WO2006076851A1

WO2006076851A1 - An ink cartridge and a method of using the same

Info

Publication number: WO2006076851A1
Application number: PCT/CN2006/000016
Authority: WO
Inventors: Qingguo Xiao; Benyou Jin
Original assignee: Print-Rite Technology Development Co., Ltd Of Zhuhai
Priority date: 2005-01-22
Filing date: 2006-01-06
Publication date: 2006-07-27
Also published as: HK1080263A2

Abstract

There is disclosed a replaceable constant-pressure ink cartridge and a method of using the same. The front end of an ink container is formed with a waste-ink inlet and two or more openings, the rear end thereof is open, and a guide plate for guiding ink cartridges and a waste-ink cartridge is provided inside the ink container. 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. During assembling, providing the ink container in place firstly, then inserting the ink cartridges and the waste-ink cartridge into the ink container. Alternatively, inserting the ink cartridge which does not interferes with a locking haft into the ink container firstly, then inserting the ink container into a bin for printer, after this, inserting the other ink cartridges and waste-ink cartridge into the ink container. It can be disassembled in adverse order. The present invention can improve ink capacity without increasing the maximum working profile of the printer, and can decrease the fatigue loss of the printer.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an inkjet printer ink supply device and a method of using the same, and more particularly to a replacement constant pressure ink cartridge for a small portable printer and a method of using the same. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In order to meet the needs of printing during mobile office, a commercially available small portable printer is shown in FIG. 1. The rear portion of the printer 4 has a shelf 41 extending obliquely outward during operation, and a cover with a cover underneath. The ink cartridge compartment 43 of 42 has a locking handle 44 between the cardboard 41 and the upper opening of the ink cartridge compartment 43. After the six-color ink cartridge is inserted into the ink cartridge compartment 3, the locking handle 44 is locked from the left to the right to lock the six-color ink cartridge. In the ink cartridge compartment 43, a bump 45 is formed on the edge of the cover 42. When the cover is closed, the bump 45 touches the cover switch to turn on the printer power, thereby preventing the printing operation from being performed in the uncapped state. Only the six-color ink cartridge 5 shown in Fig. 2, 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 and six ink outlets 502 of different color inks. The six-color ink cartridge 5 can be inserted into the front end of the printer 4, and has a locking position 507 on each side of the six-color ink cartridge 5. Referring to Figure 3, this is a cross-sectional view of the six-color ink cartridge 5, and ^a six-color ink cartridge 5 A waste that communicates with the waste ink inlet 501 is separated from above the cavity The cavity 503 is configured to collect ink that is discarded when the print head is cleaned. 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 A self-closing valve 506 is built in. 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 needle on the printer are respectively sealedly inserted into the waste ink inlet 501 and the ink outlet 502, and the self-closing in each port is opened. The valve opens the ink supply passage and the waste ink passage. When the six-color ink cartridge 5 is taken out from the ink cartridge compartment 43, the self-closing valve is closed to prevent the ink from leaking out. Since the printer itself is small in size, the volume of the six-color ink cartridge 5 is small. Restricted, the ink bag 505 has a smaller ink capacity, which limits the printing work. In addition, the exhaustion of any one of the colors will cause the entire six-color ink cartridge to be scrapped. The amount of the six-color ink cartridge 5 needs to be frequently installed or removed from the ink cartridge compartment 43. In the process of use, the locking mechanism of the printer is often damaged or malfunctioned.

Confirmation The situation causes inconvenience in loading and unloading. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It should be noted that in the above prior art, the highest position of the ink liquid in the ink bag 505 is slightly lower than the nozzle plane of the printer print head, and the highest position of the printing ink liquid gradually decreases, but the printing is still in progress. Within the range of head suction energy, 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 that the pressure at the nozzle of the print head is too large and the ink is overflowing, or the ink is not sucked by the print head, the height of the ink cartridge cannot be changed, and a feasible solution is Relatively increasing the area of the ink receiving chamber, the ink cartridge will thus exceed the maximum contour size of the printer when it is working, making the portable printer unfavorable. The main object of the present invention is to provide a large-capacity replacement type constant pressure ink cartridge without exceeding the maximum profile size of the printer; another object of the present invention is to provide a certain color ink When the exhaustion is exhausted, the entire ink cartridge is not scrapped, and the replacement constant pressure ink cartridge of the ink container can be conveniently replaced. Another object of the present invention is to provide a replacement constant pressure ink cartridge which is simple in structure and economical to use; One object is to provide a method of effectively preventing damage protection of the printer locking mechanism when the above-mentioned replacement type constant pressure ink cartridge is mounted and detached to the printer. 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 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 cartridge cartridge 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 cartridge body and the waste cartridge body are inserted and It is possible to supply ink to the printer through it, and at the same time, it is possible to replace each of the ink cartridge bodies at will, and the economic efficiency of the ink cartridge is improved. 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 a simple structure for achieving constant pressure can be seen. In order to make the waste ink recovery effect better, the waste ink cartridge body is designed with an ink receiving cavity of a content ink absorbing porous material, and the front end of the ink receiving chamber is provided with an ink inlet port coaxial with the ink waste ink inlet, and the upper portion of the ink receiving chamber has Connect the outside vents. The increasing amount of waste ink is sucked into the ink receiving chamber by the suction of the porous material, and at the same time, the air in the ink receiving chamber is discharged from the vent hole. The method for using the replacement type constant pressure ink cartridge according to the present invention is mainly a step of installing or removing the replacement type constant pressure ink cartridge to the printer. When installing to the printer, first open the printer cartridge cover to load the ink cartridge. The printer cartridge compartment, and pull the locking handle to lock the ink cartridge to the printer, the ink cartridge is no longer removed during normal use. Then, each of the ink cartridge body and the waste toner cartridge body are respectively inserted into the ink cartridge. When the printer is removed from the printer, the ink cartridge body and the waste toner cartridge body are respectively taken out from the ink cartridge, and the locking handle is pulled to unlock the ink cartridge and the printer, and the ink cartridge is taken out from the printer cartridge cartridge. As can be seen from the above methods of use, it is generally only necessary to replace the ink cartridge body that is depleted of ink and the waste toner cartridge body filled with waste liquid, and it is not necessary to frequently remove the ink cartridge from the printer, thereby effectively extending the locking mechanism of the printer. Service life. It should be noted that if the movement track of the printer locking handle during the unlocking and locking process does not interfere with the waste ink cartridge body and part of the ink cartridge body, the waste ink cartridge body and the ink cartridge body that do not hinder the rotation of the locking handle can be installed when installing the printer. Insert the ink cartridge first, then insert the ink cartridge into the printer cartridge compartment, and pull the locking handle to lock the ink cartridge to the printer, and finally insert the remaining cartridge body into the ink cartridge. When you remove it from the printer, you will Each of the ink cartridges that block the rotation of the locking handle is taken out from the ink cartridge, and the locking handle is pulled to unlock the ink cartridge and the printer, and the ink cartridge is withdrawn from the printer cartridge magazine. This method also eliminates the need to frequently remove the ink cartridge from the printer, extending the life of the printer locking mechanism. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the structure of a conventional small-sized portable printer; FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing the outline of a six-color ink cartridge used in the printer shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. Figure 4 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 is a plan view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of Figure 5, reflecting one side of the cartridge body and the cartridge body and ink cartridge assembly Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB of Figure 5, showing one side of the waste toner cartridge body and the assembled relationship between the waste toner cartridge body and the ink cartridge; Fig. 8 is a structural view reflecting the other side of the waste toner cartridge body corresponding to Fig. 7; 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 after loading into the printer; Figure 12 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 14 is a schematic view showing the method of use of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figures 15-16 are schematic views illustrating the movement trajectory of the printer lock handle. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The following is a further detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings in accordance with the present invention.

4 replace ^ then find ^) Referring to Fig. 4, the example is composed of a cassette 1, a waste toner cartridge 2 and six ink cartridge bodies 3. The front end of the magazine 1 has a waste ink inlet 11 and six openings 12, and the guide 14 is on the inner side of the bottom plate. The ribs, the elastic retaining portion 13 are also disposed on the inner side of the bottom plate, and a contact 16 is disposed on one side of the ink cartridge 1, and when the ink cartridge 1 is loaded into the printer cartridge, it will open the printer power switch by touch. 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. 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 incorporates 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 is also provided with a plurality of buckles 15 for fastening to the lid of the printer box. The ink chamber is divided into an ink supply chamber 31 and an ink storage chamber 32. The ink supply chamber 32 has a small volume and a small height, and 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 as shown in Fig. 9. An air passage 37 is provided on one side wall of the ink cartridge body 3, and an air passage inlet 38 for introducing air from the outside to the ink cartridge body 3 is disposed at a high position of the ink storage chamber 31 to the ink cartridge. The air passage outlet 39 of the air intake in the body 3 is disposed in the ink supply chamber 32. The air passage 37 is constituted by a film formed on the groove and the groove on one inner side wall of the ink cartridge body 3. As shown in FIG. 9, the ink supply chamber 32 has a liquid level that is open to the atmosphere, that is, an ink supply pressure that supplies the liquid level to the print head, and the ink storage chamber 31 is blocked by the ink due to the only gas passage 33 that is open to the atmosphere. The upper space is a negative pressure zone. When the ink flows out from the ink outlet port 34, once 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 zone, thereby allowing the ink to be stored. The ink in the cavity 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 performs constant pressure ink supply under the condition that the head pressure of the ink supply chamber 32 is slightly changed. Until the liquid level of the two chambers is equal. 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 incorporates a self-closing sealing ring 23 which is turned on when the waste ink output needle is inserted and closed when it is dialed out. The porous fibrous material built into the ink receiving chamber 21 can be made of absorbent sponge (omitted in Fig. 7). Referring to Fig. 8, an upper portion of the ink receiving chamber 21 defines a venting opening 25 communicating with the outside, and the air in the chamber is discharged when the sponge absorbs 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 33 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 placed in position relative to the printer 4, the heights of the ink cartridge body 3 and the waste toner cartridge body 2 are all below the shelf 41, and the rearward extent of the shelf 41 is substantially not exceeded, thereby expanding The volume of liquid does not increase the maximum profile size of the printer 4 operating conditions. When the printer 4 displays that the ink of a certain color 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, and the waste cartridge body 2 is loaded. The same is true for the replacement of the waste ink. The steps of the replacement type constant pressure ink cartridge loading and unloading method provided by the present invention are as follows: Referring to FIG. 12, the printer of this example has a cartridge locking mechanism and a power switch printed in an anti-open state. First, the cassette cover 42 of the printer 4 is opened, and the locking handle 44 and the printer electric 'source switch 46 are visible. The locking handle 44 is placed in the unlocked position (the left side shown in FIG. 12), and then the front end of the ink cartridge 1 is facing forward. After being inserted, the locking handle 44 is pulled into the locked position (on the right side of FIG. 12) to fix the ink cartridge 1 to the printer 4. Referring to Figure 13, after the cassette 1 is in place and locked, the contact 16 will press and open the aforementioned power switch 46 of the printer 4, and the locking handle 44 is located on the right side of Figure 13, at which point all of the cartridge bodies can be 3 and the waste toner cartridge 2 is inserted into the ink cartridge 1. When removing, it can be carried out in the reverse order described above, and will not be described again. Referring to Fig. 14, it can be seen from the state in which the ink cartridge body 3 and the waste toner cartridge 2 are in position that they substantially do not exceed the trailing edge of the shelf 41 when the ink capacity is increased, that is, the weight is not increased. The maximum profile size of a small portable printer, the present invention utilizes the space under the shelf, and the large-capacity cartridge body 3 is disposed. At the same time, the structure of the constant pressure is used to reduce the height of the ink chamber. problem. Referring to Figures 15 and 16, the trajectory of the locking handle 44 moved from the left end to the right end of the figure is a circular arc which extends beyond the rear wall 47 of the printer 4 and interferes with a portion of the cartridge body inserted into the cartridge ,1. At this time, there may be another method of mounting and removing. The cartridge body and the waste toner cartridge body which are not interfered may be first inserted into the cassette 匣1, and then the cassette 匣1 is inserted into the box compartment of the printer 4, and rotated. The lock handle 44 locks the cassette 1 and then inserts the remaining cartridge bodies in the reverse order. Displacement type constant pressure ink cartridge and method of using the same, relating to an ink supply device of an inkjet printer, comprising an ink cartridge having a waste ink inlet and two or more openings at the front end, the rear end of the cassette is open, and the inner side is provided with an ink cartridge body, The guide plate of the waste ink cartridge body, two or more ink cartridges that supply ink in a constant pressure manner are detachably fixed in the cassette, at least a part of the volume of each ink cartridge body is located at the upper rear of the cassette, and one is for storing The waste ink cartridge of the waste ink is detachably fixed in the cassette, and a part of the volume is located above the cassette. Insert the cartridge into position before inserting the cartridge body and the waste cartridge into the cartridge, or insert the cartridge that does not interfere with the locking handle on the printer into the cartridge, then insert the cartridge into the printer compartment, and finally the rest. The cartridge body and the waste cartridge body are inserted into the cassette, and the order is reversed when removed. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The cartridge of the present invention and the prior art six-color cartridge cartridge have the same function as the printer, but the structure is changed to the rear end opening and the inner side guide plate is provided to insert the large-capacity cartridge body and the waste cartridge body. And it is possible to supply ink to the printer through it, and at the same time, it is possible to replace each of the ink cartridge bodies at will, and the economic efficiency of the ink cartridge is improved. Increased ink capacity without increasing the maximum profile size of portable printers

Claims

Claim

1. Replacement constant pressure ink cartridge, including

a cassette (1) insertable from the opening of the printer compartment, the front end of the cassette (1) having a waste ink inlet (11) that can be docked with the printer and two or more openings that can be docked with the ink receiving port of the printer ( 12); It is characterized by:

The rear end of the cassette (1) is open, and the inner side of the cassette (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 supplying ink 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) )

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

2. The replacement 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 port coaxial with the magazine mouth (12) (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 (1) 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 replacement constant pressure ink cartridge according to claim 2, wherein:

The waste ink cartridge body (2) has an ink receiving cavity (21) of a content ink absorbing porous fiber material, and an ink receiving cavity

(21) the front end is provided with an ink inlet port (22) coaxial with the ink waste ink inlet (11);

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

4. The replacement 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 toner 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 replacement type 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 ink 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 retaining 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 crepe (1) and engaging with the elastic stopper portion (13).

6. The replacement constant pressure ink cartridge according to claim 5, characterized in that:

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 replacement constant pressure ink cartridge according to claim 5, wherein:

One side of the ink cartridge (1) is provided with a contact (15) for touching the printer cover switch.

8. The method of using a displacement type constant pressure ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein: when installing to a printer

Open the printer cartridge cover;

Insert the ink cartridge (1) into the printer cartridge compartment and pull the locking handle (44) to lock the ink cartridge (1) to the printer;

Insert each ink cartridge body (3) and waste toner cartridge body (2) into the ink cartridge (1);

When the printer is removed

The ink cartridge body (3) and the waste toner cartridge body (2) are respectively taken out from the ink cartridge (1);

Pull the locking handle to unlock the ink cartridge (1) and the printer, and withdraw the ink cartridge (1) from the printer cartridge compartment.

9. The method of using a displacement type constant pressure ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein: when installing to a printer

Open the printer cartridge cover;

Insert the waste ink cartridge body (2) and the ink cartridge body (3) that do not interfere with the rotation of the locking handle into the ink cartridge (1), then insert the ink cartridge (1) into the printer cartridge cartridge, and pull the locking handle to move the ink cartridge (1). Lock with the printer; finally insert the remaining cartridge body (3) into the ink cartridge (1); When the printer is removed

First remove each ink cartridge body (3) that hinders the rotation of the lock handle from the ink cartridge (1);