JPS62142650A - Ink supply device in printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable an ink leakage out of an ink tank and an ink cartridge to be always prevented, by a method wherein the ink tank is provided with a valve body sealing a connecting hole and a cap pressing down the valve body when the ink cartridge is fitted into the connecting hole, and the ink cartridge is provided with a valve body sealing a drip hole. CONSTITUTION:A cover 14 for an ink tank 6 has a connecting hole 15, and a valve body 16 sealing the connecting hole 15 is pressed up by a spring 17. An ink cartridge 20 consists of a container 22, a cap 23 closing the container 22, a drop hole 24 formed in then cap 23, a valve body 25 sealing the drip hole 24, and a spring 26 pressing the valve body 24 downward. In such construction, if the ink cartridge 20 is not to the ink tank 6, there is no possibility of leakage of an ink 21 contained in the ink cartridge 20 and the ink tank 6. When the cartridge 20 is to be attached, the valve body 25 is opened after the cap 16 is fitted into the connecting hole 15; on the contrary, when to be detached, it is closed before the cap 23 is pulled out of the connecting hole 15.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention This invention relates to an ink supply device for a printing device that forms an image by ejecting ink droplets using electrostatic means.

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, printing devices have been developed that form images by ejecting ink droplets using electrostatic means. As the ink supply device, an ink cartridge 50 as shown in FIG.
A device for replenishing ink by attaching an ink tank 51 to an ink tank 51 as shown in FIG. 12 is known from Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 55-57437. That is, the ink cartridge 50 includes an ink bottle 53 containing ink 52, a cap 54 screwed to the bottom of the ink bottle 53, and a drip hole 56 of the cap 54 that is biased by a spring 55.
Valve body 5 (holding body 5 that holds valve body 7 vertically movably) seals the
8 and a lid 59 that closes the drip hole 56 of the cap 54. The ink tank 51 is formed in a print head (not shown), and has a protrusion 60 in the center that pushes up a valve body 57.
has.

When installing the ink cartridge 50 into the ink tank 51, remove the lid 59 and attach the cap 54 to the ink tank 51.
Fits in. At this time, the valve body 57 is pushed up by the protrusion 60, and the ink 52 is supplied to the ink tank 51 from the opened drip hole 56.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention In such a device, when the ink cartridge 50 is removed from the ink tank 51, the top surface of the ink tank 51 is left wide open. Therefore, there is a problem that the ink 52 is exposed to air and dries and deteriorates in quality, and there is also a problem that the ink 52 overflows when the ink tank 51 is carried around.

Moreover, the ink cartridge 50 has a large number of parts and has a complicated structure.

This invention was made in view of these points, and it is possible to reliably prevent ink from leaking from both ink cartridges when the ink cartridge is removed from the ink tank, and to simplify the structure of the ink supply device for a hanging printing device. The purpose is to provide.

Means for Solving the Problem A counter electrode and a recording electrode whose tip end is coated with ink are arranged opposite to each other with a recording body interposed therebetween, and the electric field between these counter electrodes and the writing electrode causes the recording electrode to In a printing device configured to form an image on the recording medium by ejecting ink from a tip, an ink tank having a connection hole on an upper surface for storing ink to be supplied to the recording electrode is provided, and the ink tank A valve body that is biased upward and seals the connection hole on the upper surface is mounted so as to be able to move up and down, and has a cap at the bottom that pushes down the valve body when it is fitted into the connection hole, and is closed by this cap. a drip hole for dripping internal ink is formed on the lower surface of the cap, and a valve body is provided in the ink cartridge so as to be vertically movable and biased downward to seal the drip hole; Contact portions that interfere with each other are formed on opposing portions of the valve body.

Function When the ink cartridge is removed from the ink tank, each valve element prevents ink from leaking, and when the ink cartridge is installed in the ink tank, the cap pushes down on the ink tank valve element to open it, and the valve elements close together. The valve body of the ink cartridge is pushed upward in the opening direction, and the ink inside the ink cartridge is supplied to the ink tank. The ink cartridge only needs to have a cap, a valve body, and a means for biasing the valve body, and the structure is simplified.

Embodiment A first embodiment of the present invention will be explained based on FIGS. 1 to 6. A carriage 4 is slidably fitted onto a shaft 3 that extends along a recording paper 2 that is a recording medium held in front of the counter electrode 1 . 5 is a head body, and this head body 5 is formed with an ink tank 6, an ink supply tank 7, and an ink recovery path 8, and is further provided with a plurality of recording electrodes 9. These needle-shaped recording electrodes 9 are made of twisted fiber materials, or have a plurality of grooves formed on the outer periphery along the longitudinal direction, or have through holes formed inward along the longitudinal direction. In both cases, ink can flow through capillary action. A circuit board 11 mounted on the carriage 4 and connected to an external circuit is connected to the recording electrode 9 by a metal rod 12. The impregnated member 10 immersed in the ink supply tank 7 is in contact with the recording electrode 9 .

The ink tank 6 and the ink supply tank 7 are connected to the through hole 13.
It is communicated by. Further, a connection hole 15 is formed in the cover 14 that covers the opening surface of the ink tank 6, and a valve body 16 that seals the connection hole 15 with the upper surface is urged upward by a spring 17 and is moved up and down by a guide wall 18. freely held. As shown in FIG. 6, the guide wall 18 is
An ink passage 19 is formed around the periphery.

Next, an ink cartridge 20 that is detachably held in the head body 5 is provided. This ink cartridge 20 includes a container 22 that stores ink 21, a cap 23 that closes this container 22, a valve body 25 that seals a drip hole 2.1 formed in this cap 23, and a valve body 25 that is opened downwardly. It consists of a light stripe 26 that biases toward. The valve body 25 has a small hole 27 shown in FIG. 4 or a groove 28 shown in FIG. 5 formed therein. These small holes 27 or grooves 28 are the drip holes 24
Located closer to the outer periphery. Further, the upper surface of the valve body 16 is defined in an umbrella shape, and a protruding contact portion 29 is formed at the center of the upper surface of the valve body 16.
It is formed at the center of the lower surface of 5. Note that the diameter of the contact portion 29 is smaller than the diameter of the drip hole 24, and the diameter of the cap 23 is smaller than the diameter of the connection hole 15. Further, the biasing force of the valve body 25 is determined to be stronger than the biasing force of the valve body 16.

In such a configuration, the connection hole 15 of the ink tank 6 is sealed by the valve body 16 when the ink cartridge 2o is not attached to the ink tank 6. therefore,
The ink 21 inside will not overflow. The drip hole 24 of the ink cartridge 20 is also sealed by the valve body 25, so that the ink 21 inside will not leak out. When the ink cartridge 20 is installed in the ink tank 6, as shown in FIG. 3, the cap 23 that fits into the connection hole 15 pushes down the valve body 16 to open the connection hole 15, compressing the spring 17 and absorbing the force. When the force exceeds the force of the spring 26, the abutment portions 29 and 30 abut against each other, causing the valve body 25 to move upward and open the drip hole 24. That is, the valve body 25 of the ink cartridge 20 is opened after the cap 16 is fitted into the connection hole 15, and conversely, when removing the ink cartridge 20, the ink cartridge 2° is opened before the cap 23 is removed from the connection hole 15. The valve body 25 is sealed. Therefore, ink cartridge 2
The ink 21 does not flow to the outside when attaching and detaching the ink. Since the valve body 16 has an umbrella-shaped upper surface,
Even if the ink 21 drops on the top surface, the ink tank 6
It can be poured inside.

During printing, a negative charge is applied to the counter electrode 1, and in the process of moving the carriage 4 along the recording paper 2, a positive charge is applied via the metal rod 12 to the recording electrode 9 where dots are to be formed, and the ink is Ink 21 supplied from the supply tank 7 to the tip of the recording electrode 9 via the impregnation member 10 is caused to fly onto the recording paper 2.

The ink 21 is supplied from the ink cartridge 20 according to the consumption amount, but the level of the ink 21 in the ink supply tank 7 always matches the lower end surface of the cap 23 of the ink cartridge 20. This is because the ink cartridge 20 is closed except for the drip hole 24, and the ink cartridge 20 is closed except for the drip hole 24.
This is because the space above the zero ink level becomes negative pressure as the ink supply progresses.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. Components that are the same as those in the embodiment described above are designated by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted (the same applies hereinafter). A protruding contact portion 32 that protrudes from the drip hole 24 of the cap 23 is formed on the valve body 31 provided in the ink cartridge 22 , and a groove 28 is formed on the outer periphery of the valve body 31 including the outer periphery of the contact portion 32 . is formed. A contact portion 33 that interferes with the contact portion 32 is formed on the valve body 16 of the ink tank 6 .

Therefore, the ink cartridge 20 is placed in the ink tank 6.
When installed, the valve body 16 is pushed by the cap 23 and opens, and when the spring 17 is compressed and its force exceeds the force of the spring 26, the valve body 31 is moved upward due to the contact between the contact parts 32 and 33. It moves to open the drip hole 24, and the ink 21 flows through the groove 28 into the ink tank 6.

Further, a third embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 1o. The ink cartridge 20 includes an ink tank 6.
A protruding contact portion 35 that contacts the contact portion 33 of the valve body 16
A groove 36 is formed in the inner peripheral surface of the cap 23. The diameters of the drip hole 24 and the contact portion 35 are determined to be such that a clearance is formed between the two to allow the ink 21 to flow.

Therefore, the contact portion 35 of the valve body 34 of the ink cartridge 2o is pushed by the contact portion 33 of the valve body 16 of the ink tank 6, so that the valve body 34 of the ink cartridge 2o is opened upward, and the ink 21 of the ink cartridge 20 is transmitted through the groove 36. The ink flows from the drip hole 24 to the ink tank 6.

Effects of the Invention Since the present invention is configured as described above, when the ink cartridge is removed from the ink tank, ink leakage can be prevented by the valve body, and when the ink cartridge is installed in the ink tank, the cap is removed. Press down on the valve body of the ink tank to open it, and
The valve elements of the ink cartridge can be pushed upward in the opening direction by interfering with each other, and the ink inside the ink cartridge can be supplied to the ink tank. It is sufficient to have a means for applying force, and the structure can be simplified.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 6 show a first embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a vertical side view and FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view showing the closing of a valve body between an ink tank and an ink cartridge. 3 is a partially enlarged vertical sectional side view showing the state in which the ink cartridge is installed in the ink tank; FIGS. 4 and 5 are enlarged views of the valve body of the ink cartridge. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an enlarged guide wall of the valve body of the ink tank, FIGS. 7 and 8 show a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 8 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional side view showing the closed state of the valve bodies of the ink tank and ink cartridge, FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the valve body of the ink cartridge, and FIGS. The third embodiment is shown in FIG. 9, which is a partially enlarged vertical cross-sectional side view showing the closed state of the valve bodies of the ink tank and ink cartridge, and FIG. 10, which is an enlarged view of the valve body of the ink cartridge. 11 and 12 show a conventional example, FIG. 11 is a vertical side view of the ink cartridge, and FIG. 12 is a vertical side view showing the ink cartridge installed in the ink tank. be. 1... Counter electrode, 2... Recording paper (recording body), 6...
- Ink tank, 9... Recording electrode, 15... Connection hole, 16... Valve body, 20... Ink cartridge, 2
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Ink, 23... Cap, 24... Dripping hole, 25... Valve body, 29.30... Contact part, 31...
... Valve body, 32.33... Contact part, 34... Valve body,
35...Contact part, : f3 d figure 35 times J, 6 shi J) 7 figure 3 d figure J, 7 figure 3, JOpu,, y3), lwa (splow J3, JZ flash (glazing) ) Procedural Amendment Export) February 3, 1985, Patent Application No. 1984-284566, Name of Invention Ink Supply Device for Printing Device 4, Agent Address: 107 Specification, Page 9 “Cap 23 that fits into connection hole 15” in the fourth line is corrected to “Abutment portion 30J of valve body 25.”

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A counter electrode and a recording electrode having ink attached to the tip thereof are arranged opposite to each other with a recording body interposed therebetween, and an electric field between these counter electrodes and the recording electrode causes the tip of the recording electrode to In a printing device that forms an image on the recording medium by ejecting ink from above, an ink tank having a connection hole on an upper surface to store ink to be supplied to the recording electrode is provided, and the ink tank has an upper surface. An ink cartridge having a cap that is movably mounted with a valve body that is biased toward the top surface and seals the connection hole on the top surface, and that presses down the valve body when the valve body is fitted into the connection hole and is closed by the cap. a drip hole for dripping internal ink is formed on the lower surface of the cap, a valve body is provided that is movable up and down and is biased downwardly by the ink cartridge to seal the drip hole, and a valve body is provided that is movable up and down, and An ink supply device for a printing device, characterized in that contact portions that interfere with each other are formed in the ink supply device. 2. The ink supply device for a printing device according to claim 1, wherein the upper surface of the valve body of the ink tank is shaped like an umbrella. 3. The printing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the downward biasing force of the valve body of the ink cartridge is determined to be greater than the upward biasing force of the valve body of the ink tank. Ink supply device.