WO2006032185A1

WO2006032185A1 - Ink cartridge

Info

Publication number: WO2006032185A1
Application number: PCT/CN2005/001297
Authority: WO
Inventors: Qingguo Xiao; Benyou Jin
Original assignee: Print-Rite Technology Development Co., Ltd Of Zhuhai
Priority date: 2004-09-25
Filing date: 2005-08-19
Publication date: 2006-03-30

Abstract

An ink supplying apparatus for inkjet printer includes an ink container, the front end of the ink container is formed with a waste-ink inlet and two or more openings, and the rear end is open. Two or more ink cartridges, which supply ink with constant pressure, are removably fixed in the ink container; a waste-ink cartridge for containing waste-ink is also removably fixed in the ink container. At least a portion of each ink-cartridge and a portion of the waste-ink cartridge are situated in the rear-upper part of the ink container, respectively.

Description

Technical field

The present invention relates to an ink jet printer ink supply device, and more particularly to a replacement constant pressure ink cartridge for a small portable printer. Background technique

In order to meet the needs of printing during mobile office, there is a commercially available small portable printer having a structure substantially as shown in FIG. 1. The rear portion of the printer 4 has a shelf 41 extending obliquely outward during operation, and a belt below it. In the ink cartridge compartment 3 of the cover 42, a six-color ink cartridge shown in Fig. 2 is inserted in the cartridge compartment 43 in an insertable manner. For the sake of clarity, the six-color ink cartridge 5 shown in Fig. 2 is enlarged. The front end of the six-color ink cartridge 5 has a waste ink inlet 501, six ink outlets 502 of different color inks, and a six-color ink cartridge 5 that can be inserted at the front end toward the printer 4 cartridge compartment 43. Referring to FIG. 3, which is a cross-sectional view of the six-color ink cartridge 5, a waste ink chamber 503 communicating with the waste ink inlet 501 is disposed above the inner cavity of the six-color ink cartridge 5 for collecting ink discarded when cleaning the print head. In the other space 504 of the inner cavity, there are six flexible ink bags 505 containing different colors of ink, and the outlet of the ink bag 505 is coaxial with the ink outlet 502 and has a self-closing valve 506 built therein. When the six-color ink cartridge 5 is inserted into the ink cartridge compartment 43, the waste ink output needle tube and the ink-receiving ink pins on the printer are respectively sealedly inserted into the waste ink inlet 501 and the ink outlet ports 502, and the self-closing valves in the respective ports are opened. The ink supply passage and the waste ink passage, when the six-color ink cartridge is taken out from the ink cartridge compartment 43, the self-closing valve is closed to prevent the ink from leaking out.

Since the size of the printer itself is small, the volume of the six-color ink cartridge 5 is limited, and the ink capacity of the ink bag 505 is smaller, which limits the printing work, and the ink consumption of any one of the colors. This will cause the entire six-color ink cartridge to be scrapped. Summary of the invention

It is noteworthy that, in the above prior art, the highest level of the ink liquid in the ink bag 505 is substantially the same as the height of the printer print head, and the highest position of the ink liquid gradually becomes gradually as the printing process is performed and the ink is consumed. It drops, but it is still within the range of the suction power of the print head, so it is still within the normal ink supply pressure range. Therefore, in order to enlarge the ink capacity of the ink cartridge, in order to avoid the phenomenon of excessive ink overflow at the print head, or the phenomenon that the print head does not absorb ink, the height of the ink cartridge cannot be changed, a feasible solution

1

Confirmation It is relatively increasing the area of the ink container in the horizontal plane, and thus, the ink cartridge will exceed the maximum contour size of the printer when it is working, which makes the portable printer lose its advantage.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a large-capacity replacement type constant pressure ink cartridge without exceeding the maximum contour size of the printer during operation;

Another object of the present invention is to provide a replacement type constant pressure ink cartridge which can easily replace the ink container when a certain color ink is exhausted without causing the entire ink cartridge to be scrapped;

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a replacement constant pressure ink cartridge which is simple in structure and economical to use. In order to achieve the above object, the replacement type constant pressure ink cartridge provided by the present invention comprises a cassette which can be inserted from the opening of the printer box, the front end of the cassette has a waste ink inlet which can be docked with the printer, and two or more of the cassettes are compatible with the printer. The opening of the ink port docking. The rear end of the cassette is open, and the inner side is provided with a guide plate for introducing the ink cartridge body and the waste ink cartridge body, and two or more ink cartridges for supplying ink to the printer in a constant pressure manner are detachably fixed in the cassette, each of which is detachably fixed in the cassette At least a part of the volume of the ink cartridge body is located at the upper rear of the cassette, and a waste ink cartridge body for storing waste ink is also detachably fixed in the cassette, and a part of the volume is located at the rear of the cassette, thereby having a larger At the same time as the amount of ink, the space under the shelf is utilized, and the maximum contour size of the printer is not exceeded. The cassette and the prior art six-color ink cartridge case have the same function as the printer, but the structure is changed to the rear end opening and the inner side is provided with a guide plate, so that the large-capacity ink cartridge body and the waste toner cartridge body are inserted and passed to the printer. Ink supply is possible, and at the same time, each cartridge body is replaced at will, which improves the economics of the ink cartridge.

In order to make the structure simple, the ink cartridge body of the following structure can be used to realize constant pressure ink supply. The ink chamber of the ink cartridge body is divided into an ink supply chamber and an ink storage chamber, and the ink supply chamber has an ink outlet port coaxial with the opening of the cassette opening. In order to supply ink to the printer, the two chambers are communicated through a channel at the bottom, the volume of the ink storage chamber is larger than the volume of the ink supply chamber, and the top of the ink storage chamber is higher than the top of the ink supply chamber, and the ink cartridge body is provided with the ink chamber and the outside. The air passage, the end of the air passage connecting with the outside is disposed at an upper portion of the ink storage chamber, and the end connected to the ink chamber is disposed at an upper portion of the ink supply chamber. The principle of providing a constant pressure ink supply to the ink cartridge body thus constructed will be described in detail in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and it is also seen that the present invention is a simple structure for achieving constant pressure ink supply.

In order to make the waste ink recovery effect better, the waste ink cartridge body is designed with an ink receiving cavity of the content of the ink absorbing porous material. The front end of the ink receiving cavity is provided with an ink inlet port coaxial with the ink waste ink inlet, and the upper portion of the ink receiving cavity is connected to the outside. Vent hole. The increasing amount of waste ink is sucked into the ink receiving chamber by the action of the porous material, and at the same time, the air in the ink receiving chamber is discharged from the vent hole to reduce the pressure in the ink receiving chamber. DRAWINGS

1 is a schematic structural view of an existing small portable printer;

■ Figure 2 is an enlarged view showing the outline of the six-color ink cartridge used in the printer;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 2 at a certain ink bag;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 5 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of Figure 5, showing one side of the ink cartridge body and the relationship between the ink cartridge body and the ink cartridge;

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of Figure 5, showing one side of the waste toner cartridge body and the relationship between the waste ink cartridge body and the ink cartridge;

Figure 8 is a structural view showing the other side of the waste toner cartridge body corresponding to Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a structural view showing the other side of the ink cartridge body corresponding to Figure 6;

Figure 10 is an exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention and the printer;

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention when loaded into a printer. detailed description

The following is a further detailed description by way of embodiments according to the invention and the accompanying drawings

Referring to FIG. 4, the example is composed of a cassette 匣1, a waste toner cartridge body 2 and six ink cartridge bodies 3. The front end of the magazine 有1 has a waste ink inlet 11 and six openings 12, and the guide plate 14 is disposed on the bottom plate. A set of longitudinal ribs on the inner side, a set of elastic retaining portions 13 are also provided on the inner side of the bottom plate, which are located at corresponding positions of the waste toner cartridge body 2 and the rear portion of each of the ink cartridge bodies 3.

Referring to Fig. 5, the rear end (left side of the drawing) of the ink cartridge 1 is open, and the ink cartridge body 3 and the waste toner cartridge body 2 can be inserted obliquely from the upper rear side to the ink cartridge 1, and positioned by the elastic stopper portion.

Referring to Fig. 6, after the cartridge body 3 is inserted into the cartridge holder 1, the ink outlet port 34 of the front end is aligned with and abuts against the opening 12, and the buckle portion 36 at the rear end is held by the elastic stopper portion 13 to prevent the cartridge body 3 from being shackled back and forth. move. The ink outlet port 34 has a self-closing sealing ring 35 which is turned on when the ink receiving needle is inserted and closed when the ink receiving needle is inserted. The bottom of the cassette 1 also has a plurality of buckles 15 for fastening to the lid of the printer case. The ink chamber is composed of an ink supply chamber 32 and an ink storage chamber 31. The ink supply chamber 32 has a small volume and a small height. The ink storage chamber 31 has a large volume and a large height, and the two chambers are connected through a passage 33 provided at the bottom. .

The principle of constant pressure of the ink cartridge body 3 is shown in Fig. 9. An air passage 37 is provided on one side wall of the ink cartridge body 3, from the outside. An airway inlet 38 for the intake of the ink cartridge body 3 is disposed at a high position of the ink storage chamber 31, and an air passage outlet 39 for introducing air into the cavity of the ink cartridge body 3 is disposed in the ink supply chamber 32. The structure of the air passage 37 is The film is formed on a groove on the inner side wall of the ink cartridge body 3 and a film on the groove. As shown in Fig. 9, as described above, the ink supply chamber 32 has a liquid level which is open to the atmosphere, that is, the ink supply pressure is supplied to the print head, and the ink storage chamber 31 is blocked by the ink passage 33 which is open to the atmosphere. Therefore, the space in the upper portion thereof is a negative pressure region. When the ink flows out from the ink outlet port 34, and the liquid level in the ink supply chamber 32 drops below the highest point of the channel 33, the gas will enter the aforementioned negative pressure region, thereby The ink in the ink storage chamber 31 is replenished into the ink supply chamber 32, and the liquid level in the ink supply chamber 32 rises to an initial height, so that the print head is performed under the condition that the head pressure of the ink supply chamber 32 is slightly changed. Constant pressure ink supply, until the liquid level of the two chambers is the same. The ink outlet 34 is routed through a thin tubular passage to the bottom of the ink supply chamber 32, so that the ink in the chamber can be used up as much as possible to reduce residual ink.

Referring to Fig. 7, after the waste toner cartridge 2 is inserted into the magazine 匣1, the ink inlet port 22 of the front end is aligned with and abuts against the waste ink inlet 11, and the buckle 24 at the rear end is held by the elastic stopper portion 13 to prevent the waste toner cartridge body. 2 before and after shaking. The ink inlet port 22 has a self-closing sealing ring 23 which is turned on when the waste ink output needle tube is inserted, and constitutes a waste ink collecting passage, which is closed when the dispensing is made, so that the waste ink does not flow out. The porous fiber material built into the ink receiving chamber 21 is made of sponge (omitted in Fig. 7).

Referring to Fig. 8, an upper portion of the ink receiving chamber 21 is provided with a venting opening 25 communicating with the outside, and the air in the ink receiving chamber 21 is discharged when the sponge absorbs the waste ink.

Referring to FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, the elastic stop portion 13 is a cantilever rod extending rearward and upward, the rod end is a hand, and the middle portion of the rod has a hook portion, which is hooked on the buckle 36 at the rear end of the ink cartridge body 3, after the waste cartridge body 2 is scrapped. The buckle 24 of the end is also limited by the elastic stop portion 13 of the same structure. When the replacement type constant pressure ink cartridge of this embodiment is in position with respect to the printer 4, the heights of the ink cartridge body 3 and the waste ink cartridge body 2 are all below the upper edge of the paperboard 41, and the rearward direction of the paperboard 41 is substantially not exceeded. Therefore, the maximum liquid crystal size of the printer 4 is not increased while the liquid volume is increased, and the replacement constant pressure ink cartridge can be unplugged when the printer 4 is carried, and the printer 4 can be removed when moving at a close distance. mobile. When the printer 4 displays that a certain color of ink is exhausted, the cartridge body 3 can be taken out by pressing the elastic stopper portion 13 at the color cartridge body 3, and replaced with a new cartridge body 3. The waste toner cartridge body 2 can be made of a transparent material, and it can be visually observed that the porous waste material can be replaced at any time when the porous material is filled with the waste ink.

The concept according to the present invention can also perform simple structural changes. For example, for printers of different colors such as four colors, five colors, seven colors, etc., the same number of ink cartridge bodies as the above-mentioned colors can be used, and the adaptation is adopted. Box industrial application

The invention fully utilizes the space occupied by the maximum contour size of the printer, and provides a displacement type ink cartridge, and at the same time, provides a simple constant pressure ink supply structure, which not only improves the ink supply amount of such a pocket portable printer, but also facilitates replacement. Whether the ink cartridge of the one-piece cartridge is exhausted or the waste cartridge is full, it can be quickly replaced at any time.

Claims

Claim

1. Replacement constant pressure ink cartridge, including

a cassette (1) that can be inserted from the opening of the printer box, the front end of the cassette (1) has a waste ink inlet (11) that can be docked with the printer waste ink output device, and two or more ink ports that can be connected to the printer. Docking opening (12);

'It is characterized by:

The back of the box 匣 (1) is open, and the inner side of the box 匣 (1) is provided with a guide plate (14) for introducing the ink cartridge body (3) and the waste ink cartridge body (2);

Two or more ink cartridge bodies (3) capable of providing 'ink liquid to the printer in a constant pressure manner are detachably fixed in the cassette (1), and at least a part of the volume of each of the ink cartridge bodies (3) is located in the cassette ( 1) rear upper;

A waste toner cartridge (2) for storing waste ink is detachably fixed in the magazine (1), and a part of the volume is located above the cassette (1).

2. The constant pressure ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein:

The ink cartridge body (3) has an ink supply chamber (32) and an ink storage chamber (31). The front end of the ink supply chamber (32) has an ink outlet coaxial with the opening (12) of the cassette (1). (34), the two chambers are connected by a channel (33) at the bottom;

The volume of the ink storage chamber (31) is larger than the volume of the ink supply chamber (32), and the top of the ink storage chamber is higher than the top of the ink supply chamber; the ink cartridge body (3) is provided with an air passage connecting the ink chamber and the outside (37) The air passage (37) communicates with the outside end (38) is disposed at an upper portion of the ink storage chamber (31), and an end portion (39) communicating with the ink chamber is disposed at an upper portion of the ink supply chamber (32).

3. The constant pressure ink cartridge according to claim 2, wherein:

The waste ink cartridge body (2) has an ink receiving chamber (21) of a content ink absorbing porous fiber material, and a front end of the ink receiving chamber (21) is provided coaxially with the ink ink (1) waste ink inlet (11). Ink inlet (22);

The upper part of the ink receiving chamber (21) has an exhaust hole (25) that communicates with the outside.

4. The constant pressure ink cartridge according to claim 3, wherein:

The ink outlet (34) of the ink cartridge body (3) and the ink inlet port (22) of the waste ink cartridge body (2) are each provided with a self-closing sealing ring; The ink outlet (34) leads to the bottom of the ink supply chamber (32) through a thin tubular passage.

The constant pressure ink cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: the back end of the ink cartridge (1) is provided with a set of elastic stopping portions (13);

The lower portion of the rear end of the waste toner cartridge body (2) is provided with a buckle (24) for preventing the waste ink cartridge body (2) from swaying forward and backward with respect to the ink cartridge (1) and engaging with the elastic stop portion (13);

The lower portion of the rear end of the ink cartridge body (3) is provided with a buckle (36) for preventing the ink cartridge body (3) from moving forward and backward with respect to the ink cartridge (1) and engaging with the elastic retaining portion (13).

6. The constant pressure ink cartridge according to claim 5, wherein:

The elastic upper portion (13) is a cantilever rod extending rearward and upward, the rod end is a hand, and a middle portion of the rod has a hook portion.

7. The constant pressure ink cartridge according to claim 5, wherein:

The ink cartridge (1) is also provided with a buckle (15) for fastening to the print #1.