JPS639546A - Ink-supplying part - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate fitting a back casing to an ink-supplying system and prevent an ink from leaking at the time of fitting or replacing the back casing, by providing an ink-containing member with a supplying port into which an ink-supplying pipe can be inserted, and providing at the port a valve capable of being opened as the ink-supplying pipe is inserted. CONSTITUTION:A front casing 3 is provided with a substrate 1, a head plate and an ink-supplying pipe 8, and can be detachably fitted to a cover 4 of a back casing 6. A seal film 11 seals a hole part 4-1 when an ink is not used. When using the ink, the pipe 8 is caused to penetrate through the hole part 4-1, and the tip of the pipe 8 breaks through the seal film 11, whereby the ink in a bag 5 is supplied to ink-ejecting ports 2-1. While the pipe 8 is inserted in the bag 5, a valve 12 prevents the ink from leaking through the hole part 4-1 to the exterior. When the pipe 8 is removed from the hole part 4-1 (after consumption of the ink), the valve 12 prevents the ink in the bag 5 from leaking out. The valve 12 is attached to the cover 4, and a seal film is provided on the valve 12.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an ink supply device, and more particularly to an ink supply device suitable for application to an inkjet printer that uses ink as a recording material.

[Prior Art] Conventional inkjet printers include 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 separately provided at separate locations, with a gap between them. Some are connected via an ink supply system including a communication member such as a supply pipe.

However, such inkjet printers generally require long supply pipes, which not only creates complications in piping, but also tends to cause ink vapor deposition 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 patent application No. 16/1989 not only eliminates the above-mentioned problems such as ink evaporation and air inclusion, but also
Although it has the advantage that the ink supply system including the head and ink supply source is easy to handle because no piping is required, the ink consumption increases and the amount of ink remaining in the ink supply source is small or empty. In this case, the head, which is more expensive than the members constituting the ink supply source, such as the ink storage bag, is also replaced at the same time, which poses a cost problem.

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention 1] Therefore, the ink supply source can be attached to the head so that an integrated assembly is formed in the attached state, and when the ink is consumed, only the ink supply source is connected. It may be possible to make them exchangeable. 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 during installation and deposition. 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 such an object, the present invention provides a supply port into which an ink supply pipe can be freely inserted in a storage section that stores ink,
A valve formed of an elastic member larger in area than the supply port, extending radially from the center, and provided with a notch whose length is approximately the same as the radius of the supply pipe is provided at the supply port inside the housing portion. It is characterized by the following.

[Function] In the present invention, since the valve has a radially extending cut, the ink supply pipe can be inserted into the ink storage member.
Further, ink does not leak to the outside from the supply port.

After the ink is consumed and the supply pipe is removed from the storage part, the valve closes the supply port, so that the remaining amount of ink will not leak.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an example of the appearance of an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a board on which a head plate 2 and electric wires connected to the head plate 2 are arranged. Reference numeral 2 denotes a head plate having an ink ejection port 2-1 for ejecting ink onto a recording medium and a thermal head 2-2 (not shown) for guiding the ink ejection.

3 is the board 1. It is a front case that has a head plate 2 and an ink supply tube 8 and is detachably attached to a cover 4.

In FIG. 3, 11 is a sealing film that seals the hole 4-1 when ink is not used, and the supply pipe 8 when ink is used.
penetrates into the hole 4-1, and the tip of the supply tube 8 breaks the sealing film 11, whereby the ink inside the bag is supplied to the ink discharge port 2-1.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a valve according to the present invention that prevents ink from leaking to the outside from the hole 4-1 while the supply pipe 8 is inserted into the bag body 5, and when the supply pipe 8 is removed from the hole 4-1. This is a valve that prevents ink from leaking inside the bag body 5 (after the ink is consumed).

The valve 12 is attached to the cover 4, and the sealing membrane is roughly attached to the valve 12.
Mounted on top.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the shape of the valve 12 in the embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 4, the valve 12 is made of an elastic member such as rubber, and has cut portions 12-1 having a diameter D1 radially extending from its center.

If the length of the diameter Di of the notch 12-1 is set to be approximately the same as or slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the supply tube 8, insertion of the supply tube 8 will not be hindered. Further, since the valve 12 is made of an elastic member, when the supply pipe 8 is removed, the valve 12 closes the hole 4-1, thereby preventing leakage of consumed ink residual droplets.

[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, and the head is easy to install. In some cases, it is possible to realize an ink supply device that can ensure a reliable ink communication state.

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

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the external appearance of the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a separated state in the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a side view showing an example of the configuration of the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the valve 12 in the embodiment of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Board, 2... Head plate, 2-1... Ink discharge port, 3... Front case, 4... Cover, 5... Bag body, 6... Back case, 8... Ink supply pipe, 11... Sealing film, 12... Valve. Engraving of the drawings (no changes to the content) ``Suetsu 4 thrusts and directions'' 5 + 1 review, Ito Chika Figure 1 Figure 2 No. 2 Summoning Session Figure 4 Proceedings Amendment (Sub) October 22, 1986

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) A storage member that accommodates ink is provided with a supply port into which an ink supply pipe can be freely inserted, and a valve that can be opened in response to insertion of the ink supply pipe is disposed in the supply port. Characteristic ink supply device. 2) In the ink supply device according to claim 1, the valve is formed of an elastic member having an area larger than the supply port, extends radially from its center, and has a length equal to the radius of the supply pipe. An ink supply device characterized by being a valve having a notch that is substantially the same as that of the ink supply device.