JPS633959A - Ink supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily mount the title device to an ink supply system without generating leakage, in an ink jet printer, by providing a seal member, which permits the piercing of a hollow member to perform the communication of ink, to an ink receiving member. CONSTITUTION:When an ink cartridge part 12 is mounted to a printing head part 8, an ink supply pipe receiving part 40 is engaged with an ink supply pipe 20 but, during a time when the leading end T of said pipe 20 does not reach a laminated seal film 34, ink 36 is received in a bag body 16 as it is. When the ink cartridge part 12 is further pushed, the leading end part T of the ink supply pipe 20 pierces through the seal film 34 and the ink 36 is sent to a head plate through the ink supply pipe 20. By this method, the mounting of the ink cartridge part to an ink supply system is easily performed and ink leakage at the time of mounting or replacement is not generated and a certain ink continuity state can be secured at the time of mounting.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Hereinafter referred to as the margin) 3. Detailed Description of the Invention [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an ink supply device, and more specifically, it is applied to an inkjet printer that uses ink as a recording material. The present invention relates to a suitable ink supply device.

[Conventional technology]

Conventional inkjet printers are equipped with a head that ejects ink onto a recording medium and an ink supply device that serves as an ink supply source for the head, which are located separately at separate locations, and a supply pipe or the like is used to communicate between them. Some are connected via an ink supply system including members.

However, such inkjet printers generally require long supply pipes, which not only creates complications in piping, but also tends to cause ink evaporation and air infiltration.

In contrast, the present applicant has disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 60-91236 an ink jet printer in which a head and an ink supply source are formed as an integral member. This Japanese Patent Application No. 60-91235 not only eliminates the above-mentioned problems such as ink evaporation and air entrainment, but also makes it easy to handle the ink supply system including the head and ink supply source since no piping is required. On the other hand, when ink consumption progresses and there is little or no ink remaining in the ink supply source, the head is expensive compared to the components that make up the ink supply source, such as the ink storage bag. Since they were replaced at the same time, there was a cost problem.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

Therefore, it is conceivable to make the ink supply source attachable to the head so that an integrated assembly is formed in the attached state, and to make it possible to replace only the ink supply source when the ink is consumed. However, in such a case, when connecting the head and the ink supply source, it is necessary to ensure ease of installation, prevention of ink leakage during installation or replacement, and reliable ink communication in the installed state. These are various points that need to be ensured even when the ink supply system and the ink supply source are connected in a printer in which the ink supply source and the head are separately provided at separate positions.

In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is designed to be easily installed in a head or an ink supply system leading to the head, prevent ink leakage during installation or replacement, and ensure reliable ink communication when installed. An object of the present invention is to provide an ink supply device that can obtain the status.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an ink supply device that can reduce the running cost of an inkjet printer.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a storage member that stores ink, and a storage member that is provided in the storage member and that receives the penetration of a hollow member so that the stored ink can be inserted into the storage member. and a sealing film member for communicating with each other.

(Function) That is, according to the present invention, when the ink storage member as an ink supply source is connected to the head or the ink supply system leading to the head via the hollow member, the ink sealing of the penetrating portion is performed by the sealing film member. Since this can be performed reliably, ink leakage does not occur and it is possible to obtain a good ink communication state.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is an external view showing the entire ink ejection section of an inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

In this figure, 2 is a head plate including a plurality of ink ejection ports 4, and 6 is a substrate on which the head plate 2 is placed. Reference numeral 8 denotes the entire printing head section including the head plate 2 and the like, which is fixed to the main body of the recording apparatus (not shown) using bolts.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a replacement ink cartridge section, which is configured to be detachable from the print head section 8 described above. This cartridge section 12 includes a joint cover section 14 configured to fit with an ink supply pipe 20 (explained in FIG. 2) protruding from the print head section 8, and an ink storage bag body 16.
(indicated by a broken line).

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a separated state of the ink ejection section shown in FIG. 1. The cartridge section 12 can be replaced by inserting or removing the replacement ink cartridge section 12 in the direction indicated by the arrow in this figure. Note that 20 shown in this figure is the above-mentioned ink supply pipe, which acts as a communication pipe for supplying the ink stored in the ink storage bag 16 to the head plate 2.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a cross-sectional configuration of the ink cartridge section 12. In this figure, 30 is a polyethylene thin film, 32
is a thin film of aluminum, and both of them form a flexible laminated film 34 as a body. This flexible laminated film 34 not only prevents the ink 36 from leaking, but also functions as a sealing film that prevents atmospheric gases from getting mixed into the ink. That is, the aluminum thin film 32
In order to reinforce the strength of the aluminum thin film 32 and increase its corrosion resistance while taking advantage of its airtightness and flexibility, it is coated with a resin film 30 such as polyethylene.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the ink storage bag 16 is held between the back case 35 and the joint cover 14, and the inside of the bag 16 is always maintained at negative pressure.

Further, the joint surfaces of the polyethylene thin film 30 and the joint cover 14 are kept in close contact with each other by adhesive or welding.

FIGS. 4(A) and 4(B) show the ink cartridge section 1.
2 is a cross-sectional view showing a membrane rupture state when the printer 2 is attached to the print head section 8. FIG. Here, FIG. 4(A) shows the ink supply pipe 2.
This figure shows the state immediately after the tip T of No. 0 is inserted into the ink supply tube receiving portion 4°. As is clear from this figure, in this state, the ink supply pipe 20 has not yet reached the laminated sealing film 34, and the ink 36 remains contained in the bag body 16.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 4(B), as the ink cartridge section 12 is pushed forward, the tip T of the ink supply tube 20 penetrates the sealing film 34, and the sealing film comes into contact with the tip T. Only the area can be broken. Ink 36 is thus delivered to head plate 2 (see FIG. 1) via ink supply tube 20.

In this example, a laminate of aluminum and polyethylene was used as the sealing film provided in the cartridge part, but the laminate of aluminum and polyethylene is not limited to this example. Of course, any material can be selected as long as it is a sealing film that can maintain corrosion resistance and airtightness.

Furthermore, in the above section, the case where the present invention is applied to an ink supply source that is directly connected to a head is described;
It goes without saying that the present invention can be applied very effectively and easily even when using an ink supply source connected to an ink supply system including a supply pipe leading to the head.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, according to the present invention, it is easy to install the head or the ink supply system leading to the head, and there is no ink leakage during installation or replacement. In some cases, it is possible to realize an ink supply device that can ensure a reliable ink communication state.

Further, when the present invention is directly coupled to a head, there is no need to replace the head, so that the running cost of the inkjet printer can be reduced.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is an external view showing the entire ink ejection group of an inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied, Fig. 2 is a view showing the separated state of the ink ejection part shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is an illustration of the ink cartridge part. 4A and 4B are cross-sectional views showing the membrane rupture state when the ink cartridge section is attached to the print head section. 2... Head plate, 4... Ink discharge port, 6... Substrate, 8... Print head section, 12... Replacement ink cartridge section, 16... Ink storage bag, 18 ... Tank part, 20 ... Ink supply pipe, 30 ... Polyethylene film, 32 ... Aluminum film, 34 ... Sealing film, 35 ... Back case. Procedural amendment (method) September 24, 1981

Claims (1)

[Claims] a storage member for storing ink; provided on the storage member;
An ink supply device comprising: a sealing film member that receives the penetration of the hollow member and allows the stored ink to communicate with each other.