WO2006028082A1

WO2006028082A1 - Ink container

Info

Publication number: WO2006028082A1
Application number: PCT/JP2005/016320
Authority: WO
Inventors: Satoshi Masumi
Original assignee: Konica Minolta Medical & Graphic, Inc.
Priority date: 2004-09-09
Filing date: 2005-09-06
Publication date: 2006-03-16
Also published as: JPWO2006028082A1

Abstract

Disclosed is an ink container (10) comprising an ink enclosing portion (11) hermetically containing an ink, an ink injecting portion (12) for introducing the ink held in the ink enclosing portion into a printer, and a cover member (20) for covering the ink injecting portion when the ink container is discarded. The cover member (20) has an ink absorbing member (21).

Description

Specification

Ink container

Technical field

The present invention relates to an ink container, and more particularly to an ink container in which ink to be supplied to a recording head of an ink jet printer is enclosed.

Background art

[0002] Conventionally, an ink jet printer for recording a predetermined image by ejecting ink from a recording head onto a recording medium such as paper, a plastic thin plate, or a cloth has been proposed and put into practical use.

Various ink containers filled with ink to be supplied to the recording head of an ink jet printer have been proposed and put into practical use.

[0003] As a kind of the ink container, there is an ink container made of a flexible packaging member. Such an ink container is set in a predetermined ink cartridge, and the ink cartridge is arranged at a predetermined position of the ink jet printer to supply ink.

[0004] When the ink in the ink container becomes empty, the ink cartridge force also separates the ink container, discards only the ink container, and sets a new ink container in the ink cartridge. (For example, see Patent Document 1). This makes it possible to reduce waste as much as possible.

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-347257

Disclosure of the invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

[0005] However, when the ink container as described above is discarded, the ink remaining in the ink injection portion that injects ink from the ink container to the ink jet printer may leak out. Workers' hands and clothes could be soiled or attached to equipment. In particular, when the ink in the ink container is an active energy ray-curable ink such as an ultraviolet curable ink that is cured by irradiating with ultraviolet rays, the ink is used in hands, clothes, and equipment. If the ink adheres to the ink, the ink is difficult to be removed. In addition, many UV curable inks are irritating to the skin, so there is also a problem that they are dangerous if they come into the hands of workers.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an ink container capable of preventing the ink remaining in the ink injection portion from leaking out and preventing the ink from adhering to an operator's hand or clothes. The purpose is to provide.

Means for solving the problem

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the ink container of the present invention comprises:

Ink is contained in the ink enclosure part,

An ink injection unit for injecting ink of the ink enclosure into a printer;

A covering member for covering the ink injection part when disposing of the ink container,

The covering member is provided with an ink absorbing member that absorbs the ink.

[0008] According to such an ink container, ink is sealed! It includes an ink enclosing part, an ink injecting part for injecting ink from the ink enclosing part into the printer, and a covering member for covering the ink injection part when the ink container is discarded, and absorbs the covering member S ink. Since the ink absorbing member is provided, when the ink container is emptied and discarded, the ink injection part can be discarded with the covering member covered.

[0009] Further, in the ink container of the present invention, it is preferable that the covering member is an adhesive tape cover configured to cover the ink injection portion with the ink absorbing member.

[0010] According to such an ink container, since the covering member is an adhesive tape cover configured to cover the ink injection portion with the ink absorbing member, the ink injection portion can be covered with a simple configuration.

[0011] Further, in the ink container of the present invention, it is preferable that the adhesive tape force s be affixed in advance to a predetermined position of the ink enclosure portion.

[0012] According to such an ink container, since the adhesive tape force S is attached in advance to a predetermined position of the ink enclosure portion, the ink injection portion can be covered easily and reliably.

[0013] Further, in the ink container of the present invention, the covering member also has a cap force. It is preferable to provide an ink absorbing member on the back side of the cap in contact with the ink injection part.

[0014] According to such an ink container, the covering member also has a cap force, and the ink absorbing member is provided on the back side of the cap in contact with the ink injecting portion. Therefore, the ink injecting portion can be covered with a simple configuration. it can.

[0015] In the ink container of the present invention, it is preferable that the ink injection portion has a CC joint structure.

[0016] According to such an ink container, since the ink injection portion has a CC joint structure, an ink injection portion with little ink leakage and residual ink can be obtained.

[0017] Further, in the ink container of the present invention, the ink is preferably an ink having active energy ray curability! /.

[0018] According to such an ink container, since the ink is an active energy ray-curable ink, it has a property that it is difficult to fall off when the ink adheres to a hand or clothes. It can be covered so that no ink of nature leaks out.

The invention's effect

According to the present invention, when the ink container is emptied and discarded, it can be disposed in a state where the ink injection part is covered with the covering member, and therefore remains in the ink injection part. This prevents the ink from leaking out and adheres to workers' hands and clothes.

[0020] Further, according to the present invention, since the ink injection portion can be covered with a simple configuration, it is possible to easily prevent ink from adhering to the operator's hand or clothes.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of an ink container according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a diagram showing a covering member according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2B is a view showing a covering member in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state when the ink container is discarded in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an outline of an ink container in a modification of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a state when the ink container is discarded in a modification of the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing an ink container according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an outline of an ink container in a modification of the second embodiment of the present invention. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the ink container according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

However, the present invention is not limited to the illustrated example! /.

[First Embodiment]

First, the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 schematically shows an ink container 10 according to the first embodiment. The ink container 10 of the present embodiment is filled with ink supplied to a recording head for image recording with an inkjet printer, and is similar to the container used for retort food packaging as shown in FIG. It is comprised by the container of the substantially rectangular shape of front view.

The ink container 10 includes an ink enclosure part 11 and an ink injection part 12. The ink enclosure 11 encloses the ink to be injected into the ink jet printer. In this embodiment, the ultraviolet curable ink in the active energy ray curable ink is enclosed. The ink injection part 12 is a part for injecting the ink in the ink enclosure part 11 into the ink jet printer. The ink injection unit 12 is connected to an ink cartridge and configured to inject ink into the ink jet printer via the ink cartridge. For example, a so-called CC joint (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-160753) or-$ 1 It has a structure.

[0025] Examples of the material for the ink container include containers made of glass, metals, plastics, etc., as long as the material can seal the ink. . Among these, a plastic container is particularly preferable from the viewpoints of durability, impact resistance, light weight, transportability, and cost.

The plastic material of the plastic container includes polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), biaxially stretched nylon 6, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polycarbonate (PC ), Polyimide, polyether styrene (PES), and the like.

In addition, when the ink container 10 is disposed at a predetermined position on the surface of the ink enclosure 12, A covering member 20 is provided to cover the ink injection part 12 and prevent leakage of ink. In the present embodiment, a covering member 20 such as an adhesive tape cover is provided. As shown in FIG. 2B, the covering member 20 includes an ink absorber 21, an adhesive portion 22, and a peeling portion 23.

The ink absorber 21 is a part that is in contact with the ink injection part 12 and absorbs ink, and has a size that covers at least the ink injection part 12. As the ink absorber, a porous member such as sponge or a fibrous material such as cloth can be used. Among them, a high-density fiber using ultrafine fibers having a fineness of about 0.1 denier at a high density is preferable. The high density fiber is made of any one of polyester, acrylic, nylon and the like or a combination thereof. In this way, the ink absorber 21 also has a high density fiber force and easily adsorbs the material that contacts the surface, so that the ink remaining in the ink injection portion 12 can be quickly removed regardless of the viscosity or wettability of the ink. It can be absorbed. That is, the ink absorber 21 in the present embodiment is, for example, an ink that is higher in viscosity and poor in wettability than a commonly used ink such as an oil-based or solvent-based ink including an ultraviolet curable ink. The ink remaining in the injection part 12 can be absorbed reliably.

[0028] Further, after the ink injection part 12 is covered with the ink absorber 21, the adhesive part 22 is provided with a covering member 20, so that the ink enclosure on the opposite side across the ink enclosure part 11 and the ink injection part 12 is provided. This is a part for fixing the covering member 20 to the part 11. The adhesive part 22 is normally folded so as to overlap the peeling part 23 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2A. When the ink container 10 is discarded, the adhesive part 22 is removed from the peeling part 23 as shown in FIG. 2B. It is peeled off and fixed so that the ink absorber 21 and the ink injection part 12 do not shift as shown in FIG.

Next, “ink” used in the present embodiment will be described.

The ink used in the present embodiment is an ultraviolet ray curable ink that is cured by irradiation with ultraviolet rays as light, and includes, as main components, a polymerizable compound (including known polymerizable compounds), a photoinitiator, and a color. It contains at least a material. In addition, some pigments included in the ink of this embodiment have a specific gravity of 2.0 or more. In particular, the specific gravity of white pigments may be about 4.2.

[0030] The ultraviolet curable ink contains a radically polymerizable compound as a polymerizable compound. Although the ink is roughly classified into a dical polymerization ink and a cationic polymerization ink containing a cationic polymerizable compound, both inks can be applied as inks used in this embodiment, and radical polymerization is performed. A hybrid type ink in which a base ink and a cationic polymerization ink are combined may be applied as the ink used in the present embodiment. Here, as compared with radical polymerization ink, cationic polymerization ink has higher sensitivity to ultraviolet rays and has less inhibition of polymerization reaction by oxygen, so that the illuminance necessary for curing the ink can be reduced. Therefore, in this embodiment, a cationic polymerization type ultraviolet curable ink is used as the ink.

The monomers, initiators, and the like contained in the ultraviolet curable ink and the composition thereof are preferably those described in JP 2004-131588 A /!

[0031] Further, the ultraviolet curable ink of the present invention has a viscosity at 25 ° C of from lOmPa's to 50mPa • s, regardless of the curing environment (temperature'humidity), stable ejection, reproducibility, It is preferable from the viewpoint of curing.

In the present invention, when a transparent material is applied to the recording medium, it is preferable to use white ink in order to improve color concealment on the recording medium. In particular, in soft packaging printing and label printing, it is preferable to use a white ink. However, from the viewpoints of the above-described ejection stability and the occurrence of curling and wrinkling of the recording medium, the amount used is naturally limited.

[0033] The coloring material according to the present invention is preferably a pigment from the viewpoint of strength and weather resistance in which a coloring material that can be dissolved or dispersed in the main component of the polymerizable compound can be used. The pigments that can be preferably used in the present invention are listed below.

[0034] CI Pigment Yellow— 1, 2, 3, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 73, 74, 75, 81, 83, 87, 93, 95, 97, 98, 109, 114, 120, 128 , 129, 138, 139, 151, 154, 180, CI Pigment Red—5, 7, 12, 22, 38, 48: 1, 48: 2, 48: 4, 49: 1, 53: 1, 5 7: 1, 63: 1, 101, 112, 122, 123, 144, 146, 168, 184, 185, 202,

C. I. Pigment Violet—19, 23,

C. I. Pigment Blue—1, 2, 3, 15: 1, 15: 2, 15: 3, 15: 4, 18, 22, 27, 29, 60,

CI Pigment Green—7, 36, CI Pigment White—6, 18, 21,

C. I. Pigment Black—7,

In the present invention, an organic solvent or a polymerizable compound can be applied to the dispersion medium for dispersing the pigment. Here, the ink applied to the present invention is cured immediately after it is ejected from the ejection port and landed on the recording medium. Therefore, when a large amount of organic solvent is contained as a dispersion medium, the solvent remains inside the cured ink. This causes problems such as deterioration and odor of the recording medium. Therefore, it is preferable that the ink applied to the present invention does not contain an organic solvent, or suppresses the content of the organic solvent to be low, and uses a polymerizable compound as a main component of the dispersion solvent. Further, as the polymerizable compound, it is more preferable in view of dispersion suitability to select a monomer having the lowest viscosity among known monomers.

[0036] In order to effectively disperse the pigment in the dispersion medium, it is also possible to add a dispersant when dispersing the pigment. As the dispersant, it is preferable to use a polymer dispersant. For example, a polymer dispersant of the Solsperse series manufactured by AVECIA is applicable. In addition, a synergist according to various pigments can be used as a dispersion aid. These dispersants and dispersion aids are preferably added in an amount of 1 to 50 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the pigment. The dispersion medium is a solvent or a polymerizable compound. The ultraviolet curable ink used in the present invention is preferably solvent-free because it is reacted and cured immediately after ink landing. If the solvent remains in the cured image, the solvent resistance deteriorates and the VOC problem of the remaining solvent occurs. Therefore, the dispersion medium is not a solvent, but a polymerizable compound. Among them, it is preferable for dispersion suitability to select a monomer having the lowest viscosity.

[0037] The pigment is preferably dispersed such that the average particle diameter of the pigment particles is 0.08 to 0.5 µm. When the average particle diameter of the pigment particles exceeds 0.5 m, the ink permeability is lowered, resulting in a problem that the image quality of the image formed on the recording medium is lowered. In addition, if the average particle size of the pigment particles is less than 0.08 / zm, there will be a problem that the cost for preparing the ink increases.

[0038] The maximum particle size of the pigment particles is preferably 0.3 to 10 µm, and more preferably 0.3 to 3 µm. When the maximum particle size of the pigment particles exceeds 10 m, there is a problem that the ink tends to be clogged at the ejection port. On the other hand, the maximum particle size of the pigment particles is 0. If it is lower, there is a problem that the cost for preparing the ink increases.

[0039] The selection of the pigment, the dispersant, the dispersion medium, and the setting of the dispersion condition and the filtration condition when preparing the ink are appropriately determined on the condition that the average particle diameter and the maximum particle diameter of the pigment particles are within the above-mentioned ranges. It is decided. By controlling the particle size, clogging of the head nozzle can be suppressed, and ink storage stability, ink transparency, and curing sensitivity can be maintained.

[0040] In the ink according to the present invention, the color material concentration is preferably 1 to LO mass% with respect to the entire ink. When the color material concentration is less than 1% by mass, there is a problem that the ink is not effectively colored on the recording medium and the formed image becomes unclear. On the other hand, when the color material concentration exceeds 10% by mass, the ink does not cure quickly on the recording medium, causing a problem that the image strength and image quality are lowered.

Next, a modification of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

FIG. 4 shows an outline of an ink container 10A according to a modification of the first embodiment. The ink container 10A of this modification is similar to the first embodiment, and the ink enclosure 11A and ink injection Part 12A is provided. Since this is the same part as in the first embodiment, details are omitted.

[0042] Further, a coating member 20A is provided at a predetermined position on the surface of the ink enclosure 12A to cover the ink injection part 12A and prevent ink leakage when the ink container 10A is discarded. In the present embodiment, the covering member 20A is divided into two locations, and includes an ink absorber 21A on the front surface side and an adhesive portion 22A on the back surface side. Note that details of the ink absorber 21A are the same as those in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

[0043] As described above, the adhesive portion 22A of the present modification is provided with the ink absorber 21A and is provided on the back surface side opposite to the front surface side, and the ink injection portion 12A and the ink absorber 21 are provided. The ink containing portion 11A is sown so that it overlaps with A, and after all the winding has been completed, it is fixed with the adhesive portion 22A provided on the back side as shown in FIG. Although illustration is omitted, in this modification as well, the adhesive portion 22A is normally folded so as to overlap the peeling portion, and when the ink container 10 is discarded, it is peeled off from the peeling portion and wound. Fix the ink enclosure 11 A so that it is not displaced. [0044] [Second Embodiment]

Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 6 shows an outline of the ink container 50 according to the second embodiment. As in the first embodiment, the ink container 50 according to the present embodiment includes an ink sealing portion 51 and an ink injection portion 52. Since this is the same part as in the first embodiment, the details are omitted.

In the present embodiment, when the ink container 50 is discarded, a cap is provided as the covering member 60 for covering the ink injection portion 52 and preventing ink leakage. The cap of the present embodiment is connected to the ink container 50 by a string-like connecting member 62 so that the cap is not lost. The covering member 60 includes an ink absorber 61. The details of the ink absorber 61 are the same as those in the first embodiment, and will not be described.

Next, a modification of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 7 shows an outline of an ink container 50A according to a modification of the second embodiment. The ink container 50A of this modification is similar to the second embodiment in that the ink enclosure 51A and ink injection Part 52A. Since it is the same part as the second embodiment, the details are omitted.

In the present embodiment, a covering member 60A for covering the ink injection part 52A and preventing ink leakage when the ink container 50A is discarded may be provided. The covering member 60A of the present embodiment includes a cap connected to the ink container 50A by a connecting member 62A such as a hinge. The covering member 60A is also provided with an ink absorber 61A as in the second embodiment. Note that details of the ink absorber 61A are the same as those in the second embodiment, and are omitted.

[0048] As described above, according to the ink container in each embodiment of the present invention, the ink enclosing unit in which the ink is encapsulated, the ink injecting unit that injects the ink in the ink enclosing unit into the printer, and the ink A covering member for covering the ink injection portion when the container is disposed, and the covering member includes an ink absorbing member for absorbing the ink, so that when the ink container is empty and the ink container is disposed, The ink injection part can be discarded with the covering member covered. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the ink remaining in the ink injection portion from leaking out and adhere to the operator's hand or clothes.

Furthermore, in the first embodiment, since the covering member is an adhesive tape cover configured to cover the ink injection portion with the ink absorbing member, the ink injection portion can be covered with a simple configuration.

[0050] Further, in the first embodiment, the ink injection unit can be easily and surely covered because it is attached in advance to a predetermined position of the adhesive tape force ink enclosure unit.

[0051] Furthermore, in the second embodiment, the covering member has a cap force, and the ink absorbing member is provided on the back side of the cap in contact with the ink injection portion, so that the ink injection portion can be covered with a simple configuration. it can.

Furthermore, in each embodiment, since the ink injection part has a CC joint structure, an ink injection part with little ink leakage and residual ink can be obtained.

Further, in each embodiment, since the ink is an active energy ray-curable ink, it has a property that it is difficult to fall off when the ink adheres to a hand or clothes. Can be covered so that quality ink does not leak.

[0054] From these, it is possible to easily prevent the ink from adhering to the operator's hand or clothes.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various improvements and design changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

For example, in the above embodiment, ultraviolet curable ink is used as the ink sealed in the container. However, the ink is not limited to ultraviolet curable, and other active energy rays such as visible rays and electron rays are used. Ink having active energy ray curability may be used. Also, ink that does not have active energy ray curability may be used.

[0056] In addition, the shape of the ink container is not limited to the above, but for example, a shape used in a detergent refill container, a tetrapot shape, a cubic tener shape (a shape close to a square), a bottle shape, a pillow shape, etc. Various shapes are acceptable.

Industrial applicability

As described above, the ink container according to the present invention is useful as an ink container filled with ink to be supplied to a recording head of an ink jet printer, and particularly remains in an ink injection portion. It is suitable as an ink container that can prevent the ink from leaking out and prevent this ink from adhering to the hands and clothes of workers.

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] an ink enclosure containing ink,

An ink injection unit for injecting ink of the ink enclosure into a printer;

An ink container comprising an ink absorbing member for absorbing the covering member S ink.

[2] The ink container according to [1], wherein the covering member is an adhesive tape configured to cover the ink injection portion with the ink absorbing member.

[3] The ink container according to [2], wherein the adhesive tape force S is attached in advance to a predetermined position of the S ink enclosure.

[4] The ink container according to claim 1, wherein the covering member has a cap force, and an ink absorbing member is provided on the back side of the cap in contact with the ink injection portion.

[5] The ink container according to claim 1, wherein the ink injection portion has a CC joint structure.

6. The ink container according to claim 1, wherein the ink is an ink having active energy ray curability.