KR101138505B1

KR101138505B1 - Air adjusting valve for ink feeding device

Info

Publication number: KR101138505B1
Application number: KR1020100038585A
Authority: KR
Inventors: 엄영민
Original assignee: 엄영민
Priority date: 2010-04-26
Filing date: 2010-04-26
Publication date: 2012-04-25
Also published as: KR20110119089A

Abstract

The present invention relates to an air control valve for an ink supply device, and more particularly, it is applied to an infinite refill ink supply device, a cartridge of a printer, etc. An air control valve for an ink supply device configured to be blocked.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an air control valve for an ink supply device which not only smoothly supplies external air at the time of printing but also automatically cuts off the supply of external air at the time of printing stop.
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is characterized in that the valve body 3 is formed of a flexible material and formed with a cutout portion 2 formed so as to open when the negative pressure acts on the central portion and close when the negative pressure is removed. do.

Description

AIR ADJUSTING VALVE FOR INK FEEDING DEVICE}

The present invention relates to an air control valve for an ink supply device, and more particularly, it is applied to an infinite refill ink supply device, a cartridge of a printer, and the like, and the outside air is introduced during the printing operation of the printer and the outside air is stopped when the printer is stopped. An air control valve for an ink supply device configured to be blocked.

In general, the infinite refill ink supply device used in inkjet printers, etc. can be installed in a large capacity ink container on the outside of the printer, by connecting the ink container to the cartridge of the printer so that the ink is supplied to the cartridge to reduce the cost It is made up.

The ink supply device is configured to install four or six ink containers for each color of the ink and to connect the cartridge and the supply pipe of the printer. The ink container is always kept open to allow the outside air to flow. do.

That is, in order to supply ink from the ink container to the cartridge, external air must be supplied to the ink container. For this purpose, the lid of the ink container is always opened.

Of course, the cartridge mounted inside the inkjet printer is also configured to allow external air to flow at all times, so that ink can be smoothly discharged during inkjet printing.

However, as described above, if the lid of the ink container is always kept open in the ink refilling device, or if the external air is always supplied to the cartridge mounted inside the printer, the external air will always be kept even when printing is stopped. Since the ink is supplied to the cartridge by air, or the air is supplied to the cartridge excessively, the ink is excessively discharged to the output portion of the cartridge, resulting in a poor printing.

That is, even though printing is stopped, ink is supplied to the cartridge or the print output portion of the cartridge due to the self-weight or inertia of the air and ink, causing the ink to overflow, which causes print quality due to the excess of ink during the next printing. There is a problem that the degradation of.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above problems, the air supply valve for the ink supply device not only to smoothly supply the external air at the time of printing, but also automatically cut off the supply of external air at the time of printing stop. In providing.

In order to realize the above object, the present invention is characterized in that the valve body is made of a flexible material and is formed when the negative pressure is applied to the central portion is opened and the incision is formed to close when the negative pressure is removed.

As described above, the present invention can be applied to parts such as ink containers for ink cartridges or inkjet printers for endless refills, and is configured to open immediately by underpressure during printing and to close when the underpressure is removed. When not in use, there is an advantage that can completely block the inflow of outside air to improve the print quality.

1 is a perspective view showing an air control valve for an ink supply device according to the present invention;
2A is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1,
Figure 2b is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the valve is opened by the negative pressure during printing in Figure 2a,
3 is a cross-sectional view showing an example in which an air control valve for an ink supply device according to the present invention is applied to an ink container of an endless refill ink supply device;
Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing an example in which an air control valve for an ink supply device according to the present invention is applied to a cartridge for an inkjet printer.
5 is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment in which an air control valve for an ink supply device according to the present invention is applied to an ink supply pipe and an inflow pipe in an ink container of an endless refill ink supply device.
Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing an embodiment in which an air control valve for an ink supply device according to the present invention is applied to a nozzle from which ink is ejected from a cartridge for an inkjet printer.

1 and 2 are a perspective view and a cross-sectional view showing an air control valve for an ink supply device according to the present invention, which is made of a flexible material such as silicon and has a concave portion 1 formed to concave a central portion thereof. The recess 1 has a cutout 2 formed so as to open when negative pressure acts on the protruding portion and close when negative pressure is removed, thereby forming a valve body 3.

In particular, the cutout 2 is formed to be inclined with respect to the suction direction and the pressure action direction of the air. If the cutout 2 is formed to be inclined, the cutout 2 may be pulled only slightly when the negative pressure is applied. ), So that the outside air can be smoothly introduced.

That is, when the valve body 3 of the air control valve is pulled downward in the drawing by the negative pressure, the elastic material is stretched by a certain amount because of the elastic material, and the incision 2 is opened by the stretching. Outside air can be introduced.

Of course, the above-described cutouts 2 may be formed in a straight line with respect to the air inflow direction. However, if the cutouts 2 are formed in a straight line, the valve body 3 should be increased more so that the cutouts 2 open. As it is, the inclined cut portion 2 can be operated more sensitively.

Here, the valve body 3 may be manufactured flat without being concave. However, if the valve body 3 is flat, the valve body 3 is applied to the entire surface when a negative pressure is applied. A large force is required, which can lower the operating sensitivity of the valve.

Referring to Figure 3 showing the effect of the present invention as described above, for example, applied to the ink container for the infinite ink supply device, is coupled to the top of the ink container (A) and the flow hole (B) The lid (C) formed, the inlet pipe (D) coupled to the flow hole (B) can enter the outside air, and the seating formed in the lid (C) and in communication with the flow hole (B) The valve body (3) and the valve body (3) which are located in the groove (E), the seating groove (E), and the cutout portion (2) is arranged to fit the flow hole (B), are fixed. It consists of a fixing member (F) coupled to the lid (C).

That is, in the state in which the valve body 3 is fixed to the lid C by the fixing member F, the cutout 2 of the valve body 3 fits into the flow hole B. When it is arranged, when the negative pressure inside the ink container (A) acts through the inlet pipe (D), the incision (2) is opened while the outside air is introduced, and if the negative pressure is removed so that the inflow of external air is blocked. It is.

Here, the inlet groove (G) is formed on the bottom of the fixing member (F) to allow the outside air to flow into the valve body (3).

Of course, when the number of the cutouts 2 is increased, the inflow of outside air increases, and if only one number of the cutouts 2 is formed, the inflow of the outside air decreases, depending on the ink container A, etc. It is formed properly.

When the printer does not perform the printing operation, since the negative pressure for sucking ink from the ink container A is not generated, the valve body 3 maintains the cutout 2 closed as shown in FIG. 2A.

In the printing operation in this state, a negative pressure is generated inside the ink container A, and the negative pressure acts on the valve body 3 through the inlet pipe D, so that the valve body 3 as shown in FIG. 2B. The indentation 2 is opened while the concave portion 1 is pulled out, and air is introduced into the ink container A to the outside through the incision 2.

When external air flows into the ink container (A), ink is smoothly supplied to the printer, so that printing is performed. When the printing operation of the printer is stopped in this state, the pressure for sucking ink disappears, and the ink container (A) As the negative pressure formed therein disappears, the incision 2 is contracted again and closed.

When the cutout 2 is closed, external air is blocked from entering the ink container A, and ink is not supplied from the ink container A to the printer.

When the ink is not supplied to the printer, it is possible to prevent the ink from being excessively supplied to the cartridge by the air flowing into the ink container A when the printing operation is not performed as in the prior art, thereby improving the print quality.

4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the valve body 3 according to the present invention is applied to the cartridge, the external air flow hole (I) formed on one side of the cartridge body (H), and seated in the flow hole (I) Fixed to the valve body (3) and the external air inlet groove (J) is coupled to the flow hole (I) to fix the valve body (3) and the outside air flows into the valve body (3) It consists of the member K.

The cartridge is a general configuration applied to an inkjet printer, and the printing is started after the cartridge is mounted in the printer.

When printing starts, negative pressure acts on the cartridge body (H), and ink filled in the cartridge is sucked in. At this time, the incision (2) of the valve body (3) opens and the outside air flows in, and the printing operation is performed. When it stops, the negative pressure is removed and the incision 2 is closed and the outside air is shut off.

When the valve body 3 is mounted on the cartridge body H, when there is no printing operation, no external air flows into the cartridge body H, so that the print quality can be further improved.

That is, by fixing the valve body (3) in the flow hole (I) that is the portion where the outside air flows into the cartridge body (H) it is possible to immediately control the inflow and blocking of the outside air.

Of course, the valve body 3 according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but is applicable to various parts using liquid ink, such as an inkjet printer.

Here, although the above embodiments show a state in which the valve body is installed in relation to the intermittent air, Figure 5 shows another embodiment in which the valve body is installed in the ink supply pipe and the inlet pipe of the ink container.

A chamber 5 having a predetermined space therein and a connecting portion 4 formed at both ends to cut the middle portions of the ink supply pipe K and the inflow pipe D, and to connect the cut portions; It consists of a valve body (3) fixedly installed inside (5) and opened and closed by negative pressure generated during the operation of the printer to control the fluid (air and liquid ink).

That is, the valve body 3 is capable of short-term speed of liquid as well as air, and when the valve body 3 is installed through the chamber 5 in the ink supply pipe K and the inflow pipe D, the negative pressure during the operation of the printer. When the incision 2 is opened by the ink is sucked in and the negative pressure is removed is immediately closed so that the ink is not supplied.

Figure 6 is another embodiment showing that the valve body is installed in the nozzle which is the ink ejection portion of the cartridge of the printer, the nozzle (Z) is installed in the portion where the nozzle (Z) of the cartridge (H) is installed. The valve main body 3 is provided so that the ink which flows in may be interrupted.

That is, the valve main body 3 is installed to intercept the ink which is the liquid flowing into the nozzle Z. When the ink is ejected from the print head PH according to the operation of the printer, the ink from the nozzle Z When the inlet portion 2 of the valve body 3 is opened by the suction force, ink is introduced into the nozzle Z and the ink injection from the head portion PH is stopped. Closes and immediately controls the flow of ink.

1: recess 2: incision
3: valve body 4: connection part
5: Chamber A: Ink Container
B, I: flow hole C: lid
D: Inlet pipe E: Seating groove
F, K: fixing member G: inflow groove
J: External air inlet groove K: Ink supply pipe
Z: Nozzle PH: Print Head

Claims

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It is made of a flexible material and consists of a valve body formed with a cutout to open when the negative pressure is applied to the center portion and closed when the negative pressure is removed,
An air control valve for an ink supply device, characterized in that it comprises a recess configured to open and close the cutout more easily when the negative pressure acts on the valve body.