in which a plurality of film sheets made of polyethylene resin or the like are laminated. 4. The ink according to claim 1, wherein the film material forming the outer package has a shape restoring property larger than that of the film material forming the inner package. package. 5. The cushion according to claim 1, wherein a gap between the outer package and the inner package is provided with a cushioning material for suppressing a change in shape of the inner package. Ink package. 6. A buffer between the outer package and the inner package for suppressing a change in shape of the inner package, the buffer being formed of a fluid having fluidity. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein
The ink package according to any one of the above. 7. A gap between the outer package and the inner package is provided with a cushioning material for suppressing a change in shape of the inner package. The cushioning material joins the inner package and the outer package, The ink package according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the ink package is formed of a foam material capable of impregnating the ink. 8. The ink package according to claim 1, wherein the inner package is fixed to the outer package. 9. The ink package according to claim 8, wherein the inner package has both sides fixed to the outer package and fixed to the outer package.