NL8603307A - INK CARTRIDGE. - Google Patents

Description

N.0. 34231 -1- 'ί v' & Ink cartridge.

The invention relates to a device for moistening an applicator with a liquid, in particular an ink or like dye, comprising a substantially containing container, containing the liquid, having at least one outwardly directed wall which is formed by a layer of felt or a similar liquid-absorbent material that contacts the liquid in the space within the container.

Such a device, also referred to as an ink cartridge, is generally known and is in particular for use in an encoding device with which expiration dates, factory codes or the like data are stamped on products or packaging by means of a stamp roll.

As shown in figure 1 of the accompanying drawing, in such an encoder, a print is printed on the products 2 moving in the direction of the arrow A by means of a rotating stamp roller 1, wherein the stamp roller 1 is supplied with ink by an ink roller 3 which rotates along the felt layer of the ink cartridge 4 and transfers the ink thus absorbed to the stamp roller.

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In the known ink cartridge, the space within the holder is for the most part filled with a plastic foam which abuts against the felt layer and which is permeated with ink, while the rest of this space is occupied by a folded piece of ribbed, located behind the plastic foam 25. plastic tape, so that a reservoir is formed there. The cartridge can only be refilled a limited number of times with a solvent, for which the plastic foam must be pushed aside with the aid of a tool, so that the solvent can be poured into the cartridge where it is formed in the reservoir formed by the folded piece of ribbed plastic tape. ends up. The cartridge should then stand for several hours to allow the solvent to draw into the plastic foam and dissolve the ink remaining therein, after which the cartridge is ready for use again.

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The known ink cartridge has the drawback that filling with a solvent is an unpleasant and dirty job. Moreover, it can only be noticed too late that the cartridge is running out or is empty, since this can only be noticed because the prints become too light. Furthermore, the prints are uneven in the beginning, with a well-filled cartridge, they are much fatter than afterwards when the cartridge is emptied. Finally, after a relatively long standstill of the encoder, for example during the night, the first prints are unreadable.

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The object of the invention is to provide a device of the above type which does not have these drawbacks.

This object is achieved in that in the device according to the invention the space within the container, on the side of the felt layer, is bounded by a dividing wall essentially forming an end wall of the container, at least one opening being present at the bottom thereof, so that the said space within the container communicates with an enclosed gutter-shaped part open from above with an upright front wall situated at a distance from the dividing wall, the top edge of which extends to at least the height of the highest point of said opening and the layer of felt substantially abuts the said partition wall, the bottom edge area of the felt layer protruding into the trough-shaped part and means being present for retaining the felt layer at the other edge areas and the space within the container containing only the liquid which can flow freely.

Since, in the device designed in this way, the ink is in a fairly liquid form in the container, the container does not have to be refilled with a solvent, but can be used until the entire ink supply within the container has been used up. The ink level within the container can be made visible in a simple manner, for instance by designing the container from a transparent material.

In a device according to the invention, ink flows from the holder, through the said opening, into the trough-shaped part, until a certain negative pressure has been created above the liquid level in the holder, wherein ¢ 603307 35 -3-> the liquid level in the trough-shaped part is above the top point of said opening and ink is drawn from the trough-shaped part through the felt layer. Now, while the encoder is operating, if ink is delivered to the ink roller via the felt layer, the ink level within the trough-shaped part drops below the upper point of the opening, so that air flows through this opening in the holder and the said underpressure is reduced, with the result that an amount of ink again flows into the trough-shaped part. The felt layer is thus always kept soaked with ink, so that the 10 prints are always of the same quality, whether the holder is completely full or almost empty.

Said opening at the bottom of the dividing wall can be formed by at least one opening arranged in this wall or by a spit-shaped opening in that the dividing wall extends to a distance from the bottom of the container.

In order to prevent the ink 20 from flowing over the front wall thereof over the front wall thereof when the holder is inclined in such a way that the gutter-shaped part forms the lowest point, the front wall of the gutter-shaped part is preferably designed in such a way that it runs obliquely inward from the bottom to the top, the opening being formed by at least one pipe section projecting from the support wall in the trough-shaped part.

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Preferably, said means for retaining the felt layer are formed by peripheral edges embracing the felt layer at the edge areas thereof.

These circumferential edges are advantageously formed on a lid which is detachably connected to the container, wherein the upright front wall of the trough-shaped part is preferably also formed on the lid.

In this manner, the container can be easily filled with ink by removing the lid from the container and then pouring the ink through the said opening into the container.

The invention is further explained with reference to the V V. «V» V V - 7

V

-4- drawing in which:

Figure 2 shows a first embodiment and Figure 3 shows a second embodiment of the device according to the invention in axial section.

As shown in figure 2, the device comprises a closed container 5 which is filled with ink 6. The container 5 has at one end side a dividing wall 7 which extends to a distance from the bottom of the container so that a spit-shaped opening 8 is formed . This opening 8 opens into a gutter-shaped part 9 with an upright front wall 9 '.

A felt layer 10 is received with its lower edge area in the gutter-shaped part 9, while this layer is retained at the other edge areas thereof by means of the inwardly bent peripheral edge 11.

The embodiment according to figure 3 again comprises a closed container 12 which is filled with ink 13. The partition wall 14 is stepped in the bottom part and extends all the way to the bottom of the container 12. In the bottom end of the partition wall 14 pipe piece 15 arranged by means of which the inside of the holder communicates with a gutter-shaped part 16 which has an obliquely inwardly extending front wall 16 '.

A felt layer 17 is received with the bottom edge area thereof in the gutter-shaped part 16, while the other edge areas of the felt layer 17 are retained by means of the inwardly bent peripheral edge 18.

The channel-shaped part 16 and the peripheral edges 18 are hereby formed on a lid 12 'which is detachably connected to the holder 12 by means of a snap connection 12' '. By removing the lid 12 'from the holder 12, the holder 12 can be filled with ink via the pipe section 15.

On the outside of the felt layer 10, 17 a network 8603307-5 (not shown) is attached, which protects the felt layer against fraying due to the ink roller rolling against the felt layer.

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Claims (8)

Device for wetting a applicator with a liquid, in particular an ink or similar dye, comprising a substantially liquid-containing container having at least one outwardly directed wall formed by a layer 5 of felt or a similar liquid-absorbent material which contacts the liquid in the space within the container, characterized in that the space within the container, on the side of the felt layer, is bounded by an essentially a partition wall forming the container, wherein at the bottom thereof there is at least one opening 10, through which the said space communicates with an enclosed gutter-shaped part open at the top, with an upright front wall located at a distance from the partition wall, the top edge of which extends to at least the height of the highest point of the said opening and the felt layer lies essentially against the said dividing wall 15, the bottom edge of which Each of the felt layer protrudes into the trough-shaped part and means are present for retaining the felt layer at the other edge areas and the space within the container contains only the liquid in free liquid form. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the dividing wall extends from the top of the container to a distance from the bottom of the container, so that said opening is spigot-shaped. Device as claimed in claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the front wall of the trough-shaped part extends obliquely from bottom to top. 4. Device as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the opening 30 is formed by at least one pipe piece projecting from the partition wall in the trough-shaped part. 5. Device as claimed in claims 1-4, characterized in that said means for retaining a felt layer are formed by peripheral edges which engage the felt layer at the edge areas thereof. 8 8 Π 'ί n 7 V U V O v'> “'/ τ: £ Device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the peripheral edges are formed on a lid detachably connected to the holder. 7. Device as claimed in claims 1-6, characterized in that the upright front wall of the trough-shaped part is formed on the lid. 8 6 0 3 3 0?