KR19990010701A - Ink cartridge unit for electrophotographic printers - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed are an ink cartridge device for an electrophotographic printer. According to the present invention, there is provided an ink cartridge having an outlet portion which can be selectively opened and closed, a rail member having at least one accommodating space therein for accommodating the ink cartridge therein, and the cartridge when the ink cartridge is seated in the rail member. A fixed elastic member provided in front of the receiving space of the rail member to apply an elastic force to the front end of the rail member, and a rear of the receiving space of the rail member to support the rear end of the cartridge when the ink cartridge is seated in the rail member A hook member, an elastic member for elastically deflecting the hook member, and a connector provided in front of the rail member so as to form a flow path at the same time as opening the outlet of the cartridge when the cartridge is seated in the rail member. Electrophotographic printer An ink cartridge device is provided. The ink cartridge device for an electrophotographic printer according to the present invention has an advantage that the user's convenience is improved because supply of ink to the developer of the printer can be made through the cartridge.

Description

Ink cartridge unit for electrophotographic printers

The present invention relates to an ink cartridge device for an electrophotographic printer, and more particularly, to an ink cartridge device for an electrophotographic printer that enables an intensive configuration of a printer.

Generally, an electrophotographic printer is applied to a laser printer or a copying machine for a computer, which is a dry type using a powder toner as a developing method and a wet type using a liquid toner mixed in a carrier. In both of these methods, a desired image can be printed on a paper by transferring a charged toner or a liquid toner to a photosensitive medium on which a latent electrostatic image is formed, and then passing the paper between the rotating transfer media in contact with the photosensitive medium. have. However, in the dry toner printer, a developing method using a liquid toner has been adopted in earnest due to a problem of resolution caused by a limited size of toner particles used or a problem that toner dust is very harmful to a human body.

In an electrophotographic printer, a photosensitive belt rotatably held on a roller is used. As is known, the surface of the photosensitive belt may not only be charged, but also the potential level may be converted by scanning of the beam. In one example of an electrophotographic printer, the front surface of the photosensitive belt is typically charged to a potential of about 600 volts by corona charging, and the surface of the photosensitive belt is selectively lowered to a potential of 150 volts by laser scanning, thereby preventing electrostatic latent images. Is formed. When toner charged at a potential of about 450 volts is added to the electrostatic latent image, the toner adheres only to the potential dropping portion to form an image, which can be printed by transferring it onto a printing sheet. As described above, printing is performed using an ink which is a liquid toner in a wet printer, and black, yellow, magenta, and cyan inks for color printers. Is stored in an ink container and supplied to each print job.

1 shows a schematic configuration diagram of a general wet printer.

Referring to the drawings, the printer 10 includes a photosensitive belt 14 which rotates the endless track while being supported by the driving roller 11, the steering roller or the tension roller 12, the counter roller 13, and the like, and at least, One or more developing units 17a, 17b, 17c, 17d and a transfer roller 25 are included. The surface of the photosensitive belt 14 can be maintained in a charged state by the corona device 16, and the charged state of the surface of the photosensitive belt is installed in the vicinity of each of the developing devices 17a, 17b, 17c, and 17d. The potential can be changed by scanning a laser beam from 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d. Beam scanning by the laser scanning devices 18a, 18b, 18c, and 18d forms an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive belt.

The developing units 17a, 17b, 17c, and 17d can develop black, yellow, cyan, and magenta colors according to the color of the pigment, and also the laser scanning device 18a. , 18b, 18c, and 18d also form an electrostatic latent image for the color. The developing units 17a, 17b, 17c, and 17d are filled with a liquid mixture of ink toner of a corresponding color and a carrier, and the electrostatic mixture is formed on the surface of the photosensitive belt 14 through the developing rollers provided in the developing units, respectively. Can be attached to the latent image. The cleaning roller 23 has a function of completely removing the liquid carrier from the toner image formed on the photosensitive belt 14, and the heating roller 24 assists the function of the cleaning roller 23 by evaporating the liquid carrier. do. The toner image attached to the photosensitive belt 14 is transferred to the transfer roller 25, and can be transferred from the transfer roller 25 to the paper 27 by the surface energy difference. The printing paper 27 passes between the transfer roller 25 and the fixing roller 26. The eraser 15 performs a function of completely removing the charged state remaining on the photosensitive belt 14 so that a new electrostatic latent image can be formed.

In the above printer, the supply of the ink toner to each of the developing devices 17a, 17b, 17c, and 17d is made from the ink containers 19a, 19b, 19c, and 19d. That is, the ink toner stored in the ink containers 19a, 19b, 19c, and 19d corresponding to each color is transferred to the mixing containers 21a, 21b, 21c, and 21d by the action of the pumps 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d. It is introduced into the developing devices 17a, 17b, 17c, and 17d by the action of the other pumps 22a, 22b, 22c, and 22d. In the mixing containers 21a, 21b, 21c, and 21d, the ink toner and the liquid carrier are mixed at an appropriate concentration. The liquid carrier is introduced from a carrier container (not shown) and a carrier recovery device.

In the printer shown in Fig. 1, the supply of ink toner to the developing units 17a, 17b, 17c, and 17d is such that the ink containers, pumps, and the like are installed in the printer close to the lower side of the developing units 17a, 17b, 17c, and 17d. There is a problem in that it is difficult to distribute the space inside the printer because it is made through. That is, since the position of the developer is limited to the position close to the side of the photosensitive belt 14, in consideration of problems such as the volume of the ink container fixedly installed in the printer, replacement and replenishment of ink toner for the container, cleaning and repair, etc. Ink containers 19a, 19b, 19c, and 19d were also limited to the bottom of the printer.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an ink cartridge device for an electrophotographic printer that is easy to utilize the space in the printer.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a general electrophotographic printer.

2 is a schematic configuration diagram of an electrophotographic printer according to the present invention. 3 is a schematic perspective view of an ink cartridge for an electrophotographic printer according to the present invention.

4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the cartridge mounted in the ink cartridge device according to the present invention.

5 is an enlarged cross sectional view of a portion of FIG. 4;

Brief description of the main symbols in the drawings

11: drive roller 12: steering roller

13: counter roller 14: photosensitive belt

15: Eraser 16: Corona Device

17a.17b.17c.17d: Developer 18a.18b.18c.18d: Laser Scanning Device

23: cleaning roller 24: heating roller

28: ink cartridge device 31: ink cartridge

32: rail 34: spring

35: Hook 36: Guide

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided an ink cartridge having an outlet portion which can be selectively opened and closed, a rail member having at least one accommodating space therein for accommodating the ink cartridge therein, and the ink cartridge being the rail A fixed elastic member installed in front of the receiving space of the rail member so as to apply an elastic force to the front end of the cartridge when seated in the member, and the rail to support the rear end of the cartridge when the ink cartridge is seated in the rail member A hook member provided behind the receiving space of the member, an elastic member for elastically deflecting the hook member, and when the cartridge is seated in the rail member, opening the outlet of the cartridge and simultaneously forming a flow path of the rail member. The connector installed at the front Provided is an ink cartridge device for an electrophotographic printer.

According to one aspect of the invention, the outlet portion of the ink cartridge, the disc member elastically supported at the end of the outlet portion and formed with a plurality of holes, and the shaft member extending from the center of the disc member toward the inside of the cartridge A moving coke having a moving coke, a moving coke deflection elastic member for deflecting the disc member of the moving coke to the outside of the cartridge, and at least one lamella member installed at the shaft member to seal the outlet according to the position of the moving coke. The connector includes a pusher disk member fixed to a cross section of the connector and having a plurality of through holes, and a pusher bar member protruding from the center of the pusher disk member toward the outlet of the cartridge.

According to another feature of the invention, the connector is formed with a stopper protruding from the inner surface of the connector toward the center of the connector cross section so as to limit the depth to which the outlet of the cartridge is inserted.

According to another feature of the invention, a sealing packing ring is attached to one surface of the stopper toward the outlet of the cartridge.

According to another feature of the invention, the movable cock deflection elastic member, the first projection projecting toward the cross-sectional center from the end of the outlet portion, and the end surface of the outlet portion from the inner surface of the outlet portion spaced from the end of the outlet portion It is provided between the 2nd protrusion which protruded toward the center.

According to another feature of the invention, the membrane member comprises a large first membrane member and a small second membrane member, wherein the first membrane member is supported by a stepped portion having a reduced cross section of the outlet portion, The second membrane member is supported by the third protrusion or the second protrusion which protrudes from the inner side of the outlet toward the center of the outlet cross section.

According to another feature of the invention, when the cartridge is accommodated in the receiving space of the rail member, the pusher member is inserted in the outlet so that the disk member of the moving cock is against the elastic force of the elastic member for moving coke deflection. , Thereby releasing the closing of the outlet by the lamella member and allowing ink to flow through the through hole of the disk member of the moving cock and the pusher disk member.

According to another feature of the present invention, the ink cartridge is provided with a hook groove to which the hook member can be caught, and the ink cartridge can be removed by detaching the hook member from the hook groove.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to an embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 2 shows an electrophotographic printer with an ink cartridge device according to the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, the same parts as those described with reference to FIG. 1 are designated with the same reference numerals. The printer 10 includes a driving roller 11, a steering roller or a tension roller 12, a photosensitive belt 14 that rotates the caterpillar in a state supported by the counter roller 13, and at least one developer 17a. , 17b, 17c, and 17d and the transfer roller 25 are included. Proximate to the photosensitive belt 14, the corona apparatus 16 for photosensitive belt charging is provided, and the laser scanning apparatus 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d for electrostatic latent image formation is provided. The cleaning roller 23 and the heating roller 24 are provided so that the liquid carrier can be removed from the toner image formed on the photosensitive belt 14. The toner image attached to the photosensitive belt 14 is transferred to the transfer roller 25 and prints the toner image on the printing paper 27 passing between the transfer roller 25 and the fixing roller 26. The eraser 15 performs a function of completely removing the charged state remaining on the photosensitive belt 14 so that a new electrostatic latent image can be formed.

According to a feature of the invention, the supply of the ink toner to the developing units 17a, 17b, 17c, 17d is made from the ink cartridge device 28, which is closed by a photosensitive belt 14. It can be located within the surface. Also, as shown in the figure, pumps 20a ', 20b', 20c ', 20d', mixers 21a ', 21b', 21c ', 21d' and other pumps 22a ', 22b', 22c '. , 22d 'may also be located within the closed curve surrounded by the photosensitive belt 14. In the actual printer device embodied, the ink cartridge device 28 can be installed anywhere in the printer since the cover of the outer housing box of the printer can be removed and simply mounted or removed. That is, it may be installed in the lower part or the upper part of the printer as in the prior art, and in particular, it may be disposed in the center of the printer surrounded by the photosensitive belt 14. The wider choice in utilizing the printer internal space is because the ink cartridge device to be described later is very simple and compact.

3 is a schematic perspective view of the ink cartridge device according to the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, the ink cartridge device 28 includes a plurality of ink cartridges 31 and rails 32 for receiving and mounting the cartridges 31. In the case of the printer shown in Fig. 2, four ink cartridges corresponding to each color are required, and therefore, four cartridge receiving portions 32a are formed in the rail 32. The cartridge accommodating portion 32a generally forms a rectangular parallelepiped space corresponding to the shape of the cartridge 31. The cartridge 31 is supported on the protrusion 33 formed along the inner surface of the rail 32. The protrusions 33 are formed with numbers appropriate for the bottom and both sides in the receiving portion 32a. Each receiving portion 32a is provided with a hook 35 on the inlet side, and the hook 35 is elastically deflected by the spring 34. The hook 35 has a function of fixing the cartridge 31 by being caught by a hook groove 31a formed at one side of the cartridge 31 when the cartridge 31 is inserted into the receiving portion 32a.

The guide 36 is provided in the upper part of the rail 32. When trying to insert the cartridge 31 into the receiving portion 32a of the rail 32, the cartridge 31 can be easily fixed in the rail 32 by entering along the guide 36. The guide 36 is useful to prevent the hook 35 from interfering with the entry of the cartridge 31 when the cartridge 31 enters into the receiving portion 32a of the rail 32. Reference numeral 31b denotes a handle portion of the cartridge 31.

4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge device shown in FIG.

Referring to the drawings, the fixing plate spring 37 is installed in the inner front of the receiving portion of the rail (32). The fixing leaf spring 37 may be deflected forward within a predetermined range by an external force. In addition, as described above, the hook 35 is provided at the inner rear of the receiving portion of the rail 32, and the hook 35 may be caught in the hook groove 31a formed in the cartridge 31. The hook 35 is deflected to rotate clockwise about the hinge point 35a in the embodiment shown in the figure, and is subjected to elastic force by the spring 34.

The connector 38 is provided in the front surface of the rail 32. The connector 38 is interconnected with the outlet of the cartridge 31 to form the outflow path of the ink stored in the cartridge 31. The connector 38 can be connected to a conventional ink tube to flow ink to the pumps 20a ', 20b' 20c '20d' shown in FIG. When the cartridge 31 enters the space of the receiving portion 32a of the rail 32 along the guide 36, the front surface of the cartridge 31 deforms the fixing leaf spring 37 forward. At this time, if the rear portion of the cartridge 31 is lowered from the top while applying a predetermined external force, the hook 35 rotates in the counterclockwise direction, whereby the cartridge 31 is the receiving portion 32a of the rail 32. Can be seated within. In the state where the cartridge 31 is fully seated, the hook 35 is inserted into the hook groove 31a, and the cartridge 31 is caused by the elasticity of the leaf spring 37 and the elasticity of the spring 34 which biases the hook 35. ) Can be stably maintained in the receiving portion of the rail 32.

FIG. 5 shows an enlarged cross sectional view of the portion indicated by A in FIG. 4, which provides an understanding of the structure of the outlet and the connector of the cartridge 31.

Referring to the drawings, the outlet portion 51 of the cartridge 31 is formed in a cylindrical shape as a whole, and the outlet portion 51 has a large-diameter lamella support 51a, a small-diameter lamella support 51b, and a moving cock support 58. Is formed. As can be seen in the figure, the large-diameter lamella support 51a is formed by stepping down the diameter of the outlet 51 formed by protruding toward the front of the cartridge 31, and the small-diameter lamella support 51b and the movement thereof. The cock support 58 forms a circular protrusion inside the outlet 51. That is, the small-diameter lamella support 51b and the moving cock support 58 are formed by reducing the inner diameter of the outlet 51.

The moving cock 53 has a disk 53a on which a plurality of through holes 57 are formed and a shaft 53b extending therefrom. The disk 53a of the moving cock 53 is supported inside the moving cock support 58, and the shaft 53b extends from the center of the disk 53a toward the inside of the cartridge 31. The through hole 57 formed in the disk 53a forms a passage through which ink can flow out according to the position of the moving cock 53. The large diameter caliber 55 and the small caliber 54 are provided in the moving cock 53, respectively. The cutting films 54 and 55 are formed of a flexible synthetic resin or rubber material and prevent ink from flowing out when supported by the cutting film supporting portions 51a and 51b. That is, according to the position of the moving cock 53, the large-diameter lamella 55 is supported by the large-diameter lamella support 51a, and the small-diameter lamella 54 is supported by the small-diameter lamella support 51a. When the membranes 54 and 55 are supported by the membrane support portions 51a and 51b, the ink cannot flow out through the outlet portion 51.

The spring 56 is provided between the disk 53a of the moving cock 53 and the small-diameter lamella support 51b. By the elastic force of the spring 56, the moving cock 53 is deflected in the outflow direction of the ink, and in this deflected state, the diaphragms 54 and 55 are supported by the diaphragm support portions 51a and 51b, and the disk 53a is also It is supported by the disk support 58. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the outflow of ink by the cutting films 54 and 55, and this state corresponds to a state in which the cartridge 31 is not yet mounted in the rail.

The pusher 60 is installed inside the connector 52. The pusher 60 has a pusher disk 60a and a pusher bar 60b in which a plurality of through holes 61 are formed. The pusher disk 60a has an outer diameter that matches the cylindrical inner diameter of the connector and has a plurality of through holes 61. The ink flowing out of the cartridge 31 may flow into the pump tube (not shown) through the through hole 61 of the pusher disk 60a. The pusher bar 60b extends from the center of the pusher disk 60a in the direction opposite to the flow direction of the ink. The pusher bar 60b has a function of pushing the moving cock 53 when the outlet 51 of the cartridge 51 is coupled to the connector 52. The part indicated by 62 is a stopper provided to prevent insertion of the outlet 51. The packing ring 59 is provided outside the stopper 62 to ensure the seal. The end of the connector 52 forms an enlarged portion 63 with an enlarged aperture, so that the outlet 51 of the cartridge 51 can be easily inserted.

Hereinafter, the operation of the cartridge according to the present invention will be briefly described.

To mount the ink cartridge 31, the user pushes the cartridge 31 into the receiving portion 32a along the guide 36 provided on the rail 32. As shown in FIG. At this time, the front end of the cartridge 31 pushes the leaf spring 37, the rear end of the cartridge 31 can be elastically supported in the space formed therebetween by rotating the hook 35. When the cartridge 31 is seated in the receiving portion 32a, the outlet portion 51 is coupled to the connector 38. When the outlet portion 51 is inserted into the connector 38, the pusher bar 60b pushes the moving cock 53, whereby the lamellas 54, 55 are spaced apart from the lamella supports 51a, 51b. . The ink stored in the cartridge 31 through the flow path formed by the spaced apart film 54 and 55 is separated into the through hole 57 formed in the disk 53a of the moving cock 53 and the disk 60a of the pusher 60. Can flow through the formed through-hole (61).

To remove the cartridge 31, grasp the handle jaw 31b and release the hook 35. At this time, since the action of the pusher bar 60b pushing the movable cock 53 is eliminated, the disk 53a of the movable cock 53 is pushed to the movable cock support 58 by the force of the spring 56, thus The cutting films 54 and 55 are supported by the coating films 51a and 51b, and the outflow of the ink toner is prevented.

The ink cartridge device for an electrophotographic printer according to the present invention has an advantage that the user's convenience is improved because supply of ink to the developer of the printer can be made through the cartridge. Moreover, it is economical because the ink cartridge can significantly reduce the amount of ink used. In addition, since the cartridge device itself has a very concentrated configuration, it is possible to select a wide range of designs when installing the cartridge device inside the printer, and in particular, it can be easily installed in a closed curved surface surrounded by a photosensitive belt.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to one embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, this is only an example, and those skilled in the art may understand that various modifications and equivalent other embodiments are possible therefrom. There will be. Therefore, the true scope of protection of the present invention should be defined only by the appended claims.

Claims (8)

An ink cartridge having an outlet portion for selectively opening and closing, a rail member having at least one accommodation space therein for accommodating the ink cartridge therein, and an elastic force at the front end of the cartridge when the ink cartridge is seated in the rail member A fixed elastic member provided in front of the accommodating space of the rail member so as to apply a hook, a hook member provided behind the accommodating space of the rail member to support a rear end of the cartridge when the ink cartridge is seated in the rail member, the hook For an electrophotographic printer having an elastic member for elastically deflecting the member and a connector provided in front of the rail member so as to form a flow path while opening the outlet of the cartridge when the cartridge is seated in the rail member. Ink cartridge Value. The outlet portion of the ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the outlet portion of the ink cartridge has a disc member elastically supported at an end portion of the outlet portion, the disc member having a plurality of through holes, and a shaft member extending from the center of the disc member toward the inside of the cartridge. A moving coke, a moving coke deflection elastic member for deflecting the disc member of the moving coke to the outside of the cartridge, and at least one membrane member installed on the shaft member to seal the outlet part according to the position of the moving coke; And the connector includes a pusher disk member fixed to a cross section of the connector and having a plurality of through holes, and a pusher bar member protruding from the center of the pusher disk member toward the outlet of the cartridge. Ink cartridge unit for anticorrosive printers. 3. The ink cartridge for an electrophotographic printer according to claim 2, wherein the connector has a stopper protruding from the inner surface of the connector toward the center of the connector cross section so as to limit the depth into which the outlet of the cartridge is inserted. Device. 4. The ink cartridge apparatus for an electrophotographic printer according to claim 3, wherein a seal packing ring is attached to one surface of the stopper facing the outlet of the cartridge. The said moving cock deflection elastic member is a cross-sectional center of the said outlet part from the inner side of the said outlet part and the 1st protrusion which protruded toward the cross-sectional center from the edge part of the said outlet part, and the said outlet part spaced apart from the edge part of the said outlet part. An ink cartridge device for an electrophotographic printer, characterized in that it is provided between the second projections protruding toward. 6. The method of claim 2 or 5, wherein the membrane member comprises a large first membrane member and a small second membrane member, wherein the first membrane member is supported by a stepped portion having a reduced cross section of the outlet portion, And the second peeling member is supported by a third protrusion or the second protrusion which protrudes from the inner side of the outlet toward the center of the end face of the outlet. 3. The pusher member according to claim 2, wherein when the cartridge is accommodated in the receiving space of the rail member, the pusher member is inserted into the outlet to move the disk member of the moving cock in a direction opposite to the elastic force of the elastic member for moving coke deflection. And thereby the closing of the outlet portion by the lamella member is released, and ink can be flowed through the through hole of the disk member of the moving cock and the pusher disk member. 2. The electrophotographic printer of claim 1, wherein a hook groove is formed in the ink cartridge to catch the hook member, and the ink cartridge can be removed by detaching the hook member from the hook groove. Ink cartridge device.